160: Baihe Demon Slayer Cultivator

Canglan Realm, East Sea.

Beside a medium-sized island, angry waves crashed against black reefs, and the salty wind carried the scent of blood mist and scorched burning.

There were many signs of human life on the island, with villages of all sizes and even cities.

However, the cities here were quite different from those under the jurisdiction of the Sword Pavilion; they were very dilapidated.

Ruined walls were like withered bones, black tiles slanted over, and broken bricks and ashes covered the streets and alleys. A gust of wind would kick up choking dust.

Only half of the city gate remained, the iron hooks rusted into a dark red, and the gateway was piled with shriveled corpses and broken spear shafts.

Most of the houses along the street had no doors, and the window paper had been torn off to be used as firewood. Occasionally, a woman would curl up inside the threshold, tightly clutching a crying infant, her eyes empty and not daring to look up.

Children did not chase each other in the streets; they hid behind collapsed stoves, smearing their faces with soot, imitating the adults by burying their fear deep within their eyes.

Three miles west of the city, the banners of the Blood Demon Sect fluttered in the wind.

The sea breeze, carrying a cloying sweetness and the stench of decay, blew across an altar shrouded in black mist.

In the center of the altar was a Nine-Aperture Soul-Devouring Cauldron.

Dozens of Mortals had their bones pierced by Soul-Locking Chains and were hung upside down on wooden racks. Blood slowly seeped from their seven orifices, flowing along grooves into the belly of the cauldron.

Some still had a trace of breath left, their lips purple and their chests rising and falling weakly, but they were suppressed by a Formation and could not make a sound. They could only widen their eyes as fear swallowed them like a tide.

The surrounding Demon Cultivators wore crimson robes with Blood Flame Patterns embroidered on the sleeves.

Some pinched hand signs and chanted incantations, while others used Marrow-Extracting Needles to slowly pull strands of living souls from spines. The soul light was sucked away by Bone Lamps, turning into a flicker of greenish-blue flame... it was like a scene from Hell on earth.

Just then, at the horizon where the sea met the sky, a Sword Cultivator arrived treading on the waves.

His white hair was like frost, and he carried an ancient longsword on his back. His Sword Intent was like winter snow pressing down, forcing the blood mist to roll back.

The newcomer was Lin Yan's Revered Master, the Hall Revered Master of the Spirit Herb Hall, Bai He.

As soon as he stepped onto the island, his gaze fell upon the scene, and his killing intent was set.

"Demon Cultivators are without Dao, slaughtering the common people. You deserve death!" His clear shout was like a Dragon's roar. With a flick of his sword light, cold glints fell like rain.

Bai He was a man of few words but ruthless action. The sword followed his body, and his body followed the sword. Wherever the Sword Qi passed, blood lines on the Demon Cultivators' necks exploded, and heads were severed from bodies.

The leading Demon Cultivator was furious: "Who are you?!"

"This is the territory of the Blood Demon Sect. Stop at once!"

Bai He did not speak, focusing solely on attacking.

While calling for backup, that Demon Cultivator used various means to resist Bai He.

Blood banners fluttered, and demonic flames soared into the sky, surging towards Bai He.

Bai He flipped his wrist, and his longsword slashed out a sharp sword beam, like a ring or a chain, shattering all the demonic flames.

The sharp sword beam's momentum did not diminish, piercing through the top of the Demon Cultivator's head and splitting down the spine to the tailbone, severing the Physical Body and Golden Core together.

"Puchi!"

Blood mist exploded as the demon leader's body was cut into two pieces, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

Killing a Golden Core Realm Demon Cultivator with a single sword strike!

After killing all the Demon Cultivators present, Bai He not only did not sheath his sword, but the aura on his body became even sharper.

In the distance, several figures rapidly approached.

They all exuded powerful auras, and the blood-colored demonic flames were almost tangible, far exceeding the Golden Core Realm Demon Cultivator who had just been killed.

They were all Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators!

The leader had a haggard face and eyes as red as blood. In his palm, he held a Blood Core, its surface swirling with the wails of a hundred living souls.

The Demon Cultivator on the left held a blood banner, its surface churning with black mist where thousands of wronged souls vaguely wailed. The Demon Cultivator on the right stepped on a Blood Lotus, its petals dripping black blood that turned into Blood Pythons upon touching the ground, hissing and flicking their tongues.

"Who are you to dare come here and cause trouble?" the leading Demon Cultivator shouted at Bai He.

Bai He raised an eyebrow: "Finally, some decent opponents have arrived."

