Chapter 436: The First Meal After Leaving the General Nanyang Sect

As the great gate of the Stone Mansion closed tightly, the light inside suddenly dimmed somewhat.

The flames on several jade candle holders flickered slightly.

This made Shen Yi's Bai Xi and handsome face appear somewhat indistinct between light and shadow, leaving the crowd of demons utterly bewildered.

What is this rogue cultivator trying to do?

Venerable Bihai the toad sat on the table, looking at the black-backed yellow dog that had suddenly appeared.

Although its fur looked lifelike and its eyes shone with sharp spirit.

Yet upon close observation, one could still distinguish that the other was not a living creature; its skin and flesh were of stone, like a puppet crafted by some method.

"Is it this Shi Gui that gives you the confidence?"

Venerable Bihai let out a cold laugh again; in this Hongze region, there were countless cultivators possessing various strange and esoteric methods.

But in the end, the water-dwelling races still reigned supreme.

Before true strength, any clever tricks and vulgar arts are merely trivial paths.

However, the fact that this rogue cultivator actually dared to turn against the water-dwelling races did surprise it somewhat.

"I give you one last chance."

Venerable Bihai glanced at the beaded curtain on the second floor; to be honest, after all, this was the territory of the Seven Sons of Yu Nanhong, so it actually hadn't intended to make a huge scene, merely wanting to vent its anger.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have skipped over Shen Yi of the Killed Fanxu realm and instead chosen that youngest boy with the lowest cultivation.

But this did not mean it truly feared a mere Qingyue Sect executive.

"Hand that young man over to this Venerable One, and this matter shall be dropped."

Venerable Bihai stood up; its massive form was like a small hill, and it trembled as it took a step forward.

It could be said it was kind-hearted, still willing to give this youth a way to save face.

"Otherwise."

It looked at Shen Yi; before the words had fully left its mouth, including the old ox that had just climbed up from the ground, several demons hesitated for an instant before surrounding Shen Yi.

Had it been Liu Qianyun, they certainly would not have dared to get involved in the affair between the Hongze water-dwelling races and the Qingyue Sect.

But after all, this was merely a rogue cultivator.

To put it bluntly, if Venerable Bihai truly became enraged and did not fear tearing off the face, even demanding the person from Liu Qianyun to its face would not count as a major matter.

Venerable Bihai did not finish its harsh words; it merely extended its scarlet long tongue and licked its lips.

But in those bulging eyes, deep chill had already taken hold.

"..."

Under the gaze of several pairs of eyes, Shen Yi stood calmly, as if he had heard nothing.

He merely lightly waved his sleeve.

Such an action caused confusion to rise on the faces of the demons; did this young man not understand human speech, having a way to save face yet not hurrying to take it?

Could it be that having just entered the Killed Fanxu realm and attached himself to a Qingyue Sect executive, he momentarily could not tell who held the authority in Hongze?

Leaving aside other things, even if he truly managed to retreat unscathed today, could Liu Qianyun protect him for a lifetime?

Just at this moment, the pupils of the demons' eyes contracted slightly.

They saw that as the youth waved down his sleeve, that grinning old dog suddenly leaped up, its form turning into a black shadow, and silently pounced toward Venerable Bihai.

It looked like an ordinary earth dog; even counting it as a demon, the other few felt somewhat ashamed on its behalf.

Even if placed within a sect, it would at most be used to watch the kitchen or something similar.

However, the next moment.

That tall little meat mountain suddenly flipped and fell; a powerful great demon comparable to the third layer of Killed Fanxu, in just one encounter, was actually fiercely knocked to the ground by that earth dog.

With a seemingly emaciated body, the dog's paw suddenly swiped down.

Only the sound of a tear, "Chi-la," was heard.

Caught off guard, Venerable Bihai actually had a large chunk of skin and flesh missing from its face.

It was stunned for an instant, then erupted into a sharp shriek: "Ah!!"

In its rage, Venerable Bihai's full-strength strike slammed fiercely at the old dog stepping on its head.

With just one palm, it intended to completely shatter this Shi Gui!

Dong—

A thick, dull sound spread throughout the Stone Mansion, feeling somewhat like a fleshy palm striking raw iron.

Venerable Bihai's palm struck the top of the old dog's head.

Yet the other party remained motionless, its form stable, and those pale yellow eyes were filled with mockery.

The thick force surging from the toad's thick arms actually rebounded entirely, making the bones beneath its flesh and blood crack and creak, as if about to shatter.

What material was this Shi Gui made from?!

It was terrified and finally realized something was amiss.

Demons differ from cultivators; they do not have so many complex methods, needing only one clash to roughly understand the gap between the two.

This was absolutely not the strength one should possess in the early stage of Killed Fanxu.

At least... it must be a demon Shi Gui comparable to the fourth layer or above!

Watching the old dog swipe its paw again.

Shen Yi finally stepped forward; having previously learned from Liu Qianyun the connection between Qingyue Sect cultivators' realms and status, he had roughly guessed that this so-called Killed Fanxu twelve layers probably was not as simple as he thought.

