Chapter 189: Carnage |
Everyone's figures shot forward rapidly, breaking through layers of branches and leaves. The scene suddenly opened up before them.
In a clearing within the forest, the remaining ten or so people from Xuanjia Gate stood back to back, desperately holding on.
Shi Ziyi's long hair was disheveled, her shoulder stained with blood.
At the center was an elder wearing Xuanjia Gate elder robes. His face was deathly pale at this moment, with a shocking palm print on his chest. His Profound Mountain Aura had dimmed like a candle in the wind. It was none other than Du Lingchuan, the Xuanjia Gate elder familiar with Peng Zhen and Tan Yang!
Surrounding and attacking them were actually seven or eight Demon Sect experts. The two leaders had the most fierce and imposing auras, both clearly at True Aura realm!
One wore billowing black robes, his movement technique strange and cunning, with black qi coiling around his fingertips. Who else could it be but Jiang Chuanqiao from Lin'an Prefecture!
The other was tall and thin with a sinister face, wielding a pair of unusual weapons called Funeral Gate Hooks. His techniques were vicious and crafty, and his aura was actually even stronger than Jiang Chuanqiao's.
"It's Jiang Chuanqiao and Mei Kun from Lin'an Prefecture. How dare they cause trouble in our Yunlin Prefecture?"
Peng Zhen roared, his Kunti True Aura erupting thunderously as he charged directly at the demon wielding the Funeral Gate Hooks, "Junior Martial Brother Tan, help me capture this villain!"
"Good!"
Tan Yang's Gengjin True Aura burst from his body, its incomparably sharp aura tearing through the air. His fists swung, transforming into two brilliant golden beams striking directly at Mei Kun's flank.
Chen Qing's gaze instantly locked onto Jiang Chuanqiao. Executing the Startling Swan Escaping Shadow Formula, his figure approached like a ghost. The Coiling Cloud Spear emitted a low hum, stabbing directly at Jiang Chuanqiao's back!
Jiang Chuanqiao and Mei Kun were just about to deliver killing blows to Du Lingchuan and the others when they suddenly felt malicious wind attacking from behind. Imposing momentum pressed down on them, and their hearts immediately shook violently!
"The Five Terraces Sect!? How are they here!?"
Jiang Chuanqiao was shocked and dismayed, completely unprepared for the Five Terraces Sect's reinforcements to arrive so quickly!
According to the original plan, the Five Terraces Sect should still be some distance from Xuanjia Gate at this moment. Even if they rushed over, it couldn't possibly be this fast.
This was very bad!
Mei Kun's expression also changed drastically. Feeling Peng Zhen and Tan Yang's True Auras no weaker than his own, especially Peng Zhen's oppressive pressure heavy as mountains, he immediately let out a sharp shriek, "Retreat!"
The two had excellent coordination. Almost simultaneously, they feinted with their attacks, shook off their opponents, and shot backward, attempting to flee into the depths of the dense forest!
"Want to leave? Stay here for this old man!"
Peng Zhen roared violently. Infusing his long spear with Kunti True Aura, he ruthlessly struck out. The spear shadow was like a mountain, blocking Mei Kun's escape route. The air exploded with dull booming sounds under the pressure.
Tan Yang's fist momentum was even swifter. His Vajra Armor-Breaking Fist concentrated at a single point, specifically breaking through True Aura defenses. Coordinating with Peng Zhen's attack, he forced Mei Kun to turn back and respond with full force. The Funeral Gate Hooks carved out ghastly green arcs of light, clashing hard with the two men, producing deafening metallic clanging. Qi waves rolled, and grass and trees all broke.
"Kill—!"
"Don't let a single one escape!"
Amid angry roars, disciples from the three courtyards quickly protected the wounded from Xuanjia Gate at the core.
The next moment, everyone's weapons came out together, wrapped in fierce killing intent, sweeping toward that group of Demon Sect experts.
Here, killing each demon head meant genuine, substantial military merit!
Jiang Chuanqiao's alarm bells rang loudly. He pushed his speed to the extreme.
"Senior Jiang! Why such a hurry?"
Chen Qing was no longer at his former embracing elixir cultivation. He pushed the Startling Swan Escaping Shadow Formula to its limit, arriving first despite starting later, instantly blocking Jiang Chuanqiao's path.
