Chapter 709 - 186: Zhang Tianhao’s Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell; The Ten Thousand Souls Banner Refines Souls and Devours Demons

Chapter 709: Chapter 186: Zhang Tianhao’s Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell; The Ten Thousand Souls Banner Refines Souls and Devours Demons

It was a piece of wild cursive calligraphy. The brushstrokes were like flying dragons and slithering snakes—powerful and majestic, faintly exuding the murderous air of clashing iron and armored horses.

But the script was so messy and wild that anyone not well-versed in calligraphy would find it difficult to recognize at a glance.

Chu Fan tilted his head up slightly, his brow furrowed. He followed the script from left to right, sounding out the characters one by one, "Fuck... all... people...?"

"How bold! As expected of a great personage. Such vision, such ambition..."

BANG!

The sound of his admiration had barely faded when a loud bang echoed from outside the door.

Princess Zhaohua, who had been about to push the door open, had just stepped one foot across the threshold. Upon hearing those four utterly shocking words, she nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

She stumbled, lost her balance, and instinctively reached for the doorframe to steady herself. But she used too much force, sending the ornate wooden door slamming against the wall with a jarring crash that set one’s teeth on edge.

The air in the study froze in an instant.

Chu Fan turned around to see Princess Zhaohua leaning on the doorframe, her lovely face flushed crimson. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on him with a murderous gaze; if looks could kill, he would have already suffered death by a thousand cuts.

"Er... Chu Fan of the Demon Suppression Guard. My respects to the Commandery Princess."

Chu Fan offered a salute and said calmly, "You’re here too, Commandery Princess. What a coincidence."

"Coincidence...? Coincidence my ass!"

Princess Zhaohua ground her teeth and shot Chu Fan a fierce glare, taking several deep breaths to compose herself.

She silently walked to the chair beside Xiao Ziye and sat down.

A moment later, light and shadow shifted at the doorway.

Wang Yiyi and Li Qingcang walked in side by side.

Behind them followed a black-clad youth with a longsword on his back—a man Chu Fan had seen before.

He was the genius disciple of the Profound Heart Sword Sect, Ye Jian.

His strength was on par with Wang Yiyi and the others. He was "one of them."

According to the plan, in addition to those present, another expert from Prince Zhennan’s Mansion and a clan member from the Wang Family would also be entering the Profound Origin Secret Realm.

This group could be called the all-star lineup of Qing Province’s younger generation.

As they took their seats, the atmosphere felt slightly odd.

Wang Yiyi’s lively eyes darted back and forth between Chu Fan and the calligraphy.

She let out a snicker and slapped a hand to her forehead in exasperation. "Chu Fan, you big oaf, are you illiterate? You’re supposed to read it from right to left!"

"How did four perfectly fine words turn into... that kind of... vulgarity in your mouth?"

Nearby, Li Qingcang remained expressionless as ever.

Without even sparing Chu Fan a glance, he went straight to a chair in the corner and sat down.

Ye Jian, the one with the sword on his back, however, grinned at her words. He winked at Chu Fan and gave him a slight nod.

Chu Fan nonchalantly changed the subject. "Everyone, where exactly is this place? The decor is quite... distinctive."

Wang Yiyi shot him a look one might give an idiot, then tilted her head toward the still-fuming Princess Zhaohua and said softly, "This is... her house."

Chu Fan froze.

’Her house?’

’This is... Prince Zhennan’s Mansion?!’

He subconsciously glanced at Princess Zhaohua, who was still glaring daggers at him.

...

「Over an hour later, deep underground.」

A thick stench of blood and rot permeated the air, as if even sunlight disdained to touch this forgotten place.

Chu Fan and Leng Qingqiu appeared on the lowest level of the Death Row Dungeon.

Without exception, those imprisoned here were Evil Cultivators and Demon Fiends, all guilty of heinous crimes with the blood of innocents on their hands.

Even though every cell was sealed by multiple restrictive spells, the savage auras leaking out felt tangible, scraping against the skin like a physical Force.

In the darkness, countless pairs of eyes—some blood-red, others an emerald green—stared at the intruders like hungry beasts.

If anyone with a weak will were to meet those gazes, the sheer, frantic malice within them would be enough to shatter their spirit.

Leng Qingqiu’s expression was frosty. She tilted her head slightly, a strand of hair fluttering in the air.

A squad of elite Demon Suppression Guards and several Demon Suppression Captains, already on standby behind her, immediately lunged forward like a pack of wolves.

RATTLE—

Amid the grating sound of dragging chains, one by one, Demon Fiends of all shapes and sizes were forcefully dragged from their cells.

Some had the ferocious heads of beasts on humanoid bodies covered in black fur;

some looked no different from ordinary people, but their eyes were crimson and their tongues forked;

and still others were simply writhing black shadows that let out hair-raising shrieks.

Thick Pipa Bone Lock Chains pierced their bodies, and their skin was covered with suppression Talismans. Despite this, they still struggled desperately, radiating a terrifying Demonic Qi.

Upon seeing Leng Qingqiu, some Demon Fiends were instantly overcome with fear, collapsing to the ground trembling;

while the more ferocious ones met the guards with sinister sneers, their eyes full of defiance.

"Move!"

With impassive faces, the Demon Suppression Guards roughly yanked on the chains, dragging all forty-odd death row inmates into a sealed, dark stone chamber.

"Lord Leng... what are you planning to do?"

A middle-aged Evil Cultivator with a gaunt face and sinister gaze narrowed his eyes, sensing something was wrong.

This wasn’t the usual execution ground. What’s more... there was a strange, faint fragrance in the air.

But he could distinctly feel a sense of crisis.

Leng Qingqiu didn’t answer. She simply raised a delicate hand and twitched her index finger.

"Withdraw."

Upon receiving the order, all the Demon Suppression Guards and Captains withdrew from the stone chamber in an instant, like a receding tide, without a hint of hesitation. They then slammed the heavy Profound Iron Gate shut.

BOOM!

The great gate was sealed, and darkness descended.

Within the cramped space, all that remained were the forty-odd death row inmates radiating monstrous Demonic Qi, along with an impassive Leng Qingqiu and Chu Fan.

"Let’s begin."

Leng Qingqiu’s voice was calm, without a single ripple, as if she were speaking of something as mundane as eating a meal.

Chu Fan nodded slightly, his deep eyes instantly turning incomparably dark.

He formed an incantation seal with one hand, and a faint glow sparked to life at his fingertip.

WHOOSH—

In that instant, a ghostly wind began to howl!