Chapter 554: The First Battle Returning to West Hong
Chapter 554: The First Battle Returning to West Hong
Shen Yi sat cross-legged atop a desolate island.
In the past, he had nurtured the town stone with his own foundation. Now that he had reached the Unity realm, he could use the entire Nan Yang treasure land to heal the injuries of the division hall masters, and the process was countless times more efficient.
In just over ten days, even An Yi, who had the highest cultivation, had her stone body mostly healed.
Shen Yi did not become complacent just because he had broken through to a new realm.
West Hong was not as safe as the south. Besides being extremely dangerous in itself, the influences of East Hong and North Hong added to the chaos.
He still needed to maintain a low profile for the time being.
It was much more convenient to have the division hall masters handle many matters instead of doing everything personally.
After breaking through to the Unity realm, Shen Yi also gained a clearer understanding of the strengths of the division hall masters.
Among them, Wu Jun and Yu Lan, the two from White Jade Capital, were temporarily set aside.
For cultivators, subduing each dao weapon deepened their control over the Unity treasure land. The process of subduing four dao weapons consecutively was the path from the initial stage of the Earth Realm to its perfection.
Ke Thirteen had barely crossed the threshold and was even inferior to the early stages of the Earth Realm... Because the master of the Wanxiang Pavilion back then was likely at the lower bounds of the early Earth Realm, and within the Wanxiang Pavilion, Ke Thirteen was no match for him.
Yue Tianji and his brother possessed much purer bloodlines, and both of them were top-notch great demons in the Unity realm.
Now that they had transformed into town stones, they had already stepped into the middle stage of the Earth Realm, slightly inferior to An Yi, but the gap was not significant. With Huo Lin's divine ability, if the two of them fought, their chances of winning would likely be higher.
As the division hall master with the highest cultivation, the little tiger demon was probably not far from the late Earth Realm.
It is worth noting that those who could sacrifice four weapons were rare in all of Hong Ze, and most sect successors typically mastered three dao weapons.
Therefore, the late Earth Realm was the upper limit for most Unity cultivators.
But Shen Yi had not forgotten how An Yi and the Frost Tiger Clan Chief had fought. That fierce tiger clan chief, aside from his initial mental agitation and the injury from a sneak attack, had almost shattered An Yi's stone body with a single palm once he regained his senses.
To be honest, the reason they had escaped that day was mostly because the clan chief didn't want to kill the little tiger demon. He had hesitated from the start, his mind was unstable, and in the end, he even held back his strength, plus he didn't understand the Myriad Demon Hall.
Such a great demon was at least at the perfection of the Earth Realm... or even beyond.
Shen Yi was not one to belittle himself. With five dao weapons subdued, he was the only one in Hong Ze, and his cultivation surpassed the perfection of the Earth Realm. In terms of realm alone, as long as his opponent was not at the Heaven Realm, no one could surpass him.
But cultivation was just one aspect. When one's realm was insufficient to crush their opponent, they could only rely on their methods.
Shen Yi had no dao techniques, and the only Unity realm treasure of great use was that golden bracelet taken from the Frost Tiger Clan.
With only two styles of the Mountain Technique and five dao weapons, his foundation could not be considered thick.
How could he dare claim that he would definitely defeat these great demons?
"Hu."
Shen Yi adjusted his breathing. The town stones of the four division hall masters had mostly been repaired, and the rest was up to them to heal.
He opened his eyes and stood up, gazing toward Moving Mountain Sect.
Just at that moment, the hem of Shen Yi's ink-colored robe fluttered slightly, and a faint trace of killing intent, carried by the wind, ruffled his hair.
"Sit down."
A command devoid of any emotion sounded out.
The clouds in the sky surged, revealing a series of figures standing with their hands at their sides. They all had tiger heads and human bodies, numbering over ten. Judging from their auras, they were high-ranking members of their race, evidently holding significant positions within their clan.
At the forefront were two elderly tiger demons, one clad in a black robe and the other in a white shirt, their faces grim.
The previous words had come from the black-robed tiger demon.
"Before that Liuli Qingfeng arrives, you are not to go anywhere." The white-shirted tiger demon shook his head and extended his tiger claw downward, his expression cold. "Or, you can admit to your sins and choose to call An Yi here. Perhaps then, you may be able to keep your corpse intact."
It was common knowledge that the Frost Tiger Clan held such a high status in West Hong because they had three great demons within their clan, all comparable to Unity cultivators.
"Don't try to wriggle out of this. The clan chief has already identified you."
The white-shirted tiger demon shook his head, and his tiger palm abruptly pressed downward, intending to suppress the youth in ink-colored robes once more. A murderous intent lifted the corners of his lips, and his voice carried a chilling intent: "A guest from the Seven Sons of South Hong, no less."
These southern barbarians wanted to enter West Hong and were trying to find a stepping stone.
But they had clearly chosen the wrong person.
The Frost Tiger Clan had the qualifications to participate in the Dragon Palace's selection of the crown prince in this area. Even the Jade Mountain Dragon Consort had to curry favor with them. They were a force to be reckoned with!
