Under the pale moonlight, a force charged toward the old pine forest.
The once-imposing army of Demon Beasts had already been smashed into scattered fragments, with dead and wounded everywhere.
Although the Three Giants, led by the black bear spirit, had yet to act, even they had not expected the Demon Beasts to collapse so quickly.
The disparity in strength between the two sides was plain to see. They were not on the same level at all.
Compared with human cultivators, even demons and ghosts that had awakened intelligence could hardly make up for their shortcomings in every respect.
Their cultivation was too shallow. Without an orthodox inheritance, it was extremely difficult for them to develop, let alone become great demons or even demon kings.
This was precisely why Yuan Bai and Huang Yu had competed to curry favor with Chen Jin. A single method of visualization for gathering the essential Qi of moonlight was something mountain spirits and wild monsters could hardly attain in their entire lives.
At that moment, Yuan Bai was a little worried about Huang Yu's safety. But on reflection, given that weasel's cunning, he would surely have found somewhere to burrow into and hidden himself long ago once he saw things going wrong.
Instead, it was Yuan Bai who was in danger, uncertain whether he could fight his way out.
He could not help looking at Chen Jin.
Chen Jin, meanwhile, was inwardly cursing the black bear spirit. He had been peacefully devoting himself to cultivation on Banyan Tree Slope. If not for its coercion, how would he have ended up like this?
Of course, he had originally thought that so many Demon Beasts pouring out of the mountains in full force ought to stir up some waves. If they could breach the Yan Household Great Stronghold outright, all the better.
Then he could ride their momentum into the stronghold and investigate his own origins.
He wanted an answer.
Yet events had not gone as he wished. The situation had taken a sharp turn for the worse, and defeat was certain.
Reviewing the lessons learned, it was because he had lacked a clear understanding of the Demon-Slaying Alliance and the Yan Household Great Stronghold.
Yuan Bai's successful theft of the sword had clearly involved a great deal of luck. He had merely relied on a trick and fled as soon as he succeeded, without confronting them head-on.
The crows circling in midair served as scouts, patrolling and keeping watch as they cawed incessantly.
Sensing the urgency in their cries, Venerable Fire Crow shouted, "Rise!"
The flock lurking in the woods took flight, forming a black cloud that rushed toward the approaching force.
"Nothing but paltry tricks."
Riding on a tiger's back, Wu Wei took out an ancient-looking bronze gong and a bone mallet.
With a clang, he struck the gong.
"Caw, caw, caw!"
The flock in the sky immediately fell into chaos, colliding with one another and even attacking each other.
Within moments, crow corpses fell one after another, like a shower of black rain.
With his spell broken, Venerable Fire Crow instantly resembled a defeated rooster. In alarm, he said, "Nothing can be done. Retreat at once!"
He beat his wings and soared upward, about to flee.
Whoosh!
A sharp whistle cut through the air as an arrow flew over, piercing straight through his body and sending him plummeting.
Several crow feathers drifted down, soon swept far away by the night breeze, never to be found again.
At the sight, the black bear spirit's eyes nearly split with fury. It turned and fled.
It was no fool. Even if it wanted revenge, now was not the time.
This was its only chance to break through. Failing to run fast enough meant waiting for death.
Almost simultaneously, Chen Jin said one word to Yuan Bai: "Run!"
Yuan Bai understood at once. He leaped into a tree and bounded away in the opposite direction from the black bear spirit.
Without question, his choice was extremely clever. The black bear spirit made such an enormous commotion as it thundered away that it immediately drew most of the pursuers.
The black bear spirit fled for its life, but before it had gone far, two people blocked its path.
A man and a woman.
The man was young and handsome, dressed in blue robes with a longsword on his back; the woman was beautiful, with a graceful figure and alluring eyes that rippled like water.
The black bear spirit quickly realized it had made a tremendous mistake. Licking its lips, it shouted, "Mr. Corpse, make your move!"
There was no response. The pine forest was utterly silent.
The woman glanced around and giggled. "Where is this Mr. Corpse? Hurry up and call him out."
"Senior Sister Yan, this bear is making noise in the east to strike in the west. So what if it has become a demon? It fancies itself clever, only to look utterly foolish."
Liu Chen spoke calmly.
The black bear spirit burned with rage at his words but forced itself to hold back. It knew Chen Jin was still in the forest. In the current situation, if he came out and joined forces with it, perhaps they could put up a fight. So it continued shouting, "Mr. Corpse, if you won't act now, what are you waiting for?"
Still, no one answered.
Liu Chen drew his sword. "Senior Sister Yan, let me slay this demon and skin it to make you a fur coat."
Yan Hui's smile bloomed like a flower. "Thank you, Junior Brother. You treat me best."
Liu Chen's heart stirred slightly, and he gave a low shout. "Sword forth!"
Sword light flashed, thrusting swiftly toward the bear.
With nowhere to flee, the black bear spirit knew it had to fight for its life. It rose upright and roared furiously, its voice shaking the mountain forest.
Hearing that roar, Yuan Bai could not help pausing on a tall, ancient pine.
Agile and adept at leaping, he traveled through the forest along the trees. Once he reached the outskirts, escaping would be easy.
He dared not linger and ran all the way to another hill before his heart settled a little, knowing he had snatched his life back.
Just then, Yuan Bai heard the black bear spirit's furious roar, hearing both anger and pain within it.
Clearly, this "Alliance Leader" was under attack and was close to giving out.
Yuan Bai had no fondness whatsoever for the black bear spirit. It was Chen Jin's safety he worried about.
What will the immortal master do? Can he escape?
For an instant, the monkey even thought of turning back.
Thud!
The black bear spirit's towering body crashed down, slamming heavily into the ground and sending up a cloud of dust.
It had claimed a mountain as its kingdom and gathered friends and companions, dreaming of one day becoming a great demon and looking down upon the world.
When the moment came, it turned out to have been nothing but the king of Yelang's ignorant conceit.
Liu Chen struck and sheathed his sword in one clean, decisive sequence, looking quite dashing. He had meant to display his consummate skill before Senior Sister Yan.
Sure enough, Yan Hui clapped in praise. "What a fine Immortal Points the Way! Junior Brother Liu, your swordsmanship grows ever more formidable. A place in the Upper Court next intake is yours for the taking."
Pleased with himself, Liu Chen thoroughly enjoyed her flattery, but spoke modestly. "You praise me too highly, Senior Sister Yan. Wait a moment while I skin it."
Yan Hui murmured her assent and said, "I'll take a look in the forest."
The moon gradually slanted westward. The light in the forest was dim and mottled, and all manner of strange odors filled it, mingling into a thoroughly unpleasant stench.
Yet she showed not the slightest distaste. Instead, she leaned closer and sniffed with great care.
"Corpse stench?"
After a while, she finally caught an unusual foul odor and immediately identified it as corpse stench.
A zombie had indeed lingered here.
That Mr. Corpse?
Yan Hui's expression instantly changed.
The Demon-Slaying Alliance's forces were all around, so if he tried to break through, he would certainly be intercepted.
But as she listened to the sounds around her, no noise of fighting reached her.
He had not escaped through the surrounding area, and flying into the sky was even less possible.
Then only one possibility remained.
Yan Hui lowered her head and looked at the uneven mountain soil beneath her feet, her tone questioning. "Earth Escape?"