CHAPTER 80: CHAPTER 80: MONSTER

If a Demon can ascend to the Initiate Realm using it, the Gathering Yuan Pill’s effects must be extraordinary. If it were given to me... half a year—no, in five months, I could forge the Hunyuan Dragon Tiger Scripture Mystery, break free from my shackles, and step into the Initiate Realm.

Qi Xiu’s eyes blazed, as if the Magic Artifact known as the Gathering Yuan Treasure Bag was already reflected within them.

Demons differ from the Human Race. They are not bound by the physiological restraints of the Ancient Gathering of Celestial Strength; as long as their Cultivation meets the standard, they can ascend to the Initiate Realm. However, the Cultivation needed for a Demon to ascend to the Initiate Realm is typically several times that required for a human. The fact that the Gathering Yuan Treasure Bag could enable King Jincai to ascend to the Initiate Realm indirectly demonstrated the power of the Gathering Yuan Pill.

It seems I must make a trip to Dongli County. But before that, I need to finish what I started.

With a flick of his sleeve, Qi Xiu turned and lightly tapped his bamboo staff on the rump of the donkey munching on grass. "You gluttonous little donkey."

He unfast हमthe donkey’s saddle and bridle. Qi Xiu gently patted its large head. "I was going to have you carry me back, but my plans have changed. You cannot go where I am going. I’m setting you free today. Try not to be so gluttonous in the future. Go on now."

"HEE-AW~"

Braying softly, the donkey nuzzled Qi Xiu’s arm, then turned and trotted into the mountain forest behind them.

After releasing the donkey, Qi Xiu shook out his sleeves, tied the bamboo staff to his waist, and strode towards Tiger Roar Pass.

「...」

Tiger Roar Pass, Longhorn Pavilion.

This place, once a way station for traveling merchants and passersby to rest, had now become a horrific scene of mangled flesh and blood, filled with a savage atmosphere, where every step trod on skeletal remains and corpses. An ancient, decaying wooden gate towered at the entrance, its surface carved with all manner of bizarre and chilling runes. To step through this ancient gate was to enter the dark lands ruled by Demons.

Inside the dilapidated and desolate hall, hundreds of merchants and guards, their faces pallid and expressions fearful, were penned up. The air within the hall was thick with the stench of decay and death, reeking of putrescence. A dozen or so toad-like Half-Demons, armed with various blades and weapons, surrounded them. Their greedy eyes stared at the humans, and from time to time, they licked their lips, picked their teeth, and swallowed.

"Third Commander, it’s already past midday. Shall we pick a few for a snack?" a shifty-eyed Half-Demon whispered, sidling up to a taller, more toad-like Half-Demon.

Opening his large, round eyes, the Third Commander glanced at the Half-Demon beside him. "I think you’re the one who’s itching for a bite, whelp."

"Heh heh, the Great Commander and the Second Commander are out on patrol. You’re in charge now, Third Commander. With so many people here, it wouldn’t be a big deal if the brothers ate a few. I spotted a child in that group, about six or seven years old. Tsk, tsk, so tender. What do you say, should I...?"

Tempted by the shifty-eyed Half-Demon’s words, the Third Commander swallowed and peeked outside. "Alright, you can have a few. Just don’t overdo it."

"You got it! Brothers, let’s get to it!"

Permission granted, the shifty-eyed Half-Demon excitedly signaled the other Half-Demons. He then approached the edge of the crowd, reaching out to grab the six- or seven-year-old child.

"Don’t eat my child! Please, don’t eat my child!" A woman clutched her daughter tightly, sobbing and begging the Half-Demon to spare her child.

But these physically deformed, psychologically twisted Half-Demons no longer possessed human ethics or values. The victims’ pleas and struggles only served to excite and stimulate them further.

"Let go! You won’t let go, huh? Then I’ll eat you both!" Its bloated head displaying a wicked and ferocious expression, the Half-Demon grabbing the child opened its jagged, saw-toothed mouth, preparing to bite the woman’s arm.

