You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

He was declaring to all the demons in the most direct and domineering way—your king has been killed by me! His head is here!

Chen Yang held the spear in one hand, lifting the ferocious, enormous head of the white demon high into the air. Under the light of the pale golden array, the scene was filled with an indescribable visual impact and intimidation.

The deathly silence inside the light shield lasted only a brief moment.

"Chen Yang! Well done!!"

Qiuniu was the first to burst into excited cheers, almost jumping up, his face flushed with a mixture of relief and extreme excitement.

"That's...that's amazing!"
Chen Shuai!

One sword!
Just one sword strike!

Xing San also came to his senses, so excited that he was incoherent, and his eyes were filled with an almost worshipful light when he looked at Chen Yang. That lightning-fast sword strike just now was precise, decisive, and ruthless, with the timing perfectly executed, completely overturning his understanding of Chen Yang's strength.

Su Meng covered her mouth, her big eyes glistening with tears of excitement and disbelief, and murmured.

"You really...you really killed...Senior Brother Chen Yang..."

Liu Piaopiao didn't speak, but her tense body completely relaxed. Looking at Chen Yang's back, which stood upright with his spear, her eyes sparkled with admiration, and a huge weight was finally lifted from her heart.

Chen Yang merely nodded indifferently to his companions' cheers, without much pride on his face.

With a flick of his wrist, he plunged the steel spear carrying the monster's head heavily into the ground beside him. The spear shaft was nearly halfway into the soil, and the hideous head was fixed there, its empty eye sockets seemingly still "watching" the monsters outside.

"Alright, the problem is temporarily resolved."

Chen Yang turned around and addressed the crowd.

"Take advantage of the monsters retreating and quickly recover your strength."

We'll leave here as soon as it's light.

His words calmed everyone down from their excitement. Yes, although the white demon had been defeated, there were still a large number of ordinary demons outside, and the stench of blood was overwhelming; it was definitely not a place to linger. The group said no more, finding places to sit cross-legged within the light barrier, each circulating their energy to recover the physical and magical strength depleted by the harrowing night.

Outside the light barrier, the trapped monsters, after their initial shock and confusion, began to stir.

They looked at the headless white monster corpse on the ground, then at the head stuck in front of the light barrier, symbolizing the fall of "royal power," and then at the few humans sitting calmly inside the light barrier. For a moment, they were at a loss.

The white monster is the most powerful among them, and is the natural leader and commander.

Its death meant the disappearance of the "brain" and "core" of this temporary monster group. Without unified command and that terrifying pressure, these monsters, who mostly acted on instinct and simple instructions, began to descend into chaos.

Some demons growled unwillingly at the light shield and Chen Yang and the others, but most of them were instinctively afraid of the still stable golden light shield and the person who had killed the "King".

Soon, led by a few slightly stronger monsters, they began to disperse in small groups, re-entering the surrounding darkness, either chasing after other fleeing humans or following their instincts to find new hiding places.

In less than half an hour, the monsters surrounding the courtyard had all dispersed, leaving only monster corpses, traces of battle, and the steel spear stuck in the ground with the stiff, grayish-white monster head protruding from it.

Night returned to silence, with only occasional screams echoing in the distance, indicating that the sudden disaster had not yet completely subsided.

As time passed, the eastern sky gradually turned a pale white.

As the first rays of dawn dispelled the last traces of night and illuminated the ravaged ruins of the city, Chen Yang and the others finished their meditation and stood up.

After a night's rest, although everyone still looked tired, their spirits had recovered considerably, and their eyes had brightened again.

As they watched the gradually clearer scene outside the light shield, seeing the devastation and the traces of last night's fierce battle, they all felt as if they had been transported to another world.

Qiuniu walked up to the steel spear with the monster's head stuck in it and clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Chen Shuai, your move last night was absolutely brilliant! You just shoved that thing's head right here. Let alone those monsters, even I got chills just looking at it! You didn't see how cowardly they were afterwards, they tucked their tails between their legs and ran away!"

Xing San also came over, his face full of admiration.

"Yes, Chen Shuai, I, Xing San, was really... a bit narrow-minded before, and I underestimated you. I didn't expect your strength to have reached this level!"

To remain so calm under those circumstances and find an opportunity to kill the enemy with a single strike! I... I'm so weak.

As he spoke, he scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.

Chen Yang patted Xing San on the shoulder, his tone calm.

