Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Xuan Ye activated Instantaneous Movement Steps.
His figure turned into a blurred afterimage, instantly circling behind the Bone Armor Rock Demon.
The long sword Revenge in his hand struck like a venomous snake, piercing precisely into a gap in the rocky armor.
"Corrosive Light Slash!"
Another skill transformed by the Chaos Spirit Furnace.
The Light Slash Sword, once pure, now burst forth as a black-red blade of light, imbued with an ominous aura!
The blade erupted from the sword and pierced straight through the Bone Armor Rock Demon's massive body without resistance.
The Bone Armor Rock Demon froze, the light of life in its eyes quickly fading.
Xuan Ye withdrew his sword and turned around.
He looked at the Wind Wing Shadow Demon struggling to get back up and gave it no chance.
"Blasphemous Cross Slash!"
A black cross-shaped blade of light fell from the air, putting an end to the Wind Wing Shadow Demon's life.
The battle was over.
Two months, and his combat strength had undergone a complete transformation!
The Fifth Tier Devil Race members he'd once struggled to hold off, Xuan Ye could now kill as easily as slaughtering sheep and cattle.
But...
The Spiritual Power in Xuan Ye's body had run dry. Leaning on his sword, he panted heavily.
Or rather... he'd pushed himself past his limits!
But over the past two months, he'd grown used to this kind of pain.
The wounds that Holy Healing Technique had barely managed to close had split open again. Blood seeped through his clothes, and wave after wave of pain wracked him.
But he couldn't afford to worry about that. He forced his staggering body onward and quickly disappeared into the depths of the forest.
[ Ding! Choice completed! ] [ Reward: Innate Dark Inner Spiritual Power +1, Revenge Evolution progress +5%! ]
Meanwhile.
Inside a heavily guarded tent on the border of the Demon Realm.
A Devil Race scout knelt on one knee, his voice betraying unmistakable fear.
"My lord... the two Fifth Tier lords you sent to hunt down that Moon Demon Race traitor... he killed them both!"
At the head of the tent, a handsome six-tier Star Demon Race Earl with a pair of horns on his forehead leisurely toyed with the astrological crystal in his hand.
Upon hearing the report, Valen showed not the slightest surprise.
"Oh? He's got some skill."
He paused, then gave his order in an even voice.
"It doesn't matter. Pass down the order: next time, make sure to capture him alive."
The scout looked puzzled.
Valen seemed to read his thoughts and slowly explained.
"The Moon Demon Race has used their trade connections to expand their influence along the border far too much over the years. The other races have long been resentful."
"Now they have a traitor in their own ranks who specializes in killing his own kind. That gives us leverage."
"Capture the traitor alive, then bring a formal complaint against them before His Majesty, the Demon God King. We'll say the Moon Demon Race failed to keep its people in line and allowed a traitor to slaughter his own kind."
"That'll deal a serious blow to the Moon Demon Race's arrogance, and it'll be quite an achievement for me as well."
Just then, another subordinate hurried into the tent.
"My lord, there's one more thing!"
"Princess Yueye of the Moon Demon Race has been staying at the border for months. Officially, she's handling caravan affairs and inspecting the human defenses. But in reality, she hasn't dealt with any of that. She's been searching desperately for that traitor!"
A calculating glint flashed in Valen's eyes.
"Excellent. That works out perfectly."
"Someone, go and 'invite' Princess Yueye to observe."
"We'll finish trying the traitor for his crimes in front of her, then execute him on the spot."
"I'd like to see what the Moon Demon Race has to say about that!"
Valen stood and walked to the entrance of the tent, gazing at the gloomy sky in the distance.
"That traitor has fallen right into my encirclement. He can't get away."
"And, really, he's an utter fool."
"He's had plenty of chances to escape, but as long as the forces I send aren't strong enough to make him despair, he charges straight at them like a stupid fish taking the bait, insisting on meeting them head-on."
"Step by step, he's backed himself into a dead end."
"Looks like the Moon Demon Race really is lacking in brains."
"Otherwise... how could they come up with the ridiculous idea of coexisting with humans!"
The forest on the border of the Demon Realm was dim and oppressive.
Yueye was searching through the wreckage of a battle with her trusted Moon Demon Race retainers.
This was already her third month staying at the border.
At first, she'd used "handling caravan affairs" as an excuse. Later, she'd stopped bothering with even that flimsy pretense.
There was only one thought in her mind—find him.
Just then, two personal maids hurried over, their expressions grave.
"Your Highness."
One of them spoke softly.
"Lord Agareus has sent another message."
Seeing Yueye's expression, the maid continued.
"His Lordship is furious that you still haven't returned. But this time, he hasn't ordered you to come back at once. He only said..."
The maid paused, seeming to choose her words.
"He said you must find that 'Moon Demon Race member.' No matter why he's fighting other Devil Races, bring him back to our territory. Under no circumstances can he fall into the hands of other races and be put on trial by them."
The other maid quickly added,
"His Lordship also specifically told you to be careful. He said he has a feeling that the Star Demon God has joined forces with several other Devil Race factions, and they seem to be plotting some grand scheme."
This was no baseless suspicion.
The Star Demon Race had secretly planned to ambush the caravans and had made plans targeting Yueye. Though those schemes remained hidden, quite a few traces of them had already come to light.
But Agareus, Lord of the Moon Demon Race, had never imagined that the Star Demon Race would dare set its sights on his own daughter.
The message was framed as an order, but in truth, it was a push for Yueye to hurry back with that troublesome man.
It was both to protect the Moon Demon Race's reputation and to keep his only daughter safe.
But Yueye couldn't spare a thought for the concern in her father's words.
Her heart was already gripped by the "clues" she'd found time and again over the past three months.
In recent days, she'd often found things he'd left behind near the traces of battles.
A bloodstained strip of cloth.
A corner of clothing, cleanly sliced off by sword energy.
Even a shard of stone that was still warm and stained with blood from someone's breath.
At that moment, her palm clutched a scrap torn from Xuan Ye's clothing.
The fabric was coarse, but it carried a trace of the bloodline aura she knew so well.
A Moon Demon Race member, of mixed human and demon blood...
She'd kept it close to her ever since.
Whenever she found new traces, the pain in her eyes deepened, and the aura around her grew more subdued.
Seeing their princess like this, the maids could only sigh inwardly and silently widen the search, hoping to ease her burden.
Just then.
A Star Demon Race messenger in standard-issue armor hurried over from the forest's edge.
His face wore a carefully practiced expression of respect as he knelt before Yueye.
"Lady Yueye, my lord Valen has an important matter to discuss with you."
The messenger raised his head, his words reaching everyone present.
"The 'Moon Demon Race traitor' you've been searching for has been captured by my lord."
"My lord has specially invited you to witness the proceedings and see for yourself what punishment awaits a traitor who turns his blade against his own kind."
Before you continue