The Three-Legged Crow ruthlessly pursued the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, going so far as to completely pierce the massive skeletal warship, engulfing it in raging fire as it plummeted into the sea, finally stunning Ye Zou and the Ghost Master who had been locked in their aerial battle.
Ye Qin snapped out of the ethereal state of combat, temporarily halting his exchange and recalling his flying sword.
The Ghost Master stared blankly at the skeletal warship crashing into the ocean. This colossal ghost ship, built with the combined might of over a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators from Desolate Spirit Island, had been sunk just like that. It was the cursed work of the Three-Legged Crow Demon Saint again!
Ye Qin’s expression shifted several times.
The clash between Demon Saints carried immense destructive power, easily affecting an area spanning hundreds of miles. A single misstep could result in being caught in the crossfire and perishing obscurely.
This place could not be lingered in!
Whoosh, Ye Qin soared on his sword toward the massive Winged Warship in the distance.
Seeing Ye Qin hastily depart, the Ghost Master hesitated, then turned to gather the few Nascent Soul ghost cultivators who had escaped the skeletal warship, quickly fleeing the sea zone where the Demon Saints were battling.
The golden and fiery red beams of the Demon Saints’ power collided and thundered across the sea and sky. Under the assault of countless sharp bursts of demonic energy, the waves in a hundred-mile radius surged towards the heavens.
“Captain Crow, the Temple’s pursuit team will arrive any moment! Once they are here, neither of us will survive! Let me go now, and we can settle our score another day.”
The Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox sensed several powerful auras closing in, its expression anxious.
“Qing Qiu Li, don’t think of wasting effort trying to use this opportunity to flee. Hand over the Holy Relic immediately.”
The Three-Legged Crow’s golden-hued face was contorted in ferocity as its sharp talons lashed out at the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, ignoring the plea completely. “Give me the Holy Relic, and I will draw them away; then you can go wherever you wish. Otherwise, I swear I will take your life today!”
“Captain Crow, even I cannot fully comprehend the mysteries of the Holy Relic. What use would it be to you even if you obtained it? Could your enlightenment ever match mine?”
“Hmph. Just because you cannot unravel the secrets of the Holy Relic does not mean this Saint cannot! I am the most gifted cultivator of the Three-Legged Crow clan. With this Holy Relic, I will become the most formidable cultivator in the Demon Realm! Before long, I shall conquer the entire Demon Realm, and all tribes will bow before me—your Fox Clan included.”
The Three-Legged Crow and the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox engaged in a fierce exchange of words even as they battled violently.
The Three-Legged Crow Demon Saint was absolutely relentless in its demand for the Holy Relic, leaving the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox with nothing but curses and helplessness.
Ancestor Blood Gourd and Sword Venerable Qing Hao, the two Soul Transformation cultivators rushing from Linhai City, tracked the Three-Legged Crow Demon Saint and halted hundreds of miles away from the sea battlefield, refusing to approach closer.
Ancestor Blood Gourd and Sword Venerable Qing Hao observed the situation in the sea battlefield from afar, looking somewhat perplexed, unsure of what had transpired. For a moment, they didn't know how to make a move.
“In the urgent dispatches from the two Immortal Alliances, wasn't it stated that only one Three-Legged Crow Demon Saint left the Demon Realm to cause trouble in the East Sea Cultivation World? Why is there a Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Demon Saint here as well?”
“The Three-Legged Crow Demon Saint and the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Demon Saint are both demon cultivators from the Demon Realm, belonging to the same faction, and their races are not natural enemies. Why are they fighting so desperately, as if trying to beat each other to death?”
Ancestor Blood Gourd and Sword Venerable Qing Hao were both ancient cultivators who had roamed the cultivation world for over a thousand years, possessing boundless experience.
“Could they be fighting over something?”
“Treasure hunting?!”
They exchanged glances, and the same thought flashed through both their minds almost simultaneously.
