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Chapter 374: Jiuli

Using the advantage of their divine abilities, Zhang Chen and Zhuge Guanxing continuously weakened the divine envoy, while Chu Liang, wearing a bronze mask, stealthily approached and landed a backstab.

If it wasn't for the sharpness of the Dustless Sword, this strike might not have pierced the powerful body of the greater demon.

Even so, the demon divine envoy had nearly broken free.

This also made Chu Liang realize Zhang Chen's strength. If he hadn't been there to restrain the divine envoy, even if the divine envoy abandoned his bow, Chu Liang would have been crushed in a direct confrontation.

With Zhang Chen present, even the powerful demon couldn't rampage.

Most importantly, Zhang Chen's decisive action provided his teammates the opportunity to kill the enemy. He was the ideal partner Chu Liang had hoped for!

Of course, Zhuge Guanxing was also formidable. His ability to predict all attack points alone made him invincible in any battle.

In fact, to Zhang Chen and Zhuge Guanxing, Chu Liang was equally strong. However, his strength lay in his ability to always deliver some unexpected miraculous performance. As long as he was there, victory seemed assured. This brought a shock that was even more intense than the power of any divine ability!

"Brother Chu, this mask..."

As Zhang Chen and Zhuge Guanxing approached, they saw that Chu Liang had removed his mask. Immediately, they were filled with confusion.

"Just got it by chance previously," Chu Liang said casually as he put the mask away.

This item is very useful. I must keep it, Chu Liang thought.

With the giant wolf's body severed in two, Chu Liang went back to the pool of blood and rummaged around before he finally found a leather-stitched storage bag. It was considered the lowest grade of storage enchanted tools, but for the demon race, which lacked the ability to craft such items, it was already very precious.

This storage bag didn't require any inscription seal; a sweep of divine sense revealed its contents. Aside from the bronze mask and the giant bow, there were just some food and water, nothing of value. It seemed that even such powerful demons in the Far West were not wealthy.

"I'll hold onto these things for now; we'll split them later," Chu Liang said immediately.

It wasn't that he had selfish motives; this just wasn't a good place to divide the spoils. He only wanted the bronze mask; there was nothing else of value. The giant bow was impressive, but unfortunately, he didn't know how to use it.

"Alright," Zhang Chen and Zhuge Guanxing nodded, showing their trust in Chu Liang.

Turning his head, Chu Liang asked, "Brother Zhang, didn't you say you weren't coming? Why did you suddenly appear?"

"It's a coincidence," Zhang Chen replied with a light laugh. "I was dispatched by the academy on an important mission, and it turned out the task was to escort Official Wei Xi from Kaoshan City to the Capital of Yu."

"What kind of important secret does Chief Officer Wei hold that so many forces are fighting for him?" Chu Liang asked curiously.

"It's a long story. Let's find him first, and then I'll explain," Zhang Chen replied.

"I've already brought him here," Chu Liang said with a smile.

"What?" Zhang Chen and Zhuge Guanxing were slightly surprised again.

Brought him here? So it's all settled?

Chu Liang led Xiao Si and Wei Xi out from the nearby bushes. When Zhang Chen saw the target that everyone had been fighting over, he finally felt at ease.

Looking at Wei Xi, Chu Liang asked, "I'm really curious. Chief Officer Wei, why is everyone fighting over you?"

Wei Xi responded with a bitter expression, "I wish I knew."

...

"Chief Officer Wei is involved in matters related to Jiuli," Zhang Chen began.

Jiuli?

Upon hearing this name, Chu Liang immediately thought of his Jiuli Soul Armor. Could there be a connection?

"In the land of the nine provinces, this matter has been so well hidden that very few people are aware of it. In fact, it's only recorded in a few ancient secret texts," Zhang Chen explained slowly. "According to legend, there was an ancient evil deity in the Southern Regions who commanded a powerful and malevolent demonic tribe. This demonic tribe was neither fully human nor demon and they were called Jiuli."

Chu Liang had heard stories about the evil deity of the Southern Regions.

Legend has it that the Southern Bastion Mountain was brought down from the immortal realm to suppress him and his countless demons.

Chu Liang used to think it was just a myth, but over time he realized that in this world, legends often contain some distorted truth.

"The Jiuli tribe was a combination of demons and humans, mostly with beast heads and human bodies. Unlike today's half-demons, they reproduced as a stable tribe, possessing the physical strength of demons and the intelligence of humans," Zhang Chen explained in detail.