Why, with three layers or six layers as the boundary, could such a huge gap between disciples, executives, and elders be distinguished?

It could only mean that this watershed had reached the point where it could crush lower-level cultivators.

This was also the confidence that allowed him to close the gate and release the dog.

Even if the old dog's bloodline was inferior, at least its cultivation completely overshadowed the other's.

Though his hand itched a bit, Shen Yi had no intention of trading blows with the Bihai Toad; back then, even against Zhang Laifu, who was also at the Third Layer of Return to Emptiness yet old and frail, it had been a pyrrhic victory, requiring the help of Nie Jun, Ye Wenxuan, and Tong Xin Chuan, and the prior deployment of a great formation.

Let alone the Hongze Water Clan, whose state and bloodline far surpassed those of the old dog from before.

That was a battle he could not participate in for now.

Shen Yi's goal was very clear.

He turned his gaze to the remaining four demons; earlier, seizing the opportunity of drinking, he had already observed them clearly—all were great demons at the First Layer of Return to Emptiness.

At this thought, Shen Yi suddenly stepped forward, and golden flames instantly engulfed the entire Lingyun Cave.

In an instant, a shocked, explosive shout suddenly came from the second floor.

"Stop!"

A tall deer demon, terrified, rushed out from the pearl curtain; having just heard the commotion, it had returned without hesitation from the stone path of the warehouse.

Yet it never expected to be stunned by the scene before its eyes.

It saw that the distinguished guest it had so hard to invite was now lying on the ground in a wretched state, struggling desperately, his face covered in pus and blood.

This time it was truly life-threatening! Even if it was just a hideous toad, not comparable to the fish or dragon types, it was still of the Hongze Water Clan!

"How dare you, boy!"

Lingyun Shangren was both shocked and furious, having no intention whatsoever of considering Shen Yi's background.

In this place, no background outweighs the Water Clan.

"Quickly withdraw your divine arts and get out of this Lingyun Cave of mine! Otherwise, I will take your dog's life!"

Even in this situation, Lingyun Shangren still maintained his reason, not directly attacking; out of respect for the face of Executive Liu, he tried his best to offend neither side.

Drive him out first!

As for what happened afterward, that was something for the Water Clan and the Seven Sons of South Hong to handle slowly.

"..."

Your dog's life?

Hearing this, Zhang Laifu silently glanced at it.

"This."

Liu Qianyun had emerged almost at the same time as Lingyun Shangren, which was enough to show she was equally frantic; yet, compared to the imagined scenario of Shen Yi being bullied, the scene before her eyes left her stunned for an instant.

Judging solely from the situation below.

It looked as if Shen Yi had blocked this group of demon cultivators inside the cave residence.

She wanted to ask what had happened, yet for a moment she did not know where to begin.

"Executive Liu, will you not control your people?!"

At this moment, Lingyun Shangren could no longer care about so much; he completely changed his previous obsequiousness.

If he offended the Seven Sons of South Hong, he could still hide elsewhere; but if he offended the Water Clan, there would be no place for him to exist in Hongze.

"He is ignorant; does Executive Liu not understand that?!"

"..."

Liu Qianyun fell silent for an instant; if she remembered correctly, when they came out, she had instructed Shen Yi on these matters.

Yet it was precisely this moment of daze.

Shen Yi seemed to have chosen his target, and his figure suddenly vanished from the spot.

Rolling golden flames obscured everyone's vision; the scorching heat made everything in the field of view appear hazy.

Boom!

Accompanied by a deafening explosion.

A burly figure was blasted out from the golden flames; the old ox's features twisted as he helplessly watched that dark figure leap out of the flames as well, carrying flowing golden wings, and step heavily onto his chest.

Crack.

Beneath that boot sole, the old ox's chest bones instantly collapsed.

Shen Yi gave it not a single chance to resist.

Relying on the powerful body of the Heavenly Phoenix Indestructible True Body, and launching a sudden, fierce attack, he caught the old ox completely off guard.

He extended his right palm, and the Dao Palace burst forth from his brow.

Under the size limitations of the cave residence, the Boundless Demon Emperor Palace did not reveal its full form, yet even a part of it caused the entire stone mansion to be shrouded in scarlet red.

Ten Thousand Demons Pay Homage, Break Delusion!

Shen Yi did not know what life-saving tricks the old ox possessed, so his strike was an attack meant to kill without fail.

Crackling blood-thunder fell from the Dao Palace.

Wrapping the ox demon within it.

At the same time, Shen Yi once again crashed into the blood-thunder; his entire body surged with golden flames, all gathering in his arms; his wide sleeves swayed violently, and his five fingers clenched tightly.

Pfft—

Fist as the spearhead, body as the sword.

Shen Yi transformed into a streak of Golden Body light, instantly piercing through the old ox's body.

Leaving an extremely terrifying large hole in it.

