Chapter 72: Thirty-Six Stars, Twelve Divine Generals

 

Qin Feng nodded when he heard the words.

 

In the Demon Slayer Department, there were three types of tokens: Wood Token, Green Jade Token, and Red Lotus Token. Each type was further divided into one to three stars. Logically, the Red Lotus Three-Star Token represented the highest combat power in the Demon Slayer Department.

 

However, in reality, it was not the case.

 

In the Demon Slayer Department of the Great Qian Four Realms, every year, the strongest thirty-six individuals holding the Red Lotus Three-Star Tokens were selected to receive more resources for training. They were known as the Thirty-Six Stars.

 

As for the Twelve Divine Generals, their strength surpassed that of the Thirty-Six Stars and was designated by the Demon Slayer Department of the Four Realms.

 

These individuals possessed unparalleled combat abilities, reaching the level of legends and serving as the pillars protecting the Four Realms.

 

In each heavenly city, there was at least one such powerhouse, usually the head of the city’s Demon Slayer Department.

 

However,

 

“In the calamity of Qiyuan City this time, I only heard bits and pieces. According to the Demon Slayer Department’s standards for evaluating city disturbances, it seems to have reached Grade A. With the defensive power within the city alone, it cannot be resisted.”

 

The Demon Slayer Department classified city disturbances into Grade A, B, C, and D. The higher the grade, the higher the possibility of the city being destroyed. To deal with a Grade A disturbance, at least one Divine General and three of the Thirty-Six Stars were needed to have a chance to avert the danger.

 

However, such high-level combat power was scarce and almost impossible to appear simultaneously in one place.

 

Ya’an shook his head, “From what I saw in Qiyuan City, this calamity has reached Grade A+.”

 

Grade A+? That would require at least two Divine General-level combat powers to counter. The situation in Qiyuan City this time was unexpectedly terrifying!

 

“If it’s so dangerous, why do you still think this calamity can be pacified?” Qin Feng voiced his doubts. Although Ya’an didn’t explicitly say it, his expression clearly suggested that.

 

“Sixth rank of the Literature Saint, Why?” Ya’an replied, dodging the question.

 

“It’s for divination.” Qin Feng immediately responded. Tradition of Literature Saint Dao Lineage had mentioned this. Those at the sixth rank possessed the ability to divine and predict auspicious and inauspicious events. However, the book also ambiguously hinted that this practice was esoteric and difficult to apply practically.

 

“It’s similar to trying to predict winning a million-dollar lottery but just staying at home, waiting for the results, and coincidentally avoiding falling downstairs,” Ya’an nodded slightly.

 

“The Imperial Teacher of the Heavenly Tower had previously divined the calamity in Qiyuan City. In Qiyuan City, Spear Immortal, one of the Twelve Divine Generals, and three of the Thirty-Six Stars had been on standby for a long time.”

 

“Such a thing exists?” Qin Feng widened his eyes. What was the difference between this terrifying method and cheating?

 

Ya’an understood Qin Feng’s thoughts and explained, “Don’t think that every Literature Of Saint at the sixth rank possesses this ability. The Imperial Teacher of the Heavenly Tower presides over the Imperial City and combines the power of all beings under heaven with the star-observing instrument in the Heavenly Tower. Only then can he perform this divination. If it were someone else, they might not be able to bear the karmic consequences and could die suddenly.”

 

Qin Feng breathed a sigh of relief. It made sense now. If there were no consequences, wouldn’t that person be invincible?

 

However, it was no wonder that the Great Qian Dynasty could remain stable in such turbulent times. With powerhouses like the Imperial Teacher of the Heavenly Tower, it was difficult to overthrow them.

 

He continued, “Even so, considering Qiyuan City’s internal strength, it can only deal with a Grade A disturbance at best. As for Grade A+…”

 

It still wouldn’t be enough.

 

Ya’an nodded, beginning to recall. He slowly revealed some details that Wang Xu and the others had concealed.

 

At that time, the city was in chaos. The top experts from both sides were fighting in the sky, and powerful qi energy surged like waves, sweeping the surroundings. Buildings collapsed, and there were constant cries of despair.

