Chapter 129: Imprisoning Demons Within the Body

【In the one hundred and twenty-sixth year, accompanied by a mournful tiger's roar, you quietly set aside your will to die, feeling the power within your body grow ever more harmonious, and you began to attempt your third metamorphosis】

Because the demonic power was stronger, wiping out the Mountain Lord's consciousness took longer than last time.

Shen Yi, however, did not feel the slightest pang of heartache.

This battle with the Toad Demon gave him a genuine taste of how formidable the divine abilities of demons and devils were—those innate powers were in no way inferior to the powerful martial arts of the human race.

In that endless deep pool, he could stroll about as if in an empty courtyard, and it even made him feel more at ease than standing outside.

This was something an ordinary martial artist could hardly imagine.

With these abilities, only then could he descend into the sea to capture dragons, climb the heavens to snare eagles, and obtain more demon lifespans; whatever price he paid for it would be worth it.

【In the one hundred and twenty-seventh year, you swallowed the Toad Elixir. Compared with the previous gentle taming, with two prior experiences your technique grew increasingly rough. Under the guidance of your vitality force, the Toad Lord's demonic power felt both fear and a trace of pleasure, and the efficiency of progress increased】

As the Toad Elixir was digested, the remaining demon lifespan began to dwindle at an extremely terrifying speed.

An inner elixir approaching perfection likewise swiftly merged into Shen Yi's limbs and bones.

【The seven hundred and twentieth year……】

【The one thousand three hundredth year……】

【In the one thousand nine hundred and seventy-second year, an absolute fiend-demon awakened within your body, and was coldly suppressed by you within your flesh】

【You are the Toad Immortal, born of heaven and earth, at home in the utmost cold, accumulating the poison of a hundred lifetimes within your body, roaming the eight directions; there is nothing in the world you cannot swallow, and all living creatures fear your strange venom and dare not approach】

【Immortal-Demon Nine Metamorphoses: Minor Completion】

A low, long-drawn-out toad-croak echoed through his mind.

Shen Yi slowly raised his palm; his slender five fingers twitched in faint spasms. He pressed his lips in silence, his expression turns solemn, until at last he clenched his five fingers completely shut.

He let out a sudden long breath, and at last a hint of joy appeared on his handsome face.

He had originally thought that the Minor Completion of the Immortal-Demon Nine Metamorphoses would at most let him reach a level comparable to the Elixir Formation Realm, but he did not know whether it was because the Toad Demon's inner elixir was too strong, or because the Immortal-Demon Nine Metamorphoses was too wondrous.

The power surging through his palm at this moment could utterly crush an Elixir Formation Realm demon.

"At this rate, won't I crush a Nascent Core perfection cultivator at the Great Completion stage? And once all nine metamorphoses are complete, will a single palm strike not leave an Embracing Elixir Realm cultivator unable to move?"

A single Nascent Core body-tempering art—if it could truly achieve this kind of cross-realm suppression…

Only at this moment did he suddenly understand the meaning of the word "rare" after Immortal-Demon Nine Metamorphoses.

The figure of Chen Qiankun surfaced in Shen Yi's mind. That unstoppable halberd-thrust back then—no longer seemed so terrifying when he thought of it now.

Nearly a month and a half had passed, and he had finally gained the confidence to survive beneath that single strike.

One had to remember this was purely physical strength. If he added the Heavenly Demon Outer Elixir on top, even if a Nascent Core perfection Mountain Lord came, Shen Yi would have to let the other party taste what a body-tempering martial artist's bearing truly meant.

Thinking of the Heavenly Demon Outer Elixir.

Shen Yi reached out and took it out; the battle with the Toad Lord had consumed roughly another fifteen percent of its reserves.

He used the remaining Tiger Elixir from before to top it back up to fifty percent, then stored it all away.

He looked at the panel.

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: 484 years】

If there were new demons to capture, naturally the priority was to raise the Immortal-Demon Nine Metamorphoses. In the absence of such, any surplus lifespan should be used to consider deducing the Wind-Thunder Molten Sun Treasure Canon a bit, and connecting a few more great apertures for the treasure furnace would also be good.

