Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start Chapter 492 370: First Encounter with a Hell-Level Demon (Th

"What?!"

Upon returning to Gu Mansion, when Gu Chengfeng's family heard that Gu Chen was actually going to the distant Youzhou to defend it, they were taken aback.

This was because the death of the Jing Tian Departnt's commander in Youzhou was top secret, and it was impossible to leak at this stage. Youzhou was already under martial law, and given the current chaos in the world, it would take a considerable amount of ti for news to reach Tiandu, not to ntion the other prefectures.

And Gu Chen couldn't possibly have inford his second uncle, Gu Chengfeng, and his family. They also didn't know how dangerous Youzhou was.

The reason for their shock was simply because of the current natural disasters and calamities across the land; they were concerned that Gu Chen might encounter mishaps while hastily traveling to Youzhou.

Gu Chen smiled and reassured them, "After all, I am a sky-rank commander of the Jing Tian Departnt. Now that the Jing Tian Departnt has a mission, it's impossible for to refuse, Uncle. You should understand this as well."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chengfeng also slowly nodded his head. He was also a part of the establishnt and naturally understood that such matters could not be refused.

But Gu Chen was, after all, his nephew, and he couldn't stop himself from worrying internally.

At this mont, Aunt Xu Qinge said with a worried face, "Eldest son, the world is currently unstable. I heard that in Youzhou, thunderstorms are striking down in swathes, which could frighten soone to death. You say you want to go to Youzhou now, isn't it a bit precipitous? Could you talk to your superiors and perhaps, after this period has passed and things have cald down, then set out?"

Gu Qingyan's eyes, as clear as water, were also fixed unwaveringly on Gu Chen, filled with reluctance.

Gu Chen shook his head and said, "No, Aunt. The mission is urgent, and I am only back to inform you all. I must depart shortly."

"So hurried?" Gu Chengfeng's brows furrowed, sensing that sothing was amiss.

He wasn't foolish; having been involved with governnt affairs for so many years, he certainly knew that Gu Chen, now a martial arts master of the Congenital Realm, was urgently dispatched by the Jing Tian Departnt to Youzhou, indicating that sothing significant must have happened there.

But since Gu Chen didn't ntion it, it ant that the matter was confidential, thus Gu Chengfeng of course wouldn't ask, as it would only put Gu Chen in a difficult position.

He also hadn't told his wife and daughter about it, fearing that they would worry too much.

Gu Chen said, "There's no rush, Uncle. I've already rested at ho for quite so ti. As you know, I'm not soone who can stay idle for long. After staying put for so long, I feel like my body is starting to rust."

He spoke lightly, hoping to alleviate his family's concerns.

Xu Qinge's face showed worry as she glanced at her husband, Gu Chengfeng, and noticed his grave expression. Seeing that he remained silent, she sighed softly and did not continue to insist.

As Gu Chen was about to leave on a mission, all his family could do was to let him go without worries and not concern himself with everything at ho.

"Be extrely careful on the road," Gu Chengfeng said solemnly.

"Don't worry, Uncle. As a Congenital Realm martial arts grandmaster, I can traverse the skies. I'm very fast, and even if I encounter any disaster, I can assuredly escape in ti," Gu Chen assured.

"Mhm," Gu Chengfeng nodded, saying no more.

"Eldest son, take care."

"Big brother, you must be careful."

Xu Qinge and Gu Qingyan, along with all the servants in Gu Mansion, watched Gu Chen leave with faces full of reluctance.

...

Youzhou was located in the eastern part of the Nine Provinces; beyond Youzhou to the east was the border of Da Yuan.

Typically, departing from Shen Zhou, it would take at least over two months to reach Youzhou, but Gu Chen, having achieved the Congenital Level and possessing the ability to traverse the void, did not choose to travel by horse this ti.

Partly because current natural changes had affected many areas, altering so of the original official roads, making them unsuitable for horseback travel.

After leaving Tiandu, Gu Chen soared into the sky, activating the LingXu Nine Steps, and streaked through the distant skies.

Shen Zhou had been experiencing severe cold recently, with goose-feather-like snow continually falling, and the high altitude temperatures were extrely low, to the point where even a Rebirth Realm martial arts master might not be able to endure.

But to Gu Chen, this cold had little effect on him.

"If I travel at full speed, it should take less than half a month to reach the city of Youzhou," he estimated.

With the silent passage of geese overhead, and the snow underfoot undisturbed by his steps, augnted by Gu Chen's use of the LingXu Nine Steps, he moved like a fluttering light, his speed incredibly fast.

However, hurrying at full strength was also a great strain on Gu Chen. A few days might be manageable, but maintaining this state for over half a month could inevitably cause damage to his body.

So, after estimating, Gu Chen figured that with his speed, it would take less than a month to go from Shen Zhou to Youzhou.

This was already very quick, exceeding Qin Wu's expectations.

On the twelfth day since leaving Shen Zhou, Gu Chen descended to the ground to take a short break.

By now, he had long left Shen Zhou, and after twelve days, the anomalous changes in the Nine Provinces had ceased, various calamities had vanished, and now Da Xia was doing its utmost to provide relief to disaster-afflicted people, with its treasury almost half emptied.

On his journey, Gu Chen had also witnessed much devastation, which infuriated him, yet left him feeling helpless.

He still needed ti; at this mont, Gu Chen's greatest goal was to break through to the Hundred Orifices Stage. That way, it would be much easier for him to bring the jianghu forces within Da Xia's territory under control.

