Ch. 3831..3840

Chapter 3831 Going After Void Sect

After taking care of Astre Lune Sect’s matters, Levi headed out with Cheriette. Since they had found out about the extent of Void Sect’s capabilities, it was time they went after them for revenge.

However, the headquarters of Void Sect was quite far away. The two would have to pass through Yannopolis in order to get there. Since it was a really long journey, Levi had time to do some thinking along the way.

Looking back, I think my journey in Kenfort has been rather smooth so far. Not only did I consume a large dragon ley line, but I also took over Astre Lune Sect. You’d better appreciate what little time you have left to live, Gloria. Santino, Primo, and the rest of Void Sect… You guys better not interfere, or I’ll destroy Void Sect completely!

With Astre Lune Sect in his possession, Levi no longer had any use for Void Sect. “Mr. Garrison, the people here say this forest up ahead is a corrupt dead zone. Rogue cultivators often kill people and traffic illegal goods there. We should be more careful,” Cheriette advised him politely.

I was not expecting Levi to take only me with him. Quirina ordered me to do whatever it takes to get on his good side. We may have gotten rid of the bodies of Yunus and his men, but it’s only a matter of time before someone finds out about this. When that day comes, we’ll face the wrath of both Eclipse and Eclipse Academy!

We’ll need to maintain a good relationship with Levi if we hope to survive. I’ve tried hinting at him a few times along the way that I’m willing to do anything for him, but he ignored me each time! How could he do such a thing? I’m a beautiful young woman with tons of suitors!

“They can try to rob me if they have a death wish!” Levi replied nonchalantly. Cheriette’s lips twitched when she heard how cocky he sounded.

Everything seemed normal at first when they entered the forest. It wasn’t until they were deep inside that dozens of figures jumped out of hiding and blocked their path.

They were all dressed in crimson robes with black skeleton logos on their chests.

Although Cheriette was able to maintain a neutral expression, her voice trembled slightly as she said, “These are members of Crimson Shadow Pavilion. They specialize in carrying out assassinations, robberies, reconnaissance, and all sorts of evil deeds. Practically all of its members are outlaws.”

Sure enough, Levi wasn’t the slightest bit worried. If these men are going to get in our way, then they should be prepared to die as a result!

Eclipse Academy had ordered the members of Crimson Shadow Pavilion to gather information on the competition for the dragon ley line.

Those men had long since set their sights on Cheriette, but they couldn’t do much since she always had a group of powerful fighters around her.

This time, however, they found out that Cheriette was heading out with only one bodyguard.

Upon realizing that her bodyguard was a useless reprobate from the mundane world, they figured it would be a golden opportunity to strike.

On top of that, Crimson Shadow Pavilion had also received word that there were multiple forces rapidly closing in on Cheriette’s position.

Because Cheriette had great looks and a high level of cultivation, many saw her as an ideal candidate for joint cultivation.

“Astre Lune Sect and Crimson Shadow Pavilion have no grudges against each other, so why are you guys doing this?” Cheriette asked coldly.

The leader of Crimson Shadow Pavilion replied with a sneer, “That’s in the past. Right now, Eclipse Academy has deemed Astre Lune Sect a prime suspect, so it’s only natural that we make our move before anyone else. If you are willing to pleasure me, I may consider sparing your life. But if you refuse, I will have no choice but to use force.”

 

Chapter 3832 A Demon That Eats People

The higher-ups of Eclipse Academy had recently ordered a search for Yunus. Since Crimson Shadow Pavilion was nearby, they could rush over in time and cut Cheriette off.

“These men are very powerful, Mr. Garrison. I can’t take them on all by myself. Will you please lend me a hand?” Cheriette whispered. “These small fries are no threat at all. Just sit back and enjoy the show,” Levi replied with a smile.

The leader of Crimson Shadow Pavilion burst out laughing when he heard that. “Hahaha! You sure talk big for a reprobate from the mundane world!”

“You talk too much!” Levi snapped back at him before disappearing from sight. Before the members of Crimson Shadow Pavilion realized what was going on, Levi had already appeared next to them.

In just the blink of an eye, Levi had taken the lives of three Crimson Shadow Pavilion members. The leader of Crimson Shadow Pavilion gasped in shock.

What the… How is he so fast and powerful? He moved so quickly that I didn’t even get to see how he killed them! “Everyone, get him!” he yelled furiously.

That prompted the rest of the members to charge at him all at once, but the difference in their power levels was simply too huge.

In less than thirty minutes, Levi had every single one of those Crimson Shadow Pavilion members lying dead on the ground.

“Come on, let’s go!” Levi said while waving at Cheriette, snapping her out of her dazed state. She would always find herself stunned whenever she saw Levi in combat.

Crimson Shadow Pavilion is on par with medium-sized sects in terms of strength, and yet Levi is able to kill them all effortlessly!

As the two of them continued on their journey, they were attacked by many other groups that were targeting Cheriette.

Of course, Levi crushed every single one of them all the same.

“Aren’t you quite the popular one? These guys are all trying desperately to get you!” he exclaimed with a teasing grin.

Cheriette simply rolled her eyes at him in response.

After continuing their journey for about five days, they finally arrived at Yannopolis, which was the largest city in the area.

With a line of ballistae on top of the city wall and tens of thousands of soldiers inside, Yannopolis had a fairly solid defense.

A detailed inspection and registration procedure was also required for anyone entering and exiting the city gates.

“We’ll rest here for two days. You must be exhausted after all that traveling,” Levi said flatly.

He wasn’t in a hurry to get to Void Sect since he already knew what was likely going to happen.

Cheriette breathed a huge sigh of relief when she heard that. “Okay!”

The two of them had been ambushed countless times on their way here. Although Levi had been there to assist her every time they got attacked, she had still exerted herself quite a lot in combat.

After entering the city, the two headed to a restaurant and rested while having a scrumptious meal.

“Hey, did you hear? A beast has appeared on the eastern outskirts of Yannopolis! They say it only eats powerful cultivators!”

“Please, that’s no beast! According to an eyewitness, it’s just a really vicious and powerful guy who got mistaken for a beast!”

“Not only does he eat cultivators, but he also targets powerful beasts!”

“This demon has been rather active on the outskirts of the city. It’s possible that he might enter the city and go on a rampage. The guard brigade has put up posters recruiting powerful rogue cultivators because of this.”

“I think we should just leave Yannopolis as soon as we get the chance to! What could we possibly do against that terrifying demon if tens of thousands of soldiers couldn’t even stop him?”

The patrons in the restaurant were all on edge as they gossiped about the supposed demon.

Levi simply listened in on their conversations while munching on his food.

 

Chapter 3833 The Dark Demon Arrives

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from outside the restaurant. Upon turning around, Levi saw hundreds of soldiers running past the door. They were all armed to the teeth and had solemn looks on their faces.

Moments later, a lieutenant of the guard brigade entered the restaurant and announced, “Attention, all citizens! Please do not leave your houses unless absolutely necessary! There have been reports of a monster terrorizing the outskirts of this city lately! According to the information we have, this monster loves preying on powerful cultivators! We are doing everything we can to handle this situation as safely as possible!”

Everyone panicked when they heard the confirmation of the man-eating demon’s existence.

Even the man who had talked about fleeing the city fell silent instantly. Nobody knew when or where the demon would strike.

It wasn’t long before the city defense army made another announcement stating that the man-eating demon was on its way to Yannopolis. To make matters worse, the cultivators who had gone to investigate had all been killed in action.

In order to keep everyone calm in the face of danger, the city defense army sent lots of soldiers to protect the citizens and cultivators of small-sized sects.

Sect members, too, had their weapons drawn in preparation for the demon’s arrival.

“You’ve been in Kenfort for a long time. Have you ever heard of such monsters?” Levi asked curiously.

Cheriette shook her head. “The beasts here in Kenfort are never picky with their food. They will attack anyone regardless of cultivation level. Maybe someone is pretending to be a monster to spread fear and panic among the public. To achieve some kind of secret goal, perhaps?”

Levi nodded in agreement as he found her theory plausible.

“I think we should leave this city as soon as possible, Mr. Garrison!” Cheriette advised him with a solemn expression.

“Didn’t you hear? The city is on lockdown. We can’t leave even if we want to. Since we’re stuck here, we might as well find out what this so-called demon really is!” Levi replied with a carefree chuckle.

Hearing all those rumors made him very curious and eager to meet the demon.

After finishing their food, Levi and Cheriette stayed at a nearby inn. Cheriette was incredibly tense after hearing about the man-eating demon.

