At last, a five-pattern Mystic Core! Back to Xunjiang Commandery!
The Mystic Core within Yang Xiao's body vibrated wildly.
The newly Slaying-Edge Gold Pattern showed no sign of being tamed.
It spun rapidly around Mystic Core, like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins.
With each rotation, sharp golden energy attacks the Mystic Core, leaving fine marks on its surface, which then triggers an attack from the natives.
Unlike before when Fire Pattern entered the body, only Water Pattern offered resistance then.
Now, the original four Pill Pattern are vibrating simultaneously, all repelling this foreign force.
The Canglan Water Pattern surged, the Sky-Rending Wind Pattern whipped up Wind Blade, the Mountain Suppression Earth Pattern pressed down heavily, Heaven-Burning Fire Pattern blazed with flames. The four forces twisted together, trying to squeeze out the Gold Pattern.
Countless fine cracks appeared on the surface of the Black-Gold Mystic Core almost instantly, spreading like a spider web.
Yang Xiao's expression remained unchanged.
The five Pill Pattern possess completely different natures of power, and he had anticipated this situation long ago.
In his mind, the best combination should be metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
The five elements interact in a cycle of mutual generation and restraint, and the five lines can naturally interlock to form a circle.
Unfortunately, he had a Wind Pattern in his hand, and without the wood, it would be like a wheel missing a spoke, leaving flaws everywhere when it turned.
If they are allowed to collide with each other, the Mystic Core will be torn apart by the five forces simultaneously. If this continues and they are forcibly fused, the entire Mystic Core may be destroyed.
We still need to refer to the method used to fuse Fire Pattern.
Yang Xiao used his mind to suppress the restless Gold Pattern.
The elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth can no longer be arranged in that order; a different arrangement is necessary.
So he slowly moved the Pill Pattern and rearranged them.
The Heaven-Burning Fire Pattern moved into the core of the Mystic Core, serving as the Primary Pattern; the Mountain Suppression Earth Pattern sank below the Mystic Core, like the roots of a mountain sinking into the earth, stabilizing the Mystic Core and strengthening the physical body.
The Canglan Water Pattern circled around the outer edge of the Mystic Core, the Sky-Rending Wind Pattern traveled between the patterns, and the Gold Pattern condensed at the very front of the Mystic Core, their sharpness pointing outwards.
This prevents the five Pill Pattern from vying for territory, allowing each to maintain its proper place and clearly distinguish between superior and inferior.
Like an army, each element has its own role: fire is the general, earth is the city, water is the formation, wind is the wings, and metal is the spear.
After arranging them in this way, Yang Xiao quietly waited for the five Pill Pattern to merge and interact with each other.
He waited for an unknown amount of time until the cracks closed up one by one, until they finally became a single, seamless whole. Only then did he open his eyes.
Five streaks of Pill Pattern flashed and disappeared deep within his pupils.
He reached out and grasped the Army-Breaking Spear.
The Pill-Pattern Power converged along the shaft of the spear at the same time, causing the spear to vibrate gently, as if it too sensed the change in its master.
He took his gun and went outside, casually thrusting it at a dilapidated rock wall.
The rock wall began to crack from the point where the spear tip struck, quickly penetrating the entire boulder.
The Wind Pattern is swift, the Fire Pattern is intense, the Gold Pattern is sharp, the Earth Pill Pattern is heavy, and the Water Pattern is long.
Once stabbed, the five transformations occur almost simultaneously!
Looking at the shattered rock face, Yang Xiao felt reassured.
If he were to encounter a demon like the Hundred-Footed Golden Centipede King, Demon at the Danzhao Core Illumination Realm, he could kill it alone without Lu Changgeng's cooperation, given the terrifying cumulative damage.
But he also knew that he was still far from reaching the Core Illumination Realm.
The Pill Pattern is still on the surface of the Mystic Core, and has not yet truly penetrated into the world.
To break through to the Core Illumination, one must simultaneously release the five Pill Pattern to form one's own Pill-Light Domain.
Only when all five patterns illuminate the heavens and earth will one truly step into the next realm.
However, now, the Demon King of the Pill-Pattern Realm is no match for him!
Time passed unnoticed, and now the sky was already turning white.
Yang Xiao sheathed his Army-Breaking Spear and mounted his horse.
The Demon Horse neighed loudly, trampling the morning dew, and galloped forward.
"It's time to see General Pei."
Yang Xiao traveled south without stopping for almost the entire time.
Fortunately, the demon Demon Horse tamed by the Demon Suppression Division are very patient. They only need some food and a short rest to regain their energy, and they almost never collapse from exhaustion on the road.