The South had overreached, and they would likely lose more than they had bargained for.
"...Audacity!"
Before it could finish its sentence, the corners of its lips, which had just curled up in a snarl, suddenly froze, and the palm that could move mountains and seas abruptly stiffened in mid-air.
Shen Yi stood silently, his eyes scanning the distant horizon, but he could not detect any trace of the Frost Tiger Clan Chief. After hearing Nan Hong's warning, he turned his gaze back towards the clouds.
The demonic power that could annihilate the entire desolate island in an instant inexplicably dissipated before reaching its target.
Not only were they unable to suppress him a second time, but they couldn't even approach without suffering consequences.
On the contrary, under Shen Yi's calm and indifferent glance, the numerous tiger demons hiding within the clouds felt their hearts riot and convulse as if they were about to burst from their chests.
Only the two older, more powerful demons at the forefront were able to maintain their composure, their eyes narrowed in suspicion.
They were both great demons at the late Union with the Dao stage, an almost unimaginable level of power.
If this encounter had taken place before Shen Yi returned to Nanyang Baodi, these two would likely have been able to crush him with a mere flick of their fingers.
But now...
As the two elder demons watched with growing confusion, Shen Yi also raised his palm, mirroring their earlier actions, and slowly pushed it downwards.
"You dare!"
The white-robed tiger demon, one of the elders, sensed something amiss. But seeing the youth's mocking gesture, seemingly ridiculing its previous carelessness, it couldn't control the anger surging within its heart. With a snarl, it prepared to teach this insolent youth a lesson.
Before it could finish its threat, however, its body suddenly stooped, its legs trembling violently as if burdened by a mountain, its shoulders rising and falling with exertion, and its muscles tensing to the point of shaking.
The rest of its words were stuck in its throat as its face contorted in agony.
Even this tiger demon, comparable to a late Union with the Dao stage expert, was struggling with all its might, let alone the group of White Jade Capital Tiger Demons following it. They didn't even have a chance to react before their robust bodies crumbled and shattered.
Crack! Crack!
As Shen Yi's palm continued its slow and relentless descent, the Black-Robed Tiger Demon and the White-Robed Tiger Demon simultaneously fell toward the ground with a thunderous boom.
Boom! Boom!
The two elders knelt powerless on the ground, their knees touching the earth before the tall and slender figure.
With great effort, they struggled to lift their heads, their faces twisted in pain as they stared at the pale palm, the crimson blood talisman between the fingers reflecting in their widened eyes, tinting their vision with a reddish hue.
The tiger demons panted, saliva dripping from the corners of their mouths, their breathing heavy and labored.
"...You..."
Shen Yi calmly watched as the shoulder bones of the two demons cracked under the pressure, the fissures quickly spreading across their bodies. With the vast spiritual energy of Nanyang Baodi empowering him, the Suppressing Mountain Technique finally exerted its full effect, crushing them beneath its weight.
This wasn't a battle of spells and incantations but a silent slaughter due to the immense gap in their cultivation.
"Stand."
The Black-Robed Tiger Demon, its voice filled with pain and rage, gathered its remaining strength and roared. However, with this final act of defiance, its kneecaps completely disintegrated.
The White-Robed Tiger Demon was already prostrate on the ground, its spine shattered. Drenched in sweat, it weakly called out for its Clan Chief, its voice laced with despair.
"Then stand."
A familiar voice, carrying an air of authority, suddenly sounded in the minds of the two tiger demons.
In an instant, the White-Robed Tiger Demon felt the strength within its body being swiftly and mercilessly extracted. Despair filled its eyes as it realized the Clan Chief had chosen its successor...and it was not the chosen one.
Although it had barely withstood the mysterious gravitational force until now, its limbs and bones suddenly shattered, and its entire body collapsed powerless to the ground, only to be crushed into a bloody pulp by the invisible mountain pressing down upon it.
At the same time,
"Roar!"
The Black-Robed Tiger Demon's mouth, filled with blood and saliva, stretched to an unnatural arc, its fangs bared in a defiant snarl, and its eyes bulging from their sockets.
Its sweat-soaked and bloodstained appearance was a pitiful sight.
However, defying all expectations, its body rose by an inch, shaking off the oppressive force, if only for a moment.
The wounds on its shattered kneecaps had already sealed, the blood flow stopping.
The Black-Robed Tiger Demon's body trembled uncontrollably, but its aura surged like a bamboo shoot after a rainstorm. Its eyes fixed on Shen Yi's face, and with a herculean effort, it slowly stood, towering over the youth.
Even under the Suppressing Mountain Technique's influence, it remained standing, though it couldn't move a muscle. The ferocity in its eyes intensified as it glared down at Shen Yi.
Late Earth Realm, Perfected Earth Realm... Its aura continued to rise, a display of its indomitable will.
The Black-Robed Tiger Demon knew that soon, it would have to make its move.
