One more catty, one more attribute point

"I certainly need the White Snake Demon Corpse to achieve balance, but to me, family is always the most important,"

Hong Dingtian had handsome features, and his hair stood up tall behind him.

There was a certain maturity and steadiness on his face that didn't match his status and age.

"Li Daoxuan won't give in easily—don't underestimate him," Hong Dingtian said as he patted his older brother on the shoulder, "If something unexpected happens, just surrender and admit defeat right away, preserving yourself is most important."

"Don't worry."

Hong Wendao laughed heartily, his strength now greatly increased.

Plus, with the secret medicine given by Song Ting previously, he was full of confidence for what was to come tomorrow.

Still, the words of concern from Hong Dingtian warmed his heart.

"Although I don't have the talent that you do, I've still fought through many years of battle, I naturally know my limits," said Hong Wendao as he stretched out his muscular arms and gave his brother a tight hug, his smile bright and sunny.

"That's good then..."

Although he said that, an inexplicable shadow lingered.

It came from nowhere and hovered in Hong Dingtian's mind, refusing to disperse.

"You're so young, yet so serious, no wonder those girls don't like you," said Hong Wendao when he saw his expression.

He stretched out two thumbs, pressed them against the corners of his mouth, and forcibly drew out a smile.

"Hahaha!" Hong Wendao laughed loudly again, "That's better, smile more."

"When I was your age, I already had seven or eight children," Hong Wendao added, "Cultivating martial arts is important, but you should also take a few more concubines, and pass on your talents."

Hong Dingtian's face turned red as he hastily said, "I already have Junjun, I can't let her down."

Seeing his brother like this,

Hong Wendao couldn't help shaking his head helplessly and sighed.

Back in the day, all his brothers were quite the charmers, but only the youngest and most talented, Hong Dingtian, was stubbornly upright.

But...

That was also good. Perhaps only with such perseverance,

could he lead the six major families in the new era, against this increasingly mad and strange world.

...

...

...

The next morning.

Su Heng finished washing up and changed into the new clothes prepared by Chen Murong.

Then he went to the specified location according to the contents of the letter, waiting for what was to come.

He had deliberately arrived ahead of time.

Su Heng always kept his promises, taking seriously what he assured others.

But what he hadn't expected...

was that by the time he reached the square, there were already quite a few people present.

The square, paved with blue stone slabs, each with a diameter of over a meter, had huge beast patterns clearly carved upon them.

At the center of the square stood a tall tower.

The tower had nine levels, over a hundred meters tall, wrapped in chains.

Even during dawn's clear weather, as golden sunlight shone brightly, an inexplicable force blocked it.

The aura emanating from the demon's body.

It converged together, distorting the view, affecting perception, creating a tangible blood-red haze.

But when Su Heng closed his eyes tightly and then reopened them, the surroundings of the tower returned to normal again, as if what he had just seen was merely an illusion.

"So this is the legendary Demon Suppression Tower..." mused Su Heng quietly to himself.

As demons resurrect, a great era approaches.

All disputes and whirlpools will revolve around the Demon Suppression Tower.

Beneath the Demon Suppression Tower stood Li Daoxuan, clad in a black robe, who was talking quietly with a muscular man next to him.

Upon seeing Su Heng arrive,

Li Daoxuan raised his head, smiled, and greeted him from afar.

And as Li Daoxuan looked up, the more than ten elder-level people around him also turned their gazes toward Su Heng.

These people had restrained temperaments and distinctive appearances.

Some had bare chests with traces of smoke and fire, and arms blackened and knotted like a blacksmith's.

Some had plain faces, wearing straw hats, appearing like old farmers tilling the fields.

Others were dashing, dressed in luxurious silks, resembling wealthy young masters.

Their appearances seemed to relate to the cultivation techniques they practiced and the demon corpses they'd fused with, each exuding a distinctive aura.

And these people's gaze towards Su Heng varied.

Some looked cautious, others showed goodwill, and many were simply curious.

Su Heng looked so young, it was unknown what had caught Li Daoxuan's eye, and why he was considered a savior.

But even as Su Heng stood there steadily.

His towering stature, and the mountain-like aura he emanated, demanded no one take him lightly.

Su Heng walked over and stood beside Li Daoxuan, and the two conversed quietly.

On the deserted square, the sound of footsteps came once more.

Soon, another group of people arrived at the base of the Demon Suppression Tower, led by a man with white hair and a white beard, scholarly in appearance, with eyes as calm as water.

He didn't look like a sinister martial artist who kicked up storms of blood and violence,

but rather like an accomplished scholar.

"This person is the Hong Family's head, Hong Jiuxiang," Li Daoxuan whispered to Su Heng.

Su Heng raised his eyebrows, sensing a hint of threat from Hong Jiuxiang. Clearly capable of leading a great family, driving an era, suppressing petty criminals, this man was no simple character.

His true strength.

Compared to Li Daoxuan, even if not equal, he estimated that the difference wouldn't be too great.

"The young man in iron armor behind him is Hong Dingtian. Compared to that old immortal Hong Jiuxiang, Hong Dingtian poses a greater threat."