Just like cultivators from the two East Sea Immortal Alliances, who could negotiate solutions even with existing feuds, they would not fight to the death without cause. There was only one scenario where they would strike lethally regardless of alliance ties: the struggle for a rare and supreme treasure.
If they were truly fighting over an object of extreme importance and neither would yield, they would not hesitate to kill fellow alliance members, perhaps even sworn brothers.
It was the same among demon cultivators; unless their races were natural enemies, they typically would not easily engage in open warfare. Only disputes over territory vital for a tribe's survival, or the seizure of natural treasures critically useful for cultivation, would trigger such a frenzied blood feud.
This was the East Sea Cultivation World; Demon Saints certainly would not be here fighting over territory.
That left only one possibility: the seizure of treasure.
“The Three-Legged Crow Demon Saint and the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Demon Saint are both high-ranking demons. What could they be fighting over so fiercely? Whatever they are risking their lives for must be something truly valuable!”
Ancestor Blood Gourd’s wide eyes turned flushed and hot.
“No matter how fine a spiritual treasure, one needs a life to enjoy it!”
Sword Venerable Qing Hao scoffed coldly and glanced toward another direction over the sea, his brow deeply furrowed.
Another group of Demon Saints was approaching from that direction. It was a group, not just one or two. They were beyond what the two of them could handle.
“Ha! So many Demon Saints gathering for the excitement, completely disregarding the warning the Ancient Alliance cultivators gave the Demon Realm long ago. It seems the appearance of Demon Saints in the East Sea is not a simple matter!”
Ancestor Blood Gourd let out a strange laugh, though it sounded strained.
Sensing the rapidly approaching cohort of Demon Saints, he cursed inwardly. The intelligence from the two Immortal Alliances was far too inaccurate. They reported only one Demon Saint appearing in the East Sea, when in reality, it was a whole group. Had they known this, more Soul Transformation cultivators from the Southern Demon Continent and Northern Abyss Continent would surely have been sent, preventing this embarrassing situation.
They had merely arrived a step too early.
Soon, in a mere few breaths, six incredibly domineering beams of light swept across the sea, their demonic aura soaring into the heavens.
They simultaneously halted about a hundred miles from the sea battlefield, revealing the imposing forms of six great Demon Saints. However, they were surprised to find not only the Three-Legged Crow and the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox battling fiercely but also two unexpected Soul Transformation cultivators present.
“Captain Qing Luan! You take two of them and kill Qing Qiu Li to reclaim the treasure! The rest of you, follow this captain to eliminate those two Soul Transformation cultivators and prevent the news from leaking.”
The leading Demon Saint shimmered, transforming into an exceptionally burly Azure Ox, its deep, hoarse voice stating the command.
“Agreed, split up and act!”
The other voice responded sharply.
“Kill!”
The six Demon Saints immediately divided into two teams.
The three Demon Saints led by the Azure Ox transformed into several beams of imposing light, charging directly toward the battlefield to encircle and kill the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, Qing Qiu Li, and seize the Holy Relic, the gray egg, belonging to the Holy Temple.
The other team of three Demon Saints pounced upon the two Soul Transformation cultivators, intending to silence them to prevent the leak of information. If the East Sea Soul Transformation cultivators learned of the treasure and spread the word, the consequences would likely be dire.
It was likely that none of the Demon Saints or Soul Transformation cultivators present had anticipated such a chaotic turn of events.
The situation on the battlefield shifted drastically in an instant.
Demon Saint Qing Luan led a team to attack the two Soul Transformation cultivators.
“Damn it! This old devil has never seen so many high-ranking tribal Demon Saints from the Demon Realm in one place—Three-Legged Crow, Nine-Tailed Fox, Qing Luan, Azure Ox! Killing one Demon Saint is enough meat for this old devil to feast on for years! The spiritual energy in its flesh is enough for this old devil to break through to the fourth layer of Soul Transformation!”
