Just as Su Yi, working in tandem with the disciples' formation, pushed the dozen or so pseudo-Foundation Establishment demons into a wretched corner and was on the verge of capturing them all—
Hum—!
A streak of dark, somber sword light shot abruptly from the valley entrance like lightning tearing through space, carrying a terrifying stillness of death and razor-sharp lethality!
Before the sword light even arrived, the killing intent—condensed as though tangible—and an unimaginably heavy sword pressure sent a collective chill through the hearts of everyone present!
Su Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly. The pinpoint light of the Combat Assist Feature flashed across his vision as he brought his longsword around, tracing a full, circular arc of light before him.
Clang—!
A deafening, muffled clash of metal detonated—far louder and heavier than any collision before it!
Waves of air billowed outward. Su Yi’s figure swayed slightly, and he floated backward several paces to diffuse the colossal impact.
The dark light recoiled as well, flying back into a hand wrapped in blood-soaked white cloth.
The one who had struck was none other than Fang Xiu of the Remnant Sword Prison! No one knew when he had quietly arrived at the valley, yet there he stood expressionless, his aura firm as a boulder, radiating the unmistakable pressure unique to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
“Senior Brother Fang!” The battered, ash-faced demons cried out as if catching sight of their savior, expressions of mingled shame and relief spreading across their faces.
Yet Fang Xiu did not even bother sparing them a glance. Sweeping his icy gaze over this disheveled group of his kin, he spoke with undisguised contempt: “Over a dozen trash who barely reached Foundation Establishment through underhanded tricks, yet you're being chased and thrashed by a fellow at Qi Condensation Perfection... You’ve utterly disgraced the demon race!”
At his words, the demons all blushed with shame and hung their heads, unable to utter a single word of rebuttal.
The facts were plain to see; there was nothing to refute.
Just then, beside Fang Xiu, Tu Lingqie stepped out with a beaming smile, clad in her flamboyant purple dress.
Acting as if oblivious to the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere, she directed her gaze straight toward Su Yi and smiled charmingly: “Young Manor Lord Su, we are people of our word, you know? I’ve brought all the people you wanted. So... where is the ‘pill’ we asked for?”
As soon as her voice fell, over a dozen panicked, raggedly dressed righteous disciples stepped forward.
These were precisely the rogue cultivators and disciples of minor sects who had been captured earlier.
Su Yi swept his gaze over his captured fellow cultivators. His expression remained unchanged as he replied calmly, “The pill, of course, has been prepared.”
With a flick of his wrist, an exquisite jade bottle appeared in his hand, which he casually tossed toward Tu Lingqie.
A strange glint flashed in Tu Lingqie’s eyes. Unable to wait, she caught the bottle, uncorked it, and shook out a crimson pill that radiated a bizarrely sweet aroma. Popping it directly into her mouth, she savored it with an intoxicated expression on her face.
“Mmm~ The heat control was splendid, and the spiritual power is locked in tightly... Really well-refined.”
Smacking her lips, she looked as though she were tasting some peerless delicacy.
This brazen display made the scalps of many righteous disciples tingle with dread and their stomachs churn violently.
Even though they knew the primary ingredient of this Blood Qi Spirit Pill had come from a demon, witnessing someone relish a pill refined from a sentient being with such sheer delight still chilled them to the bone and stirred deep nausea within them.
The effects of the Blood Qi Spirit Pill were indeed remarkable, but due to the method of refinement, it had long since been banned as a forbidden pill by the righteous path; an act like this was no different from cannibalism.
Fang Xiu, however, paid no mind to the pill. He was more concerned with the business at hand. Locking his gaze back onto Su Yi, he said coldly, “Where are Feng Zimo and Deng Nie? Hand them over.”
Su Yi spread his hands, a helpless yet wary smile surfacing on his face. “Fellow Daoist Fang, you’re being a bit unreasonable here. I’ve handed over the pill, but where are the people I asked for?”