"Don't say that. We're a team, and we each have our strengths. It's remarkable that you chose to trust your teammates and stay to fight alongside them in crucial moments. The fact that we're alive and well is more important than anything else."

Let bygones be bygones. Our goal now is to move forward and find Jiang He and Uncle Li.

Chen Yang's words made Xing San feel much better, and he nodded vigorously.

"Um!

"Chen Shuai, I'll do whatever you say!"

Su Meng and Liu Piaopiao also came over.

Liu Piaopiao looked at the sky and the surrounding environment and said.

"This place is not suitable for lingering."

Although the white demon is dead, there's no guarantee that other unforeseen events won't occur, or that the cultivators who escaped last night might cause trouble again. Let's pack up and set off as soon as possible.”

Chen Yang nodded in agreement.

“Piao Piao is right. Let’s clear out anything useful here and then we’ll leave immediately.”

The group acted quickly, tidying up the broken materials that had been used up in the formation the night before but still had some spiritual energy to be recovered, and then checked their own equipment.

Chen Yang pulled out the steel spear with the white monster's head stuck in it. After thinking for a moment, he didn't discard it, but instead put it into his Sumeru space—this head might still have some research value, or... it could serve as a deterrent.

After making preparations, the five quietly left the small courtyard that had sheltered them for the night, crossed the dilapidated streets and the mess on the ground, and quickly left the abandoned city that had become a desolate place.

In the morning light, they moved quickly through the hills and woodlands, heading roughly east.

Liu Piaopiao took out her compass again and carefully sensed and adjusted her direction as she traveled.

After a while, she said to Chen Yang with certainty.

"Brother Chen, we're heading in the right direction. If we keep going east, we'll reach the core area of ​​this trial zone, where the opportunities are said to be relatively concentrated. We should also encounter other immortal traces or cave dwellings of predecessors along the way."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang's face showed a hint of relief.

"very good.

Now that the biggest threat has been temporarily eliminated, we can slow down a bit and focus on finding traces of immortals and opportunities, while keeping an eye out for clues about Jiang He and Uncle Li.

Qiuniu was delighted upon hearing this.

"Haha, that's great!"

"That damned white monster was dealt with by Chen Shuai, so all the safe zones are safe now, right? We can finally get a good night's sleep!"

Chen Yang shook his head and said cautiously.

"Not necessarily. Things are unpredictable. This trial ground is strange and unpredictable. Who can guarantee that a second, or even stronger, 'white monster' won't appear? Or that there won't be other unknown dangers? We must not be careless because of this."

Liu Piaopiao agreed.

"Chen Yang is right."

The appearance of that white monster was highly unusual. We must not stop improving our formations and strengthening ourselves. Only then can we be prepared should we encounter a similar being again.

Moreover, the problem of ordinary monsters attacking at night still exists, and the formations in the safe zones are not all solid and reliable. After hearing what the two said, Qiuniu also felt that it made sense, and chuckled.

"I was too optimistic."

Yes, yes, better safe than sorry!

Seeing that everyone had finished their discussion, Chen Yang spoke up.

"Alright, there's no need to discuss this further. Staying vigilant and continuing on our way is the right thing to do."

No one said anything more and focused on continuing their journey.

They walked through dense primeval forest, their feet sinking into soft humus, surrounded by ancient trees and vines, with sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting dappled patterns.

The air was fresh, carrying the scents of grass, trees, and earth, a stark contrast to the bloody chaos of the previous night, which instantly lifted one's spirits.

After traveling at a brisk pace for about two hours, the terrain ahead gradually rose, and a majestic but not precipitous mountain came into view.

Looking into the distance, one can see the upper part of the mountain peak shrouded in clouds and mist, with the outlines of palaces and flying eaves faintly visible, clearly the ruins of an ancient immortal sect.

At the entrance to the path leading up the mountain from the foot of the mountain, it was quite lively at the moment, with many people gathered, seemingly forming some kind of temporary "checkpoint".

"There's something going on ahead."

Chen Yang slowed his pace, signaling everyone to observe from a concealed position.

They hid behind a bush and looked into the distance.

At the foot of the mountain, there were about twenty or thirty cultivators dressed in uniform and exuding a strong aura, divided into two groups, controlling the main paths leading up the mountain.

All cultivators who wanted to go up the mountain would be stopped by them. After a conversation, those who wanted to go up the mountain would often reluctantly take out some spirit stones and hand them over before they were allowed to pass.

