Melee

The three demons exchanged glances, seemingly deep in thought.

"Let's do as you said," Tushan Jing said coldly, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.

He had already killed people from Nine Star Kui Island. What did it matter if he killed a few more?

Forget inside this Immortal Treasury—even within Canghai Divine Land, disciples often clashed, and some met their ends.

As he spoke, the six of them scattered, each taking shelter behind a small hill. They used the Breath-Concealing Technique, and their auras vanished without a trace.

The only sound left in the surrounding mountain forest was the mournful howl of the wind.

The moonlight deepened, and a thin mist rose among the trees.

About an hour later, many whooshing sounds came from the entrance to the forest.

"They're here."

Xu Yan tightened his grip on the Green Pattern Sword and used his Spirit Eye Technique to look in that direction.

It was Fang Che and the others.

He had brought the Rogue Cultivators with him. There were twelve of them in all, and every last one had arrived!

Seeing that they were not from Nine Star Kui Island, Xu Yan and the others immediately came out as well.

"Brother Xu!"

Fang Che and the others walked over, looking travel-worn. When the Rogue Cultivators saw that three Demon Cultivators were also here, they immediately tensed as if facing a formidable enemy, instinctively tightening their grips on their magical artifacts.

Xu Yan wasted no time and quickly gave them a brief explanation.

The Rogue Cultivators grasped the situation in short order. But when they learned that the Teleportation Array could only send thirteen people away, and that the three demons had already claimed three spots, only ten remained.

The atmosphere grew somewhat delicate.

"Brother Xu and the other two discovered the Teleportation Array. They should get three spots, shouldn't they?" Fang Che said gravely.

The Rogue Cultivators wore different expressions.

Fang Che had hastily assembled this group before the Immortal Treasury opened. They were hardly a united front. When their lives were at stake, it was only natural to think of themselves first.

Tushan Jing was growing impatient. "Stop wasting time. Make a decision."

Xu Yan looked around at everyone and said calmly, "To be fair, let's draw lots."

"Good!"

"Let's do as Half-Immortal Xu says."

The Rogue Cultivators nodded one after another.

"You killed disciples of my Nine Star Kui Island and still think you can leave?!"

Just then, a shout came from the dark, distant sky, crashing like thunder and making everyone's eardrums ring.

In an instant, a flying vessel shot through the air at tremendous speed. Its roar split the sky, sending ripples of mana in its wake.

There were seven people aboard the vessel.

At the head of the group was Huangfu Ziyang. He held a long spear, mana surging around him. Lightning flashed within his Spirit Meridian, and his aura was domineering beyond compare.

Beside him, Murong Yan held a Great Banner and peered down at the people below. He raised his brows and fanned the flames. "Young Master, there are also demons from Taihang Mountain and Big Horn Island."

"That explains it." Huangfu Ziyang looked down from above, his gaze full of disdain. His voice was icy. "I was wondering how these Rogue Cultivators found the nerve to kill members of my clan. Turns out they have demons backing them."

Murong Yan immediately chimed in loudly, "Surrender at once, and you might be spared the agony of having your skin peeled off and your bones pulled out!"

All around the hills, the Rogue Cultivators tensed, clutching their magical artifacts.

They didn't want to clash with members of an Aristocratic Clan unless they had no choice. But they weren't fish on a chopping board, either, there to be butchered at will.

The enemy had already come for them. Were they really supposed to just surrender and wait to die?

Tushan Jing scoffed. "Young Master Huangfu, what a grand entrance. More than ten days have passed, yet you're still throwing your weight around in the outer reaches of the Immortal Treasury?"

His words seemed to hit a sore spot. Huangfu Ziyang's face tightened, and he barked, "You mangy fox, how dare you run your mouth in front of me? Today, I'll rid Taihang Mountain of a bastard like you!"

Huangfu Ziyang was quick with his tongue, too. Those few words made Tushan Jing's face darken with rage, his whole body trembling. Seeing him bristle, Huangfu Ziyang felt much more satisfied.

Tushan Jing couldn't hold back. He attacked at once, revealing his true demonic form: a grayish-brown fox, three zhang tall, its blood surging and its eyes filled with murderous fury as it charged.

The two Kui Oxen roared and followed close behind, barreling forward like a pair of small mountains.