The Coiling Cloud Spear transformed into a black lightning bolt, tearing through the air, stabbing directly at his throat!
This was precisely Mountain Suppressing Prison Spear's Collapsing Mountain Penetrating Rainbow technique.
This move emphasized concentrating at a single point, the spear emerging like a rainbow, penetrating through mountains, indestructible.
Before the spear even arrived, that incomparably sharp spear momentum and Qingmu True Aura already made Jiang Chuanqiao's skin ache!
"This kid broke through to True Aura!?"
Jiang Chuanqiao was both shocked and furious. He had fought Chen Qing before and left an extremely deep impression. How long had it been since then? The opponent's aura was more than twice as powerful as when they fought outside Tongping City?
Clearly he had already reached embracing elixir realm!
"Little bastard! You think you can stop me with just this!?"
Jiang Chuanqiao let out a fierce shriek. His demonic technique rotated frantically. Black Fiend True Aura surged out turbulently. His palms instantly turned pitch-black as ink, glowing with dark light. Without dodging or evading, he actually clapped his palms together, forcefully slapping toward the Coiling Cloud Spear's shaft!
Nether Bone-Corroding Hand!
CLANG—!
A piercing explosive sound erupted!
Where spear and palms clashed, black and green True Aura corroded and collided madly, producing sharp "tsss tsss" sounds.
Jiang Chuanqiao only felt a domineering force transmit along the spear shaft, shaking his arms numb. His Black Fiend True Aura was actually torn open by that incomparably condensed Qingmu True Aura. His figure involuntarily staggered backward from the shock, the ground beneath his feet cracking apart.
His heart shook but he quickly calmed down. When this kid was at True Aura, he could already fight with him. Now that he had just entered True Aura realm, he might not be a match for him.
If this kid entangled him and the Five Terraces Sect experts freed up their hands, he would be in trouble.
Chen Qing pressed his advantage relentlessly. His figure followed like a shadow. The Coiling Cloud Spear smoothly rotated, executing another Strike Straight to the Yellow Dragon technique!
The highly condensed green light at the spear tip flickered uncertainly, containing penetrating sharpness that could pierce through anything!
Jiang Chuanqiao suppressed his churning qi and blood. His figure moved elusively, avoiding the spear point's direct attack. His palms brought up trails of afterimages, bone-corroding sinister wind howling.
However, Chen Qing operated his Eight Extremes Vajra Body. His entire body's qi and blood furnace burned brightly, an ancient bronze luster appearing as he withstood that bone-corroding sinister wind.
Jiang Chuanqiao borrowed the rebounding force from Chen Qing's spear, his figure floating backward rapidly like a withered leaf blown by violent wind, attempting to pull away and flee again.
However, Chen Qing had already reached True Aura and possessed the Startling Swan Escaping Shadow Formula. How could he let him easily escape?
Chen Qing's toe touched down, and his figure seemed to merge with the wind, closely following Jiang Chuanqiao's retreating trajectory, his speed even faster!
The Coiling Cloud Spear was like a maggot attached to bone. The spear tip trembled, transforming into several points of cold starlight, enveloping Jiang Chuanqiao's vital acupoints all over his body, forcing him to turn back and block.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Jiang Chuanqiao's palms flew about. His Nether Bone-Corroding Hand was pushed to the extreme. Pitch-black palm shadows and green spear light collided violently, exploding in a series of deafening metallic clanging sounds. The dissipating force cut the surrounding trees to pieces.
With each spear he received, Jiang Chuanqiao's arms grew more numb, his heart more shocked.
Chen Qing's Qingmu True Aura was incomparably condensed. His strength was astonishingly great, far surpassing ordinary newly advanced embracing elixir practitioners. Moreover, that black spear was imposing and heavy, shaking his qi and blood until he almost vomited blood.
His renowned bone-corroding poisonous evil invaded the opponent's body, yet it was like mud entering the sea, quickly dissolved by a scorching and vast qi and blood force, unable to cause substantial damage.
"This person cannot be fought head-on!"
Jiang Chuanqiao's heart turned solemn, his determination to flee even stronger.
He suddenly feinted with one move, taking a slight graze from the spear wind despite the injury, his figure shooting backward again.
