Free Web NovelChapter 361: Chapter 287: Astonishing Strength (2)
"We’re definitely safe now. No matter how powerful that mysterious Spirit Refiner is, he can’t withstand our Iron Tiger Manor’s Grand Array. If he knows what’s good for him, he should be leaving our territory by now."
The Spirit Refiners of Iron Tiger Manor were tense when the highest alert sounded, but they relaxed considerably after the Grand Array activated.
Then, a few of Iron Tiger Manor’s Qi Refining Demons saw it.
Massive Flame Tigers were pouncing toward a single spot.
"Has the mysterious Spirit Refiner been eliminated?"
"Looks like it... He’s been killed..."
"No, he’s not! Those are Spiritual Power fluctuations! That was the mysterious Spirit Refiner just now, flying from here over to there."
"Why has the Grand Array stopped?"
"What else could it be? Run!"
The Qi Refining Demons who understood what was happening began to flee.
Iron Tiger Manor was no longer a safe place. If they stayed, they would surely die at the hands of this mysterious Spirit Refiner.
Among these Qi Refining Demons, only some of the younger ones were unaware of the situation regarding the mysterious Spirit Refiner.
After all, it had been more than twenty years since the mysterious Spirit Refiner had last appeared in the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory.
It wasn’t just the Qi Refining Stage Demons who were fleeing, but also the early-stage Foundation Establishment Demons.
The early-stage Foundation Establishment Demons had wanted to see if their Water and Fire Double Demon Array could kill the mysterious Spirit Refiner. The moment the Grand Array failed to do so, they fled as fast as they could.
Faced with Demons scattering in every direction, Fang Yun prioritized killing the early-stage Foundation Establishment Demons.
Fortunately, after breaking through to the Late-stage Foundation Establishment, his Earth Yellow Sword and Demon-slaying Sword could fly farther under his precise control, making him far more efficient at hunting down the fleeing Demons.
After confirming that all six of Iron Tiger Manor’s Foundation Establishment Demons had died by his hand, Fang Yun didn’t immediately chase after the Qi Refining Stage Demons. Instead, he took out a Sound Transmission Talisman and quickly sent a message.
The Battle Peak Elders, led by Bai Qinying, could now make their move.
After sending the message, he would kill as many of the fleeing Qi Refining Demons from Iron Tiger Manor as he could.
Fang Yun didn’t expect to wipe them out completely. It was a difficult task; they were numerous and scattered in their escape, so a few were bound to get away.
After dealing with the Demons of Iron Tiger Manor, he still had to go to the Stone Demon Sect and the Shu Family—a family of Foundation Establishment Demons—to take care of the Demons there.
Fang Yun soared into the air.
Dozens of Upper Grade Yellow Iron Swords, all Magical Artifacts, flew out from around him.
Now at Late-stage Foundation Establishment and with a six-star Combat Talent, he could precisely control the Upper Grade Yellow Iron Swords up to a maximum distance of twenty-five li.
Flying high gave him a better view of the fleeing Qi Refining Stage Demons.
Like any ordinary Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, his Divine Sense only had a range of sixty zhang. Since he was now targeting Qi Refining Stage Demons, his Divine Sense was of no use.
The closest Qi Refining Demons were all more than six hundred zhang away from him.
Against the Upper Grade Yellow Iron Swords he controlled, even a Demon at the peak of the Qi Refining Tenth Layer was powerless to resist. A single strike was all it took to kill them.
Faced with a pale yellow, Upper Grade Long Sword, the Qi Refining Demons reacted differently depending on their Realm.
Demons below the late stages of Qi Refining knew they were doomed. Those in the late stages, however, felt they could still put up a fight and perhaps find a sliver of a chance to survive.
Demons at the Peak of Qi Refining had a different mindset entirely.
’It’s just one Upper Grade Magical Artifact chasing us, and we’re at the Peak of Qi Refining!’
’No matter how powerful an Upper Grade Magical Artifact is, its might has a ceiling. A Foundation Establishment Stage Spirit Refiner can only control it with greater precision; they can’t actually increase its power.’
’Forget a Foundation Establishment Stage Spirit Refiner; even if a Core Formation Stage Spirit Refiner were controlling an Upper Grade Magical Artifact, the power it could unleash would be about the same.’
’Magical Artifacts are different from Magic. The power of Magic increases depending on the quality of one’s Spiritual Power.’
Confident, they believed they could block the pale yellow Flying Sword.
