Qu Mountain Demon King

Now it was time to put internal cultivation on the agenda and explore how it differed".

Internal cultivators were very different. Thanks to the unique properties of their techniques, their true qi could circulate endlessly through their meridians. A single cycle was enough to replenish most of it.

Internal and external cultivation were somewhat like the difference between warriors and mages. But in the early stages, internal cultivators still fought hand-to-hand. Only when they could send their true qi beyond their bodies did they reveal their fearsome side.

He raised the newly acquired Jingtao Art to perfection. The panel now looked like this.

Host: Su Ye

Realm: Meridian Opening, Sixth Layer

Cultivation Techniques: [Body Tempering Initial Giải · Mortal Grade High Rank] Not Initiated [Dragon Tiger Body Forging Technique · Yellow Tier Mid-grade] (Perfect)

Martial Skills: [Black Fiend Saber Technique · Mortal Grade Middle Rank] Perfect

[Jingtao Art · Mortal Grade High Rank] Perfect [Mountain Splitting Saber Technique · Common] Perfect

Movement Technique: [Flowing Dragon Steps · Mortal Grade Middle Rank] Perfect

Assistance Points: 29

Aside from [Body Tempering Initial Giải], all his other Martial Arts had reached perfection. Su Ye looked over the only two cultivation techniques he currently had.

Just to see what would happen, he put 2 Assistance Points into [Body Tempering Initial Giải]. To his surprise, something changed ever so slightly. At first, he didn't notice anything unusual, but then a faint power surged into his body.

His body seemed to have grown a little stronger, as if he had only managed to wet his lips with a little water when he was thirsty.

Still, something is better than nothing. It's better than having nothing at all.

He poured all his remaining Assistance Points into it. A warm current appeared again, enveloping his entire body.

After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, Su Ye strode out of the dark alley. It was time to deal with that Tiger Demon. Based on Big Black's guess, the demon's strength was around the middle stage of Meridian Opening, though Su Ye didn't know how many layers into the middle stage it had reached.

At the outskirts of Xinghua Town, Big Black peered around and spotted the person he'd been looking for. He hurried out from his hiding place.

"Boss, let's go back to Kaoshan Town."

Su Ye said calmly, "Take me to that Tiger Demon."

"Boss, are you really going?" Big Black asked, looking worried.

"Are you afraid?"

"Afraid? How could I be afraid? I'm just worried about your safety, Boss."

Su Ye couldn't help looking at Big Black. For a Demonic Beast, it was no worse than humans when it came to reading a room. It might even be better.

A faint glow of dawn appeared on the horizon. Big Black, who had been leading the way, suddenly stopped and turned around. "Boss, it's just ahead."

Su Ye followed Big Black's gaze. On a small hill not far ahead, dozens of figures were faintly visible.

Now that he knew the Tiger Demon's strength, he didn't hesitate. He sprinted toward the hill at full speed.

"Boss, be careful! If anything happens to you, I won't go on living!" Big Black called after his retreating figure.

Su Ye's heart remained unmoved. With the spiritual brand connecting them, if anything happened to him, Big Black would kick the bucket right along with him. It was no wonder Big Black was worried.

The hill in the distance grew larger. When he was still a few hundred meters away, the figures on it finally noticed him.

"Look! That's a human! He's charging this way!"

The Monkey Demon on the outskirts shouted a warning to its companions.

A Wolf Demon who seemed to be their leader cut off the surrounding commotion and pointed at three Demonic Beasts in front of him. "You three, go capture that human!"

The three Demonic Beasts immediately obeyed and charged out with a roar.

After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, the Monkey Demon who had first sounded the alarm spoke again.

"The Niu Family Brothers are dead!"

The other Demonic Beasts, who had been watching the battle in the distance, cried out in alarm as well.

"That human—"

Before the words were out, Su Ye had already reached the mass of Demonic Beasts. In an instant, several flashes of saber light burst forth.

As screams rang out, Su Ye pressed his advantage. He dodged a giant claw, shifted his body, and braced his left arm across his chest to block a pair of enormous bear paws.

He twisted his body, and the Ghost Head Saber swept out.

"You scoundrel!"