Mustering its remaining strength, it let out a sinister laugh, turning its initial fear into a hoarse battle cry, directing all its rage and frustration towards Shen Yi.
"Roar!"
The surroundings began to distort and fluctuate, taking the form of fierce tiger-shaped shadows. It was the same technique An Yi had used against the Elder of Wanxiang Pavilion, a battle that ended swiftly and decisively, despite the Elder's attempts to turn the tide.
And An Yi's strength was clearly no match for the black-robed tiger demon before him.
At such close range, if another cultivator were to endure a soul attack head-on, they would be wary, even if their cultivation surpassed the attacker's.
Shen Yi's expression remained calm, but a Yin-Yang Jade Pendant suddenly appeared at his waist.
After bestowing the treasure upon the soldiers, these five Daoist warriors no longer needed to be retrieved from the Immortal City. Moreover, as warriors who had conquered the town, they were also blessed by the Nanyang Precious Land!
The jade pendant swayed slightly.
Immediately after, atop the huge ferocious tiger shadow, an equally terrifying tiger claw appeared and savagely swung out, carrying a mighty force that viciously tore at the air.
"This is..."
Sensing the familiar aura, the black-robed tiger demon was taken aback. Before it could understand what was happening, it realized that the restraints on its body had suddenly vanished.
The oppressive mountain had finally lifted from its shoulders.
As the black-robed tiger demon felt its entire body rejuvenated, a faint sense of unease crept into its heart. What had happened to that mountain?
The next moment, it received its answer.
Shen Yi's slender fingers curled into a fist and viciously slammed into the side of the black-robed tiger demon's face.
Puchi—
The power of Shen Peak was unleashed from the fist, and the immense force was completely unleashed upon this tiger demon's body, which was comparable to the Merged Dao Realm.
Half of the black-robed tiger demon's head suddenly exploded, and its body shot out like a withered island, landing on the water's surface and creating two towering walls of waves!
"..."
Shen Yi stared at its silhouette, knowing that the Suppressing Peak technique wouldn't be enough to kill this tiger demon instantly. He wondered just how high this opponent's realm could reach.
If it managed to break through again, they would truly be evenly matched.
At the same realm, predicting victory or defeat was difficult.
Thinking of this, Shen Yi casually shook his hand. Although the Shen Peak technique was powerful, his physical body, enhanced by the God Phoenix Immortal Sword Body, still felt the impact from the clash with the great demon in the Merged Dao Realm... It truly hurt.
In the blink of an eye, the black-robed figure moved.
Shen Yi took a step forward, his fingers curling once more to grasp the hilt of the Golden-Patterned Black Blade that appeared in his palm.
His figure vanished from its original spot and reappeared beside the tiger demon.
A streak of golden light that pierced the heavens stabbed at the black-robed tiger demon's remaining eye. It forcibly stabilized its body, ignoring the pain, its only thought to grab the opponent's wrist and block the deadly strike.
Facing the sharp tiger claws,
Shen Yi raised an eyebrow and suddenly threw another punch, meeting claw with fist. The true intent of Shen Peak shattered the tiger demon's arms with overwhelming force.
Immediately, this true intent flowed along its body and into the Golden-Patterned Black Blade.
The sharp golden light that pierced the heavens suddenly became heavier, as if it could sever the very mountains and rivers!
"It's you!"
The black-robed tiger demon saw this familiar light and finally remembered. This person had not only slaughtered eighteen of their Frost Tiger Clan's tomb guardians but had also offended the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect!
Chi-la.
The golden light flashed, and before the black-robed tiger demon could feel pain, it watched helplessly as its upper body fell.
The black blade stabbed into its still-beating heart, injecting a wisp of the true intent of Shen Peak.
Even for a great demon in the Merged Dao Realm, how could its organs withstand the might of a divine peak?
The tiger demon felt its strength fading, and with its last bit of energy, it looked up, only to see the youth in black already gazing into the distant sky, paying it no heed.
"..."
As the upper body plunged into the water,
Shen Yi withdrew his long blade, crimson droplets splattering. He finally retracted his gaze and stored the tiger demon's remains within his ring.
The Frost Tiger Clan had sent such a large group, yet their clan leader was not among them?
Shen Yi couldn't understand where things had gone wrong, allowing these tigers to guess his identity. If he couldn't eliminate them all, it would indeed be troublesome.
Returning the Golden-Patterned Black Blade to the Nanyang Treasure Land,
Shen Yi shook his head. From his encounters with these tiger demons, he realized he might have misjudged something.
In the western floodwaters, it seemed that lacking background and resources was the norm, and his Shen Peak technique was already considered quite formidable.
After all, he still had three Daoist warriors he hadn't utilized yet.
If he took those into account, even if this tiger demon had truly reached the same level as him, Shen Yi believed his chances of victory were still high.
Of course, the beings he had offended were not limited to the demon clan in the western floodwaters.
Aside from them, the group of dragon sons underwater was definitely not to be underestimated compared to these tiger demons.
He had to obtain the final technique of Wuming Mountain as soon as possible.
(End of Chapter)
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