"Xuantian Sect?!" The constable's face twisted in shock.
"He's actually an immortal sent by Xuantian Sect to eradicate the demon infestation?!"
The constable was filled with uncertainty, but the four officers accompanying him, unaware of Xuantian Sect's prestige, continued their attack on Lin Li.
"Hmph! You think you can claim to be an immortal just by flashing some token? Let me test your skills first!" The constable gritted his teeth and charged at Lin Li with the officers.
Lin Li furrowed his brows. "Since you insist on this, don't blame me for what happens next!"
With a few swift motions, Lin Li used the flat of his blade to strike each of them.
In just a few breaths, the five men were easily knocked to the ground, clutching their injuries and groaning in pain.
"Immortal! I was blind and failed to recognize your greatness! Please spare my life!" The constable knelt on the ground, kowtowing in desperation. Zhao Dama stood nearby, utterly astonished, while the young girl watched with a smug expression.
The four other officers rolled on the ground, groaning in agony.
"Your younger brother was seduced by demonic forces and fell into darkness, becoming a half-demon," Lin Li said coldly. "Though it may not be visible now, bring his body to Danyang County and pour black dog's blood on him—known for its exorcising properties. Any demonic energy will be instantly corroded. Your brother's corpse will reveal the truth: even in death, his demon nature remains and can only be suppressed by the dog's blood."
"Ah?!" The constable was utterly shocked, yet he had no choice but to believe Lin Li.
Lin Li then turned to Zhao Dama and the girl, saying, "I am a cultivator and cannot casually take concubines."
"This rescue was simply a matter of upholding justice, which is a duty of any righteous cultivator. As for your daughter, please do not mention this proposal again."
The beautiful young girl's face fell in disappointment, and she began to cry, upset. "I knew it! You think I'm not good enough for you! Boo-hoo!"
Zhao Dama, clearly embarrassed, said, "But..."
"There are no 'buts' about it!" Lin Li interrupted, turning to the constable. "From now on, you are not to trouble this mother and daughter again. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Immortal! I understand!"
"If I hear that anyone has harassed them, you will face the consequences!" Lin Li warned sternly.
"Yes, yes! From now on, no one in Danyang County will dare lay a finger on them!" the constable promised fervently.
"Good. Now you can be at ease," Lin Li said, turning to Zhao Dama.
"Thank you, Immortal!" Zhao Dama bowed gratefully.
...
Danyang County, at the county office.
"Welcome, Immortal!"
The county magistrate, flanked by his officers, formed two lines at the entrance to the office, bowing deeply to Lin Li.
After Lin Li presented his identity token, the magistrate personally escorted him inside, pouring out his grievances.
The magistrate explained how, in the past six months, the rat infestation had devastated the crops, forcing the county to rely on old grain reserves. Travelers had also dwindled, and Danyang County had fallen into hardship. Lin Li then inquired about the previous rogue cultivators who had been summoned by the authorities to investigate.
It turned out that these cultivators, known locally as "half-immortals," had either volunteered to help or been drawn by the generous rewards.
But regardless of their intentions, none had succeeded, and all had perished, devoured by the rats.
The information they had gathered before their deaths revealed that the Rat King had reached the sixth stage, and four other demon rats under its command had reached the fourth stage.
Most troubling, however, was that these rogue cultivators had discovered a horde of hundreds, if not thousands, of other rats, many of which had entered the early stages of demonic cultivation.
While a single low-level demon rat posed little threat, the sheer number of them had overwhelmed even the most experienced of the rogue cultivators, resulting in the death of one who had reached the sixth stage of Qi Refinement.
"Excellent!"
Upon hearing this information from Lin Li, Ye Fan was ecstatic!
A swarm tactic might be overwhelming for some, but for Ye Fan, whose blade had the power of blood absorption, such a large number of enemies was an opportunity!
The sheer volume of demon rats would allow Lin Li to unleash a massacre, providing Ye Fan with a wealth of evolution points and energy to grow stronger quickly.
Having learned that the most afflicted area, where the rogue cultivators had met their demise, was at Linhe Town, thirteen miles northeast of Danyang County, Lin Li set out alone.
The magistrate had offered to send soldiers to accompany him, but Lin Li politely declined, stating that the soldiers would only slow him down.
...
After half a day's travel, Lin Li reached Linhe Town as the sun began to set.
Located along a tributary of the Sheng River, Linhe Town had once been a picturesque place, but now it was desolate and lifeless.
As Lin Li rode his black horse through the town, he saw corpses and bones strewn along the streets.
This had been the epicenter of the rat infestation, and nearly every inhabitant had either succumbed to the plague or been slaughtered by the demon rats.
The few survivors had fled long ago, leaving the town in ruin.
The sound of the horse's hooves echoed in the eerie silence as Lin Li entered the abandoned town.
"How strange!" Lin Li frowned.
Though he could see the remnants of death, not a single rat was in sight.
"For a place overrun by demon rats, it's strange that I haven't seen a single one," Lin Li mused, slowing his horse to a cautious pace. "Something's definitely not right."
Just then, a chilling, eerie laugh echoed from all directions!
"Ke ke ke..."
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Lin Li jumped off his horse, shouting angrily.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."
Suddenly, the once-silent town came alive!
Large rats, the size of cats, emerged in swarms from every corner, pouring out of houses and shadows, covering the ground like a living carpet.
At the same time, a figure, cloaked in a black robe, appeared in the window of a two-story building in front of Lin Li.
His face was obscured by the robe's hood, making it impossible for Lin Li to see clearly.
"I've waited so long! Finally, someone from Xuantian Sect has arrived!"
"Ke ke ke! But what a pity... Xuantian Sect only sent a little brat to his death!"
"With your mere seventh-stage Qi Refinement cultivation, what can you possibly accomplish?"
"Against my mighty rat army, you won't even have the chance to face my four rat generals. You'll be torn apart by my swarm just like those useless rogue cultivators before you! Ke ke ke!"