"Chen Mo!"
"Mr. General!"
At that moment, everyone rushed over.
Seeing that Chen Mo was still alive and well, Li Yuan finally relaxed her tense heartstrings.
She walked up to Chen Mo and took a closer look, noticing that fresh flesh was growing over his exposed white bones and healing at a speed visible to the naked eye!
"This healing ability is too exaggerated; it's practically like having an undying body!"
"And that strike that could conjure the Green Dragon phenomenon... It seems he was holding back after all. If it were truly a fight to the death, I fear I would've been a dead soul beneath his blade..."
Realizing the huge gap between them, Li Yuan felt no defeat but rather an inexplicable pride –
He's truly a man who can keep me under control!
Although she knew Chen Mo was out of danger, she still checked him meticulously.
After all, with such severe injuries, what if some part was missing...
"Hmm?"
As her gaze shifted downward, her pretty face turned beet red, and she quickly turned away.
She almost forgot; his clothes were completely burned off, leaving him stark naked...
How utterly embarrassing...
...
"Sir, are you really alright?"
Qin Shou was both shocked and overjoyed.
The other assistant officers couldn't help but show smiles on their faces.
It wasn't that they were worried that they wouldn't be able to explain themselves if Chen Mo died, but rather, the recent battle had deeply impressed them.
The scene of him cutting down demons amidst the bloodbath was still thrilling to think about!
Truly unmatched bravery!
"Don't worry, as long as I'm not dead, I'll stay alive."
Chen Mo pointed at the bed and said, "Check carefully, see what's underneath."
"Yes, sir."
Everyone responded.
They moved Qin Ruyan's corpse to the ground and lifted the bed board, revealing a decaying stench that greeted their noses.
Beneath the bed, bricks and stones had been hollowed out to form a large space. On the ground, strange symbols were drawn with fresh blood, and around it, seven peculiarly shaped stones were placed, covered in yellow talismans.
"Three Evil Spirits Extinguishing Spirit Array!"
Having been forcefully infused with the knowledge from ancient books, Chen Mo's understanding of formation paths was incomparable to before.
With a single glance, he identified it as a malevolent array!
Converging the power of Blood Evil, Earth Evil, and Fierce Evil: the Three Evils. If the array reached mastery, it could invert yin and yang and forbid reincarnation, turning hundreds of miles around into a ghostly realm!
Of course, the more powerful the array, the stricter the requirements.
The Three Evil Spirits Extinguishing Spirit Array before him had many errors, and the materials used were substandard, probably unable to unleash even a tenth of the original array's power.
"This place is where various veins of energy converge, and the gathering of evil energy makes it the most potent spot in Tongling County... The location choice of Liu Mansion was meticulous; it seems she's been planning this for a long time."
"Seven concubines as the Blood Evils, rearing ghostly creatures as the Fierce Evils, with the Three Evils united, the great array begins to form."
"As for the purpose..."
Chen Mo's eyes turned towards the center of the array, where a blood-red ceremonial flag pressed down with a copper coin of ebony, with a line of ancient black seal script flowing like dragons and dancing like phoenixes.
Just glancing at it sent chills down his spine.
Chen Mo reached out to pick up the ceremonial flag.
In a flash, a chilly wind howled, as if fierce ghosts were wailing in his ears!
"What is this thing?!"
Everyone's faces went pale with terror.
Those with weaker minds even collapsed to the ground, unable to stand!
[Heavenly Middle Grade Magical Treasure: Soul Summoning Banner (Forbidden).]
[Able to devour divine souls, control ghosts, already recognized an owner, unable to be used.]
"Magical treasure?"
"And a Heavenly Middle Grade one?!"
Chen Mo was momentarily stunned, then suddenly understood.
Qin Ruyan must have gotten the treasure from some powerful figure, intending to use the Power of Three Evils to break its seal and make it her own.
No wonder she stayed here every day, never leaving a single step, just to cover the aura of the Soul Summoning Banner.
