Shadow of the Fiend God!

Looks like later, he would have to go to Great Snow Mountain and fool around with Mother for a bit, while casually emphasizing to her the necessity of uprooting evil completely.

Within the firelit forest.

Wu Wang still stood with his hands behind his back, though he had moved behind Ling Xiaolan, who lay prone on the ground, closely observing the two fierce battles erupting in the woods.

In Wu Wang's understanding, apart from Zhongshan and the Human Domain, the nine regions of the Great Wilderness were generally balanced.

His mother, Cang Xue, bore the duty of guarding the Northern Plains and was its foremost powerhouse. Remotely killing an Ascend to Immortality cultivator from the Human Domain was absolutely no problem for her.

Otherwise, the Northern Plains would have long since been invaded by the great clans of the Eastern Plains and Western Plains.

Yet that bolt of lightning that had fallen with such terrifying speed had merely struck Granny Yin until she vomited blood, destroyed the foundation of her ascension, gravely wounded her Primordial Spirit, shaved away nearly half her Nascent Soul, sealed the precious treasures she carried, and forcibly sent her combat strength plummeting—leaving her suppressed by Ji Mo, who had brought out every treasure at his disposal.

Mother, couldn't we have just killed her outright?

Wu Wang sighed inwardly. He lowered his head to glance at Ling Xiaolan, then held his left hand over the wound on her back, drawing upon Star Power to slowly heal her.

That way, he could keep his own "spirit" full and remain in the optimal... spectator state.

Look to the left!

Roars shook the heavens, and beastly shadows moved like ghosts!

General Xiong San's brawny body stood as steady as Mount Tai. The blood energy spilling from him resembled crimson flames, while the muscles bulging across his body were like the armor of a war god.

He seemed motionless, yet he was poised to strike.

The black shadow, over two zhang tall, raced rapidly around him. One could vaguely make out its ugly toad-like head.

Its claws carved streak after streak of claw marks, as though they could rip heaven and earth apart!

The short axes in General Xiong San's hands had been coated in a layer of blood-red flame. Whenever the claw marks drew close, he could predict them in advance; sometimes he swung an axe, sometimes he shifted his footing. He appeared to be defending passively, yet he subtly blocked the Fierce Beast's route toward the pool.

There really was something wrong with this Fierce Beast.

Wu Wang's suspicions were confirmed one by one, yet his expression remained leisurely.

Of all the battles tonight, what interested him most was this Fierce Beast. It was a very proper sort of interest—the purest curiosity.

When he had heard Ji Mo describe the details of this Fierce Beast, Wu Wang had already grown suspicious.

Not only in the Northern Plains, but throughout the entire Great Wilderness, aside from colossal ferocious beasts that had reached the level of Innate Gods, most Fierce Beasts followed the principle of "I got stronger, and I got bigger too."

A humanoid Fierce Beast only two or three zhang tall, yet ten thousand years old?

If it possessed the power of a ten-thousand-year Fierce Beast while maintaining such a small frame, its destructive force would be an absolute disaster for the clans of the Northern Plains.

Watching this Fierce Beast battle General Xiong San now, Wu Wang quickly relaxed, though new doubts arose.

First, this Fierce Beast was not particularly terrifying in strength, barely comparable to a Fierce Beast five or six thousand years old. Though fast, its attacks were simplistic, and General Xiong San could handle it completely.

However, this Fierce Beast was the nemesis of Spirit Cultivation cultivators. It was only reasonable that the group from the Human Domain had been unable to withstand its sneak attack.

Second, this Fierce Beast did not possess the "aura" of an ordinary Fierce Beast. This was also the main reason it could rampage through Blood Soil Forest without stirring up the ten-thousand-year Fierce Beasts here.

Its aura was rather complicated, even carrying a trace of humanity...

That was what truly deserved attention.

Suddenly, blood flashed, and an arrow of blood sprayed from General Xiong San's right shoulder.

