Chapter 48: Slaying the Demon

It could be said that Song Yan's knowledge of the cultivation world was already considered quite extensive. Yet the figure before him—this “Master Jiang,” who possessed not a trace of spiritual power, relying solely on pure, potent vitality to stand toe-to-toe with the Foundation Establishment prodigy, Senior Sister Qin—still left him in awe.

The world of cultivation truly held wonders beyond imagination!

“You two, go save Qingqing!” Qin Ying’s gaze was fixed unwaveringly upon Jiang Xiao. The previous attempts had given her a rough grasp of the terrifying nature of this tainted blood.

“Contaminating spiritual creatures…”

Indeed, it was troublesome—but Qin Ying was no ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The spiritual power within her body began to surge. The battlefield was instantly cloaked in wind and snow, her flying sword hovering at her side as she launched herself forward to battle Jiang Xiao.

Above Peach Blossom Dock, only blood red and icy blue remained.

Song Yan and Li Qingfeng had no time to watch the unfolding duel; they rushed straight toward the blood-colored cocoon.

A streak of Geng Metal sword energy sliced swiftly across the cocoon’s front, forcing Song Yan and Li Qingfeng to halt.

“Little brothers…” Bai Yulu smiled seductively. “This Blood Refining Grand Array is a blend of attack, entrapment, and mind confusion, built up over three years.”

“The blood energy and resentful souls within—enough to swallow even three Foundation Establishment cultivators.”

“But for now, the pressure of the array is still focused on that woman. Once she dies, you’ll become spoiled blood, just like those mortal pigs.”

“No need to struggle. Wait quietly for death and save your strength.”

Song Yan admitted, this was the most alluring, seductive voice he had ever heard.

Beside Bai Yulu stood a cultivator in a dark blue Daoist robe; the sword energy just now had been unleashed by him.

Li Qingfeng’s heart skipped a beat, and he whispered a warning, “Senior Brother Song, that seems to be a disciple of Sword Hanging Mountain.”

However, this Sword Hanging Mountain companion seemed far from lucid at the moment.

His eyes were dull, like a puppet.

“If you two find waiting a little boring…”

“Then don’t resist this feeling…”

The gentle, beguiling voice echoed at their ears, and a pink mist permeated Song Yan’s vision.

He felt his consciousness—like his body—start to sink.

“Let’s do something fun together, shall we~”

“Illusion!”

Among the mystical abilities of demon beasts, such illusion techniques were common, able to ensnare one unawares in an illusory realm.

By the time Song Yan realized, he felt his soul seemingly separated from his body.

The light in Song Yan’s eyes began to fade.

“Yan Yan! Yan Yan!”

“Oh no, oh no, Grandpa’s warning you didn’t listen to at all!”

The little snake was frantic, sweating profusely. “Be careful with pretty girls!”

Bai Yulu frowned. “Where did this little snake come from…”

A sweep of her spiritual sense brought brief relief—it was merely a snake who hadn’t even begun cultivating, only awakened spiritual intelligence by virtue of innate talent.

“You’re a monster, why mingle with humans? Come, join elder sister…”

“Hiss—”

Snake Treasure flicked its tongue at her in protest, then its small eyes spun, and with a grunt, it bit down on Song Yan’s shoulder.

Song Yan felt a wave of searing pain, followed by a cool sensation flowing from the wound into his body.

The sense of control over his body seemed to slowly return.

“Ugh…”

The light in his eyes came back, though his limbs were still numb.

“Hmm?”

Bai Yulu was surprised.

Indeed, there were many ways to break her illusion—certain pills or spiritual items, special methods of spiritual power circulation, and so forth…

But she had never heard of any kind of demon’s saliva being able to dispel her illusion.

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“Whoosh—”

Bai Yulu didn’t hesitate, the allure of spring radiating anew as she repeated her trick.

A fragrant breeze wafted over, and that heavy feeling threatened to drag him down again.

Little He was anxious, blocking Song Yan’s front. Its snake eyes glowed with a blue-gold light.

“You… you, you, you! Don’t look at her anymore!”

In that instant, Song Yan felt his mind clear, the oppressive sensation vanishing abruptly.

“Huh?”

Little He hadn’t cultivated any demon arts—what kind of magical power was this?

The opponent’s illusion ought to be a demon beast’s innate ability; otherwise, with his extraordinary spiritual sense, he would not have been so helpless.

Unexpectedly, Little He’s snake eyes seemed to hold something special.

Song Yan was puzzled, though he still hadn’t figured out the reason. Clearly, there were more pressing matters at hand.

He grabbed Li Qingfeng’s chubby hand.

“Little He, bite him!”

Another bite.

“Junior Brother Li, enough chatter. You handle that man, I’ll cut down this demon!”

