The Blade Demon's addition gave the demons more confidence. Most of them hadn't taken humanoid form, so their minds were simple. They hadn't considered whether Luo Zhenhai might betray them.
After losing his right arm, Luo Zhenhai had simply bandaged it. He'd kept his bamboo hat on the entire time, holding his blade in his left hand as he followed at the very back of the group.
After walking for a while, Su Yi, Nan Xiaopao, and the demons came across countless bones.
There were all kinds of demons among them. Blood had stained the desert ahead red, and they had clearly died not long ago.
They instinctively turned to look at Luo Zhenhai, who was following at the rear. He had to be the one who'd done it.
Luo Zhenhai walked on, minding his own business. His bamboo hat hid his face, so the demons couldn't see his expression.
There was no need to guess. He was probably wearing a cold expression.
"Just how strong is this guy?"
The Purple-Backed Bear King was secretly shaken. His hostility toward Luo Zhenhai had lessened considerably, replaced by reverence.
The other Humanoid Demons were also frightened. Many Humanoid Demons lay on the ground, while Luo Zhenhai, by contrast, hadn't suffered so much as a scratch before fighting Su Yi.
For a while, the Humanoid Demons were filled with reverence for Luo Zhenhai. They didn't even dare feel hostility toward him.
Even though Luo Zhenhai had lost his right arm, he could still wield a blade.
About an hour later, they finally left the desert.
The road ahead stretched on without end. Su Yi led the demons across the land, their ranks appearing vast and mighty. Yet from the perspective of an eagle soaring in the sky, they looked so very small.
It was nearly dusk when they finally reached the bank of a great river.
The river was murky and a hundred meters wide. They couldn't see its end or its source. Its waters surged violently, crashing against the reefs on both banks and sending spray flying.
"Let's rest here for now!"
Su Yi spoke up. He wasn't in a hurry to travel. They were already far from the Qiling Land.
While they rested, he could cultivate and seize the chance to grow stronger.
For some reason, he'd noticed something strange: the demonic power other demons gained from absorbing Demon Cores was nowhere near as great as his own. By his estimate, after absorbing the same Demon Core, he gained at least five times as much demonic power as they did.
He'd asked around and learned that when demons absorbed Demon Cores, they couldn't digest most of them, and eventually excreted them. Even the parts they did digest might escape through their pores or in their breath.
Su Yi's situation was definitely due to his unusual physique.
He often wondered if he'd been born to cultivate as a demon.
"Go find something to eat."
The Purple-Backed Bear King gave the order to a group of demons. Nearly every Humanoid Demon had their own subordinates. Although they all obeyed Su Yi, he hadn't forcibly stripped them of their authority. How many soldiers they had depended on their own abilities.
Su Yi walked over to Luo Zhenhai and sat down cross-legged.
"Have you met Xia Tianyi?"
Su Yi asked casually. Judging by what he knew, there was an enormous gap between Luo Zhenhai's strength and Xia Tianyi's. The last time he'd used the Divine Shadow Legion, Xia Tianyi's strength had left him amazed to this day.
"I have."
Luo Zhenhai replied, his voice calm.
"You know him?"
"I know him. He doesn't know me."
"Don't make him your goal. I'll bring him under my command one day."
"Impossible. He's the Sword Saint. He charged alone into Fierce Tang, his sword intent hanging in the sky."
"What if I do it?"
"Then I'll devote myself to serving you for the rest of my life."
"Just you wait."
Su Yi smiled faintly and rose to leave.
Luo Zhenhai looked up, gazing after Su Yi in thought.
Of course, he didn't believe Su Yi's boast. Su Yi was strong, but he was nowhere near Xia Tianyi's level.
Little did he know that Su Yi had judged him the same way.
After their talk, Su Yi felt he'd brought Xia Tianyi's little admirer another step closer to joining him.
Returning to Nan Xiaopao's side, Su Yi continued refining Demon Cores.
He wanted to be able to crush Luo Zhenhai without relying on Feng Long someday—not to mention Xia Tianyi.
After resting for a while, Luo Zhenhai began practicing his blade. He swung it by the river, his left hand wielding it with the same fierce precision. The other demons cried out in amazement.
"Once I surpass you, I'll leave your side!"
Luo Zhenhai swore to himself. At the same time, he wanted to see how Su Yi usually cultivated.
And so, another four days passed.
They finally arrived at the Blessed Land the King of Aisha had mentioned.
On the boundless grassland, three peaks stood where earth met sky. They rose from the land like a trident, wreathed in clouds and mist. From a distance, they seemed like a mirage.
"The spiritual energy here is so rich!"
The Grey Rock Dog King cried out in delight, and the demons rejoiced as well.
Over those four days, the number of demons hadn't decreased; it had grown to ten thousand. Su Yi had also subdued another Humanoid Demon.
"There are Great Demons on the mountain!"
Luo Zhenhai said coldly, pouring a bucket of ice water over the Grey Rock Dog King's excitement.
Any demon Luo Zhenhai called a Great Demon was at least at the Supernatural Demon King realm.
Su Yi stared at the mountain ahead. "This mountain is ours!"
His voice was soft, yet it rang clearly in the hearts of every demon, brimming with infectious conviction.
What domineering spirit!
Nan Xiaopao wasn't excited. Instead, she frowned and walked over to Su Yi, speaking in a low voice. "Maybe... we should just forget it."
She'd successfully surged her Qi through the Eight Meridians and entered the Spirit Sea Enlightenment realm. Combined with her Qiling Holy Body, she was exceptionally sensitive to danger.
Su Yi smiled at her. "I can't have you following me around forever. We need a home."
With that, Su Yi strode forward, and the Zhouwu Sword appeared in his right hand.
His back was resolute.
Knowing there were tigers on the mountain, he headed straight for the tiger's lair!
Encouraged by him, the demons followed one after another. Luo Zhenhai did the same, even taking his famous blade from his storage ring.
The Purple-Backed Bear King took out his tusk club. The Grey Rock Dog King, Red Sky Wing, Kui Savage Elephant, and the other Humanoid Demons also drew their weapons.
Ten thousand demons followed behind him. Su Yi gripped the Zhouwu Sword tightly and took a deep breath, his gaze turning utterly resolute.
He had to take this mountain!
In the vast Desolate Ancient, they needed a place to call home!
Not only for himself, but for Nan Xiaopao—and, above all, for the ten thousand demons following him!
"Roar—"
A roar came from the three peaks ahead, filled with savagery and killing intent. It was warning its enemies not to approach its territory.
Su Yi didn't stop. Instead, he walked faster and faster.
The demons followed in his footsteps. Not one of them ran or shrank back.
With a crash, a massive figure dropped from the three peaks of the Blessed Land, smashing the ground apart and sending clouds of dust billowing into the air. Then countless lesser demons descended after it, like a torrential downpour.
An aura more terrifying than the King of Aisha's erupted, sweeping toward Su Yi and the demons.
Luo Zhenhai tightened his grip on his blade. The other Humanoid Demons couldn't help trembling, fear rising in their hearts.
That aura was simply too powerful!
"My children, follow me through a river of blood and fight our way up!"
Su Yi shouted, then sprang forward at a run.
At once, the Purple-Backed Bear King, the Grey Rock Dog King, and the other Humanoid Demons roared and followed close behind Su Yi.
Ten thousand demons charged after them, roaring as they ran. Their army was as mighty as a million soldiers!
Midnight Bomb
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