“Not to mention, you are a bona fide Foundation Establishment cultivator of formidable strength. I'm certainly no match for you.”
“How about you release the hostages first to show your sincerity? After all, the reputation of your demon race... heheh, you know how it is.”
Though Su Yi appeared to show weakness, his mind was crystal-clear.
Fang Xiu was cautious by nature—paranoid, even.
In truth, he lacked both the capability and confidence to wage an all-out battle; otherwise, he wouldn't be negotiating so politely instead of charging forward with his sword raised.
There were at least two reasons he hesitated to strike recklessly: First, he himself lacked the confidence to handle the siege of over a dozen pseudo-Foundation Establishment cultivators as effortlessly as Su Yi had, which meant he did not believe he could easily wipe out all the righteous disciples present.
Second, at his side was Tu Lingqie—an unpredictable viper who might stab him in the back at any moment.
Cooperate? They’d be fortunate if they didn't sabotage each other.
After all, having Su Yi refine the pill and having those demons forcibly breakthrough to Foundation Establishment had both been her ideas. Tu Lingqie had never cared about her own kind.
And Su Yi’s deduction was spot-on.
Fang Xiu indeed harbored these exact reservations.
There was no way he could genuinely join forces with Tu Lingqie, and the dozen or so pseudo-Foundation Establishment demons clearly couldn't chew through this tough bone.
Moreover, the three Elders were exerting all their strength to unlock that crucial Nascent Soul legacy. There was no need to fight to the death with the righteous path here, which would only lead to mutual destruction and jeopardize their primary objective.
Weighing the pros and cons, Fang Xiu hesitated no longer.
He cast a deep, piercing look at Su Yi, as if etching the elusive, unpredictable young master of the righteous path into his memory, before waving his hand coldly.
The restrictions on the captured righteous disciples were undone in an instant. They froze for a second, then bolted toward the righteous camp like startled birds, scrambling and stumbling forward with faces flooded by sheer relief at surviving a calamity.
Seeing Fang Xiu release the hostages as agreed, Su Yi delayed no further and signaled to the disciples behind him: “Bring them out.”
Soon, Feng Zimo and Deng Nie, their spiritual power sealed and looking thoroughly listless, were escorted forward.
Su Yi stepped forward in person, appearing as though he intended to unravel part of their restrictions to allow them to walk back to the demonic camp.
However, the instant Su Yi drew close to Feng Zimo and Deng Nie, a sudden, drastic shift occurred!
Tu Lingqie, who had been smiling all along, suddenly looked as if she had been struck by a venomous viper. Her face morphed drastically, and without the slightest hesitation, she bolted backward, putting dozens of zhang between herself, Su Yi, and the two demonic commanders in a split second!
Her abrupt reaction caught Fang Xiu off guard, but his reflexes were razor-sharp. Even though he didn't understand why, Tu Lingqie's bizarre behavior was warning enough, and he instinctively retreated rapidly as well!
Yet at that very moment, after Su Yi gave their backs a seemingly casual pat, the eyes of the previously listless, hollow-eyed Feng Zimo and Deng Nie flared a blazing scarlet!
That crimson gleam was not born of fury, but a madness stripped of all reason, leaving behind nothing but the most primal, voracious desire to devour!
“Roar—!”
Like maddened beasts, inhuman roars rumbled from their throats. The demonic qi previously sealed within their bodies violently boiled over beyond control. Yet, instead of attacking Su Yi who was right before them, they whipped around, charging with manic, greedy, reckless fury straight toward the retreating Fang Xiu!
Their eyes locked dead onto Fang Xiu, as if he were the most exquisite delicacy in the world—the sole font capable of filling the void in their souls!
“What are you doing?! Get back!” Startled and furious, Fang Xiu barked harshly. But Feng Zimo and Deng Nie were deaf to his shout. Moving even faster, they pounced forward baring their claws, their posture resembling beasts eager to tear him apart and swallow him whole!
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