 

Wang Xu and the others joined the battle, facing off against the insects. With their strength, dealing with insects below the third calamity cycle was a piece of cake.

 

However, at that moment, above Qiyuan City, a three-headed, six-armed black Buddha suddenly appeared. It pressed its palms together, and a terrifying pressure poured down, directly destroying one-fifth of the city! Ya’an was affected, severely injured, and her right arm’s meridians were shattered by the powerful energy.

 

Wang Xu and the others, in their efforts to protect her, endured some of the pressure and were heavily injured. They couldn’t afford to stay any longer, so they quickly helped Ya’an onto a horse and rushed towards the city gate.

 

Looking outside Qiyuan City, the insects were as numerous as the vast ocean. To escape, they needed to create an opening, but the members of the Demon Slaying Department in the city couldn’t repel the swarm with their abilities alone.

 

Until a black figure flew in from the south.

 

“Who is that?” Qin Feng asked.

 

Ya’an shook her head. “He wore a black robe and a white mask, making it impossible to see his face clearly. But with just a wave of his hand, the insects were crushed to pieces.”

 

Mo Lintian, who practiced the martial arts path, added, “His strength is unfathomable. After clearing the way for us, he went to fight the giant centipede that was on the city wall, allowing Master Spear Immortal to free up his hands.”

 

The events that followed were as Wang Xu and the others had described earlier. The mysterious man with the white mask fought against the giant centipede, and the residual effects of their battle affected them. At that moment, Ya’an was bitten by a purple viper, and her life was in danger.

 

Desperate to save her, they didn’t stay any longer and rushed southward. They finally arrived in Jinyang City by nightfall.

 

“I believe the appearance of that mysterious man was also foreseen by the Heavenly Tower Imperial Teacher,” Ya’an said with conviction, her tone filled with admiration.

 

“I see,” Qin Feng murmured, deep in thought. In this way, the two sides were indeed evenly matched.

 

Considering the information from the man at Moonlit Pavilion, Wang Xu, and Ya’an, the beginning and the course of the disaster in Qiyuan City were now clear. But as for the outcome, they could only wait.

 

However, he still had a question: What were the two members of the Demon Slaying Department who escaped from Qiyuan City trying to do?

 

From Ya’an and the others’ escape experience, he noticed a detail he had previously overlooked: the timing!

 

The two members of the Demon Slaying Department arrived in Jinyang City in the evening, while the invasion happened around noon. Even if they were riding the fastest horses, it would still take them at least five to six hours to reach Jinyang City.

 

In other words, they had left Qiyuan City before the invasion even began, which was unreasonable.

 

Just then, four unexpected visitors arrived at the Qin residence.

 

Leading them was Si Zheng, with Cang Feilan beside him, followed closely by the two adults in green Demon Slaying robes he had encountered yesterday.

 

“Sir Si Zheng, what brings you here?” Qin Feng asked, puzzled.

 

“Let’s talk in the back hall.”

 

In the back hall, Si Zheng went straight to the point. “Qiyuan City suffered a calamity yesterday. We received news this morning that the invaders were repelled last night, but they managed to seize the Town Dragon Stele. The top experts from the Demon Slaying Department in the city have gone to pursue them.”

 

Upon hearing this, the people in the room had different expressions. Some felt relief, some breathed a sigh of relief, but Ya’an’s face turned serious.

 

The Town Dragon Stele was an object used to suppress the place’s luck. According to legend, the thirty-two Heavenly cities of The Great Qian weren’t arbitrarily designated but were key luck energy nodes based on the overall earth veins patterns of The Great Qian.

 

However, the concept of luck was esoteric, and Qin Feng was skeptical. What puzzled him more was why those invaders would want to steal it. Could it be that their initial goal was the Town Dragon Stele?

 

Unable to comprehend, Qin Feng looked up. “So, Sir Si Zheng, why are you here?”

 

Si Zheng didn’t answer. Instead, the thin-faced man in green Demon Slaying robes standing beside him spoke, “We hope you can come with us to Qiyuan City.”