Body-Refining Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, Sixth Layer
One month later.
The four remaining members of the Ninth Incense set off on Spirit Boat, embarking once again on a journey to slay Demonized Beast.
Since no new Incense Master has taken office, Flag Master Zheng Xian asked Qiu Qianlang to temporarily handle matters related to the Ninth Incense, and suggested that the four of them form a team so that they could look after each other.
Watching the cultivators from Mo'ya City set out once again, Ying Buli, standing on the Spirit Boat, sighed, "This time, we've been ordered to slay Demon Beast for three months. I have a bad feeling; I'm afraid I'll perish in this operation..."
"Old Ying, don't be so pessimistic."
Qiu Qianlang walked over and patted him on the shoulder, deliberately making it sound easy with a smile, "Our team has Chen Bai. Don't let his lower cultivation level fool you; he's very skilled at slaying Demon Beast!"
"That's true."
Remembering that Chen Bai always returned early, a sense of hope Ying Buli in her heart.
Qiu Qianlang looked at Chen Changming and smiled, "Chen Bai, you have the strongest attack power, so you'll be in charge of the battle."
Chen Changming initially wanted to decline, but seeing the looks in everyone's eyes that seemed to want him to take charge, he had no choice but to agree.
The Spirit Boat flew into the Demonic Qi.
Several hours later, in a forest, the group discovered a pack of Iron-Armored Wolf, numbering more than twenty.
"Run! There are two level-three Demon Beast inside!"
Qiu Qianlang's expression changed drastically, and he immediately steered the Spirit Boat away.
Chen Changming blinked.
If he wanted to save time, he absolutely could not hunt Demon Beast like Qiu Qianlang did.
"Wait."
He suddenly spoke up.
The Spirit Boat stopped, Qiu Qianlang stared at Chen Changming with suspicion.
"Even a level three Demon Beast couldn't kill us in one go, so we can still give it a try."
Chen Changming said in a deep voice.
"Okay, I'll listen to you, Chen Bai!"
Qiu Qianlang said through gritted teeth.
Ying Buli and Tang Mengshao exchanged a glance and nodded emphatically.
Chen Changming gazed into the distance and slowly said, "The lower-level level three Iron-Armored Wolf can take to the air, but the others can't. Let's provoke these Iron-Armored Wolf first, so that two Level 3 Iron-Armored Wolf will attack us. Then, the three of you will hold off one of them, and I will use my Flying Sword to kill the other one."
The three nodded.
The Spirit Boat flew past, startling the Iron-Armored Wolf.
Two Level 3 Iron-Armored Wolf leaped into the air, pouncing on the Spirit Boat from the left and right.
The three attacked the Iron-Armored Wolf on the left simultaneously.
A golden sword light suddenly appeared, striking the right-hand Iron-Armored Wolf's neck with lightning speed.
Sizzle!
The wolf's tough armor was cut through, and the massive head of this Iron-Armored Wolf was severed off.
Qiu Qianlang and the other two were overjoyed upon seeing this.
The Geng-Gold Sword turned around and plunged into the back of another Iron-Armored Wolf, shredding its heart.
Even with their hearts shattered, this Iron-Armored Wolf pounced on Chen Changming before dying.
However, Qiu Qianlang and his two companions launched a frenzied attack, managing to hold off the Iron-Armored Wolf.
The Iron-Armored Wolf, exhausted and unable to continue, breathed its last and fell from mid-air.
"Go, go and kill the rest!"
Chen Changming said loudly.
He leaped into the air, mounted his sword, and used the Geng-Gold Sword to slay the remaining level-two Iron-Armored Wolf.
The others also left the Spirit Boat, using their swords to chase and slaughter the Iron-Armored Wolf.
In less than half an incense stick's time, the four men had slaughtered all twenty-odd Iron-Armored Wolf.
"Chen Bai's Geng-Gold Sword is truly terrifying!"
Ying Buli stared at the pile of Iron-Armored Wolf corpses on the ground, and said with great fear.
