Down the long corridor,
a low, hoarse voice slowly echoed, as if rising from the depths of the earth. "It's you, Chu He."
As the voice sounded,
a putrid stench filled the air. It was more than just a smell; it was a corrosive force, relentlessly eating away at its surroundings.
The walls, floor, and ceiling seemed to age in an instant under its influence.
Dark, damp spots of mold crept into view, spreading across the walls. Plaster and brick flaked and crumbled, scattering across the floor—a clear sign of the Evil Spirit's energy running rampant.
A man covered in rot stepped out from the darkness. When he got a clear look at the slender, upright figure ahead, a human-like terror surfaced in his grim, shriveled eyes.
He seemed utterly shocked to run into Chu He here—a Martial Artist he had crossed paths with before.
The man recognized Chu He, and naturally, Chu He recognized him too.
This Evil Spirit came from the sealed land above the Demon Cave, a prison for the Great Jing Empire's Evil Spirits.
His appearance meant the seal on the Demon Cave had been compromised.
However, this had little to do with Chu He.
He had drawn a clear line between himself and Great Jing long ago.
Back then, during the public trial,
broadcast live from the courtroom for all to see,
amidst the endless curses on every street corner...
everything about the Great Jing Empire no longer had anything to do with Chu He.
Chu He was no foolish, merciful Holy Mother.
Thus, his gaze remained as tranquil as a desert, showing no flicker of emotion at the sight of the rotting man in a human city.
He watched the rotting man coldly, as if looking at an insignificant ant.
"What a terrifying aura."
Ye Lingyun tightened her grip on the sword Chu He had given her.
This was her first time facing an Evil Spirit. The fear that rose from the depths of her soul was almost suffocating.
Her body trembled uncontrollably under its pressure, and she nearly dropped her sword.
She could feel her Original Force being corroded by the putrid stench, as if her very soul was about to be devoured by the foul odor.
This unprecedented experience gave her a much deeper understanding of, and fear for, Evil Spirits.
Chu He spoke coolly, "This is a King-level Evil Spirit. Among all the Evil Spirits suppressed in the Demon Cave, this one barely ranks among the top.
I remember his designation was the Rotten Man."
There was no emotion in Chu He's tone; he was simply stating a fact.
'Barely ranks among the top...'
An indescribable fear swelled in Ye Lingyun's heart.
It meant that among the Evil Spirits suppressed in the Great Jing Empire's Demon Cave, there were even more terrifying beings.
A chill ran through her as she couldn't help but imagine what those other Evil Spirits looked and fought like.
'Just how did Chu He live all those years?'
'How did he get by, spending every day with these horrifying Evil Spirits?'
'He probably couldn't even sleep peacefully at night.'
'The slightest lapse in vigilance, and one of these Evil Spirits could appear without a sound and take your life.'
For anyone, a life like that would be an endless nightmare.
"Are you here specifically to stop me?"
the Rotten Man asked, his voice hoarse and low.
He stared at Chu He, a complicated emotion flickering in his eyes. "According to the news I've received, the Great Jing Empire was not fair to you."
Before Chu He could answer, Ye Lingyun cut in, "We're here to hunt this Evil Spirit."
The Rotten Man paused. "In that case, you can deal with this Ghost Infant.
Chu He, I have no intention of making an enemy of you.
Besides, since the Great Jing Empire has already failed you, there's no need for you to protect this flock of ignorant humans anymore."
His gaze swept over the Ghost Infant pinned to the ground by Ye Lingyun's sword, a hint of regret in his eyes.
Once this Ghost Infant reached its final form, its power would have been comparable to many of the Evil Spirits suppressed in the Demon Cave, on par with the Rotten Man before him.
Unfortunately, it lacked sufficient intelligence, knowing only slaughter and brutality.
Compared to clashing with Chu He, this Ghost Infant seemed far less important in the Rotten Man's eyes.
"Are you telling me what to do?"
Chu He shot the Rotten Man a cold glance.