Ancestor Blood Gourd paused mid-……, swallowed hard, his meridians bulging, his bronze skin tightening. With a furious roar, a terrifying spiritual pressure and a ravenous blood-thirsting aura erupted. Clutching his giant club, he strode forward and smashed down furiously toward Demon Saint Qing Luan.
He had long since unleashed his great divine artifact, the Blood Gourd, which swelled to the size of a colossal mountain, growing larger in the wind. Its maw was bottomless, sucking wildly at the charging Demon Saint Qing Luan. The suction force was so immense it could swallow the seawater of hundreds of miles of sea area. Any beast sucked inside would quickly dissolve into a pool of bloody water.
Sword Venerable Qing Hao waved his hand, letting out a sharp cry, and threw out several great divine flying swords. Sharp sword auras spat out for several miles, engaging the other two Demon Saints.
The two Soul Transformation cultivators did not retreat; instead, they unleashed their full power to attack.
The three Demon Saints and the two Soul Transformation cultivators were locked in a fierce battle. Their speed was so great that their figures were almost indistinguishable, and the resulting power shook heaven and earth. A casual sword strike could almost tear space in half. If cultivators from the East Sea witnessed this scene, they would surely be shaken beyond measure.
Such combat was utterly beyond the scope of Nascent Soul cultivators to intervene in.
At this moment, Demon Saint Azure Ox led the other two Demon Saints to attack the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox on the other front.
The Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox was already in a wretched state; she was no match for the Three-Legged Crow Demon Saint. Furthermore, being in the sea and sky environment hindered her ability to utilize her full strength, giving the Three-Legged Crow a significant advantage in speed, making it extremely difficult even to shake off her pursuer and flee.
Now, with Demon Saint Azure Ox leading two more Demon Saints to attack, she fell into utter despair.
The terror of Demon Saint Azure Ox was no less than that of the Three-Legged Crow Demon Saint; perhaps even greater. In a direct, head-on confrontation, the Three-Legged Crow might not even be a match for the Azure Ox.
Once surrounded and attacked by four Demon Saints from all directions, she faced only certain death, with not the slightest chance of escape.
As for surrendering and offering the gray egg for mercy, that was meaningless.
She had stolen the most important Holy Relic from the Twilight Holy Temple and brought it to the East Sea Cultivation World. Death was her only fate; the Holy Master would certainly issue an order for her execution.
“Fleeing from the Twilight Holy Temple, escaping the Demon Realm, and hiding in the East Sea Cultivation World—in the end, I still couldn't escape the pursuit order laid down by the Holy Master! There is no path left but death.”
Qing Qiu Li’s eyes shone with absolute despair. She gritted her teeth and finally showed a look of grim resolve.
Wounded all over, she desperately tried to flee, and all nine of her fox tails released an eerie crimson light, dazzling and startling, like crimson wine. The light grew ever brighter, illuminating the sky over a hundred-mile radius. The bulk of the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Demon Saint’s demonic power was stored in these nine tails, containing the vast demonic energy cultivated over thousands of years.
The physical body of the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Demon Saint was exceptionally strong; even constant attacks from the Three-Legged Crow’s sharp talons could not inflict fatal wounds. However, once she self-detonated, the destructive force of her physical body would be astonishing.
“Not good, she’s going to self-detonate her body!”
Demon Saint Azure Ox was charging forward but abruptly stopped short of reaching the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, shouting in alarm before spinning around to flee. The other two Demon Saints dared not pursue and quickly retreated to save themselves.
The Three-Legged Crow, which was closest, felt its sharp talons tearing further wounds into the Fox’s body. Seeing this, it was greatly horrified. “No! The Holy Relic is still on her, she cannot self-destruct!” But even though it hated abandoning the Holy Relic, it had no choice but to cease the pursuit, turn back, and flee rapidly with spread wings.
Ye Qin had already returned to the Winged Warship and was piloting it away from the battlefield where the Demon Saints and Soul Transformation cultivators were fighting.
