Surrounded and Hunted in Ten Thousand Peaks Forest

After a month of cultivation, his Spirit Sea had expanded to fifty thousand li, and a written summons arrived from the Punishment Hall.

Although the Punishment Hall oversaw punishment in Slaughter Heaven City, crime was so rare there that the hall also handled various large and small matters in the surrounding area.

Yang Xiao hurried to the Punishment Hall. The moment he entered the gates, he noticed there were more Pig-Slaughter Guards than usual today. Several hundred stood in neat ranks in the square.

He entered Lord Pinghui's administrative hall, where two rows of Pig-Slaughter Guards stood in black robes and armor. By now, he knew these men were senior members of the guards, holding squad captain rank.

"Lord Pinghui." Yang Xiao stepped forward and bowed.

"Everyone is here. Let's set out." Pinghui rose and waved his hand. A dozen or so written orders flew toward the assembled men, one landing in Yang Xiao's hand.

Yang Xiao took the order and read it. It concerned the demonic beasts deep within Ten Thousand Mountains Forest outside Slaughter Heaven City, which rampaged at regular intervals.

Over time, Slaughter Heaven City had learned the pattern of these Demon Beast Uprisings. A few days before each one, cultivators would be dispatched to Ten Thousand Mountains Forest to cull the beasts.

Not only the city defense army but also every major and minor faction and the various Lineages in Slaughter Heaven City sent people. After all, if demonic beasts breached the city, ordinary citizens would not be the only ones killed or injured—the major factions would suffer losses too.

"Brother, there's something I don't understand." Yang Xiao stopped a squad captain of the Pig-Slaughter Guards.

The man had a powerful build, a broad face, and thick eyebrows. Clad in armor, he gave off an imposing pressure as he walked down the street.

"So you're the newcomer, Yang Xiao. I'm Huang Feng. Ask whatever you like." Huang Feng's voice was so loud that Yang Xiao's ears rang.

"Greetings, Brother Huang Feng. Since demonic beasts stage a Demon Beast Uprising in Ten Thousand Peaks Forest, why was Slaughter Heaven City built here?" Yang Xiao was puzzled. Shouldn't the main city of a domain be built in its safest location?

Huang Feng explained, "Slaughter Heaven City was built here precisely to suppress the demonic beasts of Ten Thousand Peaks Forest.

"Later, after the Sky Marquis received his title, he established Heaven Domain's main city here, attracting large numbers of experts.

"Actually, it works quite well. All the experts of Heaven Domain gather in Heaven Domain, so each Demon Beast Uprising can be suppressed at very little cost.

"It's not like before, when we'd barely recovered a little vitality before the next rampage came."

Yang Xiao thanked him and followed Huang Feng to the square.

Most of the Punishment Hall's personnel had arrived by now. More than three hundred people stood in the square. Every Pig-Slaughter Guard was a Sea Condensation Realm cultivator, and several were Soul Seed Realm experts.

Lord Pinghui appeared in the air above the square. "Move out."

Yang Xiao followed the main force to the East City Gate. Several thousand people had already gathered there, all cultivators ranging from the Qi Gathering Realm to the Soul Seed Realm.

Several exceptionally powerful figures stood proudly in midair. Among them, he spotted Hall Master Gongsun of the Earth Master Hall.

Beside Hall Master Gongsun stood an old man in a gold-embellished White Cloud Robe, whose aura was no weaker than Gongsun's. In Slaughter Heaven City, only the head of the Heavenly Master Palace could possess such an aura and standing.

He also spotted the Huangfu brothers in the crowd. At the same moment he saw them, they noticed him too, shooting him two venomous glares.

Just then, an immensely powerful figure flew through the sky, followed by dozens of powerful soldiers in red robes and armor. Everyone bowed. "Greetings, Sky Marquis."

Butcher swept his gaze over the crowd and gave Yang Xiao a slight nod when he saw him. "This year's Demon Beast Uprising in Ten Thousand Peaks Forest is about to begin. I do not wish to see a single demonic beast set foot within ten thousand li of Slaughter Heaven City. Can you fulfill that wish?"

"We swear to defend Slaughter Heaven City to the death!" Someone in the crowd shouted first, and in an instant, those words resounded throughout the city.

"Good!" Butcher roared. "Move out!"

Butcher took the lead toward Ten Thousand Peaks Forest. Streaks of light immediately rose from before the city gate, forming a long river of radiance in the sky as they flew toward the forest.

