Chapter 20#

The Breathtakingly Magnificent Grand Demon Ba She#

Lu Heng sat with his cheek propped on his hand atop a golden-winged roc, while below, the mountain-protecting grand formation periodically condensed sword qi and launched it upward. At first, Lu Heng waved his sleeve and scattered a few strikes. Later, he couldn’t even be bothered—the attacks were as harmless as a tickle on his body, and they couldn’t even knock a single feather off his temporary mount.

“Is the human race’s strength really this pathetic now? I’ve heard the Qingquan Sect is considered a mid-tier sect.” Lu Heng covered his mouth as he yawned. Were it not for fear of hurting Bai Li, he would have long since torn apart this formation that was as thin as paper.

“To answer Your Majesty, aside from the handful of top-tier sects with ten-thousand-year inheritances, the human race’s strength today is truly not worth mentioning.” The golden-winged roc was here temporarily to serve as Lu Heng’s mount. It was worth noting that it had gone to great lengths to defeat numerous competitors for the honor of letting the King sit upon its back. The golden-winged roc secretly used a recording pearl to capture its own heroic appearance at this very moment, planning to take it back and make its kin thoroughly jealous.

After a moment, an elderly man with a head full of white hair and a long white beard flew out from within the grand formation. He looked every bit the part of a transcendent, Daoist immortal.

“This poor Daoist is Qingkongzi. Might I ask what brings you here, fellow Daoist?” The old man bowed to Lu Heng, his courtesy impeccable.

Lu Heng had no patience for such human formalities and gestured to the golden-winged roc to reply.

“You, an old Daoist, think you’re worthy of greeting our King on equal terms?” The golden-winged roc was no pushover among the demon race either. It opened its mouth and spat out a tongue of flame. The flame shot forth with incredible speed, and before Qingkongzi could react, the corner of his robe was singed, leaving him looking somewhat disheveled.

It was hardly surprising that the golden-winged roc was so arrogant. Relations between the demon and human races were far from harmonious. Although Bai Li had said this time that she was rescued by cultivator sects, Bai Li had always been naïve. For that reason, the demon race believed these cultivator sects harbored ulterior motives. However, the King had always valued Bai Li dearly, and coupled with his overwhelming strength, no demon dared voice any objections to the King personally coming to retrieve her.

Qingkongzi’s expression shifted momentarily before he quickly assumed a humble demeanor: “This poor Daoist misspoke. What guidance do the two seniors have to offer?”

Only after the old Daoist bowed did the golden-winged roc grudgingly express satisfaction: “I’ve heard our clan’s Bai Li is here? Tell her her kin have come to fetch her.”

“The fairy Bai Li of the noble clan is indeed a guest at our humble sect. However, Fairy Bai Li says she will only meet with Lord Demon King alone.”

“Very well.” The moment Lu Heng spoke, the golden-winged roc, which had been about to flare up in anger, immediately fell silent. “Wait for me here. I will bring Bai Li out.”

“Yes.” When it came to the Demon King’s orders, no demon of the demon race ever had any objections. Moreover, not a single demon believed these cultivators could harm a single hair on the King’s body.

Qingkongzi led Lu Heng straight to the sect’s rear mountain, where they found Bai Li in her original form, enclosed within a grand formation emanating golden light. Bai Li’s original form was a snow-white snow rabbit, utterly adorable and delicate. The plump, round rabbit’s eyes welled up with tears the moment she saw Lu Heng.

“Zheng, you’re here. It hurts so much.” Bai Li’s trailing note rose slightly upward, her voice laced with the fullest measure of grievance. This was exactly how she used to seek out Lu Heng whenever she was bullied back in the demon race.

The demon race was a place that worshiped strength, and a delicate little demon like Bai Li was far from popular. Demons frequently harassed her, injured her, and warned her to stay away from the King. Although Lu Heng had carefully guided her cultivation and supplied her with all manner of precious resources, regarding this kind of atmosphere within the demon race, so long as Bai Li’s life was not directly threatened, he would not intervene excessively. It was precisely because of this that Bai Li did not wish to marry Lu Heng—she felt that even toward his future wife, he was so lacking in tenderness.

“What happened?” Lu Heng nodded casually, giving Bai Li a passing glance.

“I was attacked by a demon who practices the evil path. He wanted to take my demon core to cultivate. When I woke up, I found myself rescued by senior Qingkongzi, the sect master of the Qingquan Sect.” Bai Li sniffled, and with those moist, round eyes, she was so pitiful it could melt anyone’s heart. “Wuu, and then I discovered I had reverted to my original form. Senior Qingkongzi said there’s no method to treat demons, so I could only turn to you. I don’t trust any other demon, I’m afraid…”

A hint of indulgent smile tugged at the corner of Lu Heng’s lips—his attitude toward Bai Li was as it had always been. “With your shallow skills, you left the clan territory so recklessly. Have you finally learned your lesson this time?”

Bai Li hopped forward one miserable step, then stopped again. “I can’t leave this formation right now. Senior said I’m too badly injured—if I leave, my demon core will collapse.”

“No matter. I will bring you out and shield you with demon energy so you come to no harm.” With that, Lu Heng stepped into the center of the formation.

In an instant, the situation changed. Several chains materialized from thin air within the golden formation, binding Lu Heng tightly. Outside the formation, aside from Qingkongzi standing in the northeast position, seven other figures had appeared from seemingly nowhere, each wearing the uniform of the Qingquan Sect. The entire formation’s aura shifted dramatically—from a surge of vital energy to a miasma of killing intent.

“Senior Qingkongzi, what are you doing?!” Bai Li shrieked in alarm.

