As night fell, a golden divine decree suddenly appeared in the sky above the White Cloud Sect, like a celestial monument descending from the void, its radiance showering upon the entire sect. Countless disciples looked up, only to see the words on the decree coiled like golden dragons, resounding with unparalleled pressure—
"One month from now, the sect will hold a grand competition for outer disciples to advance to inner disciples. All outer disciples are urged to focus on their cultivation and not slack off."
The voice seemed to come from beyond the heavens, reverberating into the consciousness of every disciple and lingering for a long time. In an instant, a storm raged within and outside the White Cloud Sect. Countless disciples were filled with excitement, their eyes burning with passion, and almost everyone was whispering among themselves, "The Inner Sect Competition! It's finally here!"
However, while everyone was excited, Qin Yu remained solemn, walking alone back into the depths of the palace. As the candlelight flickered, he slowly clenched his fist, his resolve unwavering:
"If I'm still at the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm a month from now, I'll definitely fall behind in the competition. If I want to establish myself in the White Cloud Sect, and if I want to stand at the very top of the Great Yan Continent, I must reach the Middle Stage of the Soul Foundation Realm within this short month!"
He took a deep breath, his eyes as cold as a starry sky, and finally fixed his gaze on a map of a desolate land in the Northern Territory of the Great Yan Continent.
That was a forbidden domain that even Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators feared.
"The Realm Soul Annihilation Forest".
This forest stretches for millions of miles, perpetually shrouded in deathly mist. Legend has it that in ancient times, it was the burial ground for countless true spirits and Fate Soul. The forest is filled with an aura of annihilation; any living being that steps into it will have their soul corrupted and their body stripped away. For an ordinary person, a single thought to step inside will result in certain death.
However, for Qin Yu, this was his only chance.
He slowly rose, the Black Bone War Spear standing beside him, its shaft shimmering with a deep, eerie light, trembling slightly as if sensing its master's resolve. In the candlelight, Qin Yu's eyes were resolute as iron, and he murmured to himself:
"The Realm Soul Annihilation Forest... If I want to step into the Soul Foundation Realm, I must push myself with the most extreme training. One month—I must do it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere inside the room shook violently. His spiritual power surged throughout his body, and the fluctuations of the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm spread out like a giant tide.
At this moment, Qin Yu had no way out.
He knew that this month would be a turning point that would determine his fate.
On the blue stone steps in front of Qin Yu Palace, the night was slightly cool, and candlelight shone softly from inside the palace doors. Zhao Xinyu and Yang Zheng walked side by side, their steps hurried, clearly also stirred by the divine decree in the sky.
Zhao Xinyu spoke first, her voice clear and solemn. "Senior Brother Qin, the outer sect martial arts competition is in a month. What are your plans next?"
Qin Yu's gaze deepened as he slowly raised his head to look at the distant sky. He said in a deep voice, "I plan to go to the Realm Soul Annihilation Forest to hone my skills. Although that desolate place is fraught with danger, only there can I be forced to break through to the Soul Foundation Realm. If I stay where I am, I will definitely miss out on becoming an inner disciple."
Upon hearing this, both Zhao Xinyu and Yang Zheng were startled. After a moment, Yang Zheng clenched his fists, his eyes burning with equal intensity. "Xinyu and I have also discussed it. We're going to the 'Netherworld Valley' that our master mentioned to hone our skills. It's a place heavy with yin energy, teeming with demonic souls, and extremely dangerous, but it can also help us break through our limitations."
The three men exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with the same determination and fighting spirit.
Qin Yu nodded slightly, his tone resolute. "Alright. In that case, let us each embark on our own journeys. We'll meet again on the arena of the Grand Competition a month from now. I look forward to seeing us stand together among the inner disciples."
Zhao Xinyu's eyes reddened slightly, but she suppressed her emotions and looked at Qin Yu earnestly, softly instructing him, "Senior Brother Qin, you must be careful. The Realm Soul Annihilation Forest is several times more dangerous than the Netherworld Valley. You cannot be careless in the slightest."
Yang Zheng laughed heartily and patted Qin Yu on the shoulder, "Senior Brother Qin, don't worry! Once you return from the Realm Soul Annihilation Forest,' I, Yang Zheng, will join you as an inner disciple. At that time, the three of us from the Cloud-Leveling Hall will surely shake the White Cloud Sect!"