"Want to leave!?"
Chen Qing let out a low shout. His spear momentum suddenly changed, transforming from nimble and swift to domineering and powerful!
Mountain Suppressing Prison Spear! Breaking Mountain Dividing Territory!
The Coiling Cloud Spear was like a mountain-shaking iron pillar, carrying vast force as it swept out horizontally, sealing off all of Jiang Chuanqiao's evasion space, forcing him to receive it head-on!
Jiang Chuanqiao's expression changed drastically. He could only grit his teeth and gather his Black Fiend True Aura in both arms, crossing them defensively before his body.
"BOOM!"
Spear and arms clashed, producing a dull thunderous sound.
Jiang Chuanqiao was like being struck by a battering ram. His protective True Aura violently fluctuated, nearly collapsing. He flew backward, sweetness rising in his throat. A mouthful of fresh blood could no longer be suppressed and sprayed out.
He still remembered not long ago when he had pursued Chen Qing. How long had it been? Now the tables had completely turned!
On another side, Peng Zhen and Tan Yang fought Mei Kun together.
Peng Zhen's Kunti True Aura was heavy as mountains. His spear techniques were wide and sweeping, each strike imposing and forceful, compelling Mei Kun to divide his attention to resist.
Tan Yang's Gengjin True Aura was incomparably sharp. His fists and fingers were like lightning, specifically attacking gaps in Mei Kun's defense, his techniques vicious and fierce.
The two coordinated seamlessly. Fighting two against one, they suppressed this renowned demonic path embracing elixir expert until he couldn't catch his breath.
Mei Kun's Funeral Gate Hooks danced impenetrably. Ghastly green hook shadows brought shrill wind sounds, barely blocking the two men's storm-like attacks.
In the blink of an eye, over ten moves had passed. Mei Kun's body already bore several wounds, blood flowing freely, his aura growing increasingly chaotic.
He knew that continuing like this meant certain death.
"You forced me to this!"
A trace of madness and desperation flashed in Mei Kun's eyes. He suddenly let out a fierce shriek. Disregarding Tan Yang's finger strike aimed at his ribs, he forcefully took it with his shoulder!
"Pfft!" The finger force penetrated his body, bringing out a spray of blood.
Mei Kun used this intense pain as stimulation. The demonic technique within his body burned frantically in an almost self-destructive manner!
A violent aura far surpassing before suddenly erupted. His eyes instantly turned blood-red, blood vessels bulging beneath his skin like coiling dragons!
"Get lost!"
Mei Kun roared. The green light on his hooks blazed brightly. With a tragic momentum of mutual destruction, he no longer defended, only attacking without defending, madly charging toward Peng Zhen!
Peng Zhen's expression was grave, yet he didn't retreat at all. With a low roar, he infused his long spear with Kunti True Aura, meeting the attack head-on with his most powerful spear technique!
Tan Yang also knew this was the critical moment. His figure slipped like a swimming fish to Mei Kun's side and rear. His fingers pressed together, Gengjin True Aura highly condensed, transforming into an extremely sharp golden beam stabbing directly at Mei Kun's vital back point—Vajra Armor-Breaking Finger!
"BOOM—!"
"Pfft—!"
Two muffled sounds rang out almost simultaneously!
Mei Kun's desperate dual hooks clashed viciously with Peng Zhen's long spear. Qi force scattered madly!
But he was ultimately at the end of his strength, and was also pierced through the back by Tan Yang's finger strike that broke through his True Aura.
Mei Kun's body suddenly stiffened. The madness in his eyes rapidly dimmed as he looked down in disbelief at the golden fingertip protruding from his chest.
Peng Zhen's spear shook, deflecting the dual hooks. The spear shaft swept horizontally, heavily smashing into Mei Kun's skull!
"CRACK!"
The sound of skull fracturing was clearly audible.
Mei Kun didn't even grunt. The light in his eyes completely extinguished. His corpse softly collapsed to the ground.
Peng Zhen and Tan Yang both let out sighs of relief, their chests rising and falling slightly, their breathing somewhat rapid.
Joining forces to kill a desperate embracing elixir demon was also a huge drain on their Internal True Aura.
"Chen Qing just entered True Aura. He might have mishaps. We need to quickly assist!"
