Chapter 554: The First Battle in Western Hong

Chapter 554: The First Battle in Western Hong

Shen Yi sat cross-legged atop the withered island.

In the past, when nurturing the stabilizing stone, he relied on his own foundation. Now, after achieving Fusion Dao, he could use the cosmic energy from the entire Nanyang Treasury to heal the injuries of several branch pavilion masters, increasing the efficiency of the process exponentially.

In just over a dozen days, even though An Yi had the highest cultivation, the cracks on her stone body were mostly healed.

Shen Yi did not become complacent just because of his breakthrough in cultivation.

Western Hong was not like the south; aside from being inherently dangerous, the Eastern and Northern Hong factions also meddled, making it chaotic and unrecognizable.

For now, he had to continue hiding his identity and keeping a low profile.

It was more convenient for the branch pavilion masters to handle many matters instead of doing them personally.

After breaking through to Fusion Dao, Shen Yi also gained a clearer understanding of the branch pavilion masters' strengths.

Let's skip over Wu Jun and Yu Lan, the two from White Jade Capital, for now.

For cultivators, each Dao Armament they could control increased their mastery over the Fusion Dao Treasury by a level. The process of consecutively controlling four Dao Armaments was the path from the initial stage of the Earth Realm to its perfection.

Ke Shi San had barely crossed the threshold, and even then, he was not as proficient as those at the initial stage of the Earth Realm... The previous leader of the Ten Thousand Phenomena Pavilion, was probably at the lower limit of the initial stage of the Earth Realm, and within the pavilion, Ke Shi San was clearly no match for him.

Yue Tianji's brothers had much purer bloodlines, and both were top-tier great demons under Fusion Dao.

Now, transformed into stabilizing stones, they had already reached the middle stage of the Earth Realm, slightly inferior to An Yi, but the gap was not significant. With the advantage of the Maleficent Unicorn's divine abilities, if the two of them fought, their chances of victory would likely be higher.

The little tiger demon, as the highest-cultivated among the branch pavilion masters, was probably not far from the late stage of the Earth Realm.

It was known that in all of Hong Ze, there were very few who could control four Dao Armaments, and most successors of the various sects only had three.

Therefore, the late stage of the Earth Realm was, in fact, the upper limit for most cultivators in the Fusion Dao Realm.

But Shen Yi had not forgotten the initial confrontation between An Yi and the Frost Tiger Clan Leader. That ferocious tiger clan leader, aside from being mentally shaken at the start and suffering a sneak attack, almost shattered An Yi's stone body with a single palm when he regained his senses.

To be honest, the reason Shen Yi managed to escape that day was mainly because the clan leader was reluctant to kill the little tiger demon. From the very beginning, he hesitated, his thoughts wavering, and in the end, he forcefully retracted his palm strike. Additionally, his lack of understanding of the Ten Thousand Demons Hall played a role.

These great demons were at least at the perfection of the Earth Realm, if not higher.

Shen Yi was not one to underestimate himself. With five Dao Armaments under his control, he was the only one in Hong Ze to achieve this. His cultivation was beyond the perfection of the Earth Realm, and in terms of realm alone, as long as his opponent was not in the Heaven Realm, no one could surpass him.

But cultivation was just cultivation; when it came to realms, one had to rely on their means.

Shen Yi had no Dao Law to use, and the only Fusion Dao treasure he could rely on was the golden bracelet he obtained from the Moonlight Frost Tiger.

With just two Mountain Techniques and five Dao Armaments, his foundation was not particularly robust.

How dare he claim to be a sure victor against these great demons?

"Huff."

Shen Yi adjusted his breathing. The stabilizing stones of the four branch pavilion masters were almost fully repaired, and the rest would heal on their own.

He opened his eyes and stood up, gazing towards the direction of the Mountain Moving Sect.

Just then, Shen Yi's black robe fluttered slightly, and a trace of an unknown, chilling killing intent was carried by the damp wind, brushing against his temples.

"Sit back down."

A voice devoid of any emotion commanded.

The clouds in the sky churned, revealing a dozen or so figures standing with their hands hanging by their sides. They all had tiger heads and human bodies, and judging by their auras, they were all high-ranking individuals with exceptional status within their clans.

At the forefront were two aged tiger demons, one in a black robe and the other in a white shirt, looking like the grim reaper itself.

The previous words came from the black-robed tiger demon.

"Before that headstrong green phoenix arrives, you mustn't go anywhere." The white-robed tiger demon shook his head, extending his tiger claw towards the ground below, his expression cold, "Or perhaps, you can admit to the crimes you've committed and call upon An Yi. Maybe then, you'll be able to keep your body intact."

It was common knowledge that the Moonlight Frost Tiger Clan held such high status in Western Hong because there were three great demons within the clan, all comparable to the Fusion Dao Realm.

"Don't try to argue; the clan leader has already uncovered your identity."