“Hmph. You demons—vile creatures, not of our kind. You slaughter our innocent commoners. Today, we shall eradicate this scourge for the people! Formation, activate!” Qingkongzi ignored Bai Li’s cries and spoke directly.

Lu Heng raised an eyebrow. With a flick of his sleeve, the chains dissolved into motes of light and vanished into the air. He strode forward two unhurried steps, pinched Bai Li’s ear, and tucked her into his lapel. His finger slashed through the air, and the grand formation tore open a gash.

Qingkongzi’s expression changed. He quickly bit the tip of his tongue and spat a mouthful of vital blood onto the formation. The other seven did the same. The formation blazed with light and instantly repaired itself. Right after that, Qingkongzi produced a rope-like magical artifact and tossed it skyward. The rope transformed into a azure dragon, coiling through the air.

“How interesting.” Lu Heng remarked. The Qingquan Sect actually possessed the Immortal-Binding Rope, an immortal artifact. Though it was not complete, its power was not to be underestimated.

The azure dragon let out a resonant cry that sent the entire mountain peak trembling faintly, then lunged at Lu Heng. Lu Heng did not dare to be careless. With a flip of his palm, a black whip that gleamed with golden light materialized in his hand. This was none other than the life-bound magical artifact of the Demon King Ba She—Godslayer.

Lu Heng wielded the long whip and lashed it toward the azure dragon. The whip tip tore through the air, producing a cacophony of wind and thunder. The azure dragon rolled through the air, attempting to evade the whip, but being no true living creature, its reactions were slightly sluggish. Lu Heng altered the trajectory mid-strike, and the whip’s tail struck the azure dragon’s neck with punishing force, sending it tumbling back tens of zhang until its form flickered and dimmed. Back and forth they exchanged blows—in the span of a breath, over a hundred moves had passed.

Seeing the azure dragon apparently gaining the upper hand, the Qingquan Sect members hurriedly increased their spiritual power output, driving the formation to generate more chains that launched themselves at Lu Heng. Lu Heng was unafraid, but at this critical juncture, he felt repeated tremors coming from his chest.

Lu Heng looked down. The snow rabbit nestled in his lapel was trembling like a sieve, and a thin thread of blood seeped from her nostrils. It seemed that the spiritual pressure at the heart of this battle was too great—even with his shielding, Bai Li’s insufficient cultivation could no longer withstand it.

“I’ll send you out first.” Lu Heng dispersed a chain and spoke softly to Bai Li.

“Th-then… what about you? I can’t just leave you behind and run.” Bai Li gasped for breath and managed, with some difficulty, to say.

“Don’t worry. These humans are nothing to fear. Once you’re out, the golden-winged roc will receive you. Go back to the clan territory with him first.” With that, Lu Heng deliberately exposed an opening, taking a hit from the azure dragon. He then tore another gash in the grand formation and used demon energy to send Bai Li out of the Qingquan Sect.

In the instant Bai Li left, Lu Heng thought he felt something extra appear in his lapel, but he had no time to attend to it. He could only focus wholeheartedly on the battle against the azure dragon and the Qingquan Sect members.

Time passed. The azure dragon and the Qingquan Sect members were gradually being suppressed by Lu Heng. The dragon’s form grew increasingly faint, on the verge of disappearing altogether. At this crucial moment, rolling black clouds suddenly gathered in the sky, and peal after peal of thunder rumbled through the air.

A Heavenly Tribulation! Lu Heng’s heart lurched. Something was wrong—this was not the time for him to undergo tribulation. Where had this bizarre tribulation come from? There was no time for Lu Heng to react much further. A streak of violet lightning burst from the dark clouds and struck directly toward the crown of his head. The azure dragon and the Qingquan Sect members would never let such a golden opportunity slip by. Their attacks surged back to life with renewed ferocity.

After three bolts of Heavenly Lightning, a thin line of blood trickled from the corner of Lu Heng’s mouth. The Heavenly Tribulation was dangerous enough on its own, and with enemies watching like tigers eyeing their prey on the side—it was clear this place was no longer somewhere he should linger.

Fortunately, Lu Heng had a fallback plan. Back then, to prevent ever suffering the miserable fate of being flayed alive by cultivator sects for another hundred years, when the sacred artifact Sui Xin had willingly recognized its master, Lu Heng had chosen spatial transference as its divine ability. This was no mere teleportation ability—it was one that could extract its user from absolutely any restrictive formation or grand array, no matter how powerful.

If not now, when? With a mere thought, the demon race’s sacred artifact flew out from his ear.

Sui Xin received Lu Heng’s intent and released a blinding white light of its own accord, engulfing him completely. When the light dissipated, the Demon-Binding Formation was entirely empty. The Qingquan Sect members could only stare at one another in blank shock. The azure dragon had reached its limit as well—its form swayed several times before vanishing into the air, reverting to the shape of a rope. And that Immortal-Binding Rope, before it even touched the ground, disintegrated into fine powder and disappeared. The flawed immortal artifact had finally exhausted its last vestiges of immortal power, dispersing into the world between heaven and earth, never to return.

Qingkongzi spat out a mist of blood, stiffened, and toppled backward onto the ground, unconscious. His face had aged by more than a decade in an instant. In this endeavor, he had forced himself to drive the immortal artifact at the cost of regressing in cultivation, yet he had still failed to retain the Demon King—and had even destroyed the immortal artifact in the process. Qingkongzi’s lifespan had already been nearing its end, and now, with his vitality so grievously depleted, he would likely fall within days. And with its sect master and immortal artifact lost, the Qingquan Sect could no longer hope to maintain a foothold in the Fuyu Mountain Range. A mid-tier sect of considerable size—reduced, just like that, to a slow and inexorable decline.