The two dared not delay and immediately looked toward Chen Qing's direction.
They saw Chen Qing and Jiang Chuanqiao in fierce battle, spear shadows and palm winds howling, qi force crisscrossing.
Chen Qing's spear technique was divine, his offensive like a tide, completely suppressing Jiang Chuanqiao.
Peng Zhen and Tan Yang exchanged glances, both seeing the admiration in each other's eyes. They were about to step forward to assist—
Just then, brilliant light flashed in Chen Qing's eyes. Seemingly sensing their intention, his spear momentum suddenly intensified again!
The Qingmu True Aura within his body and the qi and blood force of his Eight Extremes Vajra Body instantly merged perfectly. The Coiling Cloud Spear emitted a low yet joyful hum!
At the spear tip, green light highly condensed, as if transforming into an extremely cold star. Its speed reached the extreme, penetrating through layers of palm shadows with absolute precision, striking toward a slight opening exposed by Jiang Chuanqiao!
Jiang Chuanqiao's pupils contracted sharply. Too late to evade!
He only managed to slightly shift his head—
"Tsss!"
The slight sound of flesh being torn.
The Coiling Cloud Spear's sharp tip had already pierced through his throat!
Jiang Chuanqiao's forward momentum abruptly stopped. His body froze in place, his hands still maintaining their striking posture.
His eyes widened, staring fixedly at Chen Qing.
Fresh blood gushed out along the spear blade.
Chen Qing's wrist shook, withdrawing the long spear.
Jiang Chuanqiao clutched his bleeding throat, gurgling sounds coming from his mouth. Then his body swayed and slowly fell backward, crashing heavily into the dust. After twitching twice, he made no more sound.
"Phew!"
Chen Qing gently exhaled a breath, his breathing stable.
With his current strength, how could Jiang Chuanqiao be a match?
Peng Zhen and Tan Yang happened to arrive nearby. Seeing this scene, the two exchanged glances again, secretly marveling in their hearts. This kid's combat power was truly formidable! Although that Jiang Chuanqiao had relied on the Demon Sect's opportunistic methods to break through with an unstable foundation, how long had Chen Qing just broken through to True Aura? Yet he could kill him so cleanly and decisively!
On another side, the Xuanjia Gate survivors who had escaped death, especially the younger generation like Fang Rui and Chang Xing, had long been watching dumbstruck, their hearts greatly shaken!
Chen Qing... he actually single-handedly killed a True Aura realm demon?
That was a great expert at the same level as their Sect Master and elders! Yet he fell here just like that?
Chang Xing supported her barely breathing master Du Lingchuan, urgently crying out with a sobbing voice, "Master! Master, hold on!"
Chen Qing, Peng Zhen, and Tan Yang immediately gathered around upon hearing this.
Peng Zhen saw the pitch-black palm print on Du Lingchuan's chest and his weak breathing. His expression changed drastically.
Without hesitation, he reached into his robe and took out a jade bottle, pouring out an exceptionally fragrant emerald-green pill. The pill's surface actually faintly showed flowing cloud patterns.
"Let me through!"
Peng Zhen carefully fed the pill into Du Lingchuan's mouth.
Chen Qing's gaze swept over and felt this pill's vast medicinal power and rich vitality. It was definitely not ordinary, probably an extremely precious top-grade healing pill that Peng Zhen had treasured for saving his own life, worth a fortune.
The pill melted upon entering the mouth. Du Lingchuan's deathly pale face immediately recovered a trace of color at a speed visible to the naked eye. His breathing also became slightly more stable, though he remained unconscious, his injuries extremely severe.
"What's the situation now?"
Tan Yang took a deep breath, looking at a Xuanjia Gate steward with lighter injuries nearby.
That steward's face showed mixed grief and fury as he choked out, "The Sect Master was fighting Heart Devourer when that dog thief Jin Poyue suddenly ambushed the Sect Master! The Sect Master was severely injured... When we desperately protected several senior and junior martial siblings in breaking through, we faintly heard Sect Master He Yuzhou's voice arriving... After that... we don't know what happened..."
"Heart Devourer!?"
Chen Qing's eyes narrowed, cold light flashing.
Peng Zhen and Tan Yang's expressions also instantly became extremely grave.