The general roared furiously. His two short axes flew from his hands and smashed into the ground, while his right arm reached backward and grabbed at the air ahead. His huge hand clenched tight—and bizarrely caught hold of an ankle covered in scales!

"Ah—"

Flames surged in General Xiong San's eyes. His powerful body swelled once more, his upper clothes and armor bursting apart under the strain. His left hand clamped onto the Fierce Beast's ankle, and he slammed it down with savage force!

There it was!

The Northern Plains' divine technique that Wu Wang had spoken of—exploding one's clothes for extra combat power!

The ground collapsed outright, and great swathes of trees toppled in every direction. A long, narrow Fierce Beast, crouched like a lizard, revealed its true form!

With its body caught, it naturally struggled with all its might.

But just as its claws dug into the ground, the burly man behind it roared repeatedly, swung both arms in a full circle, and violently yanked it up before smashing it toward the other side!

If this Fierce Beast could speak human language, it would probably be spewing curses right about now, asking who the real Fierce Beast was.

In an instant, the earth quaked and the mountains shook!

General Xiong San swung the Fierce Beast around and smashed it everywhere, while deep drumbeats echoed endlessly from the earth.

Wu Wang silently gave him a thumbs-up, then turned to look at the woods on the other side.

The spell battle there looked much more "elegant." Two figures flew rapidly up and down, left and right, striking at each other with palm shadows, fist shadows, Sword Qi, and leg wind. They hurled controllable magical treasures and formed hand seals of tremendous power...

The countless techniques dazzled the eye.

The area affected by their battle was also much broader. Any random beam of light that landed would erupt into towering flames; magnificent Sword Qi shot into the distance could slice off half the edge of a rocky mountain.

Look at Brother Ji!

The azure edge turned in his palm; with one sword, he cleaved the heavenly waves. His sword was like a rainbow, his body like the wind, drawing upon the Dao to form techniques and battle the vault of heaven.

That figure in flowing robes, fighting through the air with Skyward Flight, truly carried Wu Wang's beautiful aspirations toward cultivators—except...

Roar!

Gurgle gurgle gurgle~

The two of you had already awakened three Fierce Beasts nearby. That old woman was covered in blood and severely wounded—couldn't you hurry up, finish her off, and just knock her down?

Forget it. He was only a spectator, after all. He could not exactly step forward and righteously criticize them.

Wu Wang continued gathering starlight, healing the injuries of a certain fairy lying on the ground.

"Heh, hehehe, hahahaha!"

Laughter suddenly rang out ahead, beginning low and gradually becoming uninhibited.

That "Wang Lin" whom Granny Yin had thrown into the forest slowly sat up. The horrific wound in his chest rapidly healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, while the fragments of the Golden Core floating in his lower abdomen turned to dust and dissipated on their own.

Wu Wang remained rather calm and proactively retreated another half-step behind the fairy lying on the ground...

"Never did I expect that after forty-two years of painstaking forbearance, I would ultimately fail at the very last moment in this remote corner of the Northern Plains.

Young Master Xiong, this is our first meeting, yet there is something I find quite puzzling.

How did you see that there was something wrong with my soul?"

Actually, the Crystal Ball had exposed the problem outside the Royal Court's gates. Human soul projections were white at their foundation; even evil people were merely white mixed with black. But you were black mixed with white!

Chocolate-flavored shit and shit-flavored chocolate—how could they possibly be the same? Their very essence was different.

Of course, he could not put it so crudely.

Wu Wang said calmly, "Naturally, it was guidance bestowed by the Star God."

"The Star God? She truly does enjoy meddling in others' affairs."

Wang Lin had already risen to his feet. Black scales on his cheeks slightly elongated his face, vicious black horns curving outward appeared on his forehead, and his body floated in the air. Strands of black-red aura wound around beneath his feet.

General Xiong San and Ji Mo, battling on either side, both noticed this development.

But the former was still entangled with that strange Fierce Beast and could not break free for the moment. The latter had already taken their battle high into the sky, while every magical treasure he hurled toward this place was desperately blocked by Granny Yin.

