CHAPTER 140: CHAPTER 8: BATTLE AGAINST THE DEMON CULTIVATOR [FIRST UPDATE]

"Demon Cultivator?" Yun Ran was startled, then quickly regained her senses. She turned her head and waved at the maid beside her. The maid immediately ran over, "Go notify the eldest young master and tell him that there’s a demon cultivator at Red Cloud Mountain, and the Yun Family disciples are trapped. I’ll head over to help. Please have the eldest young master bring people to rescue us quickly!"

"Yes." The maid’s face changed slightly, nodded, and immediately ran towards the depths of the Yun Family residence.

Yun Ran turned back and looked at Gu Geng, "Geng Geng, you..."

"Sister Yun, I’ll go with you." Gu Geng knew Yun Ran didn’t want her to take risks, but she also didn’t want to see Yun Ran in danger, so she interrupted Yun Ran’s words and spoke up first.

Yun Ran paused for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, then come with me. If danger arises, remember to protect yourself."

"Sister Yun, I know. Let’s hurry, we shouldn’t waste any more time." Gu Geng said, pulling Yun Ran’s arm as they started running forward.

Yun Ran’s attention was immediately diverted, and she didn’t delay, following Gu Geng and Yun Lin as they left.

Red Cloud Mountain is some distance from Huazhou City. However, at their level, they could all engage in Sword Flight. After leaving Huazhou City, the three of them summoned their weapons, with Yun Lin leading the way, Gu Geng and Yun Ran following behind, shooting out like meteors.

After about half an hour, the three arrived at the foot of Red Cloud Mountain.

Red Cloud Mountain is a famous peak nearby. It isn’t very high, but it covers a large area, and there are many demon beasts inside. It’s a favorite training ground for disciples from nearby cities.

The resources needed for cultivation are vast and varied, not every disciple has family support, so those without family or sufficient personal strength must find their own resources, which is why there are many people in Red Cloud Mountain. Yun Heng and his group came here both to train and to earn spiritual coins since the cultivation resources provided by the family are not enough for everyone!

At this moment, inside Red Cloud Mountain, Yun Heng was leading over a dozen Yun Family disciples in a battle against a man in a black robe.

The black-robed man’s hair was draped, with his face obscured by the long locks, but dark red lines could be seen on the exposed areas of his face. His eyes were dark red, and his gaze at Yun Heng was beast-like, full of cruelty and malice.

His weapon was a staff about a meter long with a baby skull on the top, completely white. The skull’s eye sockets were inlaid with two blood-red gems, looking very eerie and bloody.

At this moment, half-transparent fierce ghosts were flying out of the skull’s mouth, screeching as they charged towards Yun Heng and his group.

Yun Heng held a long sword, standing in the front. His hair was somewhat disheveled, blood stained the corner of his mouth, and his body had several wounds, bleeding and looking a bit shabby.

The dozen or so Yun Family disciples behind him weren’t faring much better, everyone bore injuries, with some wounds even oozing blackened blood, clearly poisoned.

Among this group, only Yun Heng was at the eighth stage, while the others’ cultivation was at the seventh stage. The fierce ghosts were extremely formidable and fast, and the young people were no match, merely struggling to cope.

"Brother Yun Heng, leave us and go!" yelled a young woman behind Yun Heng as she fought off the approaching fierce ghosts, gritting her teeth.

"Yes, Brother Yun Heng, with your cultivation, you can definitely escape. Don’t worry about us!" With a scratched and poisoned arm, a young man on the other side echoed her, his movements noticeably slower, yet still fiercely resisting. But seeing Yun Heng, he didn’t want Yun Heng being dragged down by them.

"What nonsense are you talking about? I brought you out here, of course, I won’t leave you behind!" Yun Heng shouted without turning back, "Besides, Yun Lin has already escaped, he’ll definitely bring help from the family to rescue us!"

Everyone understood what kind of family Yun Family was. As long as Yun Lin could return, they knew the Yun Family would send someone to rescue them, fueling their hope to endure!

"But Brother Yun Heng, we can’t hold on much longer, we can’t let you sacrifice yourself here." said the young man, watching his arm gradually weaken, determination flashing in his eyes.

"Yun Lei, stop talking nonsense, we can definitely hold on until Yun Lin returns with help!" Yun Heng turned back, glaring quickly at the young man and scolding harshly.

Yun Lei felt his vision darkening, a bittersweet smile forming on his lips, "But, Brother Yun Heng, I, really, can’t hold on anymore..."

He only felt the darkness in front of him grow, his voice fading out, and finally vanished as he fell towards the ground.

"Yun Lei!"

Yun Ruiying, beside Yun Lei, saw him fall and exclaimed in shock, quickly stepping forward to catch him, then turned to Yun Heng who was holding back the fierce ghosts, "Brother Yun Heng, Yun Lei is too poisoned, he’s already unconscious!"