There were few demonic beasts on the outskirts of Ten Thousand Peaks Forest, but after flying ten thousand li, they began to see some Qi Gathering Realm beasts.

The river of light descended onto several mountains. Butcher said, "The city defense army will hold this position. Everyone else is free to act."

Yang Xiao froze for a moment. Huang Feng, standing beside him, noticed his expression and explained, "The eve of a Demon Beast Uprising is an excellent opportunity to hunt demonic beasts.

"Many people take this chance to venture deep into Ten Thousand Peaks Forest and hunt them.

"The Sky Marquis is happy to see it too. After all, it eases some of the pressure from the coming Demon Beast Uprising."

Watching half the crowd leave in an instant, Huang Feng continued, "I'm going to find myself something tasty too. What about you?"

Yang Xiao shook his head. He had many methods he could not reveal to others, making it difficult to join a team.

Once Huang Feng had left, he went to inform Lord Pinghui, then headed deeper into Ten Thousand Peaks Forest.

Peaks stood thickly clustered here, and Earth Vein Qi was abundant. An Earth Master's strength could double within Ten Thousand Peaks Forest.

Yang Xiao used the Heaven's Eye Opening Technique and kept watch over his surroundings. He was now in the middle reaches of Ten Thousand Peaks Forest, where Sea Condensation Realm demonic beasts were common. Even encountering a Soul Seed Realm beast would not be surprising.

A figure flickered repeatedly across the ground. As he passed Yang Xiao, he suddenly stopped and stared at him with gleaming eyes. "You're Yang Xiao?"

Yang Xiao looked at the man with a slight frown. He had just used the Earth Master technique Shrinking Earth to Inches, but Yang Xiao did not remember knowing him.

Had my reputation already spread so far that everyone in Slaughter Heaven City knew me?

He asked, "Have we met?"

The man chuckled. Suddenly, two enormous earthen snakes rose beneath Yang Xiao's feet. "Who in the Earth Master Hall doesn't know you? The hall master said that anyone who kills you and retrieves the Heart of the Earth will receive his recommendation to the Imperial Capital Earth Master Main Hall."

Yang Xiao used Shrinking Earth to Inches to dart aside, his expression darkening. He had still failed to deceive the Earth Master Hall, and they had secretly ordered his death. This man was certainly bold, though—a mere Sea Condensation Realm cultivator actually dared attack him.

Yang Xiao connected with the Earth Vein Qi. Several Earth Chains rose behind the man and bound him.

"What is this?" the Earth Master Hall disciple cried in horror.

Yang Xiao flashed to his side, formed a Spell Blade, and sliced off his head. Earth Chain was an Earth Master technique from the carefree earth master chapter, countless times more powerful than the Earth Master Hall's techniques.

With a wave of his hand, he buried the corpse, then hurried back the way he had come. Several hundred Earth Master Hall disciples had entered the forest, along with several Soul Seed Realm elders. If they gathered their forces to surround and kill him, escaping would be difficult.

Halfway back, Yang Xiao stopped again. He saw dozens of people from the Earth Master Hall and the Heavenly Master Palace gathered ahead, blocking the route and inspecting everyone who passed.

Yang Xiao's heart sank. The Earth Master Hall and the Heavenly Master Palace had joined forces. Perhaps that was not all—he had also offended the Huangfu brothers, so the Huangfu Lineage was probably involved as well.

Moreover, the Earth Master Hall enjoyed immense prestige in Slaughter Heaven City. Perhaps more than half the people who had entered the forest were involved.

The Earth Master Hall might have been plotting this for a long time. They simply had not had an opportunity while Yang Xiao was in secluded cultivation at the City Lord's Residence.

He turned back. With the way out blocked, trying to force his way through would only lead to death.

With his back to the blockade, a trace of killing intent flashed in his eyes. These people really thought he was a soft persimmon they could crush at will.

With his current strength, even a cultivator who had just entered the Soul Seed Realm was no match for him without his trump cards. If he used the Dragon Horn, killing even a peak Soul Seed Realm expert was not out of the question.

It would merely exhaust all his magical power.

He stepped into the mountain forest and connected with the Earth Vein Qi to sense his surroundings. He withdrew the Heavenly Eye; it was far too conspicuous.

Yang Xiao stopped. The Earth Vein Qi to the north had just fluctuated violently. An Earth Master was fighting there.

He hurried north. Since the Earth Master Hall was hunting him, he would not sit passively by. Given the chance, he would not mind unleashing a slaughter.

The fluctuations grew stronger and stronger. As he approached the battlefield, he found a tree and hid behind it.

