Martial Cultivator

As Chen Chao stepped into the butcher shop, a pungent scent of blood immediately assaulted his senses.

It was not the smell of pig’s blood, it was human blood.

Glancing toward the corner, he saw a corpse lying there.

The burly man secured the door panel, then dropped to one knee. “This lowly official greets Lord Warden Commander.”

Even as he knelt, his heart was still filled with shock. He had received word earlier that someone from the Divine Capital would be coming and had been told to prepare for their arrival. But he had never expected that the one to come would be none other than the newly appointed Lord Warden Commander himself.

Though far removed from the Divine Capital, the man had long heard of what had transpired there. He knew that while this Lord Warden Commander was young, every single thing he had done in these past days had left people both astonished and deeply impressed.

From his initial disdain upon learning that the new Lord Warden Commander was Chen Chao to his current wholehearted admiration, the shift had taken only one or two incidents.

Chen Chao gestured for him to rise before smiling and saying, “If I remember correctly, your name is Wei Changming. Years ago, you served in the Northern Frontier Army, and if I’m not mistaken, you have some ties to the Wei Family?”

Wei Changming was not a widely known name. But many years ago, when that Great General took command of the Northern Frontier, he had been one of the Great General’s personal guards. Back then, he had not only been young but also possessed considerable martial talent. The Great General had deliberately nurtured him, and he was once considered among the first batch of potential successors. However, he later committed an offense within the army, making it impossible for him to remain in the frontier army. Forced to leave, he returned to the capital but soon joined the Hundred Streams Pavilion, assuming a new identity. Since then, few people knew of his whereabouts.

Wei Changming frowned. “Though this lowly official does have some ties to the Wei Family...”

Before Wei Changming could finish speaking, Chen Chao waved his hand to cut him off. Shaking his head, he said, “If I thought there was a problem with you, you would have been dealt with along with the Wei Family when they were uprooted. His Majesty trusts you, and I also believe there’s nothing wrong with you. Don’t overthink it.”

Wei Changming did not know what to say. Facing this young man before him, he understood that he could not treat him as an ordinary youth. After all, this man was not only of high rank but also the highest-ranking military official in the Great Liang Dynasty.

“Tell me about the situation in the city. This official won’t be staying here for long.”

Chen Chao glanced at Wei Changming and smiled. “Once this matter is dealt with, you can return to the Divine Capital. If you wish to rejoin the frontier army, this official can arrange it for you.”

Wei Changming was taken aback, his voice trembling with excitement. “Your Excellency, do you truly mean that?”

Back then, he had been forced to leave the frontier army. It was only because the Great General valued his talent that his life was spared. Otherwise, he would have lost his head long ago. Later, he joined the Hundred Streams Pavilion to atone for his past mistakes.

Chen Chao nodded. “As for the matter at the Infatuation Daoist Temple, this official will handle it personally this time. Once it’s done, there won’t be much reason for you all to stay here any longer.”

After years of careful planning, the imperial court had spies all across Qingshan Prefecture, watching over the Infatuation Daoist Temple. Now, as long as they killed Daoist Sage Yinli and put Yun Jianyue in charge, many of those stationed here would no longer need to remain.

“There are four strongholds of the Glaze Temple within the commandery city. The commoners abducted from all over Qingshan Prefecture and even from other prefectures are held at these four locations for about half a month. They claim it’s to cleanse them of worldly impurities, but in reality, they are starved for half a month, given only clear water to drink, in order to purge their bodies.”

Chen Chao raised an eyebrow.

Wei Changming spoke in a low voice. “They call the blood of these commoners ‘Glaze Blood’ and their flesh ‘White Sheep.’ The Glaze Blood is used to refine pills, while the White Sheep are buried in their herb gardens as fertilizer.”

As he spoke, Wei Changming’s voice trembled slightly. The issues with the Glaze Temple had only come to light after the downfall of the Wei Family, at which point they had begun to closely monitor it. Initially, there had only been scattered clues, but only recently had they begun to piece together the full picture.

But thinking back, who knew how many commoners had already fallen victim to Glaze Temple? Wei Changming had spent years in the frontier army, killing countless demons. He had even witnessed his comrades being devoured by demons with his own eyes. Yet, in comparison, he found these fellow human cultivators to be even more cruel than the demons.

Back at Clearwater Mountain, they had been harvesting boys and girls to refine them into medicinal fruits; an unquestionably heretic practice. Yet Glaze Temple belonged to the Daoism lineage, making their actions even more outrageous than those at Clearwater Mountain.

Chen Chao asked calmly, “When was the last batch of commoners abducted?”

“There was a batch about three months ago. But recently, after Glaze Temple learned that that Daoist Sage Yinli had taken the position of temple master at the Infatuation Daoist Temple, they have become bolder. Now, they conduct an abduction every month. The most recent one was ten days ago, and those commoners should be delivered to Glaze Temple in five days.”

The man spoke softly, explaining the current situation to Chen Chao.

Chen Chao nodded. Glaze Temple was about five hundred miles from Yingchun Commandery. However, since Yingchun Commandery was located in a remote area, the roads beyond the commandery city led into dense forests and mountains. This allowed them to transport commoners without attracting outside attention. Otherwise, they would never have chosen Yingchun Commandery as their final transit point.

