Chapter 444: Harvesting the Sparrow Demon

Regarding the sudden attack from the demons.

Zheng Qian was clearly still shaken.

These demons were clearly seasoned veterans; from the moment she struck to the moment Moonlight Slash split the old sparrow demon's body, the enemy not only did not lose their composure but also devised such a treacherous scheme with such decisiveness in that brief span.

What surprised Zheng Qian even more was.

That juvenile sparrow, though its aura was weak, had a demonic body astonishingly robust—its appearance also differed from the other Golden Fire Sparrows.

Close call!

Fortunately, Shen Yi was there.

He first provided crucial information, allowing her to seize the initiative and strike hard at the Void-Return fourth-layer old sparrow demon, then acted in time to intercept the juvenile's ambush.

Such seasoned conduct far surpassed hers by countless times.

No wonder he was the one who had fought his way out from a place where lineage had been severed.

No wonder he had always seemed unconcerned with her commands—he must have had a detailed plan all along, but restrained himself due to his outsider status, only offering subtle hints.

Thinking of how she had spoken to him so harshly just moments ago, Zheng Qian suddenly felt her cheeks flush.

Recalling this, she suddenly glared at the old sparrow demon.

All her awkward fury was channeled into the Dao techniques she was weaving with her fingers.

Moonlight once again gathered across the sky, radiating a sharp aura.

The entire four-story Dao palace shimmered brilliantly in that instant!

"Shen Daoist, that juvenile sparrow is strange—hold it off for now; I'll slay this old thing and come to aid you immediately!"

Zheng Qian cried out, and the Dao technique at her fingertip shot free.

Meanwhile, under Liu Qianyun's watch, Yan Wencheng skillfully began setting up the array; one by one, array components flew from his storage artifact and scattered across the peaks along an arcane trajectory.

Though he tried hard to focus, he couldn't help stealing another glance at the stone puppet in the sky.

He was deeply shocked.

To be honest, for Qingyue Sect cultivators, puppets weren't particularly unusual.

Some direct disciples even possessed similar techniques, far stronger than a Void-Return fourth-layer cultivator.

But the difference lay in.

The puppets of direct disciples were gifts from their elders.

But what was Shen Yi's status… he had just emerged from the General Nanyang General Nanyang Baodi, and he was the very highest-ranked cultivator in the entire General Nanyang Sect.

His puppet was surely crafted by his own hands—this made all the difference.

A hermit from a severed lineage, who not only outclassed her, a core disciple, in array art, but also wielded puppetry far beyond his own realm—truly humbling.

"Focus on the array—it's not over yet."

Liu Qianyun cast a solemn glance at Yan Wencheng, then turned her gaze toward the right peak.

Originally, she had been the most at ease.

Because Liu Qianyun had seen the old dog; with Zheng Qian and another Void-Return fourth-layer, handling such a simple task should have been impossible to fail.

But now, things seemed different.

Two more sparrow demons on the right peak had yet to appear.

Looking at the juvenile in the air, though the old dog clamped its jaws onto its wrist and thrashed wildly, closer inspection revealed the juvenile was unharmed—merely outmatched in strength, unable to break free.

Strange! Too strange!

These Golden Fire Sparrows were no scattered demons—they were clearly demonic cultivators with lineage.

As if confirming Liu Qianyun's thought,

The old sparrow demon let out a long howl; golden flames surged again across its body, as if employing some secret technique—its emerald-green eyes turned blood-red, its golden flames flared higher, forcibly knitting its severed body back together.

"Young Master! No more waiting!"

"Your servant aids your escape."

They had come here to seek refuge, yet unexpectedly discovered the Yu family's presence.

These half-demons carried within them the essence of aquatic races—exquisitely tender and rich, highly effective for advancing one's realm.

Especially that old one called "Yu Zu."

If they could consume him, not only would the Young Master's wounds heal, but his realm could also climb another rung.

Unfortunately, Yu Zu's body was too saturated with water energy—he could not be ingested directly.

So the sparrow demons planted Golden Fire within Yu Zu, hoping to burn away that fishy water stench.

To prevent Yu Zu from killing himself,

They left him hundreds of their kin as attachments, forcing him to endure the torment of Golden Fire while clinging to life.

They never expected the Seven Sons of Nan Hong would meddle so deeply.

Even this remote borderland was not spared.