Outside the White Cloud Sect's mountain gate, the night sky was high, and the stars shone brightly. At this moment, the entire sect was in an uproar because of that divine decree. Hundreds and thousands of outer disciples transformed into streaks of light, rushing out of their respective palaces and flying off in all directions.
Some carried long swords, their sword intent soaring, and charged straight towards "Heaven-Soaring Ancient Ridge" amidst the sword light;
Some of the powerful magical artifacts, gleaming brightly, shot towards the Blood Refinement Desolate Marsh;
Others travel in groups, forming formations, their destinations being perilous places like the Netherworld Valley, the Shattered Soul Sea, and the Fallen Star Mountain.
Most of these disciples were at the Qi Condensation or Yuan Transformation stages, but each of them had the same burning light in their eyes—a desire to be promoted to an inner disciple. After all, whoever could stand out would not only receive cultivation techniques and elixirs as rewards, but would also be able to enter the inner sect, where status and resources would be worlds apart.
Above the White Cloud Sect's mountain gate, the elders stood on the clouds, their gazes sharp as lightning, coldly watching the disciples depart. Someone whispered, "These juniors will be tempered in the crucible of life and death. Those who return will surely become the future pillars of the sect."
At this moment, Qin Yu, Zhao Xinyu, and Yang Zheng walked side by side, standing at the end of the stone steps of the White Cloud Sect. The mountain wind blew, fluttering their clothes. The three did not rush to move, but quietly gazed at the flowing light in the sky.
Qin Yu took a deep breath, his eyes cold and resolute. "Let's go, it's time for us to set off."
The three of them walked side by side up the stone steps, slowly reaching the outside of the mountain gate. Under the moonlight, their shadows were stretched extremely long, as if foreshadowing that their respective paths would lead to different destinies.
Zhao Xinyu back repeatedly, her gaze lingering. "Senior Brother Qin, you must be careful."
Yang Zheng gripped his sword hilt tightly, his tone heavy. "We'll meet again in a month. This isn't just empty talk. Anyone who falls behind will bring shame to the sect."
The three exchanged a knowing glance, and none of them uttered a word. The next instant, they simultaneously leaped into the air, transforming into three streaks of light, each flying off in a different direction.
Qin Yu flew alone to the north, towards the "Realm Soul Annihilation Forest," shrouded in boundless death fog and unknown terror.
Zhao Xinyu and Yang Zheng work side by side, their goal being the "Netherworld Valley," a place shrouded in yin energy and danger.
Countless streaks of light ripped through the night sky, like a meteor shower pouring down. The names of all the perilous places on the entire Great Yan Continent were destined to be stained with blood and trials on this night.
Beyond the Northern Territory, the sky was as black as ink, as if the world was shrouded in an invisible gray veil. Qin Yu traveled swiftly and finally arrived at one of the most terrifying forbidden areas on the Great Yan Continent — the Realm Soul Annihilation Forest.
As he hovered in the void and looked down, he saw that the entire world was shrouded in a deathly mist. The mist was not ordinary dust, but was formed by the interweaving of billions of Soul Rend breaths and devastated Spiritual Qi. It carried a chilling coldness that rushed towards him, as if it would freeze his flesh and consciousness.
The forest was vast and desolate, with ancient trees reaching for the sky, all of them withered and dead. The trunks were black and cracked, as if scorched by invisible flames, and the branches, like countless withered bones, stretched out into the night sky, making a "creaking" sound. Occasionally, a few withered leaves would fall, but when they landed, they did not make a soft sound, but were accompanied by a subtle explosion of soul power, as if countless souls were weeping softly.
The moment Qin Yu stepped into the forest, the world changed drastically. The previously gentle flow of Spiritual Qi suddenly froze, as if swallowed by deathly silence. The power of transformation within his body became several times heavier than in ordinary places, and each breath felt like carrying a thousand-pound boulder, making his chest feel dull and heavy.
