Chapter 324: Chapter 192: Shocking Discovery

Only by reaching the Super Body Realm could one even hope to contend with them.

But even a Super Body Realm expert was no match for a Rank 2 Phantom Thousand-Handed Demon.

The second most troublesome was the White-Skinned Snake Demon. This type of Demon Fiend had no scales, yet its defense was formidable. Its skin was extremely resilient, capable of repelling both Divine Wondrous attacks and physical weapons.

These two types of Demon Fiends posed the greatest threat to the passage.

For Gu Zheng, however, they were not a problem.

With his Eyes of Golden Flame active, the Phantom Thousand-Handed Demon’s Illusion Techniques and Illusion Realms had no chance to take effect. Gu Zheng located its true body instantly and dispatched it with ease.

The White-Skinned Snake Demons were even simpler. Empowered by his Spatial Sword Intent, three hundred and sixty blades materialized directly inside their heads, slicing their way out through their skulls.

Even the Poisonous Thorn Demon Frogs, which were numerous and liked to hide in the muddy ground, were annihilated in large swaths by a single strike of his Shattering Void Sword Intent.

By the time a Rank 4 Poisonous Thorn Demon Frog charged out from the depths of the wetland, Gu Zheng had already harvested over six thousand Demon Points and retreated back to the passage ahead of time.

He rested for a night in a nearby county town outside the passage.

The next day, Gu Zheng headed for the second Rank 3 passage.

On the other side of this passage, the region of the Demon Realm was a vast, primeval forest, with hundred-meter-tall giant trees everywhere.

Thick layers of fallen leaves blanketed the ground, one on top of the other.

The primary Demon Fiend active here was a type of Demon Ape: the Two-Faced Demon Ape!

It had a savage face on both the front and back of its head. Upon reaching adulthood, each Demon Ape stood five meters tall, comparable to a Rank 2 Super Body Realm existence.

This type of Demon Fiend possessed terrifying physical strength. If a Super Body Realm expert of the same rank was hit by one of its punches, they would be crippled, if not killed outright.

Gu Zheng, naturally, wasn’t about to compete with them in a contest of strength.

He swung his Heaven-piercing Halberd, slaying every Rank 1 and Rank 2 Two-Faced Demon Ape he could find.

Even when he encountered a Rank 3 Two-Faced Demon Ape, it only took a little more effort before he split it in two with his halberd.

By the time a Rank 4 Two-Faced Demon Ape heard the commotion and came roaring out, Gu Zheng had already reaped four thousand Demon Points, along with two Demon Pills.

...

After clearing the Rank 3 passages in Hengzhou, the next stop was Guangzhou.

Guangzhou had three Rank 3 passages.

Among them was the Dahuashan passage, which Gu Zheng had visited before.

On the other side of the Dahuashan passage, Electric Spirit Monsters and Thunder Swift Demons were the primary active Demon Fiends.

Gu Zheng planned to go there again. ’I’ll see if I can find any Thunder Essence.’ 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Both Thunder Essence and Fire Soul were indispensable for repairing the core of the Heaven-piercing Halberd.

Although it wasn’t a fifty-fifty split, the required amounts were close.

The formation of Thunder Essence also depended on special environmental conditions.

Unexpectedly, just as he left the borders of Hengzhou, Gu Zheng suddenly received a mental message from his Seal Slave, Jia Shisan.

"Master, the King of Lie Mountain has killed Princess Consort Liu Ying!"

Hm??

Jia Shisan, who came from the Ghost Shadow Demon Lizard Half-Demon Assassin Family, had been tasked by Gu Zheng to lie in wait in Changying Prefecture and observe the goings-on at the King of Lie Mountain’s Prince’s Mansion ever since he became Gu Zheng’s subordinate in northern Fengzhou.

The news from this sudden message was truly unexpected for Gu Zheng.

Gu Zheng immediately stopped, hovering in mid-air as he sent a mental inquiry.

"What happened?"

Jia Shisan replied, "I don’t know the specific reason, but I can confirm that the King of Lie Mountain killed Liu Ying himself. He then incinerated her body out of thin air, leaving not a single trace behind."

’What are the King of Lie Mountain and Zhong Zhengtang up to?’

’Did he get fed up with the infighting between his two Princess Consorts?’

’Did he finally snap and just kill one of them?’

Just as he was pondering this, Jia Shisan sent another mental message. "Master, something’s wrong with the King of Lie Mountain. Based on my observations during this time, this Prince from the Zhong Family is very strange. Something is very wrong!"

"How so?" Gu Zheng asked back.

"..." Jia Shisan paused for a moment before asking for punishment. "Please punish me, Master. I can’t say what it is exactly. It’s just a gut feeling... the King of Lie Mountain gives me a very bad feeling."

"Master!!"

Suddenly, another mental message echoed in Gu Zheng’s mind.

"Master! I’ve found the Evil God’s avatar! He is Zhong—"

The rest of the message was cut off abruptly.

Gu Zheng’s heart skipped a beat, and a sharp light flared in his eyes.

"Tang Qiyun! Tang Qiyun?"

The second, sudden mental message had come from none other than Tang Qiyun.

This Guardian from the Cult of Evil, a general in the Fengzhou Army, had been made into a Seal Slave by Gu Zheng. Gu Zheng had him assume a new identity and operate in the central and northern regions of Fengzhou, with the goal of finding the Evil God’s avatar or luring it out.

