First Blood

Yunluo Mountain Range, outskirts.

At Shen Yi's command, the three Tier 1 demonic beasts charged at the other side in unison.

How could that shouting man have imagined that the demonic beasts, which clearly looked as though they had just been captured, would obey Shen Yi so completely?

He had thought he was facing nothing more than a fifth or sixth layer of Body Forging Realm brat. With his eighth layer of Body Forging Realm strength, he should have been more than capable of defeating his opponent, taking those demonic beasts, and presenting them to his master.

Now, under the furious assault of three demonic beasts, the man was in a miserable state. In the blink of an eye, he had fallen into a disadvantage, his body covered in wounds as blood dripped from his tattered clothes.

"Fine, boy. As long as the green mountains remain, the rivers will keep flowing. If you have the guts, don't leave the Yunluo Mountain Range!"

Shen Yi did not take the man before him seriously. Even if he possessed Body Forging Eighth Layer cultivation, Shen Yi was still confident he could defeat him. Unfortunately, there were too many eyes around. Otherwise, Shen Yi would not have minded making him vanish from this world.

As he continued deeper into the mountains, the demonic beasts clearing the way ahead spared Shen Yi quite a bit of trouble.

The tools originally used to capture demonic beasts were dismantled piece by piece and used to carry medicinal herbs instead.

When they reached a mountain pass, the demonic beasts all stopped, staring tensely into the depths of the mist.

"Are there demonic beasts inside?"

Shen Yi noticed their fear and tried asking.

"Are they strong?"

The demonic beasts nodded like pounding garlic. Some of the weaker ones were even trembling slightly.

"Looks like there are at least Tier 2 demonic beasts!"

Shen Yi placed the medicinal herbs on the Azure Stone Boar's back and moved to a concealed spot.

"Wait here for me. I'll go inside and take a look."

The Azure Stone Boar had already witnessed Shen Yi's strength along the way and did not dare harbor any ulterior thoughts. It even put on a self-righteous air as it guarded the other demonic beasts, drawing profound disdain from them all.

Deep within the mountain pass, Shen Yi hid behind a boulder and observed the area ahead.

"There seems to be a battle over there, but the mist is too thick to see clearly."

After pondering for a moment, Shen Yi decided to get closer. He had heard a familiar voice—the man who had shouted about robbing him.

The sounds of battle grew nearer and nearer. Shen Yi finally saw clearly that a group of five people was surrounding and fighting a demonic beast.

"That is... a Golden Winged Eagle!"

A Tier 2 demonic beast! Shen Yi's heart tightened. It was a genuine Tier 2 demonic beast, far stronger than the Second-Order War Beasts the academy had bred over generations. Its wild nature alone, once unleashed, was enough to suppress many war beasts of the same rank.

"Those four are all Qi Refining cultivators. Only that unlucky fellow is still in the Body Forging stage."

After confirming the situation, Shen Yi decided to remain hidden and watch for changes. The four Qi Refining cultivators were formidable, but that Tier 2 Golden Winged Eagle was equally not to be underestimated.

For a time, spells erupted across the field and spiritual energy churned violently. Wave after wave of fierce attacks shot toward the Golden Winged Eagle, knocking countless golden feathers from its body.

"So this is the strength of Qi Refining cultivators?"

Shen Yi was glad he had not acted rashly and revealed himself. Against the attacks of those people, even with Minor Accomplishment of Undying Skin, he was not confident he could withstand a single blow. Besides, he currently had no proper offensive techniques, only a few punches and kicks backed by brute strength.

Yet the Golden Winged Eagle was no harmless creature either. Though struck by spells and left somewhat disheveled, it still relied on its speed and iron wings to wound two people.

"Wang Si, hold that eagle back for a moment. I'll cast a spell!"

That Wang Si was precisely the man Shen Yi had released earlier. At present, the other three had all been wounded and fallen, leaving only him able to move.

"Young Master, please hurry!"

In just a single breath, Wang Si was clawed and several bloody marks appeared across his chest. Seeing another man concentrate on casting a spell, the Golden Winged Eagle's golden feathers stood on end. With a beat of its wings, it shot toward him, its claws flashing with cold light as it sought to kill with one strike.

"Too late!"

The man sneered and swept his longsword. A bolt of red lightning shot from the blade's edge.

With a mournful cry, half a golden wing fell from the air. The Golden Winged Eagle suffered grievous injuries and dragged its ruined body into the clouds and mist.

"Cough, cough!"

That Qi Refining cultivator was pale as well. It seemed that the strike just now had exhausted all his spiritual energy.

"Wang Si, quickly check on our fellow cultivators. Are they in danger?"

Though the man instructed Wang Si with his words, his hand made a command to kill. Wang Si understood at once, answered, hid a dagger behind his back, and hurried toward the others.

"Many thanks, fellow cultivator Wang Minghui."

The three were completely unaware that danger was upon them, still offering grateful praise to Wang Minghui and his servant.

"You..."

"Argh!"

"You—you can't kill me! I—I am a disciple of Ninghai Immortal Academy!"

"Argh!"

Wang Si dealt with the three as easily as a familiar road, clearly showing that he and his master were not doing this for the first time.

"Ninghai Immortal Academy!"

Shen Yi had originally intended to turn a blind eye and avoid trouble, but upon hearing that they were disciples of the Immortal Academy, he naturally could not simply stand by.

"Stop!"

Unfortunately, he was still a step too late. Shen Yi sighed inwardly. This senior brother had fallen just like that.

"It's you!"

Wang Si recognized Shen Yi at a glance. He whispered a few words into Wang Minghui's ear, then fixed Shen Yi with a vicious glare.

"Boy! Since you've seen this, I can't let you live. But if you are willing to hand over those demonic beasts, I'll spare your life."

Shen Yi noticed that although Wang Minghui spoke harshly, the pallor on his face had deepened. He was clearly a powerful crossbow at the end of its flight.

"Today, I will avenge my fellow disciples!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Shen Yi met Wang Si's dagger head-on and punched him in the face. The blow left his vision spinning, his body swaying before he crashed to the ground.

"Wang Si!"

Wang Minghui picked up his longsword and waved it wildly before himself, trying to prevent Shen Yi from drawing closer.

Shen Yi neither dodged nor evaded, allowing the longsword to slash against his body. A trace of mockery appeared on his face.

"If you were at your peak, I would not be your match in a single exchange. But now you are a powerful crossbow at the end of its flight. How can you possibly hurt me?"

"Impossible! Impossible! Spare me! I am the Great Elder's son of Qingxuan Sect! I can give you Spirit Stones and cultivation techniques! If you kill me, Qingxuan Sect will never let you go! Spare me, please!"

Wang Minghui spoke incoherently. As he spoke, he actually dropped to his knees and begged for mercy, smashing his head against the ground with heavy thuds.

"Spare me!"

Blood seeped from Wang Minghui's forehead and ran down his cheeks onto the ground, making him look utterly wretched.

"Spare me, or else... go die!"

Wang Minghui suddenly sprang up. No one knew where he had produced a dagger from as he drove it straight toward Shen Yi's abdomen.

The dagger pressed against Shen Yi's abdomen but could not pierce even the slightest bit. Shen Yi smiled faintly. Amid Wang Minghui's stunned gaze, he gripped the dagger with one hand and forcibly crushed it until it twisted out of shape.

"Other than being thick-skinned and tough, I've got a bit of strength."

A cold flash streaked through the air. With an expression of utter disbelief, Wang Minghui clutched his throat and fell into a pool of blood.

As for Wang Si, the demonic beasts Shen Yi summoned dragged him into the nearby grass.