Chapter 349: The Turtle Immortal

The lion's golden mane was soaked in blood.

Some of it was from the Silverback Ape King, some from itself.

The piercing wound across its chest and belly only added to its ferocity.

On its muscular back, muscles slowly surged as it methodically repeated the motion of pulling out its spear, then driving it down hard.

The spear in its hands felt more like a short blade.

Until the black bear beneath its feet was reduced to an unrecognizable mess, dead beyond any doubt.

Shen Yi exhaled slowly, as if exhausted, and casually tossed the spear onto the ground.

Clang.

Gulp.

The crisp sound of the spear hitting the ground and the sound of swallowing saliva occurred almost simultaneously.

The female cultivator of Xuanguang Cave had seen demons kill each other, but never witnessed such a silent slaughter.

Feeling the lion's golden eyes turn toward her.

She suddenly shivered, but thanks to her master beside her, she managed to hold her ground, though her voice lacked conviction: "You're wise to surrender… kneel and submit."

"…"

Zhang Xuanyan silently watched the scene, and out of pride, he did not let his astonishment show on his face.

It was only because the Silverback Ape King was suspected of diverting the danger.

This lion had immediately slain two companions without hesitation—such ruthlessness even he could not match.

Could such a demon king truly submit peacefully?

He was not sure.

But the beast clearly bore severe injuries.

The Silverback Ape King's full-force strike could not have been withstood even by him; yet this beast had not even attempted to dodge. Beneath that horrific piercing wound, the movement of its internal organs was faintly visible.

"…"

Shen Yi walked slowly toward the two of them.

His towering, powerful frame now swayed with weakness, as if on the verge of collapse.

Until he finally reached their front.

Zhang Xuanyan steadied his breath and looked up coldly.

Unless this fiend had lost his mind, he could not possibly fight him in this state.

At that moment, he finally raised an eyebrow.

His figure vanished instantly from where he stood.

Almost simultaneously, a massive palm crashed down upon the spot!

Centered on its palm, the ground cracked across the entire visible horizon, as if countless earth dragons rolled beneath, turning the land into a grotesque, terrifying sight.

"So it was holding back."

Zhang Xuanyan hovered in the sky, watching the horrifying scene below, his eyelids twitching twice.

Only after seeing that palm did he finally grow more cautious.

This power could not possibly be from a 40th Cave demon king. Exaggerated as it may sound, had he not seen it with his own eyes, he would have guessed from the traces alone that it was the work of a Great Demon from the top 20 Caves.

"But it was too slow."

Zhang Xuanyan shook his head, and a chill returned to his lips.

Yet this chill did not stem from his disciple's death, but from nearly being deceived by a demon.

"Demons are demons. For you to occupy such a blessed land is a waste of heaven's bounty."

"…"

Shen Yi looked up toward the sky.

Though it sounded like mockery, it was, in truth, a fact.

The teleportation technique the opponent had just used appeared ordinary, yet it surpassed Shen Yi's understanding—in such a short distance, even his full-power strike had failed to land.

Probably something left behind by the Nanyang Sect.

But Shen Yi did not undervalue himself.

After all, his body-refining art was merely one of his many foundations.

The moment he saw the Xuanguang Cave cultivators, he finally had an excuse to slay a demon.

So he no longer hesitated.

First, take the demon's lifespan he was owed.

As for now—

If it had been another cultivator, he would likely have turned and left.

But this was Xuanguang Cave…

Their arrival in this posture clearly meant they had ulterior motives.

Perhaps they were searching for clues about their disciple's death.

Shen Yi did not wish to return to Daqian over other troubles; resolving it here would be best.

They were already enemies; taking their head would help him advance further within the Thousand Demon Caves.

"…"

Since he had been discovered, there was no need to pretend any longer.

Shen Yi adjusted his breath and rose into the air once more.

He too wanted to know—now that he had gained such a massive boost—what level of cultivator he truly was now.

"Heh."

Seeing the lion demon attack, Zhang Xuanyan's eyes filled with mockery.

Anyone with a brain should know the depth just from the teleportation technique they themselves cast.

"Truly a demon; you don't know pain until you get beaten."

As his words fell, he lightly waved his sleeve: "Xuanming Seal."

A dull gray square seal was thrown from Zhang Xuanyan's sleeve, tumbling as it fell downward.

In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a massive creature over ten zhang in both length and width.

It was exquisitely carved, with four sides adorned with lifelike, ferocious strange beasts, their very eyes capable of blinking.

The entire great seal emitted wisps of yin-sha qi.

