206: The Great Demon Who Brings the News

Tushan.

Peach blossoms were in full bloom across the mountain.

Amidst the pink, a greyish-white streak of light sped through.

A grey-furred Cloud Leopard rushed along, its pace swift and light, not even disturbing a single petal.

Some Fox Demons saw it from afar, but they couldn't even make out its appearance; it was just a blur before vanishing.

However, the Fox Demons did not panic.

Ever since the Clan Chief married the King, no sightless fools had dared to cause trouble in Tushan.

Moreover, the King was currently in Tushan; if anyone wanted to cause a scene, they likely wouldn't even leave a whole corpse behind.

A moment later.

The slender Cloud Leopard arrived in the heart of Tushan.

It stopped, panting for breath, its face filled with anxiety.

This was the Tushan Clan Forbidden Ground; although it was now a Demon Cultivator under the King's command, it had absolutely no right to trespass.

Fortunately, a patrolling Fox Woman had already spotted it.

After identifying itself...

...the Cloud Leopard arrived outside a quiet and elegant villa in Tushan.

The Two Tushan Sisters, Bai Ling, and the other women hurried over.

"Greetings, Mistresses," the Cloud Leopard immediately saluted.

"What happened? Why such a panic?"

Tushan Nanyu's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she looked at the Cloud Leopard Great Demon and asked.

The Cloud Leopard Spirit didn't even stop to catch its breath, saying urgently, "Reporting to the Mistresses, something has happened at the Taihang Mountains!"

"A group of Human Race experts broke in. Golden Tripod discovered them but was heavily wounded by an arrow from one of them, nearly losing his life!"

"We were previously ordered to patrol the Taihang Mountains and happened to save Golden Tripod."

"Now, the two Elders, Red Maiden and Bronze Bull, are leading everyone to intercept them, and they specifically ordered me to report to the King."

"What?"

Hearing this, the women's expressions all changed slightly.

They were all quite familiar with Golden Tripod; among the many Great Demons today, his strength wasn't the most prominent, but he could be said to be one of the Great Demons Xu Qing valued most.

His strength had just reached a Three-Thousand-Year Breakthrough recently, which was considered quite good.

Especially since Golden Tripod's true form was a Peng Bird Great Demon, he possessed extreme speed and a massive advantage in the air; ordinary Fifth Grade experts would find it difficult to even wound him.

Now that he had been heavily wounded by a single arrow, the strength of the intruders could well be imagined.

"Golden Tripod couldn't even block one arrow."

Bai Ling, cradling her sleeping child, whispered, "It seems those who came this time aren't ordinary Loose Cultivators, but true experts."

"We must tell Husband immediately!"

Tushan Nanyu made a prompt decision without the slightest hesitation, leading everyone straight toward the depths of the Tushan Ancestral Land... Tushan Ancestral Land.

Inside the secret chamber.

The surrounding walls were covered with complex array patterns, the lines carved by the Tushan ancestors themselves emitting a faint Dao rhyme.

In the center of the chamber, on an ancient altar, the Straw Effigy still stood.

Compared to a few days ago, the flame of the oil lamp atop the Straw Effigy's head, representing the Primordial Spirit, had weakened a bit more.

Xu Qing's expression was solemn as he performed the ritual.

He stepped in the pattern of the Big Dipper, his footwork profound; every step seemed to harmonize with the rhythm of the Heavenly Dao. He chanted under his breath, the obscure and ancient incantations echoing in the chamber, invoking the mysterious charm of the Great Dao.

"Bow!"

With a low shout, Xu Qing bowed deeply to the Straw Effigy.

Buzz!

The Void Realm trembled as an invisible force of Yin Fiend Power shot out like a sharp arrow, sinking into the Straw Effigy.

The oil lamp flickered violently, its light dimming further.

Having finished this, Xu Qing slowly straightened up and exhaled a long breath of turbid Qi.

The technique of the Seven Arrows Shooting the Head, while terrifyingly powerful, was also extremely draining on the caster's essence, energy, and spirit.

Every ritual required complete concentration, with no room for the slightest error.

Just then.

A familiar and anxious voice transmission pierced through the secret chamber's Restriction and sounded in his ear.

"Husband, urgent news from the Taihang Mountains; a Great Demon seeks an audience!"

It was Tushan Nanyu's voice.

