Untamable Demonic Nature, Unextinguished Human Nature

Stone Mountain God Huang Siping's gaze was cold. His other leg was devoid of flesh, only bone remained, and it would snap if too much force were applied. Therefore, he had to end this battle quickly!

In his hand, the saber light flared, Blood Essence coursing through the Hundred Refinements Horse-Slaying Saber. The saber light, like a silken banner, clashed with the bronze pillar Xu Ying swung!

The bronze pillar Xu Ying swung was awe-inspiring, stirring up a tempest. Huang Siping's saber energy was intensely fierce, striking the bronze pillar and slicing it open with its sharp edge!

His True Yang Vitality was even more scorching than a raging fire. Where the saber light passed, it actually turned the cut surface of the bronze pillar a fiery red!

However, the power within the bronze pillar also pressed down along the saber, the might of the Elephant God. Although Xu Ying was not a Demon King, his strength far surpassed Huang Siping's!

Huang Siping's hands, gripping the saber, trembled. He couldn't help but take a step back to avoid putting too much strain on his left leg's bone.

Xu Ying's half-bronze pillar thrust forward. Huang Siping retreated another step, meeting the pillar with a downward saber strike. His True Yang Vitality grew even hotter. Under the saber's edge, the bronze pillar even began to melt, dripping molten copper.

His saber strike even split the bronze pillar in two from the center!

Yet, the moment he split the bronze pillar, Xu Ying spun it, twisting the Hundred Refinements Horse-Slaying Saber and both of Huang Siping's arms!

Huang Siping roared, his body flickered, revealing his true form: a wolf-headed, human-bodied yellow wolf, over ten feet tall, imposing and extraordinary, with silver teeth and sharp claws, his yellow fur like countless golden needles!

His roar was like the mournful howl of a gale. His True Yang Vitality surged, and he drew his saber. But Xu Ying pressed forward, his palm like an elephant god's trunk, slapping the saber's surface with a crack.

The Hundred Refinements Horse-Slaying Saber was struck and bent out of shape, but Huang Siping's True Yang Vitality also flowed along the saber into Xu Ying's palm, invading his body along his arm!

Huang Siping was the Demon King of Stone Mountain, his Blood Essence cultivation immensely profound. Coupled with his scorching True Yang Vitality, which could easily melt copper and iron, how could Xu Ying's flesh and blood withstand it?

However, his invading Blood Essence was immediately met by Xu Ying's resistance.

The instant the saber and hand separated, Huang Siping sensed that although Xu Ying's Blood Essence was inferior to his own, it was extremely pure. It instantly blocked his True Yang Vitality at the elbow and pushed it back, leaving no lingering threat!

"To possess such cultivation at such a young age, no wonder you could kill the Grass Head God!"

Huang Siping's arms went numb from the shock, and the Hundred Refinements Horse-Slaying Saber slipped from his grasp. Instead of anger, he praised, "As expected of an anomaly among our Demon Race!"

The technique Xu Ying cultivated was clearly a demonic guiding technique, and the martial path he practiced was also that of the Demon Race. Although he looked human, in Huang Siping's mind, he wasn't necessarily human.

He had never seen anyone so savage.

He showed no mercy with his claws, which, combined with his True Yang Vitality, were no less imposing than the Hundred Refinements Horse-Slaying Saber!

Simultaneously, Xu Ying's fist struck, and the elephant-headed, human-bodied fiend body behind him also unleashed a full-power blow. Under that punch, the wind raged!

Both were hit simultaneously. Xu Ying spat blood and fell backward, crashing into the Great Hall of Heroes, flames erupting on his body and setting the hall ablaze!

Huang Siping was struck in the chest by the violent force. His clothes on his back burst open, and his massive body flew backward. Upon landing, a crack was heard – his left leg bone had completely snapped!

Huang Siping staggered back several steps before finally collapsing. He rolled on the ground, transforming into a giant yellow wolf with only three legs, and fled wildly into the forest.

"Xu Ying, we are both of the Demon Race. Since your demonic nature has not vanished, I will spare your life!" His voice echoed from afar.

Previously, when his leg bone was intact, he could still fight Xu Ying. Now, with one leg missing, he could not even unleash thirty percent of his strength, forcing him to flee.

In the Great Hall of Heroes, Xu Ying leaped up and pressed his hands onto the ground. Instantly, the flames in the hall were suppressed and extinguished.

Suddenly, his throat felt hot, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. The blood on the ground turned into raging flames – the damage caused by Huang Siping's True Yang Vitality invading his heart and lungs.