Fortunately for her, they managed to get rooms that were next to each other, so Levi could easily reach her in the event of an emergency.

All of Yannopolis was plunged into terror as rumors of the man-eating demon continued to spread throughout the city.

The sect members and rogue cultivators were especially terrified, as the man-eating demon was rumored to target them in particular.

“That demon has eaten up seven small-sized sects so far. Those sects had really powerful fighters, and yet, none of them stood a chance!”

“Just how powerful is this demon? The city defense army is going as far as recruiting more soldiers just to combat it!”

“Yannopolis is on full lockdown now. I heard some fighters tried to flee the city, only to end up being eaten by that demon.”

“Are we all going to die here?”

There were so many rumors going around that people were starting to question if any of them were real. It wasn’t until the city defense army confirmed the rumors that they all fell into despair.

If we can’t escape nor defeat that demon, then death is all that awaits us…

As fear and panic spread rapidly through Yannopolis, members of the city defense army were the only ones out in the streets.

Once again, Cheriette thought about fleeing Yannopolis, as she didn’t want to get eaten by a demon.

However, she was quick to discard that thought when she found out the fighters who had left had all been eaten.

Levi, on the other hand, was looking forward to seeing the demon.

It wasn’t until he heard about Bluesky Sect being attacked by the demon that he began to worry about Floyd.

Although he never bothered to stop Floyd from leaving the base after making a huge mistake, he was still concerned about Floyd’s well-being.

Levi simply couldn’t bring himself to not care about Floyd at all.

“The demon is entering the city! Run for your lives!” someone screamed in the distance.

 

Chapter 3834 The Terrifying Dark Demon

Cheriette was on edge after hearing all those rumors about the demon eating up entire sects, so she freaked out the moment she heard that.

“Wait here while I go see what’s going on. Don’t go anywhere,” Levi ordered solemnly and disappeared before she could even respond.

Cheriette had wanted to follow Levi, as she only felt safe with him around.

However, Levi was going so fast that Cheriette couldn’t keep up with him at all.

Eventually, she had no choice but to give up and hide somewhere secluded instead.

It wasn’t long before Levi arrived at the city gates of Yannopolis, where the demon was said to be sighted.

Of course, Levi was only there to satisfy his curiosity about the demon. He wouldn’t get himself involved unless it would benefit him in some way.

After all, the deaths of the people of Kenfort had nothing to do with him whatsoever.

Hundreds of the city defense army soldiers were attacking a monster that they had surrounded.

The so-called monster was clad in black armor from head to toe and had long, black hair that covered his face.

Because he had gone on a killing spree, he had so much blood all over him that no one could recognize him.

“Argh!”

The sounds of soldiers screaming came from the city gate. Despite having the monster greatly outnumbered, they were unable to cause him any harm.

The Dark Demon stirred up powerful whirlwinds as he charged around like a rabid beast, either injuring or killing the soldiers who were sent flying.

With a roar, the Dark Demon grabbed two soldiers with one hand and held them up in the air. The two soldiers immediately felt their power rapidly draining from their bodies.

In just a matter of seconds, they were completely drained of their power and blood essence. All that was left of them were two sets of skeletons.

“This monster doesn’t eat people! He absorbs their power and blood essence!”

That was when the city defense army finally understood the rumors about the monster eating people.

“Get in formation! We have to kill this monster today, or—” The soldier was halfway through his sentence when the Dark Demon grabbed him with both arms.

His eyes were filled with fear as the monster sucked his power and blood essence from him.

A few seconds later, he was reduced to a pile of bones as well.

The Dark Demon kept growing stronger after devouring a few soldiers with high cultivation levels, so the other soldiers had no means of stopping him at all.

The city defense army had fought in countless battles in the past, but they had never encountered an enemy this powerful.

“Bad news! The protective formation has been broken through! The ballistae aren’t doing any damage to him either! We can’t hold the line any longer! Retreat!”

Having completely lost the will to fight, the city defense army immediately retreated and scattered.

To the Dark Demon, this was a perfect opportunity to attack, as he would encounter no resistance.

With movements as quick as lightning, he pounced on the soldiers with decent cultivation levels and absorbed their power as well as blood essence.

In less than half an hour, he had broken through the castle gate of Yannopolis.

Their defensive formation was down, their heavy artillery units were destroyed, and the city defense army suffered heavy casualties.

Those grabbed by the Dark Demon had all been reduced to piles of bones.

As this was the first time the city defense army had experienced such a terrifying situation, morale was at an all-time low.

Naturally, the civilians and sect members panicked when they saw that and began fleeing the area.

Levi returned to the inn after observing the situation for a while. As he still needed Cheriette to take him to Void Sect, he had to ensure her safety.

What the heck is this demon? I’ve never seen such barbaric power! Those soldiers from the city defense army were pretty powerful fighters, and yet, they were all forced to retreat in fear!

Levi grew increasingly curious about the Dark Demon’s background.

 

Chapter 3835 Yannopolis Requesting For Help

Upon returning to the inn, Levi saw a ton of the city defense army soldiers inside Cheriette’s room.

What’s going on here? The city gate has been broken through! Why are these soldiers looking for Cheriette instead of defending the city?

“Empyrean Cheriette, Yannopolis is on the brink of destruction! You’ve got to help us! I’m close with Astre Lune Sect! Lord Morell would surely send backup over if she found out about this!” said a burly, middle-aged man.

He looked really majestic, with a golden suit of armor and a long spear in his hand.

That man was none other than Kazier Whitlock, the governor of Yannopolis.

Upon hearing that, Levi realized they were actually there to ask Cheriette for help.

The city defense army had sustained heavy casualties, and the guard brigade sent to back them up didn’t fare any better.

With no other choice left, Kazier had recalled Cheriette being in the city and rushed over to ask for help.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Whitlock, but Astre Lune Sect really isn’t able to send any fighters over at the moment. However…”

As Cheriette’s eyes darted about the room, she noticed Levi standing at the door and continued, “If Mr. Garrison is willing to lend you guys a hand, then there might still be hope for Yannopolis.”

Everyone in the room turned around and glanced at Levi in unison.

“This guy?”

A look of disdain flashed past Kazier’s eyes when he saw Levi, but he maintained a polite tone as he asked, “May I know what’s special about Mr. Garrison over here?”

Because Levi had warned Cheriette not to reveal his true identity to avoid alerting Void Sect of his arrival, she didn’t know what to say in response.

Realizing her reluctance to answer his question, Kazier decided not to press on any further. Instead, he continued telling Cheriette about the Dark Demon.

“I’m not sure if you know this, but that demon doesn’t eat people! He simply devours a person’s power and blood essence! He targets both people who are weaker and slightly stronger than him. Those unfortunate enough to get devoured are reduced to a pile of bones! Given your cultivation level, Empyrean Cheriette, I’m sure you’ll become the demon’s prime target!”

Kazier’s description of the Dark Demon instantly caught Levi’s attention.

Could that demon be Gloria? But that demon doesn’t really look like her. Could it be Xylas?

Levi immediately thought of those two because they both focused on cultivating the extreme devouring technique.

Of course, it was also possible for the people of Kenfort to practice such cultivation techniques.

“I understand what you mean, Mr. Whitlock, but I can’t make that decision.” Cheriette then turned toward Levi. “As long as Mr. Garrison is willing to lend you guys a hand, Yannopolis will be saved.”

“Empyrean Cheriette, why are you still refusing to help us out?”

“That’s right! If you don’t want to help us, then just say so! There’s no need to pin this responsibility on a nobody like him!”

“I’ve visited Astre Lune Sect often enough to know all of its high-rank members, and I’ve never seen this man before! Why are you taking orders from him?”

“Given his cultivation level, that demon would have him drained in a second!”

Overwhelmed with fear and frustration, the soldiers began attacking Levi verbally.

The elite members of the guard brigade, too, looked down on Levi as they detected nothing extraordinary about his abilities.

“You have no idea—”

Cheriette stopped herself mid-sentence as she felt Levi glaring at her.

Heh… The fate of Yannopolis was none of my business to begin with. Since they’re looking down on me, then I won’t bother helping them out!

 

Chapter 3836 The Dark Demon Was Shocked

“Bad news, Governor! The Dark Demon is approaching us!” At that moment, a panicked voice rang out.

Kazier’s face turned pale in shock. His subordinates had informed him that the Dark Demon was extremely skilled in combat, so he had no confidence in winning at all.

“Let’s attack together! We’ll kill him at any cost!” shouted Kazier, steeling himself for what was to come.

Invigorated again, the elites of the guard brigade charged at the Dark Demon.