Chu Liang had previously delved into this matter due to Daoist Yan, learning that offspring born from the union of humans and demons were called half-demons.

Half-demons could live in human form and were often talented prodigies. However, due to their impure genes leading to instability, they could transform into demons at any time. Even if they had never transformed, their descendants could revert to a demon form as well.

The genetics of demons were far stronger than those of humans. Once they transformed into demons, the change was irreversible. This meant that no matter how gentle a half-demon had been, there was always a chance that the gene for transformation into a demon could be triggered, potentially causing a catastrophic outburst.

Therefore, half-demons were highly detested in the land of the nine provinces.

Daoist Yan of the Mount Shu Sect was such a half-demon.

If the Jiuli tribe could combine the advantages of humans and demons, they would be incredibly powerful.

Zhang Chen continued, "According to ancient texts, the Jiuli tribe was brave and warlike, conquering the entire Southern Regions and exterminating all other races. But one day, they were suddenly annihilated overnight, with no descendants left. The mysterious force that wiped out the Jiuli has never been definitively identified, and remains of the Jiuli people have rarely appeared. However, Chief Officer Wei recently discovered skeletal remains that seem to be a member of the Jiuli tribe."

Upon hearing this, Wei Xi finally understood what was happening.

He had handed over the beast-headed human skeleton to the City Supervisory Division, and this skeleton might have been the source of his troubles.

The legendary Jiuli...their hallmark was beast heads and human bodies.

Some demons appear with the head of a beast and the body of a human. However, unlike other beings, these demons revert to their original form upon death, leaving no skeletal remains of a beast-headed human.

Wei Xi wondered if the crack he had seen was an entrance to a hidden realm.

As he speculated, Zhang Chen quickly added, "As a once powerful tribe that dominated the Southern Regions, the Jiuli had their own glorious civilization. Unlike the demon race, the Jiuli were skilled in tool-making and forging weapons, with unique craftsmanship. It is even said that the Xuanhuang Battle Armor was a legendary artifact forged by the members of the Jiuli tribe in ancient times. Previous excavations of Jiuli ruins have uncovered numerous enchanted tools, enough to arm an entire army of cultivators."

"Because of this, the Imperial Supervisory Bureau took it very seriously. Fearing that news would leak and attract attention, they immediately dispatched a team to bring Chief Officer Wei to the capital of Yu," Zhang Chen said. "However, the news still got out.

"The information from Kaoshan City reached not only the demon race and the diabolical sect but also infiltrators in the imperial city. The Celestial Hunting Guards who set out from the Capital of Yu were likely ambushed along the way, allowing the culprits to brazenly pose as imperial guards.

"My teachers at Ascending Dragon Academy must have anticipated this and sent me to protect Chief Officer Wei, which is why I arrived in such a hurry."

After listening to Zhang Chen, Chu Liang understood the situation.

Wei Xi had discovered a crack that might be the entrance to a hidden realm and this hidden realm could potentially hold ancient treasures, making it no surprise that various demons were coveting it.

This was especially crucial for the demon race.

The cultivation civilization of humans, including tool-making, alchemy, talismans, and formations, was something the demon race could never fully grasp due to their lack of comprehension.

However, the Jiuli tribe, with bodies similar to the demon race but skilled in tool-making, could greatly enhance the demon race's power if their civilization and treasures were found.

Having said that, Zhang Chen added, "Since that's the case, I still have a task to complete, so I'll take Chief Officer Wei back now."

"Alright," Chu Liang nodded, "Brother Zhang, be careful on your way."

Getting out of this Valley of Bewildering Fog might still be dangerous.

"No problem. I have a secret treasure temporarily given by my senior in the sect," Zhang Chen said, opening the golden scroll again. He then looked at Chu Liang and the others, saying, "You all have great merit this time. When we return to the Capital of Yu, I will make sure the academy and the imperial court recognize your contributions."

Chu Liang quickly said, "It's better to keep a low profile."

Recognition was not important; if he was not careful, his undercover status could be exposed.

Zhang Chen smiled, "I know my limits."

Chu Liang nodded reassuringly.

That's true.

Zhang Chen wasn't from the Great Astral Sect; he was reliable. As for Wei Xi, Zhang Chen would instruct Wei Xi clearly so that nothing unnecessary was said.

Whoosh—

With a flash of golden light, a portal opened up.

Zhang Chen took Wei Xi by the hand and stepped into the portal, heading toward the vast unknown!