"I understand…"

The Golden Sparrow Young Master glared hatefully at the old dog—if not for its interference, after slaying the Qingyue Sect cultivators and feasting alongside Yu Zu, he wouldn't just have healed—he could have leapt far ahead in his realm.

Now forced to swallow Yu Zu prematurely,

He might barely break through to Void-Return fourth-layer, and even his wounds might not fully heal.

"Get away from me, you beast!"

The Golden Sparrow Young Master suddenly activated the same secret technique—but its eyes were not blood-red, but crimson-gold.

It struck with a thunderous blow, temporarily driving back the old dog and slamming it dozens of zhang away.

This simple motion, as seen by all,

Caused both women to contract their pupils sharply.

The aura on the old dog was undeniably Realization Layer Four—clearly overwhelming the Golden Sparrow Heir—but this young sparrow, relying solely on its demonic body, forcibly broke free of the restraint.

What nonsense! Between Layer Three and Layer Four lies an utterly terrifying chasm.

"…"

Zhang Laifu licked his lips, his gaze growing even more ferocious.

It was, ironically, the calmest of them all.

Due to its bloodline's inferiority, the old dog had been crossed before—not long ago, it was pinned down and hacked to death by its master.

"Jin Yi, Jin Kui, go fetch the old Yu!"

The Golden Sparrow Heir roared, its mind icy-calm; it did not call for reinforcements. It knew there was only one way to defeat this old dog.

As its words ended,

the two great demons lurking atop the right peak finally surged into the sky, their auras sweeping outward.

Two more Realization Layer Three great demons.

This didn't fit the power distribution of any clan—it was more like specialized guards assigned to it.

The two demons dove downward toward the mountain base!

At the same time, the Golden Sparrow Heir began desperately dodging the old dog's claw strikes, leaping and twisting downward.

"Hah! Hah!"

Zheng Qian's movements grew increasingly frantic, but thanks to the secret technique's enhancement, the old sparrow demon, also Realization Layer Four and prepared, could outright withstand her moonlight and even counterattack with leftover strength!

The Xian Sect cultivators, who had always been invincible within their own layer, had never endured such humiliation.

Zheng Qian's sense of unease grew heavier.

Not rescuing the Heir, but fixating on the Yu clan… something's off.

"Qian Yun, block that young sparrow! Kill it first!"

Hearing this, Liu Qianyun glanced at Yan Wencheng beside her; she knew Zheng Qian had temporarily abandoned the array master—but she trusted her leader's judgment: "Watch yourself."

"Understood."

Yan Wencheng nodded; the array was nearly complete.

In an instant, thick water vapor filled the surroundings, coalescing into a great river that wrapped everything, its churning waves leaping upward into the shape of a dragonhead—as if countless water serpents lurked within the murky river.

At the moment the great array activated, the flames on both Golden Fire Sparrow demons dimmed.

No wonder he was the inner disciple most favored by Elder Yang.

He could casually set up a killing array perfectly suited to the current situation—this required vast reservoirs of array diagrams and relentless daily practice.

"Friend Shen Dao, I'll assist you. Focus on maintaining the array protecting the Yu clan—buy us some time."

Liu Qianyun soared straight upward.

In that instant, the old sparrow demon decisively took a direct hit of moonlight—its shoulder split open with a sizzle—then lunged straight at Yan Wencheng!

"…"

Liu Qianyun's movement hesitated, trying to turn.

Unlike Zheng Qian, she had too little experience—and finally made a mistake.

When it came to leaving a fellow sect member in danger, she still instinctively hesitated.

"Idiot!"

Zheng Qian gritted her teeth, barely holding back a curse.

At a time like this, whoever shows more concern loses big. Yan Wencheng is indeed a fellow sect brother, but the Golden Sparrow is still their Heir—would this old sparrow demon dare to gamble?

Boom!

In an instant, another golden flame erupted violently in the battlefield, forming brilliant twin wings—purer and hotter than the crimson flames released by the Golden Fire Sparrows.

Everyone had assumed the figure manipulating the array—the dark-robed one—shifted his robes, then vanished in twin flashes of purple and white.

While the Golden Sparrow Heir's attention was fixed on the old dog,

Shen Yi launched a devastating spinning kick straight into the young sparrow's chest; a ferocious aura surged forth, rivaling that of a Realization Layer Two cultivator.

He kicked the Golden Sparrow Heir flying backward.

The distance it had painstakingly gained vanished instantly, returning it straight into the old dog's claws.

"Hiss!"

Zheng Qian had never anticipated this twist.

