Chapter 567 - 519: Each Hiding a Trump Card (Part 2)

Chapter 567: Chapter 519: Each Hiding a Trump Card (Part 2)

The cultivator who spoke was unremarkable in appearance, of average height, with a sallow complexion.

The Star Palace was no secret to the top cultivators of the Central Domain; many sects had even tried to besiege and destroy it.

But its members all wore the legendary Star God Masks, their origins were a mystery, and they didn’t secretly cultivate their own forces, making the organization incredibly difficult to pin down.

No one knew the Star Palace members’ objectives or where they might appear.

Aside from the Po Jun Star Monarch, the other Star Monarchs appeared even less frequently, some having never even been seen by the outside world.

Seven Nascent Soul Star Monarchs—a lineup that would qualify as a first-rate sect in the Central Domain.

"We’ll follow behind and see what they’re really after... As for calling for backup, forget it. The Jishui Camp would need to dispatch more than half its True Monarchs to suppress both sides at once. A lack of garrison forces at the camp would be a major issue. We absolutely cannot give the Demon Race an opportunity to exploit."

The once high-spirited, proud, and reckless Kong Bai had undergone a great change in temperament over the years, becoming steady and cautious.

His senior brother, Xiangg Ji, had perished to forge a Tier Five Life-Killing Demon Sword, which had become a hot potato for the Life-Killing Sword Sect.

They bore the title of a Super Sect, but everyone knew the Divinity Transformation Ancestor of the Life-Killing Demon Sword could not possibly still be alive.

Xiangg Ji, the sect’s most promising disciple, was dead. The remaining Great True Monarch was old and withered, nearly unable to protect the Tier Five Life-Killing Demon Sword.

Fortunately, before passing away, that Great True Monarch found an opportunity to challenge the Supreme Elder of a rival sect. By perishing in the middle of their combat and severely wounding his opponent, he bought the sect a hundred years of peace.

Kong Bai, for his part, had lived up to expectations. As his familiarity with the Life-Killing Demon Sword grew, he successfully advanced to the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Realm.

The previous battle where he went to sea and slew a Tier Four Peak Demon Whale had been a grand display of his power, letting the world witness his strength.

’Still, we can’t let the Demon Race get what they want so easily. No matter what, the Star Palace members are Human Race Nascent Souls; they’ve contributed to the war between our races.’

Kong Bai’s eyes were completely black, with no whites visible. He wore a green scarf on his head, and his figure was so thin and emaciated he looked as if a gust of wind could blow him away.

The few of them followed behind the Transformed Great Demons, maintaining a safe distance.

Otherwise, if that many Demon Beasts turned back, the three Nascent Soul True Monarchs would be the ones in trouble.

The Outer Sea Great Demons who had fallen behind due to their slower speed dove into the Jishui River, occasionally launching a few spells to interfere with their flight.

Kong Bai, his hands tucked into his sleeves, felt a tremor in his right hand as it grasped an ink-black Flying Sword that seemed not to exist in this plane of space.

Before the sword was even drawn, an intent of withering decay emanated from it. The fingers gripping the sword grew a few shades paler, their color shifting toward an ashen white.

He forcibly suppressed the desire to draw his sword. Even with a monstrous killing intent surging in his chest, he was confident he could slay a Tier Four Low Grade Transformed Great Demon with a single strike.

It was already difficult for a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul to wield a Tier Five Flying Sword.

Furthermore, the tenets of the Life-Killing Sword Sect were a perfect match for the Life-Killing Demon Sword, but this also multiplied the chances of a disciple falling to the Demon Path and becoming a Demon who knew only slaughter.

This was especially true for Kong Bai. He was born with a Sword Bone, but his natural aptitude was merely that of Dual Spirit Root Talent. In order to rapidly raise his cultivation to support the sect, he had frantically devoured Flying Swords, leaving his foundation unstable.

Every time he activated the Life-Killing Demon Sword, it was a major test for Kong Bai.

...

Seeing that Yellow Qiu was in hot pursuit and had split off from the other Great Demons, the Taiyin Star Monarch simply came to a halt.

She reached up and pulled a golden hairpin from her hair. Five phoenixes were linked head to tail, their wings forming swords, creating magnificent and resplendent beams of Sword Light that blasted toward Yellow Qiu.

At the same time, a high-pitched phoenix cry rang out. Yellow Qiu shuddered and froze in place, taking several sword strikes head-on.

Blood sprayed as several new sword wounds, deep enough to expose bone, appeared on Yellow Qiu’s body, making him scream in agony.

"The Celestial Phoenix Shocking God Sword Technique! Who in the world are you?"

In response to Yellow Qiu’s question, the Taiyin Star Monarch remained silent. The Sword Light in her hand flared even brighter. The five phoenixes cried out one after another, preventing the draconic Great Demon from gathering its Demon Power, leaving its bones weak and skin soft.

"What an elegant crane! Why don’t you come back with me and become my Sect Spirit Beast!"

The Tiann Xiang Star Monarch’s figure flickered as he dodged a flash of white light, but a thin bloody line still appeared on his face.

"Such arrogance! Come find me to be your Spirit Beast in your next life, after you’ve reached Divinity Transformation!"

