Chapter 201: Killing Sheep to Scare the Girl

With this thought in mind, Xu Qing walked towards the Demon-Catching Division at Port 176.

It was late at night. The recent frenetic activity of the Intelligence Division had caused widespread panic, which also affected the business of brothels and casinos. After all, many people were not in the mood for entertainment at the moment.

The Seven Blood Eyes sect's system of rules meant that traitors were actually quite common. After all, the gu-raising cultivation for Qi Condensation disciples left them without a sense of belonging, and the sect didn't require loyalty; everything was driven by profit. Coupled with the unregulated, loose management of Foundation Establishment cultivators, it was easy for them to be tempted by profit and sell information they possessed, without any psychological burden.

Of course, selling secrets came at a price.

However, Xu Qing wasn't concerned with any of this. He walked through the night, passing through secluded areas, paying no mind to the little mute girl following him. He continued until he reached the Demon-Catching Division.

At the entrance of the Demon-Catching Division, two disciples on guard immediately showed fanaticism in their eyes and knelt down in homage the moment they saw Xu Qing.

“Greetings, Director!”

To them, Xu Qing's name was already a legend. He had started as a member of the Demon-Catching Division. From then on, he rose steadily, becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator in a year, activating his first flame in a few months, and becoming a Two-Flame cultivator in less than two years. He had also accomplished earth-shattering feats against the Sea Corpse Clan. He had previously suppressed the little princess of Dongyou Island, who was still imprisoned in the Demon-Catching Division of the Dark Department. All of this made Xu Qing the fanatical idol of countless disciples within the Demon-Catching Division.

Xu Qing's expression remained calm as he nodded and walked past them. After entering the Demon-Catching Division, he went directly to the prison. The Demon-Catching Division's prison was built underground and had only one floor. Whether Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, or special cultivators, all were held on this single floor. There were hundreds of densely packed iron-barred cells, along with numerous formations and restrictions. The harsh environment also meant the place had an extremely foul smell. The stench of unwashed bodies, mixed with the smell of excrement and urine, was enough to make one gag.

At the moment, more than half of the cells were occupied by imprisoned foreign wanted criminals. None of these had been captured by Xu Qing, because when Xu Qing acted, he only took heads.

Xu Qing's arrival immediately caught the attention of these foreign cultivators. Some bared their teeth, some grinned slyly, some spat out phlegm directly, while others, upon seeing Xu Qing, whistled and made vulgar gestures. They weren't afraid of death. Imprisoned here, with no hope of ever seeing daylight, they had little fear of death. Strange cries now echoed through the prison, and Xu Qing even heard the voice of the black-clad girl from afar.

“Xu Qing, I curse you to a terrible death! When I get out, I'll disembowel you and gouge out your heart, and eat it right in front of you!”

Xu Qing remained expressionless, ignoring the various antics of these foreign wanted criminals. He turned and spoke calmly to the little mute girl standing outside.

“No matter what sounds you hear from inside in a moment, do not disturb me.”

The little mute girl immediately nodded. The other Demon-Catching Division members outside also became solemn.

With a wave of his hand, a cloud of poisonous powder dispersed, enveloping the goat-headed creature, and swiftly integrating into its body.

“Poison? What's this? I'm—”

The goat-headed beastman had just uttered these words, before he could finish, his body suddenly convulsed violently. His entire frame began to tremble, yet a ferocious expression remained on his face.

“Comfortable!”

Xu Qing ignored him, observing carefully. As the goat-headed beastman's trembling grew more intense, and blood began to flow from his seven orifices, Xu Qing took out a bottle of small black insects, opened it, and released some. Immediately, the small black insects swarmed towards the goat-headed creature, clinging to its skin in the blink of an eye, and swiftly burrowing inwards.

This pain immediately made the goat-headed creature's eyes turn bloodshot, yet the madness on its face persisted. However, upon closer inspection, a deeply hidden terror could still be seen in the depths of its eyes. The next moment, its body visibly withered a little. A large number of black insects flew out and were collected by Xu Qing for observation. The goat-headed beastman now lay on the ground, trembling all over, but the madness on its face intensified.

“Is that all?”

Xu Qing paid no attention, observing his small black insects. He noticed their aura seemed slightly stronger, but only slightly. This puzzled Xu Qing. According to his previous research, seven types of herbs integrated into blood food should have made his small black insects grow much stronger, but the current improvement fell short of his expectations.

“I need to find out what's missing.” Xu Qing muttered, then raised his right hand and waved, snatching the goat-headed beastman directly in front of him. Just as the creature was about to sneer, Xu Qing expressionlessly drew his dagger, cut open the beastman's abdomen, and began to search and examine.

A horrifying scream instantly erupted, then fell silent for a moment, before turning into boundless terror and wailing, echoing all around, but it quickly faded. In the surrounding cells, the clamoring voices that had previously filled the air now abruptly ceased. Gaze after gaze, filled with apprehension, fell upon Xu Qing, watching him calmly conduct his research.