"Yes, that's why we easily caught more than twenty Iron-Armored Wolf this time!"
Qiu Qianlang laughed loudly.
Tang Mengshao stroked his chin and murmured, "One Level 3 Iron-Armored Wolf is worth three level-two Iron-Armored Wolf, so we've harvested over thirty."
"Qiu Qianlang, go and capture all the Demon Beast."
Chen Changming said.
Qiu Qianlang agreed and circled around on his Flying Sword, collecting all the corpses.
The group boarded Spirit Boat and continued their search for Demon Beast amidst the Demonic Qi.
After this coordinated operation, everyone naturally regarded Chen Bai as the core of the battle, so the group's subsequent slaying of Demon Beast went very smoothly, reaping the lives of Demon Beast wave after wave.
Upon seeing this, a hint of apprehension flashed deep in Tang Mengshao's eyes.
This Chen Bai possesses astonishing killing power; it seems unlikely that he will perish in this area.
The cultivators of the 108 Halls of the Black Tortoise Division determine the level of Demon Beast they kill based on their cultivation level. In the outer area of Demonic Qi, the Incense Master lead their troops to kill demonic Demon Beast. Going deeper, the Flag Master lead a group of cultivators at around the sixth level of the Foundation Establishment to kill level three Demon Beast.
As for the Hall Master, he usually goes with the Vice Alliance Leader and others to the deeper parts of the Demonic Qi to kill more powerful Demon Beast.
This tiered distribution allows different Foundation Establishment cultivators to maximize their individual combat abilities.
The Demon Beast within the Demonic Qi are also strong at the center and weak around the edges.
This is because the concentration of Demonic Qi Demonic Qi is high in the central area and decreases as you move outwards.
One week later.
The Ninth Incense team successfully completed their mission against 360 Demon Beast and returned home victorious.
Upon their return, Mo'ya City was deserted, which shocked Qiu Qianlang and the others. After all, they always returned just in time and had never returned so early before.
"Chen Bai, without you this time, it's probably going to be another three months before we can come back."
Qiu Qianlang remarked with emotion.
Ying Buli said, "Yes, Chen Bai, we'll kill more Demon Beast for you next time, otherwise we won't have anything to thank you for."
Chen Changming nodded, then smiled and said, "Fellow Daoists, you're too kind. Who knows how long it will take to eradicate this Demonic Qi? Let's focus on our cultivation and strive to break through as soon as possible!"
"Good."
The three nodded excitedly and went back to their rooms.
Two months have passed in the blink of an eye.
The Ninth Incense team then embarked on another journey to hunt Demon Beast.
Three years have passed, and the Demon-Slaying Alliance has eliminated one-fifth of the Demonic Qi and slain countless Demon Beast, achieving remarkable results.
However, many cultivators died during this period, including those at the Foundation Establishment stage and those at the Qi Refining stage.
Because of the large number of deaths, the Ninth Incense has never welcomed a new Incense Master or had any new members join.
During these three years, Chen Changming did not cultivate any Cultivation Method, but instead diligently practiced the Heavenly Furnace Body-Forging Art. Finally, at the end of the third year, he broke through to the sixth level of Body-Refining Foundation Establishment!
His internal organs were covered with purple patterns, but they were still a ways off from being completely purple.
Just as the Demon-Slaying Alliance was taking a break.
Deep within Mysterious Yin Mountain, the Demonic Qi within the Demonic Qi Well suddenly surged and churned, the dense Demonic Qi billowing violently like ocean waves, while at the same time, an aura of a Golden Core was released.
"This sect leader has finally broken through to the Golden Core!"
A cold laugh came from the Demonic Qi Well, and then a figure soared into the sky.
The Holy Mother Wusheng stood in the void, her pale face covered with strange black patterns.
She gazed into the distance, her eyes growing deep.
The plan to target Shangguan Xiong should now officially begin.
"Shangguan Xiong, I won't let you hide like a coward forever."
The Holy Mother Wusheng smiled coldly and cast a series of Method Formula at the Demonic Qi Well.
Then, a strange scene unfolded.