The first ray of morning sunlight shone upon the massive serpent corpse, casting a golden sheen on its scales.
A metallic boot stepped on the serpent's head, crushing it ruthlessly.
The remaining vertical pupils seemed to twitch, as if about to rise again in the next moment.
"This beast... even in death, it still tries to scare people. Truly, serpents have always been cunning creatures," Linghu Shan spat, then turned to Fang Xi.
According to their agreement, all the materials from this serpent dragon belonged to Fang Xi.
However, Fang Xi paid no attention to his demeanor at the moment. He was busy collecting the serpent dragon's blood in many buckets, muttering incessantly as he worked, "What a loss..."
Fang Xi watched the fresh blood spilled on the battlefield earlier, feeling a bit distressed.
This was the blood of a first-grade superior demon beast, with even the bloodline of a dragon!
Although the dragon bloodline was extremely rare and could not be refined, if taken to a symbol master like Chen Ping, they would surely be envious!
This was a spiritual material for crafting top-grade symbols!
Not only symbol masters, but it would also be very useful for alchemists.
"Collected the blood first, then the skin, the meat..."
"These serpent bones, fangs can be used for forging, as raw materials for top-grade artifacts, while the serpent scales can be used to make top-grade spiritual armor..."
After a rough estimate, Fang Xi felt a bit dizzy.
This serpent demon, regardless of grade or size, was the most valuable creature he had encountered.
Overall, it was worth at least a thousand spiritual stones!
He cut open the serpent's belly, took out the gallbladder, carefully searched, and then sighed suddenly.
"Young friend, what are you looking for?" Linghu Shan approached, looking curious.
"I've heard that serpent dragons may cultivate a demon core inside their bodies, but it seems this one doesn't have..." Fang Xi sighed as he looked at his bloody hands.
In reality, most demon beasts that could condense demon cores were third-grade or higher great demons. If they appeared in the Yue Kingdom, it would surely cause a bloody storm.
Apart from that, only some second-grade demon beasts with extraordinary talents might possess demon cores - equally invaluable!
Unfortunately, this serpent dragon was only a first-grade and did not have a demon core.
Fang Xi estimated that with the bloodline talent of this serpent dragon, if it were second-grade, it would definitely give birth to a demon core - but by then, he would have to run for his life, and might not even be able to escape!
However, he was already quite satisfied.
"Young friend, perhaps you remembered it wrong. Our sect's secret records contain a lot of information about demon beasts, and there has never been any mention of condensing demon cores..." Linghu Shan chuckled.
Since avenging his great vengeance, this old man had let go of a burden and appeared very relaxed.
"Is that so? I wonder if I could take a look?" Fang Xi's eyes lit up.
He had long been interested in the demons and monsters of this world.
In addition, he wanted to explore the existence of other spiritual roots of heaven and earth in Daliang.
After all, that demon tree was truly sinister, and it was best not to use it if possible...
...
At the border of Dingzhou.
A huge boundary monument stood tall.
On the wide official road, a figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
This person was around forty years old, with a bronze complexion, hands hanging by his sides, looking like a bronze statue from a distance.
He arrived in front of the boundary monument and sighed, "Dingzhou... it's been ten years since I last came here, right?"
"Zhou Tong! I didn't expect you to come this time." A figure was sitting on top of the boundary monument, appearing out of nowhere.
This figure was an old man dressed in black warrior attire, with deep wrinkles on his face and age spots, but his eyes were sharp and gave off a sinister feeling, like a large bat.
"So it's Senior Yan from the Fei Jun Fist! Zhou Tong took the initiative to bow and salute. "Are you also here to inspect the new recruit?"
"Yes, just a mere master. Originally, I didn't need to take action personally, but it is said that the other party is exceptionally talented, breaking through before the age of thirty, and even has a skill like the Hundred-Mile Flying Sword Technique. I pondered and decided to come and see..." Yan sighed. "In this land, there are talented individuals emerging!"
Zhou Tong couldn't help but sweat for the new recruit.
Everyone was a master of the human body's limits, but exaggerating to that extent was a bit much.
That's why they specifically sent him and Senior Yan for the assessment.
Although they were both masters, the strengths were clear.
For example, talents like himself and the experienced Senior Yan.
They were both martial saints of the Master's Association!
The Master's Association accommodated a large number of martial saints, contributing secret techniques to each other, complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses, creating top-notch martial arts above the first-class level.
Both of them had cultivated the top-notch martial arts of the association, and even imitated the top-secret techniques obtained from the 'demon.'
In terms of strength, they could rank among the top martial saints in the world!
This time, going to assess the new recruit was also a way to show their strength.
"Let's go. I really want to see that little guy as soon as possible, as well as the old friend on Yuanhe Mountain..." Yan laughed and disappeared in an instant.
Zhou Tong smiled bitterly and could only follow suit.
...
Yuanhe Mountain.
Thunder Peak.
Fang Xi returned to Yuanhe Mountain and immediately sought out all the scrolls related to demons, carefully examining them:
[Shanyan City Blood Hand: In the 27th year of the Daliang Mu Sect, the 'Blood Hand Demon' appeared in Shanyan City, with strong infectivity, symptoms of infection include red hands... Seven days later, those with red hands all went insane and died, no one could cure them, eventually forming a forbidden zone...]