To prevent the original owner from coming after her!
"This thing is useless to me."
"Holding it is a hot potato, yet it's a pity to throw away..."
Chen Mo pondered for a moment before stowing away the Soul Summoning Banner.
Though he had no use for it, he could take it back to Tiandu City and exchange it with the Empress for some other treasures.
That way, even if the banner's owner comes looking, the Empress would stand in the way—
Come on, as if anyone could be a match for Consort Yu?
Don't you know what it means to be the Ultimate Boss?
After casually destroying the Array, Chen Mo looked at everyone and said, "The real culprit has been taken down; the case is closed. You all go rest. We will return to Tiandu City tomorrow morning..."
"Hold on, I think I know who she is."
It was then that Li Yuan, who had been crouching nearby examining the body, spoke up.
She was holding Qin Ruyan's head, rubbing it vigorously as if it were made of mud, changing its appearance at will, until even the facial features disappeared!
A purple jade crescent mark appeared prominently on the forehead!
"The tenth spot on the Heavenly Demon List, Evil Ghost·Qin Wuxiang!"
"What?"
"She's Qin Wuxiang?!"
Everyone gasped in astonishment, letting out a burst of shocked cries.
The Cloud Top Ranking is a list issued by Tianshu Pavilion, ranking young talents under 30 based on realm and combat ability.
But the Heavenly Demon List is a wanted notice issued by the court!
Rank is unrelated to realm, solely based on the casualties and damage caused.
The top ten are known as the Ten Great Demons, all notorious evildoers who have caused immense suffering and countless murders!
To date, all Ten Great Demons have eluded capture!
Not a single one caught!
"Qin Wuxiang, in order to practice ghostly arts, poisoned dozens of her own family members, including her own parents."
"She extracted the essence blood of a hundred children to feed ghosts."
"She set up an evil Array that refined hundreds of villagers, using the death energy to forge a demonic form..."
"Her atrocities are too numerous to list."
"Although not very powerful, she is skilled in the art of shape-shifting, Hundred Faces Thousand Forms, with a dual soul; for years, no one has been able to capture even a hint of her shadow..."
Li Yuan looked at Chen Mo and smiled, saying, "General Chen, you've achieved a great feat."
Chen Mo hadn't expected to gain such an unexpected windfall.
Who could imagine that a notorious Evil Ghost would be hidden right under the Emperor's nose?
"It's not me; it's us. The credit belongs to everyone."
"I will remember everyone present and report each name to the Government when we return."
Chen Mo said.
This was originally a case for the Ding Fire Department.
He had already reaped ample rewards and didn't care much about this bit of honor.
Moreover, if it wasn't for Li Yuan holding back Lady Liu, he would have had a hard time killing her successfully.
Everyone present was incredibly delighted to hear his words.
With Chen Mo as the prime contributor to the successful closing of the case, they hadn't expected to share in the benefits.
But this was one of the Ten Great Demons!
And a first kill at that!
Even just having their names mentioned was an immense honor!
"General Chen is mighty!"
"In life, we're people of the General; in death, we'll be the ghosts of the General!"
People were so excited they couldn't contain themselves, cheering as they swarmed up and lifted Chen Mo high above their heads!
When you hold the people in your heart, the people will lift you high!
Especially the Assistant Officers of the Ding Fire Department, each one of them was moved to tears.
They never expected General Chen to be so magnanimous, bearing no grudges!
That's what you call vision!
Li Yuan glanced at Chen Mo, who was being lifted high by the crowd, her cheeks flushed and her gaze erratic, looking as if she wanted to look but didn't dare to.
After hesitating for a moment, she couldn't help but speak out:
"Chen Mo..."
"What's the matter?"
"You, could you please put on your clothes first?"
Swinging back and forth like a pendulum... it's really an eyesore!
Qin Shou, carrying the legs at the bottom, rubbed his head.
Something keeps knocking on my skull?