Chapter 234: The Seventh Rank Demon King
Chapter 234: The Seventh Rank Demon King
"Gugu."
Amidst the swirling sands, high above in the sky, between the clouds, a gray demon bird cooed mournfully within the cloud layer.
After circling for a while, it silently disappeared into the clouds.
Amidst the sand dunes.
Chen Mu, carrying his backpack, continued his leisurely stroll across the dunes, each step covering dozens of zhang as he leaped from one sand dune to another.
For six consecutive days, he had scouted several locations where the earth's veins were depleted, two of which were demon nests, but the other two presented opportunities. He obtained another portion of Jihu Earth Essence Essence and several mineral materials.
Together, they were worth almost two or three Earth Essence Orbs.
"If I find a couple more, I can retrieve my share for these two years as a direct disciple back at the sect. Combined, it should be enough to complete the tenth and twelfth tempering processes of the Five Viscera Realm."
Chen Mu pondered in his heart.
Currently, he was only considering the resources needed for the next two tempering processes. As for the thirteenth, he didn't think about it for now. Perhaps the twelfth tempering was the limit of the Five Viscera Realm, and whether there would be a thirteenth was still uncertain. There was no need to plan too far ahead.
"However, the power of the earth's veins in this desert is gradually recovering."
Chen Mu strode forward, his entire being still sensing the changes in the desert's veins. Eight days had passed since the sand disaster ended, and the veins in the desert were noticeably recovering. The difficulty of finding vein gaps had been increasing over the past two days.
This wasn't unexpected for Chen Mu. Xia Hou Yan had previously mentioned that the best time to explore the desert was the half-month after the sand disaster, and the earlier they started, the better. By the tenth day, most of the smaller vein gaps would have closed, leaving only larger ones that hadn't fully healed, which could still be found.
Based on Chen Mu's own perception and judgment of the earth's veins, he estimated that this timing was about right.
"Let's slightly speed things up."
A thought flashed through Chen Mu's mind, and he activated his Primordial Energy True Strength, increasing the speed of his Abyss Shrink movement technique. Like a fleeting shadow, he swiftly glided between the sand dunes.
Although he had many resources on him, and even if he ran out, he could use the Earthly Green Lotus Seed to obtain more, he didn't have many left. They were more valuable and rarer than other items, and he wouldn't easily exchange them for common spiritual objects like the Earth Essence Orb.
Whoosh!
Chen Mu hurried through the desert, unaware of how far he had ventured in. His route wasn't a direct path to the frontier, but after reaching a certain distance, he explored within a specific range.
After searching for half a day, he found nothing.
Suddenly, a red glow appeared on the distant horizon. Although the light was faint, as if coming from far away, Chen Mu could still see it clearly and felt a slight stir in his heart. "Hmm? Is that a signal talisman?"
Before their departure, Xia Hou Yan had given everyone a signal talisman. It was made from special mineral materials and the blood of a high-rank demon that lived in a volcanic environment. When activated with Primordial Energy, it emitted a signal like fireworks, bright enough to be seen from twenty or thirty li away.
Without much hesitation, Chen Mu immediately changed direction and headed towards the source of the signal.
Soon, he crossed nearly thirty li through the yellow sand and approached a massive sand dune. From a distance, he saw two figures standing atop the dune.
One was Xia Hou Yan, and the other was Chu Jing Su. Chen Mu wondered who had sent the signal and who had rushed over.
"It's Chen Shidi," Xia Hou Yan and Chu Jing Su said as they spotted Chen Mu.
"It seems you've made quite a harvest, Chen Shidi. Your movement technique is much faster than ours." Xia Hou Yan glanced at Chen Mu's bulging backpack and smiled. "You must have noticed it too."
Chu Jing Su nodded slightly.
As Chen Mu leaped onto the sand dune, he didn't greet Xia Hou Yan and Chu Jing Su but immediately understood the situation. Looking at the valley behind the massive sand dune, a faint light flashed in his eyes.
"Chen Shidi, it seems you've gained a lot. Your movement technique is indeed faster than ours."
