Following several Martial Artists, he arrived inside the newly built Flying Eagle Hall.
As soon as Li Xuanxiao stepped inside, he saw mountains of letters and the Flying Eagle Hall Master submerged in a sea of correspondence.
Fortunately, the Flying Eagle Hall Master hadn't been replaced.
The corners of Li Xuanxiao's mouth curled slightly, and his mood instantly improved a lot.
He knocked on the doorframe: "Hall Master, Li Xuanxiao requests an audience."
Without even lifting his head, the old man shouted irritably, "Go away, go away! I'm not seeing anyone. Can't you see I'm busy?"
A few seconds later, the figure behind the letters jerked to a halt, and the Flying Eagle Hall Master stood up abruptly.
"Li Xuanxiao!? You brat, you're back?"
Li Xuanxiao smiled and nodded. "Yes, I'm back."
The Flying Eagle Hall Master practically leaped out from his desk and gave Li Xuanxiao a bear hug as soon as he reached him.
"You brat, you've really made something of yourself, actually passing the Royal City's Eight Halls Rotation Battle! You've really brought honor to our Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division, and to our Great Pei Prefecture!"
Li Xuanxiao gave a light chuckle. "Why are there so many letters today?"
The Flying Eagle Hall Master waved his hand. "Don't even mention it! With the reconstruction of the Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division, all the personnel changes, new Martial Artist registrations, and the cancellation of those who died in the line of duty—everything has to be communicated through my Flying Eagle Hall."
"The workload has skyrocketed. It's exhausting these old bones of mine! It's lucky it's now; if it were before, that old fellow Liu Gelin would surely have gone to the Commander to tattle on me again!"
After speaking, the Flying Eagle Hall Master fell silent, his mood visibly dropping.
"Damn it, I'd actually be willing to let him file a complaint now!"
"Now that the Commander is recovering in the Royal City and Vice General Yang has been transferred out of Pei Prefecture, there are hardly any people left in this Peizhou Demon Slaying Hall to talk to."
Li Xuanxiao remained silent for a moment. "I came here this time first to see you all, and second to find the New Demon Emperor."
The Flying Eagle Hall Master's voice turned cold almost instantly, as if a deep-seated resentment was buried in his heart.
"The New Demon Emperor is still in Pei Prefecture?"
Li Xuanxiao nodded.
The Flying Eagle Hall Master's face was grim. "If you need anything from my Flying Eagle Hall, please, you must tell me! If I weren't tied down here, I would definitely go with you! To personally slay the New Demon Emperor and console the spirits of my old friends in heaven!"
Looking at the emotional Flying Eagle Hall Master, Li Xuanxiao gave a soft laugh. "I will slay him!"
"Definitely!"
...
Dayu Dynasty, Pei Prefecture, Ziluo City.
A Rainbow Light swiftly streaked past one city after another, coming to a halt above a slightly larger city.
Ziluo City was the place where he and the New Demon Emperor had first met.
He decided to check here first without searching elsewhere.
Following his memory, he walked into the tavern where he had been drinking tea back then and sat at a seat on the second floor.
At that time, that Young Noble in Brocade Robes had been sitting diagonally across from him, striking up a conversation.
Ordering a cup of tea, Li Xuanxiao sat silently by the window.
In his mind, he recalled every scene of the conversation with that Young Noble in Brocade Robes.
'Right now, I'm afraid the Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division is the most unsafe place in the entire Pei Prefecture.'
'I'll pay for Your Excellency's tea. I hope we'll have the chance to meet again in the future.'
At that time, it had already arranged for the Demon Emperor to launch a sneak attack on the Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division.
And at the same time, it was searching everywhere for information about him.
From its behavioral patterns, the New Demon Emperor had already shifted from hunting ordinary humans to hunting specific high-level Martial Artists at that time.
Li Xuanxiao made a bold guess that the New Demon Emperor's Realm might already be very close to a transformation.