From afar, one could see the city defense army and the guard brigade occupying the entire street, with some even perching on the roofs of the houses at the side.

The Dark Demon launched himself toward them while absorbing the powers of others as if he had just arisen from the depths of hell.

This created a strange, vicious cycle where the Dark Demon became even more powerful the more he fought while the city defense army and guard brigade lost confidence as the fight continued.

The strongest fighters dwindled in numbers as they almost got killed by the devourer.

“Argh!”

Screams of misery reverberated in the air. The street was initially crowded with soldiers, but the enemy had managed to kill their way through.

The scene of the soldiers collapsing was horrifying and everyone was frightened out of their wits.

Regret overwhelmed Kazier and the guard brigade. Over half of their subordinates had been injured or killed, and the number just kept rising.

“Mr. Garrison, I’ve offended you earlier. Please be forgiving and help us out here!” begged Kazier, sounding as though he was on the verge of tears.

“Please help us, Mr. Garrison. We’re sorry.”

“Mr. Garrison, if we let this drag on any further, Yannopolis will fall to the enemy!”

“Mr. Garrison, I’ll beg you on my knees.”

Many of them had fallen to their knees and even Kazier was bowing deeply.

Levi replied solemnly, “I’ve given you the chance earlier, but you didn’t treasure it. This isn’t my fault. No matter what you say, I’ll never intervene. You’re on your own!”

Sighs of despair filled the place.

“Argh!”

Once again, a shrill cry of pain pierced through the air.

Everyone glanced over and saw that the elites from the guard brigade, who had been guarding the inn, were all dead.

Fear instantly gripped their hearts when they saw the Dark Demon make his way toward them.

With the number of guards dwindling every second, they no longer had the courage to resist.

The Dark Demon was simply too powerful. The gap between their powers could not be so easily overcome just by having more people.

As more elites from the guard brigade collapsed, terror and hopelessness filled Kazier’s eyes.

“The guard brigade is doomed. Yannopolis is doomed. Everything’s over!” mumbled Kazier to himself.

However, at that moment, the Dark Demon caught a glimpse of Levi, who was standing at the back of the crowd. He froze for a moment before whirling around and fleeing.

He retreated so fast that he looked like an animal escaping pathetically after encountering a natural predator.

“What’s going on?”

Everyone was confused. They could not comprehend this unbelievable turn of events.

What did the Dark Demon, who’s usually so bloodthirsty and violent, see to make him so scared?

Even Cheriette was puzzled.

Her first guess was that the Dark Demon had sensed Levi’s terrifying powers. Upon realizing the vast difference in their powers, he fled to prevent himself from getting killed.

However, Cheriette soon cast that hypothesis aside.

After all, she knew Levi was deliberately suppressing his actual powers—even Quirina and Yunus could not detect the exact level of his cultivation.

Furthermore, given that the Dark Demon was obviously weaker than Quirina and Yunus, she reckoned it was impossible for him to know Levi’s true abilities.

Why then? It’s Levi’s first time in Kenfort, so the Dark Demon couldn’t have recognized him.

Unable to reach an answer, Cheriette directed her gaze to Levi.

 

Chapter 3837 The Dark Demon Is Floyd

Cheriette soon noticed a similar look of confusion in Levi’s eyes and realized that perhaps he also could not figure out why the Dark Demon suddenly fled. Did he manage to detect the actual level of my cultivation?

Levi dismissed that thought instantly. Not only was the Dark Demon far weaker than him, but he also did not detect any energy released from the opponent to investigate him. Could he be someone I know?

That suspicion caused a grim look to flash across Levi’s eyes. There was barely anyone who could enter Kenfort from the mundane world, much less those who practiced the extreme devouring technique.

Gloria, Xylas, and Floyd were the only suspects thus far. Naturally, he must not exclude the possibility that Gloria had taught others the extreme devouring technique.

However, judging from the Dark Demon’s powers, Levi supposed he had been training the technique for a long time.

Hence, he could eliminate the possibility that Gloria had taught other cultivators the technique.

Judging from his physique, I think the Dark Demon is probably a man. This leaves Gloria out of the equation. Floyd and Xylas are the likeliest suspects. Plus, they know me very well.

A solemn glint appeared in Levi’s eyes as he recalled the details of what had happened earlier.

When his eyes met the Dark Demon’s, he had distinctly felt a hint of familiarity.

Evie mentioned that upon absorbing the powers of skilled fighters using the extreme devouring technique for a long time, the person’s bones and muscles would undergo significant changes. In fact, he might look completely different. Precisely so, people who practice the extreme devouring technique must find a spiritual ley line first. However, this presents another problem—the body’s capacity to endure it. Just by his appearance alone, it’s hard to tell what his true identity is. I can only find out by investigating other areas.

At that moment, Cheriette suddenly asked, “Did you discover something, Mr. Garrison?”

When she said that, the surviving soldiers of the guard brigade and the city defense army immediately turned their heads to Levi.

Now Levi was their only hope left. Every single one of his actions would affect the fate of Yannopolis.

“Nothing. I need to confirm something. Follow me.”

With that, Levi and Cheriette rushed off in the direction where the Dark Demon had escaped.

The Dark Demon sprinted so rapidly that all that could be seen were afterimages.

After running for a long time, the Dark Demon finally stopped in the depths of a forest.

He released some energy behind to check his surroundings. Upon realizing that no one was on his tail, he heaved a sigh of relief.

“Looks like Master hasn’t discovered my true identity.”

The Dark Demon lowered his head and looked at his palms, which were almost twice their usual size, and his significantly thicker arms. A helpless sigh escaped his lips.

“Who would recognize me with my horrendous appearance?”

The Dark Demon laughed bitterly. He was none other than Floyd.

Ever since he was triggered by the marriage between Primo and Gloria, he had started practicing the devouring technique at a more extreme level.

He was no longer only practicing what Gloria had taught him. In addition to what he already knew, he incorporated a lot of his own ideas and thoughts.

While the effects of the devouring technique became even more extreme, the side effects on his body increased too.

When he devoured magical herbs and spiritual ley lines, the effects were not as evident yet.

It was after he exhausted all the resources from Bluesky Sect and the other four sects that he started absorbing the powers of skilled fighters.

Ever since he had gotten over the psychological burden of devouring the powers of other cultivators, Floyd felt as if he had become addicted.

Every time he met a cultivator, he would have the urge to devour their powers. It was to the stage where he could barely hold himself back. He had lost himself.

Many sects had been eliminated because of Floyd’s devouring rampage. Eventually, he became a big demon who wreaked havoc everywhere.

 

Chapter 3838 He Will Not Dare To Act Rashly

Of course, there had also been times Floyd had to admit defeat. He had encountered several powerful fighters previously, and his attempts at devouring them had only caused him to get injured.

Nonetheless, through maniacally devouring and hunting down fighters, he had boosted his strength at a much faster rate than anyone could have imagined.

He only had one thought in his head the entire time—devour without restraint to grow his powers and exact revenge on Gloria.

As time passed, the power and resources from ordinary small sects became less and less effective in enhancing his strength.

However, he dared not provoke the major sects rashly, well aware that he was still no match for the fighters from those sects.

Hence, he focused his sights on Yannopolis.

The city boasted a large population, and its strongest force was its guard brigade. Even so, the fighters from the area could not rival Floyd.

Not only can I leverage the number of people within the city to enhance my powers, but I can also ensure my safety at the same time. Those are the perfect conditions for extreme devouring.

What Floyd never expected, however, was that he would meet Levi after his killing spree in Yannopolis.

Although Levi had hidden his powers and changed his appearance slightly, Floyd knew the former too well and could easily recognize him based on his habitual movements and natural aura.

Floyd had not lost all reason yet, and he truly did not want Levi to see him in such a monstrous state. That was why he had turned and fled.

Someone’s coming!

Suddenly, he sensed two strong auras approaching swiftly, and one of them seemed particularly familiar.

Is Master catching up?

His heart lurched. Not daring to linger where he was, he continued sprinting deeper into the forest.

Levi and Cheriette had followed him into the woods.

“This guy’s speed is quite astounding. Wait here. I’ll chase after him on my own,” Levi said in a low voice.

“O-Okay. Be careful, Mr. Garrison.”

Although she was afraid that she would get hunted by the Dark Demon, she dared not go against Levi’s orders.

“He won’t dare to act rashly with me around.”

By the time she heard those words, he had already vanished in front of her.

Even with Cheriette’s presence slowing Levi down, Floyd shouldn’t have been able to shake Levi off.

Floyd was still on the run only because he had escaped from Yannopolis in advance, which caught Levi off guard.

