https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-501-I-Am-the-Hunter-and-You-Are-the-Prey/12554838/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-503-The-Crown-Prince-of-the-Southern-Dragon-Palace/12554840/
Chapter 502: A Massacre
Chapter 502: A Massacre
In the murky waters, three formidable demons walked side by side. One of them paused and took a deep breath before turning back to look at the group of soldiers, their bodies adorned with exquisite fish scale armor. "I can't shake the chill in my heart. Let's hurry back to our fief."
The demon beside him, resembling a lion with serpentine hair, gave a noncommittal tug at the corner of its mouth.
All three were high-ranking demon generals of White Jade Capital, and while they might be considered weaker compared to the eight who had previously besieged Yunxiao Pavilion, their strength, insight, and courage were beyond reproach.
But that was relative.
They had already heard of Su Hongxiu of the Celestial Sword Sect and her formidable reputation. But even after witnessing her prowess in action, as the aquatic demons tried to avoid heavy losses by keeping their distance, they still couldn't shake the memory of the sharpness of her sword qi.
It was hard to imagine that if they had truly taken a direct hit, how many of the high-ranking demon generals would have been able to withstand her attack.
"It is said that she hasn't even reached her peak yet."
The three demons exchanged glances, each seeing the lingering fear in the others' eyes.
If it had been when that woman was still in her youthful form, even the Fourth Young Master might not have been able to escape with his life under her sword.
The Fifth Prince might have been able to put up a fight, but it would have only been temporary... They were all high-ranking generals of the South Dragon Palace, and even though they favored Ke Shiliang, they couldn't deny that he would have a hard time defeating Su Hongxieu.
Being intimidated by the woman's sword qi was not something to be ashamed of.
What they felt was a sense of strangeness.
Now it seemed that the disciples of the Immortal Sect were beginning to overshadow the younger generation of the South Dragon Palace, and even the Fifth Prince, an elder of the dragon offspring, found it challenging to deal with these proud sons of heaven.
At the level of White Jade Capital, if they couldn't compare to the Seven Sons of Nan Hong, then the status of the South Dragon Palace would rest solely on the shoulders of the South Dragon King.
After all, among the four older princes, although their strength was comparable to the Unity of Dao, they seemed immature compared to the sect masters of the Immortal Sect, and their numbers were also two short.
Only the South Dragon King was unquestionably stronger than any Unity of Dao sect master, and he could even take on two at once without issue.
Furthermore, the South Dragon King and the West Dragon Palace shared a bond of life and death.
This was why, for the past ten millennia, they had been able to suppress the Seven Sons of Nan Hong within the Unity of Dao sacred land, controlling over seventy percent of the power in the Nan Hong region.
However, the Dragon King would eventually grow old and pass away, and with his death, the strength of the South Dragon Palace would plummet, and the close relationship with the West Dragon Palace would also fade with time.
On the other hand, the sacred land of the Immortal Sect could be passed down from generation to generation, ensuring their power remained stable.
The fact that the Fourth Young Master, one of the most outstanding dragon scions, was outshone by Su Hongxiu also indirectly proved that the decline of the South Dragon Palace was already quite evident.
"It's not our place to worry about such matters."
The tallest of the demons waved his hand, interrupting the silence of the other two. "Among the disciples are not only formidable beings like Su Hongxiu but also mediocre ones like White Witch, who only knows how to flaunt her wit. The dragon scions have yet to receive the true teachings of the Dragon King, so it's hard to say who is stronger."
"Perhaps we were startled by that sword." The other demon smiled ruefully.
Opening the three grand cities was already considered a top-tier achievement below the Unity of Dao, and only a handful of dragon scions could rival such an accomplishment.
Moreover, according to the information they had, it seemed likely that the other party possessed more than one Primordial Heavenly Soldier.
"What's there to be afraid of now that we're back in the water?"
The last demon shook his head and took a step forward. "We survived a great disaster, so good fortune must await us."
Today, it was only because of the Fifth Prince's momentary restraint that they had managed to escape with their lives. However, the prince must surely be seething with anger, or he wouldn't have led the troops back to the Dragon Palace so abruptly.
As his generals, it was best for them to return to their fiefs and maintain order, rather than cause more trouble at such a critical juncture.
The straight underwater canyon was eerie and foreboding.
The steady footsteps of the demon soldiers echoed through the canyon, the exquisite fish scale armor they wore creating a rustling sound.
There were over three hundred of them, and even the weakest among their ranks possessed cultivation close to the late Returning Void stage. They marched in a well-practiced formation, with scouts keeping watch at the front, back, and sides.
"...?"
A nearly imperceptible sound seemed to come from above.
Shen Yi, cloaked in darkness, fixed his gaze on the bottom of the canyon. Dressed in black, he blended seamlessly with the shadowy canyon, his clear eyes reflecting a growing fierceness as he held a jade slip in his palm.
Opportunities to encounter the enemy while they were resting didn't come often.
Moreover, there were three White Jade Capital high-ranking demons traveling together.
They weren't stupid beasts to be slaughtered.
Trying to silently take out this group of Dragon Palace soldiers was almost impossible, as they would surely send out a message.