[Dream Demon of Wanghai City: In the 6th year of the Daliang Ying Sect, residents of Wanghai City kept falling into dreams, never waking up... Eventually, the entire city died in their sleep...]
[Jianmo of Pingnan Prefecture: In the 13th year of the Dachu Xian Sect, a blacksmith in Pingnan Prefecture forged a treasure sword that could cut iron like mud. Later, it was presented layer by layer to the palace... The following year, the Dachu Xian Sect used this sword to kill the queen, crown prince, princes, and fifty-three consorts... The Dachu Palace fell into a demonic domain, the outer court made every effort to rescue, and the martial saints suffered heavy casualties, ultimately ending in failure...]
...
These records about demons made Fang Xi's expression extremely solemn: "Compared to demons... the power of demons is more terrifying, as well as more insidious and unsolvable!"
He saw the last scroll and found a record of the demon tree in Heishi City.
But other than that, there were no other demon trees mentioned.
'It seems... I can't find any other substitutes.'
Fang Xi felt extremely helpless.
'And... when the power of demons truly erupts, it's simply unsolvable... For example, the Dachu Empire, which seems to be the court before Daliang, was actually destroyed because of a sword demon...'
'With the power of the entire Dachu court, they couldn't resolve a single demon... Fortunately, demons are extremely rare, much rarer than demons, otherwise the human race in this world would have no way to survive...'
Suddenly, his expression changed, and he walked out of the room.
Under the sky, a black shadow was crossing the mountains.
He landed on the grass in the woods, and with a light touch, he could leap eight zhang, looking like a giant bat flying in from afar, displaying an extraordinary lightness skill that reached an astonishing level.
"Who goes there? Identify yourself!" Fang Xi stood with hands behind his back, looking at the large bat, calmly speaking.
"Hehe... you're disrespectful, let this old man teach you a lesson!" The big bat landed, revealing a silver-haired, deeply wrinkled old man, his hands forming a bird's beak shape, suddenly lunging forward!
Chi chi!
His boxing style was very strange, extremely swift, and even accompanied by the sound of bird cries!
"Watch my Hundred Falcon Fist!"
Terrifying true energy gathered, condensed on his fingertips, faintly forming the shape of a falcon!
"Come at me!"
Fang Xi exclaimed in admiration, then with a casual pat, it seemed like the airflow in the void followed his palm, forming a dam.
Countless falcons crashed into the dam, emitting a piercing cry, and eventually dissipated without a trace...
"Not bad, come again!"
The black shadow turned and had already arrived at Fang Xi's side, with even more piercing bird cries.
"Secret Technique: Hundred Falcons Chirping!"
In an instant, the old man's body swelled, as if turning into a hundred-armed demon, countless bird beaks appeared, all rushing towards Fang Xi!
"Eat my punch!"
Fang Xi's expression was solemn, suddenly shouting, a punch struck out as if opening the heavens:
"Secret Technique: Taiji of the Universe!"
Bang bang!
Numerous fist shadows and finger shadows intertwined, true energy overflowed, falling on the white stone floor, revealing small holes.
In the end, Fang Xi's and the old man's fists collided, and they were evenly matched!
"Good kid, I, Yan Jun, acknowledge you... Ah!"
Seeing this, the old man's expression changed, just about to speak out his identity, but found a sudden golden light appearing in Fang Xi's sleeve, like a swift flow of light, rushing towards his chest!
His chest immediately displayed a blood-red true energy defense, but it had already consumed too much earlier. At this moment, after clashing fists with Fang Xi, attracting a lot of energy, this true energy seemed very weak.
With a slight resistance, it was torn apart by the golden light, then a flash of sword light pierced through his chest.
"Puff!"
The old man staggered back a few steps, falling to the ground, looking at his bleeding chest, his fingers trembling as he pointed at Fang Xi, "You... young man, don't forget the martial ethics... we agreed to use fists, how could you... use a sword?!"
"When dealing with enemies, who cares about so many rules?"
Fang Xi came to the old man, raised his fist to strike down.
At this moment, a distant shout from Linghu Shan came, "Old Yan, spare him, that's..."
Swish swish!
Two figures entered the courtyard, one after the other, it was Linghu Shan and another middle-aged man with a bronze complexion.
Seeing this scene, Linghu Shan was fine, but Zhou Tong widened his eyes, looking like a bronze bell: "How is this possible? Senior Yan..."
Although this Yan Jun had a strange temper, he was still one of the top ten experts of the Master's Association!
How could he be defeated by a newly promoted Master?
"Oh, Lao Shan, who are these two?" Fang Xi had a guess in his heart, but still asked knowingly.
"Haha... let me introduce to you, these two are Yan Jun and Zhou Tong, both members of the Master's Association, here to discuss your membership." Linghu Shan's eyes twinkled, not mentioning the assessment at all.
"Oh, how do these two see me, am I qualified?" Fang Xi looked down at Yan Jun, smiling as he asked.
"Qualified, of course you are qualified..." Zhou Tong glanced at the lying Yan Jun, quickly replied.
(End of this chapter)