Just then—
"BOOM!!!"
From Xuanjia Gate's mountain gate direction, a heaven-shaking tremendous sound suddenly erupted!
True Aura fluctuations far surpassing before swept out like a tsunami. Even from this great distance, they could feel that heart-palpitating aura!
Clearly the battle situation at Xuanjia Gate's mountain gate had reached an incomparably intense stage!
"That seems like Ice True Aura? Hanyu Valley people have also arrived?"
Chen Qing sensed that aura, his heart stirring.
Tan Yang beside him saw this and made a decisive decision, "Chen Qing, you remain here, look after Elder Du and the Xuanjia Gate disciples, and clear out any possible Demon Sect stragglers in the vicinity while meeting subsequent arriving disciples!"
He then looked at Peng Zhen, his tone urgent, "Senior Martial Brother Peng, the situation is critical! Let's quickly ascend the mountain and assist the Sect Master!"
"Good!" Peng Zhen nodded heavily without the slightest hesitation.
The two knew well how terrifying Heart Devourer was. The Sect Master facing Heart Devourer and the traitor Jin Poyue must be in an extremely dangerous position.
Not a moment to lose!
Peng Zhen and Tan Yang immediately selected elite disciples under their command. Their figures rose up, transforming into two streams of light, rushing toward Xuanjia Gate's mountain gate direction at top speed!
Chaos!
The entire Xuanjia Gate had descended into complete chaos.
Firelight soared into the sky, illuminating broken walls and fallen corpses.
Killing cries, screams, weapon clashing sounds wove together. Although Xuanjia Gate disciples still numbered quite a few, under the Demon Sect experts' slaughter, they were completely suppressed, retreating step by step, only able to mount sporadic resistance relying on their familiarity with the terrain.
At the battlefield's center, Shi Kaishan leaned against a charred beam, his breathing weak, his face pale as paper.
He stared fixedly at Jin Poyue approaching step by step, his voice carrying mockery:
"Cough cough... It seems your breakthrough to late True Aura realm wasn't as you claimed, through diligent cultivation and fortunate circumstances... You also relied on this demonic technique, absorbing people's true qi and devouring their vital blood, didn't you?"
Jin Poyue's footsteps paused slightly. An extremely complex emotion flashed across his face.
He looked at this old friend with whom he had been acquainted for decades, slowly speaking, "Brother Shi, you and I met in humble circumstances. You should know best... For someone like me, a homeless dog without roots or influence, how difficult it is to advance further on this martial path? Without heaven-defying fortune, forget that unreachable True Origin realm, even late or perfected True Aura is difficult as ascending to heaven!"
Unwillingness surged in his tone, "Why? Why do those aristocratic heirs and Upper Sect true disciples have resources piled on them from birth, techniques to choose from at will? I'm unwilling! I'm truly unwilling! The chance to extend life with True Origin and glimpse the secret of longevity is right before my eyes. Why can't I fight for it? This... this is the only opportunity I can grasp!"
"Brother Shi, stop resisting. Let me send you on your final journey... Your lifetime of cultivation might help me touch the perfected realm. If someday Jin truly has the fortune to ascend to True Origin and gain extended life, I will burn paper horses and incense for you every year, not failing our brotherhood!"
Having spoken these final innermost thoughts, the last trace of hesitation in Jin Poyue's eyes completely vanished. His killing intent surged. His figure moved. His palms covered in strange True Aura were about to viciously strike down on Shi Kaishan's crown!
Shi Kaishan's body was ravaged by Black Fiend True Aura. He forcibly raised his True Aura to resist.
Just at this critical moment—
"Swoosh—!"
An incomparably sharp air-splitting sound tore through the noisy battlefield!
A matchlessly sharp golden fist aura, like a meteor streaking across the night sky, shot rapidly from the distance, striking with absolute precision toward Jin Poyue's back!
Its momentum fierce, its speed fast, made the air emit explosive roars from being torn!
"Hmm!?"
Jin Poyue's hair stood on end. A deadly sense of crisis instantly enveloped his entire body. He had to abandon killing Shi Kaishan, his figure dodging sideways in a sorry state!
"BOOM!"
The golden fist aura smashed where he had just stood. The ground immediately exploded into a deep crater, shattered stones flying, dust filling the air!