A hermit from General Nanyang General Nanyang Baodi—first arrays, then puppets, now a spirit-body technique?

Are you insane? Is your lifespan infinite, to waste it like this?

Worse still—it was another cross-layer battle.

Unlike the Golden Sparrow Heir, who relied purely on bloodline secrets, Shen Yi's strike clearly came from perfect timing control—and his intent had been crystal clear before he moved.

He knew exactly what he wanted, utterly ungreedy, unimpulsive, terrifyingly calm.

A prodigy's bearing!

"Heir!"

The old sparrow demon abandoned its earlier ferocity; as the old dog swung its claw, it turned back in terror, unleashing all its golden flames to force the old dog back.

But the old dog didn't even glance at it.

It was a dead thing—what did it care about injury?

It forcibly absorbed the golden fire column, its claw ripping open the Golden Sparrow Heir's chest with a sizzle, mimicking its master's move, trying to tear out the demonic core.

Unfortunately, he wasn't skilled enough and missed.

"Jin Yi, Jin Kui, what are you waiting for?! Hurry!"

The old sparrow demon shrieked shrilly.

A sudden boom erupted from below the mountain, continuous and deafening.

"..."

Yan Wencheng's face showed difficulty as he looked down the mountain.

Although the Five Elements Treasure Lotus Formation was quite complex, it was still only a formation of the early Killed Fanxu stage; and most importantly... it was not a defensive formation. How could it withstand the relentless bombardment of two Killed Fanxu third-layer demons?

Moreover, the one presiding over the formation was currently throwing punches at the Golden Spar Young Master like a violent storm.

Seeming to care nothing for the survival of the Yu family.

"Daoist Shen... let Qianyun handle it. They harbor ill intentions. You need only be responsible for maintaining the formation." Zheng Qian's tone was clearly much more polite.

The old dog frantically tore at the Golden Spar Young Master's body, causing its piercing screams to echo through the sky.

Just as it was getting carried away, it heard its master's calm voice.

"Go, I will handle it."

The old dog withdrew without the slightest hesitation, heading straight for the old Spar Demon.

"Ah?"

Zheng Qian's hands kept moving, but her expression turned shocked.

Shen Yi not only did not stop... he even seemed to want to help their side?

With Zhang Laifu joining in, and entangled by Liu Qianyun and the Jiao River Formation, the old Spar Demon, which was already resisting with extreme difficulty, was now trapped in a dead end, retreating again and again.

But it did not resign itself; instead, it cast a hopeful gaze toward the foot of the mountain.

There lay the true turning point!

Just then, the booming sound suddenly ceased.

"Aaaah."

The old Spar Demon's face lit up with great joy, and the Golden Spar Young Master let out another long cry.

The expressions of both Zheng Qian and Liu Qianyun simultaneously darkened.

It was over... Although they didn't know what those two were plotting, even counting only the two Killed Fanxu third-layer great demons returning to aid, that certainly could not be good news.

Zhang Laifu did not react at all.

His eyes were fixed only on the old Spar Demon's neck; taking advantage of its unpreparedness, he snapped his jaws and bit down.

Shen Yi stared at the dying Golden Spar Young Master before him.

He leaped into the air, his Crimson Dao Palace unfolding directly; several blood-red eyes quickly opened, their pupils turning with a slightly eerie motion.

Ten Thousand Demons Pay Homage, Break Illusions.

Blood thunder suddenly engulfed the Golden Spar Young Master.

At the same time, under the gaze of all, Shen Yi's fingertips once again spewed forth golden threads. At a speed barely visible to the naked eye, he laid down the Iron Brush and Silver Hook Formation.

It was as if this great formation had been engraved into his instincts, with not the slightest pause from start to finish.

But this time, the three from Qingyue Sect could not be happy.

Shen Yi laying down a formation again could only mean one thing: the Five Elements Treasure Lotus Formation protecting the Yu family no longer existed.

"Kill."

Yet Shen Yi seemed not to worry at all about the two Spar Demons below the mountain; his calm gaze settled upon the blood thunder.

He formed the sword finger and brought it down with a reverse motion.

That giant brush suddenly swung its ink, leaving trails of crimson ink like bloodstains in the air. They gathered together, resembling a cage, and moved toward the blood thunder.

The old Spar Demon was pinned to the ground by Zhang Laifu, rolling and struggling.

The gash on its neck grew wider and wider.

