Ruling Martial World by Infinite Insect Swarms

Chapter 187 -175: Yunlong County Shaken, Entering the Demon Suppression Bureau

The towering Yunlong County City sprawled across the vast earth like a slumbering prehistoric behemoth.

When Leviathan’s terrifying 1,200-meter-long silhouette appeared on the horizon, accompanied by the low, droning hum of the flying insect swarm, it was immediately spotted. Even though the sky had already darkened, those who had received advance notice spotted Leviathan shrouded in clouds from dozens of miles away.

“My god! W-what is that monster?!”

“A dragon? Or the legendary Kunpeng? How is it so huge?!”

“It’s the Qin family! They’re here!”

“The intel was true! How is this possible? How could the Qin family possess such strength?”

The Zhang Family Ancestor stood on the city wall, watching Leviathan from afar, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. The destruction of the Cyan Profound Sect had been witnessed by far too many people in a small town dozens of miles away. The news was instantly broadcasted by intelligence networks like the Golden Wind Tower.

If even the Cyan Profound Sect could be wiped out in an instant, how could their Zhang family resist? They were dead! Even if they secretly contacted the Blood Demon Sect, it would probably be too late.

“Ancestor, what do we do?”

The Zhang Family Patriarch’s face turned deathly pale. The grudge between the Qin and Zhang families ran too deep. Countless Qin family disciples had died at the hands of the Zhang family. In contrast, how much enmity did the Cyan Profound Sect actually have with the Qin family? Yet even they had been annihilated. He didn’t even dare to imagine what fate awaited the Zhang family.

“Secretly transfer our core disciples out, sell off all our properties, and leave Yunlong County,” the Zhang Family Ancestor said, his expression grim. “The world is vast; there will always be a place for our Zhang family to survive.”

How could hundreds of years of accumulated family assets be thrown away so easily? For such a massive family, how much could they realistically transfer in secret? But if they stayed, it would mean certain death!

“Yes, Ancestor!” The Zhang Family Patriarch remained pale, but not daring to delay, he immediately withdrew.

That Qin Yu brat was too ruthless—so ruthless that it struck fear into his very heart. Having lost the confidence to fight head-on, he had secretly contacted the Blood Demon Sect, planning to strike at a critical moment to assassinate Qin Yu. Now, however, he had given up completely.

Meanwhile, in another manor outside the city, the Su Family Ancestor’s expression fluctuated uncertainly before he finally let out a long sigh.

“Old Ghost Celestial Wind sure is lucky. This time, our Su family has lost,” he said. “Men, prepare a gift. Tomorrow, you will accompany me to visit the Qin family.

“Our Su family doesn’t have any deep grudges against the Qin family.

“If we bow our heads, the Qin family shouldn’t go so far as to exterminate us.”

Behind him, a middle-aged man breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the behemoth in the sky and the swarming Flying Insect Race, he truly lacked the courage to oppose the Qin family.

“Yes, Ancestor. I will go prepare right away.”

Throughout Yunlong County, factions of all sizes were either preparing to curry favor with the Qin family or, like the Zhang family, abandoning their properties to flee for their lives.

Under countless terrified, curious, and awestruck gazes, Leviathan did not fly directly over the city walls. Instead, it slowly came to a halt high in the air about ten miles away from the city’s west gate. It then descended onto the martial arts arena of the Qin family’s manor located outside the county city.

As one of the four great families of Yunlong County, the Qin family owned numerous properties both inside and outside the city. Many of their clansmen lived in the outer manors to manage the family’s businesses. To ordinary people, the wilderness outside the city was teeming with danger, but with the Qin family’s strength, it was clearly of no concern.

BOOM!

Leviathan’s massive body landed on the heavy brick-paved ground of the martial arts arena, crushing it to dust. The sight left the Qin Family Patriarch, Qin Zhengyang, and the group of Qin family experts—who had received the news beforehand and come out to welcome them—completely dumbfounded.

But what followed immediately after was wild ecstasy!