Wang Lin raised his head to look at Wu Wang. Moonlight spilled across his gloomy face, and he actually... looked a little handsome.

This strange creature, neither human nor beast, sneered. "I have no intention of provoking your Northern Plains clans. Return Ling Xiaolan to me, and I can spare your life."

Wu Wang carefully savored the meaning behind those words, then suddenly understood. "Could it be that you truly like Fairy Ling?"

"Shut up! What do you know!"

Wang Lin's face twisted viciously. "Do not think I cannot touch you just because this is the Northern Plains! I simply do not wish to create further complications! Give her back to me!"

"Then it seems my previous deduction was somewhat wrong. Your motives involve both emotional and physical needs."

"Shut up!"

Wang Lin suddenly raised a hand and pointed at Wu Wang. That arm was already covered in fine black scales, looking utterly grim and terrifying.

The smile on Wu Wang's face gradually faded, his expression turning cold.

"What I am more curious about now is exactly what you and that Fierce Beast over there are."

"Things? Very good. I have no choice but to kill you now, or my Dao heart will be flawed and I will never attain the immortal path!"

Wang Lin's entire body trembled slightly, and his eyes slowly turned scarlet. A porcelain bottle flew from the storage pouch at his waist and exploded in midair. Inside was a drop of bright-red blood, rushing toward Wang Lin's open mouth...

Crack!

A bolt of lightning suddenly descended. It was not very powerful, but it struck the drop of blood with perfect precision. The blood was quite strange; it was knocked flying, yet remained condensed rather than scattering.

Looking at Wu Wang again, his right hand was held flat before him, his index finger and thumb forming the gesture of a "gun." His fingertips pointed repeatedly at the blood drop as tiny bolts of lightning formed from nothing and struck it one after another, sending it tumbling wildly through the air.

Wu Wang: Would it kill you to just hold the bottle in your hand and bring it to your mouth?

If he did not seize an opportunity like this, he would be letting down the instructor from his previous life who had taught him to smoke, curl his hair, and use a water dispenser to cook hotpot!

Wang Lin was completely stunned.

He let out a low roar and immediately lunged for the blood drop, but Wu Wang suddenly called out sharply:

"Mother!"

Wang Lin, who had just secretly witnessed Granny Yin's miserable state, instantly crossed his hands over his head. His body reacted before his mind, shifting several zhang sideways!

Yet not a speck of starlight gathered in the air.

Wu Wang leisurely said, "All is well," and Wang Lin's vision went black. He nearly fainted from rage.

Thanks to Wang Lin's delay, the drop of blood was struck to the ground by the successive tiny lightning bolts.

The blood immediately spread apart, transforming into strands of crimson aura. Those strands entwined with one another, forming the phantom of a Fierce Beast amid the woods!

It resembled both ox and tiger. Two pairs of crossed bull horns grew from its forehead, the fur all over its body was like sharp blades, and wings formed from black smoke carried a dense, ominous presence.

It was merely a phantom, merely the power contained in one drop of blood—yet it radiated an incomparably intense pressure!

Within a hundred li, the ten-thousand-year Fierce Beasts that had originally been awakened all lowered their banners and silenced their drums, not daring to make the slightest sound.

Then, when the phantom Fierce Beast before Wu Wang raised its head and roared soundlessly, a visible shockwave rippled outward. Those several ten-thousand-year Fierce Beasts turned and fled without the slightest hesitation!

At that moment, Wu Wang's expression became solemn. A faint light flickered in his eyes, and a bead of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

There was no other reason. He had seen traces of this phantom on more than one parchment scroll and heard its legends before!

Fiend God · Qiong Qi!

Wang Lin roared, "You actually destroyed the essence blood Father bestowed upon me! Xiong!"

"Seal!"

Wu Wang shouted. The Crystal Ball that had appeared in his hand at some point exploded outright, releasing endless starlight. Wang Lin's roar came to an abrupt halt.

