Watch My Eight Desolations Slash, Ninth Form

The Toad Demon flew into a rage. "You never closed your eyes! You dared deceive me? You're courting death!"

It hated being deceived above all else. Anyone who tricked it deserved to die.

Zhao Changshan instantly drew his blade as well, gripping it in both hands. "What demon are you, to dare act so wildly before Master Zhao? Want a taste of whether Master Zhao's blade is sharp enough?"

He had truly thought they had encountered the River God just now. He had even imagined obtaining a supreme cultivation technique, rising like a dragon and soaring like a phoenix after mastering it, with young ladies from countless wealthy households throwing themselves into his arms—and him having to pick among them based on his fancy. Yet it had all been a lie.

If not for Cui Lang's quick wits and timely draw of his blade, he might have been swallowed by this demon like a fool.

This demon truly deserved to die!

Cui Lang held his blade one-handed and pointed it at the Toad Demon. "You want to kill me just because I deceived you once. Then after deceiving so many innocent villagers, shouldn't you die a thousand times over?"

The Toad Demon's face was full of disdain. "What do you mean, deceive? They willingly brought me sacrifices."

"Without me, would their village have enjoyed favorable winds and timely rains this year? I kept many of them from starving to death and even cured their illnesses. Isn't it only right for them to give me some food?"

"By that measure, I'm better than those sitting in the government hall. What is wrong with them venerating me as a god?"

Cui Lang sneered. "You poisoned them first, then cured them of the poison. That's what you call saving people? Last year's flood in the Cloudwater River was your doing too, wasn't it?"

"Devouring cattle, sheep, and livestock wasn't enough for you, and now you want boys and girls as sacrifices. You think you deserve to be called a god?"

The villagers had not suddenly fallen ill. They had been poisoned by demon venom.

The village's grain yield had risen by thirty percent this year only because last year's flood had submerged so much fertile farmland. The true culprit behind it all was the Toad Demon before them.

"Tell me. Some time ago, a father and son came looking for you, and later both fell into the water. Did you harm them?"

The Toad Demon studied Cui Lang closely, then suddenly said, "I remember now. So it was you."

"You wanted me to help raise your strength, yet you couldn't provide any sacrifices. I told you to bring me two boys and girls, but you actually wanted to report me to the county yamen. What was wrong with giving you a small punishment?"

"I showed you exceptional mercy by not swallowing you. Otherwise, would you still be alive now?"

"Pretend none of this happened today, and I'll have someone give you a large sum of silver. How about it?"

Zhao Changshan shot Cui Lang a look. So Cui Lang's father had been harmed by this Toad Demon. There was no way Cui Lang would let the matter rest.

Still, they could take the silver first, then report it to Constable Li and bring more brothers back to slay the demon.

Seeing that neither of them spoke, the Toad Demon said darkly, "Perhaps you think it is too little when the silver is split between two people. But what if only one person gets it?"

People's hearts were greedy. It would first make Cui Lang and Zhao Changshan turn on each other; then dealing with the remaining one would be as easy as turning over its hand.

Zhao Changshan blurted out, "How much?"

The Toad Demon threw back its head and laughed. "Enough to fill an entire chest."

Zhao Changshan excitedly walked toward the Toad Demon. "Where is it? Where's the chest?"

Just as the Toad Demon was about to answer, Zhao Changshan suddenly slashed at it. At the same time, Cui Lang lunged forward and swept his blade horizontally.

The Toad Demon dodged desperately, but Cui Lang's blade still struck it.

"You dare toy with me?!" The Toad Demon's eyes brimmed with venomous hatred.

Zhao Changshan was somewhat annoyed. His movement had been just a fraction too slow. Otherwise, he could have chopped off one of the Toad Demon's legs.

"I never meant to toy with you. I want your life!"

"Brother Cui, watch closely. I'll show you properly how the Eight Desolations Slash is meant to be used."

At that moment, Zhao Changshan cut an imposing figure, heroic and overflowing with dominance.

