Demons cultivate faster than mortals, and their ranks differ: Spirit Gathering, Enlightenment, Body Tempering, Demon Core, Hua Xing, Soul Condensation, Yao General, Demon King, Hua Shen, Great Ascension, and Tribulation.
The Snake Demon Ning Yin killed was at Yao General level, reduced to Hua Xing after taking Realgar Powder, equivalent to a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.
A Liuli Featherfinch darted swiftly from the thick night and landed steadily on Yan Hanzhou’s shoulder, letting out several urgent chirps.
“What is it? What’s it saying?”
Yan Hanzhou’s eyes darkened, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings. “There are demons nearby.”
Ning Yin and Ye Shangqiu tensed instantly, spiritual energy rising as their eyes scanned the shadowy, restless forest.
“Could we be facing Jiuyi Mountain’s Big Boss?”
“Big Boss?”
“The strongest demon,” Ning Yin whispered to Yan Hanzhou. “The protagonist and his group will arrive soon to Jiuyi Mountain for treasure hunting. They’ll end up killing a Big Boss at the Hua Shen stage, gaining great renown!”
No sooner had she spoken than chaos erupted.
The clash of swords, fierce roars of demons, piercing screams and desperate cries shattered the night’s silence. The sounds surged from far to near, turbulent and terrifying.
Not far away, a group of cultivators were frantically surrounded by demons. Outmatched, they fled in panic. Some heavily wounded stumbled and fell, while others were barely clinging to life.
Ning Yin whispered, “Save them?”
Yan Hanzhou and Ye Shangqiu nodded simultaneously. The three prepared to rush out when three brilliant sword auras pierced the darkness like meteors.
Where the sword light struck, demonic energy dispersed. Three purple-robed disciples descended like divine soldiers and instantly cut through the demon horde.
The tide turned in an instant. Sword light flashed everywhere, blood spraying. In moments, the ferocious demons were all slain.
Ning Yin couldn’t help but gasp, “So fast and powerful…”
Ye Shangqiu beamed. “They’re disciples of the Heavenly Evolution Sect. We’re saved!”
“Who’s there? Show yourselves!” The lead disciple’s eyes blazed as he fixed his gaze on Ning Yin and the others’ hiding spot.
The three stepped out of the shadows.
Ye Shangqiu immediately stepped forward and respectfully bowed. “Esteemed Immortal Masters, we are wandering cultivators seeking treasure on Jiuyi Mountain. We lost our way. After nightfall, demons here are numerous and extremely dangerous…” His tone was earnest, and he kept a humble posture.
“Might we accompany you for safety’s sake?”
The Seven Great Sects always took slaying demons and upholding justice as their duty. Helping wandering cultivators trapped on Jiuyi Mountain was common.
Seeing these three were only Foundation Establishment cultivators and in need, the Heavenly Evolution Sect disciples agreed without hesitation.
The ground was littered with demon corpses, injured cultivators groaning in pain.
“What happened tonight? Why are the demons appearing so frequently on Jiuyi Mountain?” The lead disciple asked Ning Yin and the others. “You said you got lost in the mountain? What’s the story?”
Ye Shangqiu explained, “I’m Ye Shangqiu. I’ve been in Xiuxia Town for eight years. Every day I enter the mountain, this route is second nature to me. But today, for some reason, I can’t find the way out. I fear there are demons causing trouble. May I ask your names, Immortal Masters?”
“I am Li Chengge of the Heavenly Evolution Sect. These are my junior brothers, Si Mian and Si Qi.”
“I’ve heard Heavenly Evolution Sect disciples are one in a million cultivation prodigies. Meeting you today confirms the rumors. It’s a great honor to journey with you all. Let me introduce mine: Ning Yin and Yan Hanzhou.”
They nodded slightly, acknowledging one another.
“You said demons are causing trouble. Are you sure you didn’t just take a wrong path?”
Ye Shangqiu patted his chest. “I admit my cultivation is average, but my sense of direction is flawless. If I’ve walked the path before, I won’t mistake it. I guarantee this route is correct.”
Li Chengge frowned deeply.
He knew well the strange occurrences on Jiuyi Mountain tonight. After losing his junior brothers, he couldn’t find a trace of them.
This was obviously the work of demons.
Only a Demon King or above could trap them so stealthily before his Golden Core eyes.
If it really was a Demon King, this trip was likely doomed.
“In that case, rest here for a while. Ye Daoist, since you know the way, come with us to scout ahead.”
“Me?” Ye Shangqiu hesitated, afraid, but faced with Li Chengge’s invitation, he couldn’t refuse and reluctantly agreed, “I will follow your lead!”
The four swiftly disappeared into the thick night ahead.
Yan Hanzhou sat to the side, closed his eyes, and meditated.
His divine sense quietly spread.
Unlike when they first entered Jiuyi Mountain and sensed demons all over the forest, now not a single trace of demonic energy could be found.
