In the vast mountain range, a troop of over 130 people marched along a rugged path.
In the forests on both sides, the agile figures of Rapid Insects darted through the undergrowth, completely unhindered by the complex terrain.
The beating of the light wings on their backs made the Rapid Insects even more nimble.
SKREEE—
A scouting Red-bellied Eagle in the sky suddenly cried out. It then circled rapidly above the troop, screeching repeatedly as it flew toward the southeast.
"Demon Fiend spotted to the southeast!"
Qin Yu shouted, and the entire troop tensed up. Even Zhang Shun in the center of the formation subconsciously placed his hand on the hilt of his saber.
However, the moment Qin Yu’s voice faded, the scouting Rapid Insects ahead roared and charged straight for the target.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Amid the fierce clash, a shrill wail echoed out before quickly falling silent.
When a short, dual-saber-wielding Martial Artist from the Demon Suppression Bureau rushed to the scene, he saw seven or eight Rapid Insects already tearing into a giant python about thirty feet long with silver rings covering its body.
The Snake Demon’s massive body was cut into more than a dozen pieces in moments, then rapidly chewed and swallowed by the Rapid Insects, a sight that sent a chill down his spine.
"Chief, it was a Silver-Ring Snake Demon. Looked to be about as strong as the Refining Flesh Realm. It’s already been dismembered by those Rapid Insects.
That scene, tsk tsk..."
The short, dual-saber Martial Artist performed several flips through the forest to return to the troop and report to Zhang Shun.
"A Silver-Ring Snake Demon?"
Zhang Shun nodded, then turned to Qin Yu and couldn’t help but speak.
"These Rapid Insects certainly live up to their name, finishing off a Demon Fiend so quickly. And with the Red-bellied Eagles for scouting, things are much safer with their help."
The battle was over before they even had a chance to make a move.
"It was just a Little Demon at the Flesh Refining Realm. You gentlemen could have easily handled it yourselves."
Qin Yu said, cupping his hands in a fist.
"That’s not the same. Snake-type Demon Fiends are best at stealth, and the forest environment is extremely complex. By the time we discovered it, it might have already caused casualties."
A ’gentle’ smile appeared on Zhang Shun’s fierce, scar-ridden face.
He glanced at Qin Hu, then back at Qin Yu.
’An idea began to form in his mind.’
’Qin Hu is the Qin Family Patriarch and is getting on in years. But Qin Yu is still young, his strength is not weak, and he can control Rapid Insects and Red-bellied Eagles.’
’If those twenty Rapid Insects swarmed someone, even a Bone Forging Martial Artist would be torn to shreds in an instant!’
’If I could recruit him into the Demon Suppression Bureau, hunting Demon Fiends in the future would be so much safer.’
"Little Brother Qin Yu, don’t call me ’sir.’ It’s too formal. Why don’t you just call me Brother Zhang."
"Brother Zhang!"
Qin Yu didn’t hesitate for a moment, calling out immediately.
"Haha, how refreshing! Let me introduce you to my teammates. This one with the dual sabers is Zhang Ming, a Bone Forging Martial Artist.
He’s usually in charge of scouting."
Zhang Shun laughed heartily, gesturing toward the short, dual-saber Martial Artist beside him.
"You’re a few years younger than me, so you can just call me Brother Zhang from now on."
Zhang Ming looked at Qin Yu with a grin. ’How could they not know what their captain was thinking?’
He immediately played along.
"This is Zhou Feng. He has Innate Divine Strength. Don’t be fooled by his skill with hammers; he’s more thoughtful than he looks."
After speaking, Zhang Shun turned to look at an incredibly burly man who carried two huge hammers glinting with a faint bloody light on his back.
"Brother Zhou."
Qin Yu greeted him with a smile.
There were six people in the Demon Suppression Bureau group. Besides their leader, Zhang Shun, the others weren’t very old, just in their early twenties.
But compared to them, Qin Yu was the little brother of the group.
"Mm."
Zhou Feng grinned. Standing a full two meters tall, he looked like a human bear, and the tough flesh on his face made even his smile look ferocious.
’No wonder he has Innate Divine Strength!’ Qin Yu thought to himself.
"These two with the long spears are Chen Feng and Li Hui. Their spear techniques are exquisite, and when they work together, they’re even more formidable.
And like you, this is Xu Chen, who uses a Long Saber and a Bow and Arrow.
When we assault the Demon’s Nest, you and Xu Chen will provide support from the rear. You can learn a lot from his experience."
Qin Yu followed his gaze. All three men were of a lean build, similar to himself. Xu Chen, in particular, had exceptionally sharp eyes, like those of an eagle.