The True Yang Vitality was incredibly scorching, capable of melting copper and iron. If Xu Ying's Blood Essence hadn't been so robust, he would have been burned to a crisp!

Xu Ying grunted, circulating his Blood Essence to suppress the True Yang Vitality with all his might. However, the wound on his chest burst open, revealing his ribs.

If he hadn't cultivated the Elephant God Fiend Body to block some of Huang Siping's power, his ribs would have been severed by that claw!

Xu Ying barely managed to stabilize his injuries. At the wound on his chest, he left a trace of True Yang Vitality. The True Yang Vitality cauterized his wound, and only then did he expel this trace of True Yang Vitality.

Xu Ying breathed in and out, activating the Taiyi Guiding Technique. Suddenly, Wei Chu, who was in the courtyard, twitched his legs.

Xu Ying's eyes flickered. He grabbed the bent horse-slaying saber and threw it with a whoosh.

Wei Chu rolled to dodge the thrown saber and quickly got to his feet, laughing heartily, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. God Slayer Xu Ying, you indeed possess the strength to slay gods. But now that you and the Stone Mountain wolf are both wounded, can you still contend with me?"

His right leg, which had no flesh, was slowly regenerating it!

Xu Ying chuckled, "Elder Wei is clearly a Nu Master, and you've opened the Ni Wan Secret Treasury, possessing extraordinary power. Yet, you feigned death. Logically, Nu Art counters demonic arts, and Elder Wei should be able to handle two opponents. But you waited until we were both injured, which can only mean that your injuries cannot be healed by the Ni Wan Secret Treasury."

Wei Chu's expression darkened.

He had indeed been feigning death because his injuries were too severe.

When the roar from the well erupted, he was the closest and suffered the most severe impact. More crucially, although he was a Nu Master, his physical cultivation was far inferior to Xu Ying's, Huang Siping's, and even the Snake Demon Yuan Qi's!

While the Ni Wan Secret Treasury could grant him immortality, it was not absolute immortality!

The internal injuries caused by the roar from the well could not be healed in a short time!

"At that time, I was indeed no match for you. But now..." Wei Chu strode towards Xu Ying, sneering, "I can easily kill you!"

Xu Ying stood his ground, unmoving, and said, "Elder Wei seems to have forgotten my good brother Yuan Qi. He is currently hiding on the roof of the Great Hall of Heroes, waiting for Elder Wei to make a move, and he will deliver a fatal blow."

Wei Chu's expression changed drastically as he remembered the Judicial Assistant Ding Quan's neck.

Xu Ying's face was solemn, "Judicial Assistant Ding Quan, you should be familiar with him, right? My good brother Yuan Qi's snake venom is second only to the best in the world. He bit Mr. Ding. Even if Ding Quan is rescued, he will die! The Ni Wan Secret Treasury cannot save him either!"

Suddenly, laughter came from outside the temple. "Didn't that Snake Demon say last time that his snake venom was fifth in the world? How did it become second in your mouth, you scoundrel?"

Xu Ying's expression shifted slightly. He saw Ding Quan step into the temple. His neck was dark, and his complexion was not good, clearly indicating that the snake venom had not been completely neutralized.

Wei Chu couldn't help but laugh heartily, mocking, "Scoundrel, what else can you say to defend yourself?"

Ding Quan walked to Wei Chu's side, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Brother Wei, for helping me detoxify. If not for Brother Wei's rescue, I, Ding, would already be a ghost in the underworld."

Wei Chu waved his hand and chuckled, "You and I are colleagues. Saving you was just a small favor, nothing to mention."

Ding Quan said solemnly, "It was a small favor to Brother Wei, but it was a life-saving grace to me. I, Ding, have read the books of sages since childhood and know about propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame. I will never forget Brother Wei's kindness!"

Xu Ying quickly calmed down, his expression returning to normal. He softly chanted, "The heavenly soul gives birth to the White Tiger, the earthly spirit produces the Azure Dragon. Circulate the treasure within the Ni Wan, moving essence into the Upper Palace. If one understands this method, their appearance will remain youthful for ten thousand years."

Wei Chu and Ding Quan heard this, and their expressions changed drastically.

Ding Quan's body trembled.

Wei Chu stepped forward and shouted, "What did you say? Where did you get the Ni Wan Hidden Scenery Qi Refining Method? This is clearly the Zhou family's secret..."