The Wolf Demon leader's eyes turned bloodshot. In just a moment, more than half of his subordinates had been killed or wounded. The sight sent him into a fury.

He dropped to all fours and charged at full speed. The Wolf Demon's body shot forward like a massive arrow, whistling through the air as his claws stabbed toward the human's back.

Keeping track of the Demonic Beasts around him, Su Ye ignored the fierce wind behind him. He planted both feet and kicked off the ground, his massive blade cutting with deadly precision through the neck of every Demonic Beast that entered his sight.

"Kid, are you scared? If you've got the guts, fight me fair and square!" the Wolf Demon leader shouted.

"You want to die? I'll grant your wish."

As soon as he spoke, red mist billowed beneath his feet, and Su Ye vanished in a flash. When he reappeared, he was less than two zhang from the Wolf Demon.

He raised his saber to strike, when suddenly the sound of something tearing through the air rang out beside him. A massive black shadow appeared overhead, hurtling down at him.

"The Great King!"

"The Great King is here! Your death has come, brat!"

The newcomer stood over two zhang tall. His yellow-and-black fur covered a body of knotted muscle, like mountain ranges piled one upon another.

As Su Ye leaped aside, a tremendous crash reached his ears.

"BOOM!"

The ground was smashed into a huge crater. The Tiger Demon's voice boomed like thunder.

"Not bad, kid."

"This big saber suits me just fine."

As he spoke, a fist as large as a washbasin lunged toward Su Ye.

Before the punch even reached him, the gale it stirred sent Su Ye's clothes snapping. He narrowed his eyes, then suddenly swung his own fist to meet it.

"BANG!"

A thunderous boom, like an exploding cannonball, rang out for hundreds of meters.

The two figures, one large and one small, drew back their arms at the same time and closed in for another round of hand-to-hand combat. Heavy thuds rang out without pause.

When they finally separated again, the Tiger Demon felt a flicker of alarm. His entire body burned with pain. His right arm, kicked by Su Ye, felt as though the bones inside had been ground to powder. The agony made him draw in sharp breaths.

"You're pretty good, kid. Who sent you?"

"You're the Qu Mountain Demon King?" Su Ye asked instead of answering.

The Tiger Demon fixed him with a murderous glare. "Don't change the subject. I'm asking you: this place was only settled last night. How did you know?"

"What's it to you?" Su Ye replied coolly. The Tiger Demon was no weakling; he was probably at the fourth or fifth layer of Meridian Opening. If they'd fought before Su Ye's recent improvement, he would have lost without a doubt. With luck, perhaps he could have escaped after sustaining serious injuries.

The Tiger Demon spoke, his face full of killing intent. "Was it that fox, or the crow?"

"Why waste words? If you can kill me, you'll find out."

"Good. Well said."

Su Ye struck first. The Ghost Head Saber became a blur as it slashed toward the Tiger Demon's waist.

"CLANG!"

A deafening metallic clash rang across the open ground. The blade and the iron rings collided and sprang apart. The Tiger Demon's arms trembled as he rapidly retreated.

That clash had cracked most of the iron rings around his arms. It wasn't a gap in strength—it was that their weapons were made of vastly different materials—

The Tiger Demon drove off with both legs. In an instant, the ground collapsed in a radius of several meters, and his massive form leaped dozens of meters into the air.

Fury surged through the Tiger Demon. His opponent's strength was extraordinary, surely greater than his own, and his weapon was far superior, too. If the fight dragged on, he would certainly die. Better to use his life-risking move while he was still in good shape—and, if possible, kill his opponent in one blow.

With that thought, the Tiger Demon spread his fists into position and roared, "You ignorant human brat! Today, I'll make sure you have no place to be buried!"

The enormous shadow overhead rapidly swallowed Su Ye. Two blue glows gradually formed within it, then grew brighter and brighter.

The shadow carried boundless power. In the span of a breath, it was less than two meters in front of Su Ye.

Su Ye's eye twitched at the sight. It was too fast—there was no way he could dodge. He could only meet the blow head-on.

The qi and blood within him surged instantly. His Ghost Head Saber rose like a giant axe splitting open the heavens as he swung it toward the blue glow in midair.