The wind howled through the forest, but there was no life in it; instead, it sounded like the wailing of ten thousand souls. Eerie whispers echoed in his ears from time to time, as if countless dead were recounting their suffering in life. The voices were intermittent, sometimes like the crying of a child, sometimes like the lamentation of an old woman. Qin Yu's mind remained steady, but he still felt a slight tremor in his consciousness. If an ordinary disciple had entered this place, their soul would likely have already collapsed.
Even more terrifying was the fact that the ground was covered with cracks, remnants of ancient array patterns. Dark red liquid flowed from those cracks, like undying blood, slowly seeping in, carrying endless Sha Qi, and even faintly coalescing into ghostly shadows, wriggling and crawling at Qin Yu's feet.
Qin Yu looked up and saw that deep within the shrouded forest, black mist churned, as if a colossal creature lurked within. Occasionally, a pale bolt of lightning would strike, illuminating the entire forest as if it were daytime, instantly revealing countless withered bones hanging upside down from the branches, densely packed, with a faint green glow still lingering in their eye sockets.
At this moment, the world seemed to be dead, with only Qin Yu standing there. The oppressive force had transcended his physical body, pressing straight into the depths of his Fate Soul.
Qin Yu took a deep breath, his eyes flashing coldly, and murmured, "As expected, the Realm Soul Annihilation Forest... truly is hell."
He gripped the Black Bone War Spear, his body radiating Spiritual Qi, and his steps were steady and slow as he strode deeper into the Annihilated Forest. Each step seemed to tread upon the mournful cries of the dead, each sound resonating deep within his heart.
Qin Yu had barely stepped into the Annihilated Forest for less than a hundred feet when he suddenly heard a "crack" sound under his feet. Looking down, he saw that it was not a dead tree, but a skeleton that had already cracked and weathered. His heart tightened, he gripped the Black Bone War Spear tightly, and his Spiritual Qi suddenly surged outward.
The next moment, the surrounding deathly mist churned, and a piercing roar suddenly rang out!
From the depths of the mist, the first demonic spirit slowly crawled out. Its form was twisted, half of its body was the skeleton of a wild beast, while the other half looked like it was pieced together from peeled flesh. Its eyes were empty, yet they gleamed with a chilling, eerie light. Its voice was like the simultaneous wailing of countless people, causing one's consciousness to tremble slightly.
Qin Yu's expression remained unchanged. He took a step forward, and the Black Bone War Spear across the sky, instantly unleashing the Heaven-Guiding Strike.
The spear blade flashed like a thunderbolt, carrying the power to tear the heavens and earth apart. A huge arc of spiritual light cleaved through the deathly mist, instantly piercing through the demon spirit's chest!
Boom--!
The demon spirit wailed and exploded into countless wisps of gray mist, which condensed into a thumb-sized demon core, hovering in the air and emitting a cold luster. Qin Yu reached out and grabbed it, the demon core falling into his palm, its Spiritual Qi surging intensely.
"Just as I thought." Qin Yu's heart skipped a beat. "All the demonic spirits in the Annihilation Forest have left behind their demonic cores. If we can collect as many as possible, this trip will not have been in vain."
He had just put the demon core into his storage bag when a series of low roars suddenly came from all directions.
Call--
From the deathly fog, three more demonic spirits slowly emerged. They were even larger, their bodies semi-transparent, as if they were a mixture of soul and flesh. Their sharp claws dragged on the ground, making a piercing scraping sound that sent chills down one's spine.
Qin Yu's eyes turned cold, his Black Bone War Spear swirling, brimming with fighting spirit. "Perfect timing!"
His feet moved Light Spirit Step, his figure like the wind, dodging the attack of one of the demon spirits. The spear shadows suddenly burst forth like a storm of stars, unleashing Spirit Spear Fleeting Shadow.
Several afterimages pierced through the mist, each strike carrying explosive bursts of Spiritual Qi!
Puff puff puff--!
The three demon spirits were pierced almost simultaneously, their bodies shattering into wisps of mist, and finally turning into three demon cores that fell to the ground.
The four demon cores already felt heavy in his hands. Qin Yu's fighting spirit intensified, but he dared not be careless. He looked up into the deeper Annihilation Forest, knowing that the real danger was yet to come.
Qin Yu ventured deeper into the Annihilation Forest, where the death fog grew increasingly thick, even obscuring the light from the sky, as if he were in a world stripped of its color. All around him was gray and black, with a pungent, putrid stench and chilling fluctuations of soul power floating in the air.
