125. Blocking the Way

Above the sea.

Hundreds of streaks of multicolored escaping light sped through the sky.

They were now no more than a few miles from the two pillars of light.

From afar, everyone saw a sword ray that seemed capable of cleaving the heavens descend in a single stroke.

Then a vast demonic aura, immense as a mountain, surged into the sky and clashed with the sword ray.

“A Golden Core cultivator is fighting!”

Someone cried out softly and hurriedly halted his escaping light.

“It must be some supreme treasure making its appearance. Otherwise, it would never have attracted a Golden Core cultivator…”

“When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits. We should wait for now—preferably until both Golden Core experts perish together before we go over.”

“Heh. Why not set up a bed and have yourself a good daydream first?”

As they spoke, the others likewise halted their escaping light and began watching from afar.

In an instant, the sword ray and demonic aura rendered sea and sky colorless.

The demonic aura summoned vast black clouds, gathering across an area of nearly a hundred acres. Thunder flashed within them as they clashed fiercely with the sword ray.

The rogue cultivators of White Sand Island were well versed in seeking profit and avoiding danger. Seeing this, none dared approach, fearing that they might be caught in the aftermath of the battle.

Gu Yunfei and Gu Zhengping had concealed their appearances and cultivation levels, blending in among the crowd as they strained their eyes to watch from afar.

Gu Yunfei secretly transmitted his voice. “That sword ray is rather unusual. It does not resemble the technique of becoming one with the sword…”

“But the sword art it employs seems to originate from the Heaven Sword Sect!”

…

Beneath the sea, Pang Yue collected the eggshells of the two Frost Wyrms. The two astonishing pillars of light also slowly faded away.

The moment he flew above the surface, more than thirty powerful demonic rays and magical weapons attacked him.

They were the subordinates brought by the Bull Demon King, who had launched their assault first.

“One of the two Frost Wyrms has emerged. The other must be on him!”

one of the demon cultivators shouted.

“He is merely at the ninth level of the Foundation Realm. Destroy him quickly, then sweep away that group of human cultivators in the distance!”

The demons were accustomed to swarming their opponents and bullying them through sheer numbers and power. At this moment, their attacks were so practiced and coordinated that they seemed to have rehearsed them hundreds or thousands of times.

Pang Yue remained expressionless. With a point of his finger, the Demon Refining Pot spun and appeared before him.

A vast expanse of gray divine radiance spewed from its mouth, instantly dissolving the attacking demonic rays and magical weapons into nothingness.

In the next moment, sword aura coiled around Pang Yue’s body. Ninety-nine streaks of Grand White Geng Metal sword aura appeared one after another, then split apart as sword light surged forward like rippling water.

The interwoven sword light became, in the blink of an eye, a hazy painting of seas of clouds.

Thirty-six demon cultivators were swept up as the painting unfurled, all falling into its depths.

Clouds and mist billowed, while sword intent drifted ethereally.

Brilliant snow-white sword light wove through the clouds and mist.

Clusters of demonic radiance blossomed and exploded.

Beneath the sword light, these arrogant demon cultivators were sliced into countless fragments as easily as tofu.

Not a single demon cultivator could withstand the sword light for more than two breaths.

After annihilating the demons, Pang Yue did not withdraw the Nine Sceneries of the Cloud Heavens. Instead, he flipped his hand and cast out the Demon Refining Pot and the Profound Stabilizing Mirror.

Only then did he leisurely fly toward Flowerstream Island.

High in the sky, the sword puppet revealed its form. With a casual grasp, it drew the Demon Refining Pot and the Profound Stabilizing Mirror into its hands.

It glanced at the human cultivators from White Sand Island watching the battle in the distance. Then sword light flowed around it, seemingly intentionally and yet seemingly unintentionally shifting the battlefield farther away and out of the crowd’s attention.

The Demon Refining Pot was a magical treasure exceptionally likely to provoke the hatred of the demon race. For the time being, it was best that no one learn of its existence.

The cultivators from White Sand Island watched Pang Yue, alone, sweep aside thirty-six Foundation Realm demon cultivators with overwhelming ease. They all exchanged bewildered looks.

The High Heavens.

Should they advance—or not?

The man clearly possessed a treasure.

Otherwise, why would he have clashed with the demon race?

