My Beasts Grind Proficiency For Me

Chapter 358 - 218: Celestial Demon Possession

Wen Ximing’s Seven Luminaries Demon-Slaying Array appeared to be operating normally, but most of its functions had actually been shut down.

However, Yang Jing knew a fair bit about arrays and had even watched an Array Master set this one up. He was therefore quite familiar with the Seven Luminaries Demon-Slaying Array. With a single glance, he could see the flow of Spiritual Qi within the array had stagnated.

The Wanhua Child flickered and slowly began to distance himself from the Seven Luminaries Demon-Slaying Array.

The man and the artifact spirit slipped away without a sound.

"Master, what happened inside the Seven Luminaries Demon-Slaying Array?" the Wanhua Child asked curiously.

"It seems the Celestial Demons from the Demon Realm have also taken action. And they chose the same day as I did. Right now, I’m afraid there are very few people left alive inside the Seven Luminaries Demon-Slaying Array," Yang Jing said, his face grim.

Despite Wen Ximing’s many faults, he was a veteran Capital City Commander. He would never be so careless as to shut down the array’s operations right on the border of the Demon Realm.

"To be taken out so quietly by Celestial Demons while commanding a Grand Array like the Seven Luminaries Demon-Slaying Array... utterly useless," Yang Jing said with disdain.

"Master, what should we do then?" the Wanhua Child asked.

The three Capital City Commanders were already dead, but if they stood by and did nothing, the entire army would suffer catastrophic losses. These Celestial Demons had killed Wen Ximing without a sound; they certainly wouldn’t stop there.

An idea sparked in Yang Jing’s mind.

"I have a plan."

As he spoke, he had the Wanhua Child assume Shi Jinrong’s form while he himself took on the appearance of Guan Weiqun. Then, they brazenly swaggered back into the array.

"Yu Hou, you’ve returned?"

The soldiers were a bit confused, seeing their Yu Hou return from his meeting so soon.

"Hmph."

Yang Jing put on a cold expression.

Seeing that their Capital City Commander was in a foul mood, the soldiers didn’t dare ask any more questions, lest they get on his bad side.

Yang Jing had only just sat down when a soldier entered with a strange look on his face.

"Guan Yu Hou, a soldier has arrived with orders from Wen Yu Hou! He says there is an urgent matter to discuss with you!"

Hearing the soldier’s report, Yang Jing knew his suspicions were correct.

"Understood. I’ll go see Wen Yu Hou right away."

He got up and walked out, where he saw the messenger. The soldier stood respectfully outside the array.

"Since he’s here to deliver an order, why wasn’t he allowed into the array?"

Yang Jing feigned anger.

"Guan Yu Hou, we did invite him in, but he was the one who refused to enter the array," the nearby soldiers hurriedly explained.

Yang Jing nodded and stepped out of the Seven Luminaries Demon-Slaying Array.

"Has Brother Wen managed to find an Array Master?"

The soldier waiting outside the array hesitated for a moment, then nodded repeatedly.

"That’s right. Wen Yu Hou invites you to discuss the matter."

"Were Shi Yu Hou and Wang Yu Hou also invited?"

The soldier said,

"They were all invited."

Yang Jing nodded.

"Take me there."

Led by the soldier, Yang Jing soon arrived at Wen Ximing’s Seven Luminaries Demon-Slaying Array.

"Yu Hou, please, step inside."

The soldier gestured for him to enter.

Yang Jing’s Grotto Dark Dharma Eye was incredibly sharp, instantly catching the sinister smile that flashed across the soldier’s face. Pretending not to have noticed, he stepped into the array.

The moment he stepped inside the array, an overwhelming stench of Blood Qi assaulted him.

Within what was once the Seven Luminaries Demon-Slaying Array, Demonic Qi now billowed. All manner of grotesque Celestial Demons, wearing the bodies of Cultivators and other lesser demons, were seated at tables, feasting.

Their food was not meat and wine, but the soldiers of the Demon Suppression Army who had been stationed in the array.

The Other-Transformed Self-Free Celestial Demon, whose arm had been severed by Yang Jing, was seated in the main seat. Its arm had already grown back. Laid out on the table before it was none other than Wen Ximing.

Wen Ximing’s torso had been sliced open, his steaming entrails arranged on the table. His head, hair streaked with gray, was also on the table, deathly pale and drained of all blood. His expression was still one of utter bewilderment.

It seemed he had been taken down without any resistance at all.

What was even more horrifying was that despite this fate, Wen Ximing was not yet dead. His lips trembled, as if trying to say something to Yang Jing, but the faint sound died in his throat, dissipating into the air.

"Brother Guan, since you’re here, why not join the feast?"

the Other-Transformed Self-Free Celestial Demon said to Yang Jing in an unhurried tone. It still didn’t know that the Nine Illusion Mirage Demon’s Illusion Technique had been seen through.

Yang Jing didn’t expose the charade. Instead, he calmly took a seat, his expression serene.

Immediately, a Celestial Demon came forward, carrying a platter of freshly gouged-out organs, and placed it on the table before Yang Jing. Another Celestial Demon held a wine pot, pouring stinking, fresh blood into a cup and presenting it to him.

Yang Jing took the cup and toyed with it in his hand, watching the blood froth within.

The flesh and blood of Cultivators was a delicacy that not even High Tier Celestial Demons could enjoy often. They were convinced that the Guan Weiqun impersonated by Yang Jing was completely mesmerized by the Nine Illusion Mirage Demon, so they had no fear of their true nature being exposed. Their table manners were utterly horrific.