Previously, there had not been many forces stationed here, but after the fall of the Wei Family, personnel had been gradually increased with extreme caution. This was to prevent the Glaze Temple from acting recklessly out of desperation.

Over time, even a trickle of water could carve through stone.

Now, in Yingchun Commandery, Great Liang had already gathered over a dozen Great Beyond Realm powerhouses. Additionally, an imperial retainer Nepenthe Realm was secretly making their way here, making their strength quite formidable.

“There should be a Nepenthe cultivator stationed in the city. But other than that, there are no other powerhouses.”

With the forces gathered here, they were more than enough to eradicate the cultivators of the Glaze Temple in Yingchun Commandery. However, to completely eliminate Glaze Temple, it was still not enough.

Because the temple master of Glaze Temple had already stepped into the end of Nepenthe.

Chen Chao nodded. “Since everything is in place, we’ll do it tonight. Kill every last one of those animals.”

Wei Changming asked curiously, “Your Excellency, aren’t you worried about rashly alerting the enemy?” “If the temple master of Glaze Temple comes, how will we deal with him?”

Chen Chao smiled. “This official isn’t afraid of him coming. I’m only afraid that he won’t dare to come.”

Wei Changming was confused. He did not know much information, he just followed orders.

Chen Chao glanced at him and said, “We’re not only going to kill them, we’ll also be making a spectacle of it. We must spread the news back to Glaze Temple as quickly as possible and ensure that everyone in Glaze Temple knows that this official is right here in Yingchun Commandery.”

Wei Changming was stunned, then immediately dropped to his knees and shook his head as he said, “This must not be done! Your Excellency, your life is far too precious, how can you use yourself as bait?”

He was no fool. In an instant, he understood Chen Chao’s intentions. With Chen Chao here, once the Glaze Temple caught wind of the situation, they would undoubtedly send cultivators to silence him.

At that point, Chen Chao would become the primary target.

To ensure success, there was an 80% chance that the temple master of Glaze Temple would personally take action.

The plan itself had no flaws. The only issue was that the temple master of Glaze Temple had truly reached the end of Nepenthe. No matter how gifted Chen Chao was, could he possibly stand a chance against such an opponent?

The difference between Nepenthe and the end of Nepenthe was as vast as heaven and earth.

Chen Chao said indifferently, “He used such methods to step into the end of Nepenthe, so his foundation is likely unstable. He can’t even compare to the average powerhouse who has reached the end of Nepenthe. Since that’s the case, why should this official fear him?”

Wei Changming furrowed his brows, still shaking his head as he said with a bitter smile,“Your Excellency, countless matters in Great Liang rest upon your shoulders. We simply cannot allow you to put yourself in danger.”

Chen Chao glanced at him and suddenly laughed. If Wei Changming knew that after killing the temple master of Glaze Temple, he would have to face the Infatuation Daoist Temple master, a powerhouse who had truly reached the end of Nepenthe, he would surely be even more shocked.

“This matter is decided. This official isn’t discussing it with you, it’s an order.”

Chen Chao looked at Wei Changming and said, “Don’t worry about whether this official will survive. Worry about yourselves and stay vigilant about your own safety.”

“Pass down the order. Fireworks will be the signal. When the time comes, wipe out every last one of those animals. But remember, do not harm the civilians. We’re already late, there must be no mistakes.”

After saying this, Chen Chao said no more and turned to leave.

……

……

At night, the commandery city was deathly silent.

Chen Chao walked slowly down a pitch-black long street. After a few steps, he suddenly noticed a lantern hanging in front of a courtyard. After a moment of thought, he reached out and took it down, leaving behind a single skygold Coin.

Carrying the lantern, Chen Chao walked a long way down the dark street.

The common people of the commandery city were at peace because the cultivators of Glaze Temple had never abducted people locally. They had no idea that devils lurked in their midst.

But if these devils were not eradicated, then sooner or later, their claws would reach out toward them.

Being vigilant in times of peace was a necessity.

Chen Chao arrived at a secluded courtyard.

There were no lanterns hanging here, and the surroundings were pitch black.

He took out the candle from a lantern, then retrieved something from his robe and set it alight. A brilliant firework shot up into the sky.

Boom!

Half the city could hear it.

Chen Chao looked up for a moment, then set down the lantern and grasped the hilt of his saber.

At that moment, footsteps sounded from inside the courtyard.

Soon, a daoist pushed open the door, intending to see what was happening outside. But the moment he did, Chen Chao grabbed his head and slammed it hard against the door frame.

The frame shattered instantly, and the daoist’s skull also split open.

Chen Chao kicked the daoist’s body aside and stepped into the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, several figures immediately rose and turned to face him.

”Who is it? Do you have a death wish, to dare barge in here?!”

A voice rang out within the courtyard.

Chen Chao turned his head to look at the daoists in the courtyard, his face expressionless.

But killing intent surged forth.

“It’s me, the Lord Warden Commander of Great Liang, Chen Chao!”

His voice echoed through the silent night sky, resounding clearly across the entire commandery city.