Moments later, Xu Qing, who had essentially flayed the goat-headed beastman alive, fell into thoughtful contemplation. Then, he raised his hand and grabbed a middle-aged cultivator nearby who had previously spat phlegm at him with malice, pulling him over. This was a Merfolk. Terror appeared in its eyes, its breathing grew ragged. Just as it was about to speak, Xu Qing scattered a second layer of medicinal powder, then released the small black insects, trying again.

A short while later, as screams erupted, the same scene unfolded. Xu Qing frowned and continued to cut open the cultivator's body for examination.

Time slowly passed. All the foreign cultivators in the cells were now silent. Their breathing was ragged, and varying degrees of terror appeared in their eyes. They might not have feared death, but being cut open alive for research in such a manner was something they had never imagined. Witnessing the fate of others with their own eyes proved almost unbearable for their minds.

Especially Xu Qing, who was completely engrossed in his research. He would ponder for a moment, then grab another wanted criminal, and then cut. On the ground, blood of various colors mixed together, steadily increasing. Eventually, a cultivator broke down emotionally, retreating frantically into a corner. Their gaze towards Xu Qing was filled with immense fear and horror. Even the black-clad girl, after Xu Qing had cut open the thirty-fourth foreign wanted criminal, did not curse for the first time. Instead, her body trembled slightly, and a hint of terror appeared in her eyes.

The night passed into morning, and Xu Qing departed.

He had gained a great deal this night, and his mind was now filled with more ideas. After he left, the disciples of the Demon-Catching Division walked into what had truly become a Shura field. But after exchanging glances, they did not clean it up. Because these foreign wanted criminals were not worthy of their sympathy. Each one of them had killed numerous innocents, and rape and pillage were commonplace for them. They were especially vicious towards humans, with some even having raised humans as livestock for meat. The reason they were kept alive was simply for utilitarian purposes. When cannon fodder was needed, they would often be the first to be sent out.

After leaving the Demon-Catching Division, Xu Qing immediately went to an apothecary, where he bought more herbs and poisons. He returned to his Dharma Ship to continue his research, and after midnight, he went to the Demon-Catching Division prison once more.

This time, the moment he walked in, there was no more clamoring or disgusting antics. All the foreign wanted criminals instantly trembled, their eyes revealing intense fear, as they watched Xu Qing approach like a Shura.

Xu Qing's expression was calm. He walked past cell after cell, until his gaze finally settled on the cell next to the black-clad girl. Inside was a foreign three-eyed cultivator with a scarred neck. Xu Qing looked at it with surprise, finding it vaguely familiar. He recalled it was from the Night Raven organization, but couldn't remember if he had previously severed its head. So, amidst the cultivator's terrified screams, he seized it, sprinkled the medicinal powder, and released the small black insects.

That night was the same as the previous one.

And so, time slowly passed. Three more days quickly went by. Among the disciples of the Dark Department's Demon-Catching Division, tales of Xu Qing's terror began to circulate. All the wanted criminals in the prison had also died, leaving only the black-clad girl. Her gaze towards Xu Qing held an even deeper terror.

“Have the Yellow Department send the wanted criminals here; I won't go over there myself.” Xu Qing's instruction was quickly carried out. Thus, in the Dark Department's dungeon, the scene from several days prior was replayed. All the foreign prisoners brought in went from initial frenzied mockery to horrified terror, and finally, trembling despair.

Xu Qing's research on the small black insects became increasingly thorough. He even added corpse poison, which finally caused the number of small black insects to skyrocket, and their threat level to increase significantly. Often, when a foreign wanted criminal was swarmed by them, they would be reduced to bones within a few breaths, their flesh completely devoured.

But Xu Qing was still not satisfied.

“External devouring is easily blocked and defended against,” Xu Qing mused. “It would be better if they could be concealed, like poison.” He then notified the Demon-Catching Division to bring in the wanted criminals held by the Earth Department.

The one most deeply affected by all this was the black-clad girl. Before meeting Xu Qing, she had never known what fear felt like. But in these past few days, she had witnessed Xu Qing's every action — his serious expression, his indifferent cutting open, his meticulous, emotionless searching and experimenting. All of this caused her emotions to fluctuate wildly.

When the wanted criminals from the Earth Department were also brought in, the black-clad girl watched as Xu Qing waved his hand, and a large patch of black mist appeared around his body. Her body slowly began to tremble, and deep within her fearful eyes, a rare abnormality appeared. After gazing at Xu Qing's profile, she raised her hand and bit her finger until it bled. She then extended it towards Xu Qing, her expression seeming to ask if Xu Qing wanted to eat it. Seeing that Xu Qing ignored her, she tremblingly withdrew her hand, put it to her mouth, and began to suck her own blood. After a long moment, she spoke in a trembling voice.

“Brother Xu Qing… can I help you?”