"How arrogant!" a Demon Cultivator shouted in rage. "Today, I will definitely skin you alive and drain your essence blood!"

Having said that, he was about to attack Bai He.

The leading Demon Cultivator reached out to stop him, his eyes looking at Bai He with a hint of wariness.

If it were anyone else, he would have attacked and killed them long ago, but the aura on this white-haired Sword Cultivator was too sharp.

Even though the Demon Cultivators had more people, he was unwilling to act rashly.

After a few moments of silence, the leading Demon Cultivator frowned and said to Bai He:

"I am Xue Jingtao. Is Your Excellency a Sword Cultivator from the Sword Pavilion?"

"Sword Pavilion, Bai He," Bai He said indifferently. "I've come today to take your miserable lives."

Hearing this, the Demon Cultivators' faces were filled with uncontrollable anger.

"From the Bai Family of the Sword Pavilion, are you?"

"So what if you're from the Bai Family? So what if you're from the Sword Pavilion? My Blood Demon Sect is not afraid!"

"No matter how strong you are, you're just one person. Do you think we're afraid of you?!"

"Everyone, attack together and leave this arrogant junior on this island!"

With that, the three Demon Cultivators attacked simultaneously.

Instantly, blood-colored light pillars rose like a forest, surrounding Bai He in the center.

Dense blood-colored Devilish Qi pressed down on him like a mountain.

His expression remained unchanged. His left hand formed a seal while his right hand shook the sword. The sword light transformed into thousands of sword shadows, falling in layers like stormy pear blossoms.

With a shift in his footwork, Bai He's figure turned into an afterimage, the tip of his sword striking a weak point in one of the Demon Cultivators' protective Blood Astral Qi.

With a "chi" sound, the Blood Astral Qi tore like paper, and a bone-deep wound was slashed into the Demon Cultivator's arm.

The three Demon Cultivators were shocked.

"Is this all your Blood Demon Sect is capable of?" Bai He said indifferently.

"Arrogant!" the haggard Demon Cultivator roared.

"Don't hold back! This kid is terrifyingly strong!"

The Demon Cultivators all realized Bai He's strength, and powerful spiritual energy gushed out from their meridians.

The Blood Core in Xue Jingtao's palm suddenly exploded, turning into a hundred blood arrows that shot toward Bai He's vital points like a rainstorm.

Bai He shook his scabbard, and white Sword Qi erupted from the opening, transforming into thousands of sword shadows that fell like pear blossoms, precisely intercepting the blood arrows.

The Sword Qi collided with the blood arrows, producing a piercing "sizzling" sound. The blood arrows dissolved, and the sword shadows also dimmed slightly.

"Bone Lamp illuminates the soul, Blood Banner takes the life!" The Demon Cultivator on the left shook the Soul-Devouring Banner, and the black mist on its surface condensed into a Nine Nether Ghost Claw, reaching for the back of Bai He's heart.

The Demon Cultivator on the right approached on the Blood Lotus, the Blood Python raising its head, its fangs dripping corrosive black blood.

Bai He did not retreat but advanced, his figure weaving through like a swimming dragon.

His scabbard swept across, and a blue-gold sword rainbow burst from the opening, first severing the wrist bone of a ghost claw, then tilting upward to strike the Blood Python's seven-inch mark.

The Blood Python gave a mournful cry and dissolved into black blood.

"It's my turn." A sharp light flashed in Bai He's eyes. His left hand formed a Sword Technique, pointing through the air at the junction of the haggard Demon Cultivator's chest Blood Core and Dantian.

The Demon Cultivator was shocked and hurriedly urged his Blood Core for protection, but the Blood Core seemed to be pressed down by an invisible hand, and cracks began to spread across its surface.

With a "crack," the Blood Core exploded, and the hundred living souls turned into vengeful spirits that backlashed against their Revered Master.

The advantage of Demon Cultivators is their fast Cultivation speed.

Other than that, they are almost entirely made of weaknesses.

Once a flaw is seized, it is extremely fatal.

The haggard Demon Cultivator's bones made a "clatter" sound, and blood burst from his seven orifices. Before his Nascent Soul could escape, it was struck by Bai He's scabbard, and his Sword Intent ground it into powder.

"Senior Brother!" Seeing this, the Demon Cultivator on the left suddenly enlarged his Soul-Devouring Banner. The surface of the banner turned into a blood-colored canopy, enveloping Bai He within, as thousands of wronged souls wailed and lunged to bite him.

The Demon Cultivator on the right bit the tip of his tongue and spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the Blood Lotus. The petals grew wildly, transforming into a Blood Hell Cage, attempting to trap and kill Bai He.