260: Peak confrontation

A Martial King Realm Demon!

Even for Jiang Chen, this was his first time facing one.

Behind him, Lu Qian and the others watched the terrifying Martial King Realm Demon before them with heavy breaths.

It was as if the Aura emanating from the Martial King Realm Demon was incredibly terrifying and horrifying.

Like a fierce flame, anyone who got close would surely be scorched by that Aura.

This Martial King Realm Demon didn't need to do much at all.

Just by walking, it could seemingly destroy the world with its Aura alone.

Where it passed, not a single blade of grass remained.

"So... so strong!"

"Is this the Martial King Realm?"

"No... the Martial King Realm is one thing, but there's a world of difference between the first level and the ninth level of the Martial King Realm!"

Zhang Xian swallowed hard.

At this moment, he was starting to envy Yang Ding and the others, who could hide in the back and only had to deal with the demons that managed to escape.

Although Jiang Chen had just acted and killed most of the demons, many had still escaped and rushed into the surrounding forest.

However, these demons would eventually reach the pass where Yang Ding and the others were stationed.

Fortunately, a defensive line had been set up in advance.

Otherwise, these scattered and fleeing demons would have been enough to cause great harm to the Great Lan Dynasty.

"Commander Li, why don't you and the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard go to the rear to set up a defensive line? Leave this place to us and Jiang Chen. We must proceed according to the plan and ensure none of these demons escape into the Dynasty's territory."

Lu Qian turned back and spoke to Li Xiaoqing and the others.

After all, slaying these demons was the duty of the Demon Slayer Guard.

Lu Qian also intended to stand her final watch.

Moreover, Jiang Chen was still here.

Although she couldn't help Jiang Chen much, if he were to unfortunately fall, at least she could follow in his footsteps so he wouldn't be lonely on the way.

Li Xiaoqing understood this as well.

Facing a Martial King Realm Demon now, ordinary combat power was useless. It was better to send people to the rear to hold the pass and prevent the demon situation from spreading.

Otherwise, even if Jiang Chen defeated this Martial King Realm Demon, the Great Lan Dynasty would likely still suffer destruction from the other demons.

It would be equivalent to a failure in defense.

Thus, Li Xiaoqing did not hesitate at this moment.

"Xue Lianyue, stay here. Xue Lianxing, take the rest and head to the pass to stand guard. You must not let a single demon escape!"

"Execute the military orders immediately, without fail!"

To prevent any further arguments, Li Xiaoqing issued a direct and final order.

Xue Lianxing, who had wanted to say something, could only grit her teeth and cup her hands.

"Yes!"

"Everyone, follow me!"

Xue Lianxing shouted.

The rest of the Vermilion Bird Imperial Guard followed Xue Lianxing and departed.

"The two of us are in the Heavenly Martial Realm; we won't get in your way."

Once everyone else had left, Li Xiaoqing looked at Lu Qian with a chuckle.

She seemed to be seeking Lu Qian's approval.

Jiang Chen was a member of the Demon Slayer Guard, and Lu Qian was the Commander of the Demon Slayer Guard, so naturally, she wanted to curry favor with Lu Qian.

Lu Qian nodded slightly.

At a time like this, whether one was in the Heavenly Martial Realm or not didn't really matter anymore.

Could a Heavenly Martial Realm's strength withstand even one more slap from the demon?

If that slap landed, everyone's situation would be about the same.

So there was no need to worry too much.

Li Xiaoqing and Xue Lianyue staying behind was a way of showing their stance—they were prepared to live or die together.

If everyone truly left, Lu Qian and the others would be quite lonely.

Moreover, how could they miss such a grand battle unfolding before them?

Instead, they wanted to stay and witness this fight properly.

"This is a bit challenging."

"This demon's strength should be around the seventh level of the Martial King Realm."

"And it's also skilled in brute strength."

Jiang Chen couldn't help but feel a bit excited.

This demon before him was the most powerful one Jiang Chen had ever encountered.

Since obtaining the System, Jiang Chen hadn't had the chance to unleash the limits of his strength on his journey.

So, he would use this demon to test it out.

To see just how well he could fight.

"Roar!"

Finally, the Martial King Realm Demon was unwilling to wait any longer. Rather than wasting time here, it preferred to strike now, pin Jiang Chen to the ground, and punch him into the dirt.

Then it would break that Seal and release more of the demon army.

"Everyone, hide on the flying boat and move further away."

Jiang Chen turned back and said to Lu Qian and the others.

The defense of an eighth-grade spiritual artifact was naturally beyond question.

It was better than their mortal bodies.

Even if these people tried to activate their spiritual power for defense, under the shockwaves of the upcoming clash, it would be as thin as paper, offering no resistance at all.

An eighth-grade spiritual artifact was more reliable.

Lu Qian and the others quickly boarded the flying boat.

Without the slightest hesitation.

Any slight delay would only cause trouble for Jiang Chen, and they didn't want to be a burden at such a critical moment.

"Roar!"

The Martial King Realm Demon stood up, its figure reaching a height of a hundred zhang.

Simultaneously, its fist, like a small hill, crashed down toward Jiang Chen with a boom.

The power of this punch was at least 1.8 million jin!

Even the air was being rapidly compressed.

Jiang Chen now knew.

This was what it felt like to face his own fists.

"Come!"

Jiang Chen shouted loudly.

He then also raised his fist and punched toward the Martial King Realm Demon.

1.9 million jin!

Under the shock of the immense force, even the air was forcibly compressed.

As Jiang Chen's punch was unleashed.

The air between the two sides was constantly squeezed until it exploded.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ripples of power jolted outward.

Forming powerful air rings.

Finally, when Jiang Chen's power reached its Peak.

The forces of both sides collided at their absolute zenith.

"Boom!"

In that instant, the bursting Aura was like several volcanoes erupting.

Because this wasn't just pure physical strength.

It was the collision of millions of jin of force, combined with their respective Auras and the might within their martial arts.

The energy released in that moment.

Exploded right where they stood.

Boom!

The airwaves surged out for hundreds of miles.

Trees along the way were blown to the point of teetering, and within three hundred zhang of the center of the blast, all plants were reduced to dust.

Even the ground was shaken open, forming a massive crater.

Even Lu Qian and the others' flying boat was forcibly knocked back several hundred zhang.

Fortunately, in the end, Li Xiaoqing stepped in to help Lu Qian steady the flying boat.

But everyone was shocked by such an explosion of power.