On top of that, Levi was unfamiliar with Kenfort, especially the area they were in with its mountains, dense trees, and tricky terrain.

He had thought taking Cheriette with him would make things easier since she was considered a local. Alas, she was just as much of a stranger to their surroundings as him.

While at the headquarters of Astre Lune Sect, she devoted herself to cultivating within the sect’s compound and hardly went outside to train.

On top of that, the sect wanted to protect her due to her cultivation potential. They did not allow her to explore or train in dangerous places until she was fully grown up.

As a result, not only was she unable to act as a guide and provide Levi with any assistance during their pursuit, but she was also the reason he had to slacken his pace.

Inside the forest, Levi caught a fleeting glimpse of a shadowy figure and quickly gave chase.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Just then, trees were thrown at him, one after another. Although they did not fly toward him at blinding speed, the attack covered a wide area.

Is this meant to slow me down?

Levi’s lips curled into a smirk as he aimed a punch at the trees flying toward him.

His fist moved through the air so quickly that the wind whistled. The attack obliterated the trees into dust, which was quickly swept away by the winds.

Swoosh!

Up ahead, the burly figure was still fleeing at top speed. Occasionally, he would swerve to the left and right and even use the hanging vines to swing himself forward.

 

Chapter 3839 I Can Exterminate Them At Any Time

The woods extended across a mountain range, which already made it difficult for one to traverse.

Combined with the fact that Levi was unfamiliar with the surroundings, even someone of his caliber could barely keep up the pursuit. Nonetheless, he still fell behind by a considerable distance.

Crack! As Levi tried to propel himself forward like an arrow shot from a bow, the trees underneath his feet cracked and splintered from the impact of his stride.

At the same time, he still had to use his punches to smash the trees in front of him and clear a path for himself, which hindered his speed even more.

Meanwhile, Floyd was running desperately. He had hidden in the primeval forest before, so he could make his way to many areas within the area even if he had his eyes closed.

He used vines to leap over long distances and cross streams that the uneven ground seemed like flat plains to him.

“Master is unbelievable fast!” Floyd muttered as he continued dashing forward. As far as he could remember, a stone forest lay in the depths of the woods, and its surroundings were even more challenging.

Many caves, which appear to be manmade, are dotted along the face of the mountain. The caves extend in all directions, with some connecting to a secret underground chamber. That’s where I’m going to hide.

As Floyd ran, he sent a massive rock hurtling toward Levi, who was behind him.

I know it won’t injure him. However, it’s the most effective way to slow him down as much as possible, which is what I want.

Both men raced through the forest for miles. If it wasn’t for Levi’s superior strength, he would have fallen far behind.

Even so, by the time Levi arrived at the edge of the stone forest, Floyd was nowhere in sight.

Every stone column stood several meters tall, and with the mist swirling among them, his vision was completely blocked.

Levi searched the stone forest for some time, but alas, he failed to find any trace of the Dark Demon. He’s too at home in this area. How frustrating!

Then, he raised his voice and yelled, “If you don’t come out, I’ll destroy this whole place!”

After waiting for a long time without getting any response, Levi unleashed three punches, causing numerous stone columns to collapse and scattering debris everywhere.

Later, he smashed another dozen or so of them. However, there was still no response from the Dark Demon.

I don’t detect any aura either. This person is quite skilled at concealing his aura.

Levi sighed as the feeling that something seemed familiar about the Dark Demon grew stronger.

“Forget it. I’d better go back to Cheriette first.”

He did not continue attempting to track the person down, as he had other ideas.

Upon returning to the periphery of the forest, he saw Cheriette looking uneasy and anxious.

“Lord Garrison, you’re finally back!”

She broke into a smile, the worries and fears in her heart vanishing immediately.

“What happened? Did you kill the Dark Demon?”

Seeing that Levi had returned by himself, she immediately thought he had already sent the Dark Demon to his death.

Levi shook his head and replied, “It was too confusing in the forest. I followed him to the stone forest but lost him there.”

Cheriette was shocked. She could not believe that the Dark Demon had escaped from right under Levi’s nose. How powerful is that person?

Levi did not elaborate further and merely asked, “Do you know the location of the headquarters of Bluesky Sect?”

Cheriette nodded. However, the confusion in her heart intensified.

“Lord Garrison, are you not going to exterminate Void Sect?” she enquired curiously.

After all, Bluesky Sect was only a small sect, so she could not understand why he wanted to go there.

Is there perhaps something to do with the Dark Demon?

“Void Sect hasn’t grown wings. I can exterminate them at any time, and there’s no hurry to do so,” Levi answered in a low voice.

He had heard rumors that there had been a drastic shift within Bluesky Sect, so he wanted to go and personally check on Floyd’s condition.

I’ve also been trying to figure out the Dark Demon’s real identity, and I feel that his extreme devouring technique is a crucial piece of information. Even disregarding the difference in body shape and gender, I think it’s unlikely that the person is Gloria. After all, she was looking for dragon ley lines at Tragora Mountain only a little while back.

 

Chapter 3840 Cream Of The Crop

Besides, Gloria’s position within Void Sect has slowly risen, and she has gotten into Primo’s good graces. It wouldn’t make sense for her to go around recklessly devouring the powers of others because that’s unnecessary. Rumor has it that Heptino has the ability to examine spiritual ley lines and provide the best spiritual ley lines as cultivation resources.

There’s no need for him to reject what is near at hand to seek something that is far away. The same logic applies to Xylas and the few elite fighters from the Glorian Order. With Gloria’s support, they don’t have to devour other cultivators’ powers to boost their cultivation level.

“As you wish, Lord Garrison. I’ll lead the way,” said Cheriette, not daring to probe further. The pair set off immediately, making their way swiftly toward the headquarters of Bluesky Sect.

At the same time, the area was abuzz as two pieces of news circulated among the various sects. The first was that the Dark Demon had appeared in Yannopolis, committed a widespread massacre, and nearly wiped out the entire city.

The second was that no one had heard from Eclipse Academy’s vice-chancellor and dozens of its elites for some time. The rumor was that they were dead at the hands of a powerful fighter.

On top of that, the powerful forces who had tried searching for the missing people had been slaughtered, including those from the notorious Crimson Shadow Pavilion.

That news created an even greater stir, and many sects wondered whether some mighty being had returned.

The fact that a dragon ley line had appeared on Tragora Mountain also further fuelled speculations that it had most likely attracted the attention of powerful fighters.

Over at the headquarters of Void Sect, Primo was stunned when he got wind of those updates.

He inhaled sharply, then said, “Eclipse Academy belongs to the top sect in this area. Who would be crazy enough to attack them?”

Santino said sadly, “What’s more, Mr. Lohse possesses superior strength. He had dozens of elites from the academy with him, yet they were all killed. One can only imagine how powerful the attacker had to be to do that.”

“With Yunus’ cultivation level, not many people could stop him if he decided to make a run for it,” Gloria added.

At her words, everyone fell silent again.

Some of them even looked terrified.

As Gloria pointed out, Yunos was a force to be reckoned with. Had he been determined to escape, the perpetrators who wanted to stop him would have had to push their cultivation level to its breaking point to succeed.

Only that would be enough to eliminate Yunos and the others quietly without alerting anyone, so much so that there were still no traces of them until now.

“Have you thought that perhaps that person could very well be the mysterious elite who appeared during the conflict at Tragora Mountain?” Primo asked softly.

Suddenly, everyone felt as though their eyes had been opened.

Gloria immediately recalled how that mysterious person had used up all the energy of a large dragon ley line in just one night. That’s something only a powerful elite can do.

“Issue an order that all the Void Sect apprentices must be on high alert at all times. If there are any unusual occurrences, they are to sound the alarm at once,” Primo commanded in a deep voice.

In the end, Void Sect has also gotten involved in the battle for dragon ley lines. Our initial intention may be to look for clues related to the killings of Yunus and the elites from Eclipse Academy, but what if that makes us the target of that mysterious elite? That’d prove disastrous for us. However, there’s a high chance that’ll happen.

“I’m actually rather interested in the Dark Demon. Gloria, don’t you think his cultivation technique is somewhat similar to yours?” Primo asked suddenly.

Gloria was momentarily stunned. Then, she answered frankly, “There are some similarities indeed. However, absorbing powers is ultimately disadvantageous, and the side effects are too severe.”

Despite the sudden change of subject, Gloria’s thoughts still dwelled on the super-powerful fighter.

Despite feeling shocked, she also felt a sense of anticipation. Only a person with such a cultivation level would be worthy of becoming Kenfort’s cream of the crop!