Just as he had expected, the riverbank was not peaceful.
The ferry crossing, damaged by the Water Demon; the boat planks shattered into pieces; the deserted riverside towns—it seemed everyone had fled.
Yang Xiao observed everything along the way, and after arriving in Xunjiang Commandery, he went straight to the territory where the Demon Suppression Division was stationed by the river.
Han Chuan, Deputy General stationed in this area, saw someone riding Demon Horse approaching from afar.
He was taken aback at first, then saw that the young man was wearing Black Robe and Black Cloak, and the long spear and black sword at his back and waist clearly showed his identity.
His eyes lit up with joy, and he quickly stepped forward, clasping his hands in a respectful greeting.
"Han Chuan pays his respects to Deputy General Yang!"
Han Chuan's attitude was much more respectful than before.
During his time in Baisha Commandery, he was truly impressed by this young Deputy General.
Now that they meet again, he can't even see through the other person's aura, let alone find anything amiss.
Yang Xiao nodded, without exchanging pleasantries, "Where is General Pei?"
Han Chuan's expression turned serious. "General Pei has been guarding the riverbank for a long time."
"The Old Flood Dragon at the bottom of the Canglan River, occupying the advantageous position in the water, is unwilling to leave the riverbed nor engage in a decisive battle with the general. The general cannot leave."
"I was ordered to guard this section of the river against another rather arrogant Flood Dragon Lord Prince."
Han Chuan said gravely, "This Flood Dragon Lord is ranked second. He's used to running rampant because of his strength, and he's destroyed six or seven towns in the last few days."
Second in line?
Yang Xiao recalled that he seemed to have killed some kind of Third Master in Tangkou Township before, which should be related to him by blood.
"Is there any news about it?"
He thought for a moment, and realized that someone had to deal with the Flood Dragon Lord along the shore.
"Yes," Han Chuan nodded quickly. "When I was assigned to guard this place, I received a wisp of a Flood Dragon Lord's aura, but the other party's whereabouts are unpredictable, and often they leave before I even arrive."
"Give me the aura of that Flood Dragon Lord."
Han Chuan was taken aback. "Deputy General Yang is preparing to..."
"Kill him first, then go see General Pei." Yang Xiao took out the Qi-Gathering Bottle.
Han Chuan didn't say much. He took out the Qi-Gathering Bottle from his waist and released a wisp of dark blue-green Yao Qi.
The Yao Qi moved slowly inside the bottle, occasionally transforming into tiny dragon heads that opened their mouths and hissed silently.
Yang Xiao took the Qi-Gathering Bottle and sensed it for a moment.
The Yao Qi carried a strong Water Baleful Intent, along with a unique, sweet and pungent smell, like the filth left behind from years of devouring flesh and blood.
Yang Xiao put away the Qi-Gathering Bottle.
I'm leaving now.
Under the watchful eyes of Han Chuan and many local Demon Suppression Guard, Yang Xiao's feet rippled with Wind Pattern as he instantly soared into the air.
While Demon Horse can be used for a long journey, it becomes somewhat cumbersome once you reach the riverbank; it's better to travel by your own means, which is more agile.
The Demon Suppression Guard had never seen such methods before, and they all looked up in amazement.
Only one person looked puzzled.
As Han Chuan watched Yang Xiao soar into the sky, his thoughts suddenly overlapped with those of General Pei in his memory.
In the entire Qingzhou, it seems that only those few Demon Suppression General possess such abilities...
Xunjiang Commandery, Tangkou Township.
River God Temple, incense burned continuously.
The Canglan River has been plagued by misfortune and constant disputes recently.
Many villagers in Tangkou Township often kneel before the stone statue to pray for blessings, their eyes filled with piety as they make their wishes to the deity before them.
Just then, a strong, fishy smell wafted from outside the temple.
A flash appeared before everyone's eyes.
Amidst the surrounding steam, a middle-aged man dressed in a blue royal robe entered.
His robes were embroidered with dragon patterns, he had a pair of short horns growing from his forehead, and his eyes were cold and sinister.
The familiar face was recognized by the people almost instantly, and they all paled.
The man walked to the center of the main hall with a clear purpose, glanced at the stone statues in the hall, and suddenly smiled.
"A human dares to build a temple on the Canglan River and call himself the River God?"
There was no reverence in that laughter, only mockery.
The man's gaze swept over the people in the hall. He seemed to remember something, and his expression suddenly turned gloomy.
"I heard that my third brother once came here."
"Did you know that it died later?"