He heard a deep, dull roar that seemed to be the only sound echoing across the world, drowning out everything else.
Ye Qin turned back in horror. He saw a blinding, fiery red cloud rising slowly from the ocean, soaring toward the zenith of the sky. A surge of immense air pressure followed, almost capsizing the Winged Warship, which was already rapidly moving away overhead. (To be continued)
Three Demon Sages and two Nascent Soul cultivators were locked in a fierce battle, their movements so rapid they were nearly invisible, their power shaking the heavens and earth; a mere casual sword qi strike threatened to tear space in half. Any from the East Sea who witnessed this might well be too stunned to contain themselves.
Such high-level combat was entirely beyond the purview of any Core Formation cultivator.
The Azure Ox Demon Sage, however, led two other Demon Sages in an attack toward the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox fighting in another quadrant.
The Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox was already in a wretched state; she was no match for the Three-Legged Crow Demon Sage. Furthermore, being in the open sea sky severely hampered her ability to bring her full strength to bear, giving the Three-Legged Crow an even greater advantage in speed, making escape agonizingly difficult.
When the Azure Ox Demon Sage arrived with his two companions, charging her flank, absolute despair seized her.
The might of the Azure Ox Demon Sage was in no way inferior to the Three-Legged Crow Demon Sage—indeed, it might even surpass it. In a straight, head-on confrontation, the Three-Legged Crow might not even stand a chance against the Azure Ox.
If she were to be surrounded on all four sides by four Demon Sages, it would spell certain doom, leaving absolutely no slim possibility of escape.
As for surrendering and offering the Gray Egg to beg for mercy, that was utterly meaningless. She had stolen the most crucial Holy Artifact from the Dusk Temple and brought it into the Eastern Sea Cultivation World; death was her only fate, certain execution ordered by the Holy Master.
"To emerge from the Dusk Temple, flee the Demon Realm, reach the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, hiding and darting about—in the end, I still could not escape the pursuit ordered by the Holy Master! There is no other path but death."
Qingqiu Li’s gaze was filled with boundless despair. She gritted her teeth, finally resolving herself with fierce determination.
Wounded all over, she pushed her escape to the limit, unleashing a strange, crimson glow from all nine of her tails. It was like deep, flushed wine—a dazzling, heartbreaking red, growing brighter until it illuminated the sky across a hundred-mile expanse. The Demon Power of the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox was nearly entirely concentrated within these nine tails, containing the vast reservoir of power she had cultivated over millennia.
The physical body of the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox Demon Sage was immensely resilient; even repeated clawing from the Three-Legged Crow failed to inflict grievous wounds. But if she self-destructed, the destructive force of her flesh would be catastrophic.
"Not good, she intends to detonate her body!"
The Azure Ox Demon Sage, charging forward, halted abruptly before even reaching the Fox, letting out a startled roar as he spun around to flee. The other two Demon Sages dared not pursue, immediately beating a hasty retreat.
The Three-Legged Crow, who had been closest in pursuit and whose claws continued to rake the Fox’s body, was aghast. "No! The Holy Artifact is still with her, she cannot self-destruct!" But even though he treasured the artifact above all else, he had no choice but to cease the chase and swiftly retract his wings, turning back in flight.
Ye Qin had already returned to the Great Wing Battleship, maneuvering it away from the chaotic battlefield where the Demon Sages and Nascent Soul cultivators fought.
He heard a single, dull, heavy boom, a sound so immense it seemed to consume everything in the universe, drowning out all other noise.
Ye Qin looked back in horror. He saw a blindingly bright, fiery-red cloud rising slowly from the sea, ascending toward the heavens twenty thousand feet high. A tidal wave of pure concussive force followed, nearly capsizing the Great Wing Battleship, which was already speeding away in the sky. (To be continued) [Text provided by Qihang Update Group] If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly votes; your support is my greatest motivation.)