Painâtoo excruciating!
Jing Yanxinâs colossal form, even stretched over a thousand zhang, stood before Ye Yuâs
Tianyao Mieshi Jue
(Heavenly Demon World-Destruction Technique) like a mere insect. No matter how he struggled, it was utterly futile.
He could only watch, helpless, as Ye Yu twisted his body into a giant, writhing hemp-rope coil.
Under the pinnacle of agony, Jing Yanxin writhed in torment, desperately begging for mercyâthough it was far too late for that.
Moments later, with a single thunderous punch from Ye Yu, Jing Yanxin finally fell, his death delivering a cruel release.
Yet his soul tried to flee, only to be snatched back by Ye Yuâs swift fingers probing the void.
Ye Yu summoned all of Jing Yanxinâs memories with a light tap of his fingertip. In mere breaths, he had devoured every secret, then clenched his fist and shattered the dying manâs soul to dust.
âWhat a shameless dog of a fiend!â Ye Yu spat inwardly. Jing Yanxin had no clue where Nangong Jingtang vanished toâhe only sought to force the Ring of Life from her by any means.
Pathetic liar. His death was too fitting.
Still, Jing Yanxinâs memories werenât without value. He learned of a place in the Demon Realm called the Sanctuary, said to be formed by a league of supreme monsters. Offer them what they desired, and they would divulge any informationâthough at an exorbitant price.
In Jing Yanxinâs recollection, it was by exchanging a mid-grade Demon-Immortal artifact with the Sanctuary that he learned of Ye Ji Zuiâs demise. If the Sanctuaryâs powers were so vast, perhaps they â§ NĐŸvĐ”Iight â§ (Original source) could reveal Nangong Jingtangâs whereabouts too.
But what could he offer in trade? Ye Yu paused to ponder, then eyed the remains of Jing Yanxinâs broken demonic corpse.
Two days later, at the far north of the Demon Realmâwhere ice and snow reigned eternalâYe Yu arrived at the towering gates of the Sanctuary. Though he had ventured into the Demon Realm before, he had never heard of this place. A new power, born after the Great Demon Kingâs awakening?
He did not linger on such thoughts. In a deep voice he called out, âSanctuary Demon-Immortal, present yourselves! I seek to purchase information.â
As soon as his words faded, a figure draped in a shadowy black robe emerged. The robeâundoubtedly a high-grade Demon-Immortal artifactâshrouded his presence, blocking any prying spirit-sense and rendering his features indistinct.
A hoarse voice followed. âFresh face, eh? Do you even know the Sanctuaryâs rules?â
âI do,â Ye Yu replied, âbut you may wish to see my price first.â With a casual wave, he summoned the severed tail of Jing Yanxinâs sword-tail centipede onto the frozen ground. Even in death, its chilling sword-aura was palpable.
âThe sword-tail centipede of Demon King Realm,â the black-robed figure murmured after inspection, âis indeed a treasure. But...why does its tail look so...odd?â
Ye Yu felt a flash of embarrassment. Could it look any different? He had twisted Jing Yanxinâs body into a coilâtail includedâbefore hastily straightening it out again. The creases remained.
He forged on, undeterred. âA Demon King Realm cultivatorâs sword tail must bear countless battle scars. You see faults; I see the marks of triumph!â
True enough, after a momentâs thought the robed demon nodded in agreement. âYou have a point. This is exceptional. Speak your request.â
Ye Yuâs heart leapt. In a steady voice he declared, âI want to know Nangong Jingtangâs whereabouts.â
âWait here.â With that, the figure vanished into the swirling snow, leaving Ye Yu alone.
After the incense of a single stick burned away, the black-robed demon reappeared and accepted the sword tail without a word.
âNanÂgong Jingtang of the Peacock Clan in LunÂyao City is currently within the territory of the Manniu Clan in Wing Demon City. You may depart for her now.â
Ye Yuâs eyes widened. Why would Nangong Jingtang go to the Manniu Clanâs domain? Though puzzled, he bowed and left at onceâsure the Sanctuary had no reason to deceive him. If they lied, he could always return to set them straight.
Not far off, a towering tiger demon appeared beside the black-robed guardian.
âSerpent-Eye,â he growled, âyouâre cunning, but even so, why let him go? That sword-tail centipede should fetch us a fortune. Weâre about to hunt Nangong Jingtangâwhy send him to his death?â
From beneath the robe, a snake-like pupil glinted. With a swing of his sleeve, gusts of cold wind roared.
âLittle Tiger, mind your own affairs. Cunning? I know not the meaning. He asked for information; I gave it. Whether he lives or dies is no concern of mine. Must I babysit him forever for a bit of centipede tail?â
The tiger demon said no more, displeased, and turned away. Serpent-Eye stared into the distance. âDonât say I never looked out for you. When we surround Nangong Jingtang, if heâs there, kill him first. He must be carrying something preciousâhow else could he have beheaded that centipede cross-border?â
Meanwhile, in the Manniu Clanâs territory of Wing Demon City, the Grand Protector Niu Li knelt bloodied before a lone figure hovering in midairâa stunning woman with a bone-chilling presence. It was none other than the long-missing Nangong Jingtang.
âI sense his aura here. Bring him to meâor all of you will die!â her cold, piercing voice thundered through every member of the Manniu Clan.