This time, Li Daoxuan used a secret sound transmission technique, seriousness tinting his voice.

Besides the father and son, Hong Jiuxiang and Hong Dingtian,

there were other significant figures from different great families in this group, which Li Daoxuan also introduced one by one to him.

"Ximen Xing, Zhou Batong, Song Ting…" Su Heng listened while his gaze skimmed over these individuals, gradually forming a rough impression in his mind.

"The last one is Hong Wendao."

As Li Daoxuan spoke, Su Heng's gaze settled on a robust bald man.

That man had fair skin, but there was a long, narrow scar on his face, which gave him a somewhat fierce air. He was frowning at the moment, sizing up Su Heng.

Their eyes met.

Su Heng's expression was mild, a smile at the corners of his mouth, as he nodded toward him.

Hong Wendao also flashed a grin and, turning his palm into a blade, made a light slashing gesture across his own neck, the threat implicit.

Li Daoxuan had yet to speak.

A tense, confrontational atmosphere already filled the entire square.

"Ahem!" Li Daoxuan coughed twice, and in an instant, everyone's gaze converged on him.

As if oblivious to the heavy atmosphere on the square, Li Daoxuan simply began with a smile, "It's rare for us all to gather here, and you surely know what I am about to say."

"Three months ago, turmoil struck the Demon Suppression Tower, and Deputy Governor Xu Tong was severely injured, his realm declined, unable to preside over the situation any longer. To maintain the stability of the Prefecture, a new Deputy Governor needs to be selected to guard the Demon Suppression Tower. After a careful selection, I plan to entrust this important task to the person beside me.

"Do any of you present have any opinions? Who is in favor, and who is opposed?"

Li Daoxuan had not finished speaking,

when Hong Wendao stepped forward and said in a cold voice, "I oppose."

"Oh…"

Li Daoxuan had anticipated this sort of scenario.

He didn't show annoyance, simply asking softly, "What objections do you have? Feel free to share."

"The Demon Suppression Tower is of utmost importance; why hand it over directly to an outsider?" Hong Wendao clenched his fists, his eyes emitting a faint chill, "Moreover, even though you, Li, are the Governor, the Demon Suppression Bureau is not solely sustained by you. To sit in the position of Deputy Governor, one must have the strength that wins people over."

"Oh, is that so?" Li Daoxuan's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes grew colder, "So you mean to say that here in the Demon Suppression Bureau, what this Governor says no longer matters."

"Whether it matters or not, we'll see from the reaction of those below," Hong Wendao retorted sharply.

No sooner had his voice fallen than a buzz of low, murmured discussion arose from among the crowd.

Many elders dispersed, dividing into three factions.

One faction still stood by Li Daoxuan's side, denoting support; the gaze they directed at the members from the great families was cold and angry.

Another group stood aside, signaling neutrality.

The last group brazenly joined Hong Wendao and the others from the great families, their expressions either mocking or evasive.

"Very well," Li Daoxuan's gaze swept over these people, as if committing their faces to memory.

Finally, his golden pupils fixed on Hong Wendao, "So, your opinion is…"

"In the Demon Suppression Bureau, strength is revered!" Hong Wendao shouted boldly, his fingers snapping closed as he clenched his fist, the vigorous force burning fiercely about him, his wide golden-trimmed robe fluttering.

Laughing heartily, his face was wild and lunatic, as if he felt the Demon Suppression Tower was already within his grasp.

"Governor!" Hong Wendao spoke ferociously, pointing a finger at Su Heng, "I request a duel with him, disregarding life and death. Whoever survives will take charge of the Demon Suppression Tower, and whoever perishes will turn into but a handful of dry bones."

A burst of clamor arose from among the crowd, and the situation began spiraling out of control.

A test of skill, a conflict, was within expectation.

But a life-and-death struggle, to draw blood, that rarely happened.

Hong Dingtian clenched his fists tighter, as if wanting to intervene, but was held back by Hong Jiuxiang's grip on his arm.

"Boy, if you're scared now, roll away from my sight this instant, and never appear before me again," Hong Wendao rasped threateningly.

"And your opinion is…" Li Daoxuan lifted his head.

"Afraid!?" Su Heng laughed heartily, "I've grown this big without even knowing how the word 'fear' is written!" Find unique content at m-vl-em-py-r

He began to undo his robe, revealing the tight-fitting martial attire underneath. This robe was custom-made for him by Chen Murong the previous day, and it would be a shame to have it stained with blood so soon.

Su Heng placed the robe he had taken off into Li Daoxuan's arms, stepped onto the platform in the center, and faced Hong Wendao directly.

"If you wish to die, I won't stop you," Su Heng's voice was deep, a trace of a blood-red "river" symbol faintly surfacing between his brows.

Hong Wendao, looking at Su Heng's muscular build, grew more solemn.

Without speaking, he turned to look at Li Daoxuan, who was silent on the side, and swallowed the secret pill he had hidden under his tongue together with his saliva.

"Since you are so determined, I won't interfere," Li Daoxuan spoke calmly.

He took a step back, and everyone else dispersed as well,

clearing a space in the square for the two of them.