The entire Jiuyi Mountain was empty and silent. There was not a hint of demon aura anywhere.
Too much calm before the storm.
He opened his eyes, rare sharpness and gravity flashing in them.
He whispered to Ning Yin, “These demons are not ordinary. No matter what happens, don’t leave my side.”
Facing the deep seriousness in Yan Hanzhou’s eyes, Ning Yin’s heart tightened, nodding solemnly.
At that moment, a flippant voice filled with malice sounded from behind, “Oh, what a coincidence, this elegant and refined immortal maiden, we meet again.”
Ning Yin turned to see a pale young man smiling slyly at her. He was one of the cultivators previously attacked by demons. Luckily for him, besides some blood stains on his clothes, he bore no wounds.
“Oh, you’re the lame young master from Luo Shu Manor? How come you’re trapped in Jiuyi Mountain too?”
“Why do you always have conflicts with me, immortal maiden? There are demons in Jiuyi Mountain and life is at risk. If you’re afraid, come with me. I promise to protect you!”
“You? Protect me?” Ning Yin smiled. “You’d better protect yourself first. I saw clearly from the shadows just now—you’re alive only because your attendant protected you with his life. Otherwise, with your cultivation, how could you have survived?”
Whether the words struck a nerve, Luo Qingshan’s usual calm face immediately twisted pale and grim. He spun around crazily, venting all his rage on a curled-up figure behind him.
“Useless! It’s all your fault. If you could handle even small matters, I wouldn’t be trapped here!” With venomous curses, Luo Qingshan kicked the burly man’s abdomen hard, then stomped heavily on his back.
The dull sounds mixed with the crackling of bones were sharp and painful.
The burly man was gravely injured, his clothes soaked in dark red blood.
He curled on the ground, arms tightly shielding his head, silently enduring Luo Qingshan’s attacks.
Ning Yin’s fury boiled over. She shouted, “Enough! Everyone here can barely survive, not even sure if they’ll make it out alive. Why do you accept his abuse without fighting back?”
“Fight back? Does he dare?” Luo Qingshan sneered, delivering two more brutal kicks.
“Mo Dashan, you dare? If something happens to me in this mountain, you won’t live either! Understand?!”
Mo Dashan? Ning Yin hesitated, looking at the tall, silent man stained with blood and dirt. “Mo Dashan? You’re Mo Dashan? The Mo Dashan from Mo Village with younger siblings at home?”
Hearing Ning Yin’s words, Mo Dashan slowly raised his head. His face was covered in blood and mud, making his features almost unrecognizable. But his eyes shone brightly in the thick night.
Yan Hanzhou asked, “Who is he?”
Ning Yin’s expression was complicated. “Our leader.”
“Leader?”
Ning Yin whispered, “More precisely, he’ll be the superior of ‘Ning Yin’ and ‘Yan Hanzhou’ after they defect from Soaring Cloud Sect and join the Tuxian Tomb. He’s also one of the major antagonists the main group will fight later. We never expected to encounter him so early.”
“Do you know how strong his talent was? He broke the Spirit Root Testing Stone at Soaring Cloud Sect. Unfortunately, no one noticed and he was cast out as a Waste Spiritual Root cultivator. If he had stayed, his cultivation path would have been smoother than the male lead Si Heyu’s. Such a waste—a talented person ending with a broken family and no way out, forced into the demon cave of Tuxian Tomb and fully fallen into the Demon Dao. The one responsible for this tragedy is Luo Qingshan.”
“BJ…”
“Do you know how terrifying it is to break a Spirit Root Testing Stone? Throughout history, only two have done it—him and the Lingxiao Immortal Lord from a thousand years ago.”
“Enough, I get it. Don’t say more.” Yan Hanzhou interrupted. “So what’s your plan?”
“Help those in need. Such talent cannot be buried. What do you think?”
Yan Hanzhou scanned the injured around before fixing his gaze on Luo Qingshan. “Kill him?”
“No. Mo Dashan is blindly loyal. Killing Luo Qingshan will only make things worse,” she paused. “I have a plan.”
Luo Qingshan, drunk on sadistic pleasure, sneered and lifted his foot to kick again, when suddenly a fierce aura wrapped in chilling coldness burst toward him without warning.
Luo Qingshan’s hair stood on end. He hastily turned around, crossing his arms to defend.
“Crack—”
The terrifying sound of bone breaking echoed. He didn’t even have time to scream. He collapsed forward, spitting a mouthful of blood, unable to move.
Ning Yin calmly crouched beside him and gently patted his twitching shoulder in pain. She whispered, “Young Master, don’t you always need someone to carry you? If so, forget it. You won’t need this anymore.”
Under intense pain, Luo Qingshan’s vision blurred. His eyes glared fiercely at Ning Yin, but the next moment his head drooped, and he fainted.
She slowly stood and looked at the tall figure curled nearby, silent as a mountain. “Get up. From now on, he can never hit you again.”