Slaying Demons in an Instant, Like Butchering Chickens and Dogs

Boom!

Lu Xuan drove his Cloud Qi. Like the rising sun, he moved with incredible speed, crossing dozens of zhang in an instant as he struck at the three Qi Refining Second Layer Ape Demons.

"Impudent brat!"

The three Ape Demons flew into a rage at once, their eyes gleaming as a deep green light surfaced within them.

Qi Refining Second Layer cultivators not only possessed Qi far more abundant than those at the Qi Refining First Layer; more importantly, they had opened their Eye Apertures and gained an additional mysterious art.

Boom!!

But someone was faster than Lu Xuan.

A brilliant, domineering, fierce stream of Cloud Qi shot out from behind Lu Xuan.

Wei Zhixing.

Wei Zhixing was not only faster—he was brighter!

His entire body shone resplendently, as though a great sun had erupted within him. He was so dazzling that none dared look directly at him.

Dry Yang True Qi—Eyes Cannot Behold, filth cannot arise; at noon, it possesses mighty power.

Once this Qi was activated, the Qi Refiner's entire body immediately shone like the great sun, and the eyes of all living beings could not gaze upon it directly.

When eyes could not behold it, all Mystic Eyes were rendered ineffective as well.

This Qi was also one of the rare True Qis exceedingly suited for fighting above one's level, especially against Qi Refining Second Layer opponents.

Once a Qi Refining Second Layer cultivator lost their Mystic Eyes and one mysterious art, with only their meager Qi remaining, what difference was there between them and the Qi Refining First Layer?

Of course, True Qi was not invincible.

Take Lu Xuan, for instance. Though it seemed that once Dawn arrived, a thousand kinds of wounds could all be restored, there were still injuries beyond recovery, wounds he was powerless to heal.

Dry Yang True Qi was the same. Should it encounter truly superior Mystic Eyes, this Qi would likewise be useless.

But at this moment, against three minor demons at Qi Refining Second Layer who had merely gathered Mixed Qi, it was more than enough.

"Ahhh!!!"

The three Qi Refining Second Layer Ape Demons had been activating their Mystic Eyes, intending to use their Eye Apertures to wound Lu Xuan first. Yet the instant they opened their eyes, they saw a blazing great sun right before them. Their eyes immediately erupted in pain, and they screamed miserably.

Boom!

Just as the three Ape Demons screamed, flames suddenly flowed forth within Lu Xuan's Consciousness Sea.

Burning Heart Sunfire!

This fire was formless, yet incomparably swift. In a mere instant, it entered the Consciousness Sea of the leading Ape Demon.

That leading Ape Demon was also battle-hardened. Though he had been caught off guard by Wei Zhixing's Eyes Cannot Behold, leaving his Mystic Eyes in agonizing pain, he still forcibly endured it and brought forth a gray Dharma Bead, seeking to protect himself for the moment.

But it was already too late.

The Burning Heart Sunfire was scorching beyond measure. Like a sea of flames, it surged and roared, instantly wrapping around the Ape Demon's entire Consciousness Sea.

"True Qi?!!"

"No!"

The Ape Demon only had time to form those two thoughts before his entire Consciousness Sea began to "burn." Every thought he gathered was immediately incinerated into nothingness.

Bang!

In but an instant, the Ape Demon fell from the clouds and crashed straight onto the river's surface.

Yet Lu Xuan and the others had not dispelled the Sea-Calming Art even amid such fierce combat, maintaining it all along. The river surface remained hard as iron. When the Ape Demon struck it, he was immediately smashed bloody.

Only because his demon body was tough did he avoid dying on the spot.

But... despite such unbearable pain, he showed no reaction at all. His flesh had clearly not died, his breathing continued, and his Qi Sea was still circulating, yet all light had vanished from his eyes.

The other two Ape Demons, however, had no time to mourn or grieve.

As Lu Xuan activated the Burning Heart Sunfire, his other hand had already pointed toward another Qi Refining Second Layer Ape Demon.

His fingertip gleamed, and the phantom of a Golden Hoop emerged, descending upon the Ape Demon.

Origin Astral Heart Band.

The Qi Refining Second Layer Ape Demon was utterly horrified. He hurriedly activated a damaged bronze mirror before himself while covering his eyes and driving his Cloud Qi, attempting to flee.

But the Origin Astral Heart Band seemed formless. In an instant, it passed through the bronze mirror's obstruction and settled firmly atop the Ape Demon's head, fitting perfectly as it clamped tightly around his skull.