Carrying immense momentum, it smashed down upon that lion demon!

"..."

The moment he saw the great seal, Shen Yi inexplicably recalled the bell in Qingfeng True Person's hand last time.

Although Qingfeng True Person was famous, he had not actually truly entered the late stage of Soul Transformation.

Even if Qinghou Laozu's strength was weaker than his, the gap was at least not as large as a full realm.

Yet he merely shook the bell, rendering Qinghou Laozu unable to move.

And now, Shen Yi finally understood the reason behind it.

The instant the great seal came down.

A beast's roar suddenly sounded in his ears, as if he were trapped in a hellish, icy purgatory; for a moment, he was actually unable to move.

Fortunately, the immortal and demon within his body seemed provoked.

They erupted together in a deafening roar.

Immense demon power and demonic blood boiled entirely, as if breaking through some kind of shackle; among them, the strongest immortal wolf phantom surged forth upon his arm.

Shen Yi slammed out with his right elbow.

The Xuanming Great Seal's downward momentum slowed slightly, actually retreating upward by several feet.

"..."

Zhang Xuanyan detected this negligible change.

A few traces of unease suddenly surged in his heart.

The Xuanming Seal was his invincible great killing weapon; this was the first time such a situation had occurred.

He hurriedly extended his hand again; a snow-white long whip fell into his palm, then he fiercely lashed out at the figure beneath the Xuanming Seal.

"Wretched beast, you still dare to struggle!"

Amidst the words echoing in the air, Shen Yi's originally golden eyes finally returned to normal.

Accompanied by a cry of a carved bird.

Sharp light flickered in his eyes, as if capable of piercing through all things.

His left hand seized the whirling long whip with pinpoint accuracy and speed, yet his arm was still entangled; the long whip seemed to have the effect of melting bone and blood, and upon slight contact, the entire arm rapidly began to rot.

It must be known that after breaking through to Soul Transformation, this body, which seemingly consisted of flesh and blood, was actually formed from the condensation of heaven and earth's spiritual qi.

Rather than melting blood, it was more like melting spirit.

Shen Yi remained expressionless; a red light far more dazzling than before enveloped his arm.

After Nanke Xian underwent transformation, he was similarly incomparable to what he was before.

Setting aside everything else, at least this whip was now his.

Thinking thus, while holding up against the Xuanming Seal, he suddenly exerted force and yanked the long whip.

This was the first time Zhang Xuanyan truly felt that terrifying strength.

He was pulled down without any power to resist.

In shock and rage, yet unwilling to part with his treasure, he gripped the wooden handle of the long whip and refused to let go: "Let go immediately!"

Zhang Xuanyan's mental state wavered, causing the Xuanming Seal to lose its magic power enhancement.

Boom!

Shen Yi threw out another punch, blasting the square great seal away.

The force in his left hand was even greater, directly dragging the long whip along with the figure at the other end toward him.

Zhang Xuanyan finally reacted, enduring the pain to let go, and cast the teleportation technique again, vanishing from the spot.

However, the moment he reappeared, a whip shadow attacked from behind, winding around his neck like a venomous snake.

"Ah!!"

Zhang Xuanyan instinctively reached out to pull the whip from his neck; the moment he touched it, both his hand and neck began to melt simultaneously.

The pain made him scream in agony.

Fortunately, he had not yet lost his reason; he reached out and formed a hand seal again.

His black great robe suddenly moved without wind, forming a thin layer of light upon the surface of his skin.

Seizing this moment to catch his breath, he drew out another long sword, wiped his fingers across the blade, and immediately countless sword shadows appeared in the sky, each emitting a terrifying sharpness.

They then all slashed down at that lion demon together!

"..."

Shen Yi finally retracted the long whip and shot out with explosive speed.

Even with such a rapid reaction.

Several terrifying gashes still appeared on his body.

This time, it was not a disguise created by the Transformation Technique.

Kong Que's crimson light rapidly spread over, and Shen Yi raised his gaze to look toward the distance, then fell somewhat speechless: "..."

He saw that Zhang Xuanyan had already used a great bell to cover him up tightly, like a turtle retracting its head.

Until now.

Shen Yi still had not seen the opponent use any technique other than the displacement method.

Is this vast reputation built solely by piling up magical treasures?

"Let this be, and you may leave!"

Zhang Xuanyan's voice, straining to conceal his fear, came from within the bronze bell.

What responded to him was a whip kick from Shen Yi, leaping into the air.

The entire great bell, under that vast force, exploded upward toward the sky with a boom.

Leave? Just by virtue of your turtle shell?

(End of this chapter)