Chapter 32 Remnants of the Blood Worship Cult

Zhao Shan distributed the drawn portraits of the murderers to each team, and at the same time mobilized manpower to set up a net across the western suburbs and along the riverbanks.

Shen Lian volunteered to participate in the operation, but Zhao Shan refused, saying that the killer was too strong and beyond his ability to handle.

Aside from the newly appointed Demon Suppression Envoys, almost all the Demon Suppression Envoys of the Demon Suppression Division participated in the capture operation, laying a tight net to bring the murderer to justice.

The newly appointed Demon Suppression Envoy was assigned to continue his night patrol duties in Qinghe County.

Shen Lian, Chen Yun, and Li Hu were on patrol in Qinghe County.

Li Hu asked, "Brother Lian, do you think Commander Zhao and his men will be able to catch the killer in the heart-ripping case tonight?"

Shen Lian analyzed, "That murderer is very cunning and strong. It won't be easy to catch him, and besides, he might not set up his formation tonight."

Chen Yun said, "Now that we know the appearance of the murderer in the heart-ripping case, Commander Zhao has ordered notices to be posted throughout the county. It won't be so easy for him to make a move again."

"After the notices were posted, everyone stayed home, and you could hardly see a soul on the streets," Li Hu said in a low voice, rubbing the hilt of his knife with his right hand. "We patrol here, but we always feel... like we can't get anywhere."

"I don't think so," Shen Lian said in a deep voice. "Right now, the Demon Suppression Division has mobilized almost its entire force to capture the murderer in the Heart-Digging Case. Don't forget, there are still remnants of the Blood Worship Cult in Qinghe County."

Chen Yun instantly realized: "Senior Brother Shen means we should be wary of the remnants of the Blood Worship Cult causing trouble at this time?"

"Exactly." Shen Lian nodded. "The murderer's portrait has been posted. If he's smart enough, he won't show up in familiar areas anytime soon. And the remnants of the Blood Worship Cult have been lying low for a long time. With the main force of the Demon Suppression Division drawn away, this is their opportunity."

The three continued their patrol along the street, leaving no corner unchecked.

Shen Lian kept his [Combat Power Detection] active the entire time, sensing whether there were any powerful martial artists around him.

Just as they were passing through an alley piled with debris, Shen Lian detected a combat power stat of 0-2, and his brows immediately furrowed.

The Demon Suppression Bureau has posted notices that ordinary people should not appear outside at this time.

[Combat Strength]: 15~25

The next moment, Shen Lian detected an even stronger combat force.

While this fighter may not be as powerful as the perpetrator of the heart-ripping case, he is certainly no saint either.

"Something's up," Shen Lian whispered, his hand already on the hilt of his sword, before he strode forward.

Although Chen Yun and Li Hu did not know what had happened, they followed Shen Lian without hesitation and headed straight ahead.

At the end of the alley, there is a small abandoned vegetable garden.

Under the moonlight, a hunched figure sat slumped in the corner, seemingly an old beggar. His eyes were closed, his face was pale, and his skin was withered.

A man in black robes stood to the side, holding a bottle filled with blood, which emitted a strong smell of blood.

Upon seeing this, Shen Lian and the other two's pupils contracted.

Remnants of the Blood Worship Cult!

As if sensing Shen Lian and the other two, the man in black robes stomped his foot, preparing to leave the place.

"Thief, don't run!"

Shen Lian roared, his longsword suddenly unsheathed, and he used the "Wave-Slaying Style" to strike first. The blade light was like a bolt of lightning, slashing towards the black-robed man.

Shen Lian slashed three times in succession, stopping the man in black robes.

Chen Yun and Li Hu flanked them from the left and right.

The three surrounded the man in black robes.

The man in the black robe had half of his pale face visible beneath his hood, which looked quite terrifying.

"These brats from the Demon Suppression Division are quite alert," the man in black said in a deep voice.

Li Hu gripped the hilt of his knife tightly, glaring angrily: "You slaughter the innocent and suck their lifeblood; you won't escape from us tonight."

