The thunderous sound startled the weary Moxin'er, causing her delicate, exquisite eyes to immediately dart behind Feng Zikang.

Feng Zikang frowned, clearly not wishing to engage, and steered Zhu Li'er to the side, moving to pass.

"Hey!"

The young man erupted in fury, spinning around to block Feng Zikang's path once more. "I'm talking to you, didn't you hear me?"

Feng Zikang offered a faint smile. "You were just speaking to a spy. We are certainly not spies."

"Who says you aren't spies!"

The arrogant youth was enraged. "You sneak around the city walls—what else are you doing but trying to scout our defenses? If no one had been watching, you really would have fooled us, hehe. Luckily, you ran into me, a City Defense Inspector! You still want to argue your way out?"

Feng Zikang had no patience for further debate and asked coldly, "Are you a soldier in the city?"

The young man tilted his nose to the sky, raising his head high. "I am precisely Fang Dingguo, the South City Inspector. You two spies will come quietly with me! Save me the trouble of using force!"

Though he spoke thus, his gaze kept drifting toward Rong Li'er standing behind Feng Zikang.

Back on the ramparts, Fang Dingguo had seen clearly that this young girl was peerlessly beautiful. He couldn't help but feel a stir of desire, which is why he found an excuse to come down and flirtatiously harass them.

In his initial projection, these two young people, upon seeing someone fly down from the air, would surely be scared half to death. Combined with his imposing threats, they would inevitably collapse in terror.

Unexpectedly, the young girl was indeed startled, but the young man remained as calm as ever, showing no sign of fear whatsoever.

Fang Dingguo felt a pang of doubt. Though he maintained his verbal intimidation, he scrutinized Feng Zikang and Zhu Li'er up and down, yet could discern no genuine strength. His heart settled somewhat.

After Zhu Li'er was refined into a puppet, her Dao foundation had scattered. Though her cultivation remained, she appeared like an ordinary girl, revealing nothing. As for Feng Zikang, his Dao foundation was concealed, and his outward appearance was unremarkable, lacking any imposing aura. He seemed like someone with a few minor skills; at most, he looked like he was only at the initial stage of Qi induction.

Just then, the guard soldiers from the city gate rushed over and bowed obsequiously upon seeing Fang Dingguo.

"Master Fang, what's the matter? Is someone causing trouble? Should the brothers teach them a lesson for you?"

Fang Dingguo adopted an appearance of stern righteousness, pointing at Feng Zikang and Zhu Li'er. "I suspect these two are spies. Take them into custody. Drag the male spy to the city gate and give him thirty lashes first. As for the female spy, send her to my quarters; I will interrogate her slowly!"

"Yes!" The leading officer grinned lewdly. Hearing his command, he understood immediately what he meant. He turned back toward Feng Zikang and Qin Li'er and roared, "Did you hear that? Surrender quietly now, or must we dirty our hands?."

"Slap!"

Before the words were even finished, he was slapped flying by Feng Zikang, crashing hard against the city wall. He slid down slowly, his eyes wide open in disbelief, one side of his jaw immediately swelling immensely.

"Is this how the city guards keep watch?"

Feng Zikang sneered coldly, flicking his wrist!

"How audacious!" The remaining soldiers clamored, but none dared to rush forward. This fellow's striking power was clearly the result of training. This looked like a clash between cultivators, and these common soldiers dared not interfere.

"He really has trained a bit."

The way Feng Zikang sent the squad leader flying was common enough, merely a little quick.

Although Fang Dingguo was slightly startled, he remained unconcerned.

This fellow's ability was clearly inferior to his own. Did he truly dare to challenge the countless experts and extraordinary figures within Ganzhou City?

"Such audacity!" Fang Dingguo let out two sinister laughs. "You actually dare to harm a city guard. Your crime as a spy is sealed."

He was determined to pin the spy label onto Feng Zikang. "Having this little bit of skill to run rampant in Cangzhou City? That's far from enough."

Feng Zikang frowned and let out a soft snort. "I'll give you one chance: disappear from my sight immediately. Out of consideration for your position as the South City Inspector of Shuzhou City, I will not kill you, and you will face military law. If you continue to harass us, I will execute you without mercy!"

This declaration carried more presence than Fang Dingguo's own, causing the inspector to freeze, momentarily speechless.

The surrounding guards, who had been preparing to seize him, were now awed by Feng Zikang's imposing aura and stood frozen in place.

Fang Dingguo recovered, laughing in extreme anger. "Fine you little upstart, I'd like to see how you plan to execute me!"

He thrust out his hands, wide as reed mats, wildly clawing toward Feng Zikang’s head. Feng Zikang merely gave a cold laugh, making no move, when suddenly a flash of white light appeared, and Fang Dingguo’s head plopped onto the ground!

His face was a mask of disbelief and shock.

He actually dared to kill him!

"Guo'er!"

From the city ramparts, a mournful cry suddenly rang out. A figure like a flame-red shadow swooped down, summoning a magical artifact resembling a bronze bell, which it hurled toward Feng Zikang's head.

Feng Zikang remained unhurried, spitting out a stream of sword energy. It met the bronze bell, causing it to spin wildly, unable to fall down for the moment.

"You dare kill my son, you pay with your life!"