He passed through the ox demon, stepped out of the blood-thunder, stuffed the demon core in his hand into the ring, and his ordinary cloth black shirt was already soaked in blood; the blood on his Bai Xi skin was quickly burned away by the golden flames.

Golden flames flickered at his brow; he turned his gaze back indifferently, looking at the other three demons.

Only until this moment did the old ox's body crash to the ground with a dull thud.

"..."

"Brother Ox."

Lingyun Shangren's eyes widened; he never expected that in the time it took to speak one or two sentences, he would lose a close brother.

It panted heavily in great gasps, and saw that old dog repeatedly swiping its claws; with its slender body, it was actually pinning the toad down firmly, as if intending to use those dog claws to flay the opponent alive into a skeleton.

Liu Qianyun stared blankly at the black-robed youth.

On his handsome face, though his features were calm, a tremendous killing intent was revealed, as if the violence was engraved in his very bones.

Wha... what does this mean?

The white robe has been replaced by a dark shirt, and the person has changed?

The previous politeness and humility and gentleness within Qingyue Sect seemed to have vanished entirely in this instant.

The whole person seemed to have turned into a butcher with blood-stained hands; even she felt a chill upon seeing him.

How much killing sin must one have committed to condense such a dense killing aura?

It seems fitting... A leader who fought his way out from within the Deep Abyss, where the inheritance was severed, and was sincerely revered as Shen Zongzhu by that group, how could he possibly be some gentleman of virtue?

"You won't manage it, right?!"

Lingyun Shangren's roar sounded in Liu Qianyun's ear; this spotted deer now tore off all pretense and roared, "Then I, this seat, shall manage it!"

She was slightly stunned.

Manage? Who manages whom? Setting aside the fact that he is not even from Qingyue Sect, even if the Seven Sons of Southern Hong are essentially one, regarding status and seniority, he is the veritable Shen Zongzhu.

Liu Qianyun shook her head.

In the instant the deer demon leaped downward, she waved slightly, and a long sword appeared in her palm.

Within the Dao Palace of her brow, all the qi rushed into the sword's edge.

In an instant, the surroundings seemed to transform into an endless sword domain; everything was covered by sharp Bai Mang, and the rustling sound of swords never ceased in her ears.

When her palm came down.

All the Bai Mang gathered to a single point, landing on the deer demon's chest.

Pfft.

Lingyun Shangren was startled by the sudden heart-piercing pain; his figure fell from the second floor. He stared unbelievingly at the long sword protruding from his chest, then turned in shock to look at Liu Qianyun.

"You... you... have you gone mad?"

With a dull thud, Lingyun Shangren crashed inside the stone mansion. He opened his mouth and spoke indistinctly, blood in his mouth: "For a so-called Dao companion, you want to offend the Hongze Water Clan?"

It did not understand.

Has this woman's brain broken?

Can't she distinguish what is light and what is heavy? How could Qingyue Sect allow such a fool to become an executive and walk abroad in the name of the Seven Sons of Southern Hong?

If all sect disciples possessed such a mind.

The Seven Sons of Southern Hong would have been exterminated long ago, damn it.

However, under Lingyun Shangren's gaze, all he could see was Liu Qianyun's indifferent face. She lowered her eyes to look at him, her red lips slightly parting, her voice sharp as a sword.

"A group of evil demons and petty thieves, how dare you violate the majesty of my General Nanyang Shen Zongzhu."

"Their crime warrants execution."

In the instant she acted, she too seemed to have become a different person; her voice sounded like a divine decree on a jade tablet, carrying an irresistible authority.

She pressed her palm down again.

"Behead!"

Originally, according to Lingyun Shangren's strength, even if ambushed by Liu Qianyun from behind, he should not have been completely unable to resist.

But in the instant he heard the four words "General Nanyang Shen Zongzhu."

His heart, pierced by the long sword, actually beat heavily once.

As if that taboo name was something that snatched lives.

His entire body began to tremble involuntarily.

As everyone knows, the Shen Zongzhu of the Seven Sons of Southern Hong are all in the Realm of Harmonizing the Dao, Earth Immortals; even within the Hongze land of water and land, they are terrifying existences like immortals and Buddhas.

They are completely different from some executive or elder.

Even if given Lingyun a thousand and eight hundred guts, he would not dare to look at them directly, let alone offend their majesty.

But, where is the Shen Zongzhu?

Lingyun Shangren actually ignored the life-and-death crisis brought by the long sword and subconsciously looked around to search.

It was not just him.

Even Venerable Bihai, suppressing the intense pain, turned his head in surprise and suspicion to look.

At this very moment.

Liu Qianyun's pressing palm hesitated slightly.

This was because she discovered that the Shen Zongzhu she had spoken of had now abandoned his original target and suddenly attacked the Lingyun deer demon.

Then he grabbed the sword hilt and pulled it out.

How is one supposed to perform techniques in this situation... Liu Qianyun stopped chanting the hand seals in astonishment.

She dared not injure Shen Yi.

But what does this mean? Did the opponent suddenly soften his heart?

(End of this chapter)