Chapter 697

Chapter 697: Clear Distinction

The battle among the Demon Cultivators twisted like the clouds, with every extreme tactic on display. Li Hui combined the Wisdom Dragon Horn with the Reversed Demonic Patterns, embodying the Six Paths Legal form on the battlefield, shifting seamlessly between righteousness and evil—transforming into a Reversed Demon was not surprising.

The primary purpose of Reversed Demons was to survive at any cost, making this belief their demonic thoughts to follow through life and death.

The same artifact, when placed in the hands of a Reversed Demon or an ordinary cultivator, would yield entirely different results. Even if given an artifact, they could quickly grasp the essentials with just a little exploration.

True Demons acted according to their own ways, seeking absolute freedom and a further pursuit of lawlessness. Reversed Demons regarded themselves as weapons, striving for mastery over themselves while controlling everything around them.

Thus, Reversed Demons encompassed the mastery of the Demonic Path, somewhat akin to the leader of the Hongmo Sect’s approach. However, Reversed Demons had reached their pinnacle; otherwise, when Li Hui’s wooden poison struck at its heart, it would not have merely taken a few self-slaps to force the formidable foe out of his body.

Li Hui utilized Reversed Gold to counter the Wood Demon, effectively suppressing its cultivation. Otherwise, this creature would not have retreated so easily.

Seeing that there were no advantages to be had and unwilling to risk mutual destruction, the Wood Demon withdrew. However, she underestimated the danger that invaded Li Hui’s body, where a Heart Talisman lay, not truly authentic but deceptively potent, holding terrifying power that was indescribable.

In this way, Li Hui ultimately outperformed, implanting the Heart Talisman into the Wood Demon’s heart, turning her into a demonic puppet. Although with her cultivation, she would eventually break through the blockade, she would definitely meet her demise before that could happen.

As fallen leaves rustled, the ghostly trees loomed, and the Wood Demon forged ahead, smashing through the growing number of Xu Crocodiles, while Li Hui followed behind with an inconspicuous smile.

The two traversed through a deep pit and entered an underground plain, an expansive space difficult to imagine existed beneath. Now and then, they caught glimpses of luminous jade stones radiating bright light, but these were not treasures; the emitted light carried toxins that could reduce lifespan with prolonged exposure.

“Is this the Xu Crocodile? I’ve seen them on the Extreme Huan Continent—they resemble crocodiles and live underground, one of the favorite foods of time phantoms,” Li Hui remarked, shaking his robe to reveal many straws extending from its hem, which “thumped” into the large head of an Xu Crocodile and began to suck vigorously.

The formidable Xu Crocodiles were dealt with by the Wood Demon, while the ordinary ones were drained into “crocodile skin” by the Doomsday Robe, even sucking away the bones. Anyone witnessing this would find the method uncannily strange.

“Master Li moves quickly!” Yuan Ciheng and Luo Meini approached.

Almost all the preceding cultivators were blocked by these massive creatures measuring fifteen to sixteen zhang in length. Even those who mastered stealth techniques could not sneak past amidst the Xu Crocodiles’ gigantic shadows, each blocking the path forward.

Suddenly, the ground erupted with thousands of thick wooden spikes, akin to cavalry stakes thrusting six imposing Xu Crocodiles into the air. The black robe darted like a flag, causing the six Xu Crocodiles to quickly deflate, and then both the croc skins and their remnants were absorbed by the robe.

Yuan Ciheng and Luo Meini stood frozen in awe, taking time to digest the scene before exclaiming, “Master Li, such skill! With you paving the way, we finally see hope for breaking through the Xu Crocodile lair!”

“Haha, I was fortunate to receive help from this Wood Demon friend. I’m merely following along,” Li Hui displayed great humility, omitting all mention of controlling the Wood Demon. In truth, he hoped for the path ahead to hold greater dangers to wear down the Wood Demon’s strength. This female demon recovered far too quickly; even continually dispatching Xu Crocodiles, her suppressed cultivation would still gradually rebound, becoming very perilous.

