57: When the snipe and the clam fight, they secretly spy on each other.

Outside the Ghost Soul Valley, the atmosphere was oppressive, like the deathly silence before a storm.

All the forces hidden in the darkness were like the most cunning hunters, wary of each other, mutually guarded, and none wished to be the first to break this fragile balance.

Time passed, minute by minute.

Finally, the three Loose Cultivators seemed to have run out of patience.

"Big Brother, we can't wait any longer!" one of the burly men with a full beard whispered anxiously to the scar-faced Cultivator leading them.

"More and more people are coming to this cursed place! If we wait any longer, we might not even get a sip of the soup!"

"That's right, Big Brother!" another skinny Cultivator chimed in.

"Those lunatics from the Black Fiend Sect are here too! We don't have any advantage compared to them! Why don't we go in now, grab the item, and leave immediately!"

The scar-faced Cultivator, who was called Big Brother, showed a hint of struggle and ruthlessness in his eyes.

He also knew that the longer they delayed, the greater the variables would be.

Wealth is found in danger!

"Alright!" He gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

"Second Brother, Third Brother! The three of us will join forces, set up the Three Talents Blood Evil Array, and charge straight in! As long as we get the nine-aperture stone milk, we'll immediately flee far away and leave Baiyue Prefecture!"

"Yes, Big Brother!"

Hearing this, the other two immediately showed excited and cruel smiles on their faces.

The three stopped hesitating, burst out from their hiding spot, turning into three streaks of bloody light, and charged directly toward the entrance of the Ghost Soul Valley without concealment!

"It's the Blood Hand Three Fiends! They've made their move!"

"Hmph, a bunch of idiots who don't know their own limits!"

Their action instantly broke the peace of the area, causing a commotion among the other hidden parties.

The leader on the Black Fiend Sect's side looked at the three streaks of bloody light and curled his lips into a cold, disdainful smile.

"Letting them scout the path is fine. Pass on my order: everyone prepare. Once that beast is drawn out, we will make our move amidst the chaos!"

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

All of this was clearly seen by Shen Yuanmo, who was hidden in the shadow of a rock.

There was no ripple of emotion on his face.

In his view, these so-called Blood Hand Three Fiends were merely cannon fodder going to their deaths.

The three Loose Cultivators rushed to the valley entrance and immediately stood in a triangular formation.

They simultaneously bit the tips of their tongues, spat out a mouthful of vital blood, and rapidly formed strange hand seals with their hands.

"Buzz!"

Three streams of bloody Evil Qi rushed out from the tops of their heads, intertwining in mid-air to form a constantly spinning blood-red vortex, emitting a nauseating stench of blood.

"Charge!"

The scar-faced Cultivator roared, and the three of them, bearing the blood-red vortex, charged resolutely into the thick gray mist.

However, the moment they stepped into the Ghost Soul Valley.

"Awooo—!!!"

A roar, seemingly from the Nine Nethers of Hell and filled with endless malice and pain, suddenly came from the depths of the valley!

The gray mist shrouding the valley violently churned, like a lake surface where a huge rock had been thrown!

The three Loose Cultivators who charged ahead were submerged by the churning gray mist before they even had time to react.

"Ah—!"

"My Divine Soul! My Divine Soul is being corroded!"

"No! Save me! Big Brother, save me!"

Screams, so shrill they didn't sound human, came from the mist, but they ceased abruptly after less than two breaths.

All the Cultivators hiding outside the valley felt a chill rush straight from the soles of their feet to the tops of their heads!

They could clearly sense that the life force of the three Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators had completely vanished in that brief moment!

They were instantly killed!

Just the Ghost Soul Miasma at the valley entrance was this terrifying!

Just as everyone's minds were greatly shaken.

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

A series of heavy footsteps, like the beating of war drums, rapidly approached from the depths of the valley.

Every step caused the entire ground to tremble!

A terrifying Aura, even more frightening than the Black Water Profound Serpent before, filled with savagery, profoundness, and supreme majesty, swept out from the valley like an awakened ancient giant beast!

All the Cultivators outside the valley felt as insignificant as ants before this Aura; even breathing became difficult, and the Magic Power within their bodies circulated poorly, as if about to be completely suppressed!

"It's the Guardian Demon King! It has come out!" The Black Fiend Sect's Senior Brother's face drastically changed, and he cried out in surprise.

The next moment.

An incomparably massive figure slowly walked out from the churning gray mist.

It was a strange beast over five Zhang tall, entirely covered in black scales resembling ink jade.

Its form resembled a Qilin, with a Dragon head, deer body, horse hooves, and ox tail, looking exceptionally mighty.

Beneath its four hooves, earthy yellow flames burned, and every step it took left a deep imprint on the hard rock ground.

Its pair of golden eyes held no emotion, filled with lofty majesty and indifference, as if looking down upon a group of ants courting death.

A Low Grade Tier 3 Demon King, the Ink Jade Qilin!

It merely stood there silently, and the terrifying Coercion originating from the depths of its Bloodline made all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present unable to muster any thought of resistance.

Too strong!

This Aura was definitely comparable to a Middle Golden Core Stage Immortal Master!

The Ink Jade Qilin's icy gaze swept around outside the valley, seemingly warning all intruders who dared to spy on its territory.

Following that, it let out a cold, disdainful snort, and two streams of earthy yellow Qi shot out from its nostrils.

It slowly turned around, seemingly preparing to return inside the valley.

Seeing this scene, all the Cultivators outside the valley let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if they had just walked through the Gates of Hell.

The Senior Brother of the Black Fiend Sect was drenched in cold sweat, his back completely soaked.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" He issued the command without hesitation.

"This beast's strength far exceeds the intelligence report! We cannot deal with it at all! We're giving up on the nine-aperture stone milk!"

All he wanted now was to quickly leave this Place of Trouble and save his life.

Other Loose Cultivators who had held onto a sliver of hope were also terrified, and one by one, they quietly prepared to slip away.

However, Shen Yuanmo, who had been hidden behind the rock, was not frightened by the Demon King's Aura.

Instead, his eyes sparkled with excitement.

Just now, the moment the Ink Jade Qilin appeared, he immediately activated his Insight into Origin Talent without hesitation!

Countless pieces of information about this Demon King surged into his mind like a tide.

[Species]: Ink Jade Qilin (Subspecies)

[Grade]: Low Grade Tier 3 (Growth Stage)

[Bloodline]: Contains a trace of Ancient Earth Qilin Bloodline, possessing extraordinary Talent.

[Abilities]: Power of the Earth (can control earth and stone, incredible defense), Qilin Coercion (powerful Bloodline suppression against lower-tier creatures), Qilin Fire (Innate Demonic Fire, can burn all things).

[Weakness]: Below the third scale on its abdomen is where its Demonic Core is located, making it the weakest point in its defense. Due to constantly guarding the Ghost Soul Valley, it has been corroded by Yin Evil Qi, suppressing its Bloodline Power and preventing it from exerting its full strength. Its movement is slightly slow, and it is not good at dealing with high-speed, flexible attacks... These clear pieces of information gave Shen Yuanmo a comprehensive understanding of this seemingly invincible Demon King.

"So that's it... it's not invincible!"

A confident curve appeared at the corner of Shen Yuanmo's mouth.

Not only did he know the opponent's weakness, but through Perfect Deduction, he also simulated dozens of targeted tactics in his mind!

He looked at the Ink Jade Qilin that was about to return to the valley and knew he couldn't wait any longer.

Those Cultivators who wanted to escape could perfectly serve as the final chess pieces in his plan.