Misstep (Seeking Continued Readership)

"Hmm?"

The middle-aged soldier looked shocked; he hadn't expected Chen Xian to discover him and block his subtle spear attack.

"Zhong Lian, you're asking for death!"

Chen Xian roared as he charged at the middle-aged man.

He immediately recognized the man as one of those who had killed the Black Tiger King alongside Pei Menglong last time. Disguised as a Black Armored Demon Slayer Soldier, his goal was to eliminate both Chen Xian and Ding Chen.

Initially, Chen Xian hadn't thought much of it, but when Peng Lianqing showed up, he felt a flicker of doubt.

To the west of Blood River Forest, directly north, soldiers under Pei Menglong were stationed, while other junior generals guarded the east.

The lieutenants under Pei Menglong weren't just Chen Quanwu; even if reinforcements were needed, it shouldn't fall to Zhong Lian's men.

Once the middle-aged man made his move, everything became clear to him.

Zhong Lian was momentarily stunned; he hadn't expected Chen Xian to call him by name. He shot a cold glance at Chen Xian, raised his spear to block Chen Xian's long spear, and shouted, "What are you doing?"

Without wasting any words, Chen Xian struck fiercely, sending Zhong Lian flying several meters with a single thrust, causing him to spit out blood.

"Are you insane?"

Zhong Lian yelled, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, channeling his energy to wrap around his spear and attack Chen Xian.

"Li Sheng sent you to eliminate us, didn't he?"

"I don't understand what you're saying."

"Stop pretending!"

Chen Xian unleashed a powerful palm strike, executing the Subtle Great Smash technique, which hit Zhong Lian squarely in the chest, making him stagger backward and spit blood repeatedly.

"Subtle?"

Zhong Lian was taken aback, then shouted, "You're just a Cook Soldier! Instead of fighting demons on the battlefield, you dare to attack me? Are you seeking death?"

"Die!"

A murderous intent rolled in Chen Xian's eyes. Although he had saved Ding Chen, that strike had the potential to harm more than just Ding Chen; Wang Yan, Qin Fei, Luo Ying, and the others were likely in peril as well.

They should have also come to kill him, but Zhong Lian never expected he could withstand the attack.

"Hahaha... those despicable humans are fighting among themselves. Wipe them out!" The Demon Lord laughed gleefully, focusing all its power to suppress Chen Quanwu.

Chen Quanwu was also caught off guard, realizing that the middle-aged man he was fighting was indeed Major Zhong Lian.

How did he end up in black armor?

"General Zhong, save me! Please save me first!" Chen Quanwu shouted. His energy was already low from battling the Demon Lord and five other demons for a while, and with over thirty injuries, blood was continuously flowing from him.

His lieutenants were blocked by the Great Demons and Lesser Demons, unable to break through.

Even if they could get through, they wouldn't be able to save him.

Zhong Lian's expression darkened. It was one thing for Chen Quanwu to recognize him, but to shout it out loud in public?

Hmph!

With a cold snort, Zhong Lian activated the Ox Demon Body Refinement, blocking Chen Xian's path before leaping into the fray of demons.

He then charged into Blood River Forest.

It seemed like he was pursuing the demons, but in reality, he was using the forest as cover to make a swift escape.

Chen Xian readied his spear to chase Zhong Lian but suddenly remembered the thousand Demon Slayer Soldiers who had come with him, so he held back.

Those thousand soldiers were fighting the demons while keeping a watchful eye on Chen Xian, Ding Chen, and the others.

Boom!

Chen Xian charged toward a group of demons, taking down over ten of them with a single thrust, rescuing the injured Wang Yan, Qin Fei, and Luo Ying.

Ding Chen managed to save Xue Qishan.

The uninjured Cook Soldiers quickly rushed forward, carrying Wang Yan, Qin Fei, and the others while fighting their way out.

"Head to Black Wind Valley!" Chen Xian commanded.

The thousand Demon Slayer Soldiers who had come with Zhong Lian acted without any command, continuing to fight while gradually rescuing Peng Lianqing, disappearing bit by bit into Blood River Forest.

Chen Xian cast a cold glance around, not caring about Chen Quanwu's fate. After breaking through the encirclement, he had Ding Chen protect the others as they headed to Black Wind Valley.