When the time came to fill the Heavenly Demon Outer Elixir, he would gain an extra perfect inner elixir's worth of cultivation for nothing.

Only then would taking down that Mountain Lord be more certain.

It had only been a few days since leaving Yong'an City, yet Shen Yi had already put that demon on his agenda. He just wasn't clear on matters concerning the demon clan's territory—for instance, whether it had helpers, or whether there was anything to watch out for in its cave dwelling.

Escorting Xiao Qiangwei and the Zhen Mo Si people back to Tingyang Prefecture was actually also a chance to casually ask her for relevant information along the way.

As for asking the Zhen Mo General to back him up, it would naturally be better if she were willing. If the woman was only joking, Shen Yi wouldn't mind much—he had long been used to acting alone.

"If only I had one or two more killing-power methods."

Shen Yi noticed that the demons he'd encountered recently were getting fatter and burlier one after another—from the Tiger Demon's three zhang in length to the Toad Demon's roughly twenty zhang tall, taller than many buildings in his previous life.

Relying on a single ceremonial blade and two bare palms, killing them was growing ever more strenuous.

The Heavenly Gang Blood Sha's use of qi, once it touched the Nascent Core Realm level, was already somewhat shallow, and he was in urgent need of new martial arts to make up for it.

He shook his head and closed the panel.

He spread his palms and activated the Toad Demon's divine ability; a layer of sinister emerald green immediately rose between his palms. He drew his ceremonial blade and tested it, and found that this toxin, just like qi, could likewise be layered onto the blade.

Once he had thoroughly familiarized himself with the power within his body, he also figured out various ways to use this venomous divine ability.

The sky gradually brightened.

Xiao Qiangwei knocked lightly on the door: "Lord Shen, shall we depart now?"

Shen Yi pushed the door open and stepped out; the fierce-wolf greatcloak on his body had long been put away, and he was still in a close-fitting ink-black shirt.

The many Captains and Deputy Commanders were escorting the wretched-looking Liu Bin. This old general seemed to lack even the strength to stand; calling it an escort was in name only—in truth he was being propped up by the two men beside him.

No matter how much mental preparation he had made, no matter how vast the wild ambitions hidden in his heart, no matter how much blood had once stained his hands—

Until the very moment he truly set out on the journey, Liu Bin still could not hold his composure; his emotions were clearly on the verge of collapse.

"……"

Xiao Qiangwei was not moved in the slightest.

Even at the moment the two of them had arrived here, if Liu Bin had been willing to tell the truth, there would still have been room to turn things around.

Yet he had still chosen to use the most brutal method to try to drive the two of them away.

Not only that, while Shen Yi was fighting desperately against the demon, this old general had actually gone mad mocking his imperial court colleague, wishing the man dead at the Toad Demon's hands that very instant.

All of this Xiao Qiangwei would report truthfully to General You.

Everyone knew that General You had no airs about him, and held considerable respect for this group of aged generals under his command, even treating them with the courtesy due to elders.

But once it involved matters of demons—

Anyone who had ever lived within the compound of the General's residence, from You Longtao at the top down to Fang Heng at the bottom, not a single one was soft-hearted.

"Set out."

Shen Yi flicked the dust from his sleeve and led the group onto the road back.

Xiao Qiangwei pressed her lips, staring at his retreating back. Besides the matter of Liu Bin, she would also report to General You every detail of the young man's heroic bearing when he slew the demons.

A rising young powerhouse had already faintly shown the momentum of one who could shelter Outside Qingzhou.

At the same time, he was both a demon hunter and a personal aide-de-camp.

Holding both roles, he had still managed to accomplish such astonishing feats at once.

If Outside Qingzhou could weather this crisis and remain stable for a few hundred more years, would the Martial Shrine perhaps… gain another three-zhang-tall Golden Body, shining upon the Great Qian!

(End of chapter)