"He Yuzhou!?"
Jin Poyue steadied himself. Seeing who arrived, his expression suddenly became extremely ugly. He cried out in shock, "How can you possibly be here so fast!?"
The newcomer was precisely the Five Terraces Sect Master He Yuzhou!
His green robe moved without wind. His entire body emitted a sharp aura like an unsheathed sword. The vast pressure of External Aura realm spread out without concealment, causing both sides fighting nearby to pause.
"Sect Master He!"
Shi Kaishan saw reinforcements arrive. Light finally appeared in his eyes, the light of surviving desperate circumstances. The breath he had been forcibly maintaining relaxed. His body slid down along the beam to sit on the ground. Trembling, he took out a healing pill from his robe, stuffed it in his mouth, and desperately tried to suppress the Black Fiend True Aura raging within his body.
He Yuzhou's gaze swept across the tragic battlefield, finally settling on Jin Poyue. His voice was icy, "Before I came, I already sent secret letters to Valley Master Leng and Manor Lord Zhou."
Hearing this, Shi Kaishan's heart eased slightly, but his injuries were too severe to fight again.
In the distance, Zuo Feng, who had just joined forces with Poison Elder to kill a Xuanjia Gate True Aura elder and looted considerable pills and wealth, saw He Yuzhou appear and his heart violently shuddered!
"Not good! Five Terraces Sect reinforcements have arrived! Run!"
He was extremely alert and cunning. Knowing well that He Yuzhou's strength was absolutely not something they could oppose, he immediately let out a low shout. After a moment's thought, he fled toward outside the mountain gate without even saying goodbye, taking the lead in fleeing for his life.
The Demon Sect was a temporarily assembled small boat.
When great disaster struck, the only great dao they believed in was "better a dead fellow daoist than a dead poor daoist."
Seeing this, Jin Poyue knew there was no way back. If he let He Yuzhou and Shi Kaishan join forces and stabilize their position, once Hanyu Valley and Qixia Manor forces arrived, they would all die!
He immediately shouted fiercely at Hu Mei and another Demon Sect embracing elixir expert Han Baiyi not far away.
"Join forces! Kill He Yuzhou first!"
Hu Mei cried out delicately. Her blood-colored ribbons shot out like venomous snakes, directly coiling toward He Yuzhou's lower body.
Han Baiyi's blade light was like white silk, bringing shrill wind-breaking sounds as it slashed horizontally at the waist! Jin Poyue himself also surged his demonic technique again. His palms pitch-black as ink, he fiercely attacked He Yuzhou from the front!
"Ants shaking a tree! Seeking your own deaths!"
He Yuzhou let out a cold snort. Facing the siege of three major Demon Sect embracing elixir experts, he actually didn't dodge or evade!
The incomparably pure Gengjin True Aura within his body erupted thunderously. His entire body seemed shrouded in a layer of sharp golden radiance.
His fists swung, executing precisely one of the Five Terraces Sect's supreme techniques—Vajra Armor-Breaking Fist!
The fist emerged like an enraged Vajra, supremely strong and fierce, indestructible!
"Break!"
He Yuzhou expelled breath with sound. His left fist directly smashed toward Han Baiyi's blade light!
"CLANG—!"
A deafening metallic clang exploded!
Han Baiyi's fierce blade radiance was actually forcefully shattered by He Yuzhou's single punch. The long blade wailed and trembled violently. He himself was like being struck by a heavy blow, his tiger's mouth splitting, blood flowing freely. He staggered backward, his eyes full of shock!
Simultaneously, He Yuzhou's right fist transformed into a palm, five fingers like hooks, grabbing with absolute precision at the blood-colored ribbons Hu Mei had coiled around!
With Gengjin True Aura infused, his flesh palm was actually sharper than divine weapons!
"Riiip—!"
That sinister blood-colored ribbon was actually torn apart bare-handed by He Yuzhou!
Hu Mei cried out in alarm. The Gengjin True Aura invaded her body, a trace of fresh blood overflowing from the corner of her mouth.
He Yuzhou's movements didn't stop at all. The instant he resolved the threats from both sides, his figure slightly shifted, cleverly avoiding the main force of Jin Poyue's bone-corroding palm wind. Then with an incomparably swift side kick, the leg wind like an axe, he viciously swept toward Jin Poyue's waist and abdomen!