The White Crane was originally a Spirit Beast. It endured until its master passed away, broke free from its Spirit Beast Contract, and pecked to death all several thousand people in that sect before escaping to Lankao Mountain.

The words "Sect Spirit Beast" struck a nerve. It reverted to its human form, a Crane Feather Fan in hand, and waved it forcefully.

Countless wind blades, laced with green threads, appeared around the Tiann Xiang Star Monarch, surrounding him completely.

The Tiann Xiang Star Monarch’s expression grew solemn. He took out a Starlight Whip that was constantly changing shape.

As the whip cracked, brilliant starlight exploded forth, like a bright star rising in broad daylight.

Judging by its power, it had actually reached the tier of a Top-Grade Spiritual Treasure.

A shuttle-like ray of Spirit Light came to a stop, and a person emerged from within—it was the Jumeng Star Monarch.

’A Spirit Treasure Level Flying Shuttle is truly extraordinary. For a short period, it’s forty to fifty percent faster than a Tier Four Flying Sword... The consumption is just insane, though. Half a Top-Grade Spirit Stone gone in such a short time.’

The Jumeng Star Monarch scanned his surroundings, confirmed he had shaken off all the Demon Beasts, then put away the Flying Shuttle and began to chant a Magic Formula.

After a long while, his figure gradually faded and disappeared from the spot.

The Lianzhen Star Monarch, holding a short sword, was caught by the Twelve-Winged Soaring Serpent, yet his face showed no sign of panic.

"You look so tender and soft-skinned... you must be delicious..."

In ancient times, the bloodline of the Twelve-Winged Soaring Serpent was that of an extremely powerful type of Desolate Beast.

It was said that when it fully spread its wings, it could block out the sky and sun, plunging ten thousand li in all directions into darkness.

Of course, this one couldn’t compare to the Ancient Wild Beasts, but its wings were each uniquely wondrous. Some were as thin as a cicada’s wings, some were ugly fleshy wings, some were iron wings gleaming with a cold light, and some were wings of raging fire...

Each wing possessed lethality approaching that of a Spiritual Treasure, making it one of the most notoriously vicious Demon Beasts in Lankao Mountain.

It had once torn a Human Race Nascent Soul to countless shreds; even their Nascent Soul had failed to escape after leaving their body.

If it weren’t only at the Tier Four Low Grade Realm, everyone in Lankao Mountain believed the Twelve-Winged Soaring Serpent had the strength to contend with the White Ape.

"Devouring humans and refining Nascent Souls is an offense against the Celestial Dao... He who dispenses rewards and punishments is the monarch. Sword, come forth!"

The Lianzhen Star Monarch’s voice boomed as a small sword shot out from his mouth and slashed through the air.

The Twelve-Winged Soaring Serpent was split in two down the middle, and all the wings on its back were severed along with it.

With a single strike, it suffered Divine Soul Annihilation. Not even its Essence was able to escape.

The Lianzheng Star Monarch plummeted from the sky. His aura instantly dropped from that of a Nascent Soul to a mortal’s, and his face was drained of all color.

He picked up his small sword, wiped it twice before hiding it against his chest, then gave the Twelve-Winged Soaring Snake Demon’s body a few reluctant glances before stumbling away into the distance.

The Golden-Winged Roc spread its wings, which spanned several li. With just a few flaps, it caught up and was hovering above the Tianliang Star Monarch.

It swiped with both claws. The Tianliang Star Monarch raised his sword to block, producing a metallic clang.

"Dapeng King..."

’How did I end up running into this Great Demon?’

The Golden-Winged Roc was a Tier Four Mid-Grade Demon Beast, hailed as having the fastest Tunneling Speed in the world. Even a Tier Four Peak Dragon Monarch was slightly inferior to it in terms of speed.

Among the Human Race Cultivators, there were several whose Escape Techniques were exquisite and had reached a state of perfection.

But in a pure contest of speed, no one dared claim they could definitively defeat the Dapeng King.

The Tianliang Star Monarch was already weaker than the Golden-Winged Roc to begin with. He truly couldn’t win in a fight, nor could he escape.

"Explode!"

The Tianliang Star Monarch grew ruthless and directly self-destructed his Flying Sword. Countless streams of dense Sword Light erupted with an aura that threatened to sweep everything away.

Just as he was about to seize the opportunity to flee, the Tianliang Star Monarch felt an excruciating pain in his waist.

He looked down and discovered that his flesh had been pierced into a mangled pulp from the bottom up.

Below his waist, only two bare leg bones remained.

"AHH!"

The Tianliang Star Monarch let out a scream of disbelief. He knew the Dapeng King was fast, but he never imagined it was *this* fast.

He hadn’t even seen a shadow before he suffered hundreds, if not thousands, of attacks.

Each blow wasn’t particularly heavy, but the cumulative damage had completely destroyed his physical body.

The shockwave from his self-destructed Flying Sword hadn’t harmed the Dapeng King in the slightest; it was leisurely zipping back and forth.

This was no longer mere speed. It was the fusion of Great Dao True Intent, achieving the absolute pinnacle in this aspect.

The Tianliang Star Monarch shot the Golden-Winged Roc a ferocious glare, then slapped the top of his Celestial Spiritual Skull. A fair and tender Nascent Soul poked its head out.