Chapter 3831 Going After Void Sect

After taking care of Astre Lune Sect’s matters, Levi headed out with Cheriette. Since they had found out about the extent of Void Sect’s capabilities, it was time they went after them for revenge.

However, the headquarters of Void Sect was quite far away. The two would have to pass through Yannopolis in order to get there. Since it was a really long journey, Levi had time to do some thinking along the way.

Looking back, I think my journey in Kenfort has been rather smooth so far. Not only did I consume a large dragon ley line, but I also took over Astre Lune Sect. You’d better appreciate what little time you have left to live, Gloria. Santino, Primo, and the rest of Void Sect… You guys better not interfere, or I’ll destroy Void Sect completely!

With Astre Lune Sect in his possession, Levi no longer had any use for Void Sect. “Mr. Garrison, the people here say this forest up ahead is a corrupt dead zone. Rogue cultivators often kill people and traffic illegal goods there. We should be more careful,” Cheriette advised him politely.

I was not expecting Levi to take only me with him. Quirina ordered me to do whatever it takes to get on his good side. We may have gotten rid of the bodies of Yunus and his men, but it’s only a matter of time before someone finds out about this. When that day comes, we’ll face the wrath of both Eclipse and Eclipse Academy!

We’ll need to maintain a good relationship with Levi if we hope to survive. I’ve tried hinting at him a few times along the way that I’m willing to do anything for him, but he ignored me each time! How could he do such a thing? I’m a beautiful young woman with tons of suitors!

“They can try to rob me if they have a death wish!” Levi replied nonchalantly. Cheriette’s lips twitched when she heard how cocky he sounded.

Everything seemed normal at first when they entered the forest. It wasn’t until they were deep inside that dozens of figures jumped out of hiding and blocked their path.

They were all dressed in crimson robes with black skeleton logos on their chests.

Although Cheriette was able to maintain a neutral expression, her voice trembled slightly as she said, “These are members of Crimson Shadow Pavilion. They specialize in carrying out assassinations, robberies, reconnaissance, and all sorts of evil deeds. Practically all of its members are outlaws.”

Sure enough, Levi wasn’t the slightest bit worried. If these men are going to get in our way, then they should be prepared to die as a result!

Eclipse Academy had ordered the members of Crimson Shadow Pavilion to gather information on the competition for the dragon ley line.

Those men had long since set their sights on Cheriette, but they couldn’t do much since she always had a group of powerful fighters around her.

This time, however, they found out that Cheriette was heading out with only one bodyguard.

Upon realizing that her bodyguard was a useless reprobate from the mundane world, they figured it would be a golden opportunity to strike.

On top of that, Crimson Shadow Pavilion had also received word that there were multiple forces rapidly closing in on Cheriette’s position.

Because Cheriette had great looks and a high level of cultivation, many saw her as an ideal candidate for joint cultivation.

“Astre Lune Sect and Crimson Shadow Pavilion have no grudges against each other, so why are you guys doing this?” Cheriette asked coldly.

The leader of Crimson Shadow Pavilion replied with a sneer, “That’s in the past. Right now, Eclipse Academy has deemed Astre Lune Sect a prime suspect, so it’s only natural that we make our move before anyone else. If you are willing to pleasure me, I may consider sparing your life. But if you refuse, I will have no choice but to use force.”

 

Chapter 3832 A Demon That Eats People

The higher-ups of Eclipse Academy had recently ordered a search for Yunus. Since Crimson Shadow Pavilion was nearby, they could rush over in time and cut Cheriette off.

“These men are very powerful, Mr. Garrison. I can’t take them on all by myself. Will you please lend me a hand?” Cheriette whispered. “These small fries are no threat at all. Just sit back and enjoy the show,” Levi replied with a smile.

The leader of Crimson Shadow Pavilion burst out laughing when he heard that. “Hahaha! You sure talk big for a reprobate from the mundane world!”

“You talk too much!” Levi snapped back at him before disappearing from sight. Before the members of Crimson Shadow Pavilion realized what was going on, Levi had already appeared next to them.

In just the blink of an eye, Levi had taken the lives of three Crimson Shadow Pavilion members. The leader of Crimson Shadow Pavilion gasped in shock.

What the… How is he so fast and powerful? He moved so quickly that I didn’t even get to see how he killed them! “Everyone, get him!” he yelled furiously.

That prompted the rest of the members to charge at him all at once, but the difference in their power levels was simply too huge.

In less than thirty minutes, Levi had every single one of those Crimson Shadow Pavilion members lying dead on the ground.

“Come on, let’s go!” Levi said while waving at Cheriette, snapping her out of her dazed state. She would always find herself stunned whenever she saw Levi in combat.

Crimson Shadow Pavilion is on par with medium-sized sects in terms of strength, and yet Levi is able to kill them all effortlessly!

As the two of them continued on their journey, they were attacked by many other groups that were targeting Cheriette.

Of course, Levi crushed every single one of them all the same.

“Aren’t you quite the popular one? These guys are all trying desperately to get you!” he exclaimed with a teasing grin.

Cheriette simply rolled her eyes at him in response.

After continuing their journey for about five days, they finally arrived at Yannopolis, which was the largest city in the area.

With a line of ballistae on top of the city wall and tens of thousands of soldiers inside, Yannopolis had a fairly solid defense.

A detailed inspection and registration procedure was also required for anyone entering and exiting the city gates.

“We’ll rest here for two days. You must be exhausted after all that traveling,” Levi said flatly.

He wasn’t in a hurry to get to Void Sect since he already knew what was likely going to happen.

Cheriette breathed a huge sigh of relief when she heard that. “Okay!”

The two of them had been ambushed countless times on their way here. Although Levi had been there to assist her every time they got attacked, she had still exerted herself quite a lot in combat.

After entering the city, the two headed to a restaurant and rested while having a scrumptious meal.

“Hey, did you hear? A beast has appeared on the eastern outskirts of Yannopolis! They say it only eats powerful cultivators!”

“Please, that’s no beast! According to an eyewitness, it’s just a really vicious and powerful guy who got mistaken for a beast!”

“Not only does he eat cultivators, but he also targets powerful beasts!”

“This demon has been rather active on the outskirts of the city. It’s possible that he might enter the city and go on a rampage. The guard brigade has put up posters recruiting powerful rogue cultivators because of this.”

“I think we should just leave Yannopolis as soon as we get the chance to! What could we possibly do against that terrifying demon if tens of thousands of soldiers couldn’t even stop him?”

The patrons in the restaurant were all on edge as they gossiped about the supposed demon.

Levi simply listened in on their conversations while munching on his food.

 

Chapter 3833 The Dark Demon Arrives

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from outside the restaurant. Upon turning around, Levi saw hundreds of soldiers running past the door. They were all armed to the teeth and had solemn looks on their faces.

Moments later, a lieutenant of the guard brigade entered the restaurant and announced, “Attention, all citizens! Please do not leave your houses unless absolutely necessary! There have been reports of a monster terrorizing the outskirts of this city lately! According to the information we have, this monster loves preying on powerful cultivators! We are doing everything we can to handle this situation as safely as possible!”

Everyone panicked when they heard the confirmation of the man-eating demon’s existence.

Even the man who had talked about fleeing the city fell silent instantly. Nobody knew when or where the demon would strike.

It wasn’t long before the city defense army made another announcement stating that the man-eating demon was on its way to Yannopolis. To make matters worse, the cultivators who had gone to investigate had all been killed in action.

In order to keep everyone calm in the face of danger, the city defense army sent lots of soldiers to protect the citizens and cultivators of small-sized sects.

Sect members, too, had their weapons drawn in preparation for the demon’s arrival.

“You’ve been in Kenfort for a long time. Have you ever heard of such monsters?” Levi asked curiously.

Cheriette shook her head. “The beasts here in Kenfort are never picky with their food. They will attack anyone regardless of cultivation level. Maybe someone is pretending to be a monster to spread fear and panic among the public. To achieve some kind of secret goal, perhaps?”

Levi nodded in agreement as he found her theory plausible.

“I think we should leave this city as soon as possible, Mr. Garrison!” Cheriette advised him with a solemn expression.

“Didn’t you hear? The city is on lockdown. We can’t leave even if we want to. Since we’re stuck here, we might as well find out what this so-called demon really is!” Levi replied with a carefree chuckle.

Hearing all those rumors made him very curious and eager to meet the demon.

After finishing their food, Levi and Cheriette stayed at a nearby inn. Cheriette was incredibly tense after hearing about the man-eating demon.

