Eighth-Stage Demon Beast

Revered Master Wanli, a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, was the first to arrive outside Wanli Island.

Ten Core Formation Cultivators arrived beside Revered Master Wanli shortly afterward.

"Senior, we're ready. We can activate the formation!"

"Good, but... look at the sea ahead."

"What's wrong?"

Everyone looked over at his words.

When they saw what was happening there, they were all startled.

A red figure was battling countless demon beasts in the sea, moving so quickly that even one or two of the Core Formation Cultivators could barely make out his punches.

They had to remember that they were facing not only High-Rank Demon Beasts, but also countless low-rank ones, with an eighth-stage demon beast lurking deeper within.

Perhaps that demon beast was watching their every move.

Suddenly, one of them spoke up. "Isn't that the Nascent Soul Stage demonic cultivator who helped us kill High-Rank Demon Beasts last time?"

It was the Ke Cultivator, who had met Lu Shang once before.

The Luo Cultivator and the Bu Cultivator had been dispatched elsewhere to kill demon beasts and lead the Low-Rank Cultivators.

"Are you sure you haven't mistaken him? Is it really him?" Revered Master Wanli asked.

"There's no mistake, though his aura was even more chilling back then!" the Ke Cultivator said with certainty.

"In that case, prepare the formation first. Once the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators arrive, I'll deal with that eighth-stage demon beast. Hold the others off as long as you can. As for that demonic cultivator, since he hasn't come for Wanli Island, leave him alone. Understood?"

"Yes!" the cultivators answered in unison.

Although Wanli Island belonged to righteous cultivators, a beast tide was upon them, and the man before them had not attacked anyone from the island. Clearly, Revered Master Wanli did not want to stir up more trouble.

Besides, this time the demonic cultivator seemed to be helping them kill demon beasts.

Revered Master Wanli immediately struck, scattering the High-Rank Demon Beasts rapidly gathering nearby and buying the cultivators time to deploy the formation.

As for Lu Shang, he had only arrived a short while before them.

Over the past few days, Lu Shang had been recovering and preparing to hunt demon beasts during the beast tide.

Lu Shang knew full well how dangerous a beast tide was. Even Nascent Soul Stage cultivators might not emerge unscathed.

When fighting amid countless demon beasts, even a moment's distraction could bring unforeseen consequences.

For that reason, Lu Shang had made considerable preparations.

Just over two hours ago, Lu Shang had emerged from seclusion and immediately begun hunting demon beasts.

The moment the Nascent Soul Cultivator arrived, however, Lu Shang detected his aura with his divine sense. His divine sense was now far stronger than that of other cultivators.

This was not only because of Lu Shang's unusual cultivation techniques, but also thanks to the Great Evolution Art.

Of all Lu Shang's cultivation techniques, the Great Evolution Art was the simplest to practice and the most singular in its effects. Its sole function was to strengthen divine sense.

Lu Shang's Wild Desolation True Demon Art and Heavenly Origin Sword Art enhanced his strength in almost every respect.

The Wild Desolation True Demon Art primarily strengthened his body, while the Heavenly Origin Sword Art increased his spiritual power.

That was why Lu Shang continued to practice the Heavenly Origin Sword Art. Whether in absorption or other aspects, its effects were quite good.

Even though sword techniques were not his main focus, Lu Shang had no intention of abandoning this cultivation technique. This was another way in which his techniques far surpassed those of others.

Strengthening divine sense, meanwhile, was an effect shared by almost every cultivation technique produced by the system.

Although Lu Shang was only at middle Core Formation, his divine sense was still comparable to that of an early Nascent Soul cultivator.

While facing the demon beasts, Lu Shang kept his divine sense almost fully extended to prevent any beast from catching him off guard.

Under these circumstances, even the slightest attack or injury could lead to an unforeseen disaster.

Revered Master Wanli, however, clearly had not fully extended his divine sense as Lu Shang had. He released only a portion of it to survey the surroundings.

Yet the instant they discovered Lu Shang, Revered Master Wanli saw through his true cultivation level.

Lu Shang had not made much effort to conceal it.

Presumably, even those ten or so Core Formation Cultivators could discover Lu Shang's true cultivation level if they examined him carefully.

While Lu Shang tangled with countless demon beasts, countless Low-Rank Cultivators appeared near the surface of the sea.

They then joined the formation.

In an instant, the formation's coverage expanded countless times over.

The formation kept most of the low-stage demon beasts outside, leaving nearly a thousand beasts of the fifth stage and above within.

Clearly, the formation was activated and maintained by cultivators, but the high-level cultivators could still fight while sustaining it.

