CHAPTER 123: CHAPTER 119 CROCODILE DEMON

Li Fan looked towards the cold pool, only to see that the Demon had a flat head, its body seemingly covered in armor, and eyes glowing with a dim light.

"Crocodile Demon."

The attacks from the disciples of Bai Lu Academy fell, but they were unable to break through the Crocodile Demon’s hard armor. The cultivator who was swept by the tail was directly bitten on the head, then eaten alive, painting a very bloody picture.

Huang Xiong was also staring in that direction, eager to move forward upon seeing the demon.

"Let’s go," Li Fan said. Huang Xiong, remembering how these academy disciples wrongly accused and even tried to deal with him, did not hesitate and they all withdrew.

The disciples of Bai Lu Academy, busy dealing with the Crocodile Demon, naturally had no time to mind them.

The group turned and ran, leaving the area around the cold pool.

"I didn’t expect students from Bai Lu Academy to be like this," someone from the Demon Hunting Team said, disappointment evident in his voice.

Huang Xiong appeared somewhat silent; he was the most disappointed.

"They’re just people, don’t have too high expectations. Though Bai Lu Academy is a holy land for cultivation in Jiangzhou, it merely provides a place for cultivation and doesn’t mean all academy disciples have good character," Li Fan said. "Of course, we also shouldn’t judge Bai Lu Academy by the conduct of some of its disciples."

"It seems Brother Yang is a person of courtesy," Huang Xiong nodded, quite impressed with Li Fan.

This crisis, Li Fan had saved them once again.

"Why is our luck so bad this time?" someone said gloomily. Although they had encountered danger in Yun Meng Swamp before, it was never like this with continuous peril.

"If luck is bad, then let’s leave early," Li Fan suggested.

"Brother Yang’s suggestion is to leave Yun Meng Swamp?" Huang Xiong turned around and looked into the distance, his eyes filled with a murderous intent. "Haven’t killed him yet."

"Wicked people will meet their fate; he won’t survive," Li Fan said. "This Dai Long is treacherous, and Bai Lu Academy now knows you guys. Even if you leave, there might still be trouble, Brother Huang, you should go out first, I will come to find you later."

"Brother Yang isn’t leaving?" Huang Xiong asked in surprise.

"I’ll hunt a few more demons, gather some Demon Cores, and then leave," Li Fan said. "Brother Huang, rest assured, I’m familiar with this area and know the way back. Being alone, I’ll be less noticeable and can handle trouble more easily."

Huang Xiong thought for a moment and then nodded, "Brother Yang, I’ll wait for you at the meeting place."

"Sure," Li Fan nodded, "go on."

Huang Xiong and the others bid farewell, turned around, and left. Xiao Kui glanced at Li Fan and then leaped onto Huang Xiong’s shoulder, leaving together.

Li Fan, on the other hand, turned around and began to return the way he came, picking up his pace, rushing towards the direction where the disciples of Bai Lu Academy were previously located.

In the forest, Li Fan moved like the wind, arriving near the cold pool area but did not proceed directly. Instead, he leaped onto an ancient tree and sat on it, sending his Divine Sense towards the cold pool, and the scene of battle there clearly imprinted in his mind.

The disciples of Bai Lu Academy were besieging the Crocodile Demon. This Crocodile Demon was a Fourth Realm Demon, now manifesting in a half-human, half-demon form, with a tall, flat body, a terrifyingly hideous head, sharp claws, and wearing demonic armor.

Blood trickled from the corner of its mouth, and several people had already died at the hands of this demon.

A sharp weapon pierced towards the Crocodile Demon, landing on its armor but still unable to penetrate. The demon caught the sword with its clawed hand and pulled fiercely, the opponent’s expression changed drastically. At that moment, from the side, an extremely sharp sword shot towards the Crocodile Demon’s head.

The Crocodile Demon tilted its head, the sword veered off, crashing into the Crocodile Demon’s head, knocking it back, but even so, it still couldn’t penetrate.

"Such strong defense."

The face of the disciples of Bai Lu Academy was grim; they couldn’t kill the Crocodile Demon, but they couldn’t withstand its attacks.

The Crocodile Demon fixed its gaze on the crowd, its eyes suddenly landing on Ji Xue, and with a wicked smile said, "This human girl is so fair-skinned, her flesh must be tender and delicious. Today, I shall feast well."

It had seen that these academy disciples seemed to take extra care of this girl, likely an important figure.

Saying this, its body suddenly accelerated, charging towards Ji Xue, demonic energy bursting out. The Crocodile Demon’s body swayed left and right like a mirage, hard to capture.

"Block that beast," Yun Zhiqiu shouted, the Sword Seed blasting forth. Simultaneously, those besieging from left and right charged at the Crocodile Demon, attempting to intercept it.

But at this moment, the Crocodile Demon suddenly changed direction, lunging to the side. Its extremely sharp tail instantly pierced through a figure that came to intercept, pinning him in mid-air.

"What a cunning demon."

The disciples of Bai Lu Academy guarded Ji Xue, realizing then they had been tricked.

"Retreat."

Yun Zhiqiu spoke; they had accompanied Ji Xue to Yun Meng Swamp for this trial and hadn’t delved deep but unexpectedly encountered such a difficult Fourth Realm Demon.

Continuing like this, they would be killed one by one.

The disciples of Bai Lu Academy retreated, the Crocodile Demon watching them with its eyes, advancing with large steps, licking its mouth as if greatly enjoying this moment of hunting.

"Boom."

The Crocodile Demon’s body turned into a shadow, swaying back and forth as it moved forward, its speed terrifyingly fast.

"We should scatter," Yun Zhiqiu suggested, "Ji Shimei, I’ll take you away."