He charged alone toward the heavily injured demons.

In Blood River Forest.

Zhong Lian's expression was extremely grave. He had been confident that his strike could kill Chen Xian, Ding Chen, and the other demons. Even if it didn't kill them, they would be severely injured and surrounded by demons, doomed to perish.

But he hadn't anticipated this miscalculation!

Now his identity was exposed.

"Liu Dingchun, that fool! Is that Chen Xian really a Jade Sea Small Completion?" Zhong Lian fumed. How could a Jade Sea Small Completion possibly injure him?

Before long, the trusted soldiers rushed over, and an eagle-nosed man asked, "General, should we fight back?"

"Fight back? What the hell for? We're retreating to the east!" Zhong Lian replied coldly.

After missing a strike, Chen Xian had become wary, making it impossible to kill him again.

Immediately, the group stealthily retreated toward the eastern side of Blood River Forest.

As they passed through the center of Blood River Forest, Nangong Yan and the others, who were battling demons, spotted Zhong Lian.

"Major Zhong?"

Nangong Yan frowned slightly, just about to speak.

But she saw Zhong Lian leading his cavalry through the demons, heading east.

At the foot of Seven Mile Peak.

Pfft!

Chen Quanwu rolled on the ground, spitting blood.

He had thought Zhong Lian came to provide support, but instead, he just made an appearance and vanished.

The retreating demons had returned to attack.

Among his thousand cavalry, two hundred had already fallen.

The Demon Lord was at mid-stage strength, more powerful than him, and the five demon warriors were all Late Stage Perfected Spirit Demons.

There were over fifty Great Demons and more than two hundred Lesser Demons.

While the other demons were not much of a threat, their sheer numbers made them hard to kill.

"Help me!"

Chen Quanwu shouted in anger, blood spilling from his mouth.

Finally, a lieutenant charged in, trying to save Chen Quanwu, but was blocked by two demon warriors.

Another lieutenant rushed in as well.

Three more demon warriors surged forward to intercept.

Even so, Chen Quanwu's energy was depleted, and replenishing with the Essence Replenishing Pill wouldn't be quick enough; facing the Demon Lord alone was still overwhelming.

"Chen Xian, you bastard...!"

Chen Quanwu was filled with rage. Chen Xian was so close, yet he wouldn't come to save him.

As he cursed, the Demon Lord stabbed him through the chest.

Blood gushed out from his back.

"Lieutenant Chen!"

Chen Xian shouted from a distance, leaping over to stand in front of the fallen Chen Quanwu. "Why didn't you hold on a little longer?"

"I... ugh... you..."

Chen Quanwu glared in anger, raising his hand to point an accusatory finger at Chen Xian, but blood bubbled from his mouth, and he couldn't finish his words. His head tilted, and he breathed his last.

"Brother Wu!"

"Lieutenant!"

The surviving lieutenants and second lieutenants under Chen Quanwu shouted in despair.

However, the demon attacks grew fiercer, leaving them no chance to react.

"Chen Xian!"

One lieutenant, filled with rage, roared and charged at the demons.

Chen Xian glanced at the lieutenant; it was the same one who had fought with Wang Yan in the barracks.

"Lowly human, die!"

The Demon Lord swung its blade toward Chen Xian.

Without even looking, Chen Xian thrust his spear forward, and a flash of dark golden light shot out.

With a thud, it pierced through the Demon Lord's chest, blood spraying out from its back.

The Demon Lord was instantly stunned.

It stiffly raised its sword, glancing down at its chest, where a bloody hole had formed.

Three breaths later.

With a loud bang, the spear's energy erupted inside the wound, tearing the Demon Lord apart, blood spraying like rain.

The five demon warriors and over a thousand demons that were attacking froze in shock!

He killed the Demon Lord with a single spear?

The demons stared at Chen Xian, their faces filled with terror.

The Demon Slayer Soldiers all looked bewildered and horrified!

Puff! Puff! Puff!...

Chen Xian moved in a flash, wielding his spear, and the heads of five demons exploded like watermelons.

"Retreat!"

A Great Demon finally reacted, letting out an angry roar.

In the next instant, a beam of spear light pierced through its chest, and with a thud, it fell dozens of meters away, dead.