Xia Hou Yan smiled and continued, "Chen Shidi, you must have sensed it too. This vein gap is quite large, and there must be precious spiritual objects within. However, there's a Seventh Rank Demon King residing here, which is a big problem. It's a hassle that I alone might struggle to handle."
Xia Hou Yan turned to Chen Mu and said, "With the three of us combined, we might be able to give it a try."
Chen Mu paused slightly and said, "A Seventh Rank Demon King, I've heard, possesses power almost on par with a Grandmaster. Even if we join forces and set up some arrays to borrow strength, it might still be challenging to deal with."
Chu Jing Su shook his head and said, "It's true that a Seventh Rank Demon King can approach the level of a Grandmaster, but ultimately, it's just that—close. The Wind and Cloud Rankings experts aren't afraid of ordinary Seventh Rank Demon Kings. Even those ranked lower can often defeat them. Although their demon energy is thick and their bodies are resilient, they don't possess the ability to control the heavens and earth or the law of using all things. As long as we can withstand their attacks, we can wear them down and kill them."
The greatest difference between demons and humans is that demons don't harness the power of the heavens and earth through conceptual realms. They rely solely on the demon energy they cultivate within their bodies. Even though their demon energy is thick and they can slowly cycle energy from the heavens and earth, it's still far inferior to the conceptual realms, which can harness the power of the heavens and earth without end.
A human martial artist, even at the Five Organs Realm, would find it nearly impossible to exhaust their power if they could harness one or two Concepts in conjunction with their Primordial Energy. However, the same does not apply to demons.
This explains why a Seventh Rank Demon King, with abilities almost on par with a Grandmaster, would not intimidate any expert on the Gale Wind Rankings. These experts would have the confidence to engage and even ultimately slay such a demon.
"Chen Shidi, there's no need to be afraid. I carefully examined this Seventh Rank Demon King earlier. It seems to have just undergone transformation recently. Its Demon Energy and body are not yet stable, barely reaching the Seventh Rank. Chu Shidi and I both have Spirit Armaments, and we are confident in directly resisting it. You won't have to face it."
At this moment, Xia Hou Yan spoke to Chen Mu, "Your movement technique is extremely fast and much more agile than us. You only need to scout the underground cavern while Chu Shidi and I work together to restrain this demon. Take all the rare treasures you find, and we can accomplish our mission without the need for a life-or-death struggle with the demon."
At this point, Chu Jingtao nodded in agreement, "That's right. Chen Shidi, you don't need to be concerned. Chu Shidi and I will handle the confrontation while you swiftly search the underground cavern... Actually, if Chen Shidi hadn't come, Chu Shidi and I were planning to go down there together. We were just discussing who would hold off the demon. Now that you're here, with Chu Shidi and I working together, the threat is greatly reduced."
After listening to Xia Hou Yan and Chu Jingtao, Chen Mu gazed at the sand dune, deep in thought. At the same time, he carefully extended his perception, meticulously scanning the surrounding environment and confirming every detail.
Seeing that Chen Mu didn't immediately agree, Xia Hou Yan and Chu Jingtao glanced at each other and slightly shook their heads, but they didn't rush him.
After all, Chen Mu cultivated the Heavenly Firmament Concept. Once he entered the underground cavern and lost contact with the Heavenly Sky, his abilities in various aspects would undoubtedly be greatly suppressed. This was an extremely unfavorable environment for Chen Mu, and with his cultivation level lower than theirs, it was normal for him to hesitate. They couldn't force Chen Mu to go.
Watching Chen Mu circle the sand dune several times, Chu Jingtao finally spoke, "Chen Shidi, if you're still concerned, you can help guard the cavern entrance. Chu Shidi and I are also confident in exploring it."
Xia Hou Yan remained silent.
Although he and Chu Jingtao were confident, they would have to take a slight risk. In the end, when it came to the distribution of the rewards, Chen Mu could only get a small portion... But these details weren't crucial. The main issue was that he felt Chen Mu was currently at a crucial stage of tempering his martial arts will. If he acted too cautiously, it wouldn't be a good thing. Lacking a bit of self-confidence would diminish his spirit.