After patiently waiting for a long time and finding no better opportunity, Shen Yi chose to step out of the shadows.
If that was the case, then he would have to force his way through.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
The demons sensed something amiss.
Without any orders, the entire formation of demon soldiers braced themselves, their eyes scanning the canyon's bottom and their surroundings warily.
As if sensing something, their expressions changed drastically, and they stared intently into the darkness.
The three White Jade Capital high-ranking demons raised their heads to look upward. Upon noticing the figure in black standing above them, his gaze lowered, their eyelids twitched, and they immediately gripped their weapons tightly.
Boom—
The roar had just risen when it was abruptly cut short, as if its throat had been clutched.
The terrifying vortex quickly weakened until the entire body of water returned to calmness.
In front of the canyon, within the pitch-black waters, figures of varying heights emerged one by one—seven in total. As their features became clearer, their expressions remained extremely indifferent.
"Heh... Heh..."
The three White Jade Capital demons, resembling a blue lion with serpentine hair, reacted swiftly, gathering together with weapons in hand, feigning composure.
As the seven figures drew closer, the demons felt a chill down their spines, and even the long handles of their weapons became slippery in their palms.
It wasn't that the three demons had weak mental fortitude.
But to speak bluntly, even under the Fifth Prince, there were only six demons of such caliber in the White Jade Capital.
The influence of the opposing force... was even more terrifying than that of a Dragon Palace prince! In the Nan Hong region, when had such a powerful aquatic force emerged, and how had the South Dragon Palace remained completely oblivious?
However, just as they managed to steady their nerves and discerned the familiar faces, the three demons felt even more fearful, their hands trembling involuntarily. Others might find it hard to imagine, but seeing so many once-familiar companions, now expressionless and brimming with killing intent as they approached, was a truly terrifying experience.
It even led the three demons to suspect that the Dragon Palace intended to settle scores with them.
"Evacuate immediately! Send a message to the Dragon Palace!"
The one with the face of a blue lion and hair like serpents managed to suppress his emotions. Upon recognizing the strangeness in these "companions," he realized that beneath their lifelike appearances, they exuded an aura distinct from that of living beings.
He took out a conch shell to send a message, only to discover that an invisible restriction was blocking it.
He let out a loud roar and leaped into the air!
However, his figure, which had just taken off, was instantly engulfed by several Townish Stones that flew towards him.
"Heh!"
The remaining soldiers also reacted swiftly, jumping to escape the underwater canyon.
Over three hundred figures moved together, resembling a school of fish scattering in all directions, a sight that dazzled the eyes.
Moreover, they were not mere fish.
If not for their service in the Dragon Palace's army, each of them would have been famous demons in the outside world.
At this moment, their seemingly chaotic movements were actually well-coordinated, aimed at protecting the fastest swimmers among them, escorting them out of the canyon, and even their escape routes didn't conflict with each other.
What was even more terrifying was that before making these moves, they didn't need any discussion at all.
At this moment, above the canyon, a head that blotted out the sky slowly emerged. Adorned with deer-like antlers and a flowing beard, its eyes shone with a fierce light. Its body, faintly visible, was covered in azure scales.
A pair of dragon claws quietly grasped the edge of the canyon.
The azure dragon gazed downward, then opened its massive mouth, revealing sharp fangs glinting with a cold light, and a scarlet tongue. From between its jaws, a roar that seemed to take on a substantial form escaped, reverberating through the air!
Roar! Roar! Roar!
The demons at the forefront were swept back by the sonic blast, their fish scale armor mysteriously riddled with spear marks. Before their eyes, the flesh, scales, and shells of their bodies shattered, revealing white bones from which the remnants of their forms fell away.
The group of demons behind them was also forced back by the roar.
In their terror, they unleashed their demonic powers to resist, but they still stumbled backward, suppressed by the formidable aura!
Azure Dragon Shattering Stars.
With just one strike, three hundred demons were subdued!
The azure dragon raised its head, and amidst the dragon horn illusions, the youth in ink-colored robes stood with his spear, his eyes shimmering with a purple light. With the spear's edge, he carved a despair-inducing, insurmountable chasm in the waters.
At the back of the canyon,
A rumbling sound like mountains shaking resounded.
A golden tortoise as massive as a mountain, with four sturdy limbs, marched forward, its formidable body and indomitable demonic might crushing countless demons beneath its feet!
Puchi! Puchi!
The appearance of the eighth White Jade Capital Townish Stone plunged the group of demons into utter despair.
On the panel, the demons' lifespan began to soar!
"...?"
Shen Yi swept his silent gaze over the vicinity. It seemed that the grand formation he had set up earlier hadn't completely blocked the messages sent out by the conch shells.
Thinking of this,
He casually put away his spear and descended to the bottom of the canyon.
Following Wu Jun, he passed by countless severed limbs and torsos, collecting them all into his finger cot.
"Quickly now."
Shen Yi nodded slightly, then, in full view of the remaining demons, began sorting the corpses and skillfully reconstructing their demonic souls, condensing them into Townish Stones.
The three demons coordinated seamlessly, making up for their lack of strength.
Even when facing seven Townish Stones, they managed to hold on until now without perishing.