It stared fixedly at the blood thunder, then looked down the mountain. The two Spar shadows it had imagined were like a mud ox entering the sea, vanished without a trace, and had still not returned even now.

What exactly... had happened?

Could they fear Qingyue Sect and have fled?

How could that be possible?

Crack—

Under the gaze of its incredulous eyes, Zhang Laifu finally snapped its neck.

Almost at the same time.

Shen Yi stepped upon the bloodstains and fiercely surged into the blood thunder. Grasping the Golden Spar Young Master's neck with five fingers, he dove out from the blood thunder and slammed it hard into the mountain range.

Boom! Boom!

Golden flames instantly swept through the mountains; the immense force shattered the mountain ridges.

Amidst the flying dust, Shen Yi dragged the corpse of the Golden Spar Young Master and slowly walked out.

"..."

Zheng Qian stared at that figure in the ink-colored robe, then looked at Zhang Laifu on the ground holding the old Spar Demon in his mouth.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Who exactly was the Killed Fanxu mid-stage executive?

"Below the mountain!"

Liu Qianyun suddenly remembered something; with a warning cry, she flew straight down the mountain.

"Oh no."

Zheng Qian also hurriedly shifted her gaze from Shen Yi and followed Liu Qianyun, soaring away.

Yan Wencheng wanted to follow, but after glancing at Shen Yi's unhurried movements, a bold guess suddenly surged into his mind.

He stammered, "Shen Zongzhu, those two demons... could it be that..."

Shen Yi summoned the Kong Que red light, soothing his sore and swollen arm, and lightly nodded his chin: "Mm."

"I haven't finished asking yet."

Yan Wencheng let out a bitter laugh. Although it sounded utterly incredible, seeing the other's composed demeanor made this absurd matter seem strangely plausible.

Shen Yi felt nothing amiss.

With the Bihai Toad and the Spirit Cloud Deer Demon, pushing two Sparrow Demons into the Five Elements Treasure Lotus Array, and launching a surprise attack relying on the concealment of the Stabilizing Stone—failing to secure victory now would mean his lifespan had been wasted for nothing.

The two headed down the mountain.

They soon returned to the muddy ground where the Yu family was hiding.

The first thing to catch Yan Wencheng's eye was the two Stewards standing motionless in place. Beneath their feet, the two Sparrow Demons had long since lost all breath, their wounds all located on their backs...

Even though he had already received the answer, seeing this scene with his own eyes still made it hard for him to breathe.

Just how much more did this Shen Zongzhu hide?

Who truly was the disciple of the Xian Sect?

"Thank you all for your assistance. I urgently need the blood of fire-attribute bird demons, so I offer this as thanks. As for the remaining treasures and Moon Pearls, you may divide them among yourselves."

Shen Yi stored the corpses of all four Sparrow Demons into his ring, then took out a segment of the Green Yang Branch and waved it toward the three of them.

He understood that obtaining this information was due to Liu Qianyun's utmost effort in helping.

Only by giving and receiving could one continue to utilize the Qingyue Sect's intelligence.

"Please don't do that."

Zheng Qian waved her hand, appearing somewhat disappointed.

Both being of the younger generation, her realm was far higher than his, yet how could the gap be so vast?

It was obvious that Shen Yi possessed more than one Shi Gui.

Never mind bullying the weak with strength; even in a fair fight with real weapons, she might not be Shen Yi's match.

"If not for you today, we might not have all returned alive." Liu Qianyun also shook her head, handing the segment of Green Yang Branch back: "Moreover, you just left the General Nanyang General Nanyang Baodi and are precisely in need of treasures."

Shen Yi no longer declined, putting the Green Yang Branch away: "If something similar happens next time, you can seek me out."

Having spoken, he directly transformed into a streak of light and entered the mud cave.

The harvest was already in hand; he only needed to return to refine the Celestial Phoenix Pill again. He was curious whether this Sparrow Demon blood could elevate his Celestial Phoenix Indestructible True Body to another level.

However, before that, he was quite interested in the Yu family.

"..."

Watching Shen Yi vanish from the spot.

Zheng Qian awkwardly lowered her hand: "Did I offend him earlier?"

Hearing this, Yan Wencheng let out a speechless laugh.

He felt even more that the current Steward Zheng was exactly the same as himself and the others in the Dharma Hall before.

"Then I won't take anything; consider it an apology."

Zheng Qian glared at him and muttered, "I thought he was using me as a cheap enforcer, but it turns out I was just a guide."

(End of this chapter)