"No."
At this moment, Chen Mu shook his head, "I'm not afraid. If you two aren't afraid, neither am I. I was just scouting the situation nearby. Earlier, I was attacked by the Heaven Corpse Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect in this desert. I'm cautious because I'm worried they might be up to something, but it seems there's no issue here."
With his current strength, he wouldn't fear even a single Seventh Rank Demon King. He was just being more cautious due to the previous ambush by the Heavenly Demon Sect. Before, he had killed everyone involved, leaving no trace in the vast and desolate desert. It was unlikely for the Heaven Corpse Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect to react within such a short time.
"The Heavenly Demon Sect and the Heaven Corpse Sect?"
As Chen Mu spoke, both Xia Hou Yan and Chu Jingtao were taken aback.
Xia Hou Yan's brief shock turned into a scowl, "The Heavenly Demon Sect, those heretical demons, dared to probe our border defense a few years ago, abducting and devouring our soldiers. Our Sect Elder came and killed a batch of them, which is why they haven't dared to offend our Cloudy Peak Pass. I didn't expect them to start causing trouble again."
Chu Jingtao's face turned cold, "The remnants of the Heaven Corpse Sect have repeatedly acted recklessly, daring to attack Chen Shidi. They don't take our Seven Mysteries Sect seriously. Once I break through and become a Grandmaster, I'll hunt down every last one of them in the entire Cold Northern Road!"
At this moment, Xia Hou Yan recalled the previous Sand Disaster that attacked the border defense. His face grew colder, and he said, "It seems the unusual demon disturbance at Cloudy Peak Pass might also have been caused by the Heavenly Demon Sect... Chen Shidi, rest assured. After we return, our Sect Elder will settle the score with the Heavenly Demon Sect and give them a piece of our mind."
No wonder Chen Mu had become so cautious, unlike his composure when guarding the border defense.
Neither of them asked Chen Mu for more details. After all, Chen Mu had faced a life-threatening joint attack by the Heaven Corpse Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect, and it was likely his survival depended on his life-saving techniques and movement technique. It wasn't appropriate to inquire further.
"Chen Shidi, don't worry. There are no remnants of the Heaven Corpse Sect nearby. It's broad daylight, not the time for their Mystic Corpse to act. They can't withstand a single blow at noon."
"Mhm, with us here, there's no need to fear the Heavenly Demon Sect."
Chu Jingtao and Xia Hou Yan glanced at each other, and both nodded in agreement.
The Heaven Corpse Sect wouldn't take the initiative at this time. As for the Heavenly Demon Sect... Since Chen Mu managed to escape, there must not be any Seventh Rank or higher demons on par with a Grandmaster. As formidable Sixth Viscera Realm experts, they had no reason to fear.
Chen Mu wanted to say that he had never feared these heretical demons. He was usually more cautious, but in the end, he shook his head:
"There's no time to waste. Let's depart, fellow Shidis."
Action: "Since there are no traces of the Heavenly Demon Corpse Sect nearby, and no demonic creatures are eyeing Chu Jing Su and Xiahou Yan, it seems that the group of Kunjia demons is indeed the one responsible. However, we should still explore these underground caverns as soon as possible."
"Hmm."
Xiahou Yan and Chu Jing Su both nodded, their expressions turning solemn. They then headed towards the bottom of the sand dune, where the quicksand was constantly sinking in the center. After a glance at each other, they stepped into the quicksand together, their bodies instantly disappearing into the quicksand and vanishing beneath the earth's veins.
Chen Mu, without hesitation, followed suit, and his figure also disappeared into the quicksand.
As the underground cavern was quite spacious, the quicksand path was wide enough, and Chen Mu followed Xiahou Yan and Chu Jing Su, descending without feeling any congestion.
When they had descended nearly two hundred feet, Chen Mu felt that the quicksand path had finally reached its end.