The Ape Demon immediately stiffened, unable to move.

"—Ssh!"

Lu Xuan then brought forth the Golden-Plume Sword. With a light urging of Sword Qi, the ape's body and head were instantly separated, and he died where he stood.

"Ah!"

As Lu Xuan turned around, the sole remaining Ape Demon had already been pierced through the chest by a Crimson Banner and died on the spot.

In only a few breaths, all three Qi Refining Second Layer Ape Demons had been utterly slain.

Lu Xuan and Wei Zhixing, meanwhile, remained completely unharmed. Not even the corners of their robes had been stained by so much as a speck of blood or dust.

This was what True Qi cultivators were like!

Killing three Qi Refining Second Layer minor demons above their level truly was like butchering chickens and dogs.

"Ah!"

Bang!

Above the great river, Central Balance True Qi and Netherstring Lunar Qi flickered and flashed as their wielders darted left and right. Streams of light also flew from the great boat behind them to lend aid.

One scream after another rang out, and then all twelve Qi Refining First Layer Ape Demons were slain on the spot.

At this point, only the Ape Demon whom Lu Xuan and the others had surrounded earlier remained.

But he was already dumbstruck, his eyes vacant as he stared blankly at the river surface.

On the Treasure-Gathering Boat behind them, Uncle Yuan's scalp had gone numb, and even his legs could not stop trembling.

"Th-this, this..."

These had been twelve Qi Refining First Layer demons, along with three at Qi Refining Second Layer!

And they had all been slaughtered like little chicks?!

Uncle Yuan's mouth was dry. A word rested on his tongue, yet for a long while, he could not force it out.

Because... the Qi he had gathered was Mixed Qi, precisely like the demons before him.

Thus, he felt it all the more keenly.

He had known in ordinary times that Heaven-Gazing Sect disciples possessed profound arts and mysterious methods, but he had rarely seen them in action. Today's sight, however, had scared him senseless.

He had actually dared let them call him "Uncle Yuan"?

After traveling on the same boat for so long, these people could probably take his head with a single thought. This was plainly a mortal traveling barehanded in the same boat as tigers!

Zhang Xuange and the others, however, were not surprised. If they lacked even such means, what right had they to call themselves disciples of an Immortal Cult?

It was only a pity that the two senior brothers had killed too swiftly, leaving none of the Qi Refining Second Layer demons for them to test their hands on.

"Do you have any of your kind left?"

At this moment, Lu Xuan and the other three rose into the air. Their Cloud Qi flickered without cease as they once more surrounded the first Ape Demon and questioned him.

The scene was much the same as before, but the pressure it brought upon this Ape Demon could no longer be mentioned in the same breath.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Without another word, the Ape Demon immediately slapped himself across the face three times, then began violently knocking his head against the river surface.

"I was wrong, I was wrong!"

"Esteemed mystics, immortal masters, this little demon was wrong, so wrong!"

"I should not have killed people and stolen treasure. Lard blinded my heart!"

"Spare me, spare me! I am willing to be a slave, a pet!"

The Ape Demon desperately kowtowed, pleading bitterly.

But halfway through, a powerful force forcibly lifted his head. His green eyes were uncontrollably drawn toward the brilliant Cloud Qi above the great river.

"Are there any of your kind left?"

Within the Cloud Qi, Lu Xuan asked coldly.

"Yes!"

"There are, there are!"

"There are thirty-six Ape Demons in my clan at Lockmist Ferry. More than ten remain in the cave, guarding Spirit Bamboo and Mineral Jade."

"There is also one at Qi Refining Second Layer!"

The Ape Demon shuddered and hurriedly spilled the words like beans from a jar.

"I can lead the way! I only beg you esteemed mystics to spare me!"

"There is also an Earth Vein Array in the cave. I can open the array for you esteemed mystics!"

The Ape Demon spoke anxiously, impatiently revealing the location of the Ape Cave.

But the only response he received was a cold sentence of judgment.

"You killed for treasure, greedily ate human flesh, and bloodlight clings to your body like miasma. You no longer belong to the immortal path's Life-Valuing Principle..."

Then the Treasure-Gathering Boat passed through this place. A ray of golden light descended from the vessel, and the ape died at once. A great net was subsequently raised, hauling up the corpses of the Ape Demons along with the man in black, before the boat continued onward.

Only after the Treasure-Gathering Boat had traveled an unknown distance did a thin figure cautiously emerge from the indistinct mist.