With that, he used Sword Control to flee with Ji Xue in one direction at full speed. Seeing Yun Zhiqiu’s actions, the others cursed silently. Yun Zhiqiu was in the Foundation Establishment Realm, one of the top disciples among them. Instead of intercepting the Crocodile Demon, he fled with Ji Xue.

However, they also decided quickly, scattering in different directions to divert the Crocodile Demon’s attention.

The Crocodile Demon paused, then gave a malicious grin, and pursued the direction Yun Zhiqiu and Ji Xue had gone.

Dai Long fled alone in one direction, conveniently shaking off the academy disciples, unwilling to accompany them.

He moved swiftly, quickly diving into the forest, very familiar with the terrain.

After a while, Dai Long arrived at a secretive place, retrieved a package, then changed into a black robe and another mask, his preparations very thorough.

"Who’s there?"

Just when Dai Long was about to put on a mask, he suddenly heard a noise, shouting coldly as his eyes scanned around, sensing someone watching him.

Soon, a sense of extreme danger seized him, accompanied by the sharp sound of a sword’s whistle. His eyes darted forward to see a golden sharp sword shooting like an arrow from the string.

The sword light at Dai Long’s brow burst forth, the Sword Seed blossomed. However, the golden sharp sword pierced through the side in an instant, stabbing into his brow, killing him with a single strike.

Dai Long’s body trembled, seeing a figure in white slowly approaching from the front.

"It’s you..." Dai Long’s body fell backward, his eyes remaining open.

Li Fan walked up to him, opened the package, and found numerous Demon Cores, unsure if they were from killing demons or hunting humans.

Li Fan took off his sword, then concealed it in the package along with the Demon Cores, donned the black robe prepared by Dai Long, and put on the mask, exuding an aura of coldness.

"This indeed makes things much easier," Li Fan swung the package onto his back and moved from the area, picking up a sword along the way.

Now there was no need to worry about exposing his identity; he had Dai Long to thank for this.

Li Fan extended his Divine Sense, following the direction the Crocodile Demon had chased. The Crocodile Demon, being a Fourth Realm Demon, its Demon Core must be a great supplement.

Continuing his pursuit, Li Fan heard the sounds of combat from a distance and moved closer, seeing a place where many trees had been felled.

Li Fan proceeded forward, arriving at the battlefield; the aura on the Crocodile Demon surged. In the distance, Yun Zhiqiu fell, injured, spitting out blood, his face pale.

Yun Zhiqiu stared at the Crocodile Demon, unable to break through... No matter what he did, he couldn’t break the Crocodile Demon’s defense.

"Senior Brother Yun," Ji Xue looked at Yun Zhiqiu.

"Junior Sister, my apologies," Yun Zhiqiu looked at Ji Xue. As he spoke, he turned and fled with Sword Control, abandoning Ji Xue.

Ji Xue’s face turned ashen. The disciples accompanying her from Bai Lu Academy’s trial had all scattered, and even Yun Zhiqiu had abandoned her. How could she possibly fend off this Crocodile Demon?

Though in Yun Meng Swamp, people fell every day, she had just entered the academy, becoming a Heavenly Pride Girl, and this was her first trial here. Would she fall so soon?

Ji Xue, with a pale face, clutched a Magical Treasure in her hand.

The Crocodile Demon grinned wickedly, rushing towards her.

Suddenly, the Crocodile Demon sensed danger, abruptly turning to see a sharp sword shooting towards it.

The Crocodile Demon’s clawed hand rose to catch the flying sword, yet the sword, like a specter, veered, targeting the Crocodile Demon’s eyes.

The Crocodile Demon’s eyes closed, scales covering them.

"Boom..."

The formidable force knocked the Crocodile Demon back, but even so, it didn’t injure the demon, only caused its eyes to sting.

The sword flew back; the Crocodile Demon opened its eyes to see a black-robed figure wearing a mask approaching.

A person at the Soul Emergence Realm?

Another fool seeking death.

The Crocodile Demon charged fiercely towards Li Fan’s position; Li Fan advanced as well, Sword Intent swirling around him.

Currently, his cultivation was in the Soul Emergence Middle Realm, never having fought a Fourth Realm Demon before—perfect for honing his combat skills against this Crocodile Demon.

The man and the demon closed in instantly, the Crocodile Demon’s arm stretching forward, its sharp claws aimed at Li Fan, ready to rip apart a cultivator in the Soul Emergence Realm.

Li Fan instantly drew his sword, his strike as swift as lightning, reaching its limits, an elusive blur aimed at the Crocodile Demon’s eyes—it was the one-word cut of the Sword Dao of Li Mountain’s tradition.

The Crocodile Demon didn’t anticipate the human’s sword to be so fast, closing its eyes again.

"Boom..."

The sword slashed at the slit of the Crocodile Demon’s eyes, attempting to cut them open, yet the Crocodile Demon held them tightly shut. Despite this, a cry of pain emerged as its body recoiled.

Li Fan moved like the wind, entering the Unity of Heaven and Man state, discovering the eyes as the only weakness against this Crocodile Demon’s formidable defense.

"Slash."

Li Fan swung his sword, each strike gleaming, while the Crocodile Demon roared in pain, an arm raised to guard its eyes, not daring to open them, as Li Fan’s sword transformed into a heavy blade cutting across its head.

The Crocodile Demon’s body was flung away, crashing into a gigantic tree, splitting it.

At the side, Ji Xue watched, her heart surging, as she stared in awe at the masked figure in the black robe.

Yun Zhiqiu was in the Foundation Establishment Realm, and the previous academy students’ cultivation was not weak, yet even with their assault, they couldn’t contend with the Crocodile Demon, eventually being scattered and pursued.

And yet, a single Sword Cultivator in the Soul Emergence Middle Realm had faced the Crocodile Demon head-on, even managed to drive it away.

What power...