Fighting the Bull Demon with All His Might!

The mountain slopes were steep, and ancient trees towered into the sky.

Yang Xiao moved through the dense forests of Three-Demon Mountain, driving the Astonishing Swan Steps to their utmost. Every step was light and soundless.

The deeper he went, the denser the Demonic Qi became.

Yang Xiao kept catching traces lingering in the air—fox demons, snake demons, wolf demons... They were all minor demons in the Body Forging Realm, and some had not even developed intelligence.

But he was busy hurrying onward, and since these demons had not come looking for trouble, he did not pay them much attention.

That continued until the first ray of sunlight shone down at dawn.

Yang Xiao stopped and looked ahead.

A solitary peak rose straight from the ground, its summit wreathed in clouds and mist. Faintly, he could see a clear spring pouring down between the cliffs, glimmering silver-white beneath the moonlight.

A sharp glint flashed through Yang Xiao's eyes.

Following the Demonic Qi, he had slain seven or eight minor demons that had blocked his path.

But the closer he drew to Cloudspring Peak, the stronger they became. It seemed he had found the right place.

The clear spring halfway up the mountain flowed down in layers along a winding stream, gathering into a small lake of blue-green water amid the encircling mountains. Pebbles and aquatic plants were clearly visible beneath the surface, and tiny fish occasionally swam past.

A small island of green earth floated in the middle of the lake, surrounded on all sides by water.

An old tree stood alone on the island, its branches spreading luxuriantly. Its dense foliage cast a broad patch of shade, making it an excellent place to rest.

Beneath the shade, a massive black bull lay asleep with all four hooves stretched out, most of its huge body sunk into the soft fallen leaves.

It was as large as two common houses. Its entire coat was black as ink, while its two thick, curved horns gleamed with a faint, muted demonic light.

Warm, turbid Demonic Qi drifted gently from its mouth and nostrils as it breathed, blending with the clear spiritual water vapor around the lake and sending ripples across the surface.

A black shadow leaped through the forest.

Amid the emerald shadows of the trees, a black-clad figure silently appeared.

Yang Xiao stepped onto the soft grass, his straight and upright figure looking especially out of place.

At a glance, he saw the small island in the middle of the lake, the enormous Bull Demon—and a tree?

With the enhancement of Spiritual Olfaction, his perception of the aura of heaven and earth was extraordinarily sharp. The spiritual energy around that tree was so dense it was almost turning into white mist!

If he could lie beneath that tree, the speed at which he used Spirit Swallowing through the Origin-Guiding Qi Gathering Art would likely increase by more than fivefold!

He slightly restrained his aura and was just about to make a move.

But in the next instant, a terrifying pressure burst forth from the opposite shore!

"Mm..."

A low sound came from the Bull Demon, like muffled thunder rolling across the sky.

The Bull Demon opened its eyes. Its brown pupils were filled with wariness as it looked around.

It sniffed, and two streams of white vapor jetted from its nostrils.

"The scent of a living human..." The Bull Demon slowly rose to its feet. Its massive body blocked the spiritual tree beside it, and its voice was low and hoarse. "The Demon Suppression Division's lackeys have come looking again?"

Yang Xiao stood thirty meters from the opposite shore, his right hand resting on the hilt of his saber. He said nothing.

The Bull Demon's gaze settled on him, sizing him up from head to toe.

"No..." A trace of confusion flashed through the Bull Demon's eyes. "You don't look like someone from the Demon Suppression Division. How did you find this place?"

Yang Xiao spoke. "I came from Xiangyun County."

"Xiangyun County?" Understanding dawned in the Bull Demon's eyes. "So it's you."

It took several steps forward, its massive body like a small moving mountain.

"The aura of my third brother disappeared yesterday. I sent my second brother down the mountain to investigate, but it never returned either."

"Then you appeared here."

The Bull Demon's gaze remained fixed on Yang Xiao. It did not attack at once. Instead, a complicated expression appeared on its face.

"Do you know how many of my descendants the Demon Suppression Division has killed?"

Yang Xiao fell silent.

The Bull Demon continued.

"Several hundred years ago, I was just an ordinary plow ox. When I grew old, I wanted to enter the mountains and find a place to die. By chance, I ate a Condensed Essence Fruit and awakened my intelligence."

"Later, I found a mate and had descendants. I took them deep into the mountains to hide from human eyes. All we wanted was to live out our days in peace."

"But the people from the Demon Suppression Division would not leave us alone."

Hatred flashed in the Bull Demon's eyes.

"They came twice."

"The first time, they killed my mate."

"The second time, they killed my two sons."

"I guarded this Condensed Essence Fruit Tree and, in my spare time, used it to create my second and third brothers." The Bull Demon's voice sank. "But now, they are dead too."

The Bull Demon looked at Yang Xiao, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of its mouth.

"Tell me, should I hate you, or should I thank you?"

"Thank me?" Yang Xiao furrowed his brows slightly.

"You killed my last two brothers, leaving me with nothing to hold on to."

Every expression faded from the Bull Demon's face, leaving only calm. "After living for several hundred years, I've been tired for a long time."

"Now, I can fight with all my strength without a single concern."

Yang Xiao tightened his grip on the saber hilt, his brows drawing together.

This Bull Demon was different from all the demons he had encountered before. Those words sounded as though it were on the verge of enlightenment. The next step might be sudden enlightenment, followed by a breakthrough.

Living a long time really did make a difference.

Its cultivation realm was the same as his. This battle would likely be difficult.

The Bull Demon slowly shifted, revealing part of the Condensed Essence Fruit Tree behind its massive body. A trace of affection flashed in its eyes.

"You may have come for it as well. I'll tell you directly: this Condensed Essence Fruit will mature at noon today, and once I swallow it, I will certainly break through."

"If you want to kill me, you'd better hurry!"

The moment its voice fell—

The Bull Demon's body became a moving fortress. It lowered its enormous horns and instantly charged at Yang Xiao!

Its speed was unbelievably fast!

Yang Xiao's pupils contracted sharply. He dodged half a step and drew his saber in a sweeping slash!

Demon-Slaying Blade Technique!

White mist-like saber qi wrapped around the blade as it struck straight toward the Bull Demon's neck!

However—

A crisp metallic clash rang out!

Yang Xiao felt a violent tremor run through the web of his hand. The Spring Embroidery Saber had sunk only half a foot into flesh before the Bull Demon reacted.

Its horns swept sideways, stabbing toward Yang Xiao's chest like two sharp swords!

Yang Xiao retreated explosively, driving the Astonishing Swan Steps to their utmost!

But the Bull Demon was even faster!

A powerful charge slammed heavily into Yang Xiao's chest!

Yang Xiao's chest sank inward, and his entire body flew backward like a cannonball, crashing into an ancient tree!

Crack!

The ancient tree snapped in response!

Yang Xiao fell to the ground, intense pain spreading through his chest. Fortunately, his injuries were not too serious.

This was the strength of a Bull Demon that had lived for several hundred years!

The physical constitutions of the Demon Race were blessed by heaven. Even without deliberately cultivating anything, the accumulation of years would eventually bring them to a terrifying level.

Yang Xiao quickly rose and once again snatched up the Spring Embroidery Saber beside him.

The Bull Demon stood where it was. Seeing Yang Xiao rise in an instant without the slightest sign of injury, a faint trace of surprise flashed through its eyes.

It did not pursue him. It merely watched in silence, its expression composed.

Only a long, narrow cut had appeared on its neck, with drops of blood trickling down from the wound. Compared to its enormous body, however, the injury was pitifully insignificant.

"Your Saber Technique is not bad."

"Unfortunately, you're a little lacking in strength."