Sudden--
Boom!
A deep, muffled roar came from ahead, the earth trembled, as if some enormous creature was approaching. Qin Yu frowned, his spear held high before him. From the sea of mist, a demon spirit in the Middle Stage of the Yuan Transformation Realm slowly emerged!
It stood two zhang tall, its entire body covered in stark white bone armor, with a long black chain trailing behind it, each swing accompanied by a sharp, piercing sound. Eerie green flames burned in its eye sockets, and the moment it fixed its gaze on Qin Yu, it seemed to want to tear his soul apart.
"Middle Stage of the Yuan Transformation Realm... It's finally here." Qin Yu's eyes narrowed, his fighting spirit surging.
The demon roared and swung its chains violently, like a dragon's roar, crashing down with destructive force!
Boom--!
The earth cracked, and rubble flew everywhere. Qin Yu used his Light Spirit Step footwork to instantly leap five zhang away, and swung his spear in a backhand motion, the Spiritual Qi on the spear blade gathering into a pale arc of light.
"Black Bone - Soul-Breaking Slash!"
The spear swept across, splitting the air like a mountain, and slashed straight at the demon's waist and abdomen!
Pfft!
The bone armor shattered with a violent explosion, and the demon spirit let out a piercing shriek as its body was forcibly severed, turning into billowing death mist that exploded outwards. Moments later, a demon core the size of a fist emerged from the mist, its light even more intense than the previous demon core, its energy almost overflowing.
Qin Yu grasped the demon core firmly, his palm slightly burning.
"This demon core... is worth ten ordinary demon cores."
Before he could catch his breath, the surrounding deathly fog suddenly churned, as if some even more terrifying entity had been stirred.
In the next instant, more than a dozen strange figures appeared simultaneously from all directions!
These demonic spirits came in various forms; some resembled armored battle corpses, while others resembled twisted humanoid soul shadows. Each of them possessed an aura no weaker than that of the Initial Entry into the Yuan Transformation Realm, and two of them even faintly exuded the pressure of someone in the middle stage!
Qin Yu's eyes turned cold, and he slowly raised the Black Bone War Spear, his Spiritual Qi surging forth, his killing intent like a tide.
"Since you've come, then let's all be Annihilation!"
Boom--!
A whirlwind raged beneath Qin Yu's feet, and as he swung his spear, its light swept across like a storm, piercing through the three demonic spirits that were the first to pounce! Their bodies instantly exploded into gray mist, and their three demonic cores, gleaming with cold light, fell to the ground.
The remaining demons grew even more frenzied, roaring as they charged forward, their deathly aura surging like a tide, almost engulfing Qin Yu.
He roared, his spiritual power erupting from his body. With the Black Bone War Spear in hand, his figure and the spear's light transformed into a blinding rain of light as he charged into the horde of demons!
Wherever the spear passed, the demon spirits screamed and disintegrated, their demon cores falling one after another. In the air, the light from the demon cores gradually piled up, as if converging into a starlight.
Qin Yu, panting heavily, stood amidst the corpses and gray mist, holding more than a dozen demon cores in his hand, yet his eyes grew increasingly resolute.
"These demon cores... are the key to my advancement to the Soul Foundation Realm."
Throughout his days of travel and bloody battles, Qin Yu used demon cores as nourishment to stabilize the fluctuations of spiritual power within his body. As he steadily stepped into the Netherworld ahead, the scene before him suddenly changed, as if he had crossed the boundary between the Great Yan Continent and another mysterious world.
The surrounding mountains appeared as if cleaved by axe, with broken boulders and tangled vines. Nestled among the mountains, an ancient city stood silently. This city was no ordinary structure, but rather built from crystalline, translucent stones, each edge shimmering with a bluish light, as if forged by ancient cultivators from the stars. Towering pagodas stood tall, ancient palaces overlapped, and radiant patterns emanated from the earth's veins, spreading along the surfaces of the buildings and shimmering with mysterious runes. In the distance, waterfalls cascaded down from towering peaks, transforming into countless silver chains hanging down, creating a magnificent rainbow bridge amidst the mist. The entire city was shrouded in a mysterious silence and solemnity, as if awaiting some unknown visitor.
