Chapter 17. Demon-Subduing Treasure (Magic Treasure)

Unable to dissuade him, Eldrin had no choice but to let him join the expedition. Along the way, he instructed his clansmen to keep a close watch over him.

Together, these elders and youths added up to over 40 Qi Practitioners from the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization). Combined with the 20-some Chen Clan cultivators stationed in Pingyang County, their total numbers reached nearly 70.

The last time such a large force was mobilized was during the Beast Tide 60 years ago, when the Chen Immortal Clan dispatched nearly a 100 cultivators to the front lines to combat the rampaging beasts. Yet in the end, they were utterly annihilated in a single battle.

Although all were cultivators this time, their cultivation bases varied greatly, so it took a full 4 days to reach Pingyang Town (Location).

Upon arriving at Pingyang County, the Great Elder Chen Qingxu immediately received the group.

In the great hall, he stroked his long beard and said, "As early as 10 days ago, I had already ordered the activation of the formation. Pingyang City and several other towns are now completely sealed—no entry, no exit. If any demonic cultivators remain, they should already be like rats trapped in a jar."

Fourth Elder Chen Qingyuan (Person Name) said urgently, "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s find them now."

"Pingyang City has a population of over a dozen 1000 people. Identifying the demonic cultivators among them is no task for a single day." Eldrin shook his head. "Moreover, we must proceed with caution to prevent these cornered beasts from fighting desperately and causing unnecessary casualties."

He said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before continuing.

"The Great Elder is stationed at the city defense formation with 20 cultivators and must not be moved lightly."

"The investigation shall be entrusted to us who hail from Verdant Chariot Mountain."

“…”

After a brief discussion, the group finalized the plan to investigate the demonic cultivators.

As planned, for this investigation of demonic cultivators, aside from those guarding the City Protection Array who would remain in place, the rest would be divided into groups of 5.

Each group was assigned a Qi Refinement, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) cultivator to oversee their safety, while the remaining 4 members were tasked with identifying demonic practitioners.

Using such a detection method, even a hidden demonic cultivator who had practiced aura-concealing techniques could not evade the cross-examination of the 4. After all, no matter how deeply a demonic cultivator concealed themselves, it was impossible to hide the demonic qi cultivated within their body.

Although this method was slow, requiring nearly a month to thoroughly screen Pingyang City, its advantage lay in being utterly reliable.

Apart from these individuals, 3 Ninth Level Qi Refining elders including Eldrin were assigned to patrol the area, ready to personally suppress any demonic cultivators they discovered.

Once the plan was finalized, the Grand Elder immediately issued the command. The city guard was mobilized to assist in maintaining order and began the investigation of demonic cultivators.

Early the next morning, the cultivators of the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) gathered at the plaza to test every mortal for demonic energy according to their registered household status.

Eldrin stood atop the high platform, his brow twitching faintly as he observed the bustling crowd below and the cultivators conducting spiritual root assessments.

Legends say that among the mighty Immortal Clans, there often exist supreme treasures forged for subduing demons.

"That treasure can test a multitude of mortals at once, effortlessly exposing any demonic cultivators in hiding."

"If we possessed such a Demon-Subduing Treasure, we wouldn't need to go through all this trouble."

Beside him, Chen Qingwan smiled faintly, her eyes shimmering with a trace of yearning as she responded.

It is said that the Verdant Sun Sect possesses a supreme demon-refining treasure known as the Mirror of the Vast Heaven (Magic Treasure).

Legend has it that the Mirror of the Vast Heaven (Magic Treasure) possesses boundless power. Wherever its radiance passes, evil spirits scatter before it—even Purple Mansion demons cannot withstand its might, while lesser fiends would instantly turn to ashes.

"Such a supreme treasure would be coveted even by Purple Mansion experts or Golden Core immortal clans. Who knows if after thousands of years, our Chen Clan might have the fortune to obtain 1?"

