Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends: Starting from the Equipment Slot

Chapter 11 Exposure

Upon hearing the news, Wang Yuan arrived at the temporary camp and saw only seven warhorses in an open space.

The officials from the Demon Slayer Bureau have already been asked to leave by the village head.

Outside the camp, a large group of villagers had gathered, excitedly discussing the matter.

"That's it, the Demon Slayers are here, Black Bear is definitely doomed!"

"See those two golden eagles circling in the sky? Those are the eyes of the Demon Slayer. I saw it with my own eyes. That official took out two golden beans from his pocket, threw them into the air, and they instantly turned into two magnificent golden eagles that soared into the sky. Their cries almost scared my soul out of my body."

"There really were two golden eagles, were they really transformed from golden beans?"

"How could it be fake? I saw it with my own eyes—it's divine magic!"

Wang Yuan looked up at the sky and indeed saw two golden eagles circling high above.

His eyesight was exceptional; he could see the golden eagle's feathers even from a thousand meters away, and for a moment he couldn't tell whether it was a magical spell or a living golden eagle.

About a quarter of an hour after the Demon Slayers entered, a group of seven people, accompanied by Wang Zhixu and others, walked out of the camp, then jumped onto their warhorses and headed straight for the back mountain of Wang Family Village.

"Sir, is that all?"

"Rest assured, everyone. This time, the officers from the Demon Slayer Bureau are here. They will definitely be able to capture and kill that black bear."

Wang Zhixu loudly reassured everyone and told them not to go up the mountain recently.

It could take half a day or a day, until the Demon Slayers have eliminated Black Bear, then they can head up the mountain.

As for the task of finding Lao Liang and the others, it was entrusted to the Demon Slayer Division.

Everyone readily agreed that, for safety reasons, the patrols would remain as they were for the time being, and would be disbanded after Black Bear was eliminated.

"So, that means we can have another day of free meals!"

After having lunch, Wang Yuan went home to continue practicing his swordsmanship.

As it was getting dark, Wang Hu suddenly came to visit.

Wang Yuan had already sensed something was wrong, so he put away his wood-chopping knife and went to open the door, welcoming Wang Hu into his home.

"Commander, your home is simple; please come in!"

Wang Hu glanced at the newly renovated courtyard wall, followed Wang Yuan into the house, and said with a smile, "I've come to ask you about something."

"Please speak, sir!"

"A few days ago, the black bear sneaked into the village, but was discovered and had to flee. Were you the one who spotted it first?"

"I'm not sure about that either!"

Wang Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "I was sleeping that night when I suddenly heard a noise in the courtyard and woke up. Then I heard the sound of the door being knocked open. I thought the bandits had sneaked into the village, so I shouted to scare them away. However, I felt something was startled and ran away. The noise was so loud that I felt the ground trembling. Later I found out that it was the black bear."

"You could hear the noise beforehand!"

"I've always been a light sleeper; I wake up at the slightest sound."

"So it was indeed you who scared away Black Bear."

Wang Hu patted Wang Yuan on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Thanks to you for this, otherwise many more people in the village would have been killed. I will report this to the village head, and after we get rid of Hei Xiazi, I will give you a reward."

"Commander, I didn't do anything, so I don't need a reward!"

What's rightfully yours, you will naturally receive!

Wang Hu stood up and walked out. Wang Yuan saw him off outside the courtyard and watched Wang Hu's departing figure, lost in thought.

If someone with ulterior motives wants to investigate this matter, they will definitely not be able to keep it a secret.

Wang Hu's visit today, bringing up this matter, indicates that he has already investigated it thoroughly.

If you don't admit it, it will only arouse more suspicion.

"No matter what Wang Juntou's intentions are, as long as I am strong enough, I will not fear any conspiracy!"

Wang Yuan returned to the woodshed and continued practicing his sword!

I'm almost done with the second move of the Starfire Sword Technique. Perhaps I'll be able to master it tonight!