Xu Qing's brow furrowed slightly; he didn't need to ask to know that trouble must have occurred.

After all, if nothing major had happened, Nan Yu and the others would never disturb him at a time like this.

In the next instant.

His figure blurred and vanished into thin air from the secret chamber.

Outside the Tushan Ancestral Land.

The women were waiting anxiously when suddenly the space before them rippled, and Xu Qing, dressed in green robes, appeared before them.

"Greetings, King!"

Upon seeing Xu Qing, the Cloud Leopard Spirit immediately knelt and kowtowed, bowing respectfully.

He then immediately repeated exactly what he had told Tushan Nanyu and the others.

"Golden Tripod heavily wounded... Human Race experts intruding upon the mountain..."

Xu Qing listened quietly, his expression unchanging.

When he heard that Golden Tripod had been pierced by an arrow and nearly perished, a bone-chilling killing intent surged, causing the surrounding temperature to drop several degrees.

However, because his child was present, Xu Qing immediately restrained his killing intent.

Golden Tripod was a Great Demon he thought highly of, possessing great potential.

With proper cultivation, there was definitely hope for him to reach the Fourth Grade.

If he were to perish because of this, it would undoubtedly be a loss.

"To be able to heavily wound Golden Tripod with one arrow, that archer's skill is indeed formidable; they must be a top-tier expert among the Fifth Grade."

Tushan Nanyu analyzed, her beautiful eyes full of gravity. "And for such an expert to be just a member of the group... Husband, the background of those people must be immense, and their strength is nothing to be trifled with."

"Indeed, Husband."

Bai Ling stepped forward, holding the child.

She had just given birth not long ago, and her body was still somewhat weak.

She looked at Xu Qing and said softly, "This group comes with aggressive intent; their purpose for entering the mountains is likely not simple. Though Elders like Bronze Bull are at Taihang now, it's not very secure. Should we invite Sister Qianhua over?"

Sang Qianhua was a Fourth Grade Great Demon; if she were invited to help, it would naturally be much safer.

After all, in the outer regions of the great mountains, two Fourth Grade Great Demons were beings capable of ruling over ten thousand miles of forest.

Xu Qing thought for a moment and then shook his head.

"No need."

His voice was steady as he said slowly, "Qianhua needs to preside over the Demon Alliance; that place is equally important and cannot be left easily. As for the Taihang Mountains... I alone am enough."

Saying this, Xu Qing looked up at the sky.

The sun was currently leaning toward the west; there were about two hours left until the Hour of You in the evening.

The ritual of the Seven Arrows Shooting the Head could not be interrupted; three bows a day, and missing even one would mean all previous efforts were wasted, and he might even suffer a backlash.

A sharp light flickered in Xu Qing's eyes as he calculated in his mind.

He had already bowed twice today; he only needed to return before the Hour of You to perform the third ritual.

Two-plus hours to go back and forth and kill people... though time was a bit tight, it was enough.

"I shall set off now."

Xu Qing made his decision, and demon power began to surge around him.

"We're going too!"

Tushan Yiyi stepped forward, a crimson longsword appearing in her hand at some point, her pretty face full of killing intent.

"Those humans have gone too far. Although our sisters' strength is not as great as Husband's, we can at least help, even if it's just setting up an array to trap the enemy!"

Tushan Nanyu didn't speak, but a touch of determination emerged in her emerald eyes.

"Nonsense."

Xu Qing glanced at them, his gaze softening slightly as he said softly, "The people this time are quite strong; your presence would only distract me. Stay in Tushan and take good care of Bai Ling and the child."

"But..." Tushan Yiyi still wanted to argue.

"That's enough."

Xu Qing rubbed her head, his gaze sweeping over the women before finally landing on the infant in Bai Ling's arms. A trace of warmth flashed in his eyes, which then transformed into a resolute killing intent.

"I have everything under control; nothing will go wrong."

As he finished speaking...

Boom!

A majestic wave of air exploded from beneath Xu Qing's feet.

He soared into the sky, his figure expanding rapidly in the air, as a terrifying pressure swept out grandly in all directions.

A patch of azure clouds appeared out of thin air, supporting his body.

"Whoosh—"

The sound of breaking through the air resounded through the clouds.

Xu Qing steered the Demon Cloud, turning into a streak of azure light and fleeing straight toward the Taihang Mountains.