As soon as he spoke, countless roots wriggled beneath his feet, like tiny spiritual snakes burrowing into the flesh and blood of his legs!

His right leg's flesh was still growing, giving these roots an opportunity. In a short instant, countless roots had penetrated his blood vessels and invaded his heart!

Wei Chu stared blankly, then turned to look at the person beside him in disbelief.

Ding Quan looked at him, his eyes brimming with tears, and choked out, "Brother Wei, he forced me, don't blame me! The moment you spoke of the Ni Wan Hidden Scenery Qi Refining Method, I had to kill you. I don't want the Zhou family to exterminate my entire clan! I have a wife at home, and three concubines to support. I'm a pitiable man, you know..."

Wei Chu's face turned red, blood gushing from his mouth. He struggled to utter his last words, "I saved your life..."

Ding Quan shed tears and cried loudly, "I know, I will live well and not betray your life-saving grace. So, rest assured. After you die, no one will know my secret!"

Wei Chu's skin and clothes exploded, blood splattering everywhere.

His flesh had transformed into countless roots, and even his brain was a mass of intertwined roots!

"I cannot let the Zhou family know that I copied a version of the Ni Wan Hidden Scenery Qi Refining Method! Even less can I let them know that I lost the handwritten copy!"

Ding Quan's face gradually became fierce. He said to the root-like structure, "If you have to blame someone, it's Xu Ying! Blame that uncivilized commoner Xu Ying for talking too much! Xu Ying killed you, not me! Brother Wei, I will send this uncivilized commoner to see you now and avenge you!"

He placed his hand on the roots growing from Wei Chu's body. The Nu Art erupted, and the roots grew rapidly upwards, quickly forming a large willow tree!

The willow tree's roots coiled, and near the trunk, a face grew, bearing some resemblance to Wei Chu, with a shocked expression.

The willow tree's canopy grew larger and larger, gradually covering the ruined temple. Thousands of willow branches hung down, swaying in the wind.

Ding Quan stood beneath the willow tree, looking up at Xu Ying with fierce eyes, "Uncivilized commoner Xu Ying, you killed my savior. Today, this official will avenge Lord Wei!"

Xu Ying remained silent. Suddenly, a snorting laugh echoed from the Great Hall of Heroes. Yuan Qi awoke, poked his head out from the eaves, and laughed, "You're a fine one, killing your own savior and blaming it on others. You brag about reading books since childhood, but I think you read them to the dogs!"

Ding Quan's face darkened. The willow branches rustled and coiled towards Yuan Qi, sneering, "Monster, what do you know? Brother Wei was my savior. The one who killed him was Xu Ying, and your accomplice is you, this strange snake! I am avenging my savior by eliminating you two scoundrels. My righteousness reaches the heavens!"

Yuan Qi darted around, using his thirty-foot body as fists and feet. With each bend and twist of his body, he unleashed the boxing techniques of the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist. His vital energy surged, forcing back the encroaching willow branches!

He weaved and dodged, displaying various boxing styles. The sound of elephants trumpeting echoed within him. He sneered, "You surnamed Ding, people say I'm a venomous snake, a demon. I think you're the venomous snake, the demon! You don't have a shred of human scent about you!"

Ding Quan was furious and attacked with killing intent. Yuan Qi was immediately wounded repeatedly, in grave danger.

Xu Ying walked out of the Great Hall of Heroes and said earnestly, "Ding Quan, I've been carefully contemplating the Nu Art within the Ni Wan Hidden Scenery Qi Refining Method just now and found many flaws in your Nu Art."

He mustered his remaining vital energy, forming a semblance of the Elephant God Fiend Body behind him, "Your Nu Art and your immortality are actually not that difficult to break. As long as the right spot is found, killing you is as easy as flipping your hand."

Ding Quan's heart trembled slightly. He sneered, "You're bluffing me! I've studied the Ni Wan Hidden Scenery Qi Refining Method for eight years. Even if you stole it, it's only been half a day. You can find my flaws?"

Xu Ying limped towards him, the Elephant God Fiend Body behind him also limping. He chuckled, "The Ni Wan Hidden Scenery Qi Refining Method has its unique aspects, but it's only a rudimentary Nu Art. I've studied over fifty articles on demon race cultivation techniques; the Ni Wan Hidden Scenery is the most crude. It's clear the Zhou family never taught you profound Nu Art."

Ding Quan burst into laughter, "The highest realm of demon race cultivation techniques is the Qi Gathering Stage. They don't even qualify to carry the Nu Art's shoes. You actually have the nerve to call my Nu Art crude?"