Hearing this, Yun Heng parried the fierce ghosts’ attacks with his sword, glanced back at Yun Lei, saw his face turn blue, lips purple, confirming the poisoning, and frowned, feeling extremely troubled!

The demon cultivator they faced was at the peak of the eighth stage, armed with a sub-immortal artifact, and they were no match. Now Yun Lei was poisoned and needed urgent treatment. If Yun Lin couldn’t bring reinforcements, they’d all perish here today!

Determination flashed in Yun Heng’s eyes; he gritted his teeth, suddenly stretched out his hand, bit through his forefinger, squeezed out blood, dotted it on his forehead, then quickly formed signs with both hands. Following his actions, his cultivation unexpectedly surged, rising instantly from the early eighth stage to the eighth stage peak, finally halting his hand movements.

When he opened his eyes, a glimmer of golden light flashed, and his whole aura changed slightly.

"Brother Yun Heng," Yun Ruiying called softly to Yun Heng as she watched.

Yun Heng gave her a glance, turned, and took the initiative to attack the fierce ghosts.

Previously, although he could wound the fierce ghosts, the damage was minimal. But with his enhanced cultivation, he inflicted much greater harm. Knowing the time enhanced by the Secret Technique was limited, he hastened, not waiting for the fierce ghosts to strike, but decisively attacking them.

In a short time, he drew many of the fierce ghosts himself, alleviating pressure on the others.

Within half a moment, he had cleared out most of the fierce ghosts, causing backlash to the demon cultivator, whose expression changed instantly.

He ordered the other fierce ghosts to continue attacking others, while he faced Yun Heng himself.

After all, Yun Heng’s cultivation was forcibly elevated, and compared to the solid eighth-tier peak of the Demon Cultivator, there was still some distance. Moreover, the swordsmanship he cultivated was mostly the open and upright orthodox swordsmanship, which suffered a little when facing the insidious and cunning attacks of the Demon Cultivator. After about fifty moves, he was hit in the chest by the Demon Cultivator’s magic wand, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and his momentum weakened significantly.

Feeling the stabbing pain coming from within his body, Yun Heng frowned slightly. Thinking of the other disciples of the Yun Family, he quickly got up again to resist the Demon Cultivator’s attacks.

A quarter of an hour later, the secret technique’s time was up, Yun Heng’s cultivation fell, and he was hit in the chest again by the Demon Cultivator, flying backwards. His meridians were already injured by the secret technique, and with the added injuries from the Demon Cultivator’s attacks, he wanted to stand up but his legs gave way, causing him to fall again, blood spilling from his mouth, unable to move. He could only watch as the Demon Cultivator approached.

"Brother Yun Heng!" Yun Ruiying, seeing Yun Heng’s condition, shouted his name, wanting to rush towards him, but was blocked by a fierce ghost. She could only fend off the ghost’s attacks while anxiously watching Yun Heng’s situation with the corner of her eye, feeling extremely worried!

The others were in the same situation as Yun Ruiying, wanting to save Yun Heng but powerless, being entangled by the fierce ghosts and unable to get away, having no choice but to watch as the Demon Cultivator approached Yun Heng.

"Cough, cough!"

Yun Heng coughed up a mouthful of blood, clutching his chest, watching as the Demon Cultivator got closer and closer. He stopped struggling, closed his eyes directly, and awaited the arrival of death.

However, after waiting for a long time, the Demon Cultivator’s attack never fell. He couldn’t help but open his eyes and saw a figure standing in front of him. When he saw clearly who it was, he couldn’t help but feel joy, but then thought of the Demon Cultivator’s cultivation and turned to worry.

"Ranran, why are you here?" He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and asked.

"Sister Yun, leave this Demon Cultivator to me. You go and help Brother Yun Heng first." Gu Qingqing and Yun Ran arrived at the same time. Hearing Yun Heng calling Yun Ran, Gu Qingqing spoke up in time, stepping forward to shield Yun Ran.

Yun Ran glanced at Gu Qingqing, nodded, and retreated to Yun Heng’s side.

After seeing the extent of Yun Heng’s injuries, Yun Ran furrowed her brows deeply.

"Brother, how did you get so hurt?" Just seeing the Demon Cultivator attacking Yun Heng made Yun Ran urgently rush over to help block, without realizing Yun Heng was so severely injured.

"I just used a secret technique to increase my cultivation; this is the side effect. It’s nothing." Facing Yun Ran’s worried gaze, Yun Heng forced a smile and chose to tell the truth, "How did you come here? Did Yun Lin call you?" His gaze swept around and saw Yun Lin not far away helping Yun Ruiying, and he asked.

