Chapter 153: The Demon Sect Grand Master, the Skull of Slaughter

Chapter 153: The Demon Sect Grand Master, the Skull of Slaughter

After leaving the spiritual herb treasure land, the trio traveled discreetly through the mountains to hide their tracks, wary of possible pursuit by powerful individuals affiliated with the black-robed man's faction.

They arrived outside a city, where Xu Yan and Meng Chong waited while Meng Shushu disguised herself and ventured into the city to purchase sealing medicine from the Tianbao Pavilion.

Once Meng Shushu returned with the sealing medicine, they began the process of encapsulating the spiritual herbs. Once all the herbs were sealed, they set off on their journey back to the region of the Great Yue Kingdom.

Along the way, a kite descended from the sky.

It was a kite from Jianzun Cliff, guided by the kite talisman on Xu Yan. In the kite's message tube was a letter from Xie Lingfeng inquiring if they needed any assistance.

Xu Yan penned a reply and sent the kite back.

"Is that a kite from Jianzun Cliff?" Meng Shushu asked, astonished.

"Oh? You recognize it?" Xu Yan replied, surprised.

"Brother Xu, you may not know this, but as a spiritual herb scout, I am naturally familiar with the major factions. We sometimes use their kite messengers for collaboration, so I can identify them," Meng Shushu explained.

"I see!" Xu Yan exclaimed, understanding her knowledge of the kite.

"By the way, do you know how to breed and train kites for messaging?" Xu Yan asked thoughtfully.

Since they were planning to enter the Inner Domain, a convenient messaging system like kite messengers would be essential. Borrowing others' kite messengers was not a sustainable solution.

"Me? I'm just a spiritual herb scout. I don't know anything about that," Meng Shushu hurriedly shook her head.

"The Tianbao Pavilion offers kite messenger rentals. Some factions that can't establish their own kite messenger networks rent from them, but the prices are quite steep," she continued. "Of course, you can also rent them for single use or temporary purposes. So far, there haven't been any reported incidents of message leaks involving the Tianbao Pavilion's kite messengers. It's still a reliable option for most factions."

"The Tianbao Pavilion is truly impressive. They have their hands in all sorts of businesses," Meng Chong marveled.

Xu Yan took out the jade pendant given to him by the plain-clothed woman and asked, "Is this what you were talking about, the Tianbao Pavilion's kite messenger rental service?"

"Yes, that jade pendant of yours is for receiving messages from the Tianbao Pavilion. It's a more affordable option, I believe. Most factions use this type of pendant primarily to receive information about the martial arts world. Even so, it still costs over 100,000 spirit crystals a year," Meng Shushu explained.

Xu Yan was secretly astonished. The Tianbao Pavilion was truly something. Just to receive information, one had to pay at least 100,000 spirit crystals annually. He wondered how many factions there were in the Inner Domain.

Even within the Great Yue Kingdom, there were numerous factions, not to mention the vast regions that didn't fall under the jurisdiction of the three major kingdoms.

This revealed that the Tianbao Pavilion didn't have to spend a penny to build its kite messenger intelligence network. It was all funded by the various factions!

Upon entering the territory of the Great Yue Kingdom, Xu Yan breathed a sigh of relief. No Grand Masters had pursued them.

It wasn't that he feared Grand Masters, but he was concerned about damaging the Heaven-Dripping Marrow and the six sixth-grade spiritual herbs during a fight. Even killing numerous Grand Masters wouldn't make up for that loss.

Fifth-grade spiritual herbs were simply unobtainable for purchase!

"For safety's sake, I'll escort you to Lanping County," Xu Yan said thoughtfully.

"Alright!" Meng Chong nodded.

He wasn't afraid of Grand Master warriors and didn't consider them a threat. He could easily dispatch them with a single strike of his knife, and killing a Grand Master wouldn't put his spiritual herbs at risk.

However, if a Half-step Grand Master or even a full-fledged Grand Master were to attack, their situation would become dire.

The trio made their way directly toward Lanping County.

Lanping County was a border county, and the distance from their current location was vast. It would take a significant amount of time to reach Lanping County, let alone Tieshan County.

Moreover, to avoid any unforeseen incidents, Xu Yan kept a low profile as much as possible.

There was no rush to kill Grand Masters; safeguarding the spiritual herbs was the top priority.

"Brother Meng, Brother Xu, I'll lay low in Lanping County for a while. Once this blows over, I'll continue my search for spiritual herbs. How can I contact you afterward?" Meng Shushu asked as they approached the border of Lanping County.

Xu Yan pondered for a moment and replied, "Later on, you can go to Tieshan County. You'll be able to get in touch with me there, or you can contact Xie Lingfeng and have him relay messages."

