Demon Slaying

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

Zhou Changwang hesitated slightly, but still stepped through.

However, as he crossed over, a small stack of spirit talismans had already appeared in his hand. At the slightest rustle, he would activate them to ensure his safety at once.

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 and hunt demons.

After several days of refinement, he could already wield the magical artifact at a basic level and draw out its power.

Little Spirit Hound walked, stopped, and occasionally lowered its head to sniff.

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

"If only I had mastered Qian Xiaoyue's Listening Art by now. I would be able to hear every movement, even breathing, clearly.

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

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

The wilderness's silence, along with the inexplicable fear hanging over his heart, made him feel extremely unsafe. He urgently wanted to learn all kinds of spells to bolster his confidence.

"Awoo..."

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

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

Clearly, this was the Ironclad Boar's nest.

What he had not expected was that the Ironclad Boar's nest was 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 drew one talisman from the stack, spiritual power surging within him.

Sssht!

The spirit talisman was activated at once.

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

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

Next came a Lightness Talisman.

At once, his body became as light as a swallow. With one step, he could cross more than ten feet; if he ran at full speed, he could be swift as a gale.

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

The two spirit talismans would at least greatly increase his chances of survival.

At that moment, the successive fluctuations of spiritual power seemed to have drawn the Ironclad Boar's attention within the cave. Its grunting abruptly stopped.

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

It was the Ironclad Boar.

Its entire body was black.

Its long snout bore two upward-curving tusks. Bristles grew from its head, every strand standing erect like a sharp needle. Yet what truly drew attention were the black plates of armor formed from hardened mud upon its body.

The armor was embedded across its body, making it look exceptionally heavy.

"Awoo..."

Little Spirit Hound howled. Though its voice was young, it carried considerable force.

Its gaze was fierce, its small body taut, as though it were ready to pounce at any moment.

"Roar!"

Seeing an intruder enter its territory, the Ironclad Boar was enraged. Without hesitation, it charged straight toward Zhou Changwang.

Its body was already enormous and heavy, and together with that suit of armor, it was like a small mountain crushing forward, its momentum unstoppable.

"Go!"

Zhou Changwang's heart tightened as he swiftly activated several spirit talismans.

A Wind Blade Seal activated, sending several wind blades streaking through the air like arcs of sword light, hacking viciously toward the Ironclad Boar.

Several ice spikes shot forth like sharp arrows.

Several fireballs scattered around like flowers cast by a celestial maiden.

Zhou Changwang had acquired quite a few low-grade talismans from the Storage Bag earlier. At this moment, he did not stint in the least, activating every one of them.

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

All of them 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 harm it in the slightest.

The armor on its body was formed by mixing mud, resin, and even some stone powder, then hardening it with its unique spell. 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 aimed straight for its eyes, but although the Ironclad Boar was fast, it was not reckless. With a mere lowering of its head, the ice spikes all struck its neck and back, producing a series of banging sounds.

The several fireballs following close behind likewise failed to inflict much damage.

Its armor was too thick, and its defense was so strong that even blades and swords could scarcely harm it.

These successive attacks seemed to drive it into a fury beyond measure.

A violent wave of spiritual energy spread out, and the mud on the ground seemed to have been stirred by it, rolling violently.

Seeing this, Zhou Changwang hurriedly activated another spirit talisman.

Freezing Seal!

Intense cold instantly enveloped it, freezing even the violently churning mud on the ground into ice.

Yet the Ironclad Boar's momentum was peerless, and the force of its charge was simply too great.

It shattered through the ice almost without pause.

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

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

It was his signature spell, Geng Metal Finger.

At the same time, with a thought from Zhou Changwang, the spiritual power within him flooded 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 shot toward the Ironclad Boar.

Fast, fast, far too fast!

The moment the flying sword emerged, it streaked across the sky and arrived almost simultaneously with the Geng Metal Finger, each targeting one of the Ironclad Boar's eyes as they stabbed viciously forward.

Pfft! Pfft!

The flying sword and the Geng Metal Finger pierced straight inside.

They pierced its eyes and penetrated its skull.

In an instant, it died.

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

With its head shattered, it naturally had only death awaiting it.

Yet although the Ironclad Boar was already dead, its body remained in a charging posture. The terrifying force of its collision still rushed toward Zhou Changwang under the power of inertia.

Zhou Changwang shifted aside, preparing to dodge, but Little Spirit Hound unexpectedly pounced out at that moment. Its tiny eyes were full of resolve and an indomitable will to press onward.

What was it doing? Did it want to save him?

Zhou Changwang was utterly dumbfounded.

Then he watched helplessly as it slammed into the Ironclad Boar's corpse and was flung back even faster, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

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

"Awoo..."

Little Spirit Hound wailed, its voice much weaker now.