"Have we encountered someone trying to collect a toll?"

Qiuniu curled his lip, his tone disdainful.

"Do they really think this trial grounds are their backyard? They dare to claim land and charge money just because they discovered a trace of immortality?"

Chen Yang's eyes turned slightly cold as he spoke calmly.

"So what if it is?"

The world is hilarious, all come for profit.

However, whether they can reap the benefits depends on their ability to do so.

Su Meng was somewhat worried.

"Senior Brother Chen Yang, should we still go up? There seem to be quite a few of them, and they look like they're organized."

Xing San snorted.

"What's there to be afraid of? With Commander Chen here, what are these chickens and dogs?"

Liu Piaopiao carefully observed the people's clothing and aura, and whispered a reminder to Chen Yang.

"Brother Chen, be careful."

Judging from their attire and the subtle aura of martial arts they exude, they are likely disciples from a blessed land or a powerful, long-established sect. Their strength is probably considerable, and they likely have backup.

Chen Yang nodded, his expression remaining calm.

"So what if it's a blessed land? Acting so domineeringly, seizing unclaimed land to amass wealth, is already despicable. Let's go, let's go take a look."

If they're reasonable, paying a toll is fine; but if they're unreasonable...

He didn't finish speaking, but the fleeting cold glint in his eyes said it all.

The five people stopped hiding and headed straight for the entrance at the foot of the mountain.

Their appearance immediately attracted the attention of the guarding monks.

A young cultivator who looked like a minor leader, with an arrogant expression, led the two of them forward and blocked their way.

"Halt! This mountain has already been explored and cleared by my disciples of 'Xuanyun Cave Heaven' and is temporarily designated as an exploration area."

To search for treasure on the mountain, you must pay spirit stones to purchase an 'exploration permit'.

The young monk slightly raised his chin, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Oh? Exploration permit?"

Chen Yang stopped and asked calmly.

"How many spirit stones does one person need to pay?"

Seeing that Chen Yang seemed to have "gotten the hang of it," the young cultivator's eyes flashed with greed, and he held up five fingers.

"Not much, just five hundred top-grade spirit stones per person. After paying the spirit stones, you can freely explore the mountain for a day. Any opportunities you encounter will depend on your own abilities, and we will not interfere."

Five hundred top-grade spirit stones? And for one person?

Qiuniu couldn't help but let out a cry.

"Why don't you just rob us? We're so late, who knows how many people have already gone up there, how much good stuff could possibly be left? This price is outrageous!"

The young cultivator's face darkened, and his unfriendly gaze swept over Qiuniu before finally landing on Chen Yang, who appeared to be the leader.

"That's the price! Pay if you want, otherwise get out of here! Don't delay our business!"

"We painstakingly discovered this immortal abode ruin and cleared away the surrounding dangers, so it's only right that we receive a small fee for our hard work!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"In the Trial Grounds, opportunities have always depended on luck."

This place is an unclaimed immortal site; when did it become the private property of your Xuan Yun Cave Heaven? You've worked hard, but haven't the other explorers worked hard too? Forcibly setting up a checkpoint and charging fees—how is that any different from robbery?

"presumptuous!"

The young cultivator was enraged by Chen Yang's words and retorted sharply.

"Kid, you're asking for trouble, aren't you? How dare you insult my Xuan Yun Cave Heaven as bandits? I think you're tired of living!"

Before he finished speaking, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly attacked without warning!
A gleaming flying sword shot out from his sleeve, whistling through the air, aiming straight for Chen Yang's throat! Clearly, he intended to make an example of him, to deter others from following suit!
This sudden turn of events caused some of the surrounding cultivators who were negotiating or waiting to exclaim in surprise.

However, Chen Yang seemed to have anticipated this sudden and ruthless sneak attack.

He didn't even draw his sword; he simply shifted his feet slightly, his body sliding half a step to the side like a ghost, perfectly dodging the fatal blow.

At the same time, his right hand shot out with lightning speed, precisely grabbing the young cultivator's wrist in the instant the sneak attack missed its mark!
"Crack!"

A crisp cracking sound rang out!
"what--!"

The young cultivator let out a shrill scream, his wrist bending at an eerie angle, and the flying sword clattered to the ground.

Chen Yang exerted a slight force with his fingers, and a domineering power surged upwards along the meridians of his wrist, instantly dispersing the spiritual energy within his body. At the same time, his other hand, fingers like a knife, flashed across his neck! (End of Chapter)