The Rotten Man's expression changed. He dropped to his knees, the sound of them hitting the ground echoing through the empty corridor. He bowed his head and said, "I would never dare. I just hope we can avoid any unnecessary conflict."
Chu He didn't say another word. He turned to Ye Lingyun. "Finish off this Ghost Infant. Then we'll leave."
Ye Lingyun nodded. With a flick of her wrist, the Elemental Power on her sword surged forth, tearing the Ghost Infant's body to shreds.
"DING! Quest complete. Congratulations, Host, you have obtained the Land Immortal Realm!"
The system's notification sounded in Chu He's mind.
Ye Lingyun was only able to kill the Ghost Infant so quickly and easily because of Chu He's help.
The moment the Ghost Infant appeared, Chu He had subdued it instantly, allowing Ye Lingyun to deliver the final blow.
'My guess was right,' he thought. 'This method really does complete the system's quest.'
Chu He didn't linger. He took Ye Lingyun and vanished.
Only the Rotten Man was left, still kneeling on the ground.
He looked up in the direction Chu He had left, a flicker of relief in his eyes.
The only reason he had been able to escape with his life was because Chu He hadn't even considered him a threat.
If Chu He had wanted to, he would have died on the spot.
'That walking disaster is finally gone.'
It was a good thing the Rotten Man had the body of an Evil Spirit; otherwise, he would have been drenched in a cold sweat.
Although he had once been one of the top-ranking Evil Spirits suppressed in the Demon Cave, he was as small as an ant before Chu He.
...
At the edge of the Demon Cave, dozens of reporters from various media outlets had already set up their equipment, transforming the open area into what looked like a temporary press conference.
Cameras and microphones were all aimed squarely at a row of people up front—
the ten members of the Time Girl Group, who were now facing the flashing lights and lenses.
The reporters' questions came in a rapid-fire barrage, sharp and direct. "To the members of the Time Girl Group, didn't you previously state that the Demon Cave was perfectly safe?
Why did such a terrifying Evil Spirit appear?
Does this mean there's a problem with the Demon Cave?
What is the source?
Does this mean the Time Girl Group was derelict in its duties?"
Under the reporters' intense questioning, the members of the Time Girl Group appeared somewhat flustered and uneasy.
This was especially true for three of them, who bore serious injuries—obvious evidence of their earlier clash with the Evil Spirit.
Although the giant fish hooks that had fallen from the sky had been repelled, the damage they had inflicted was undeniable.
One of the female reporters, Lin Yue, had been snagged by a hook the moment the Evil Spirit anomaly occurred. Her flesh was torn open, and her death had been gruesome.
Her body, hastily moved to the side, served as the most direct testament to the disaster.
Zong Yajuan, the captain of the Time Girl Group, stepped forward. "Regarding the sudden problem at the Demon Cave, our investigation has revealed that it was a hidden danger left behind by the previous Defender, Chu He.
His own strength was insufficient to completely eliminate the Evil Spirits in the Demon Cave, yet for the sake of vanity and fame, he created the false image of being the strongest person on Blue Star.
In reality, his power is nowhere near that level.
Moving forward, we will gather our forces to resolve the issues at the Demon Cave completely.
At the same time, we will report this matter to Her Majesty the Queen. We must hold Chu He accountable and make him pay the price for his negligence!"
Zong Yajuan's words had been discussed with the other members of the Time Girl Group beforehand.
This mess was too big.
They didn't dare take the blame, nor could they afford to, so they decided to pin it all on Chu He, who was already gone.
While it was a dishonorable thing to do, in their eyes, it was the best solution available.
'Chu He's strength was insufficient?'
They clearly hadn't expected Zong Yajuan to offer such an explanation.
All the reporters present were somewhat stunned.
When it came to Chu He...
everyone had questioned his supposed dereliction of duty and his fishing for fame.
But had anyone ever dared to question his strength?
'Could it be that his strength really wasn't enough?'