Luring Demons into the Trap!

The silence in the courtyard lasted for a long time.

The patter of rain could not conceal the turbulent emotions surging within everyone's hearts.

The elders who remained looked at each other, their fear gradually replaced by shock.

Everything that just happened was so fast that they barely had time to react.

"What... what level of cultivation does he possess?"

An elder spoke, his voice trembling and hoarse, "Judging by his age, he's no more than twenty..."

"But the force of that palm strike was something that no one in the Liquid Condensation Realm could achieve."

"Could it be... that he has already entered the Aperture-Opening Realm?"

A murmur of discussion arose, and the way everyone looked at Yang Xiao had completely changed.

Previously, they only thought Yang Xiao was a junior accompanying them, someone who came to "broaden their horizons".

Now they realize how terribly wrong they were.

This isn't some young person who needs to broaden their horizons.

This is clearly a powerful figure they need to cling to!

An elderly man took a deep breath and strode quickly toward the side hall.

The other elders followed closely behind, their expressions complex.

Inside the side hall, Yang Xiao sat on the threshold, his Army-Breaking Spear slung diagonally at his side, his expression calm.

He was toying with a dark red Demon Core in his hand; it was the Inner Core of the Dog Demon from earlier.

"Deputy General Yang..."

The elders walked up to Yang Xiao, bowed respectfully in unison, and became much more deferential.

"We were blind just now and failed to see Deputy General Yang's true strength."

"Deputy General might is astonishing; he killed the Aperture-Opening Realm Dog Demon with a single strike. We are all in awe."

"If it weren't for Deputy General Yang's intervention, we would probably be..."

His words carried a mixture of lingering fear, relief, and above all, awe.

Yang Xiao glanced at them indifferently, not paying them any attention.

"Don't worry about me, just do what you need to do."

"Yes, yes..."

The elders nodded repeatedly and turned to instruct their disciples to clean the courtyard.

Their movements were noticeably more agile than before, and their gazes toward Yang Xiao held a newfound sense of amazement.

Yang Xiao ignored all of this, simply holding the Dog Demon's Inner Core in his palm, and with a thought...

"Equipment."

[Aperture Opening - Dog Demon Inner Core (One-time consumption)]

[Effect 1: Replenishes Spiritual Power.]

[Effect 2: Obtain the green attribute "Thick Bones": Bones are thick and heavy, increasing stress resistance.]

Yang Xiao frowned slightly.

Although both are at the Aperture-Opening Realm, the quality of the Dog Demon's Inner Core is clearly inferior to that of the Flood Dragon Lord's Demon Core, and the only word given to it is "green".

It seems that the quality of an entry is not entirely equivalent to its level of achievement, and is also related to some kind of potential.

Even a mosquito's leg is still meat; every little bit helps.

Yang Xiao closed his eyes, sensing the subtle changes within his body.

The improvement is indeed not significant.

The Thick Bones attribute only makes the bones stronger; for his current physical body, it's merely icing on the cake and doesn't bring any substantial breakthrough.

"It seems that the Inner Core of ordinary Aperture-Opening Realm Demon can no longer provide me with much improvement."

Yang Xiao thought to himself.

His gaze fell on the Equipment Slot.

The first three slots are now free, and since I don't have any cultivation techniques on me right now, I can start hunting Demon.

"Staying in the Mystic Bone Sect won't be of much use."

Yang Xiao stood up, picked up his Army-Breaking Spear, and walked outside.

In the courtyard, the elders were directing their disciples to clean up the bloodstains and rubble.

Upon seeing Yang Xiao stand up, an elder quickly stepped forward.

"Deputy General Yang, what are you trying to do...?"

"Let's go for a walk," Yang Xiao said casually, walking straight towards the courtyard gate without stopping.

"Go out?"

The elders were stunned.

"But outside... the Tiger Demon is still there..."

"Deputy General Yang, it's too dangerous for you to go out alone!"

"Should we send someone to follow them?"

Yang Xiao didn't turn around, he just waved his hand.

"No need."

His figure disappeared into the rain.

The elders stood there, looking at each other in bewilderment.

"He... he just left like that?"

"That's the Tiger Demon's territory outside!"

"The sect leader and the three lords are all absent, and Deputy General Yang is also missing... What do we do?"

Panic spread through the crowd.

The Mystic Bone Sect had been besieged by the Tiger Demon for more than half a month, and the disciples were already exhausted.

Now that even the only expert they could rely on had left, everyone was thrown into chaos.

"Quiet down!"

The elder, the senior member, shouted sternly.

"Since Deputy General Yang dared to go out alone, he must have his reasons. What we need to do now is to guard this place and not cause any trouble!"

"Everyone, return to the main hall and increase security!"

Although the disciples were uneasy, they had no choice but to obey.

They returned to the hall, huddled together, and warily observed the rainy night.

In the rain, Yang Xiao's figure moved like a ghost along the mountain path.

He didn't go too far, but stopped on a hill Mystic Bone Sect.

The hill is not high, but it offers a wide view, allowing one to overlook the activities around the Mystic Bone Sect.

Yang Xiao stood in the middle of the hill, his Army-Breaking Spear planted beside him, letting the rain soak his robes.

He closed his eyes and sensed everything around him.

The sounds of rain, wind, and thunder, and... Yao Qi.

The scouts sent by the Mountain Lord had already been pursued by the sect leader and three Deputy General, but Yang Xiao knew that they were only the visible force.

There can't be only these Demons on a mountain; there must be other Demon lurking in the shadows.

"Since the Mountain Lord wants to break through to the Mysterious Core Realm, the amount of blood and essence he needs is certainly considerable."

"It won't just send one or two scouts to probe."

How do I draw them out?

Yang Xiao opened his eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

For Demon that feed on humans, the essence and Spiritual Power contained within the bodies of high-level martial artists are the best "precious medicine".

"If I could release an aura strong enough..."

Yang Xiao lowered his head and looked at his dantian.

There, a pure white Lotus Platform floated silently, surrounded by a faint Lotus Resonance aura.

The characteristics of the "Lotus Platform Rebirth Body" imbued his body with a unique vitality.

This aura is not only of great benefit to oneself, but also an incomparably delicious delicacy to Demon!

"Give it a try."

With a thought, Yang Xiao activated the Lotus Platform within his body.

Buzz--

A faint Lotus Resonance fragrance emanated from within, mingling with the Back Mountain.

The aura wasn't strong, but it was extremely unique, like a spiritual herb growing deep in the mountains, emitting an alluring fragrance.

Yang Xiao stood on the hilltop, letting the aura spread.

Instead of suppressing it, he actively encouraged it, allowing his aura to travel further.

"If there are powerful demons at the Aperture-Opening Realm lurking in the shadows, given their thirst for 'precious medicine,' they will surely follow the scent and come here."

"At that time..."

Yang Xiao gripped the Army-Breaking Spear, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Let me see if we can have a good fight tonight!"

A faint Lotus Resonance fragrance mingled with the wind, drifting in all directions.

Yang Xiao stood motionless in the middle of the hill, like a sculpture.

Time passed by, second by second.

Fifteen minutes later.

A faint sound came from afar.

Yang Xiao's ears twitched slightly, and his gaze turned towards the direction from which the sound came.

"They've arrived."

There was another sound of a branch snapping, this time even closer.

Immediately afterwards, a dense aura of Yao Qi surged out of the forest without any concealment.

Two enormous black shadows slowly emerged from the rain.