But Qin Yu's mind had barely settled when he stepped into the second world. Thick fog rose from the ground, and a blackish-green death aura filled the sky. Before him lay a region resembling a graveyard: countless collapsed statues and ruined church-like buildings were scattered among the miasma, ancient lanterns swayed and hung in the air, emitting a sickly glow. Dead trees coiled around the ground like snakes, their roots faintly tinged with purplish-black blood. In the distance, a pitch-black tower rose from the ground, its body covered with twisted spikes and irregular cracks, seemingly breathing and trembling as if alive. The dim light emanating from the top of the tower seeped into the clouds, making the air between heaven and earth seem to weep softly.
The third scene was even more terrifying: under the eerie glow of the blood moon, Qin Yu saw the earth seemingly torn apart by some invisible force, with black liquid flowing through the enormous ravines, emitting a pungent stench of decay. Countless ancient curse runes were engraved on the stone pillars beside the ravines, each stroke appearing to writhe. In the sky, pairs of grayish-white phantom hands appeared and disappeared, seemingly trying to shatter this world completely through the void.
Qin Yu's heart sank as he realized that the place he had entered was not simply the Realm Soul Annihilation Forest, but a forbidden realm buried by time and abandoned by Gods and Devils. The spiritual energy in the air was unusually stagnant, and even the spiritual energy in his dantian was faintly restrained, as if suppressed by some invisible chain.
He stood at the boundary between desolation and mystery, his gaze resolute, yet a sense of unease lurking within him: this was likely the true abyss of the Realm Soul Annihilation Forest.
As soon as Qin Yu stepped into this forbidden realm, a biting cold wind swept in, carrying a low, mournful sound like the wails of ten thousand spirits. As the wind passed, the surrounding mist churned, and the figures of demonic spirits gradually emerged.
The first demonic spirit, seemingly pieced together from countless shattered stone bones, stood over five zhang tall. Its head was long and narrow, with deep-set eyes burning with pale flames, empty and lifeless, yet exuding a deadly chill. Two pairs of gray bone wings extended from its back, their surface riddled with cracks, each flap sending sharp bone fragments flying. Its feet could even crack the rocks, deathly energy seeping into the earth through the fissures, as if devouring all life. Its cultivation level was clearly at the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm, its aura cold and oppressive as a mountain.
The second demonic spirit was completely different. It was composed of a black, liquid-like substance, its form constantly twisting and changing, sometimes appearing as a human face, sometimes as a giant beast, and sometimes as countless long snakes, hissing. Its body had no fixed form, but each time it solidified, it emitted a power that shook the very soul. Its aura was extremely stable, and even heavier than the former, having actually reached the Initial Entry into the Soul Foundation Realm. Blurred human faces appeared in its eye sockets, constantly mocking and whispering, the voices seeming to resonate directly in Qin Yu's mind, making his consciousness unstable.
The third demonic spirit was even more ferocious. Its entire body was covered in gray scales, from which black blood seeped out, turning into billowing deathly mist upon hitting the ground. Its arms were exceptionally thick, dragging two rusty giant axes, and with each breath, the air was filled with a stench of decay and putrefaction. Embedded in its chest was a dark red crystal core, like a burning evil heart, and the power it released with each pulse was also at the peak level of the Great Perfection of the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm.
What shocked Qin Yu even more was that behind these demonic spirits, new figures kept surging in the mist, seemingly endless. Each figure exuded an aura close to the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm, and there was even an aura of the Initial Entry into the Soul Foundation Realm mixed in.
The surrounding air instantly froze, the deathly aura permeating the air as if it were tangible, and the last remaining trace of spiritual energy in the world was completely devoured. Qin Yu's chest heaved rapidly; he felt as if the Spiritual Qi within his body was being suppressed, and even his breathing carried an unbearable chill.
The depths of this Realm Soul Annihilation Forest were far more terrifying than he had imagined.
Black mist swirled as three powerful demonic spirits approached: the Bone-Winged Demonic Spirit flapped its wings, unleashing a sky full of bone blades; the Black Liquid Demonic Spirit transformed into a torrent that devoured everything; and the Axe-Wielding Demonic Spirit dragged two giant axes of blood and fire, cleaving the mountain ridge in two.