The descending figure, halfway down, was middle-aged and slightly overweight, clad in armor, looking ferocious. He attacked Feng Zikang with a frenzied storm of blows, relentless and merciless, aiming to kill him!

This man was Fang Chengliang, Fang Dingguo's biological father.

The father and son were cultivators from the Wuyi Sect, a southwestern cultivation lineage. When demons invaded the Central Plains from the southwest, they, as the local sect, were naturally obligated to send aid.

Fang Chengliang was an Elder of the Wuyi Sect. Seeing that his son's cultivation progress was mediocre with little hope for the future, he figured it was better for him to enjoy the material wealth of the mortal world. After all, Grand Tutor Pang was also from a cultivation background and was quite accommodating to cultivators who couldn't achieve the Dao but were willing to serve the state.

Thus, he personally came with his son to offer assistance. Indeed, Grand Tutor Pang favored him and appointed him the commander of the South Gate. His son, Fang Dingguo, received the post of South City Inspector. As long as they served during the demon subjugation—

Fang Dingguo, still harboring worldly desires, became intoxicated by the splendor of the mortal realm and constantly frequented brothels and courtesan houses to relieve his lust. His father, who never held high expectations for him anyway, naturally paid him no mind, letting him indulge.

Today, Fang Chengliang saw from the city wall that his son was harassing a young girl and trying to arrest innocent passersby as spies. He merely considered it youthful folly and didn't pay much attention.

Who knew such a sudden turn of events would occur? That passerby turned out to be a master who swiftly severed Fang Dingguo’s head with a single strike, grinding even his primordial spirit to dust. There was no time to save him.

Fang Chengliang was overcome with grief and rushed down without hesitation, determined to kill Feng Zikang.

He was only at the Foundation Establishment realm. What fear could Feng Zikang have?

With lighthearted ease, he dissolved the man's offensive. If not for the man's considerable rank within the army, he might have been easily slain just like Fang Dingguo.

Currently, he had been ordered to take command of the army stationed here. Killing Fang Dingguo once was enough to establish his authority. If he killed this old man too, it might appear overly ruthless, and if instigated by ill-meaning parties, the morale of the army might become unstable.

Therefore, he was not rushed, merely slowly neutralizing Fang Chengliang's attacks, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Fang Chengliang could clearly see that the opponent was not using his full strength, but engulfed by the pain of losing his son, he couldn't process it immediately. He only focused on desperately attacking, unwilling to use his mind for further thought.

While fighting, Feng Zikang continued to observe. Sure enough, the city gate guard whose face had been swollen by the slap had secretly slipped away, likely to report. Feng Zikang smiled faintly; he was waiting for more people to arrive so he could settle everything at once.

However, before reinforcements arrived, the sound of galloping hooves roared from outside the city gate. A contingent of black-armored cavalry was speeding back, kicking up a cloud of dust.

From a distance, someone shouted, "The Young General returns victorious, having slain over three thousand demons and captured countless spoils! Open the city gates quickly!"

Feng Zikang found this interesting and turned to look. He saw a black banner inscribed with a large character, Pang. Since the soldiers were addressing him as Young General, he must be a nephew or younger relative of Grand Tutor Pang. To slay over three thousand demons with a contingent of mortal cavalry was indeed remarkably valiant.

The cavalry moved swiftly, soon reaching the city gate. At this moment, Fang Chengliang, heedless of everything else, was still desperately lunging at Feng Zikang.

The Young General reined in his horse and approached, seeing the chaos at the city gate, his face darkening. "What is this disorder? You two, cease your fighting at once, or do not blame me for being impolite!"

Feng Zikang smiled slightly and lightly flicked his sleeve. Fang Chengliang cried out in surprise, stumbling several steps back, nearly crashing into the Young General's horse before regaining his balance. When he looked up, he saw the Young General's icy stare and instantly sobered somewhat.

"Young General!"

The Young General frowned. "Commander Fang, what exactly is going on? Such disorder before the South Gate! What kind of bearing is that? If the demons were to attack, what then?"

The Young General had followed the Grand Tutor since childhood and possessed considerable cultivation, slightly superior to Fang Chengliang's. More importantly, he was battle-hardened, held a high official rank, and possessed an extraordinary aura. Fang Chengliang, aspiring to earthly nobility and comfort, dared not be negligent. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow and tearfully sobbed, "Young General, you are unaware. These two are spies. They were just discovered by my son, Fang Dingguo, who tried to capture them. Who knew this villain was so brutal that he killed my son in a fight? My desire for vengeance overwhelmed me, so I rushed down from the wall, intending to capture them. It's fortunate the Young General has returned, allowing us to catch these spies in one sweep! Do not let him escape!"

"Oh?"

The Young General's expression darkened. He glanced over and saw the headless corpse of Fang Dingguo lying nearby. Anger flared in his heart, and he turned back to see Feng Zikang standing calmly in place, smiling at him, which only fueled his fury.

Although the Fang father and son had poor character, they were still comrades in arms. Moreover, their father looked favorably upon the disciples of these minor cultivation sects. Their deaths were certainly unsightly.

"You damned spy! You have some nerve, daring to kill my garrison commander right before the city gate. Are you tired of living?"

He wore a golden helmet, his eyes held the might of a tiger, and his face still bore traces of unwashed demon blood. Hanging beneath his saddle were over a dozen demon heads, making him look fearsome. With this shout, his imposing majesty intensified!