I did the tasks in the wrong order and came back too late... Wang Linchi thought, looking at the ruin of the City Lord's Mansion with a sense of helplessness.

But it wasn't all bad news. The culprits weren't Wicked People, but a Demon Infant. The three Wicked People locked up inside the City Lord's Mansion had also been ripped apart, as dead as could be.

The correct sequence should have been to deal with the Demon Infant in the City Lord's Wife's belly first, then head to the Accumulating Blessings Temple. I might have missed some clues, causing me to skip that step. It's also possible I returned late because I spent too much time at the Accumulating Blessings Temple.

But since it had already happened, I won't dwell on regrets. What else can I do but keep grinding?

The Demon Infant's strength probably isn't very high. Its upper limit is likely an Elite Monster, with a small chance of it becoming a BOSS.

Besides, it should be quite easy to locate. Unlike Wicked People, a Demon Infant can't hide. Wherever it goes, it will inevitably leave a trail of slaughter.

If I just follow the traces, I should be able to find it within half an hour at most.

Under Soul Vision, Wang Linchi quickly found traces of the Demon Infant: a line of tiny footprints. At first glance, they indeed looked like an infant's footprints. However, a closer look revealed subtle differences from human footprints.

"Let's go," Wang Linchi called out, and the Saint Master materialized, taking the lead.

They followed the tracks.

If there's a fight, the Saint Master will definitely take the lead. It's not like I'm supposed to be on the front lines; that makes no sense.

After all, the Demon Infant's strength is unknown, and I need a shield.

Before they could catch up, they heard a cacophony of screams. Wang Linchi's gaze fixed on a large mansion not far away.

"Well, well, this Demon Infant certainly has standards, only preying on the rich," Wang Linchi commented sarcastically.

The Demon Infant consumed human hearts, which required it to rip open its victims.

The Saint Master charged ahead, bursting through the courtyard wall. Inside, he saw a small, half-human, half-lizard creature covered in Scale Armor. It was crouched over a living person, tearing them open, its claw-like hands clutching a heart.

The Demon Infant, drawn by the commotion, turned its head and stared blankly at the Saint Master. Soon, however, it paid him no mind. Instead, it ripped out the heart and began chewing it with its disproportionately large mouth. Blood and flesh splattered, terrifying the assembled house servants and Maids in the courtyard. After all, with two monsters present, one large and one small, how could they not be terrified?

The Saint Master, however, showed no mercy to the Demon Infant. He acted instantly, easily snatching it with his large hand, apparently intending to kill it on the spot. But the Demon Infant was slippery. In an instant, it wriggled free from the Saint Master's grasp and scrambled onto the back of his neck, preparing to bite.

The Saint Master reacted even faster. Activating the Monkey Talisman, he instantly shrank. Against such an agile enemy, a large body could sometimes be a hindrance.

This sudden change left the Demon Infant bewildered. Without hesitation, the Saint Master seized the Demon Infant again and snapped its neck.

The entire fight lasted no more than ten seconds, ending with ease.

Wang Linchi arrived just in time to see the Demon Infant, its head severed from its body.

"You were a bit too violent. Look how you've scared them," Wang Linchi said, looking at the approaching Saint Master, who had returned to his normal, colossal size.

"Are you... the Demon Suppressing Sorcerer invited by the City Lord?"

Seeing Wang Linchi arrive, a man who appeared to be a Housekeeper hurried over to greet him. As a wealthy household, they had certainly heard about some of the City Lord's recent actions.

"Indeed, I am. Unfortunately, these Evil Demons are cunning and widespread. When I arrived today, I went to the Accumulating Blessings Temple to investigate. I had just eliminated an Evil Demon there, but I never imagined it would have another trick up its sleeve. By the time I rushed back... alas." Wang Linchi didn't finish, but everyone understood his meaning.

Hearing this, everyone was aghast. Everyone in the City Lord's Mansion is dead? What will happen now? More importantly, there was an Evil Demon in the Accumulating Blessings Temple! As wealthy families, they had surely visited. If they were afflicted by an Evil Demon, their lives would be forfeit.

"Mage, you must save our master! Our master, he..." the Housekeeper, a loyal servant of many years, pleaded desperately. It's rare to find a disloyal housekeeper.

"Save your master? I'm not a doctor. It's hardly advisable to call for me when someone is ill," Wang Linchi tactfully declined.