Cui Lang had only just learned the blade technique and could already wound the Toad Demon. Zhao Changshan had practiced for several years—wouldn't capturing it be as easy as reaching into a bag?

He sprang forward and brought his blade down, only to see the Toad Demon leap to the side and viciously kick Zhao Changshan in the chest with its hind leg.

Zhao Changshan flew back with a whoosh and crashed down by the riverbank.

Clutching his chest, he wore an unwilling expression. "I was careless. I didn't dodge."

Damn it, this Toad Demon was stronger than he had imagined. But how had Cui Lang managed to cut it just now?

Had the Toad Demon been careless too?

The Toad Demon laughed loudly. "With such pitiful strength, you dare spout big words before me?"

If it had not been ambushed just now, could it have been wounded?

It lunged at Zhao Changshan, intending to swallow one of them first to replenish itself. Naturally, it would not spare the other afterward.

Last time, other people had suddenly appeared by the river, so it had been inconvenient to reveal itself and silence them. This time, there was no one alive nearby.

Cui Lang instantly appeared before Zhao Changshan and swept his blade. Cold, piercing light gleamed from its edge, and the Toad Demon seemed to have nowhere to evade.

But in midair, the Toad Demon suddenly opened its mouth and spat out a mouthful of poison.

Once struck by its poison, even someone at the peak of the Gathering Essence Realm would not survive.

Cui Lang was forced to retreat and evade. Zhao Changshan, who had been lying on the ground, also rolled aside in a lazy donkey roll.

The poison landed on the riverbank, instantly corroding a pit into the ground. Terror appeared on Zhao Changshan's face.

Not only was this Toad Demon immensely powerful, it could actually spit poison?

They really should have run just now. Now, it seemed they did not even have the chance to run.

Cui Lang charged forward again, his blade aimed at the Toad Demon's mouth. Each slash came faster than the last.

Zhao Changshan was dumbfounded.

Hadn't he taught Cui Lang the Eight Desolations Slash only two days ago? Cui Lang had said he could not remember a single move after the first demonstration, yet now he wielded it with such proficiency?

He even felt that Cui Lang's blade was faster than when he used the technique himself. That should not have been possible.

Could it be that Cui Lang possessed exceptional talent with the blade?

Joy appeared on his face. If so, perhaps he would not necessarily die today.

He immediately struggled to his feet. Then he would gamble one more time. "Brother Cui, I'm coming to help you!"

The Toad Demon had not expected Cui Lang to be far stronger than it had imagined. Moreover, Cui Lang seemed to possess inexhaustible strength—each slash faster and fiercer than the last.

After only this brief exchange, it already felt somewhat exhausted, while Cui Lang looked as though nothing had happened.

When it suddenly saw Zhao Changshan charge in as well, its attention wavered, and Cui Lang carved another wound into its body.

"Courting death!" The Toad Demon roared in fury. Enduring another slash from Cui Lang, it shot out its tongue and wrapped it around Zhao Changshan.

Zhao Changshan planted his blade into the ground, but he was still dragged toward the Toad Demon's cavernous, blood-filled maw.

Why the hell had the Toad Demon not used its tongue when Cui Lang fought it alone? Why did he get unlucky the moment he joined in?

Cui Lang leaped up and chopped down hard at the Toad Demon's tongue. The Toad Demon flicked its tongue and violently flung Zhao Changshan toward Cui Lang.

Seeing that he was about to crash into Cui Lang, Zhao Changshan grabbed his sword hilt and hurled it with all his might. "Watch my Eight Desolations Slash, Ninth Form!"

The long blade flew from his hand and shot straight into the Toad Demon's mouth, piercing through its upper jaw.

The Toad Demon let out a miserable scream, fell to the ground, and rolled about. Zhao Changshan also crashed to the ground.

Cui Lang seized the chance to pounce forward, kicking the blade's hilt. At the same time, he savagely thrust his own blade into the Toad Demon's abdomen and twisted it hard.

The Toad Demon convulsed twice, its eyes bulging, then lay motionless on the ground.