The flickering flames illuminated the high cliff.
Hong Lei's expression changed abruptly, but when he saw the cultivation levels of the group, a trace of doubt flickered in his eyes.
Under the watchful gaze of everyone.
The thin, silver-haired old man slowly took a step forward.
His withered face showed no emotion.
He leaped straight off the high cliff, his rolled-up trousers revealing two bamboo-like legs clad in cloth shoes, landing steadily.
"Form the formation!"
Hong Lei's pupils contracted as he drew his sword.
Even without Zhao Kanglin's command, the twenty or so Golden Eagle Captains from the inner camp quickly took their positions.
With a flick of their wrists, black chains slithered out from their sleeves like giant pythons, exuding a chilling aura.
The others from the outer camp had their own unique skills, especially the elderly Jade Liquid Realm Captain, who pulled out a pair of crescent moon daggers.
In such a formation, the Angry Sword Elder's chances of victory were slim.
But his calm demeanor inexplicably made Hong Lei uneasy.
At that moment, a heavy object flew out of the night.
When it landed with a crash, revealing its grotesque form, everyone was stunned.
Zhao Kanglin's neck was twisted backward, his head hanging limply, his limbs broken, and his arm bones snapped off and stabbed into his abdomen like blades.
His face was filled with confusion before his death.
Then, a figure in a blue and white robe slowly stepped forward.
From the round collar, a flat head covered in scales extended out.
On either side of the head were protruding vertical pupils, and its long mouth slightly opened, revealing two rows of sharp teeth.
"The Yangchun River Alligator Clan?"
Hong Lei took a deep breath, recognizing this distinctive demon.
The pungent smell of blood was overwhelming even from a distance.
He turned his gaze back to the silver-haired old man: "..."
"The Demon Suppression Bureau says we colluded with demons. I've thought about it long and hard."
The Angry Sword Elder walked steadily, each step reducing the anger in his eyes and increasing his aura.
He held a five-foot-long iron sword at an angle, its blade scraping sparks off the ground.
The old man's voice was hoarse: "I might as well truly collude with demons."
The faces of the many Captains were grim.
The reason they maintained their formation wasn't because they weren't panicking, but because they had already guessed their fate.
To have dealt with Deputy General Zhao in such a short time, this demon had to be at least at the peak of the Jade Liquid Realm, possibly even stronger than the Angry Sword Elder.
"Why bother? We're just following orders to guard the mountain, to prevent demons from escaping. If you all just stay on the mountain peacefully..."
Hong Lei sighed and lowered his head, speaking as if stating a fact: "You colluded with demons. This time, Qingfeng Mountain is truly finished."
A single Demon Suppression General could suffocate Qingfeng Mountain.
Each of the twelve counties in Qingzhou had one such expert stationed.
If a second one were called in at any cost, wiping out the sect would be as simple as a command from the Commander.
"In my life, I've slain demons, though for fame and fortune, to exchange their beast cores for precious pills, but I've always had a clear conscience."
"Yet in the end, I colluded with them. How laughable."
"The sword in my hand has been with me for three hundred years, yet it's controlled by others!"
The Angry Sword Elder walked closer, his aura almost reaching its peak: "The sect leader is incompetent, betraying us. With my dying body, I will trade my life for yours, to carve a path of survival for the innocent disciples of Qingfeng Mountain."
The anger in his eyes was completely spent, like a candle in the wind, but the flame was terrifyingly bright.
Unfortunately, it still fell short of reaching the true peak.
The Angry Sword Elder's expression was slightly complicated as he raised his sword and pointed at Shen Yi in the crowd: "You spared my beloved disciple's life, but I cannot spare you. I hope Captain Shen will forgive me. I need to borrow your head."
"..."
Shen Yi looked up: "Can I not lend it?"
Borrowing money is one thing, but how can you just come and ask for someone's head?
By now, he roughly understood the situation.
The Demon Suppression Bureau wasn't wrong.
There were indeed demons on the mountain, and they hadn't intended to truly attack Qingfeng Mountain, otherwise, they wouldn't have just stationed Captains to guard the mountain paths.
The disciples of Qingfeng Mountain weren't wrong either.
They just didn't want to be dragged down to die with the demons, but they had no say in the matter...
From the sound of it, even their cultivation was being controlled.
They were all like mayflies in the water, each fighting for their own survival and future.
Shen Yi's slender fingers rested on the hilt of his sword, then tightened.
"My time is running out. I can't take your head, so I'll leave it to him... Of course, you can try to run. You might have a good chance."
The Angry Sword Elder openly acknowledged the young man's strength.
He was over three hundred years old, his body withered.
Even using a secret technique to drain the last of his vitality, he couldn't possibly be a match for this young man who had just broken through to the peak of the Jade Liquid Realm, his body like a treasure of heaven and earth.
But likewise, this young man couldn't possibly be a match for this thousand-year-old alligator.
Hearing this, Hong Lei looked at Shen Yi in surprise.
He had thought they were all waiting to die, just trying to fight with all their might to die a slightly more dignified death.
He hadn't expected Shen Yi to still have strength left, to the point where even the old man admitted he was no match.
In the brief exchange.
The alligator had already walked over, its bulging eyes flashing with human emotion: "He's just saying that. Don't really believe him. There's not much chance."
It reached out a claw, lightly touching its nose, its voice growing heated, almost embarrassed: "You have the scent of my master's family... I've really been trying hard to suppress it... but I can't wait to chew your flesh."
As it spoke, sticky, transparent saliva dripped from the corner of its long, flat mouth.
"Like this..."
The alligator's head trembled, its teeth grinding incessantly, the greed in its eyes growing more intense, as if it had seen the most precious delicacy in the world.
It wished it could crush the young man in its embrace, savoring him bite by bite, swallowing every bit of flesh, making it a part of its own body.
What a pleasant surprise! What a pleasant surprise!
It had left the Yangchun River after hearing that the Sixth Master was trapped by the Demon Suppression Bureau.
Its master was worried and had sent it to investigate.
The Sixth Master hadn't returned to the river cave for over a hundred years.
The alligator hadn't expected to rescue him from the Demon Suppression Bureau.
It had just come to take a look, but it had caught the scent of something it had long dreamed of on this mere warrior.
Thinking of this, it steadied its slightly trembling body and turned its gaze back.
Such a treasure, such a delicacy! If it could be paired with the fear of impending death, that would be perfect!
"I really want to eat you now..."
Under the alligator's grotesque and menacing posture, the faces of the many Demon Suppression Captains turned pale.
Only the one slowly drawing his sword.
Under his disheveled hair, his lowered eyes, in an angle unnoticed by others, gradually revealed an emotion similar to the alligator's.
The same heat, but more restrained.
Shen Yi raised his head, a slight smile on his lips: "What a coincidence."
Under that cold gaze, the alligator suddenly quieted down.
The heat in its eyes quickly faded, replaced by surprise, shock, and finally boundless anger!
It was as if it had seen a plump, tender livestock in its plate suddenly raise its head, baring its fangs and a greedy gaze at it.
Even more greedy than itself!
He wants to eat me?!
(End of Chapter)