Otherworldly Desert Dust

Heading to the Twenty-four City Regions, this place was known for its diverse population, and notably for the slave trade. In the mountainous region of the city, there was a vast slave market.

The existence of Demon Spirits made it essential for everyone on the True Martial Continent to practice Martial Arts. The higher the status of a Martial Artist, the more human rights they had. Likewise, those who lived at the borders and refused to obey or even sought to rebel against Wuting were turned into slaves and sold as merchandise.

As soon as Wu Hen entered the city region, he released his Perception. All three levels of his Perception had reached the Third Rank, and they continuously filled in gaps in the scenes that Wu Hen could not perceive on his own. It was as if it painted a dynamic audio scene within his mind, offering a god-like perspective...

After grasping the general information, Wu Hen followed Ruan Muhuan to visit one of the Martial Sects.

Without notification, the three of them strode directly into the Sect’s great courtyard.

The guards inside, one by one, were on high alert, not understanding why the iron-fisted Northern Guardian Lady had suddenly arrived.

As they entered the hall, a young man arrived in a hurry with his outer garment draped over him.

"Northern Guardian Lady, do you think the Demon Clan are hiding in my mansion?" Duan Ling of the Martial Sect asked.

"There is a demonic aura in your mansion," Ruan Muhuan had already perceived the scent of a Demon Spirit.

"Heh, I, Duan Ling, am known in Wudou for my peculiar tastes. The beauties of the human world no longer interest me much; thus, I had some demon females brought here for my pleasure. However, these demon females are under my control. They couldn’t possibly be the group that’s stealing demon bones. On the day of the incident, they were all imprisoned in my backyard..." Duan Ling admitted openly.

Wu Hen spoke up, "I’m curious as well, just how glamorous are these demon females that even the most beautiful human women no longer appeal to you?"

"If this young man wishes to see, of course, there’s no problem. Would the three of you please follow me?" Duan Ling said with a smile, exchanging a look with Wu Hen as if he had found a kindred spirit.

Princess Wu Gu Luoshui’s expression, however, had changed.

Knowing that the princes under Wuting all had their quirks, she hadn’t expected the clean-cut Duan Ling to indulge in playing with demon females...

How perverted!

Ruan Muhuan didn’t find it particularly strange.

Some of the Demon Clan resembled humans and with thousands, even tens of thousands of years of cultivation, their appearance was basically indistinguishable from the Human Clan. Still, they could never change their natural instincts for raw flesh and blood. No matter how humanlike their actions, they still needed to consume fresh blood and meat. Experience tales at NovelBin.Côm

Upon arriving at Duan Ling’s backyard, it had been converted into a quaint garden with small bridges over flowing water. The overwhelming scent of sweetness permeated the backyard, immediately giving off an intoxicating feel as they approached.

"All these streams contain alcohol. In order not to unleash their wild nature, I’ve set up this mist of wine. They are drunk every day, no different from anything else that’s slightly tipsy," Duan Ling introduced unabashedly.

Gu Luoshui had already looked away, unwilling to see any more.

It wasn’t just an offense to her eyes—it was a contamination to her heart!

Those demon females, either scantily clothed or wearing luxurious dresses, some even dressed like Wuting Warriors, and all exuding a demonic charm, flirting and posturing as if seeking pleasure day and night.

They weren’t only interested in men; their fiery glances at women were just as intense. As Duan Ling led them in, the demon females rushed up to them, tongues sliding suggestively by their scarlet lips, exaggeratedly luminous eyes filled with sorrow.

"We don’t need to investigate here, right?" Gu Luoshui was finding it hard to persist.

This was unbearable to witness!

How could Duan Ling, with all the respectability of Wudou, do such things behind the scenes.

"Keep looking," Ruan Muhuan wasn’t prepared to overlook any clues.

Wu Hen and Ruan Muhuan examined the area thoroughly.

There were more than twenty demon females—mostly of the Fox Clan, Merfolk Clan, and Cat Clan—which in the ranks of the Demon Spirits were considered rare female types with aesthetic appeal, especially those of pure bloodlines...

"Prince Duan, there’s an issue with what you said earlier," Wu Hen spoke with a more solemn expression after inspecting the demon females.

Gu Luoshui and Ruan Muhuan’s expressions immediately became serious.

Duan Ling just stood there, his expression unchanged, but with a forced smile, he said, "What seems to be the problem? Could it be that these demon females I keep did the deed of stealing bones? I admit such behavior is not allowed by Wudou’s rules, but if you’re going to accuse me of harboring a demon, I must take this matter to Martial God Jiang."

Ruan Muhuan said nothing, his gaze landing on Wu Hen.

At this moment, Wu Hen chuckled and casually said, "Prince Duan, don’t be nervous. My point is, though your demon females may be wildly beautiful, they still fall short compared to the true beauties of the human world."

On hearing this, Duan Ling understood the conversation was about this topic.

He suddenly laughed, then glanced at Ruan Muhuan, saying very openly, "Haha, brother, you’re right. How can I, a mere mortal, obtain the truly peerless beauties of this world? I’ve simply taken a different path, pursuing similarity in form for pleasure; how could it be real?"