"This is impossible..."
A single sword strike pierced them, a cold chill spreading through their bodies. Their eyes widened in disbelief as their lives ended.
Once targeted by the pale yellow Long Sword, the outcome was the same for every Qi Refining Demon, whether they were confident or not.
The one who had fled the farthest was a Demon at the Peak of Qi Refining, clad in a tiger skin.
He was already a great distance from Iron Tiger Manor.
Unlike most of the other Qi Refining Demons, he had started running the moment he heard the highest alert.
He had heard many stories about the mysterious Spirit Refiner. So far, wherever the Spirit Refiner appeared, very few Demons survived.
’Activating the Grand Array was useless. Good thing I ran early.’
The tiger-skin-clad Demon thought himself quite clever.
’If our Iron Tiger Manor’s Grand Array really can deal with the mysterious Spirit Refiner, I can just come back later.’
’There’s no harm in running early, anyway.’
’At worst, I’ll just get a scolding later.’
’My own life is more important than any of that.’
’I’ve made it this far, so I’ve probably escaped... The Foundation Establishment cultivators are the mysterious Spirit Refiner’s main targets, anyway.’
Even as he thought this, the tiger-skin-clad Demon didn’t slow down one bit.
’While I’m escaping, the farther I get, the better.’
’Once I get a little farther, I’ll report what happened here to the Celestial Demon Sect. Maybe this is my chance to join them, get their cultivation resources, and successfully reach Foundation Establishment...’
He hadn’t yet attempted Foundation Establishment.
Because Iron Tiger Manor’s resources were limited, his chances of successfully reaching Foundation Establishment weren’t high.
’If the Celestial Demon Sect rewards me for this information, they might let me join and even give me some resources.’
’...I can’t delay. I should report this now, before someone else beats me to it.’
Lost in thought, the tiger-skin-clad Demon began to slow down.
...
「Celestial Cloud Sect Territory.」
In a region bordering the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory.
Bai Qinying, leading the Elders of Battle Peak, had already concealed themselves here.
「A short while later.」
Bai Qinying received Fang Yun’s message.
"We can move out," she announced to the assembled Battle Peak Elders after receiving the message.
"How long has it been? Elder Fang has already wiped out the Foundation Establishment Demons at Iron Tiger Manor."
"Elder Fang is terrifyingly efficient."
They had all thought they would have to wait here for at least two hours before receiving word from Fang Yun.
They knew Fang Yun was powerful, but they hadn’t realized just how efficient he was in addition to his strength.
Now, they all understood.
"Is everyone ready?" Bai Qinying asked.
"Elder Bai, we’ve been ready since we left the sect."
"We are, yes."
Bai Qinying said no more. With a nod, she began to sneak into the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory.
Seeing her move, the other Battle Peak Elders followed suit.
The Elders who had eagerly volunteered for this mission were all hoping for a chance to ambush the Foundation Establishment Demons of the Celestial Demon Sect.
They wanted to show the Celestial Demon Sect’s Foundation Establishment Demons just how formidable they were.
...
「Celestial Demon Sect.」
「Within the Soul Destruction Hall.」
The current Spirit Destruction Hall Master was in the middle of handling various matters.
Serving as the Celestial Demon Sect’s Spirit Destruction Hall Master came with high status and great power, but it also meant dealing with an increasing number of affairs.
Especially during a time like this.
Fortunately, having reached the Peak of Foundation Establishment, they had more time to dedicate to such matters daily.
"Reporting, Hall Master!"
"What is it?"
"A message from the Elders at Iron Tiger Manor! The mysterious Spirit Refiner is attacking them!"
"What!"
Upon hearing this, the Spirit Destruction Hall Master shot to his feet.
For the mysterious Spirit Refiner to appear at Iron Tiger Manor at a time like this proved one thing.
The mysterious Spirit Refiner was from the Celestial Cloud Sect.
Before, it was possible that the mysterious Spirit Refiner was just a transient who happened to be passing through, not someone from the Celestial Cloud Sect. But now, that possibility could be ruled out.
’After all, a mysterious Spirit Refiner from somewhere else would never linger in this area for so long.’
The Spirit Destruction Hall Master understood perfectly why the mysterious Spirit Refiner had appeared at Iron Tiger Manor.
’The Celestial Cloud Sect must have learned that our Celestial Demon Sect is aiding the Dragon Demon Palace.’
"So the Celestial Cloud Sect really dares to make a move... This time is different!"