Jin Poyue hurriedly pressed both palms down to block!
"BANG!"
Leg and palms clashed. Jin Poyue only felt an unimaginable giant force transmit, shaking his qi and blood until they churned. His protective demonic aura violently fluctuated. His entire person uncontrollably slid backward over ten zhang, his feet plowing two deep furrows!
He Yuzhou fought one against three. In the blink of an eye, he had actually dismantled their combined attack and struck back two people. His formidable strength was evident!
He pressed his advantage, his figure like lightning, first pursuing the most severely wounded Han Baiyi.
Han Baiyi's soul fled. He desperately swung his blade trying to resist.
A cold light flashed in He Yuzhou's eyes. The most lethal "Mountain Shattering Style" of the Vajra Armor-Breaking Fist ruthlessly struck out!
Where the fist passed, the air seemed to explode!
Han Baiyi's blade aura was like paper, instantly penetrated. The fist force struck his chest without obstruction!
"Pfft—!"
Han Baiyi's chest visibly caved in. A fist print bulged from his back. His eyeballs nearly popped from their sockets. Fresh blood mixed with internal organ fragments sprayed wildly out. He died on the spot!
This True Aura Demon Sect expert died instantly!
He Yuzhou didn't even glance at the corpse. His figure turned, like a fierce tiger pouncing on a lamb, charging toward the pale-faced Hu Mei.
Hu Mei was frightened out of her wits. With a delicate cry, she executed her life-saving movement technique, transforming into several blood-colored afterimages scattering in all directions.
"Trivial tricks!"
He Yuzhou's spiritual sense locked onto her true body. He struck out with a long-distance punch!
The condensed golden fist aura flew from his body, its speed astonishing!
"No—!"
Hu Mei's true body was precisely struck by the fist aura. Her protective demonic aura instantly shattered. Her scream abruptly stopped. Her graceful body fell to the ground like a kite with its string cut, her fragrance extinguished and jade destroyed.
In the blink of an eye, two major True Aura demons died!
He Yuzhou's strength was too formidable. Only Heart Devourer could fight him.
Jin Poyue could no longer muster any thought of resistance. Turning around, he pushed his speed to the extreme, madly fleeing toward outside the mountain gate!
"Want to leave!?"
How could He Yuzhou let him escape? He was about to pursue—
Just then, a bone-chillingly cold aura suddenly descended on the battlefield!
As if winter suddenly arrived, moisture in the air instantly condensed into tiny ice crystals!
A figure silently appeared on Jin Poyue's escape path, palm lightly striking out.
Where the palm wind passed, air froze, leaving a clear trail of frost!
The newcomer attacked with full force from the start, showing no mercy whatsoever.
Jin Poyue had fought consecutively, his Internal True Aura already considerably depleted. Now this suddenly attacking expert made him panicked and uneasy. He only felt his entire body's blood about to freeze. He desperately urged his demonic aura trying to resist!
"BANG!"
That light palm struck the hastily condensed demonic aura.
Extremely cold aura instantly penetrated his body!
Jin Poyue's body suddenly stiffened. The blood color completely drained from his face, covered by a layer of ghastly white frost. The vitality in his eyes rapidly dissipated, transforming into two lifeless ice crystals.
With a "thud," his corpse fell rigidly to the ground, shattering into pieces like a broken ice sculpture!
Hanyu Valley Master! Leng Qianqiu had arrived!
"It's Valley Master Leng!"
"Hanyu Valley's reinforcements have come!"
The surviving Xuanjia Gate disciples saw Leng Qianqiu and, as if seeing a savior, burst into cheers of surviving disaster.
"Valley Master... Leng..."
Shi Kaishan raised his head with difficulty.
Leng Qianqiu nodded slightly at him. Her gaze swept across the devastated battlefield, her voice clear and cold as ice, "My Hanyu Valley elders are already leading disciples on their way. I've ordered them to blockade all roads around Xuanjia Gate. Not a single one of these Demon Sect thieves will escape!"
She looked at He Yuzhou, "Where is Heart Devourer?"
