Chapter 146: The Jade-Faced Rakshasa
One day to enter the Dao.
Seven days to reach the Yellow Rank—Low Grade.
One month to reach the Yellow Rank—Mid Grade.
Three months to reach the Yellow Rank—High Grade.
Half a year to reach the Profound Rank—Low Grade.
Now, she was already on the path from Low Grade toward Mid Grade.
Even with Wei Hanyu and Chen Qu—two Earth Rank experts—personally guiding her to avoid detours, and even with the Yongzhou Bureau of Heaven Monitoring providing abundant cultivation resources,
Hong Yu’s meteoric progress in cultivation still made Wei Hanyu and Chen Qu’s jaws drop in shock.
They swore they had never seen a monster like Hong Yu.
Even Gong Zixian, who was taken to the Capital, did not have such an absurdly fast rate of breakthrough.
They could even be certain—throughout all humans and demonic beasts in Yongzhou’s Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow realms—none could surpass Hong Yu’s speed of advancement.
For someone to go from an ordinary person to the Profound Rank—Low Grade in less than a year, apart from overwhelming talent and sufficient support from the Bureau of Heaven Monitoring, there was one more thing—
A ruthless, life-on-the-line cultivation that even made Wei Hanyu and Chen Qu, both Earth Rank—Low Grade, feel fear.
In less than a year, they had scarcely seen Hong Yu doing anything except cultivating.
Oh, there was one more thing—hunting demons.
For example, this time when the Six Gates approached the Bureau of Heaven Monitoring to jointly host the ‘Locust’ Operation.
The moment Hong Yu saw the ‘Locust’ plan, she immediately joined this unprecedented demon-extermination campaign in Yongzhou.
Every time she returned to the human camp covered in demonic beast blood—whether it was the ascetic Bureau of Heaven Monitoring or the execution-driven Six Gates—everyone was stunned speechless by the killing aura rising from her body.
Especially once, when she disappeared for three whole days, and upon returning brought back the corpse of a Profound Rank—High Grade demonic beast, a nickname began to spread among the Six Gates and the Bureau of Heaven Monitoring—
The Jade-Faced Rakshasa.
Wei Hanyu and Chen Qu had originally scolded those who spread the nickname:
“Since when does the Bureau of Heaven Monitoring make up nicknames for people? And such a name that doesn’t fit our dignified style at all?!”
But no matter how much they complained, when Hong Yu herself heard the nickname and let out a soft chuckle, it firmly stuck to her—steady as Mount Tai.
“Speaking of which, where’s our Jade-Faced Rakshasa?”
Wei Hanyu helplessly shook his head. By now, even Chen Qu, when in a good mood, would tease her like that—just as he did now.
“I heard that near Hu Family Village, a demonic beast above the Profound Rank appeared, causing serious losses to several nearby villages. The little Rakshasa ran off the moment she heard the news.”
The two exchanged glances and silently mourned for that demonic beast.
Nowadays, everyone in the Ningjiang Bureau of Heaven Monitoring knew—the Jade-Faced Rakshasa despised nothing more than demonic beasts that attacked villagers, aside from snake demons.
Once such a demonic beast fell into her hands, it would meet a miserable end—being skinned alive or reduced to ashes was nothing new.
As for the fact that Hong Yu was only Profound Rank—Low Grade, neither of them was particularly worried.
Not only did all recent demon-slaying missions from the Bureau require at least three people to go together—meaning Hong Yu surely had companions—but her own strength was also exceptional.
Anyone who treated her as an ordinary Profound Rank—Low Grade would surely suffer dearly.
“By the way, how’s Old Jia? Any word from him?”
Hearing Wei Hanyu’s question, Chen Qu’s expression slightly tightened.
Old Jia was the only Heaven Rank expert in the Ningjiang Bureau of Heaven Monitoring.
Two days ago, Yongchang County had sent word that numerous Heaven Rank demonic beasts had appeared nearby, seemingly in retaliation for the ‘Locust’ Operation, with signs of preparing to attack Yongchang.
So Yongchang urgently summoned Heaven Rank experts from all over Yongzhou for aid—Old Jia was among them.
No one knew what had happened in Yongchang these past few days.
“Don’t mention it. Before Old Jia and the others arrived, those Heaven Rank demonic beasts had indeed shown signs of preparing to attack Yongchang.”
“But once they got there, those bastards started acting like rats—running the moment they saw them, refusing to fight. No one knows what they’re up to.”
Wei Hanyu frowned.
“A feint? A diversion?”
Chen Qu shook his head.
“In times like these—when the innate beings are still hiding, waiting for true chaos to emerge—the ones who can really cause us trouble are the Heaven Rank demonic beasts.”
“But Old Jia and the others have calculated it out—the number of Heaven Rank demonic beasts in Yongchang isn’t small. In fact, it might include most of Yongzhou’s Heaven Rank beasts.”
“And although they can’t catch them, they’re all being monitored. None have escaped surveillance, so it’s unlikely to be a feint for now.”
Wei Hanyu nodded.
That was true. As long as the Heaven Rank demonic beasts were under watch, there shouldn’t be much chaos in Yongzhou.
What’s that?
You’re asking what happens if Earth Rank demonic beasts make a move?
Well, wasn’t that what they were here for?
Did people think these Taoists ate and did nothing all day?
If an Earth Rank demonic beast dared to stir, they would make sure those beasts learned clearly who ruled the Great Qian Dynasty—humans or demons!
At midnight, the night was dark, the wind high, and the moon conveniently hidden behind the clouds.
In Hu Family Village of Ningjiang County, a young boy lay atop his thatched roof, bored out of his mind.
Hu Xi didn’t want to sleep tonight—because the girl he liked didn’t like him back.
She said Hu Xi was too young.
Hu Xi thought he wasn’t that young.
It made him very sad.
Saddened, Hu Xi blew at the cool night breeze, his eyes wandering toward the distant mountain forest, full of curiosity.
The hunters always said that one must never enter the mountain forest at night, for terrible things happened there—even looking at it too long was forbidden.
Hu Xi sneered at their words. How could there be a place safe by day but forbidden by night?
Surely it was just the elders’ way of scaring children.
Adults worked during the day, and beasts did too. When everyone was tired, they all went home to sleep. Surely the beasts slept at this hour too.
Lost in his own thoughts, Hu Xi suddenly sat upright with a “swish.”
Right!
Hu Niuniu didn’t dislike him because he was truly young—she just thought he lacked manliness!
If he dared to walk through the “fearsome” mountain forest at night when all adults were afraid, Niuniu would surely admire his courage and fall for him!
Thinking this, Hu Xi grew excited and jumped down from his roof.
His parents were asleep, so Hu Xi grabbed a sickle and tiptoed out of the house—he hadn’t forgotten to take a weapon for protection.
He would venture into the mountain forest and make Hu Niuniu look at him differently!!
Standing at the edge of the forest, sickle in hand, he stared into the pitch-black darkness where he couldn’t even see his fingers, gripping the handle nervously.
“Come on, Hu Xi, you can do it!”
He cheered himself on and prepared to step inside.
Just then, Hu Xi’s expression changed—he felt as if the forest had just responded to his cheer.
He focused and listened closely.
The sound from within the forest grew clearer and clearer.
It was as if countless beasts were moving inside.
Perhaps his hearing stirred his vision, for Hu Xi squinted hard and truly saw countless shifting shadows within the darkness.
The sounds drew closer, the figures larger—definitely not mere illusions.
Hu Xi tightened his grip on the sickle again and looked carefully.
The next instant, he saw it clearly.
It was no illusion!
There were truly countless beasts moving in the forest!!