214: Demon Slaying Trial

Purple Sandalwood's silhouette had just disappeared at the valley's entrance, but the resentment within the cave—or rather, within the hearts of the demons—caused by the Chusheng Sect did not dissipate with her. Instead, it grew heavy and stifling, like a frost-covered cold pool.

The Fox Race was most adept at this path, capable of stirring one's emotions with just a few words.

"Sister Yun~"

Two coarse yet hesitant voices rang out.

The speakers were two Golden Core Cultivators with burly bodies, tiger heads, and human forms. The words reached their lips but they stopped abruptly, clearly finding it difficult to speak.

Yun Xuanxuan lowered her eyes and glanced at them, knowing what they wanted to say.

"If you want to join the Yao Race, I won't stop you. But I have only one requirement: if you ever dare to harm a single innocent civilian in the future, do not blame me for disregarding our past friendship."

"Yes, Sister Yun!" the two responded in unison, a flicker of gratitude in their tiger eyes.

One of them couldn't help but urge, "Sister Yun, you're staying here alone. You must be extra careful in the future!"

After cupping their fists in salute, the two tiger silhouettes quickly disappeared into the depths of the cave.

Those beasts from the Chusheng Sect were indeed often inferior to these demons of different Bloodlines.

Yun Xuanxuan raised her hand and pressed it against her chest.

Although the injuries in her body had been healed and the Spiritual Qi in her Meridians was much smoother, the stifling feeling in her heart grew heavier and heavier.

Especially when Purple Sandalwood mentioned the past regarding her Father and Mother, her bird claws, covered in profound patterns, involuntarily curled. She looked down at her pair of azure wings and turned to walk toward the most secluded depths of the valley.

After walking for about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, a corner with a bluestone table came into view.

A few soft swishing sounds were heard—the movement of a snake tail sweeping across dry grass. Yun Xuanxuan looked up and saw a woman with a human head and a snake's body leaning over to arrange tea sets.

Yun Xuanxuan stopped and looked over.

The woman before her had a very heroic appearance; her features were sharp but not harsh, and her high nose bridge gave her the air of a female knight-errant who would travel the world to save others. There was also a small black mole near the corner of her mouth.

Hearing the footsteps, Fang Ningyan stopped her movements. "It seems your talk this time was not very pleasant."

Yun Xuanxuan walked to the table, spread her scale-covered wings, and gently landed.

"My Father and Mother died at the hands of the Yao Race back then. I will never join them."

"Then have you thought about a way out for yourself?" Fang Ningyan straightened up and advised.

"You can't keep going like this, relying on a grudge to hunt and kill Chusheng Sect Cultivators. If you one day run into an opponent with a higher cultivation than yours, do you really intend to trade your life for theirs? Have you not thought about a way out?"

Yun Xuanxuan lowered her eyes to stare at the teacup on the table, slowly shaking her head after a moment.

Fang Ningyan watched her closely, intending to hear what plan she had.

"I'll stay quiet for a few days. Once those beasts lower their guard, I'll find another opportunity to strike."

Fang Ningyan: "..."

Although she was stubborn, she still had a brain.

"Sister Fang, what about you? I heard you mention before that your hometown is over in the Flame Continent. Do you still have relatives alive?"

Fang Ningyan gave a bitter smile, her expression worried. "I have a younger sister I depend on. But... her Realm is low, and she was left alone in the Flame Continent. I don't know how she is doing now."

Seeing this, Yun Xuanxuan spread her wings and gently patted her shoulder, saying softly, "Can you tell me about it?"

"My life was saved by you, what is there that I can't say?" Putting the spiritual tea back into the canister and picking up the celadon teapot again, she slowly poured the warmed tea into the cup. She pushed the teacup in front of Yun Xuanxuan as the steam drifted... Meanwhile, on the other side!

A Demon Suppressing Tower rose from the ground like a pillar supporting the heavens, piercing through the drifting clouds in the sky, making it impossible to see exactly how many floors it had.