Tieshan County was situated on the border of the frontier, and with the return of these spiritual herbs, the number of warriors in the frontier would undoubtedly increase, making entry into the Inner Domain inevitable.

Naturally, the first stop for these frontier warriors would be Tieshan County.

"I understand!" Meng Shushu nodded.

"Do your best, cousin. Aim to earn yourself a couple of storage bags!" Meng Chong patted his shoulder encouragingly.

"I'll try," Meng Shushu replied, feeling both amused and helpless. Storage bags? He wondered how many spiritual herbs he'd have to gather to afford one.

As they stepped into Lanping County, Xu Yan suddenly halted, his arm shooting out to block Meng Chong and Meng Shushu from proceeding. His gaze turned serious as he looked ahead.

A figure approached, each step leaving the ground beneath it scorched and blackened as if burned by fire.

The figure wore a long, crimson robe, with a hood covering their head, casting their face in shadow. Their complexion was deathly pale, and they carried a skull-topped staff.

The staff was black, and at its tip was a skull with eyes and a mouth from which crimson flames danced, emitting an incredibly powerful aura.

A Grand Master!

Xu Yan handed the spiritual herbs to Meng Chong, instructing him to be cautious. "Be careful, Brother Meng."

"Don't worry, Brother Xu," Meng Chong replied, his expression grave as he rested his hand on the hilt of his knife, vigilant of their surroundings.

Meng Shushu, on the other hand, stared wide-eyed at the Grand Master, her scalp tingling and her body trembling slightly.

"Cousin, you're too timid for your own good," Meng Chong sighed. He could understand Meng Shushu's lack of strength, but he was surprised by his timidity.

"That's... that's Fire-Demon Lord!" Meng Shushu exclaimed, his face filled with dread.

Xu Yan and Meng Chong were taken aback. Fire-Demon Lord?

One of the Nine Grand Demons of the Demon Sect, he was one of the three most well-known Grand Demons. Known for his cruel nature, he cultivated the Killing Life Technique. When he broke through to the Grand Master realm, he slaughtered hundreds of first-grade warriors and over a dozen Grand Masters, refining their essence blood to step into the Grand Master realm.

He was the most brutal among the Nine Grand Demons, and his unpredictable movements and secretive dwelling were a means to prevent being surrounded and killed by other Grand Masters.

"Something's not right. Fire-Demon Lord shouldn't be this weak," Xu Yan suddenly shook his head.

"Weak?" Meng Shushu was taken aback. He swallowed his saliva and said, "Brother Xu, Fire-Demon Lord is a peak Grand Master. Among the Inner Domain's peak Grand Masters, he ranks within the top thirty."

"Then you must have mistaken him for someone else. He's only a mid-stage Grand Master, not a peak Grand Master. Although he's stronger than the black-robed warrior I killed, he's still far from being a peak Grand Master," Xu Yan shook his head.

"So it's not Fire-Demon Lord after all. It seems to be one of his Grand Master subordinates," Meng Shushu breathed a sigh of relief.

The Demon Sect Grand Master approached, his aura locking onto Xu Yan, but he advanced neither hastily nor slowly, unconcerned by the possibility of Xu Yan and his companions attempting to flee.

"Could it be that the black-robed warrior was a subordinate of Fire-Demon Lord?" Meng Chong furrowed his brows.

The threat faced by Duke Du's mansion was indeed significant, with Fire-Demon Lord secretly intervening. One could only wonder what secrets lay behind this.

However, all of that was now in the past. Under the name of Xie Lingfeng, he had repelled Yin Hong and the intimidation of Jianzun Cliff, demonstrating his strength. The threat to Duke Du's mansion had been swiftly eliminated.

At the Seven Stars Academy, Xu Yan had already introduced himself and clarified that he was not Xie Lingfeng. So, was this powerful subordinate of Fire-Demon Lord here for revenge?

"Are you Xu Yan?" The Demon Sect Grand Master asked, his cold gaze fixed on Xu Yan.

"Yes, it's me," Xu Yan replied without hesitation.

"Good, remember this: I am Kill-Life Skull, under the command of Fire-Demon Lord!" The skull atop the staff blazed with crimson flames, casting a sinister light on the surrounding area. Meng Chong and Meng Shushu quickly backed away, putting some distance between themselves and the menacing figure.

Xu Yan's expression turned slightly solemn as he regarded the skull staff in the Grand Master's hand, the flames that danced upon it a manifestation of his opponent's power.

There was no heat, only a chilling aura that seemed capable of incinerating and corroding all life, more terrifying than any poison.