Old Uncle Chen Changyan couldn't help but glance at Eldrin (Person Name) upon hearing this.

A glimmer of hope flickered in his eyes before he smiled faintly after a long moment.

"Little Eldrin, you are the most blessed with immortal fate in our Chen family. I daresay you might even possess the bearing of a Banished Immortal."

"This old man won't live to see that day. Cultivate well, and should you ever obtain the Demon-Subduing Treasure (Magic Treasure) in the future, remember to bring it before my grave for this old bones to behold."

Everyone took it as a jest, but Eldrin felt a subtle weight settle in his heart.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he murmured inwardly, "The Demon-Subduing Treasure (Magic Treasure), hmm? That day will come."

While chatting idly, the group remained vigilant. The first day of the investigation proceeded smoothly.

By the time the sun had set, they had already screened 4 to 5 1000 individuals, yet no trace of the demonic cultivator was found.

This was well within everyone's expectations. Although demonic cultivators were pervasive, with nearly every major immortal clan harboring hidden infiltrators, their numbers were generally not substantial.

After several days of systematic investigation, everything proceeded in an orderly manner until the fourth day when Eldrin finally detected an anomaly.

That day in the plaza, a man brought by the city guards appeared visibly tense. Suddenly, his expression twisted ferociously as he erupted into action, summoning a crimson skull that lunged toward the inspecting cultivator.

Fortunately, Eldrin had long sensed something amiss and immediately summoned his Golden Light Blade, slashing through the air.

The demonic cultivator was merely at Qi Refinement, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm), utterly incapable of resisting Eldrin (Person Name). In the blink of an eye, his life was ended by a single sword stroke.

Elder Chen Qingwan was startled into action. She stepped forward and peeled a human skin mask from the demonic cultivator's face.

The city guard commander walked over, examined the deceased demonic cultivator, and spoke.

His name was Chen Dabao, 40-7 years of age. A solitary man, he had shown no unusual behavior of late.

"Come to think of it, ever since his parents died a dozen or so years ago, he became quite reclusive. Who would have thought his identity had been taken over by a demonic cultivator?"

"A dozen or so years... It seems this demonic cultivator has been impersonating my Chen family's mortal and hiding in Pingxian County for quite some time."

Chen Qingwan spoke, her expression turning somewhat gloomy.

Pingyang County possessed a second-order spirit vein. Though most of its spiritual energy was channeled into the city’s protective formation, it remained a coveted cultivation sanctuary for low-level demonic practitioners.

Eldrin sheathed the Golden Light Blade, glanced at the demonic cultivator's remains, and said, "Lead the way. Let's search his residence."

The city guard captain led the group forward until they soon arrived at Chen Dabao's residence.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, Eldrin’s gaze sharpened. He strode forward, lifted the cellar hatch in the woodshed, and discovered dozens of human heads hidden inside.

"This is for refining the Skull of the Desiccated Bone."

Chen Changyan, with his vast experience and knowledge, recognized the purpose of these heads at first glance.

He informed the assembly that the Withered Skull was a demonic treasure, and that the infamous Bone Abomination who had plunged the Chu Kingdom into a demonic scourge 1 100 years ago had used this very artifact as his signature weapon.

In those years, to forge the Demon Skull, the Withered Bone Demon Lord slaughtered entire lineages of several Purple Mansion immortal clans and harvested the heads of tens of millions of mortal souls.

Legend has it that on the day that demonic treasure emerged, the wailing of ghosts and howling of deities echoed for hundreds of miles, nearly transforming the land into a realm of specters.

Relying on the might of his demonic treasure, the power of Old Bones Demon was virtually unrivaled within the Chu Kingdom.

In the end, it was the former sect master of Qingyang Sect who wielded the Mirror of the Vast Heaven (Magic Treasure)—a supreme artifact for refining demons—to suppress and slay it in a single battle. Yet that very confrontation left the sect master severely depleted of vital energy, and not long after, he passed away in seclusion within the sect.