The damp underground prison was utterly dark.
The Azure Eagle lay covered in wounds, its breath very weak, as if it could stop at any moment.
âDing-langâŠâ
The Azure Eagle moved slightly, its chains rattling. It had no strength left to stand up, not even to keep its human form.
Outside the dungeon sat Zhu Wuneng, a stocky Fifth Realm pig demon. He sat cross-legged, gulping wine from a jar.
Zhu Wuneng said calmly, âYour friend seems to have come to rescue you.â
Hearing this, the Azure Eagle trembled.
âNoâŠâ
âDonâtâŠâ
Its voice was weak, as if pleading.
Zhu Wuneng laughed and said, âWhatâs so good about friends? Theyâre all burdens. You donât want him to die, he doesnât want you to die. Not like me, Old Zhu, who only cares about the Great King. Ha ha haâŠâ
Zhu Wuneng took a huge gulp of wine, burped loudly, and patted his belly with solid thumps.
Inside the dungeon, the Azure Eagle slowly spoke, âFree me⊠let me outâŠâ
Zhu Wuneng smacked his lips and said, âGreen Demon King, I canât help you, Old Zhu.â
After saying this, no more sounds came from the dungeon.
Zhu Wuneng kept drinking wine and guarding the dungeon.
âŠ
The mountain path was very quiet. Chen Changsheng walked step by step up the mountain, holding the Taiqing Sword.
With every step forward, his Sword Intent grew a bit stronger.
By the time he reached halfway, Sword Qi crisscrossed wildly, slicing the woods along the path into pieces.
At the peak, the force around Chen Changsheng felt like it could level mountains and slice seas.
Chen Changsheng sighed.
When he lifted his gaze, several figures landed before him.
Glancing around, he saw dozens of Great Demons. Without exception, all were rulers of mountains from the Thirty-Six Caves.
The demons sized up Chen Changsheng with interest.
Seeing his Sword Intent, one mocked, âIndeed, he has some skill. No wonder he dares to come here.â
Most Demon Kings were more interested in Chen Changsheng. His Qi and Blood was much stronger and much purer than an ordinary cultivatorâs.
âIf I devour him, I can reach the Eighth Realm!â
âYes, yes!â
The demons gazed greedily, licking their lips and itching to act.
âWhoever grabs him first gets him!â
One demon shouted loudly, ready to start.
Chen Changsheng looked them over. Finally, he fixed his eyes on the toad demon king with the scarred face.
âAre you the Toad Demon King?â Chen Changsheng asked.
The Toad Demon King gave him a look and chuckled. âYouâre food on a plate, yet talk too much.â
Chen Changsheng smiled faintly. âSince Iâm here, I might as well know your names. Which caves are you lords from?â
âEnough nonsense!â
âSwallow him!â
With that shout, dozens of Seventh and Eighth Realm Great Demons charged forward.
Only the Toad Demon King stood still, quietly watching the fight and finding it fascinating.
Chen Changsheng sighed softly and held the sword out in front of him.
His hair turned into golden light Magical Power that flowed into the sword. His Sword Intent also rose to its peak then.
âHaving just learned a few sword moves, Iâll use you to practice.â
Chen Changsheng lifted his hand and slashed. A line of Sword Qi tore towards the many Great Demons.
That Sword Qi knocked back several Seventh Realm demons.
Seeing this, the Toad Demon King raised his eyebrows. âHe has some skillâŠâ
It made senseâotherwise, why would he rush boldly to this Ninth Peak?
The rest, four Eighth Realm and three Seventh Realm demons, came right before Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng took a few steps back.
Suddenly, Sword Qi flashed in his eyes.
âCold Mountain Snow!â
As he swung the sword, frost and wind arose between Heaven and Earth. Snow fell to the ground, mixed with the Sword Qi.
Suddenly, a heavy snow began to fall on the Ninth Peak.
With this one strike, Celestial Phenomena appeared abruptly.
The Demon Kings at the front paused in shock, suddenly feeling something was wrong.