He moved his mind, and countless willow branches flew, like venomous snakes and giant pythons, coiling in from all directions!

Simultaneously, countless other willow branches weaved back and forth, dealing with Yuan Qi.

This was the top-tier Nu Art recorded in the Ni Wan Hidden Scenery Qi Refining Method, the Nu Willow Sword Wiping Technique. It used willow trees and branches as swords, employing thousands of branches to perform swordsmanship, facing enemies from all directions!

And when the number of enemies was small, it could concentrate the willow branches to annihilate them!

Xu Ying walked forward, his body connected to the Elephant God Fiend Body. He limped, then suddenly flickered, or sidestepped, always narrowly avoiding the attacks of the Nu Willow Sword Wiping Technique, getting closer and closer to Ding Quan.

Ding Quan panicked, "Did he really see the flaws in my Nu Art? No, no, I've practiced for eight years, how come I don't know my Nu Art has flaws? He's trying to scare me!"

He immediately changed his tactic. Countless willow roots erupted from the ground, attaching themselves to and entwining his body, acting as his muscles and tendons, enhancing his strength!

Just then, Xu Ying threw a punch. Ding Quan hurriedly raised his hand to meet it, thinking, "It's this move again! I've seen it long ago..."

However, Xu Ying's incoming fist suddenly unfurled. His five fingers danced, rapidly tapping his root-covered arm!

With each tap of Xu Ying's fingertips, he felt his body grow more numb, as if his muscles and tendons had lost connection with his brain, becoming unresponsive!

Xu Ying passed him at close range, his fingers flying, tapping all over his body.

The willow roots on Ding Quan's body went limp like dead snakes, falling to the ground. The willow branches attacking Yuan Qi also suddenly lost control and returned to normal.

Ding Quan stood there blankly. His limbs were completely unresponsive. A great fear surged within him, the fear of death.

"Ding Quan, I told you killing you would be as easy as flipping your hand."

Xu Ying pointed at the back of his head, "See, I didn't lie to you."

There was no wound on Ding Quan's back of the head, but his forehead suddenly exploded. His body swayed and he fell to the ground.

"Although the Ni Wan Hidden Scenery Qi Refining Method doesn't specify the exact location of the Ni Wan Secret Treasury, judging from the circulation path of the technique, the Ni Wan Secret Treasury originates from the brain."

Xu Ying turned around and said to Ding Quan's corpse, "I understood your Nu Art's circulation path and knew your Nu Art moves, so killing you was very simple. You shouldn't have killed Wei Chu. I haven't seen his cultivation technique, so I couldn't break it immediately."

Yuan Qi slithered down from the roof of the hall and quickly said, "Why are you explaining to a corpse? It's dawn, let's leave quickly, or we'll be trapped on Stone Mountain!"

Xu Ying limped along with him, "I'm afraid he died without understanding. I heard from the villagers that if one dies without understanding, they will become a vengeful spirit."

"You believe this? It's for children!"

As soon as they walked out of the dilapidated temple, they saw Huang Siping, the Stone Mountain God, standing not far from the temple entrance.

Xu Ying and Yuan Qi felt a chill in their hearts.

They were both injured at the moment. If Huang Siping detained them again, they would surely be doomed!

Huang Siping acted as if he hadn't seen them and said to himself, "After you go down the mountain, don't go northwest. I received news yesterday that there are many mountain gods and grass head gods there waiting for you to walk into a trap. Go southwest, along Anzi Ridge and Jian Mountain. Those deities have gone to the northwest."

He transformed into a three-legged demon wolf and staggered down the mountain, saying, "When you reach Jian Mountain, you'd better take a bath. You're covered in blood and your scent is very strong. Demon Gods can track you by your scent."

Xu Ying called out to him, "Stone Mountain God, why are you letting us go?"

Huang Siping stopped, glanced back at Xu Ying, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Probably because your Demonic Nature is hard to tame, but your humanity is not extinguished. I used to have these things, but I lost them after defecting to the Underworld Court and becoming the Stone Mountain God."

He limped down the mountain, saying, "If you are human, you are an anomaly of the human race. If you are a demon, you are a marvel of the demon race. I am very curious to see what you will become in the future."

Xu Ying smiled, "I am definitely human, not a demon!"

The demon wolf burrowed into the forest and said faintly, "Don't be so certain. The wildness on you is more intense than mine. If one day you reveal your true form, you might scare yourself."