In contrast, Shen Yi's Townish Stones, when he hadn't planned their actions in advance, seemed to act independently, sometimes even harming their allies.
However, just at this moment, the three demons suddenly sensed the emergence of a ninth White Jade Capital aura, and their hearts skipped a beat as they turned back.
In their line of sight, another familiar face appeared, but the boundary aura emanating from this person made their hearts pound and filled them with a sense of absurdity and laughter.
The shrill roar echoed endlessly through the canyon.
They were already outnumbered.
The slight daze and the collapse of the three demons' mental defenses instantly presented an opportunity for the Townish Stones, who seized it and struck one after another in just a few breaths, ending their lives!
As the panel prompt rose.
Shen Yi had already retracted all the Townish Stones into his glabella, condensing and gathering the demon essences into the Demon Soul space one by one.
He didn't even spare a moment to adjust his posture.
Instead, he quickly rushed towards the next location recorded on the jade slip.
There were no evil cultivators or demonic heads, just a hungry diner.
He had to seize the opportunity and gather as many delicacies as possible before the Unity of Dao demons of the Dragon Palace realized what was happening.
...
Fourth Dragon Son Palace.
Delicate jade cups emitted a soft white glow, illuminating the entire grand hall as bright as day.
Even a single piece of decoration here would be a priceless treasure elsewhere.
Everyone knew that a red dragon could never become a dragon king. To keep Fourth Young Master Ke's heart bound to them, the South Dragon Palace had offered him numerous compensations.
For example, they provided him with a luxurious palace far more extravagant than those of the other dragon scions, various heavenly treasures that only dragon offspring could enjoy, and even granted him military power by placing five exceptionally powerful White Jade Capital generals under his command.
With such generous treatment.
The South Dragon Palace had only one demand of Fourth Young Master Ke: to keep watch over the waters near the Seven Sons of Nan Hong and immediately report any news or changes to the Dragon Palace.
As time passed and his cultivation progressed.
He would eventually become a formidable demon comparable to a Unity of Dao cultivator, guarding the South Dragon Palace.
However, at this moment, the palace was empty, save for two figures toasting each other.
The rich aroma of the wine was clearly not that of mortal brew.
On a usual day, these two demons, even the most favored generals under Fourth Young Master Ke, would rarely have the opportunity to taste such fine liquor, let alone drink to their heart's content until they were so intoxicated that their minds became hazy.
The Dragon Palace had very low expectations of Fourth Young Master.
Yet, he had defied even this single demand.
From the moment Fourth Young Master Ke concealed the news of Thirteenth Young Master's death, his fate was sealed... Now, facing the consequences of his actions, he could only bring his family, soldiers, and generals to the Dragon Palace, hoping to appease the Dragon Kings by relinquishing his military power.
"Is there really no hope for us?"
The tall insect demon, his eyes blurry from intoxication, slowly put down his cup, his gaze turning fierce as he said, "What's the point of us guarding these dead things here? If the Dragon Kings refuse to show mercy, our future is bleak, and our lives are at stake."
"Not necessarily." The other demon, though equally drunk, managed to maintain a basic level of rationality.
It shook its head and lowered its voice, "That message came from Seventh Young Master... Seventh Young Master has already perished at the hands of Su Hongxiu of the Celestial Sword Sect... As long as we can shift the blame onto the Seven Sons of Nan Hong, there's still a chance for us."
"Fourth Young Master will definitely try to infuriate the Dragon Kings and pin all the blame on the Seven Sons. When that happens, you and I must kill more, many more. It would be best to take the heads of a thousand Immortal Sect disciples... We might still have a chance then."
"Let's raze South Yang's treasure land to the ground!"
The demon clenched its palm tightly, as if reassuring itself, its rough voice growing firmer, "For now, let's get thoroughly drunk and not think too much. We'll wait for news from Fourth Young Master."
"Get thoroughly drunk..."
The tall insect demon shook its head and looked at the white jade throne in front of the grand hall, smiling foolishly, "I think I'm already drunk."
On the pristine jade throne.
A figure in ink-black robes sat casually, his handsome features illuminated by the soft light. He examined the jade cup in his hand, gently swirling the wine within before carefully placing it back on the table.
Bang.
A faint sound reverberated through the grand hall, like an introduction to the symphony of footsteps that followed.
The other demon stared blankly at the figures entering the hall.
One by one, they stepped inside, their bodies soaked in blood, as if they had just emerged from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. The aura they exuded caused the entire grand hall to tremble.
One... six... twelve... eighteen...
A total of eighteen figures stood silently before the two demons, Wu Jun bowing and reaching out to take the cups from their hands. He carefully handed them to another Townish Stone and whispered, "Put these away safely. These belong to my master, so don't break them."
Before he finished speaking.
Wu Jun's palm had already landed on the insect demon's head, viciously smashing it onto the stone table.
Boom! The table shattered! The impact was so powerful that the entire grand hall seemed to sink slightly.
Wu Jun leaned forward, picked up the insect demon's head, and brought his mouth close to its ear, asking softly, "What was it that you wanted to raze to the ground just now?"
(End of Chapter)
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