âSomethingâs not right!â
Tu Hu sat watching on the Great Demon Peak. He was startled.
âCelestial Phenomena?â
Tu Hu twitched an eyelid and exclaimed, âHe pulls no punches. If this sword strike doesnât kill at least two Eighth-Realm Great Demons, it shames the move.â
Seeing that Sword Qi, the Toad Demon King was alarmed.
He cried out fast, âFall back!!â
The four Eighth-Realm Great Demons sensed death coming.
âJoin forces to help me!!â
In an instant, Demonic Power surged violently.
âBoom!â Amidst the crash of Demonic Power and Sword Qi, the entire Ninth Peak shook.
The noise roused all the Thirty-Six Caves.
Thousands of demons looked up towards the Ninth Peak.
Luckily, the four Great Demons acted quickly. They pooled their Demonic Power and barely blocked the Sword Qi.
But without fail, they were wounded by the swordâs coldâsome arms shook, some bodies were covered in frost.
Frightened, the four Eighth Realm demons stepped back a few paces.
âNot ordinary!â
âWe almost fell for it.â
At that moment, silence fell over the Ninth Peak.
The Seventh-Realm Great Demonâs lips parted slightly as he retreated behind several Demon Kings. Only now did they realize this human cultivator was extraordinary!
The sudden silence felt strange to Chen Changsheng. âWhat happened to all the screaming?â he asked calmly.
A low snort came from behind the demons.
The Toad Demon King stepped forward, glaring at Chen Changsheng. âYou dare cause trouble in our Thirty-Six Caves just because you have some skill? Your audacity knows no bounds!â
Chen Changsheng shot him a dismissive look. âI wasnât speaking to you. I was asking a question!â His voice turned sharp. âWhich mountains do you demon kings rule?â
The Toad Demon King raised his hand. A tendril of green vapor flowed into the four Eighth-Realm Great Demons. Their chilling wounds healed instantly. Color returned to their ashen faces.
âThis oneâs powerful,â the Toad Demon King warned. âWe must attack together!â
The demon kings exchanged a look and charged. âDie!â Four shadows lunged at Chen Changsheng.
The Taiqing Sword flew from his grasp, blocking their assault. Chen Changsheng formed a seal and chanted, âFive Thunders Righteous Method! Destroy the wicked and cleanse this land!â
âThunder, heed my call!â
Crraaack! Lightning struck.
âAgghh!â
Chen Changsheng vanished, only to reappear gripping the Taiqing Sword. In that split-second, he drove it through the Eighth-Realm Great Demon wounded by the thunder. The demon was pinned, wailing.
âSave me!â
The three other Eighth-Realm demons froze mid-charge.
âScram!â Chen Changsheng roared. Three bolts of thunder slammed down, forcing them back.
The Toad Demon King frowned. TroubleâŠ
Glaring at the impaled demon twitching in agony, Chen Changshengâs voice turned icy. âWhich mountain? Point!â
Murderous intent pressed down like a physical weight.
The trapped demon shuddered. âF-Fifth Peak⊠Fifth PeakâŠâ
âPoint. Now!â Chen Changsheng twisted the Taiqing Sword slightly.
âARGHâ!â
Screaming, the demon raised a shaking hand toward a distant mountain.
Chen Changsheng yanked his sword free. His gaze locked onto Fifth Peak. He lifted a hand. A blade of Sword Qi flew like a whispering breeze.
Fifth Peakâs Demon King perished instantly. Chen Changsheng turned cold eyes to the Toad Demon King. âTrying to trap me?â
The Toad Demon King blinked, feigning innocence.
Then came the roar of destruction.
BOOOOOOM!!!
Fifth Peak shattered. The Sword Qi sliced clean through its midsection.
Stones exploded skyward. The mountain groaned. Howls erupted from its slopes. Thousands of life forces snuffed out instantly. All Vegetal Essence withered away.
Death Qi surged from Fifth Peakâs ruins. Wandering Spirits rose like willow seeds, filling the sky.
A single sword strike.
Leveled an entire mountain peak.