The white-robed tiger demon shook his head, and his tiger palm suddenly pressed down, intending to re-suppress the black-robed youth. His eyes flashed, a murderous intent lifting the corners of his lips, and his voice carried a chill, "A guest from the Southern Flood Seven Sons."

These southern barbarians wanted to enter Western Hong and were trying to step on a stone to gain a foothold.

But they had clearly stepped on the wrong stone.

The Moonlight Frost Tiger Clan held a position in Western Hong that even allowed them to participate in the Dragon Palace's selection of the crown prince. Even the Jade Mountain Dragon Consort sought to curry favor with them; they were a proper great demon power!

The south had overreached, and they might just lose a finger for their trouble.

……"

As the words left his mouth, the white-robed tiger demon's raised lips suddenly drooped, and the palm that could move mountains and seas abruptly froze mid-air.

Shen Yi stood silently, gazing into the distance, but he couldn't find any trace of the Frost Tiger Clan Leader. After hearing the words of the Southern Flood Seven Sons, he turned his gaze back to the clouds.

In an instant, the demonic power that could destroy the entire withered island suddenly dissipated without a trace in front of the island.

Not only was it impossible to suppress and contain him again, but even approaching him was unthinkable.

On the contrary, under Shen Yi's casual glance, the numerous tiger demons in the clouds felt their hearts suddenly riot, as if about to explode within their bodies! Only the two old demons in the front managed to maintain their composure.

These were two late-stage Fusion Dao Great Demons.

If Shen Yi had returned to the Nanyang Treasury before this, these two might have been able to crush him with a single finger.

But now...

Under the watchful eyes of the two old demons, Shen Yi also raised his palm, mimicking the same motion, and slowly pressed downward.

"You!"

Although the white-robed tiger demon sensed something amiss, seeing the youth's actions at this moment, it was clearly mocking his previous carelessness. He couldn't help but feel his anger surge, and he scolded, "How dare you!"

Before he could finish his words, his body suddenly hunched, his legs trembled, his shoulders rose high, and his muscles tensed to the point of shaking, as if bearing an unimaginable heavy burden!

The rest of his words were forcibly suppressed, and his facial features contorted in an instant.

Even this late-stage Fusion Dao Great Demon struggled, let alone the White Jade Capital tiger demons behind him. They didn't even have a chance to react, and their robust bodies instantly collapsed and shattered.

Crack! Crack!

As Shen Yi's palm pressed down, the black-robed tiger demon and the white-robed tiger demon simultaneously fell towards the ground,

Bang! Bang! Both of them knelt down without any resistance, kneeling before the tall, slender figure.

They struggled to lift their heads, their faces contorted, staring at the pale palm, the red blood talisman between the fingers, reflecting in their pupils, turning them red.

The tiger demon opened its mouth, saliva dripping from the corner of its lips, its breathing heavy, to the point where its voice was tearing.

"..."

Shen Yi calmly watched as the shoulder bones of the two demons cracked, and then the cracks spread across their bodies. With the vast spiritual energy of the Nanyang Treasury, the Mountain Stabilizing Technique finally demonstrated the effect it should have at the late-stage Fusion Dao realm.

This wasn't a battle; with such a huge gap in cultivation, it was a silent slaughter.

"Stand up!"

The black-robed tiger demon mustered all its strength and finally let out a roar. However, in the midst of this roar, its two knees completely exploded.

The white-robed tiger demon was already completely prostrated on the ground, and it could even hear the sound of its spine breaking. Its body was soaked in sweat, and it weakly cried for help, "Clan Leader... Clan Leader..."

"Then stand up."

A familiar voice suddenly echoed in the minds of the two tiger demons.

The next moment, the white-robed tiger demon felt the power within its body being swiftly drawn out, and then despair surged in its eyes. The clan leader had already chosen the successor... Unfortunately, it wasn't him.

Although it could barely resist the mysterious gravity before, in the instant this change occurred, its limbs and bones suddenly shattered, and its entire body collapsed limply on the ground. Then, the invisible mountain completely crushed it into mincemeat.

At the same time...

"Roar!"

The black-robed tiger demon's mouth was wide open, its fangs protruding from its lips, and its eyes were almost popping out of their sockets.

Its body, drenched in sweat and blood, looked extremely disheveled.

But its body moved upward for the first time, and the blood on its shattered knees was still warm. Its injuries had already healed.

The black-robed tiger demon trembled like a sieve, and its aura surged like bamboo shoots. It stared intently at Shen Yi's handsome face and slowly stood up from the ground.

Its tall figure towered over the youth, looking down at him. Even under the Mountain Stabilizing Technique, it couldn't move half a step, but the ferocity on its face intensified.

Late-stage Earth Realm, Perfected Earth Realm... Its aura continued to rise! The black-robed tiger demon knew that it would soon be its turn to take action.

Therefore, it finally let out a sinister laugh, turning its previous frustration and lingering fear into a hoarse roar, unleashing it towards Shen Yi!

"Roar!"