The tower's body was not built of ordinary wood or stone, but of ink-colored black iron mixed with ten-thousand-year green stone.

A faint light flickered on the outside of the tower, clearly protected by a Formation.

Ye Hao and Li Pingan stood and watched for a moment before turning to the other side of the building.

That place was bustling with noise; it was an open-air martial arts arena affiliated with the Demon Suppressing Tower.

Eight Arena Stages were arranged in a circle, surrounded by three tiers of bluestone stands, which were already packed to the brim.

Cultivators were either draped in dharma robes or carrying sword cases, with young Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators standing on their tiptoes to get a closer look.

If they weren't afraid of being beaten, they would probably have taken to the air on their swords.

Ye Hao and his companion cleared a path with Spirit Stones and soon found an elegant viewing stand.

To Chen Xuan, only sect prestige points were most important. He had given all the Spirit Stones and some earth-rank magic treasures to his Disciples.

That girl Mu Wanqing had the most Magic Treasures, while Shu Shichan was somewhat of a homebody; once her Spirit Medicine issues were resolved, she rarely left the Sect.

She also distributed her Spirit Stones to her other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters.

She called it compensation for testing her medicine.

On one of the stages within the sight of Ye Hao and his companion, a thrilling fight was taking place.

One side was a Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer green-scaled snake demon. It was about two zhang long, its scales shimmering with a cold, eerie green light, and its forked red tongue flicked out from time to time. The other side was a female Cultivator holding a long sword, dressed in moon-white dharma robes.

Judging by the ripples of Spiritual Qi, she was also at the Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer.

The snake demon struck first, its long tail sweeping toward the female Cultivator with a whistling wind. The female Cultivator tapped her toes on the ground and floated back several feet, while simultaneously unsheathing her long sword. A light blue Spiritual Qi Sword Qi slashed directly at the snake's tail. With a "clang," the Sword Qi struck the scales, leaving only a shallow white mark.

The snake demon hissed in pain, and after a cry, its body suddenly surged into the air, lunging to coil around the female Cultivator.

The woman, however, remained calm. Her long sword moved with her body, the tip tracing a semi-circular arc of Spiritual Qi in front of her. It both blocked the snake's coil and took the opportunity to stab toward the snake demon's seven-inch mark.

Sensing danger, the snake demon hurriedly turned its body, but its scales were still grazed by the Sword Qi. Several green scales fell off, and dark green blood seeped out.

A series of cheers immediately erupted from below the stage, one after another.

"Well fought! Slay that snake demon!"

"Damn it, what's wrong with this beast? Where's the ferocity I expected? I bet three hundred Spirit Stones on it! If it makes me lose, I'll skin it alive!"

"This woman's swordsmanship is indeed remarkable. If she wins this match, it'll be her seventh consecutive victory."

Above the entrance to the Arena Stage, an attendant held up a wooden sign and shouted loudly.

"Those betting on the woman to win, come this way! Odds are one to one point five! Payouts settled on the spot!"

"Those betting on the green-scaled snake demon to win, odds are one to two! The betting closes in half an incense stick's time!"

Many Cultivators crowded around the table, taking out Spirit Stones from their storage rings to place their bets.

Li Pingan said in a low voice, "This kind of competition seems to treat demon Cultivators as playthings..."

Ye Hao looked around. "It seems it's just as the innkeeper said; many Sect Elders are hiding here, using these matches to scout for Disciples with good Aptitude."

The battle soon reached its end. Ultimately, the woman won the fight by decapitating the snake demon at the cost of a minor injury.

The surrounding spectators instantly erupted. Those who bet on the woman laughed and clapped, praising her divine swordsmanship, while those who bet on the snake demon sighed and groaned. Attendants were busy counting Spirit Stones, and the clamor almost shook the heavens and earth.

Just then, a slightly cheerful female voice rang out beside them:

"Senior Sister, it should be your turn to go on the Arena Stage for the next match, right? You have to show them what you've got in a bit and show these people what true swordsmanship is!"