…………

In a cave not far from Black Wind Ridge, a campfire roared, and a skinned deer was roasting over the fire. The fat dripped into the flames, making a sizzling sound, and the aroma filled the entire cave.

Feng Bao sat in front of the campfire, chatting and laughing with a group of bandits.

Suddenly, Feng Bao stopped laughing and joking, his pupils rolled slightly back, and his body trembled slightly, as if he were lost in thought.

After a few breaths, Feng Bao recovered, stood up, and walked into the cave without saying a word.

"Boss!"

Hu Xiao slowly raised his head, glanced at Feng Bao, and said, "Any news about the Starfire Sword?"

"Still haven't found it!"

Feng Bao shook his head and said, "However, my subordinate found out that when the black bear sneaked into the village, it was a hunter named Wang Yuan who spotted it in advance and scared it away by making a sound."

"Do you think there's something wrong with Wang Yuan?"

"I do think there is a problem."

Feng Bao nodded and said, "He explained that he was a light sleeper and shouted. After the Black Bear became a demon, it became bloodthirsty and wiped out eight households in Wang Family Village in one night. Even if Wang Yuan shouted, given the Black Bear's ferocity, it wouldn't turn around and run away without taking a bite of the meat that was already in its mouth. Therefore, I think that even if this kid didn't find the Starfire Sword, he must have some other secret."

"Tell me about this Wang Yuan!"

Hu Xiao turned around, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"An ordinary hunter, around fourteen years old, whose father died a few years earlier. He also had an elderly mother and a four-year-old sister. The family survived only because they received help from the villagers."

"Has Wang Yuan shown any unusual behavior these past few days?"

"As far as I know, no!"

"Even if a teenager obtains the Starfire Sword, it is impossible for him to master this Earthly Fiend Spirit Weapon in a short period of time."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Hu Xiao's eyes as he said, "Since you think there's something wrong with him, it's quite simple. Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free. Just find an opportunity to find out the truth."

"Don't worry, boss, I'll definitely squeeze every last drop of secret out of this kid!"

"Um!"

Hu Xiao nodded in satisfaction, took out a jade bottle from his robes, and casually tossed it to Feng Bao, saying, "Take this bottle of Snow Ginseng Pills. You just lost one of your clones. Although you've created another, it's still a bit weak. This bottle of Snow Ginseng Pills can help your clone quickly improve its cultivation."

"Thanks, Boss!"

Feng Bao took the elixir bottle, his eyes burning with desire.

…………

Not long after Wang Hu left, the sound of horses' hooves approached and stopped in front of the gate of Wangjiazhai.

The executioners from the execution division are back!

The peaceful Wangjiazhai village instantly became lively. Wang Zhixu and Wang Huairen welcomed the group into the village, and the people of Wangjiazhai gathered outside the camp, eagerly awaiting their arrival.

In the woodshed, Wang Yuan unleashed a slash, a sharp, armor-piercing force bursting forth from the wood-chopping knife.

With a soft "plop," the wooden stake, as thick as a human leg, split in two!

"It's done!"

A hint of joy appeared in Wang Yuan's eyes, and then he checked the data in the equipment slot.

Name: Wang Yuan

Vitality: 8.8

Mental Power: 8.1

Comprehension: 4 (Swordsmanship +2)

Equipment: Starfire Sword (Mastery 52%)

Wang Yuan has mastered the second move of the Starfire Sword Technique, Starfire One Line, and his control over the Starfire Sword has reached 52%, exceeding half.

In terms of cultivation, after his lungs underwent a transformation, Wang Yuan focused on nourishing his heart with spiritual energy, and now he is almost finished with the transformation!

Wang Yuan had a premonition that after his heart underwent a transformation, his physique would experience a qualitative leap.

The transformation of the lungs and internal organs brings about an increase in the efficiency of breathing in spiritual energy!

The heart is the source of the body's power. Once transformed, the heartbeat can maintain a high frequency, enhancing the body's overall capabilities.

In particular, their explosive power will far exceed that of ordinary people!

