Chapter 966: Sitting Before the Abyss; Luo Chen Lost in Thought (I) |
The demonic beasts of this remote outer sea region had almost never interacted with humans. Even after reaching the third tier and refining the transverse bone in their throats, they still could not speak the human tongue. Right now, their wild roars tore through the air, but to Luo Chen and the others, they were nothing more than meaningless noise. Luo Chen and the others had no interest in wasting words with them anyway. This battle demanded speed above all else. They had to end it as quickly as possible while keeping the aftermath contained, lest the fighting damage the island and affect the future growth of the Purple Monkey Flowers. Thus, when the beast tide numbering over a thousand came crashing toward them, they all struck at once.
Duan Li activated his jade ruler; thousands of phantom rulers spread across the battlefield and trapped large swathes of demonic beasts. Every time he swung the ruler, it sent mists of blood bursting into the air. On the other hand, Sang Jiugong slapped a palm down on the ground. Over a hundred black vines rose out of the ground and instantly bound three Purple Poison Monkey Kings. It was a bit like the Vine Bind Luo Chen used to control Poison Thorn Vines in his Foundation Establishment days, but the power supporting it was on a whole different level. The three early-stage Demon Kings roared crazily in the coils of the black vines but could not get loose. Their bodies were slowly constricted tighter and tighter, until their bones started cracking. Sang Jiugong had also brought out a stone stele that he planted into the ground and transformed the ground into a swamp. Many low-tier demonic beasts were stuck in the swamp and could not escape.
Sovereign Thatched Mountain appeared far more relaxed. She controlled a blue flying sword that darted freely across the battlefield, while in her other hand, she held a fly whisk, though she had yet to use it. Even so, the drifting white strands of the whisk radiated overwhelming killing intent. Meanwhile, Black King also wielded his two mid-grade enchanted treasures, Yin Slaughter and Yang Severance, but his handling was obviously a bit rough. Despite wielding two mid-grade treasures, the power he brought out of them still fell short of Duan Li and the others. Eventually, he grew impatient. The flashy saber lights sweeping across the battlefield returned to him; instead, he opened his maw and simply started gobbling up low-tier demonic beasts.
Among all of them, the most domineering was undoubtedly Luo Chen. He was not even using the Moonbreak Wings, yet he remained insanely fast. With every step, he vanished and reappeared directly above a Demon King, then brought his hammer down. Every smash killed or at least severely wounded its target. In only a short span of time, three or four monkeys had already died beneath his Flowing Fire Hammer, and some others were crippled.
Screeeech!
A sharp bird cry echoed through the sky. Luo Chen glanced upward. This was likely the Goldcrest Eagle, famed for its immense strength, and the only avian demon among the many Demon Kings Duan Li had mentioned during his earlier investigation.
Luo Chen let out a cold snort. Nine chains burst out from his body and shot into the sky. The Goldcrest Eagle was not afraid and simply extended its massive talons to tear through the chains. But the nine mana chains spiraled up instead, wrapping around half its body.
"Get down here!" Luo Chen yelled as an immense force was transmitted through the chains, dragging the eagle down while pulling Luo Chen up. The Goldcrest Eagle felt its demonic power falter under the overwhelming force, and it let out a panicked screech as it fell. Within its golden eyes, it saw a figure leap above its head, and then… a hammer came crashing down.
SPLURT—
The other three still had enough focus left in the heat of the battle to see just how fast and brutal Luo Chen had killed this troublesome bird king, and each of them shuddered inwardly.
Duan Li thought, His techniques have grown even more refined. Whatever he's doing, it looks almost effortless.
Sang Jiugong was just as astonished. So this is the power of Devil Lord Azure Yang? And he hasn't even used that cauldron yet…
Sovereign Thatched Mountain blinked, equally shocked deep down. Didn't he just fight an eighth-stage Adept for an entire night? How can he still have this much mana?
After killing the Goldcrest Eagle, Luo Chen looked down from the sky and took in the entire situation. His brows slowly drew together. Under the joint assault of four humans and one beast, the demonic beast horde entrenched on the island stood no chance at all. At this point, their defeat was already apparent. Right now, they acted on pure instinct and began to flee. Once scattered, they would be easier to pick off, but the destruction would also spread far wider across the island.
Luo Chen shouted, "Everyone, stop holding back! Finish them off quickly! Don't let them make it back to their lairs!"
The moment they heard him, everyone intensified their attacks. Duan Li poured more mana into his jade ruler. Sovereign Thatched Mountain swept her fly whisk across the field, and wherever the flying white threads passed, demonic beasts were torn apart. Sang Jiugong slammed his palm against the stone stele before him, causing it to expand instantly before rumbling forward and crushing everything in its path. Black King's approach was even simpler. He expanded in size, plunged into the demonic beast horde, swept through the place with his tail, and ripped out whole swaths at once. Luo Chen also did not remain idle. He put away the Flowing Fire Hammer and stood in the sky, flicking his fingers. Fireballs rained down like a meteor shower, as if a rain of fire had descended upon the battlefield.