Qin Yu lightly touched the ground with his feet, and his figure vanished instantly—[Light Spirit Step]!
Only a blur remained on the ground as he darted to the flank. A rain of bone blades fell, and with a twist of his arms, the Black Bone War Spear erect against his chest, a ring of spiritual light exploding with a "whoosh"—[Qi Shield Spear Wall]!
The translucent spear-shaped shield spun rapidly, sparks flying everywhere. The bone blades that struck it were crushed like by a giant wheel, turning into dust with a whoosh. The aura emanating from the outer edge of the shield drew blinding arcs of electricity in the air.
Protecting himself, Qin Yu suddenly stepped forward, his Black Bone War Spear leaving dozens of afterimages—[Spirit Spear Fleeting Shadow]!
The spears flashed like lightning, striking the Bone-Winged Demon Spirit's breastplate three times. The black crystal core in its chest cavity was pierced three times, causing the light to tremble violently. The bone wings emitted a tearing shriek, and the wing bones shattered into a pile of white fragments.
On the other side, the Black Liquid Demon opened its abyssal maw, unleashing a surging black tide, within which countless twisted faces roared. Qin Yu slammed his spear into the ground, and his protective spirit shield snapped shut with a "click"—[Spirit Protection Screen]!
A meter-long light shield enveloped him, and the black tide crashed against it as if it had been forcefully parted by a transparent bell, stirring up layers of ripples. Qin Yu spun his wrist and roared, the Black Bone War Spear rapidly spinning in his palm into the eye of a whirlwind—[Qi Cyclone Spear Dance]!
The spear ring whipped up a column of platinum wind, drawing the black tide into thin strands and then severing them. Large swaths of black liquid were torn apart and evaporated in the wind column, turning into exploding black mist stars that banged repeatedly.
Taking advantage of the opening, the axe-wielding demon stomped and cracked the mountain rocks. Its two axes crossed and transformed into a burning, blood-red "X" shape, which then slashed down from above.
Qin Yu raised his eyes, bent his knees and stood up, as if lifted into the air by a tremendous force. His Spiritual Qi surged from his dantian and poured into the spear, instantly causing the gray-black spiritual patterns on the spear to light up completely—[Heaven-Guiding Strike]!
He fell from the sky, the tip of his spear trailing a dazzling arc of energy, like a bright moon splitting the heavens. The energy blade collided with the "X"-shaped axe light in mid-air, the roar shattering the clouds—the axe light was instantly cleaved into a rain of fire, and the axe-wielding demon's breastplate was torn open from top to bottom with a deep gash, black smoke billowing out, and it staggered to its knees.
The black liquid demon spirit, unwilling to give up, reformed and lunged. Qin Yu seized the opportunity to swoop down, Black Bone War Spear suddenly retracted its edge, a cold star suddenly surging from the tip of the spear—[Spiritual Light Thrust]!
The Ultimate spear light pierced the water film like a needle tip, striking the core of the black liquid demon spirit. The black liquid instantly collapsed, and the entire body was sucked away with a "hiss," turning into a pool of ownerless dead mist.
Enraged, the Bone-Winged Demon Spirit retaliated, its shattered wings transforming into countless bone feathers that blotted out the sky. Qin Yu stepped back, his spear sweeping across, and his shield activated again—[Qi Shield Spear Wall]—to withstand the storm of bone feathers; then, his figure blurred, and once again—[Spirit Spear Fleeting Shadow]!
The spears rained down, piercing its chest and skull, before finally flipping it over in mid-air and crashing down a second time with a powerful [Heaven-Guiding Strike].
Boom! The Bone Winged Demon Spirit was shattered from the air, its bone dust falling like snow.
The axe-wielding demon struggled to get up, but Qin Yu lightly touched the rocky ridge with his toes and slid close in. The Black Bone War Spear rapidly in his palm, turning into a whirlwind—[Qi Cyclone Spear Dance] first snagging away its arm axe, then delivering a [Spiritual Light Thrust] straight into its cracked chest core.
The light core exploded into an inward-facing black hole, and the demon spirit's body collapsed from the inside out, turning into ashes.