"The five internal organs, the torso and limbs, and finally the brain!"

The steps of physical transformation flashed through Wang Yuan's mind, with the brain placed last, a crucial point.

Once the brain undergoes a transformation, it will generate consciousness, which can manifest as both internal and external vision.

With divine consciousness, one can more precisely control the flow of spiritual energy, producing hundreds and thousands of variations.

This is the most crucial point, and also the most difficult!

Many Foundation Establishment cultivators are stuck at this stage and cannot make any progress!

"I've just completed the transformation of my lungs and internal organs; the transformation of my brain is still a long way off. At this rate of cultivation, it will probably take two or three months. My progress in cultivation is still a bit slow compared to my progress in swordsmanship. If only I had some spiritual medicine to help me!"

Wang Hu's visit today stirred a sense of urgency in Wang Yuan's heart.

Wang Yuan was no stranger to elixirs.

When hunters from Wangjiazhai went into the mountains to hunt, they often collected medicinal herbs. Ordinary herbs were not very valuable, but some aged medicinal herbs were priceless.

For example, a single ginseng root that is over ten years old can be exchanged for thirty taels of silver, enough for a family of three to eat and drink for two or three years.

The wealthy Wang family in the village got rich because they picked a five-leaf Ganoderma lucidum in the mountains.

After putting away his wood-chopping knife, Wang Yuan went out to the temporary camp for a meal.

The free meals are probably coming to an end soon, and I wonder if the Demon Slayers have killed Black Bear.

When Wang Yuan arrived, he saw village head Wang Zhixu walking out with several officials from the Demon Slayer Bureau. The villagers swarmed around him, asking what was going on.

"Fellow villagers, this is Lord Yan, the Commander of the Demon Slayer Division."

A hint of worry flashed in Wang Zhixu's aged eyes as he said, "This time, the gentlemen went to Black Wind Ridge to search for the black bear, but they didn't find it. Later, the gentlemen used their magic to track it down, and finally determined that the black bear had escaped into the depths of Python Mountain."

"That means they didn't kill that black bear."

"Why not keep chasing it? What if that beast comes back after it heals?"

…………

"quiet!"

Yan Zongqi shouted, his gaze sweeping across the entire scene. Wang Yuan felt a surge of spiritual power wash over him, and his breathing became rapid.

"This person is incredibly strong!"

Wang Yuan exclaimed inwardly, if he was like this, what about ordinary people?

The entire room fell silent instantly, and when everyone looked at General Yan, their eyes held a hint of awe.

"Since I have accepted this task, I will naturally do it well."

General Yan's tone carried a convincing authority, quickly calming the villagers' fear and anxiety. "That black bear has eaten people; even if it escapes to the depths of Mangshan, it will not escape death. However, a powerful demon exists deep within Mangshan, and we cannot easily venture there. But please rest assured, fellow villagers, I have already sent a message to Luocheng, and soon someone will venture deep into Mangshan and take the black bear's life. Until then, the seven of us will remain in the village to prevent the black bear from striking again."

"That's great! The officials from the Demon Slayer Bureau are willing to stay. We can finally get a good night's sleep tonight."

"With the officials from the Demon Slayer Division protecting us, we're not afraid of that beast even if it comes!"

The villagers were overjoyed upon hearing this and began to discuss it happily.

Wang Zhixu took the opportunity to say a few more words of reassurance, and the villagers dispersed and went home.

The seven officials from the Demon Slayer Bureau were invited into the castle by Master Wang for a meal, and the temporary camp returned to quiet.

"That's good, the most dangerous time has finally passed."

As Wang Tiejun ate his meal, the worry on his face disappeared, and he appeared very happy.

The group chatted and laughed. Although they hadn't caught Black Bear yet, the officials from the Demon Slayer Bureau had given them a promise, so the crisis was considered resolved.

