Chapter 10

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Chapter 10: A Sudden Wind

Everyone worked together to restore the shattered mountainside. Once the area was back to its original state, the Snow Guards divided into eight teams. Yuluan blended in with one of them, discreetly carrying the two bodies as they set off.

Meanwhile, Xue Feishuang and Zhang Yang found the Night Stalker and explained their plan to him.

After a moment of contemplation, the Night Stalker agreed. He understood that if he refused, Yun Liuhuo would hunt him down. Having experienced Yun Liuhuo’s strength firsthand, he knew he was no match for him. It was wiser to join forces with Xue Feishuang and Zhang Yang and head for the Vast Forest.

Xue Feishuang had an ample supply of healing pills. With her full support, the Night Stalker quickly regained his former strength.

As for Zhang Yang, he had a storage bag filled with rare healing items, including spirit stones for cultivation—spoils he had taken from Zhao Yu of the Blood Fox. Xue Feishuang generously gave all of it to him, making him quite wealthy.

Before long, the three set off. Two rode horses, while one rode a bull. They traveled swiftly for two days. When they were just over a hundred miles from the Vast Forest, they spotted a Black-feathered Flying Eagle circling high above. It was clear—the Yun brothers were tracking them.

At the summit of an unnamed mountain stood two nearly identical men—Yun Liuhuo and Yun Dongji.

“Brother, I miscalculated this time,” Yun Dongji admitted, frustration evident in his voice. “I thought that after taking care of the Blood Fox thieves, victory would be guaranteed. I never expected Xue Feishuang to team up with the Night Stalker. Now, they’re clearly planning to stall us in the Vast Forest for the next three or four days.”

Yun Liuhuo snorted coldly. “Knowing their location is enough. One day will be plenty.” He turned his gaze to the eagle overhead. “Keep watching them. You, go inform my Flying Cloud Guards. Also, tell my allies not to wait for me to regroup—head straight to the Vast Forest.”

“Understood! I’ll have everyone notified within an hour.” Yun Dongji quickly departed.

Standing alone on the mountaintop, Yun Liuhuo sneered as he looked toward the distant Vast Forest. “No one will stop me from claiming the title. Whoever dares to stand in my way… will die.”

The Demon Slayer Team was an alliance formed by the Great Xia Empire, the Golden Cauldron Sacred Land, and the Ziyang Sacred Land.

Despite being called a “team,” it actually comprised three thousand battle squads, each consisting of fifty to five hundred members. Each squad had the freedom to choose its own name—such as the Underworld King Squad, named by its captain, Chu Yuming.

“Captain, if each squad in the Demon Slayer Team has an assigned area, won’t we be punished for leaving our post and heading to the Vast Forest?” Xiao Hu asked, concern evident in his voice.

“Foolish!” Chu Yuming scoffed. “You don’t understand the true purpose of the Demon Slayer Team.”

“Please enlighten me, Captain,” Xiao Hu said respectfully.

Chu Yuming huffed. “The so-called ‘world-destroying demons’ are newborns born from abnormal celestial phenomena. They can’t possibly be fully matured geniuses already. The real purpose of the Demon Slayer Team is to eliminate all geniuses who are not affiliated with the Great Xia Empire or the two Sacred Lands. This is the most direct way to take control of the Southern Region. Anyone who dares to oppose us will be accused of being a world-destroying demon and executed—regardless of their background.”

His lips curled into a sinister smile. “Take that kid on the bull you mentioned, for example. Didn’t you send someone to track him down? Once you find him, no matter who he is, just claim he’s a world-destroying demon and kill him.”

Xiao Hu’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Then we can act without restraint. Anyone who objects will be dealt with accordingly.”

“Exactly!” Chu Yuming grinned. “Among the three thousand squads, over two thousand are too weak to make a difference. The best place for us to hunt suspected world-destroying demons is the Vast Forest—where powerful geniuses gather and treasures abound. That kid on the bull will definitely be there, and countless squads will flood into the Vast Forest to hunt him down.”

Xiao Hu clenched his fists. “Then I look forward to reaching the Vast Forest. If I find that kid on the bull, I’ll make sure to kill him myself!”

Chu Yuming patted Xiao Hu on the shoulder. “Good. Learn to make use of our identity as members of the Demon Slayer Team.”

Xiao Hu murmured, “The identity of the Demon Slayer Team…”

The Vast Forest stretched endlessly in all directions.

Even from a distance, Zhang Yang could sense the overwhelming presence of wood energy. It was so rich and pure that he felt an instinctive urge to cultivate.

The three of them ventured deeper into the forest.

This sealed region had existed for countless years. Towering ancient trees, so massive that two or three people together could barely wrap their arms around them, formed a dense canopy. Their thick branches intertwined overhead, casting deep shadows across the ground. And this was just the outermost area—who knew what mysteries lay further in?

“The Black-feathered Flying Eagle has been following us,” Xue Feishuang observed. “If Yun Liuhuo comes, he will undoubtedly follow our trail.” She glanced at their surroundings. “We could set an ambush here.”

The Night Stalker nodded. “Yun Liuhuo is arrogant. Even if he suspects an ambush, he would still charge in. The question is—will he come alone?”

Xue Feishuang sneered. “A rule-breaker like him won’t play fair. He won’t be alone. We’ll conceal ourselves, and if too many of them show up, we retreat.”

“Agreed.” The Night Stalker gave a curt nod.

Xue Feishuang then turned to Zhang Yang. “Junior Brother, you should focus on cultivating. The wood energy here is strong enough for you to break through.”

Zhang Yang’s eyes gleamed with determination. “I can’t wait to help you once I break through.”

Without wasting time, he rode his Ironback Blue Bull deeper into the forest.

As he ventured further, he expected the surroundings to darken. Yet, oddly, the opposite happened. Some trees and flowers emitted a soft glow, while certain fruits radiated light, illuminating the area and giving it an almost ethereal beauty—like a hidden world of its own.

The further he went, the richer the wood energy became. The very air was saturated with life essence.

After traveling five or six hundred meters, a faint yet intoxicating fragrance reached his nose. The moment he inhaled it, a deep sense of comfort washed over him.

He immediately followed the direction of the scent.

The towering ancient trees loomed over him, their sheer size making him feel like a mere ant in comparison. Despite their density, the space between them was wide enough for the Ironback Blue Bull to move unhindered.

Soon enough, Zhang Yang found the source of the fragrance—a small spirit flower hidden among grass half as tall as a person. The delicate flower stood only about ten centimeters high, its petals a brilliant shade of purple.

He reached out, plucked the flower, and inhaled its scent deeply. A wave of indescribable comfort washed over him, soothing his entire body.

“Purple Sun Flower!”

A startled gasp broke the silence.

Zhang Yang looked up and saw two figures rushing toward him—Su Shentong and Liu Changfeng.

“What are you doing here?” Zhang Yang asked, surprised. He had overheard them talking earlier and knew they were Yun Liuhuo’s allies. They had planned to stay by Yun Liuhuo’s side for the hunt against the Night Stalker, so logically, they should have been with him.

Su Shentong explained, “A day ago, a friend informed us that the targets might come to the Vast Forest, so we arrived early. I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

Liu Changfeng scoffed. “Just ignore him.”

Su Shentong, however, smiled and continued, “Still, fate has brought us together three times now. It seems we are destined to meet. How about we strike a deal?”

Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes. “What kind of deal?”

Su Shentong’s grin widened. “I’ll trade you a martial arts technique in exchange for your Purple Sun Flower.”