paranoianovel Chapter 29 Demon-Slaying Armor
Chapter 29 Demon-Slaying Armor
A gentle mountain breeze rustled the treetops, casting dappled shadows.
The strong wind made Fang Hongxuan's clothes flutter loudly.
Fang Hongxuan, holding the reins, wandered aimlessly forward, followed by a giant tiger that was as tall as a three-story restaurant.
"We can't escape, and we weren't even killed. What exactly does this beast want?" Fang Hongxuan covered his mouth and nose to prevent the blood in his chest from being coughed up.
This was the bitter fruit of his repeated attempts to escape.
"boom"
The tiger's tail, sharp as a steel rod, swept away the boundary marker on Fang Hongxuan's left, and at the same time, the withered tree on his right was also pushed down with overwhelming force.
"The only way is to keep moving forward..."
Broken walls lay scattered, broken tiles, shattered jars, scraps of cloth, branches, and pebbles all piled up against the roadside wall.
After navigating through layers of ruins, a dry well suddenly appeared in the center of Fang Hongxuan's vision. Roots grew around the well, moss covered it, and the mottled blue bricks were broken and incomplete.
"roar!"
The Tomb Tiger roared to the sky, its sound waves surging and creating ripples in the air.
Clang, clang...
The sound of armor scales clashing together rose and fell, like the sound of bronze bells and evening drums.
Fang Hongxuan's expression shifted slightly, but his left hand under his robe never left the gourd containing dog blood wine at his waist.
He stared intently, finally locking onto the bottomless darkness behind the dry well.
Clad in jet-black armor and wielding a long spear, the headless warrior stirred the hazy moonlight. Wisps of black energy seeped out from the gaps in his armor plates.
Fang Hongxuan, who still held a hint of disdain, was now on high alert. He was about to draw his sword when he discovered that the sword used by the makeshift envoy was already dull and unusable.
"A truly fine blade is hard to find..."
Only when the headless armored warrior got closer could Fang Hongxuan see the whole picture.
He was a full eight feet tall, as sturdy as a wall! His armor plates were made of the finest black iron, with intricate golden runes gleaming brightly.
The belly ornament with a fierce tiger engraved on the waist glowed slightly, while the shoulder ornament on the upper body was already blurred.
The long spear in his hand was even more ferocious, with wisps of blood vapor forming battle flags that clung to the spear and fluttered in the wind.
The black robe was already tattered and filthy. It was more accurate to call it a ragged garment than a robe meant to cover armor.
"How could there be a Demon Slayer here!"
What exactly is the Demon-Slaying Armor?
It was armor crafted by the imperial court by gathering skilled craftsmen and extraordinary individuals from all over the country.
The armor is forged from the finest black iron, with nearly lost runes and incantations carved on the plates. Then, the essence of demons is poured into the still-warm armor, and that is how it is completed.
At the height of the Wansheng Dynasty's power, it used up all its rare stones and mineral resources to barely gather the 108 Heavenly Spirits.
The most bizarre feature of the Demon-Slaying Armor is that it can retain the consciousness of demons while continuously enhancing the power of their essence through battle.
It can be said that this is Wanshengchao's most outstanding work!
"This explains why the Tomb Tiger has a range of activity. The fundamental reason is that it is the spirit of the Demon-Slaying Armor!"
The once overwhelming, sky-covering tiger had shrunk to the size of a house cat, its fierce expression gone, replaced by unrestrained tenderness.
"boom!"
The fierce slash, carrying the force of splitting mountains and cleaving seas, was actually meant to split Fang Hongxuan in two!
Still in shock, Fang Hongxuan was a beat too slow, and his robe was easily torn. The bag containing the Demon-Suppressing Token fell to the ground along with the robe.
The cold moonlight shone on the jet-black, jade-like Demon-Suppressing Token, from which a faint, eerie light emanated.
The armored soldiers continued their offensive, and just as they were about to press their advantage, they were stopped by a low, hoarse, weak voice.
"You beast! What do you intend to do?!"
The dry well emitted a series of booming sounds, like the thunder god wielding his hammer or the lightning goddess polishing her mirror. It made one feel tinnitus and dizziness, quite uneasy.
Upon hearing this, the headless armored warrior stopped moving, his body standing firm like a tower, unyielding.
"And who are you? How do you come to have a Demon-Suppressing Token?"
The male voice from the well rose again, but it was no longer the same aggressive tone that had struck people like lightning.
"Lintao Prefecture, Mixian County, Demon Suppression Division, Demon Extermination Commandant Fang Hongxuan..." Fang Hongxuan stated his background without any hesitation.
"Cough cough..."
"This place is dangerous, leave immediately..."
Fang Hongxuan was about to turn around when a tiger's claw appeared on his shoulder without him noticing.
"Tsukatora!"
The man's voice grew deeper, and the anger in his words was self-evident.
Boom!
The world spins
In the blink of an eye, Fang Hongxuan was thrown to the bottom of the well.
Rather than saying the well here is abandoned, it's more accurate to say the wellhead is a flawless disguise. The ground is not muddy at all, and the floor paved with blue bricks makes it appear quite spacious.
Dust, carrying moonlight, swirled in the well, while wisps of light clung to an inconspicuous shrine on the ground through the cracks.
The headless armored warrior landed around Fang Hongxuan like a meteorite falling from the sky, unstoppable. The bluestone beneath his feet shattered with a crash, and the flying debris sent sparks flying into the distance.
"You beast..."
The angry shouts echoed across the area, originating from the small shrine in front of Fang Hongxuan. Inside, a spherical object could be vaguely seen swaying.
Upon closer inspection, one would find the head of a middle-aged man with a disheveled black topknot, a bristling beard and hair, and a repulsive face enshrined in the center!
"senior..."
Fang Hongxuan bowed deeply, showing utmost courtesy.
The middle-aged man stared at Fang Hongxuan for a while before looking surprised and doubtful, and finally asked uncertainly.
"You are neither alive nor dead, possessing both the life force of a living person and the malevolent aura unique to a living corpse. What exactly are you?"
Fang Hongxuan, whose expression had been calm, suddenly changed. The intense disbelief and panic in his eyes could not be concealed no matter what.
"Heh...so be it...the affairs of this world have long since become irrelevant to me...why create more trouble and put you in a dilemma?"
"There is great danger here. If you want to live, leave this place and never come near again."
Fang Hongxuan, whose heart was in turmoil, remained silent for a long time before finally calming down. He carefully chose his words, trying to appear as calm as possible.
"Senior, I have no idea why I have become like this. I hope you can enlighten me."
"Hmph hmph hmph..."
The middle-aged man snorted repeatedly, but showed no intention of continuing the conversation. He closed his eyes and fell into silence.
"Tsukatora, escort him away from this place..."
But the headless armored warrior remained unmoved, holding his spear and guarding the place like an unyielding rock that has stood for ages.
A chilling wind blew, biting to the bone. From the desolate, dark depths of the wilderness, faint murmurs drifted, as if people were conversing.
Fang Hongxuan naturally knew that such a place must be haunted by evil spirits. He straightened up, bowed solemnly again towards the shrine, and then prepared to leave.
Unexpectedly, the headless armored warrior stepped forward to stop him, pointing his finger directly at the middle-aged man's head inside the shrine.
"Such behavior suggests that he needs something from someone?" Fang Hongxuan thought to himself, but he couldn't help but think of more.
The clanging sound of armor plates clashing echoed through the deathly silence of the well. In just a moment, the head in the shrine blushed crimson.
"That's enough!"