Chapter 135: Night Raid

Beyond the valley mouth, over a hundred massive black shadows slowly walked over.

"That's a black-backed water buffalo, why is it so tall?" Fairy Yun Yan, whose eyesight was the best, was the first to recognize the unknown creature outside.

"These are demonized creatures; they overdraw life force to boost their power!" Monk Cheng Xin stepped forward, activated his Dharma Eye, and after a moment said confidently.

Hong Zhi and Fairy Yun Yan exchanged a glance, their faces turning pale as they said, "Could it be the same pill that Qing Lang took? But… Qing Lang wasn't demonized!"

"This… must be something else, but I, the monk, won't mistake it!" Cheng Xin was also a bit uncertain.

"Master, it's definitely a demonized creature! How about it? Today you still slay demons, and I'll film?" Wei Yuning said with a relaxed smile.

With Monk Cheng Xin present, demonized creatures cause little trouble. Wei Yuning is a flesh-body cultivator, a Sun God physique, unafraid of demonic aura affecting mind or body; although he can fight demonic cultivators up close, he has no special techniques against foes, relying only on physical attacks.

Monk Cheng Xin was different; his Buddha Light could not only kill demonic cultivators but also completely dispel demonic aura. Though this batch of demonized creatures was numerous and large, they were ordinary demonized creatures, not Qing Si Mo, making it easier than last time.

"Slaying demons, as you wish! Make today's filming look good." Cheng Xin became excited upon hearing that filming was still planned for today.

As a proper monk, Cheng Xin was destined not to act flamboyantly like others; despite his strikingly handsome looks, he could neither flirt nor seek a Dao companion, leaving him feeling a lingering regret, like a hidden gem walking in night robes.

Being handsome yet unappreciated is the greatest sorrow; because of that, his heart was left only with loneliness, emptiness, and cold.

Every night before sleep, he would lean on a mirror, lamenting his own spirit; the cold moon over the parasol trees and the gentle breeze among willows would make Monk Cheng Xin indulge in self‑pity.

Since filming the "movie" mentioned by Wei Yuning, everything changed. Cheng Xin's video of the great battle against Qing Si Mo had once been shown in the Hundred Flowers Garden, with the audience mainly consisting of female cultivators from the Azure Luan Sect, plus a few of Wei Yuning's friends such as Man Niu, Chang Fei, Qing Fei, and others.

The video was a hit, and Cheng Xin became a nineteenth‑tier star. "Handsome," was the appraisal from the female cultivators—not only his looks but also his techniques were deemed handsome. After hearing these comments, Cheng Xin stayed up three nights, talking three times with his reflection in the mirror. By his own words, he fell in love with himself.

Now, for the second filming, Cheng Xin naturally must give his all.

Hong Zhi was a bit worried and asked, "Should I also go over to assist you?"

Wei Yuning thought for a moment and said, "No need, we have experience dealing with demonized creatures. Senior Uncle can keep watch; the enemy surely has more tricks than this."

Hong Zhi nodded, turned to Fairy Yun Yan and said, "Junior Sister, keep an eye on the camp; I'll move to the rear of the monsters to scout!"

"Alright, everyone keep your hearts in mind!" Fairy Yun Yan said with a solemn expression.

"Should we also go up to help?" Qing Fu said eagerly.

"Qing Mo is a flesh-body cultivator, unafraid of demonic aura; you should still prepare to face any possible enemies behind!" Hong Zhi ordered.

"Alright, let's go!" Cheng Xin put on his miner's hat; the phosphorescent stone lamp blazed brightly, far brighter than before, since the hat had been upgraded, the lamp's brightness increased and its power source became a mid‑grade spirit stone. For better filming, Cheng Xin gave it his all.

Wei Yuning also donned a rugged work hat, raised his recording stone, and said to Cheng Xin, "Let's go, act naturally today, and try to cut fewer shots!"

"Understood!" Cheng Xin made an "OK" hand gesture.

Feng Qi's eyes widened, and he asked, "What are they doing?"

No one answered; those who knew didn't want to, like Hong Zhi.

Shameful!

Neglecting one's duties!

Undisciplined!

Crazy!

The two walked on air, flying toward the approaching monsters.

Outside the valley mouth, as usual, there were three sets of horse‑trap pits, each set about fifteen zhang apart. The pits originally meant for Qing Lang were somewhat unsuitable for demonized black-backed water buffalo over a zhang tall.

First, their speed was very slow, rendering the horse‑trap pits ineffective at hindering a running formation; moreover, the valley soil was soft, and under the massive bodies of the monsters, the pits were quickly flattened.

The first batch of over a hundred huge monsters had already crossed the second neighboring set of pits, only fifteen zhang from the Xi Nation camp; under moonlight, the soldiers saw massive shadows pressing in, causing panic.

If it weren't for trusting the few "immortals" who came with them, they would have long ago dropped weapons and shields and fled.

Wei Yuning also clenched his hand, sweating cold. To capture all these monsters in one net, he had to wait until they were all within the pit range.

There were still about ten monsters outside, but the first one was only three zhang from the final defensive line.

At that moment, a loud roar came from behind as Hong Zhi shouted, "Move quickly!" followed by the crackling sound of shattering impacts.

Wei Yuning sensed the change and swiftly cast the spell he had prepared.

A ring of green light flashed from his body, spreading outward. It was an aura generated by an instant burst of intensely concentrated wood‑type spiritual energy.

Time was tight; Wei Yuning couldn't spare spiritual energy, and a large amount of spirit liquid in the ocean of energy instantly dropped by one‑third.

Immediately, two completely different plants sprouted within the three sets of six horse‑trap pits.

One set of pits contained two pits.

In one pit, a row of pine trees as thick as thighs appeared, about two zhang tall, with almost invisible canopies. This was Wei Yuning's initial specification; reducing canopy size was meant to lower spiritual energy consumption.

Trees of this size could block most collisions, but this wasn't their final form; within three breaths, the pines grew into a massive plant five zhang tall and thick.

Although they looked like a row of thick logs, they were genuine giant pines, their roots digging deep into the earth, turning the area into an impassable trench.

In the other pit row were countless vine plants. The thickest were as thick as arms, the thinnest only finger‑wide; they resembled a swarm of spirit snakes, coiling around anything that approached and slipping into any crevice.

All this occurred amidst electric fire stones; the once majestic huge monster instantly became a wailing prey.

The black-backed water buffalo possessed boundless strength, and after demonization its divine power was astonishing, but once its limbs were entangled, its strength had nowhere to apply.

Fortunately, the dozen or so monsters outside the pit range, following mechanical commands, also collided with the pines and were captured by the vines.

However, between the two sets of pits there remained a blank stretch of over ten zhang, leaving at least half the monsters untrapped, still making futile resistance.

Fairy Yun Yan also flew toward the battlefield, but her target to aid was Hong Zhi.

In the front of the battlefield, Hong Zhi seemed to be locked in a mêlée with the enemy.