338: Why are you forcing me?

"Trouble!"

Shen Yunshu's expression changed drastically, and she quickly gave the order, her voice spreading throughout the entire army of Cultivators: "Form a defensive Formation, prepare to retreat!"

While giving orders to the army, Shen Yunshu sent a Divine Sense transmission to Xiao Changfeng and Wang Qiao: "The one coming is the Perfected Golden Core Stage Silver Pangolin Great Demon 'Yin Bi'. Act according to the situation later; if you can leave, then leave!"

Pingding Mountain, which Shen Yunshu had previously mentioned to Liu Xuan, was the closest third-rank top-tier spiritual land to Black Leopard Fortress. It was guarded by a Yao Race clan called 'Bi', and they were their biggest opponent at the moment.

According to Shen Yunshu, from the establishment of Black Leopard Fortress until now, she had never clashed with 'Yin Bi', only knowing that he was a Perfected Golden Core Stage Great Demon.

"Damn!"

"What kind of shitty luck is this? It's my first time here!"

Liu Xuan frowned and retreated behind Shen Yunshu. No matter what, he would wait and see first.

Shen Yunshu, however, did not show weakness. To buy time for the army of Cultivators, she flew into the high sky. Sword Qi filled the sky, constantly appearing, and without a word, she pierced straight toward the Yao cloud.

"Hum~"

Shen Yunshu unleashed her full combat power. A Sword Cultivator Great Immortal Master was no joke; every streak of Sword Qi was incredibly fast, ethereal, and formless. Relying on her own strength alone, she blocked the entire Yao Race, and countless small Yao died under the Sword Qi.

"You're courting death!"

With an angry shout, a silver-haired man appeared from the Yao cloud. His body twisted and transformed into a massive Yao Beast with a silver-white back, while its chest, abdomen, and limbs were all black.

"Hon... Honey Badger!"

Liu Xuan was startled!

This thing looked too much like the Honey Badger in his memory. Even though its appearance didn't look very fierce, his heart skipped a beat.

"Boom~"

"Boom~"

As expected! Yin Bi charged fiercely at Shen Yunshu repeatedly. Being at the Late Golden Core Stage, she quickly fell into a disadvantage.

Shen Yunshu was a Sword Cultivator, and her combat power was a cut above ordinary Cultivators and Yao Beasts of the same rank. She had originally thought she could at least fight Yin Bi to a draw, but she never expected that she couldn't break through the other party's defense at all, and could only maneuver using speed.

"Leave!"

"Scatter and retreat!"

In this situation, it was no longer possible to save the entire army; she could only save as many as she could. This place was not far from Black Leopard Fortress, and as long as they returned to the range of the fortress, the other party definitely wouldn't dare to pursue.

Shen Yunshu fought while retreating. Yin Bi had come prepared, and the longer they delayed, the higher the danger.

Seeing the enemy about to run, three more Golden Core Great Demons suddenly rushed out from the Yao Race army, including a Mid Golden Core Stage monster bird that looked like a bat, and two Early Golden Core Stage Bi Yao.

The three Great Demons ignored everything else and headed straight for Wang Qiao and Xiao Changfeng, attempting to stop the Flying Boat.

"Hum hum hum~"

Xiao Changfeng controlled the sword shadow flowing light flying boat. Spirit Stones in the Formation core warehouse burned wildly, and the massive Spiritual Qi turned into Sword Qi that enveloped the entire Flying Boat, blocking the three Great Demons.

With the third-rank flying boat at full power, it was not a big problem to block these three Golden Core Great Demons.

However, its own speed had also dropped. Once the Yao Race army behind caught up, or the Perfected Golden Core Stage Silver Pangolin Great Demon freed his hands, they would be in danger!

"Why force me? Why must you force me?!"

The Aura on Wang Qiao's body changed abruptly. A five-colored Flying Sword appeared in his hand. The Five Elements life-and-death Aura cycled, and a moment later, it locked onto the pure Yang attribute.

A point of white light was born, then instantly expanded into a scorching white sun-like sword light.

One, two, three... a full nine rounds of sword light resembling scorching suns rose from the Flying Boat.

The three Great Demons sensed danger and stopped their attacks one after another. The Mid Golden Core Stage bat monster bird, as the main force blocking the Flying Boat, happened to clash with the nine scorching sun sword lights.