Any demonic beast below the third tier struck by the spell was engulfed in flames and incinerated in just a few moments. And Luo Chen showed no mercy to the few remaining Demon Kings either. He quickly shot out the Azure Yang Great Handprint, and whatever it came into contact with became mangled flesh. However, there was one exception. Luo Chen's gaze fixed upon a gigantic crocodile desperately fleeing the battlefield. So that's the Abyss Crocodile King? It sure is tough if it can just shrug off my palm strike.
He dived downward and charged straight toward the giant crocodile that looked like a small mountain. Sensing someone approaching, the Abyss Crocodile did not sit and wait for death. It swung its tail outward, smashing the rocks in its path apart like dried mud before sweeping directly toward Luo Chen.
"Hmph!" Luo Chen snorted as his palms suddenly expanded and seized the crocodile's tail. He drove his feet into the ground and anchored himself in place, and a low roar rose from his chest. "Hoooo!"
Pulling hard with both hands, he actually heaved the Abyss Crocodile into the air, then smashed it into the ground, completely ignoring the crocodile's terrified expression!
BOOOOOOM!!
The whole island trembled, and the wilderness shook. In the distance, Sang Jiugong was clearly worried that Luo Chen's strength would destroy the island and cried out in alarm, "Azure Yang, be careful!"
Luo Chen leaped upward, appearing above the giant crocodile's head, and slammed his palm down upon its head. It was the Mountain Cleaving Monument Breaking Palm! The giant crocodile took the blow and was sent rolling across the ground, yet its formidable scales still kept it alive.
The hell is up with this crocodile? It's practically a turtle!
Luo Chen's eyes flickered, and he activated Mirror Flower Water Moon at once. The Abyss Crocodile froze and collapsed on the ground. Luo Chen seized the opportunity to unleash a series of palm strikes, starting from its head and working his way down to its tail. Over the entire span of its thirty-zhang-long body, he struck once every three zhang.
One palm! Two palms! Three palms... and after the ninth strike...
Luo Chen's hands curved into claws as he seized the Abyss Crocodile's sturdy scales and roared, "Overlord Stripped Bare!"
The sound of flesh being ripped apart rang out. The bloody scene was horrifying to behold. Everyone turned toward the noise and saw a gigantic crocodile writhing madly on the ground, stripped entirely of its hide and left with nothing but exposed crimson flesh. Dirt and shattered rocks splattered across the mangled body, making it appear even more grotesque. Meanwhile, Luo Chen moved away, dragging behind him the hollow hide he had just torn off.
As the flayed crocodile thrashed wildly, it began to roll toward a dense patch of Purple Monkey Flowers. Luo Chen casually swung his palm again and ended its life. After everything was over, he let out a deep breath, and a faint sense of relief appeared on his face.
Sovereign Thatched Mountain had already finished dealing with the demonic beasts on her side. When she looked over and caught sight of Luo Chen's satisfied expression, her brows could not help but knit together. Azure Yang… is getting a bit unhinged.
Only Luo Chen himself knew why he had become so ruthless just now. The battle at Withered Wood Ridge had left him feeling powerless beneath the might of the Sage-level beings. Then, at the Seven Star Islands, he had been caught in an ambush and forced to defend from start to finish. Ever since arriving in the Northern Sea, everything had gone his way, so those two setbacks had left a knot of frustration he could not shake. That was why he had vented his rage in this battle, using the explosive speed provided by Voidburst Step and overwhelming force to crush these demonic beasts manipulated by the flowers. Only after ripping the Abyss Crocodile apart did the anger in his chest finally begin to settle.
Noticing Sovereign Thatched Mountain's displeased gaze, he casually tossed aside the Abyss Crocodile's hide. "Sorry. I lost myself a bit just now."
Sovereign Thatched Mountain forced out a faint smile and nodded. It had indeed been a momentary loss of composure, but it also laid bare just how domineering and formidable his techniques were. If those same techniques were turned on her, she doubted she could withstand more than a few exchanges. This man… must not be turned into an enemy.
Luo Chen spared no extra attention to her. He cast Cleanse on himself to wash away the bloody stench clinging to him before surveying the battlefield. The outcome was decided. Duan Li and Black King were chasing down the scattered remnants of fleeing demonic beasts, while Sang Jiugong was gathering the corpses into piles, preparing for the maturation art he planned to use later.
Overall, the battle had been won with remarkable ease and unfolded just as he expected. As for what came next, it would be even more straightforward.