Fortunately for her, they managed to get rooms that were next to each other, so Levi could easily reach her in the event of an emergency.

All of Yannopolis was plunged into terror as rumors of the man-eating demon continued to spread throughout the city.

The sect members and rogue cultivators were especially terrified, as the man-eating demon was rumored to target them in particular.

“That demon has eaten up seven small-sized sects so far. Those sects had really powerful fighters, and yet, none of them stood a chance!”

“Just how powerful is this demon? The city defense army is going as far as recruiting more soldiers just to combat it!”

“Yannopolis is on full lockdown now. I heard some fighters tried to flee the city, only to end up being eaten by that demon.”

“Are we all going to die here?”

There were so many rumors going around that people were starting to question if any of them were real. It wasn’t until the city defense army confirmed the rumors that they all fell into despair.

If we can’t escape nor defeat that demon, then death is all that awaits us…

As fear and panic spread rapidly through Yannopolis, members of the city defense army were the only ones out in the streets.

Once again, Cheriette thought about fleeing Yannopolis, as she didn’t want to get eaten by a demon.

However, she was quick to discard that thought when she found out the fighters who had left had all been eaten.

Levi, on the other hand, was looking forward to seeing the demon.

It wasn’t until he heard about Bluesky Sect being attacked by the demon that he began to worry about Floyd.

Although he never bothered to stop Floyd from leaving the base after making a huge mistake, he was still concerned about Floyd’s well-being.

Levi simply couldn’t bring himself to not care about Floyd at all.

“The demon is entering the city! Run for your lives!” someone screamed in the distance.

 

Chapter 3834 The Terrifying Dark Demon

Cheriette was on edge after hearing all those rumors about the demon eating up entire sects, so she freaked out the moment she heard that.

“Wait here while I go see what’s going on. Don’t go anywhere,” Levi ordered solemnly and disappeared before she could even respond.

Cheriette had wanted to follow Levi, as she only felt safe with him around.

However, Levi was going so fast that Cheriette couldn’t keep up with him at all.

Eventually, she had no choice but to give up and hide somewhere secluded instead.

It wasn’t long before Levi arrived at the city gates of Yannopolis, where the demon was said to be sighted.

Of course, Levi was only there to satisfy his curiosity about the demon. He wouldn’t get himself involved unless it would benefit him in some way.

After all, the deaths of the people of Kenfort had nothing to do with him whatsoever.

Hundreds of the city defense army soldiers were attacking a monster that they had surrounded.

The so-called monster was clad in black armor from head to toe and had long, black hair that covered his face.

Because he had gone on a killing spree, he had so much blood all over him that no one could recognize him.

“Argh!”

The sounds of soldiers screaming came from the city gate. Despite having the monster greatly outnumbered, they were unable to cause him any harm.

The Dark Demon stirred up powerful whirlwinds as he charged around like a rabid beast, either injuring or killing the soldiers who were sent flying.

With a roar, the Dark Demon grabbed two soldiers with one hand and held them up in the air. The two soldiers immediately felt their power rapidly draining from their bodies.

In just a matter of seconds, they were completely drained of their power and blood essence. All that was left of them were two sets of skeletons.

“This monster doesn’t eat people! He absorbs their power and blood essence!”

That was when the city defense army finally understood the rumors about the monster eating people.

“Get in formation! We have to kill this monster today, or—” The soldier was halfway through his sentence when the Dark Demon grabbed him with both arms.

His eyes were filled with fear as the monster sucked his power and blood essence from him.

A few seconds later, he was reduced to a pile of bones as well.

The Dark Demon kept growing stronger after devouring a few soldiers with high cultivation levels, so the other soldiers had no means of stopping him at all.

The city defense army had fought in countless battles in the past, but they had never encountered an enemy this powerful.

“Bad news! The protective formation has been broken through! The ballistae aren’t doing any damage to him either! We can’t hold the line any longer! Retreat!”

Having completely lost the will to fight, the city defense army immediately retreated and scattered.

To the Dark Demon, this was a perfect opportunity to attack, as he would encounter no resistance.

With movements as quick as lightning, he pounced on the soldiers with decent cultivation levels and absorbed their power as well as blood essence.

In less than half an hour, he had broken through the castle gate of Yannopolis.

Their defensive formation was down, their heavy artillery units were destroyed, and the city defense army suffered heavy casualties.

Those grabbed by the Dark Demon had all been reduced to piles of bones.

As this was the first time the city defense army had experienced such a terrifying situation, morale was at an all-time low.

Naturally, the civilians and sect members panicked when they saw that and began fleeing the area.

Levi returned to the inn after observing the situation for a while. As he still needed Cheriette to take him to Void Sect, he had to ensure her safety.

What the heck is this demon? I’ve never seen such barbaric power! Those soldiers from the city defense army were pretty powerful fighters, and yet, they were all forced to retreat in fear!

Levi grew increasingly curious about the Dark Demon’s background.

 

Chapter 3835 Yannopolis Requesting For Help

Upon returning to the inn, Levi saw a ton of the city defense army soldiers inside Cheriette’s room.

What’s going on here? The city gate has been broken through! Why are these soldiers looking for Cheriette instead of defending the city?

“Empyrean Cheriette, Yannopolis is on the brink of destruction! You’ve got to help us! I’m close with Astre Lune Sect! Lord Morell would surely send backup over if she found out about this!” said a burly, middle-aged man.

He looked really majestic, with a golden suit of armor and a long spear in his hand.

That man was none other than Kazier Whitlock, the governor of Yannopolis.

Upon hearing that, Levi realized they were actually there to ask Cheriette for help.

The city defense army had sustained heavy casualties, and the guard brigade sent to back them up didn’t fare any better.

With no other choice left, Kazier had recalled Cheriette being in the city and rushed over to ask for help.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Whitlock, but Astre Lune Sect really isn’t able to send any fighters over at the moment. However…”

As Cheriette’s eyes darted about the room, she noticed Levi standing at the door and continued, “If Mr. Garrison is willing to lend you guys a hand, then there might still be hope for Yannopolis.”

Everyone in the room turned around and glanced at Levi in unison.

“This guy?”

A look of disdain flashed past Kazier’s eyes when he saw Levi, but he maintained a polite tone as he asked, “May I know what’s special about Mr. Garrison over here?”

Because Levi had warned Cheriette not to reveal his true identity to avoid alerting Void Sect of his arrival, she didn’t know what to say in response.

Realizing her reluctance to answer his question, Kazier decided not to press on any further. Instead, he continued telling Cheriette about the Dark Demon.

“I’m not sure if you know this, but that demon doesn’t eat people! He simply devours a person’s power and blood essence! He targets both people who are weaker and slightly stronger than him. Those unfortunate enough to get devoured are reduced to a pile of bones! Given your cultivation level, Empyrean Cheriette, I’m sure you’ll become the demon’s prime target!”

Kazier’s description of the Dark Demon instantly caught Levi’s attention.

Could that demon be Gloria? But that demon doesn’t really look like her. Could it be Xylas?

Levi immediately thought of those two because they both focused on cultivating the extreme devouring technique.

Of course, it was also possible for the people of Kenfort to practice such cultivation techniques.

“I understand what you mean, Mr. Whitlock, but I can’t make that decision.” Cheriette then turned toward Levi. “As long as Mr. Garrison is willing to lend you guys a hand, Yannopolis will be saved.”

“Empyrean Cheriette, why are you still refusing to help us out?”

“That’s right! If you don’t want to help us, then just say so! There’s no need to pin this responsibility on a nobody like him!”

“I’ve visited Astre Lune Sect often enough to know all of its high-rank members, and I’ve never seen this man before! Why are you taking orders from him?”

“Given his cultivation level, that demon would have him drained in a second!”

Overwhelmed with fear and frustration, the soldiers began attacking Levi verbally.

The elite members of the guard brigade, too, looked down on Levi as they detected nothing extraordinary about his abilities.

“You have no idea—”

Cheriette stopped herself mid-sentence as she felt Levi glaring at her.

Heh… The fate of Yannopolis was none of my business to begin with. Since they’re looking down on me, then I won’t bother helping them out!

 

Chapter 3836 The Dark Demon Was Shocked

“Bad news, Governor! The Dark Demon is approaching us!” At that moment, a panicked voice rang out.

Kazier’s face turned pale in shock. His subordinates had informed him that the Dark Demon was extremely skilled in combat, so he had no confidence in winning at all.

“Let’s attack together! We’ll kill him at any cost!” shouted Kazier, steeling himself for what was to come.

Invigorated again, the elites of the guard brigade charged at the Dark Demon.