When they saw Celestial Wind Ancestor, Elder Qin Wenyuan, and the others disembark while crowding around a young man, everyone in the Qin family erupted in cheers.

No one had anticipated this. In less than ten days since the Five Poison Sect’s legacy emerged, the Qin family had undergone such a monumental transformation. The title of the strongest faction in Yunlong County had quietly changed hands.

“Respectful greetings to Celestial Wind Ancestor and Elder Wenyuan! And welcome back to… our Qin family’s peerless genius, Qin Yu!”

Patriarch Qin Zhengyang was the first to recover his wits. Suppressing the raging storm in his heart, he quickly stepped forward with a group of clan elders and core disciples.

However, when looking at Qin Yu, he found himself somewhat at a loss for how to address him. Although Qin Yu was of the younger generation, his strength was enough to rival the Primordial Mansion Realm. His lifebound pet beast could easily slaughter Late Stage Primordial Mansion Realm experts. Zhengyang truly didn’t dare to act presumptuously and call him ‘Yu.’ After all, he himself was only in the Qi Sea Realm!

Besides, he had never guided Qin Yu, nor had they ever fought side by side. Calling him ‘Inspector Qin’ felt too distant, and anything else wouldn’t be respectful enough. Thus, he opted to simply call him the Qin family’s genius.

Behind him, the clan elders and core disciples echoed his greetings loudly.

It was obvious that the current Qin Yu could no longer be treated casually. Even when choosing a title, the Qin Family Patriarch had to tread carefully. It was no exaggeration to say that the future of the entire Qin family rested entirely on his shoulders!

Qin Tianfeng stepped forward and patted Qin Zhengyang on the shoulder, sighing with emotion. “Zhengyang, you’ve worked hard managing the family all these years.

“We can discuss the details later. For now, arrange for Yu and our clansmen to settle in.

“Also, now that the Cyan Profound Sect is destroyed, our Qin family will be taking over Cyan Nether Peak. Our businesses within the county city will also need to be consolidated. You must draft a plan for these matters as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Ancestor!” Qin Zhengyang’s spirits lifted, and he hurriedly agreed.

The Cyan Profound Sect’s assets in Yunlong County extended far beyond just their mountain gate. When a whale falls, all life thrives. Normally, when such a powerful sect collapsed, its assets would undoubtedly be scrambled for by various factions. But with the Qin family currently at the height of their power, who would dare to make a move?

He immediately directed his men to guide the clansmen disembarking from Leviathan, as well as transport some of the crucial resources unloaded, to the pre-arranged courtyards to rest.

However, when he saw the final group step out—a squad of a hundred black-clad, black-armored guards, all exuding the combat prowess of the Qi Sea Realm—his eyelids couldn’t help but twitch. When did the Qin family get so many Qi Sea Realm martial artists?

Qin Yu gave Qin Zhengyang a slight nod but didn’t say much.

These were naturally the Hive Guards he had bred using Leviathan. Although the individual combat strength of the Hive Guards was average, their humanoid forms made it much more convenient to move around the city. Furthermore, equipped with the weapons and armor seized from the Cyan Profound Sect and forming a Daoist Soldier Array, their power was nothing to scoff at.

By the time they settled in, it was already late at night. In a single day, they had traveled thousands of miles, wiped out the Cyan Profound Sect, and hurried to Yunlong County City, arriving long after dusk.

The next morning.

After telling his parents to rest peacefully and leaving behind some Hive Guards to protect them, Qin Yu took two squads of guards and followed Qin Tianfeng toward the county city. He needed to head to the Demon Suppression Bureau as soon as possible to exchange his merit points. Although he was sufficiently confident in his own strength, who would ever complain about becoming stronger?

The bluestone-paved official road was wide and smooth, large enough to accommodate ten carriages running side by side. Qin Yu and Qin Tianfeng rode the wind, closely followed by two squads comprising twenty Hive Guards. Although they didn’t intentionally release their auras, their uniform Qi Sea Realm cultivation still drew sidelong glances from pedestrians along the way, who hurriedly made way for them.

