21. Stirred Heart

The Devouring Blade was equally fierce, swallowing a vast amount of the Azure-wing Pheasant’s demon energy and striking directly at its essence. The blow left the Azure-wing Pheasant reeling, golden stars exploding before its eyes, its steps faltering.

Li Miao, seasoned by countless battles, would not let such an opportunity slip by. Ignoring the discomfort in his arms, he swung his blade at the vulnerable neck of the Azure-wing Pheasant.

A sudden roar split the air—a Cloud-marked Tiger burst from the side, knocking two Qi Refining cultivators aside, jaws agape as it lunged for him.

He had no choice but to abandon his pursuit, sweeping his blade to deflect the tiger’s bite, using the recoil to slip into the throng of beasts.

To face two formidable foes at once would be perilous, unless he used his Star River Holy Body—a risk he was unwilling to take so early in the fight.

“Fifteen!”

“Sixteen!”

Diving into the horde, he continued his slaughter, quickly closing in on Lin Jue’s tally.

Just then, a thunderous dragon’s roar echoed from afar, a tremendous pressure descending upon all cultivators.

“It’s the King!”

“The King has returned!”

Several lesser demons cheered, rallying to counterattack the human cultivators.

Li Miao glanced over—an intense crimson shadow was streaking along the river, surging from the water as it neared the battlefield, transforming into a three-zhang-long crimson flood dragon.

“Fellow Daoist Chu Yu, quickly restrain him!”

Master Zhu Mei, entangled with the Black Bear Spirit, had no time to spare, urgently called out.

Chu Yu, proud of her cultivation, had been reluctant to engage lesser demons or fight alongside others. But seeing the crimson flood dragon appear, her eyes lit up; she swung her violet sword, thunder accompanying her strike as she rushed forward.

“Hmph. Ignorant cultivators, you dare challenge me!” The flood dragon’s voice boomed with authority, its thick tail lashing out, raising a hundred-zhang surge of river water towards Chu Yu.

She responded, weaving sword techniques, thunderclouds gathering overhead, bolts crashing down with undiminished might. It seemed neither side would yield quickly.

Li Miao watched briefly from afar, then focused again on his own battle.

Nearby, the Guo brothers’ ice and fire sword energies crisscrossed, tearing through the beasts with commanding presence.

Master Huaiyin, Sun Jing, and others were not to be outdone, each employing their techniques to slay the horde.

Only the lower-level Qi Refining cultivators, besieged by waves of beasts, fought defensively, forming groups back-to-back. Occasionally, they were scattered by overwhelming numbers, losing comrades.

With the battle so evenly matched, victory remained uncertain.

“Li Miao, thirty-six!” Lin Jue, having fought his way to the far side, called out triumphantly. Each volley of his three flying knives claimed three beasts, never missing.

Slightly irked by the taunt, Li Miao refrained from deploying his individual magnetic cannon. Its destructive power was overwhelming; he would use it only as a last resort.

Perhaps Lin Jue’s smug laughter provoked the demons—a red-furred gorilla, its aura nearly that of a major demon, beat its chest and charged at him, forcing him to abandon his playful knife-throwing and taunts.

Li Miao chuckled inwardly, his battle blade whirling, cleaving through hide and blood, his robes stained crimson.

“Twenty-three, twenty-four…”

Mid-slaughter, his gaze brightened—a white fox, newly ascended to lesser demon status, hid among larger beasts, spewing pink mist in a covert attack.

He would not let such a chance pass. Stepping over shattered rocks, he surged forward, his blade infused with primal energy—heaven-splitting strike!

Sensing sudden peril, the white fox shrieked, hurriedly spraying red mist at him and casting a charm spell to beguile him.

Yet Li Miao’s will was not so easily swayed; he was barely dazed before his focus sharpened anew.

Boom!

The blade crashed down like a mountain, scattering rocks. The agile fox barely avoided death, but its hind leg was severed, blood spraying as it cried out in pain.

Missing a limb, even the nimble fox could not escape quickly. It tried to muster its powers, water glinting in its eyes to appeal pathetically, hoping to charm its way out.

But only a blood-soaked blade answered her.

With a swift stroke, the white fox was decapitated.

Li Miao called out loudly, “One!”

Many looked over in surprise.

The battle had raged for some time, but this was the first lesser demon to f