As the wind subsided and the dust settled, only broken pieces of armor and fading death energy remained in the valley. Qin Yu sheathed his spear and stood still, his chest heaving. The eerie light emanating from the Black Bone War Spear still hummed softly, as if thirsting for the remaining Sha Qi.
The deathly silence in the valley lasted only a few breaths. Before Qin Yu could even catch his breath, the rock beneath his feet suddenly trembled with a "thump-thump--" sound, as if a giant drum was beating from the earth's core. This was followed by a deep roar that shook the mountain walls, causing cracks to scatter everywhere.
The pitch-black fog rolled in again, but this time it wasn't three demonic spirits, but a full seven!
Four of them were still alien demon spirits at the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm, but the other three exuded an aura of a higher level—the pressure of those who Initial Entry into the Soul Foundation Realm! The death energy stagnated, and the space seemed to be sealed off.
The first Soul Foundation Realm demon spirit was a huge withered vine demon corpse, its body twisted like a mountain. Every time the vines swayed, they made a clanging sound like iron chains. Purple-black venom seeped from the tips of the vines, instantly corroding pits when it dripped onto the ground.
The second one was a black and gold skull with two dark green ghost flames burning on its head. Every step it took seemed to stir the pulse of heaven and earth, and the surrounding rocks cracked uncontrollably. Every axe it swung could shatter dozens of feet of mountain rocks.
The third one is a "Shadow Soul Beast" formed from countless vengeful spirits. Its form is elusive, with pale flames flowing within its semi-transparent limbs. Its screams are mixed with the wails of hundreds and thousands of wronged spirits, shaking one's mind.
Qin Yu's expression suddenly hardened, and he thought to himself, "Soul Foundation Realm... This is bad."
He made a decisive decision—not to linger in battle!
With a stomp of his foot, he instantly activated the Light Spirit Step, transforming into a blur as he weaved through the encirclement of demons. His movements were as swift as a streak of light, narrowly dodging the lashes of withered vines and the heavy blows of the giant skull axe several times.
A demon spirit at the Major Accomplishment of the Yuan Transformation Realm lunged forward, spewing a black shriek. Qin Yu retaliated with a spear thrust—[Spiritual Light Thrust]!
The spearhead's light transformed into a straight line, instantly piercing his throat. Black blood exploded, and the demon core flew out with a "ding," which Qin Yu then easily collected.
"Hoo... These demon cores might be the key to my breakthrough!" Qin Yu thought to himself, but didn't stop.
The withered vine corpse behind him crashed down, dozens of poisonous vines blocking his retreat like giant pythons. Qin Yu let out a low shout, and his spear spun—[Qi Cyclone Spear Dance]!
A column of wind howled up, tearing some of the vines to shreds, but the remaining vines still lashed down, nearly striking his shoulder.
Qin Yu lightly touched the ground with his toes, and his figure vanished again into afterimages—he used his Light Spirit Step to retreat ten feet!
But the skeleton spirit was already waiting, its two axes clashing down from the sky with the force of a landslide.
"Damn it!" Qin Yu was shocked. He didn't have time to dodge and suddenly activated the [Spirit Protection Screen]!
A semi-transparent light shield instantly opened up in front of him. The axe light struck it, causing the shield to vibrate violently and cracks to spread. Qin Yu was forced back dozens of feet, and a trace of blood spilled from his mouth.
"These guys can't be fought head-on; we have to fight them while retreating, wearing them down!"
His expression was cold and stern. He slashed diagonally with his spear, unleashing dozens of Spirit Spear Fleeting Shadow shadows in quick succession, forcing back a Shadow Soul Beast that charged forward. At the same time, he used his Light Spirit Step, his footsteps moving like a swimming dragon, always staying at the edge of the demon spirit horde, not giving them a chance to surround him.
In the darkness of night, Qin Yu hunted down Yuan Transformation Realm demon spirits to collect their cores, while simultaneously using his footwork and Spirit Protection Screen to fend off the frenzied attacks of the Soul Foundation Realm demon spirits. Every dodge was like dancing on a knife's edge, and every counterattack was precise and swift.
Gradually, his breathing became heavier, but a determined light ignited in his eyes.
"In this desperate situation, only through killing and perseverance can I find a chance to break through!"