Wang Yuan silently finished three bowls of rice. Just as he was about to eat the fourth, he stood up and said, "Gentlemen, now that Hei Xiazi has escaped, the subsequent capture operation will be handled by the Demon Slayer Division. The patrol is now over. Apart from the official patrol members, the rest of you do not need to participate in patrols tonight."

Everyone nodded in agreement and ate with even greater gusto.

"The free meals are over!"

Wang Yuan felt a little reluctant; if he wanted to have a full meal again tomorrow, he would have to find a way.

"There's one more thing I need everyone's help with."

Wang Yuan's expression was solemn as he scanned the crowd and said, "Old Liang and the others have vanished without a trace. Since Black Bear has escaped Black Wind Ridge, there's not much danger there anymore. I've decided to go to Black Wind Ridge early tomorrow morning to search for them again. If anyone here has family matters to attend to and doesn't wish to go, please let me know."

"The military commander is joking. Whose affairs are more important than matters of life and death!"

"Yes, let's go together and try to find Lao Liang and the others!"

"I think they might still be alive, and their disappearance might not be because of the black bear."

…………

With everyone offering their opinions, the matter was settled.

Wang Yuan remained silent. Anyone who dared to stand up and say they had something to say would immediately incur the wrath of the crowd.

That's the spirit of Wangjiazhai: when one family is in trouble, everyone helps each other out.

What's more, it's about saving lives!

Wang Yuan secretly observed Wang Hu, feeling that things weren't so simple. However, with his current cultivation level and strength, he could handle any danger that might arise.

What's more, this time they're acting together.

The next morning, Wang Yuan ate cornbread and drank thin porridge, but the food was so hard to swallow that he had no appetite at all.

Wang Yuan took a couple of bites and then stuffed the cornbread into Niu Niu's mouth. Seeing Niu Niu's excited expression, Wang Yuan sighed inwardly, knowing that he should hunt some game to solve the family's food problem.

"Mother, I'm leaving!"

"Be careful after you enter the mountains. There are often ferocious beasts in Black Wind Ridge. Even if the black bear is gone, there are other ferocious beasts. Don't get hurt."

"knew!"

Wang Yuan slung his bow and arrows over his shoulder, picked up his wood-chopping knife, and prepared to hunt some game to improve his family's meals while searching for someone.

With his current cultivation level, his perception is far superior to before, making hunting much easier.

"It would be even better if we could find some spiritual herbs; they could speed up the Foundation Establishment process!"

Wang Yuan silently pondered this as he arrived at the temporary camp to assemble.

Led by Wang Hu, more than a hundred people marched in a mighty force toward Black Wind Ridge.

With such power, almost no beast in Black Wind Ridge could contend with it. Even the Black Bear before it became a spirit would be no match for this power.

An hour later, the group arrived at Black Wind Ridge. They then split into groups of five or six and began searching for Lao Liang and the others in all directions.

Wang Yuan and Wang Tiejun were grouped together, along with three other experienced hunters.

The five knew each other well, and without much explanation, they spontaneously took the lead, with Wang Youtian, the strongest and most senior among them.

"Xiao Yuan, you stay in the middle. Don't worry. If you encounter any powerful beasts, just protect yourself. We old guys will take care of you."

"Thank you, Uncle Arita!"

"Young people these days are really capable, so don't underestimate Xiao Yuan."

"The mountains are fraught with danger; what good is youth if you're young? Experience is what matters!"

…………

Wang Yuan listened to the conversation with a smile, and followed the group into a forest. Suddenly, his gaze fell on a spot ten feet away, and he quickly took out his bow and arrows from behind his back.

The arrow flew like a meteor, and with a crisp thud, a plump gray squirrel crashed to the ground.

The four were startled and stared at the squirrel that had fallen onto the dry branch, all frozen in place.

Wang Youtian's lips twitched twice, a flash of embarrassment crossing his eyes, and he said, "Young man, you have excellent eyesight. Squirrels are very clever; they're hard to spot when hiding among the branches. Xiao Yuan could see the squirrel from this far away; your eyesight is truly remarkable!"