The closer they got to the county city, the clearer the massive city’s silhouette became. From a few miles away, Qin Yu finally saw Yunlong County City clearly with his own eyes for the first time. It was far more direct and majestic than perceiving it through his insect swarm units!

The city walls were not simply straight and towering; they undulated with the terrain, winding across the earth like a slumbering black dragon. The walls were over thirty meters high and entirely dark cyan in color. Having weathered ten thousand years of wind and rain, the surface was covered in scratches and scars of varying depths. Clearly, this ancient county city had endured the flames of war more than once.

On the walls, one could see densely packed, dizzyingly complex array patterns engraved in numerous spots. Every three thousand meters, a towering arrow tower rose from the ground. Enormous bed crossbows exuded a heart-palpitating coercive pressure.

The entire county city was enveloped in a faint, translucent barrier. From afar, it looked like an overturned glazed bowl, evidently the result of some City Defense Array.

“So this is the county city…” Qin Yu murmured, quite shocked.

Qin Tianfeng chuckled. “The first time seeing it is indeed quite shocking. Tens of millions of people live within it, and within a thousand-mile radius, there are several garrison cities.

“The very essence of Yunlong County lies right here.

“Beneath Yunlong County City lies a medium-sized Primordial Stone Vein, much larger than the one at the Cyan Profound Sect! That’s why many experts love settling in the county city.”

“It’s certainly majestic and prosperous!” Qin Yu sighed as he gazed into the distance.

The massive city gates were thirty meters tall, constructed primarily from a type of spirit wood that gleamed with a metallic luster. Even though it was early morning, the gates were already wide open. Security at the entrance was tight. Two squads of heavily armored, fierce-looking soldiers from the City Guard Army stood solemnly on either side, all of them experts no weaker than the Peak of the Qi and Blood Realm.

Traffic flowed endlessly through the city gates. Whether they were commoners from neighboring cities or merchant caravans, everyone waited in line and quickly entered after paying the toll.

“Let’s go,” Qin Tianfeng said, and the group descended from the sky.

The armored warriors at the gates sharply scanned the ebb and flow of the crowd. When they saw Qin Yu’s group, their expressions immediately turned serious. They didn’t step forward to interrogate them, but simply bowed slightly in greeting. As one of the four great families of Yunlong County, the Qin family commanded significant prestige in Yunlong County City.

As the group passed through the city gates, their view suddenly opened up. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but bustling prosperity. The main thoroughfare was over two hundred paces wide, its surface polished enough to reflect one’s image. On both sides of the avenue, pavilions, towers, and shops stood in rows, adorned with flying eaves, bracket sets, and beautifully carved and painted beams.

The streets were woven with foot traffic, people rubbing shoulders as they passed. Martial artists, merchants, commoners… all sorts of people were present. Some were dressed in rich brocades, while others were travel-worn, carrying knapsacks or weapons. Merchant caravans drove pack beasts laden with goods slowly forward, their bells jingling. The cries of hawkers, the bargaining of customers, the clatter of horse-drawn carriages, and the laughter of children all intertwined.

“Now this is life,” Qin Yu sighed, smelling the aroma of freshly baked pastries drifting from the stalls lining the street.

For a moment, he felt as if he had returned to his past life, back to the ancient scenic towns he used to visit. A myriad of emotions welled up in his heart. Compared to the county city, both Cyan Peak County and Bishui City felt far too desolate. No wonder everyone said the county city was prosperous. It truly lived up to its reputation.

They didn’t linger on the streets for long. Led by Qin Tianfeng, they headed straight for the northern district of the inner city. The deeper they ventured into the inner city, the taller the buildings became. The streets grew wider and cleaner, and the clothing and demeanor of the pedestrians noticeably improved. Martial artists could be seen everywhere, and occasionally, they could even sense the aura fluctuations of Qi Sea Realm experts.

About a quarter of an hour later, an exceptionally grand and solemn manor appeared before them. A massive plaque hung above its entrance, bearing the words: Demon Suppression Bureau.

“Let’s go!”