Nine Luminaries Sword Canon!

"Caw!"

Amidst the strange, miserable screech of the bat monster bird, its feathers melted and its flesh charred black. The nine sword lights pierced through its chest, abdomen, and wings respectively, and the entire bird body ignited with raging flames.

Liu Xuan took the opportunity to transfer his Divine Soul to Xiao Changfeng, letting him take over the heavenly origin sword.

"Hum~"

The heavenly origin sword's pure Yang Sword Intent transformed through the Five Elements, using a Myriad Transformation Divine Ability to instantly switch from pure Yang blazing fire to a water-type ice Divine Ability.

Killing Sword Intent!

The Killing Sword Intent contained within Xiao Changfeng's own magic power fused with the heavenly origin sword's Myriad Transformation ice, and a stream of extremely cold blood water spread, enveloping the severely injured, burning bat monster bird.

"Caw~"

With a miserable cry, the bat monster bird's flesh and blood melted directly into the blood water filling the sky, leaving only a crystal-clear skeleton.

A third-rank Yao core flew out, wanting to escape, but was dragged back by layers of silk threads formed by the blood water.

A third-rank Talisman suddenly appeared in Wang Qiao's hand. A dark blue Aura carrying an inexplicable Divine Soul fluctuation turned into a beam of light that shot onto the Yao core.

Third-rank ice blue soul-stabbing talisman!

The blue light touched the Yao core, and everything instantly went quiet. The blood water swept the Yao core and that crystal-clear skeleton back into Xiao Changfeng's body.

The skeleton was dismantled and stored directly into the Storage Ring, while the Yao core was first sealed and then put away.

The moment the Mid Golden Core Stage bat monster bird's Aura disappeared, the two Bi Yao were so scared that they retreated a hundred zhang.

The Silver Pangolin Great Demon and Shen Yunshu also noticed the situation on this side, stopping their fight one after another to stand in a stalemate, both a bit confused about the situation.

In just a few breaths of time, killing a Mid Golden Core Stage Yao Beast—neither of them could do that!

If you can't win, you can run, you can hide, you can consume your Origin to resist... To be able to kill a Mid Golden Core Stage bat monster in such a short time, either the gap in strength was large enough, or the Divine Ability and Magic Treasure means were sufficiently bizarre and unpredictable.

No matter what, at least an existence on the same level as them was hidden among them.

"It's a trap!"

"Retreat!"

The Silver Pangolin Great Demon pondered for a moment and suddenly gave the order. Countless Yao Race members carried the rolling Yao clouds and retreated like a receding tide, disappearing without a trace after a short while.

"Uh..."

Wang Qiao, who was waiting in full battle array, stared blankly at the retreating Yao Race army. Based on his understanding of the Honey Badger, the other party would definitely fight to the death, but he hadn't expected this Yin Bi to retreat just like that!

"It seems it only resembles the Honey Badger in appearance; it's far from having that kind of Aura!"

The army of Cultivators brought by Shen Yunshu had already scattered by more than half. Most people didn't know where they had run off to; only a few thousand re-gathered, and everyone's face showed the joy of having survived a disaster.

The Flying Boat started moving slowly, and the remaining army of Cultivators followed behind to return to Black Leopard Fortress.

With a flash of light, Shen Yunshu returned to the Flying Boat and stood opposite Xiao Changfeng and Wang Qiao.

The gaze she directed at the two held deep confusion, suspicion, and a hint of vigilance.

"Senior Brother Xiao, when did your cultivation Breakthrough?!"

Wang Qiao was just a newly advanced Golden Core Immortal Master. The only possibility Shen Yunshu could think of was that Xiao Changfeng had broken through, but had just been hiding his cultivation.

Xiao Changfeng was once a top Genius of the Sword Pavilion. When he became famous back then, even she was still just a junior. This explanation was something she could accept and understand.

"Junior Sister, you misunderstood!"

Xiao Changfeng pointed at Wang Qiao beside him and explained: "My Disciple Wang Qiao and I share a connection of heart and mind, our Dao of the sword is from the same source, and our combined swords double our power. I am currently still only at the Peak of the Early Golden Core Stage."

Combined swords?

Power doubled?

Shen Yunshu had never heard of such a saying, but she felt it seemed to make some sense!