The man in black sneered, "You three greenhorns think you can catch me? You're really... courting death."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly transformed into a black shadow and rushed straight towards Li Hu.

Its speed far exceeds that of ordinary people.

"Tiger, be careful!" Shen Lian shouted immediately.

Li Hu was prepared and unleashed a "Mountain Splitting Strike" downwards, the blade whistling through the air.

The man in black robes neither dodged nor yielded, but instead used his right hand, with five fingers forming a claw, to grab at the blade.

clang!

Li Hu's longsword was caught by the man in black robes with his bare hands.

To withstand a steel knife with bare hands—what terrifying finger strength that must be!

"What?!"

Li Hu was shocked and tried to draw his sword to retreat, but found that the long sword was firmly held by the man in black robes and he could not pull it out at all.

The man in black robes suddenly grabbed with his left hand, aiming straight for Li Hu's heart.

"stop!"

Shen Lian's eyes changed, and he swept his long sword horizontally, unleashing a three-hit combo of "Wave Slash" at the black-robed man, leaving no room for retreat in this strike.

With a flick of his wrist, the man in black robes sent Li Hu's longsword flying, and at the same time, he retreated rapidly, avoiding Shen Lian's three consecutive strikes.

"His movements are so strange."

Li Hu staggered backward, his right hand's tiger's mouth was shattered, and blood was flowing uncontrollably.

"The Blood Claw Technique of the Blood Worship Cult," Shen Lian said in a deep voice. "You have already mastered this evil technique to a minor level."

A hint of surprise flashed in the black-robed man's eyes: "Little brat, you have good eyesight. Since you recognize this skill, you should know that you are no match for me."

Shen Lian's blood and qi surged: "Whether I'm a match or not, we'll only know after we fight."

Chen Yun's pale purple martial arts mark lit up between her eyebrows. With a delicate shout, her longsword transformed into a streak of light and immediately slashed towards the man in black robes.

The man in black dodged to the side, then slapped the blade with his palm. A force traveled through the blade, making Chen Yun's arm go numb.

Seeing this, Shen Lian took a series of steps and used the "Mountain-Splitting Style" from the "Demon-Subduing Blade Technique". The tip of the blade was like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, and it went straight for the black-robed man to slash down.

The man in black robes exclaimed "Eh!" realizing that Shen Lian's swordsmanship was extremely exquisite. He had no choice but to withdraw his claws and defend, throwing a punch at the long sword that was slashing down.

clang!

The clanging of metal echoed through the alley.

Shen Lian took another step, and with a turn of his longsword, the continuous blade energy of the "Wave-Slicing Style" surged out like a tide, forcing the black-robed man back several steps.

"I underestimated you," the man in black robes said in a deep voice. "Among the new recruits of the Demon Suppression Division, there is someone with such exquisite swordsmanship as you."

Shen Lian held a long sword and looked coldly at the man in black robes.

He reached out to stop Chen Yun and Li Hu from making a move: "Let me handle this."

The black-robed man's combat strength is 15-25, while his combat strength is 18-30. Since his combat strength is higher than the other's, he is not afraid even in a one-on-one fight.

"Brother Lian, this..." Li Hu looked worried.

"Leave it to me." Shen Lian took a step forward, sword in hand.

Chen Yun nodded to Li Hu, and then the two of them stepped back a few steps, blocking the entrances on both sides of the alley to prevent the other party from escaping.

Clearly, Shen Lian wouldn't have done this if he wasn't absolutely certain.

The night wind swept through the alleyway.

The moonlight shone on the pale hands of the man in black robes. Those hands had been practicing the Blood Claw Technique for many years, and his nails were sharp as hooks. He stared intently at Shen Lian, like a venomous snake locking onto its prey.

"You think you can defeat me all by yourself?" the black-robed man said in a deep voice. "My Blood Claw is specifically designed to break through external martial arts techniques. No matter how exquisite your swordsmanship is or how strong your blood and qi foundation is, you will never be able to stop my Blood Claw."