Wu Wang stepped half a pace forward and swept his right hand backward. Ling Xiaolan's body was wrapped into a sphere of starlight and floated down toward the other side of the pool.

Dense Star Power surged around Wu Wang, and Crystal Balls floated around him one after another.

A self-created fixed spellcasting technique—Star Thunder Technique.

Drawing inspiration from the Human Domain's Path of Talismans, he infused Star Power into Crystal Balls as carriers and placed different seals upon them. After blowing up more than six hundred Crystal Balls, he had successfully mastered the simple technique of fixing Star Invocation Techniques inside Crystal Balls.

The advantage of this method was that it did not consume much spirit, yet allowed him to cast as many Star Invocation Techniques simultaneously as there were Crystal Balls.

The disadvantage: expensive.

Wu Wang pointed forward, and sixteen Crystal Balls shot forth. As he declared, "Praise the Star God," the sixteen Star Invocation Techniques within were instantly activated!

Star Invocation Technique · Star Flame, Star Invocation Technique · Flowing Shadow Flash, Star Invocation Technique · Myriad Ice Arrows, Star Invocation Technique · Great Ice Marsh, Star Invocation Technique · Six-Star Dance, Star Invocation Technique · Hundred-Li Ice Spiral...

In an instant, the woods shone brilliantly, and heaven and earth were illuminated as brightly as day.

Wang Lin roared continuously amid the starlight. The fine scales covering his body rapidly shattered, while jets of blood burst from him.

As the starlight began to fade, Wang Lin was already lying amid ice crystals, his limbs gone and his flesh mangled beyond recognition.

But...

A low chant suddenly sounded from the sky. Divine light had not yet faded from Wang Lin's wide-open eyes, which reflected the figure floating silently in the air.

Wu Wang had appeared in the sky at some point. A pair of wings formed from starlight spread behind him, snowflake-like six-pointed stars rested beneath his feet, his left hand stood before his chest with both thumbs gently pressed together, and his right palm faced Wang Lin's ruined body. His expression held neither sorrow nor joy.

"In the name of the Star God, cleanse all sin from this world."

Star Invocation Forbidden Art · Star Purification.

Buzz—

It was as though the night sky itself trembled and cried. A beam of light more than ten zhang wide descended from the depths of the starry heavens, instantly swallowing Wang Lin's ruined body.

In the distance, Ji Mo, carrying Granny Yin's corpse, opened his mouth in stunned disbelief. He struggled to see clearly whether the figure in the air was truly that seemingly harmless young clan lord.

"Brother Xiong, y-you are truly this mighty!"

Beside the pool, Ling Xiaolan had struggled into a seated position at some point. Enduring the searing pain in her back, she raised her head to watch the figure slowly descend from the air.

Was he the one who saved me?

Ling Xiaolan lightly pressed her lips together. Though she knew she should feel grateful at this moment, she could not help shuddering several times as she checked herself for any signs that someone else had touched her.

Very quickly, her face turned pale. Looking at the faint marks left on her wrist when Granny Yin had grabbed her, the lips behind her veil pressed tightly together.

She... was no longer clean...

"Young Master! Hahaha! Beautiful!"

Several bursts of laughter came from the nearby woods. A black shadow flew in from afar and smashed into the edge of the pool, landing not far from Ling Xiaolan. Clumps of filthy blood splashed everywhere, and Ling Xiaolan had only just awakened from her severe injuries—she could barely move at all...

Her veil... her forehead... her neck...

What landed before her was an enormous toad head, severed by a sharp blade and covered in wounds.

General Xiong San strolled out with two axes in hand and laughed twice. His brawny body radiated powerful blood energy, while he paid no heed whatsoever to the wounds clawed across him.

Why could he be dispatched to guard the young lord's side year-round?

No other reason: he was the fiercest warrior beneath the Bear Hug Tribe's chieftain!

"You!"

Ling Xiaolan's lips trembled. She lowered her gaze to look at the toad head before her, rolled her eyes back, and fell backward, fainting on the spot.

She... had been stained by filth...