He saw two familiar faces. The Huangfu brothers were fighting a Soul Seed Realm Azure Ox.

This Azure Ox was clearly a battle-seasoned demonic beast that had entered the Soul Seed Realm many years ago. Despite fighting the Huangfu brothers for some time, it showed no sign of falling behind.

On the battlefield, thunder crashed, the earth shook, and flying stones whirled wildly. One Huangfu brother was a Heavenly Master, the other an Earth Master. They trapped the Azure Ox between them, intending to defeat it with the most foolish method—exhausting its magical power.

In fact, they succeeded. After half an hour of fighting and dodging the Azure Ox's powerful attacks several times, the Huangfu brothers wore it down until it collapsed.

"Brother, with this azure ox, I can ask Elder Fu Shi to refine a high-grade Spirit Artifact." Huangfu Shengtian approached the azure ox's corpse, his face full of delight.

"Watch out!" Huangfu Shenghua suddenly shouted.

A black rope slithered like a living snake toward Huangfu Shengtian's feet, then abruptly sprang up and wrapped around his neck. Black vapor seeped from the rope into his body.

"Brother!" Huangfu Shenghua lunged forward and unleashed a streak of white light. Just then, a Spell Blade cleaved the light apart.

Yang Xiao stepped out from behind the tree and drew the Hundred-Spirit Spider Rope into his hand from a distance. At its other end, Huangfu Shengtian desperately clutched the rope around his neck.

"It's you!" Huangfu Shenghua exclaimed in shock. A moment later, his tone softened. "Release my brother, and all our past grudges will be wiped clean."

Yang Xiao seized Huangfu Shengtian's neck and twisted hard, snapping it. He bared two rows of white teeth. "You mean like this?"

Only a fool would believe in placing his life in an enemy's hands.

He had already learned the Huangfu brothers' temperaments during the Heavenly Master Palace and Earth Master Hall assessments. Even if he released Huangfu Shengtian, they would not spare him. They would only throw themselves more eagerly into the hunt.

"Brother!" Huangfu Shenghua let out an anguished scream and stared at him with bloodshot eyes. "Don't even dream of leaving here alive today!"

Yang Xiao smiled scornfully. "Didn't Huangfu Shengtian tell you that I'm also an Earth Master?

"Here in Ten Thousand Peaks Forest, you think you can kill me alone?"

"Heart-Devouring Thunder!"

Spiritual light flashed in Huangfu Shenghua's hand, and a fan appeared. He opened it, revealing an engraved scene of Thunderfall descending upon the mortal world.

Yang Xiao frowned slightly. This fan was a high-grade Heavenly Master Spirit Artifact, enough to double Huangfu Shenghua's combat power.

Dark clouds gathered overhead, and a bolt of black lightning struck toward Yang Xiao.

Yang Xiao used Shrinking Earth to Inches to dodge the lightning.

Huangfu Shenghua waved his feather fan, sending bolt after bolt of Heart-Devouring Thunder chasing after Yang Xiao.

Yang Xiao's frown deepened. This could not continue. Huangfu Shenghua's lightning might well attract nearby pursuers.

He began changing direction, circling Huangfu Shenghua. Each time he paused briefly, he connected with the Earth Vein Qi.

Half a minute later, the corners of Yang Xiao's mouth lifted into a wicked smile.

Earth Vein Qi surged forth, instantly forming Earth's Right Hand. A single palm strike sent Huangfu Shenghua flying.

Yang Xiao walked over to Huangfu Shenghua. After fighting the azure ox for half an hour, Huangfu Shenghua had expended more than half his stamina and magical power. His repeated use of a Heavenly Master technique like Heart-Devouring Thunder had already emptied him out. That strike from Earth's Right Hand had ruptured his heart meridians.

He picked up the feather fan. The words "Thundercloud Fan" were written on its front.

The Thundercloud Fan could strengthen lightning-based Heavenly Master techniques, so it could be used to cast the Nine Thunder Formation.

He removed their Storage Rings and buried their bodies ten meters underground. Then he put the Azure Ox's corpse into a Storage Ring and headed deeper into Ten Thousand Peaks Forest.

A short while later, three Earth Master Hall disciples arrived. Examining the traces of battle and sensing the Earth Vein Qi, they walked to the spot where Yang Xiao had buried the bodies and dug up the Huangfu brothers.

Their leader said, "Spread the news and warn everyone to be careful.

"I'll take their bodies to the hall master."

The three split up, heading in three different directions.