Exterminating the Demon

Little Spirit Hound crossed through the gap without hesitation and tracked its way inside.

Zhou Changwang hesitated slightly, then stepped through as well.

However, as he stepped over, a small stack of talismans had already appeared in his hand. At the slightest rustle of wind or stir of grass, he would activate them, ensuring his safety at the first opportunity.

He also took the Magical Flying Sword from his Storage Bag.

This Magical Flying Sword was one of the main reasons he had dared to enter the mountains to hunt demons.

After several days of refinement, he could already wield the Dharma Artifact to a preliminary extent and unleash its power.

Little Spirit Hound walked and stopped, lowering its head from time to time to sniff.

Zhou Changwang followed behind, ears pricked as he distinguished every sound, his gaze cautiously sweeping the surroundings.

If only I had mastered Qian Xiaoyue's Listening Art at a time like this. I could hear every movement, even breathing, clearly.

Right, I also need to learn the Spirit Eye Art. Wherever my gaze reaches, everything would be clear...

Only after truly experiencing it did he understand what he needed.

The wilderness's silence, along with the nameless fear hanging over his heart, made him feel terribly unsafe. He desperately wanted to learn all manner of spells to bolster his courage.

"Awoo..."

Suddenly, Little Spirit Hound gave a low growl, its gaze fixed firmly on a small hollow ahead.

Beside the hollow was a small mud pit, filled with traces of demon beasts rolling about. Behind the mud pit stood a newly dug hole as tall as a person. From within it, Zhou Changwang could even clearly hear waves of grunting.

Clearly, this was the Ironclad Boar's lair.

What he had not expected was that the Ironclad Boar's lair would be so close.

It seems the Spirit Rice in my Spirit Field has made it reluctant to leave. Or does it intend to use that Spirit Rice as its own granary?

Zhou Changwang's eyes immediately turned icy.

Then, he took out one talisman from the stack, spiritual power surging within his body.

Sizzle!

The talisman was activated at once.

Immediately afterward, a transparent barrier appeared around Zhou Changwang, wrapping him within like a curtain of water.

This talisman was none other than a Body-Protecting Talisman.

Next came a Lightness Talisman.

In an instant, he became light as a swallow. With one step, he could cross more than ten feet; if he ran at full speed, he could move as swiftly as the wind.

As this was his first battle against a demon beast, no amount of caution was excessive.

The two talismans at least greatly enhanced his ability to preserve his life.

At that moment, the successive fluctuations of spiritual power seemed to have caught the Ironclad Boar's attention. The grunting inside the cave abruptly ceased.

Then, the ground trembled faintly, and a pitch-black figure emerged from the cave.

It was the Ironclad Boar.

Its entire body was black.

Its long snout bore two tusks that curled upward. Bristles grew on its head, each one standing upright like a needle. Yet what truly drew the eye were the black pieces of armor formed from hardened mud across its body.

The armor was embedded over its body, appearing immensely heavy.

"Awoo..."

Little Spirit Hound let out a long howl. Though its voice was young, it carried considerable force.

Its eyes were fierce, its tiny body taut, as though it were ready to pounce at any moment.

"Roar!"

Seeing strangers intrude upon its territory, the Ironclad Boar flew into a rage and charged straight toward Zhou Changwang without hesitation.

Its body was already huge and heavy, and with that full suit of armor, it truly resembled a small mountain crushing forward, its momentum unmatched.

"Go!"

Zhou Changwang's heart tightened, and he swiftly activated several talismans.

A Wind Blade Seal activated, and several wind blades streaked through the air like flashes of saber light, hacking viciously down at the Ironclad Boar.

Several ice spikes shot out like sharp arrows.

Several fireballs scattered around like flowers raining from a celestial maiden.

Zhou Changwang had obtained quite a few low-grade talismans from the Storage Bag earlier. At this moment, he spared none of them, activating them all.

Wind Blade Seal, Black-Ice Talisman, Flame Seal...

They all flew toward the Ironclad Boar.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Several wind blades struck directly against the armor on the Ironclad Boar's back, producing dull thuds, yet failing to injure it in the slightest.

The armor on its body had been formed by mixing mud, resin, and even powdered stone, then using its unique spell to harden them together. It was incomparably tough. Though the wind blades were sharp, they still could not break through it.

The ice spikes were equally swift. Under Zhou Changwang's control, they shot straight for its vulnerable eyes. Yet though the Ironclad Boar was fast, it was not reckless. With a mere lowering of its head, the ice spikes all landed against the back of its neck, producing a series of bangs.

The several fireballs that followed also failed to inflict much damage.

Its armor was too thick. Its defenses were so formidable that blades and swords could scarcely harm it.

The successive attacks seemed to drive it into even greater fury.

A violent fluctuation of spiritual energy spread out. The mud on the ground seemed to have been stirred by it and began to churn violently.

Seeing this, Zhou Changwang hurriedly activated another talisman.

Freezing Seal!

Intense cold instantly enveloped it, and even the violently churning mud on the ground froze solid.

Yet the Ironclad Boar's might was unparalleled, and the force of its charge was too great.

It smashed through the ice without pausing in the slightest.

But by then, Zhou Changwang had already completed his spell.

As spiritual energy churned violently, he pointed a finger, and a streak of golden light flashed past.

It was his signature spell, Geng Metal Finger.

At the same time, with a movement of Zhou Changwang's mind, the spiritual power within his body surged madly into the Magical Flying Sword.

Buzz!

The flying sword trembled, swiftly rose into the air, then under his control flashed like lightning as it stabbed toward the Ironclad Boar at tremendous speed.

Fast, fast, far too fast!

The moment the flying sword flew out, it cut across the sky and arrived almost at the same time as the Geng Metal Finger. They targeted the Ironclad Boar's two eyes respectively and stabbed fiercely forward.

Puff! Puff!

The flying sword and Geng Metal Finger plunged straight in.

They pierced its eyes and penetrated its brain.

In an instant, it died.

No matter what kind of demon beast it was, its head was always its vital point.

With its head shattered, death was its only fate.

Yet even though the Ironclad Boar was already dead, its body remained in a charging posture. Its terrifying momentum, carried by inertia, still rushed rapidly toward Zhou Changwang.

Zhou Changwang shifted to one side, about to evade, when Little Spirit Hound unexpectedly pounced out. Its tiny eyes were filled with resolve and an indomitable will to press forward.

What is it doing? Does it want to save me?

Zhou Changwang was dumbfounded.

Then he watched helplessly as it collided with the Ironclad Boar's corpse. Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, it was flung back even faster.

Zhou Changwang hurried forward and caught it in his arms, only to find its body limp and soft. He did not know how many bones had been shattered.

"Awoo..."

Little Spirit Hound wailed pitifully, its voice much weaker now.