Wang Linchi glanced at the Abyss Crystal in his hand. This one was a 0.1-grade concentrated Abyss Crystal, convertible into ten thousand regular Abyss Crystals.

It seems that after level 30, Abyss Crystals dropped by BOSSes and Elite Monsters become concentrated ones, making them easier for Players to collect. As for ordinary mobs, I haven't encountered any yet.

I know this because the Demon Infant was an Elite Monster.

"No, that's not it! My master went to the Accumulating Blessings Temple to pray for blessings a few days ago. He must have encountered ill fortune. I implore you, esteemed Mage, please help dispel it!" The Housekeeper hurried over, astutely handing Wang Linchi a silver note.

Wang Linchi took a closer look. The denomination wasn't small: five hundred taels.

"This isn't about money. That Evil Demon has already been killed by me. Even if there was any ill fortune, it would have dispersed by now." Wang Linchi accepted the money but was still reluctant to get involved.

"You rushed back from the Accumulating Blessings Temple; you must be famished by now. Why not stay for a meal, Mage? There's no need to leave so soon." The Housekeeper, unfazed by the five hundred taels, was more intent on persuading Wang Linchi to stay.

This Mage possesses genuine skill! I saw with my own eyes how the Saint Master, who is controlled by him, tore off the Demon Infant's head. We should at least have him stay for tonight, to ease our minds and calm everyone down.

Otherwise, our reputation will be ruined!

"You're too kind. I'll pass on the meal; I have other matters to attend to, so I must be going. Please, take your time..." Wang Linchi refused directly. Why would I stay for a meal when there's no need?

However, he was interrupted before he could finish.

"It's terrible! The master... Master is in trouble!" a Maid cried out, running in hysterically, her face etched with panic.

The Housekeeper was stunned. How could this happen? He quickly stopped the Maid and asked, "What happened to the master?"

"He's changed! He's turned into something like a leprous toad! And he... he ate Little Red in one bite!" The Maid was thoroughly terrified.

"Was its color golden?" Wang Linchi asked curiously.

"Yes, it was golden! And it also..." The Maid was astonished that Wang Linchi knew.

"That thing is called a Gold Toad. It's a genuine... Bah! What are you all still standing around for? Run! Unless you want to stay and die!" Wang Linchi exclaimed. He suspected the master had made a wealth-related wish that was ultimately twisted by the Wish Demon.

Normally, it might not have manifested so quickly. However, because I killed the Wish Demon, the curse on him activated prematurely.

As for the curse on me, it had long since been purged.

Previously, the curse couldn't be removed because the Wish Demon was still alive and could continuously reapply it. Meaning, you could cleanse it one second, and it would reappear the next.

Once the Wish Demon died, the curse lost its source and was naturally purified by Card: Orchid.

BUFO!

Just as he was mulling this over, a large toad hopped out from the building. Its back was covered in festering pustules, an exceedingly appalling sight. Upon closer inspection, a faint human face could be seen on the toad's head—undoubtedly that of the master.

[Elite Abyssal Demon: Greedy Toad LV20, Health: 500,000/500,000]

The moment the Greedy Toad appeared, it shot out its tongue, ensnared a person, and swallowed them whole without even chewing.

Its level and Health then increased. Wang Linchi was puzzled. What determines the Health of these Abyssal Demons? It's so inconsistent. Is it because different races have different attributes?

Seeing this, the Saint Master acted immediately, while the other people in the mansion scattered in all directions.

Wang Linchi's expression turned grave. A single Greedy Toad is nothing to worry about. But the problem is, if everyone who made a wish or prayed for blessings at the Accumulating Blessings Temple transforms into an Abyssal Demon now that the Wish Demon is dead, then utter chaos will follow.

The threat from Wicked People would become secondary. The Abyssal Demons born from wishes will begin to rampage on a massive scale.

Especially since these Abyssal Demons grow stronger by feeding.

Compared to the Demon Infant, this Greedy Toad is far inferior. The Demon Infant devoured everyone in the City Lord's Mansion to become a level 30 Elite Monster. If it had consumed another three to five hundred people, it might even have evolved into a BOSS.

This Greedy Toad, on the other hand, was just born and had, at most, eaten the people in the inner courtyard. That's why it's only level 20, still in an early stage of development.

The Saint Master unleashed fire using the Dragon Talisman. The Greedy Toad was utterly unable to resist. In three seconds, its Health was depleted, and it turned into a charred husk.

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