The physical strength of the three demons was truly terrifying.

Huangfu Ziyang's gaze flickered. He immediately turned to Murong Yan and said, "Take three people and hold them off. The other two will join me. We'll kill those Rogue Cultivators first!"

"Yes, Young Master."

Murong Yan lowered his head and replied. As he turned, the corner of his mouth twitched, and a trace of disdain flickered in his eyes, but his face remained respectful.

At the Fifth Pulse Opening Stage, he led three disciples at the Third Pulse Opening Stage straight toward the demons.

Murong Yan drove the Great Banner in his hand to its utmost, then swung it violently. Ghostly wails rang through heaven and earth, and the wind roared!

At the same time, Huangfu Ziyang stomped on the flying vessel. His Spirit Meridian thundered within him, and lightning coiled around his spear.

This young master seemed to possess an exceptionally rare lightning-aligned Spirit Meridian, a type terrifyingly powerful in the path of slaughter.

The two disciples behind him, both at the Fourth Pulse Opening Stage, followed close.

"What a waste of such talent and Root Bone."

Xu Yan narrowed his eyes as he watched the domineering might of the man's Spirit Meridian.

For all his grandstanding, this young master, despite his Sixth Pulse Opening Stage cultivation, was avoiding a direct fight with Tushan Jing and the other two demons. He was clearly picking on the weak.

Huangfu Ziyang's Daoist robe fluttered in the wind. Lightning coiled around him as he charged at Fang Che, who was at the head of the group.

He was incredibly fast. In the span of a few blinks, he was only a zhang away from Fang Che.

His spear thrust forward!

"Brother Fang, watch out!" a Rogue Cultivator shouted.

Fang Che flicked a finger and summoned a high-grade saber. At the critical moment, he raised it in front of himself. The spearhead, wrapped in domineering lightning, struck the blade with a piercing clang.

Fang Che grunted and was knocked back several zhang by the force of the mana.

Huangfu Ziyang swept his gaze over the Rogue Cultivators like a wolf eyeing a flock of sheep. He cast his techniques with incredible speed and, without pausing, thrust his spear at a Rogue Cultivator not far to his right.

Spurt!

The Rogue Cultivator's magical artifact was knocked away. The spearhead grazed his shoulder and neck, spraying blood into the air.

The man cried out in pain, and the Rogue Cultivators around him stared wide-eyed.

At the Sixth Pulse Opening Stage, the gap in cultivation was simply too great. Fang Che was the strongest among them, yet he couldn't even stop a single strike.

Some of them panicked at once, their eyes full of fear. They all wanted to drop their weapons and flee.

"Don't be afraid, everyone! Attack together!"

Xu Yan immediately shouted.

He had already made his move. The Green Pattern Sword split into ten, screaming through the air. In an instant, fierce winds surged, and dark Primordial Chaos Mana rippled outward. Xu Yan controlled the ten Dharma Swords with exquisite precision, sending them in at tricky angles.

Huangfu Ziyang narrowed his eyes, shook his spear, and swept it out with all his strength, as if to mow down a thousand troops.

Clang, clang, clang—

The ten Dharma Swords were knocked away.

Roused by Xu Yan's shout, the other Rogue Cultivators steeled their courage and attacked with all their skills. But the gap in cultivation was still far too great. Huangfu Ziyang strolled among them with ease, breaking their attacks one by one.

But after only half an incense stick's time of fighting—

He suddenly hurled the lightning-wreathed spear in his hand. In an instant, it pierced a Rogue Cultivator at the First Pulse Opening Stage. The lightning blew open the man's chest, sending blood and organs flying. The sight was gruesome!

Whoosh!

Huangfu Ziyang beckoned with one hand, and the bloodied spear returned to him. He gave it a casual shake, making the Rogue Cultivators nearby shudder with fear.

"Pathetic!" Huangfu Ziyang sneered coldly.

At the same time, just as Xu Yan's ten Green Pattern Dharma Swords descended, Huangfu Ziyang dodged them with an extremely swift movement technique. Xu Yan furrowed his brow and peered at him with his Spirit Eye.

The man had far too many magical artifacts on him. Even his boots were a high-grade magical artifact, and he wore a Daoist robe that was an [Arcane Treasure-grade magical artifact]. Even if Xu Yan's technique struck him, it would be deflected.