Almost as soon as he poked his head out of the quicksand path, the moment he emerged from the underground cavern, he heard a hissing sound reverberating throughout the entire cavern, followed by a fierce surge of demonic energy.
He saw a gathering of quicksand, enveloped in a mighty demonic force, condensing into a sharp claw within the spacious cavern. It rushed towards Chen Mu, getting closer and closer.
"Perfect timing!"
Xiahou Yan laughed, and with a swing of his long spear, a green glow appeared on the entire spear. A gale force was unleashed and gathered, and with a wave, a spiral-shaped green hurricane formed, colliding with the yellow sand-condensed claw.
Whoosh!
The yellow sand-condensed claw was torn apart by Xiahou Yan's swinging spear, accompanied by a loud boom.
Chen Mu landed on the quicksand path.
Almost as soon as he landed, he saw a massive black shadow rushing towards him from behind the yellow sand. It was a spider king, its body covered in dense fur, but the fur was short and light in color, indicating that it had just undergone a transformation and had not fully recovered. However, the demonic energy emanating from its body was far beyond that of ordinary sixth-rank demons, and its demonic body, even though it had just transformed, felt more robust and resilient than the sixth-rank Sand Phantom.
Swish!
Although the spider king was massive, its movements were extremely agile, and it pounced towards Xiahou Yan in an instant.
A glimmer flashed through Chen Mu's eyes, and he condensed a burst of energy in his palm, instinctively preparing to strike.
"Perfect timing, and let me show you a move!"
He reached behind and pulled out a green fan, its surface shimmering with a green glow. There was no doubt that it was a spirit armament.
Hiss!
Chu Jing Su waved the green fan, and in an instant, the power of heaven and earth gathered. He swung out seven or eight massive green wind blades, visible to the naked eye, crisscrossing like invisible sword auras, forming a net of blades that descended upon the spider king.
The spider king's body immediately froze in its tracks, clearly unwilling to directly withstand Chu Jing Su's full-force strike with the spirit armament.
"Ssss."
The spider king was obviously enraged by the intrusion of Xiahou Yan and Chu Jing Su, and its demonic energy surged, overwhelming the two of them.
"Junior Chen, come!"
Chu Jing Su, while working with Xiahou Yan to confront the spider king, noticed Chen Mu standing there in a daze, and couldn't help but remind him,
"Although we can hold it back for a while, it's not good to drag this on. After all, using a spirit armament also takes a lot of effort. If we could fight the spider king with just our own strength, we might even be able to wear it down. But with the spirit armament, it's hard to say who will reach their limit first if we keep going like this."
"..."
Chen Mu heard Chu Jing Su's words and glanced at the spider king.
Although he felt that Xiahou Yan and Chu Jing Su could hold their ground, he didn't rush to act. His figure flickered and disappeared into the cave, quickly searching for valuable spiritual objects within the cavern using his perception.
"Ssss."
The spider king clearly sensed Chen Mu bypassing it and venturing deeper into the cavern, becoming even more enraged. Its eight legs constantly rose and fell, and the yellow sand condensed into earth-breaking blades, leaving deep marks on the nearby sturdy rock walls, almost piercing through them.
But at this moment, Xiahou Yan and Chu Jing Su displayed great tacit understanding. Together, they pushed their spirit armaments to the extreme, managing to pin down the spider king, preventing it from leaving.
And right then, Chen Mu's figure had already reached the bottom of the cavern. He took just one look, and his eyebrows furrowed, revealing a hint of heartbreak.
"Wuhu Soil Core, Jihu Earth Essence Essence..."
At first glance, he saw a pile of broken stone fragments piled up at the edge of the yellow sand. Even though they were shattered, there were fine bite marks on them, but he could still barely identify them as the Wuhu Soil Core and Jihu Earth Essence Essence.
These spiritual objects, however, had been chewed and swallowed by the spider king as food, leaving behind a pile of shattered fragments, their essence drained, and now reduced to waste.
But in Chen Mu's perception, beneath the yellow sand in the center, there seemed to be some foreign objects.
(End of Chapter)
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