Everything around them rippled, transforming into a sinister tiger-shaped phantom. With the same move, An Yi had once used it against the Elder of the Ten Thousand Phenomena Pavilion, and even with the elder sacrificing numerous lives, she still decisively defeated him.

And An Yi's strength was obviously inferior to the black-robed tiger demon before her.

At such close range, facing a direct soul attack, other cultivators, even those with higher cultivation, would still feel some apprehension.

Shen Yi's expression remained unchanged, but a Yin-Yang Jade Pendant silently appeared at her waist.

After the Dao Armament entered the treasure land, these five Dao Armaments no longer needed to be retrieved from the Immortal City. Moreover, as Dao Armaments that had become treasure-stabilizing objects, they were also empowered by the Nanyang Treasury.

The jade pendant swayed slightly.

In the next instant, on the gigantic ferocious tiger shadow, a terrifying tiger claw suddenly appeared, fiercely swinging out and carrying a mighty force, it tore the shadow apart!

"This is..."

Sensing the familiar aura, the black-robed tiger demon was momentarily stunned. Before it could comprehend the situation, the tiger demon suddenly felt the restraints on its body disappear.

The terrifying mountain finally left its shoulders.

As the black-robed tiger demon felt its entire body rejuvenated, a vague sense of unease emerged in its heart. Where had the mountain gone?

The next moment, it found its answer.

Shen Yi's slender fingers clenched into a fist and fiercely struck the side of the black-robed tiger demon's face.

Puchi—

The Divine Mountain essence, concentrated in the fist, unleashed its indescribable might upon the demon's body, comparable to a Fusion Dao Realm.

The black-robed tiger demon's head exploded, and its entire body burst into pieces, scattering across the water's surface, creating two towering waves!

"..."

Shen Yi stared at its figure, knowing that the Mountain Stabilizing Technique would not kill this tiger demon immediately. He was unsure of the other party's exact cultivation level.

If it broke through again, it would be almost on par with his own.

At the same cultivation level, the outcome would be hard to predict.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi casually waved his hand. Although the Divine Mountain Technique was powerful, his body was only empowered by the Immortal Sword Body of Divine Phoenix, and a single move of the White Jade Capital Body Tempering Technique was naturally no match for the demon's body in the Fusion Dao Realm... It hurt quite a bit.

In an instant, the black-robed youth's robe fluttered.

Shen Yi took a bold step forward, clenching his fingers again. A golden-patterned black blade had appeared in his palm.

His figure vanished from its original spot and reappeared beside the tiger demon.

A streak of Mystic Golden Light pierced through the heavens and earth, piercing the black-robed tiger demon's remaining eye. It forcibly stabilized its body, ignoring the excruciating pain, its sole thought was to grasp the youth's wrist and block the incoming streak of light.

Facing the sharp tiger claws.

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow and suddenly unleashed another punch, meeting claw with fist. The Divine Mountain True Intention shattered the tiger demon's arms with overwhelming force.

The True Intention flowed into the golden-patterned black blade.

The Mystic Golden Light, sharp enough to pierce the sky, suddenly became heavy, as if it could sever the entire landscape!

"It's you!"

Seeing the familiar streak of light, the black-robed tiger demon finally remembered something. This youth had not only slaughtered eighteen of its Frost Tiger Clan's tomb-guarding elders but had also offended the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect!

Zila.

The Mystic Golden Light vanished in an instant. Before the black-robed tiger demon could feel the pain, it watched helplessly as its half-body fell towards the water below.

The black blade suddenly pierced its still-vibrant heart, sending a wisp of Divine Mountain True Intention into it.

Even a Fusion Dao Realm demon's internal organs couldn't withstand the power of a Divine Mountain.

The tiger demon felt its strength drain away, and with its last bit of energy, it looked forward, only to see that the black-robed youth had already turned his gaze towards the horizon, not even sparing it a second glance.

"..."

In the instant when the half-body was about to fall into the water.

Shen Yi drew out the long blade, splattering blood. He finally retracted his gaze and collected the tiger demon's head into his finger ring.

The Moonlit Frost Tiger Clan had sent such a large force, yet their clan leader wasn't here?

Shen Yi was unsure where things had gone wrong, allowing these tigers to guess his identity. If he couldn't annihilate them all, he wouldn't feel at ease.

He returned the golden-patterned long blade to the Nanyang Treasury.

Shen Yi shook his head. Judging from the recent battle with these tiger demons, he realized he might have misunderstood something.

In the waters of Western Hong, it seemed that having no foundation or means was the norm. His Divine Mountain Stabilizing Technique was already considered an excellent cultivation method.

It was worth noting that he still had three Dao Armaments he hadn't used.

If he included these items, even if the tiger demon had truly broken through to the same level as him, Shen Yi believed his chances of victory were still high.

Of course, he had offended more than just the demons of Western Hong.

Not to mention the group of dragon sons beneath the water, who were undoubtedly of a different caliber from these tiger demons.

He needed to quickly obtain the final technique of Nameless Mountain.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end