From afar, one could see the city defense army and the guard brigade occupying the entire street, with some even perching on the roofs of the houses at the side.

The Dark Demon launched himself toward them while absorbing the powers of others as if he had just arisen from the depths of hell.

This created a strange, vicious cycle where the Dark Demon became even more powerful the more he fought while the city defense army and guard brigade lost confidence as the fight continued.

The strongest fighters dwindled in numbers as they almost got killed by the devourer.

“Argh!”

Screams of misery reverberated in the air. The street was initially crowded with soldiers, but the enemy had managed to kill their way through.

The scene of the soldiers collapsing was horrifying and everyone was frightened out of their wits.

Regret overwhelmed Kazier and the guard brigade. Over half of their subordinates had been injured or killed, and the number just kept rising.

“Mr. Garrison, I’ve offended you earlier. Please be forgiving and help us out here!” begged Kazier, sounding as though he was on the verge of tears.

“Please help us, Mr. Garrison. We’re sorry.”

“Mr. Garrison, if we let this drag on any further, Yannopolis will fall to the enemy!”

“Mr. Garrison, I’ll beg you on my knees.”

Many of them had fallen to their knees and even Kazier was bowing deeply.

Levi replied solemnly, “I’ve given you the chance earlier, but you didn’t treasure it. This isn’t my fault. No matter what you say, I’ll never intervene. You’re on your own!”

Sighs of despair filled the place.

“Argh!”

Once again, a shrill cry of pain pierced through the air.

Everyone glanced over and saw that the elites from the guard brigade, who had been guarding the inn, were all dead.

Fear instantly gripped their hearts when they saw the Dark Demon make his way toward them.

With the number of guards dwindling every second, they no longer had the courage to resist.

The Dark Demon was simply too powerful. The gap between their powers could not be so easily overcome just by having more people.

As more elites from the guard brigade collapsed, terror and hopelessness filled Kazier’s eyes.

“The guard brigade is doomed. Yannopolis is doomed. Everything’s over!” mumbled Kazier to himself.

However, at that moment, the Dark Demon caught a glimpse of Levi, who was standing at the back of the crowd. He froze for a moment before whirling around and fleeing.

He retreated so fast that he looked like an animal escaping pathetically after encountering a natural predator.

“What’s going on?”

Everyone was confused. They could not comprehend this unbelievable turn of events.

What did the Dark Demon, who’s usually so bloodthirsty and violent, see to make him so scared?

Even Cheriette was puzzled.

Her first guess was that the Dark Demon had sensed Levi’s terrifying powers. Upon realizing the vast difference in their powers, he fled to prevent himself from getting killed.

However, Cheriette soon cast that hypothesis aside.

After all, she knew Levi was deliberately suppressing his actual powers—even Quirina and Yunus could not detect the exact level of his cultivation.

Furthermore, given that the Dark Demon was obviously weaker than Quirina and Yunus, she reckoned it was impossible for him to know Levi’s true abilities.

Why then? It’s Levi’s first time in Kenfort, so the Dark Demon couldn’t have recognized him.

Unable to reach an answer, Cheriette directed her gaze to Levi.

 

Chapter 3837 The Dark Demon Is Floyd

Cheriette soon noticed a similar look of confusion in Levi’s eyes and realized that perhaps he also could not figure out why the Dark Demon suddenly fled. Did he manage to detect the actual level of my cultivation?

Levi dismissed that thought instantly. Not only was the Dark Demon far weaker than him, but he also did not detect any energy released from the opponent to investigate him. Could he be someone I know?

That suspicion caused a grim look to flash across Levi’s eyes. There was barely anyone who could enter Kenfort from the mundane world, much less those who practiced the extreme devouring technique.

Gloria, Xylas, and Floyd were the only suspects thus far. Naturally, he must not exclude the possibility that Gloria had taught others the extreme devouring technique.

However, judging from the Dark Demon’s powers, Levi supposed he had been training the technique for a long time.

Hence, he could eliminate the possibility that Gloria had taught other cultivators the technique.

Judging from his physique, I think the Dark Demon is probably a man. This leaves Gloria out of the equation. Floyd and Xylas are the likeliest suspects. Plus, they know me very well.

A solemn glint appeared in Levi’s eyes as he recalled the details of what had happened earlier.

When his eyes met the Dark Demon’s, he had distinctly felt a hint of familiarity.

Evie mentioned that upon absorbing the powers of skilled fighters using the extreme devouring technique for a long time, the person’s bones and muscles would undergo significant changes. In fact, he might look completely different. Precisely so, people who practice the extreme devouring technique must find a spiritual ley line first. However, this presents another problem—the body’s capacity to endure it. Just by his appearance alone, it’s hard to tell what his true identity is. I can only find out by investigating other areas.

At that moment, Cheriette suddenly asked, “Did you discover something, Mr. Garrison?”

When she said that, the surviving soldiers of the guard brigade and the city defense army immediately turned their heads to Levi.

Now Levi was their only hope left. Every single one of his actions would affect the fate of Yannopolis.

“Nothing. I need to confirm something. Follow me.”

With that, Levi and Cheriette rushed off in the direction where the Dark Demon had escaped.

The Dark Demon sprinted so rapidly that all that could be seen were afterimages.

After running for a long time, the Dark Demon finally stopped in the depths of a forest.

He released some energy behind to check his surroundings. Upon realizing that no one was on his tail, he heaved a sigh of relief.

“Looks like Master hasn’t discovered my true identity.”

The Dark Demon lowered his head and looked at his palms, which were almost twice their usual size, and his significantly thicker arms. A helpless sigh escaped his lips.

“Who would recognize me with my horrendous appearance?”

The Dark Demon laughed bitterly. He was none other than Floyd.

Ever since he was triggered by the marriage between Primo and Gloria, he had started practicing the devouring technique at a more extreme level.

He was no longer only practicing what Gloria had taught him. In addition to what he already knew, he incorporated a lot of his own ideas and thoughts.

While the effects of the devouring technique became even more extreme, the side effects on his body increased too.

When he devoured magical herbs and spiritual ley lines, the effects were not as evident yet.

It was after he exhausted all the resources from Bluesky Sect and the other four sects that he started absorbing the powers of skilled fighters.

Ever since he had gotten over the psychological burden of devouring the powers of other cultivators, Floyd felt as if he had become addicted.

Every time he met a cultivator, he would have the urge to devour their powers. It was to the stage where he could barely hold himself back. He had lost himself.

Many sects had been eliminated because of Floyd’s devouring rampage. Eventually, he became a big demon who wreaked havoc everywhere.

 

Chapter 3838 He Will Not Dare To Act Rashly

Of course, there had also been times Floyd had to admit defeat. He had encountered several powerful fighters previously, and his attempts at devouring them had only caused him to get injured.

Nonetheless, through maniacally devouring and hunting down fighters, he had boosted his strength at a much faster rate than anyone could have imagined.

He only had one thought in his head the entire time—devour without restraint to grow his powers and exact revenge on Gloria.

As time passed, the power and resources from ordinary small sects became less and less effective in enhancing his strength.

However, he dared not provoke the major sects rashly, well aware that he was still no match for the fighters from those sects.

Hence, he focused his sights on Yannopolis.

The city boasted a large population, and its strongest force was its guard brigade. Even so, the fighters from the area could not rival Floyd.

Not only can I leverage the number of people within the city to enhance my powers, but I can also ensure my safety at the same time. Those are the perfect conditions for extreme devouring.

What Floyd never expected, however, was that he would meet Levi after his killing spree in Yannopolis.

Although Levi had hidden his powers and changed his appearance slightly, Floyd knew the former too well and could easily recognize him based on his habitual movements and natural aura.

Floyd had not lost all reason yet, and he truly did not want Levi to see him in such a monstrous state. That was why he had turned and fled.

Someone’s coming!

Suddenly, he sensed two strong auras approaching swiftly, and one of them seemed particularly familiar.

Is Master catching up?

His heart lurched. Not daring to linger where he was, he continued sprinting deeper into the forest.

Levi and Cheriette had followed him into the woods.

“This guy’s speed is quite astounding. Wait here. I’ll chase after him on my own,” Levi said in a low voice.

“O-Okay. Be careful, Mr. Garrison.”

Although she was afraid that she would get hunted by the Dark Demon, she dared not go against Levi’s orders.

“He won’t dare to act rashly with me around.”

By the time she heard those words, he had already vanished in front of her.

Even with Cheriette’s presence slowing Levi down, Floyd shouldn’t have been able to shake Levi off.

Floyd was still on the run only because he had escaped from Yannopolis in advance, which caught Levi off guard.