With just that final step, it would break through its shackles, stand upon the bones of countless humans, and become a Demon Venerable!
This was the most critical moment; once it achieved a Breakthrough, it would no longer need to hide.
Even the Grey-Clothed Martial Artists of the Great Yu Royal Family wouldn't be able to keep him!
His own plan to slay it would also fall through.
If I were it, being watched by the Grey-Clothed Martial Artists, what would I choose to do?
Daring to directly slaughter the population of two prefectures showed the New Demon Emperor's ambition and ruthlessness.
Sending people to raid the Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division showed its thirst for the life force of high-level Martial Artists.
Having committed such a great sin, yet daring to stay in place, gambling that the most dangerous place is the safest place...
Such ambition, ruthlessness, an uncontrollable desire for promotion, and the boldness to seek wealth amidst danger.
A fellow like that...
If I were it, I would never stay still in one place!
Instead, I would take a bold risk!
Gambling on being able to promote to Demon Venerable before being discovered by the Grey-Clothed Martial Artists!
So in the current Pei Prefecture, where could satisfy its needs?
'Right now, I'm afraid the Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division is the most unsafe place in the entire Pei Prefecture.'
Li Xuanxiao's brow furrowed slightly as this sentence suddenly popped into his head!
He stood up abruptly!
Fuck!
Rainbow Light suddenly appeared, and amidst the exclamations of countless people, Li Xuanxiao soared into the sky!
Heading straight for the Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division!
Madman, madman, madman!
Li Xuanxiao both hoped he had guessed correctly and hoped he had guessed wrong.
But no matter what, the tragedy of last time must never happen again!
The Transcendent Rainbow Light Movement, bolstered by his thick True Essence, appeared even more brilliant.
His speed increased violently, nearly producing a sonic boom!
...
After seeing Li Xuanxiao off, the Flying Eagle Hall Master lost interest in continuing with his official duties.
At the thought that the murderer of Liu Gelin and the other five Hall Masters, the New Demon Emperor, was still in Pei Prefecture, anger rushed to his head.
It made it impossible for him to maintain his peace of mind.
He bought several jars of good wine and went to a hillside not far from the Demon Slaying Division.
Densely packed tombstones stood here; it was the resting place for successive generations of Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division Martial Artists who had died in the line of duty.
He walked to a tombstone, a look of reminiscence on his face.
"Old geezer, are you still going to tattle on me?"
He flashed a middle finger at the tombstone engraved with the three large characters 'Liu Gelin'.
The Flying Eagle Hall Master seemed to feel like he had won something and gave a light chuckle.
"I'm not like you. You gave the Commander reports on me, causing me to get chewed out, yet I still bring you wine to drink. I am just such a magnanimous person! Accept it with gratitude!"
The Flying Eagle Hall Master uncapped the jar, the aroma of wine wafting out, and he poured an entire jar of wine onto the ground in front of the tombstone.
Suddenly, footsteps came from behind him.
"What fragrant wine. Could you spare a jar for me?"
The Flying Eagle Hall Master was startled, a feeling of inexplicable horror welling up inside him. He slowly turned his head.
Not far away, a refined Young Master dressed in brocade robes with an imposing noble air was slowly walking toward him.
The Young Noble in Brocade Robes held a folding fan, waving it elegantly. On his handsome face was a warm smile.
It was hard to find him disagreeable.
But the Flying Eagle Hall Master felt the hair on his body stand on end, and a prickling pain coursed through his entire body.
He suppressed this inexplicable discomfort: "Who are you, and why have you come here?"
The fan in the Young Master's hand slowly stopped and was retracted into his sleeve.
"I merely wish to borrow some things..."
"As for who I am?"
"Hmm..."
"The demons on your side all seem to like calling me..."
The Young Noble in Brocade Robes paused for a moment and then revealed a brilliant smile.
"The New Demon Emperor."