It wasn't only the jianghu forces, but also the Barbarian Tribes, Da Yuan -- all of these were Gu Chen's targets. Only by integrating the forces throughout the Nine Provinces could they face the impending great calamity of the Nine Provinces.

However, achieving this required imnse personal strength.

Of course, now, aside from the barbarian tribes and the Great Yuan, Gu Chen had another target, King Huai.

"King Huai is no simple character," Gu Chen's brows slightly furrowed. That day when he t King Huai, he could discern the truth and deception of King Huai through the heavenly seed within him.

The King Huai of the past might have always been pretending; the King Huai Gu Chen t that day was the real one.

"What exactly is King Huai planning?" Gu Chen pondered, but for these matters, he currently had no way of knowing.

The powers of the world were already headache-inducing enough, and now there was an additional King Huai. Given what King Huai was thinking, it was inevitable that he would beco Gu Chen's opponent in the future, unless sothing unexpected happened.

"Youzhou is a very good opportunity," Gu Chen muttered to himself.

By guarding Youzhou, and continuously slaying demons, Gu Chen felt that even if he reached the innate stage, the speed of his strength improvent might not slow down.

Gu Chen's plan was to reach the divine realm of martial arts and condense divine thoughts in the shortest possible ti. After resolving the affairs of Youzhou, he would then set out to subdue the powers of the world, starting with the Dragon Tiger Mountain Tianshi Sect, of course.

Because the Old Tianshi was powerful and could play a significant role when facing the Demon Sect, he was a very important ally for Gu Chen.

By himself, wanting to reverse the situation of the Nine Provinces was clearly unrealistic. At least for now, Gu Chen needed the help of others.

This was Gu Chen's current line of thought.

As he was deep in thought, suddenly, not far from him in mid-air, with a buzz, the void trembled and was torn apart, revealing a fissure about three feet in size, from which cold and sinister auras invaded.

"Huh?!"

Gu Chen was startled awake in an instant, clearly witnessing the scene.

Banks of black fog surged from the torn void, and the temperature in the area plumted sharply. The chilling sensation was pervasive, seeming to penetrate one's bones and freeze them stiff in an instant.

Even a martial arts master at the Great Perfection stage of the Hundred Orifices Stage would turn pale and die on the spot, unable to withstand this cold aura.

From within Gu Chen's heart, a feeling of facing a natural enemy erged. Without any words, he knew that it must be demons!

"Is this how demons descend upon the Nine Provinces?" Gu Chen stared at the void rift.

This was also his first ti facing the descent of demons in the Nine Provinces.

"So these extraterritorial evil spirits co tearing through the Nine Provinces' heavens and earth. No wonder they have such a huge impact on the Nine Provinces."

Not only that, but being creatures that stand opposed to the lifeforms of the Nine Provinces, demons could cause destruction by simply standing still. The innate coldness of their presence alone was enough to shatter everything.

One could see that as the black fog continued to surge, the ground within dozens of yards was eroded, turning pitch black.

"Nether ranked demon!"

Feeling this aura, Gu Chen's expression beca more serious. This was his first encounter with a Nether ranked demon.

Different from the hearsay, today, the Nether ranked demon was before Gu Chen's eyes, descending upon the Nine Provinces.

And the reason they were nad so was simply because the strength of Nether ranked demons was equivalent to the Human Clan's warriors from the innate stage to the divine realm. If such a demon was allowed to run amok, an entire province could turn into a ghastly hell.

Hence, such demons were called "Nether ranked."

However, according to the Tower Supervisor and the six holy lands, these ranks were only set by the Nine Provinces for the demons. Currently, the demons that appear in the Nine Provinces are of the lowest level. The truly powerful demons can't cross over, only when the great calamity truly arrives and the Nine Provinces' heavens and earth are on the verge of shattering will they descend.

Hiss!

With a flash of cold light, a massive claw reached out from the void, gleaming with a dread-inspiring black luster, as if it were so kind of divine weapon, extrely sharp.

"Ao!"

A fierce howl echoed across the wilderness, and the earth rumbled as if an earthquake had occurred. A demon, all black and armored with scales that shimred with cold light, stepped out from the rift in the void.

This Nether ranked demon was humanoid, nearly ten feet tall with a bulky fra, sunken face, and blood-red pupils. Its sharp claws on the hands and feet, emaciated body, and a pair of wings on its back were enveloped with swirling black mist.

It was like a demon from hell arriving in the mortal world, exuding an extrely dangerous aura. Its blood-red eyes were terrifying, flashing with a bloodthirsty glow. As it opened its mouth, its sharp teeth glead, capable of biting through anything.

"Ao!"

At this mont, it howled again, and the wilderness mourned as the earth nearly split apart. The scene was quite fearso—a re roar held such power.

"Comparable to the Great Perfection of the Human Clan's innate stage!" Gu Chen, standing in the distance, gauged the strength of the Nether ranked demon.

However, having no experience fighting a Nether ranked demon, although its released aura was comparable to the Great Perfection of the innate stage, the actual combat ability was still unknown.

Swoosh!

At that mont, the Nether ranked demon also noticed Gu Chen. Its blood-red pupils burned like two red lanterns, and with a fierce gaze, it fixed its eyes on Gu Chen as if it were a wild beast choosing its prey.

"Roar!"

In the next instant, with a roar, the void trembled, and the demon rushed toward Gu Chen like a tiger pouncing on a sheep!

The first battle between Gu Chen and a Nether ranked demon thus officially began!