On top of that, Levi was unfamiliar with Kenfort, especially the area they were in with its mountains, dense trees, and tricky terrain.

He had thought taking Cheriette with him would make things easier since she was considered a local. Alas, she was just as much of a stranger to their surroundings as him.

While at the headquarters of Astre Lune Sect, she devoted herself to cultivating within the sect’s compound and hardly went outside to train.

On top of that, the sect wanted to protect her due to her cultivation potential. They did not allow her to explore or train in dangerous places until she was fully grown up.

As a result, not only was she unable to act as a guide and provide Levi with any assistance during their pursuit, but she was also the reason he had to slacken his pace.

Inside the forest, Levi caught a fleeting glimpse of a shadowy figure and quickly gave chase.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Just then, trees were thrown at him, one after another. Although they did not fly toward him at blinding speed, the attack covered a wide area.

Is this meant to slow me down?

Levi’s lips curled into a smirk as he aimed a punch at the trees flying toward him.

His fist moved through the air so quickly that the wind whistled. The attack obliterated the trees into dust, which was quickly swept away by the winds.

Swoosh!

Up ahead, the burly figure was still fleeing at top speed. Occasionally, he would swerve to the left and right and even use the hanging vines to swing himself forward.

 

Chapter 3839 I Can Exterminate Them At Any Time

The woods extended across a mountain range, which already made it difficult for one to traverse.

Combined with the fact that Levi was unfamiliar with the surroundings, even someone of his caliber could barely keep up the pursuit. Nonetheless, he still fell behind by a considerable distance.

Crack! As Levi tried to propel himself forward like an arrow shot from a bow, the trees underneath his feet cracked and splintered from the impact of his stride.

At the same time, he still had to use his punches to smash the trees in front of him and clear a path for himself, which hindered his speed even more.

Meanwhile, Floyd was running desperately. He had hidden in the primeval forest before, so he could make his way to many areas within the area even if he had his eyes closed.

He used vines to leap over long distances and cross streams that the uneven ground seemed like flat plains to him.

“Master is unbelievable fast!” Floyd muttered as he continued dashing forward. As far as he could remember, a stone forest lay in the depths of the woods, and its surroundings were even more challenging.

Many caves, which appear to be manmade, are dotted along the face of the mountain. The caves extend in all directions, with some connecting to a secret underground chamber. That’s where I’m going to hide.

As Floyd ran, he sent a massive rock hurtling toward Levi, who was behind him.

I know it won’t injure him. However, it’s the most effective way to slow him down as much as possible, which is what I want.

Both men raced through the forest for miles. If it wasn’t for Levi’s superior strength, he would have fallen far behind.

Even so, by the time Levi arrived at the edge of the stone forest, Floyd was nowhere in sight.

Every stone column stood several meters tall, and with the mist swirling among them, his vision was completely blocked.

Levi searched the stone forest for some time, but alas, he failed to find any trace of the Dark Demon. He’s too at home in this area. How frustrating!

Then, he raised his voice and yelled, “If you don’t come out, I’ll destroy this whole place!”

After waiting for a long time without getting any response, Levi unleashed three punches, causing numerous stone columns to collapse and scattering debris everywhere.

Later, he smashed another dozen or so of them. However, there was still no response from the Dark Demon.

I don’t detect any aura either. This person is quite skilled at concealing his aura.

Levi sighed as the feeling that something seemed familiar about the Dark Demon grew stronger.

“Forget it. I’d better go back to Cheriette first.”

He did not continue attempting to track the person down, as he had other ideas.

Upon returning to the periphery of the forest, he saw Cheriette looking uneasy and anxious.

“Lord Garrison, you’re finally back!”

She broke into a smile, the worries and fears in her heart vanishing immediately.

“What happened? Did you kill the Dark Demon?”

Seeing that Levi had returned by himself, she immediately thought he had already sent the Dark Demon to his death.

Levi shook his head and replied, “It was too confusing in the forest. I followed him to the stone forest but lost him there.”

Cheriette was shocked. She could not believe that the Dark Demon had escaped from right under Levi’s nose. How powerful is that person?

Levi did not elaborate further and merely asked, “Do you know the location of the headquarters of Bluesky Sect?”

Cheriette nodded. However, the confusion in her heart intensified.

“Lord Garrison, are you not going to exterminate Void Sect?” she enquired curiously.

After all, Bluesky Sect was only a small sect, so she could not understand why he wanted to go there.

Is there perhaps something to do with the Dark Demon?

“Void Sect hasn’t grown wings. I can exterminate them at any time, and there’s no hurry to do so,” Levi answered in a low voice.

He had heard rumors that there had been a drastic shift within Bluesky Sect, so he wanted to go and personally check on Floyd’s condition.

I’ve also been trying to figure out the Dark Demon’s real identity, and I feel that his extreme devouring technique is a crucial piece of information. Even disregarding the difference in body shape and gender, I think it’s unlikely that the person is Gloria. After all, she was looking for dragon ley lines at Tragora Mountain only a little while back.

 

Chapter 3840 Cream Of The Crop

Besides, Gloria’s position within Void Sect has slowly risen, and she has gotten into Primo’s good graces. It wouldn’t make sense for her to go around recklessly devouring the powers of others because that’s unnecessary. Rumor has it that Heptino has the ability to examine spiritual ley lines and provide the best spiritual ley lines as cultivation resources.

There’s no need for him to reject what is near at hand to seek something that is far away. The same logic applies to Xylas and the few elite fighters from the Glorian Order. With Gloria’s support, they don’t have to devour other cultivators’ powers to boost their cultivation level.

“As you wish, Lord Garrison. I’ll lead the way,” said Cheriette, not daring to probe further. The pair set off immediately, making their way swiftly toward the headquarters of Bluesky Sect.

At the same time, the area was abuzz as two pieces of news circulated among the various sects. The first was that the Dark Demon had appeared in Yannopolis, committed a widespread massacre, and nearly wiped out the entire city.

The second was that no one had heard from Eclipse Academy’s vice-chancellor and dozens of its elites for some time. The rumor was that they were dead at the hands of a powerful fighter.

On top of that, the powerful forces who had tried searching for the missing people had been slaughtered, including those from the notorious Crimson Shadow Pavilion.

That news created an even greater stir, and many sects wondered whether some mighty being had returned.

The fact that a dragon ley line had appeared on Tragora Mountain also further fuelled speculations that it had most likely attracted the attention of powerful fighters.

Over at the headquarters of Void Sect, Primo was stunned when he got wind of those updates.

He inhaled sharply, then said, “Eclipse Academy belongs to the top sect in this area. Who would be crazy enough to attack them?”

Santino said sadly, “What’s more, Mr. Lohse possesses superior strength. He had dozens of elites from the academy with him, yet they were all killed. One can only imagine how powerful the attacker had to be to do that.”

“With Yunus’ cultivation level, not many people could stop him if he decided to make a run for it,” Gloria added.

At her words, everyone fell silent again.

Some of them even looked terrified.

As Gloria pointed out, Yunos was a force to be reckoned with. Had he been determined to escape, the perpetrators who wanted to stop him would have had to push their cultivation level to its breaking point to succeed.

Only that would be enough to eliminate Yunos and the others quietly without alerting anyone, so much so that there were still no traces of them until now.

“Have you thought that perhaps that person could very well be the mysterious elite who appeared during the conflict at Tragora Mountain?” Primo asked softly.

Suddenly, everyone felt as though their eyes had been opened.

Gloria immediately recalled how that mysterious person had used up all the energy of a large dragon ley line in just one night. That’s something only a powerful elite can do.

“Issue an order that all the Void Sect apprentices must be on high alert at all times. If there are any unusual occurrences, they are to sound the alarm at once,” Primo commanded in a deep voice.

In the end, Void Sect has also gotten involved in the battle for dragon ley lines. Our initial intention may be to look for clues related to the killings of Yunus and the elites from Eclipse Academy, but what if that makes us the target of that mysterious elite? That’d prove disastrous for us. However, there’s a high chance that’ll happen.

“I’m actually rather interested in the Dark Demon. Gloria, don’t you think his cultivation technique is somewhat similar to yours?” Primo asked suddenly.

Gloria was momentarily stunned. Then, she answered frankly, “There are some similarities indeed. However, absorbing powers is ultimately disadvantageous, and the side effects are too severe.”

Despite the sudden change of subject, Gloria’s thoughts still dwelled on the super-powerful fighter.

Despite feeling shocked, she also felt a sense of anticipation. Only a person with such a cultivation level would be worthy of becoming Kenfort’s cream of the crop!