"Brother Chen, Li Hui, Brother Xu."
The three of them also nodded with friendly smiles.
With one side keen on recruiting and the other willing to build connections, the atmosphere was naturally harmonious.
The march was tedious, so the group naturally started chatting.
Before long, the conversation turned to tales of the Demon Suppression Bureau slaying Demon Fiends.
To Qin Yu’s surprise, the bear-like Zhou Feng turned out to be the most talkative, describing their missions as one close call after another.
He would also frequently mention the various benefits of the Demon Suppression Bureau, like how slaying Demon Fiends earned Merit Points that could be exchanged for powerful Martial Arts Techniques, Celestial and Earthly Treasures, and more.
The others would also occasionally seem to casually ask about Qin Yu’s strength, the Qin Family’s situation, and so on. As someone who had lived two lives, Qin Yu naturally noticed.
Amid the pleasantries, he shared information that he was comfortable revealing.
When the other families and forces from Cyan Peak County saw the group’s interactions, they were all green with envy.
The members of the Demon Suppression Bureau were typically aloof toward everyone else from Cyan Peak County, remaining indifferent even to the Clan Leaders of the other three great families. Yet, their attitude toward the Qin father and son was completely different.
This annoyed the three families, and they began to secretly calculate. The Qin Family had a shocking foundation and now had ties to the Demon Suppression Bureau. It seemed the skies over Cyan Peak County were about to change.
With everyone lost in their own thoughts, the troop advanced deeper into the mountains.
Over a hundred people, all Martial Artists with astonishing stamina, moved quickly with Red-bellied Eagles scouting from the sky and Rapid Insects clearing the path ahead.
They continued their advance. The Red-bellied Eagles soared through the sky, repeatedly spotting beasts and Demon Fiends in advance, which were then dealt with by the Rapid Insects. Even a Demon Fiend at the Muscle Refining Realm was quickly slain.
This gave the members of the Demon Suppression Bureau a clearer understanding of the Rapid Insects’ combat power, and their attitude grew warmer and warmer.
「Half a day later, as they reached a small mountain...」
SKREEE—
A panicked screech echoed out, and a Red-bellied Eagle, crying out urgently, flew from the distance toward the troop, flapping its wings wildly.
Qin Yu’s expression changed. Through Telepathy, he instantly saw everything and shouted a stern warning.
"A large group of Demon Fiends is attacking!"
As he spoke, he swiftly took the Longbow from his back. Without a shred of hesitation, he drew the string into a full moon! Empowered by the Insect Nest’s processing power, he locked onto the target, instantly calculating wind speed, trajectory, and weak points!
"Wind Chasing Arrow!"
The arrow shot out.
Only then did everyone see a Golden Eagle with a wingspan of over ten feet diving from the clouds like a bolt of lightning, right behind the Red-bellied Eagle.
A hint of mockery flashed in its eyes as its claws, sharp enough to tear through Profound Iron, swooped down, aiming to crush the Red-bellied Eagle’s head.
However, in the next instant...
SWOOSH!
The sharp arrow tore through the air with a sonic boom, appearing right in front of the Golden Eagle, having grazed past the Red-bellied Eagle’s head.
With a PSHH, the look of mockery on the Golden Eagle’s face turned to terror, but before it could react, the arrow pierced its skull. It fell from the sky, its wings flapping uselessly.
The members of the Demon Suppression Bureau, who hadn’t even had time to react, stared at each other in shock. Xu Chen, who was also a skilled archer, had a look of utter amazement in his eyes and couldn’t help but blurt out:
"That Golden Eagle was at least a Muscle Refining Demon Fiend! To be killed with a single arrow from a thousand meters away while moving at such high speed?!!"
A wave of shock rippled through the surrounding crowd!
Most of the people had seen that shot. The explosive power it released in that instant horrified the Wang Family Patriarch and the Zhao Family Patriarch.
Even Zhang Shun narrowed his eyes at Qin Yu, his estimation of him rising another level. At the same time, he waved his hand sharply, bringing the entire troop to a halt.
"Prepare for battle!"
"Form up! Archers, ready—!"
As his voice fell, countless black figures could be seen darting through the forest ahead. A towering Demonic Qi surged forth, startling flocks of birds and beasts into flight.
Under the terrifying pressure, the Rapid Insects at the front let out low roars. The twenty of them instantly formed a menacing wall of insects at the head of the troop.
Only then did most of the Martial Artists, their faces pale, snap back to their senses. With their hearts pounding, they drew their spears and blades, staring intently at the Demon Fiends charging toward them from the front.
"Kill!" "Kill!" "Kill!"