“Uh…”

Li Qingfeng was still a bit dizzy and his arm hurt, but he remembered Song Yan’s words.

“Alright…”

“Such courage…”

Bai Yulu’s brows and eyes took on a chill; she knew that with the little snake present, illusions were pointless.

She was irritated. “If only your cultivation matched half your bravado!”

She summoned a long whip and attacked Song Yan directly.

Perhaps it was the effect of Little He’s gaze, but Song Yan felt his mind clearer than ever.

Ordinarily, a fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivator facing a mid-grade first-tier demon beast—even of equal realm—would have little hope of survival.

But now the demon’s formidable skills were diminished; a fight was not out of reach.

Bai Yulu lashed out, the innate strength of the demon beast making the whip crack through the air.

“You know nothing—when that woman is shredded by the array, you’ll learn what it means to wish for death!”

Strangely, Song Yan felt no fear.

Facing a demon beast of equal realm and unknown form, he felt… excitement.

The old Song Yan, had it not been for the sect’s strict requirement to descend the mountain, would have gladly hidden in the sect forever, cultivating until death.

When had he begun… to enjoy fighting?

Unnoticed, beneath the Sword Mansion, the embryonic Dao heart atop his Sword Dao seed was slowly rippling.

Song Yan summoned his flying sword, cleaving the whip apart, then leaped back, tapping lightly on the sword’s blade.

Three streaks of sword energy shot from his fingertips.

Bai Yulu dodged, but the edge of one sword energy grazed her, leaving a narrow gash across her brows.

“…”

She pinched a drop of crimson between her fingers. “Such sharp sword energy…”

Her demon blood boiled, but the residual sword energy on the wound slowed its healing.

“…”

Song Yan had no intention of holding back or hiding any cards; he only wanted to give his all, to test his current strength.

Above, the Foundation Establishment duel raged, with Senior Sister Qin bearing the brunt.

Junior Brother Li was helping to restrain the Sword Hanging Mountain cultivator.

Before him now was the demon who had slaughtered commoners alongside evil cultivators.

For him, this was a life-and-death battle.

There was no reason not to fight with everything.

He channeled spiritual power, activating a protective talisman. Three pale green shields of spiritual energy circled around him.

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His fingertips brushed lightly across the flying sword’s blade.

The sword energies within the Sword Mansion, blooming like lotuses, surged out through his fingertips, enveloping the blade.

Buzz—

He poured almost all of his sword energy into it!

For Song Yan, in life-and-death combat, there was no room for cautious probing.

To kill, one must seize the moment, strike like thunder, and annihilate the enemy instantly!

The flying sword obeyed his will, drawing forth sword energy and forcing Bai Yulu to retreat step by step!

Since leaving the Abyss of Bones, she had never suffered such humiliation.

Even Foundation Establishment cultivators like Jiang Xiao treated her with respect.

In her rage, she swung her whip, attempting to entangle the flying sword.

But she underestimated the sword energy on the blade.

Spiritual power surged around Song Yan, sword energy flooding forth!

“Swift!”

With a horizontal sweep, the whip could not withstand the fierce sword energy and broke apart, its spiritual light extinguished!

“Pfft—”

Bai Yulu spat blood, her mind unstable, and began to reveal beastly traits—white fur covered her face, her eyes reddened, ears exposed.

“A rabbit demon…”

It was merely a mid-tier first-grade demon beast; with her refined artifact damaged, her mind faltered.

Strike while she’s weak—Song Yan formed a sword seal with his fingertips.

“I am a demon of the Abyss of Bones, you—”

It was a pity.

For a greenhorn like Song Yan, he had no idea what the Abyss of Bones was.

Even if he did, it would make no difference.

Perhaps aided by Little He’s mysterious ability and the all-encompassing Dao heart, Song Yan had entered an extraordinarily profound state.

In his eyes, the world’s colors, sounds, lights—everything “extraneous” faded away.

Only the flying sword and Bai Yulu remained. Everything slowed down.

By the time Bai Yulu realized, it was too late.

The first streak of white sword shadow pierced her lower abdomen.

“Ugh…”

Her demonic energy was in chaos, unable to sustain itself.

“You dare—”

The second…

The third…

Seven waves of sword energy in succession, flooding Bai Yulu’s demon body.

The surrounding six sword shadows dragged blazing sword lights, spinning swiftly above her head, merging with the flying sword.

Sword in the Clouds!

Sword light fell.

Boom!!!

“…”

Violent energy waves swept mist and dust outward.

After a moment, spiritual power subsided, sword energy dispersed.

Song Yan walked slowly past Bai Yulu, his expression indifferent—toward such a wicked demon, he felt no mercy.

All that remained was the corpse of the rabbit demon, utterly lifeless, her eyes frozen in a look of stupefaction and confusion.

Like a statue, submerged in ancient sword energy.

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