The Grand Master cultivated a killing technique, and it was highly likely that he practiced the infamous Blood Refining Inferno Art of Fire-Demon Lord, refining the blood and essence of living beings into this hellish flame.

"I shall take your blood and everything you possess. It seems I've stumbled upon quite a harvest," Kill-Life Skull said sinisterly, his eyes lingering on the large bag in Meng Chong's hands.

"Be careful, Brother Xu. Kill-Life Skull is one of the three strongest under Fire-Demon Lord's command, a Grand Master who has taken countless lives. That Blood Inferno is extremely dangerous; it can scorch a warrior's inner qi, and once it touches you, there's no escape from death!" Meng Shushu warned, worried that Xu Yan might underestimate their opponent.

"Indeed, I am known as Kill-Life Skull because I have taken countless lives. Don't even think about begging for mercy, for I shall show you none," the Grand Master sneered.

"How many spirit crystals do you have on you?" Xu Yan asked eagerly, his eyes sparkling with excitement at the prospect of a wealthy opponent.

"What do you mean?" Kill-Life Skull frowned, sensing something amiss in Xu Yan's attitude.

"I've killed several Demon Sect disciples, and they all turned out to be poor ghosts, disgracing the Demon Sect. I hope you won't disappoint me as well. I, Xu Yan, never take action without gaining something in return. You're a Grand Master and a powerful subordinate of Fire-Demon Lord, so you must be rich. Don't tell me you're also a poor ghost?" Xu Yan asked, his tone serious.

"You ask for death!" Kill-Life Skull roared in anger, his face contorting with rage at the insult.

A terrifying inferno blazed forth from the skull staff, and with a fierce swing, the Grand Master unleashed a wave of crimson flames toward Xu Yan.

"You go too far!" Xu Yan's sword slashed out, the Mountain River Dragon's Roar echoing through the air. He followed up with a palm strike, a golden dragon coiling around his arm as it surged forward with overwhelming might, its pure yang energy colliding with the blood inferno.

Although the blood inferno appeared formidable, it ultimately belonged to the category of sinister and evil arts.

On the other hand, the Descending Dragon Palm was pure yang in nature, perfectly countering the hellish flames.

A thunderous explosion rocked the area as the golden dragon roared, its majestic presence overwhelming the blood inferno. The hellish flames withered and died in the face of the golden dragon's onslaught, unable to corrode its radiant form.

"You..." Kill-Life Skull's face twisted in shock and disbelief.

"You cannot be allowed to live!" he shouted, his body surging with power as he prepared to unleash his full strength.

The skull staff channeled an eerie aura, and the flames transformed into countless skulls that rained down from the sky, seeking to annihilate all life in their path.

"Today, I shall cut you down, and we shall see what Fire-Demon Lord will do! Dare to offend me, Xu Yan, and I shall bring death to your doorstep!" Xu Yan's eyes glinted with a cold light.

The golden dragon coiled around him, and his sword slashed downward.

Mountain River Universe Sword!

A deafening explosion rang out as Kill-Life Skull's eyes widened in horror. He quickly summoned a shield of blood energy to protect himself, just as the inferno from his staff condensed into a massive blade, attempting to parry the incoming attack.

At the same time, he tried to flee, realizing that Xu Yan's strength far exceeded his expectations, and the golden dragon seemed specifically designed to counter his blood inferno. As a result, he couldn't fully utilize the power of his killing technique.

"If you've come, don't even think about leaving. Not a single enemy has ever escaped from me, Xu Yan!" Xu Yan's sword slashed again, followed by another palm strike.

A roar echoed as eighteen golden dragons surged forth, encircling their target from all sides in a coordinated assault.

"Kill!" Kill-Life Skull's face twisted in a snarl of rage and malevolence.

A loud bang reverberated as his robe exploded, and a torrent of bloody energy burst forth, filling the air with a nauseating stench.

The massive wave of bloody energy poured into the skull staff, causing Kill-Life Skull's body to wither and shrink.

"If you want to kill me, we shall perish together!" Kill-Life Skull snarled, his face contorted with fury. The skull staff in his hand had turned blood-red, emanating a terrifying aura.

Xu Yan's anger burned even hotter, "Return my spirit tickets!"

Kill-Life Skull's robe and the bag he carried were shredded, and the spirit tickets inside were destroyed.

This meant that even if Xu Yan killed him, he wouldn't gain anything!

How could he not be furious?

Since the spirit tickets were already destroyed, Xu Yan no longer needed to hold back. His sword intent surged, and a fierce killing intent filled the air, causing the colors of the world to seem distorted.

Kill-Life Skull, who had already steeled himself to fight to the death, felt his scalp tingle. This killing intent, this thirst for blood, was even more terrifying than that of a demon!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end