"Little Brother Guan, why aren’t you eating? Is the fare not to your liking?"

The Other-Transformed Self-Free Celestial Demon fixed its gaze on Yang Jing.

"Brother Wen, our great army is gathered but at a standstill, just wasting supplies. I’ve completely lost my appetite. Even with such fine delicacies before me, I can’t bring myself to eat a thing."

Yang Jing said, setting down his cup.

"What’s so difficult about that? Just summon that Yang Jing back, and the problem is solved."

The Other-Transformed Self-Free Celestial Demon stared directly at Yang Jing, its voice laced with a mesmerizing charm.

Yang Jing felt a surge of Demon Intent trying to bore into his ears through the sound.

"Th-that’s... of course."

He feigned being entranced by the Demon Sound. ’I already knew it.’ He had already guessed the Other-Transformed Self-Free Celestial Demon’s plan: it wanted to use the three commanders to lure him back, then ambush and kill him.

But the Other-Transformed Self-Free Celestial Demon had no idea that the one sitting right beside it was Yang Jing himself.

"I’ll send a Token right now and have Yang Jing return."

The Tokens used by officers of the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion with the rank of Minister or higher were all specially made. To activate one, the user had to infuse it with a trace of their own Magical Power. This wisp of Magical Power acted like a personal seal, verifying the sender’s identity.

A Nine Illusion Mirage Demon could, of course, devour the Divine Soul of a slain Cultivator, retain their memories, and even use its Mirage Demon Qi to imitate their Magical Power.

However, having been bested by Yang Jing once before, the Other-Transformed Self-Free Celestial Demon was extremely wary of him. It would rather trick a person into sending the Token than risk Yang Jing seeing through the deception.

Ever since he acquired the Tier Three Demon-Catching Tripod, many of the Outer Celestial Demons’ tricks could no longer fool Yang Jing’s eyes.

Yang Jing took a Token from his Storage Bag, activated it with his Magical Power, and sent it off.

A Celestial Demon sitting nearby intercepted the Token, opened it to inspect the contents, and then nodded at the Other-Transformed Self-Free Celestial Demon.

"There seems to be a problem with this Token. Little Brother Guan, please send another one."

Yang Jing seemed to hesitate for a moment, but still took out another Token.

Shortly after the Token was sent, the Celestial Demons at the feast burst into laughter. Now that the Token was on its way, Guan Weiqun himself was no longer useful. They stared at Yang Jing’s physical body, drooling with greed.

Just then, a Celestial Demon walked in.

"Reporting to the Great King! That Shi Jinrong has arrived."

A smile touched the Other-Transformed Self-Free Celestial Demon’s lips. It turned its gaze to a Five Aggregates Demon at its side. This particular demon had not taken good care of its host body, which was now in tatters. The skin was covered with filth and cysts, and on its hands, the white bone of several fingers was exposed.

"Little Brother Guan, you must be tired. Let my subordinate here take you to rest."

Although the Nine Illusion Mirage Demon Qi was exceptionally good at creating Illusion Realms, the Other-Transformed Self-Free Celestial Demon didn’t want the two men to meet at the feast, just in case one of them noticed something was wrong.

On the table, Wen Ximing’s head showed a look of utter despair. He squeezed his eyes shut in anguish as a single, murky tear escaped from the corner of his eye, rolling down his wrinkled cheek and onto the tabletop.

Yang Jing put on a dazed expression, allowing the Five Aggregates Demon to help him toward the back hall.

They had only taken a few steps when he heard the Five Aggregates Demon supporting him let out a giggle.

"What are you laughing at?"

Yang Jing asked.

"I’m laughing because I’ll soon have some delicious brains to eat!"

The Five Aggregates Demon lifted its head. On its filth-caked face, two eyes covered in a white film stared intently at Yang Jing.

Different types of Celestial Demons had different appetites. The Five Aggregates Demons, which could manipulate a person’s senses and consciousness, had a particular fondness for brains. The brains of more than half the Demon Suppression Army soldiers in the Seven Luminaries Demon-Slaying Array had ended up in this one’s stomach.

"I wonder what brains taste like."

Yang Jing asked, a curious look on his face.

The Five Aggregates Demon was taken aback. It never expected Yang Jing to ask such a question and simply assumed the Great King’s Demon Sound had scrambled his wits.

"I’d really like to try some. I wonder where I could find some brains?"

Yang Jing said, looking at the Five Aggregates Demon with a wry smile.

"Just crack open your own head, and you’ll have brains, won’t you?"

The Five Aggregates Demon stared at Yang Jing’s head, drooling. The Other-Transformed Self-Free Celestial Demon wanted it to possess this body in order to lure the real Yang Jing into a trap.

But for some reason, the sight of this man made it uncontrollably hungry. ’Just eating half the brain shouldn’t jeopardize the Great King’s plan, right?’ it thought.

"No, no. If I opened my own head, the pain would kill me." Yang Jing shook his head. "How about I open up your head instead and see what your brains taste like?"

Only then did the Five Aggregates Demon realize something was wrong. Its eyes shot wide open as it tried to muddle Yang Jing’s senses, but to its shock, it felt a sudden pressure. It was its own head, caught in Yang Jing’s grip.

The next moment, the top of its head was ripped off.

"You’re courting death!"

The Five Aggregates Demon was about to reveal its true form.

"Now, now, don’t be hasty. You’ve sucked countless human brains. Why are you in such a panic when someone wants to suck yours?"

Yang Jing smiled and covertly activated his Celestial True Gang, instantly reducing the demon to ash.