Gu Luoshui stood to the side and saw the exchange of a mysterious look between the two men. For some reason, they gave her the illusion they had known each other for a long time?

How could Ruan Muhuan not understand the covert exchange these two men were having in her presence?

She noticed that most of these Demon Clan women were frail and lacked any demon power; they couldn’t even intrude into Wuting, let alone hunt humans at night. It was more likely they would be harassed by ruffians on the streets.

This Duan Ling did indeed harbor members of the Demon Clan.

But these demons had little to do with the group she sought.

"Is everyone here?" Ruan Muhuan asked.

"Yes, if I encounter other demons with dubious intentions, I will report them as well. I will not conceal anything," Duan Ling said.

"Then I won’t impose further."

...

The three left the Duan Gate, and Gu Luoshui still felt uncomfortable. She felt as if her eyes were dirtied and annoyed, she questioned Wu Hen, "You... you just wanted an excuse to feast your eyes while searching for the demon thief on behalf of the Martial Arts Queen, didn’t you?"

"I’m not particularly interested in that, but as someone with an open mind, I can understand," replied Wu Hen.

Demon Clan women could transform their appearance to resemble others, a statement that was quite profound and demanded respect.

"Then, is he related to the demon thief who stole the Demon God’s Bone?" Ruan Muhuan inquired.

"We can’t make a judgment yet. We should visit a few more Sects and see what peculiar preferences they have," Wu Hen suggested.

Gu Luoshui was somewhat reluctant; she felt these visits were unrelated to solving the case and it would be better to focus efforts elsewhere.

However, Ruan Muhuan thought Wu Hen’s analysis had merit.

The demons were intimately familiar with Wuting’s martial law, scattering in dozens of directions after their success. Though she recovered three pieces of the Demon Bone, one was still taken out... All signs indicated that these demon thieves had assistance from Sect power.

...

Subsequently, the trio visited the Yueyun Faction and the Xia Shan Clan.

The Yueyun Faction was spotless, claiming that their ancestors had fought against the Demon Spirit and were responsible for guarding the Heroic Pass. They despised Demon Spirits, who, in turn, saw them as a thorn in their side.

During the trio’s visit, the master of the Yueyun Faction was extremely irritable, not permitting the slightest suspicion. If it weren’t for Ruan Muhuan’s lofty status in Wuting, the Faction’s Martial Artists might have risen in arms and driven them away.

"It seems the Yueyun family can be ruled out. From their attitude, they are dead set against the Demon Clan. Many of their ancestors who were Generals also fell at the hands of the Demon Saint, and their descendants loathe all demons. It’s not likely they would shelter or help demons steal the Demon God’s Bone," Gu Luoshui suggested.

Wu Hen and Ruan Muhuan didn’t immediately conclude.

"It’s hard to say. Too clear a water harbors no fish, and with the disappearance rate in their Twenty-four City Regions being twice as high as other regions, if they truly were as they claim, they wouldn’t allow such things to happen," Wu Hen countered, not so willing to absolve the Yueyun Faction.

"The last one related to Wuting is the Xia Shan Clan, but it seems we have no leads," said Gu Luoshui.

"It’s normal to collect clues without drawing conclusions," stated Ruan Muhuan.

...

The Xia Shan Clan’s resistance was significant.

The Xia Mountain Gate had supported the Zeng Family, becoming one of Ruan Muhuan’s fierce opponents.

Had it not been for Wuting’s mediation, Ruan Muhuan would have already buried the younger generation of this Sect!

Thus, upon arriving at the Xia Mountain Mansion, they faced great obstruction.

In front of the massive bronze doors, Martial Artists in combat formation were arrayed as if they were in an arena, ready to fight to the death as Death Soldiers if Ruan Muhuan dared step into their estate.

The trio stood on the main streets of the city region, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

"Is it essential to investigate here?" whispered Gu Luoshui.

Ruan Muhuan, who had never feared them before, was even less inclined to yield now.

She drew her sword and sent a beam of sword light towards the rain clouds above Wudou.

The sword’s brilliance shone like a silver banner reaching for the sky, visible across the entire Wudou...

At the same time, the sound of horse hooves echoed in Wudou, the streets and buildings of the Twenty-four City Regions started to tremble. Gradually, the vibrations turned into a great shaking, rattling the heavy bronze doors of the Xia Mountain Gate!

In less than half an incense stick’s time, a procession of silver-clad Martial Warriors appeared on the city streets—the same force that had surrounded the entire banquet that night, the weakest of whom were First Level Martial Saints...

The Martial Saint Army had not deployed their True Qi, but their mere presence was like a stampede of wild beasts. The entire city region seemed to be swallowed by a silver flood, and before an assault even began, it seemed the entire Xia Mountain Gate would collapse.

"You... Do you, Ruan Muhuan, truly intend to wipe us out? Am I, Zeng Zhanpeng, not worthy to live on the land you rule?" A man with a limp stormed out from behind the bronze door, pointing at Ruan Muhuan and cursing, "You broke my mother’s spine, beheaded my uncle, slaughtered all the warriors of my ancestral home, and now you seek to destroy my last place of refuge. What has our Zeng Family done to deserve such humiliation from you, a heartless woman? Don’t forget, it was the Zeng Family that sheltered you from being mistreated when you were young!"