WHOOSH—

Suddenly, a purple light shrieked through the air and, with a PFFT, pierced the Half-Demon’s body.

BANG!

A look of agony contorted the Half-Demon’s face as it violently exploded. Sticky, foul-smelling blood and mangled remains splattered everywhere.

"Who’s there?"

The sudden turn of events startled the Third Commander, who had been leaning nearby. He leaped to his feet, his bulging eyes darting around, searching for the enemy.

"A bunch of beasts, and you think you’re fit to play with runes?"

Qi Xiu stood before the ancient and decaying wooden gate, indifferently surveying the bizarre and distorted runes upon it.

"Who are you?" Picking up the serrated cleaver that lay beside him, the Third Commander walked out of the hall with a grave expression, his gaze locked on the frail-looking, fair-skinned scholar before him.

"The one who will take your lives."

Qi Xiu took a step forward, crossing into the gateway. The bright red, writhing runes on the gateframe, resembling maggots, immediately came to life. In an instant, an eerie power permeated the air, coalescing into long, writhing worms that lunged at Qi Xiu. Instantly, they enveloped him, forming a cocoon of worms.

These long worms were as thin as hairs, but upon closer inspection, one could see countless tiny white spots on their bodies. If these worms burrowed into a body, the victim’s skin would erupt in pus-filled boils, and they would dissolve into a bloody pulp, dying a horrific death.

"Hahaha! Such arrogance! You want my life? If you can even get in here, I’ll cut off my own head and let you kick it around like a ball!" Seeing the Sorcery King Jincai had set on the gate revive, the Third Commander laughed triumphantly.

King Jincai was an Initiate Realm Demon. Who could break the Sorcery and restrictions set by His Majesty?!

However, just as he thought the presumptuous scholar would die a painful death, his boils bursting, a tyrannical and searing golden radiance suddenly tore through the cocoon of worms.

BANG!

With a violent tremor, the cocoon of worms disintegrated.

Qi Xiu stood calmly in place, his body surrounded by countless golden ’Suppression’ characters, rapidly quelling the worm-like Sorcery around him. Sheet after sheet of Suppression Talismans flew out from his satchel, landing on the decaying wooden gate. Like a file, they scraped off the eerie and malevolent runes bit by bit.

Stepping through the gateway, Qi Xiu looked at the Third Commander, whose face was frozen. "I’m in. Where’s your head?"

BOOM—

The wooden gate, its power completely nullified by the Suppression Talismans, collapsed with a loud crash.

The Third Commander’s eyes were filled with terror. Gritting his teeth, he raised his cleaver. "Minions, kill him!"

"Don’t throw your lives away! This person is no ordinary martial artist or practitioner."

Just as the Third Commander prepared to lead the Half-Demons in an attack on Qi Xiu, two towering figures shrouded in miasma landed with a BANG in front of him. Their bodies were covered in festering sores, and their dark yellow eyes resembled Copper Coins.

"Great Commander, Second Commander, you’ve returned?"

Seeing his reinforcements, the Third Commander’s trembling legs finally steadied. Although he too was a commander of Half-Demons, he had followed King Jincai for the shortest time, and his strength was far less than that of the Great Commander and Second Commander.

Taking a step forward, the Great Commander’s Copper Coin eyes narrowed, gravely assessing Qi Xiu. "Which sect’s Disciple are you? If you are here to save these people, state your affiliation. We might let you take them away."

Completely unable to fathom the fair-faced scholar before him, the Great Commander decided against a direct confrontation. King Jincai had ordered them to remain here to lure other martial artists and practitioners. They were then to capture them as ingredients for His Majesty’s birthday feast. However, this scholar, who had even broken the Sorcery restrictions King Jincai himself had set, was clearly beyond their capabilities.

Forcing a fight would likely lead to mutual destruction!

...