The formation covered an enormous area, spanning more than a dozen li.

Lu Shang discerned how it worked with just a brief glance as he fought the demon beasts.

The formation relied on cultivators to activate and maintain it.

But once the hundreds of Low-Rank Cultivators arrived, the high-level cultivators had almost nothing left to worry about and could fight without restraint.

Moreover, the formation seemed capable of being sustained by the spiritual power within spirit stones.

Lu Shang noticed that every cultivator held a considerable number of spirit stones. At its center, fifteen or twenty False Core Realm cultivators each held a high-grade spirit stone.

Clearly, these dozen or twenty False Core Realm cultivators and their high-grade spirit stones formed the formation's core. Its consumption was evidently enormous, however, given the countless low-stage demon beasts outside.

They eyed those within like tigers watching their prey, waiting for the spirit stones to run dry so they could charge in and slaughter them.

With their hands completely freed, the Core Formation Cultivators brought out their magical artifacts and engaged the demon beasts.

But ultimately, they were only a group of ordinary Core Formation Stage cultivators. Even with three or four at middle Core Formation among them, they were still driven back again and again.

Had the Nascent Soul Cultivator not been helping kill the high-stage beasts while he searched for the eighth-stage demon beast, the tide-like horde would probably have overwhelmed them in less than half an hour.

The countless cultivators descended into the sea along with the formation, and gradually, even Lu Shang was drawn within it.

Now that Lu Shang was enclosed by the formation, all the low-stage demon beasts were kept outside.

Lu Shang immediately drew his life-bound magical treasure-the Silver Frost Dragon Halberd. In an instant, more than a dozen fifth-stage demon beasts became departed souls beneath its blade.

As Revered Master Wanli cleared away the demon beasts, he also spread his divine sense.

Revered Master Wanli was certain the eighth-stage demon beast was nearby. It had not shown itself only because it possessed intelligence.

Revered Master Wanli therefore had no choice but to search carefully.

After dealing with the fifth-stage demon beasts around him, Lu Shang did not head straight for the Sixth- or Seventh-Stage Demon Beasts. Instead, he swiftly approached Revered Master Wanli.

Lu Shang knew that even if the eighth-stage demon beast leading the beast tide died, the other beasts would not retreat immediately. They would still have to fight for several days.

But unless they dealt with the eighth-stage demon beast quickly, even a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator would struggle to withstand a tide of hundreds of thousands of demon beasts.

A moment later, Lu Shang reached Revered Master Wanli's side.

"Senior Wanli, are you searching for the eighth-stage demon beast?" Lu Shang asked.

"You recognize me?"

"I do know there's only one Nascent Soul Stage cultivator near Wanli Island. Besides, who doesn't know that Revered Master Wanli has an extraordinary attachment to the island?"

"Hmph, you're right. Could it be that you have a way to find that Transformed Demon Beast?" Revered Master Wanli asked.

As he spoke, Revered Master Wanli casually sent out a longsword radiating pale yellow light, effortlessly slaying several fifth- and sixth-stage demon beasts.

"Though my strength is meager, the demonic art I practice is unusual and allows me to perceive the auras around me. That eighth-stage demon beast's aura should be far stronger than those of the others. I only need a moment to sense it, and I can find it."

Lu Shang then closed his eyes and began searching.

Revered Master Wanli did not question him further and merely sent out several more magical artifacts.

Several of them flew toward the Core Formation Cultivators behind him.

Revered Master Wanli knew that unless he intervened personally, it was only a matter of time before those Core Formation Cultivators were wiped out-and not much time at that.

A moment later, Lu Shang opened his eyes, golden light glimmering within them.

"Found it?"

"I found it!"

"It's deep below us. Senior, you can attack it directly. As for the countless demon beasts in between, I should have no trouble holding them off for a little while!"

"Good! But I can't leave you alone to hold off all these demon beasts!"

"Everyone, dive! Once I slay the eighth-stage demon beast, return immediately!" Revered Master Wanli commanded loudly.

Everyone then descended with Revered Master Wanli.

A moment later, Lu Shang suddenly spoke. "Stop!"

Revered Master Wanli turned at his words. "Young friend, what is it?"

"It's coming up! The eighth-stage demon beast is coming up!"

Revered Master Wanli's brows tightened, and he immediately called out, "Everyone, stay alert!"

Lu Shang stood beside Revered Master Wanli, waiting for the eighth-stage demon beast to show itself.

A moment later, a figure who looked exactly like a human appeared before Lu Shang and the others.

"It's a Giant Carp Beast!"