Shi Kaishan gasped heavily, speaking in fragments, "Heart Devourer, that old demon... he, he consecutively killed three of my elders... he charged into... charged into the 'Earth Origin cave' in the back mountain..."
That was Xuanjia Gate's most important resource storage location. Although it couldn't compare to the Five Terraces Sect's Earth Heart Milk cave or Hanyu Valley's Ice Pool, it was still a treasure ground.
"The Earth Origin cave?!"
He Yuzhou and Leng Qianqiu's expressions changed simultaneously.
"Heart Devourer consecutively killed three True Aura experts. If he also seizes the accumulated resources of the Earth Origin cave... his cultivation will likely surge to an unimaginable level!" He Yuzhou said in a deep voice.
"We absolutely cannot let him escape again! This time we must eliminate this threat permanently!" Leng Qianqiu's tone was decisive and firm.
The two exchanged glances, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.
Without the slightest hesitation, both of their figures moved simultaneously, racing at top speed toward the direction of the Earth Origin cave in the back mountain!
However, when they reached the entrance to the Earth Origin cave, they saw that the black iron gate at the cave entrance had been violently destroyed. The several disciples who had been left to guard it were all dead, and the cave interior was in complete disarray. The originally dense earth vein elemental qi had become thin and chaotic, and as for the stored treasure materials, they had been completely plundered!
Where was any trace of Heart Devourer, that old demon?
"It seems we still arrived a step too late!" He Yuzhou said in a deep voice.
Had Heart Devourer, that old demon, actually escaped without warning just like that?
Even abandoning all the experts under the Demon Sect branch altar's command?
This matter was definitely not simple.
He Yuzhou's thoughts raced like lightning, though his expression remained calm as before.
He suddenly recalled the secret intelligence he had received earlier, that among the four sects, there had long been a Demon Sect insider lurking.
Moreover, this insider held an extremely high position.
With this thought, his gaze darkened slightly, his vigilance suddenly increasing.
Leng Qianqiu's brows furrowed tightly as she carefully sensed the extremely faint demonic qi remaining in the air, saying coldly, "He definitely hasn't fled far! Very likely he's hiding somewhere on Xuanjia Mountain right now, digesting what he obtained! If we search the mountain at this moment, we might be able to root him out!"
She cast her gaze into the distance, her eyes slowly narrowing to slits, feeling that Heart Devourer had not yet left.
His game was not yet finished, and the cards in his hand had not all been played.
Just then, another urgent sound of wind breaking through the air arrived.
A middle-aged man wearing Qixia Manor attire descended gracefully. His features were gentle, though his brow carried a trace of anxiety. It was none other than Qixia Manor's Grand Master Zhou Nianchu.
"Sect Master He, Valley Master Leng! Where is Heart Devourer, that old demon?"
Zhou Nianchu's voice arrived before he did, his gaze quickly sweeping across the devastated Earth Origin cave.
"He got here one step ahead of us, seized the resources, and has already fled."
He Yuzhou took a deep breath, suppressing his anger as he spoke.
"Gone!?"
Zhou Nianchu's brows knitted together, "Then what are we waiting for? Why aren't the two sect masters immediately giving chase?"
Leng Qianqiu glanced at Zhou Nianchu but said nothing.
He Yuzhou was relatively calmer and analyzed, "Manor Master Zhou, please remain calm. Heart Devourer is extremely cunning. At this moment, he may not have fled far and could be lurking somewhere within Xuanjia Gate. If we rashly all chase after him and leave the mountain gate empty, should he double back, or should there be other Demon Sect hidden agents, how would the remaining Xuanjia Gate disciples resist?"
"The urgent priority now is to first eliminate all remaining Demon Sect members within the mountain gate, stabilize the situation, and then set up an inescapable net to carefully search the mountain!"
Leng Qianqiu nodded, agreeing with He Yuzhou's arrangement, "Sect Master He speaks reasonably. Clearing out the remaining enemies and consolidating our defenses is the primary task at hand."
Zhou Nianchu looked at the two of them, suppressing his urgent heart, and said in a deep voice, "Good! Then I will first assist you both in clearing out these demon spawn!"
The three sect master-level experts reached a consensus and began to hunt down the remaining Demon Sect experts within Xuanjia Gate.
Comments 1