"Yes, I’ve already sent someone to get the Young Master to bring people here, Brother, you don’t need to worry," having known Yun Heng for years, Yun Ran understood his intentions immediately and quickly explained her arrangements, "Brother, take this elixir and sit down to heal your wounds, I’ll protect you."

Yun Ran carefully handed Yun Heng a pill. Watching him swallow it, she then turned to protect him.

As the elixir went down, Yun Heng knew it was a top-grade healing pill and was somewhat surprised in his heart, but he quickly began to cultivate, absorbing the pill’s medicinal power.

Meanwhile, Gu Qingqing held off the Demon Cultivator for Yun Ran, and engaged with the Demon Cultivator herself.

Gu Qingqing was just past the eighth tier and similarly disadvantaged against the Demon Cultivator. Fortunately, her weapon was evenly matched with the Demon Cultivator’s, and her cultivation technique was better than the Demon Cultivator’s, with purer spiritual power, preventing her from immediately falling into a disadvantage.

Mixed Immortal Silk, once infused with spiritual power, became extremely sharp, like a whip, which she swung at the Demon Cultivator. The angle was also very tricky, and the Demon Cultivator, distracted by Gu Qingqing’s appearance, was briefly caught off guard and scratched on the cheek by the Mixed Immortal Silk.

He wiped the blood from his cheek with his hand and licked it off with his tongue, his expression towards Gu Qingqing becoming dangerous.

"Where did this little beauty come from? I’m just in need of a maid, don’t worry, I’ll treat you well!" the Demon Cultivator’s voice was a bit hoarse and sounded very unpleasant. His gaze swept over Gu Qingqing from head to toe, filled with aggression, making people uncomfortable.

Disgusted by the Demon Cultivator’s gaze, Gu Qingqing furrowed her brows, and a flash of disdain and loathing passed in her eyes as she attacked the Demon Cultivator with the Mixed Immortal Silk again.

The Demon Cultivator, being wary of Gu Qingqing after the previous injury, was very guarded against her. Though his words were very frivolous, his actions were not at all reserved, quickly dodging the Mixed Immortal Silk and moving behind Gu Qingqing, his withered palm striking toward her back.

Sensing the palm wind from behind, Gu Qingqing dove forward, immediately followed by a roll, dodging the Demon Cultivator’s attack, and turning around, her Mixed Immortal Silk flew at the Demon Cultivator’s forehead.

The Demon Cultivator used his magic wand to block Gu Qingqing’s Mixed Immortal Silk, but ended up getting it entangled. Both exerted force, and neither could move the other, both somewhat surprised. Exerting force again, this time Gu Qingqing was dragged, flying towards the Demon Cultivator. As she approached, she suddenly struck, aiming a palm at the Demon Cultivator’s chest.

Although surprised, the Demon Cultivator quickly dodged and attempted to grab Gu Qingqing’s wrist. Gu Qingqing twisted her wrist, turning, and struck with her other hand, but the Demon Cultivator dodged again, grabbing Gu Qingqing’s wrist with his opposite hand and sending a palm strike to her side.

Gu Qingqing wanted to dodge, but with her wrist seized by the Demon Cultivator, she could only move slightly and was hit. The Demon Cultivator’s palm carried eighty percent of his strength, injuring Gu Qingqing’s waist and causing blood to trickle from the corner of her lips.

Furrowing her brows, Gu Qingqing freed the Mixed Immortal Silk from the Demon Cultivator’s magic wand, wrapping it around his neck, forcing him to let go. She immediately backed away a few steps, controlling the Mixed Immortal Silk to return to her side.

"Tsk tsk, I didn’t expect the little beauty to be so formidable, I like it!" the Demon Cultivator’s raspy voice sounded again. His gaze at Gu Qingqing was fervent, indifferent to her escape.

"You’re courting death!" Gu Qingqing, angered, sent the Mixed Immortal Silk flying at the Demon Cultivator again.

The Demon Cultivator’s combat experience clearly surpassed Gu Qingqing’s. He always managed to dodge when the Mixed Immortal Silk approached, frustrating Gu Qingqing, and their distance gradually closed.

Gu Qingqing slapped away the Demon Cultivator’s hand reaching for her cheek, turned and kicked at his waist, but he dodged. Immediately following, she launched four or five more kicks, all dodged. She waved her hand, sending the Mixed Immortal Silk wrapping around his waist, but he noticed, kicking the Mixed Immortal Silk, wielding leverage to evade. His magic wand suddenly emitted a red beam.

"Sizzle!"

Gu Qingqing couldn’t react in time, hit by the red beam in her shoulder. Feeling numbness spreading from her shoulder, her expression changed. She quickly tapped several points on her shoulder, pressed the injury, but the Demon Cultivator had already approached, reaching for the veil on her face, while Gu Qingqing’s body was stiff, unable to move, left watching as his hand got closer!

"Audacious!"

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