Moreover, judging by appearances, the Golden Core cultivator in the sky had been held back by the great demon. The true person who had obtained the treasure was this ninth-level Foundation Realm cultivator before them!

Among the cultivators of White Sand Island were many with keen eyes. One of them said softly, “So he is a disciple of the Heaven Sword Sect. It seems this treasure has nothing to do with us. Let us withdraw.”

With that, he called out to his acquaintances and began returning in the direction from which they had come.

Others were unwilling to give up and continued waiting, hoping to profit as the third party.

Still others secretly transmitted their voices, discussing how they might take advantage of the gap created by the battle between the two Golden Core cultivators to join forces, kill the Foundation Realm cultivator before them, seize the treasure, and flee at once.

However, the swordsmanship of this Heaven Sword Sect disciple was astonishing. They would need to join forces with several more cultivators…

“Third Uncle?”

Gu Zhengping’s eyes flickered as he transmitted his voice.

Among all the cultivators present, if anyone could effortlessly kill the man, seize the treasure, and leave unhurriedly, it would certainly be his third uncle.

No matter how formidable that Heaven Sword Sect cultivator in the distance was, he was still only a Foundation Realm cultivator.

His third uncle, however, was a mighty Golden Core cultivator!

As long as they concealed their identities carefully and prevented anyone from discovering afterward that the Gu Family was responsible, everything would be fine.

This was an excellent opportunity, and the supreme treasure was practically within reach!

Gu Yunfei stood with his hands behind his back, silently watching the distant, ethereal sea of clouds without saying a word.

“Third Uncle?!”

Gu Zhengping directly reminded him.

Gu Yunfei glanced at him and said indifferently, “Watch and wait.”

Gu Zhengping was utterly perplexed, but he could only remain beside Gu Yunfei, anxiously watching.

Within the crowd, several cultivators quietly departed. They slipped into the sea and vanished from sight.

More than a dozen others flew together toward Pang Yue.

“Friend, please wait!”

A group of people blocked Pang Yue’s path.

Pang Yue stopped with a faint, knowing smile and looked at them.

Their leader cupped his fists. “Friend, please forgive our presumption. There is merely one matter on which we hope you can enlighten us.”

“What is it?” Pang Yue asked indifferently.

“The strange phenomenon that appeared moments ago—did some treasure emerge into the world? Might you allow us to broaden our horizons?”

The leader’s eyes gleamed strangely as he looked Pang Yue up and down.

The auras of more than a dozen people locked onto Pang Yue, while faint killing intent spread through the air.

Generally speaking, human cultivators did not possess lifespans as long as those of demon cultivators, but in terms of divine abilities and magical power, they far surpassed them.

Thus, although everyone was wary of Pang Yue’s having slain more than thirty demon cultivators in a matter of moments, they believed they had shown him sufficient regard.

More than a dozen Foundation Realm cultivators joining forces were far more formidable than thirty-odd demons!

Pang Yue stood suspended in the air, clouds and smoke coiling around his body, white mist drifting and dispersing in an ever-changing pattern.

He slowly asked, “I am a disciple of the Heaven Sword Sect. Are you certain you wish to obstruct me?”

The leader smiled faintly. “We are merely curious. It has nothing to do with which sect you belong to. If you are unwilling, we will not force you.”

Though he claimed they would not force him, spiritual light flickered restlessly around his body, and his aura grew increasingly powerful. He too was a ninth-level Foundation Realm cultivator.

Pang Yue shook his head and sighed. “Were it not for the restrictions of my sect’s rules, I would already have begun slaughtering.”

“Move aside. Do not force me to act.”

The leader raised his swordlike brows, and his smile turned cold. “It seems you truly cannot understand human speech. In that case… attack!”

Before his voice had even faded, a needle-like flying weapon shot from his mouth, streaking straight toward Pang Yue’s face.

The others also launched their attacks.

More sinister still, a multicolored silk ribbon suddenly shot out from the sea below Pang Yue and swiftly wound toward him.

Pang Yue did not move. The clouds and mist around his body spread apart, and an ethereal sword intent emerged with them.

Once the flying needle, silk ribbon, and spiritual radiance entered the clouds and mist, they were immediately blocked by sword light.

Whether the flying needle as fine as a strand of hair or the imposing silk ribbon, all were deftly swept aside by the brilliant, dazzling sword light.