There had been no news from him until now. This sudden, half-finished message was followed by silence.

The Nether Heart Slave Seal was one of Gu Zheng’s Equipment Effects.

Gu Zheng understood the connection between himself and his Seal Slaves better than anyone.

Tang Qiyun’s message had been cut short, and there was no reply to his queries. Gu Zheng forced himself to calm down and feel the connection for a moment.

He confirmed it: Tang Qiyun, his Seal Slave, was dead!

And his soul had been utterly annihilated!

’Who killed him?’

’I’ve found the Evil God’s avatar! He is Zhong—’

’Zhong who?’

Connecting this to Jia Shisan’s recent report, a sudden chill ran down Gu Zheng’s spine.

Zhong Zhengtang!

’That big-headed Evil God, the one who secretly descended as an avatar before the Celestial Change... it possessed the King of Lie Mountain, Zhong Zhengtang?!’

If that were true, then the death of Princess Consort Liu Ying would make sense.

Most likely, Liu Ying had discovered Zhong Zhengtang’s secret and was silenced.

Jia Shisan’s feeling that something was wrong with Zhong Zhengtang, without being able to specify what, could also be explained.

It would also explain what happened during the fall of Four Directions Perfecture. After Zhong Tianlang went underground, he seemed to have made a decision in advance, heading straight for the depths. This led to him almost not making it back to the surface after Gu Zheng destroyed the Rule Array Hub.

Back then, Zhong Tianlang had most likely been acting on Zhong Zhengtang’s orders!

As an Evil God, "Zhong Zhengtang" would naturally be aware of certain secrets.

Thinking of this, Gu Zheng steadied his mind and sent a message to Jia Shisan. "You no longer need to stay in Changying Prefecture City, and you don’t have to watch the King of Lie Mountain’s Prince’s Mansion anymore. Leave there immediately. Go to Nanyun Prefecture, to Qingshi County, and secretly guard the Gu Family!"

"Yes, Master!"

Jia Shisan responded swiftly.

’From his tone, it sounded like he was relieved?’

Gu Zheng paid it no mind.

Instead, he took out the Demon-Slaying Seal. Divine Wondrous power surged as he sent a message to Meng Taiqi and Xie Bisheng, asking their whereabouts.

The Demon Slayer Bureau had also been working continuously to find the Evil God’s avatar.

The person in charge of this operation was Xie Bisheng.

Grand General Xie was currently in the north. After learning his location, Gu Zheng asked him to wait.

He then sent a message to Meng Taiqi, informing him that the King of Lie Mountain, Zhong Zhengtang, was the Evil God’s avatar.

BUZZ BUZZ~

The Demon-Slaying Seal vibrated.

Gu Zheng read the message. It was Meng Taiqi’s astonished reply: "Are you sure!?"

"Ninety-nine percent sure!" Gu Zheng quickly replied.

BUZZ BUZZ~

The Great Seal vibrated.

Meng Taiqi: "I’m heading to the north immediately. Wait for me!"

The news that the King of Lie Mountain, Zhong Zhengtang, was an Evil God’s avatar was too shocking.

How could Meng Taiqi possibly remain seated at the headquarters?

Gu Zheng read the message and didn’t try to dissuade him.

’The Evil God’s avatar secretly descended several years ago; its strength must be immense.’

’If not a full King’s Body, then at least a Half-King.’

’The key is the identity of the host body it possessed—the King of Lie Mountain, Zhong Zhengtang!’

’A member of the Zhong family, and a Prince with real authority.’

’Making a move against him would require careful consideration.’

Most importantly, he couldn’t be one hundred percent certain.

Although Jia Shisan was suspicious and Princess Consort Liu Ying had been killed, Tang Qiyun had only delivered half a message.

Under these circumstances, Gu Zheng couldn’t very well inform Zhong Yi.

If he was wrong, it would mean falsely accusing a Prince!

However, considering how thorny the matter was, Gu Zheng still channeled his Divine Wondrous power into the Demon-Slaying Seal and sent a message to the Demon Slayer Bureau’s Grand Director, Xu Jianzhu.

Xu Jianzhu was also a King’s Body, and he was the ultimate superior of everyone in the Demon Slayer Bureau.

BUZZ BUZZ~

Less than two breaths after the message was sent, a reply came back.

Gu Zheng read it: "Are you sure!?"

"Ninety-nine percent sure," Gu Zheng replied.

BUZZ BUZZ~

The reply was just as swift. "Don’t act rashly. I’m on my way."

Gu Zheng: "Alright."

’Now things are settled.’

Xu Jianzhu was personally heading to Fengzhou.

Even if he turned out to be wrong and the Evil God’s avatar wasn’t Zhong Zhengtang, his ultimate superior, Xu Jianzhu, would be there to bear the consequences.

Ahem~

...

He streaked through the upper atmosphere, flying in a straight line.

By the time he arrived in northern Fengzhou and found Xie Bisheng, Meng Taiqi had already gotten there first.

Seeing Gu Zheng land, Meng Taiqi hurriedly and anxiously asked, "What exactly is going on? And Ping’an, how did you know that Zhong Zhengtang had become the Evil God’s avatar? Could you be mistaken?"

"One word." Xie Bisheng, his face a customary mask of indifference, glanced at Meng Taiqi and said coldly, "Would Ping’an lie to us for fun?"