Yuan Ciheng detected some hints but said nothing. Disliking Demon Cultivators, he thought it excellent if his junior could command such a powerful demon to act.

Li Hui formed a seal, commanding the Wood Demon to surge forward, summoning a torrent of wooden splinters that quickly morphed into a hundred zhang long wooden dragon.

With this fierce wooden dragon charging ahead, Li Hui and the others moved swiftly.

At this moment, other cultivators saw a chance to break through and hastily gathered, their numbers increasing significantly. As more cultivators joined from behind, the assembly swelled.

Many cultivators wondered who was the magical practitioner at the front, transformed into a wooden dragon assaulting the Xu Crocodile blockade. Some recognized the Wood Demon and quietly transmitted the news: “That’s the second general of Ancestor Yan Jiao, the Wood Demon. Long ago, Wutu practitioners feared words of her. I didn’t expect her to appear after the Heavenly Secrets fell into chaos.”

“Ancestor Yan Jiao? Isn’t he the old dragon claiming to be the deity of all rivers?”

“Who knows what the true form of Ancestor Yan Jiao is? Anyway, seeing his second general here, it seems she’s under the control of the leader of the Heavenly Talisman Sect. Following this situation, the arrival of the first general cannot be far off!”

These cultivators were astute; after a hushed exchange, they gathered enough to grasp the situation and realized Ancestor Yan Jiao was extending his hand, gradually slowing his pace.

Most cultivators trailed from a distance, about a thousand zhang behind, while Lü Chunyang and the others caught up to Yuan Ciheng and Luo Meini.

In the midst of a formidable wave washing away impurities, some sought to distance themselves, while others chose to follow closely.

Li Hui turned back and noticed nearly five hundred cultivators trailing, including disciples of the Jin Tian Sect, members of the summer royalty, and some who gritted their teeth upon hearing Ancestor Yan Jiao’s name, clearly holding a deep-seated grudge.

Regardless, these cultivators were likely to become his initial foundation in the Path of Martyrdom Alliance!

Suddenly, a rumbling echoed ahead. The Wood Demon clashed with a particularly terrifying Xu Crocodile, and Li Hui took the lead, while Yuan Ciheng and Luo Meini unleashed their brilliant sword aura.

The followers behind sprang into action, forcing the Xu Crocodiles to retreat in a panic.

With so many high-level cultivators joining forces, their power was indeed remarkable, but the enemies arrived sooner than anticipated.

Just as the Wood Demon had finished crushing the exceedingly terrifying Xu Crocodile, a voice echoed from the void: “The Yanhe Crocodile God is on duty; anyone who does not wish to die, leave immediately.”

“Leave, leave…” The voice penetrated minds, causing many All-Manifestation Realm cultivators to clutch their heads in agony, their forms swaying uncertainly.

Just this voice transmitted from afar was so terrifying; if that cultivator truly approached, how powerful would they be? Many following Li Hui felt fear.

Previously, these cultivators believed they were righteous, wanting to eliminate evil and safeguard Wutu, to uphold order. But when standing on the edge of a cliff, realizing they could fall at any moment naturally compelled them to choose to withdraw.

Only those with resolute hearts, who possessed the spirit of forging ahead, stood steadfast.

Out of five hundred, two hundred cultivators retreated, leaving just three hundred. They might be powerful and disdainful of retreating, or they might harbor deep enmity towards Ancestor Yan Jiao, or perhaps they admired what Li Hui was doing, believing Wutu had become safer after losing the energy of heaven and earth!

Additionally, aided by Lü Chunyang’s friends, elders of the Jin Tian Sect outer sect, and masters from the summer royal palace, they gathered in considerable numbers.

Li Hui smiled inwardly, thinking, “Clear distinctions are good; differing paths should not seek cooperation, saving me a lot of trouble.”