Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

Liu Huang went to arrange fodder for the horses and dinner for everyone, while Han Kuo led several demon-hunting guards to patrol around the post station and returned only after confirming that there was nothing unusual.

Seeing Ji Fanghua standing alone in the corridor outside the post station, gazing absently at the night sky and looking preoccupied, Li Yuan had an idea and took the initiative to walk over.

"What are you thinking about?"

Ji Fanghua turned around, saw it was Li Yuan, paused for a moment, and said in a low voice, "It's nothing."

Li Yuan didn't press further. He simply sat down on the railing next to her, gazing at the mountains shrouded in night in the distance, and slowly said, "That day in the secret realm, when you agreed to sign the agreement with the Demon Emperor Chen Su, I was actually a little surprised."

Ji Fanghua did not respond.

"I won't ask you what secrets you have." Li Yuan turned his head and looked at her with a serious gaze. "Everyone has their own secrets, and so do I. But you are someone I brought out from Shenwu Academy, my junior sister, and a teammate who went through thick and thin with me. I can't just abandon you."

Ji Fanghua was slightly moved; her lips moved, but she didn't say anything.

"I suggest you don't rush to absorb that Void Beast's inner core," Li Yuan continued. "The spatial power contained in the Void Beast's inner core is extremely violent. With your current cultivation level, forcibly absorbing it is too risky. It would be much safer to wait until you return to the capital and have Lord Ye protect you."

Ji Fanghua remained silent for a long time before gently nodding: "Okay."

Seeing that she had taken his words to heart, Li Yuan felt somewhat relieved: "I encountered the Chen Su Demon Emperor before, back at Tiger Wolf Pass..."

He didn't hide anything and recounted his experience that day in detail. "...This person's actions are all carefully planned. He would never show us kindness for no reason. He said he wouldn't interfere with us, but I always felt that what he was planning was not as simple as he claimed on the surface."

"If you meet him again in the future, be more careful."

Ji Fanghua listened attentively and nodded: "I've got it."

She paused, then said, "Senior Brother Li, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for not pressing me about my secret, and thank you for what you just said." Ji Fanghua's voice was very soft. "I do indeed have a blood feud, but I can't tell you right now. It's not that I don't trust you, but this matter is too complicated, and telling you would only implicate you."

Li Yuan nodded: "I understand. Just like I have some secrets I can't tell you, revealing them would only implicate the other person. But I can assure you one thing: I, Li Yuan, will never harm my friends."

Ji Fanghua looked at him, and in the moonlight, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a sincere smile: "Me too."

The two exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.

"By the way, just because I don't ask about your secret doesn't mean I'm ignoring this matter. If you ever encounter something you can't solve in the future, just ask and I'll do my best to help."

His biggest worry was that Ji Fanghua would keep everything to herself and bear everything alone.

"Okay, I'll remember that. I definitely won't hold back when the time comes."

The next morning, the group set off early and continued their journey toward Xuefeng Mountain.

According to Liu Huang's estimate, at their current pace, it would take them about two more days to reach the foot of Xuefeng Mountain.

However, in order to save time, Liu Huang chose a shortcut through Luoyan Peak.

Luoyan Peak is a mountain in the Xuefeng Mountains. It is steep, but there is a path worn by woodcutters that can save most of the day's journey.

"This area around Luoyan Peak was once a stronghold of the demon race during the great war between humans and demons," Liu Huang explained to the group from his horse. "Later, the demon race was defeated, and this place was abandoned. After so many years, there shouldn't be any danger here."

"cracking!"

Before he could finish speaking, a sharp eagle's cry rang out from the sky.

The whistling sound was extremely penetrating, like a steel needle piercing the eardrum, causing everyone to cover their ears.

Li Yuan suddenly looked up and saw a black dot in the sky rapidly enlarging. It was a giant black eagle with a wingspan of over three zhang (approximately 10 meters), its feathers shimmering with a metallic luster in the sunlight, and its two sharp talons, like hooks, flashing with a cold light.

Behind the giant eagle, more black dots surged in like dark clouds. Upon closer inspection, everyone discovered that they were a large flock of large and small demonic birds, densely packed, blotting out the sky, like a black storm sweeping towards them.

"It's the Black Feather Demon King!"

Liu Huang's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "It is one of the demon kings under the Crowned Vermilion Demon Emperor, and Falling Goose Peak used to be its lair."

"How did it get here?"

As they were speaking, the giant black eagle swooped down, its wings flapping, and dozens of black wind blades rained down on the people on the ground.

"Scatter!"

Li Yuan shouted, dismounted, and drew his nameless sword, slashing out with it.

The silver-white blade energy collided with the black wind blade, producing a loud "boom".

Li Yuan felt a numbness in his arm and stumbled back several steps before regaining his footing. He was secretly shocked by the strength of the Black Feather Demon King, which was at least at the mid-stage of the Demon King level.

"Form ranks! Defend!"

Liu Huang loudly commanded the demon-hunting guards, while simultaneously drawing his soft sword from his waist to meet the Black Feather Demon King as he swooped down.

Han Kuo also drew his sword without hesitation and followed, joining Liu Huang in a pincer attack from the left and right. The three of them worked together to fight the Black Feather Demon King.

The Black Feather Demon King's attacks were extremely fierce. Its wings were like two huge blades, and each swing brought a whistling sound as they cut through the air.

Its claws are deadly weapons; once caught, one suffers broken bones and torn tendons. What's more troublesome is that it has the advantage of being in the air, sometimes diving to attack and sometimes rising in altitude, making it difficult for the three to form an effective encirclement.

On the ground, Han Kuo led the remaining demon-hunting guards in a fierce battle with the lesser demons. Although the lesser demons were not strong individually, they were numerous and fearless, making it difficult to completely eliminate them in a short time.

"clang--!"

Li Yuan blocked the Black Feather Demon King's claws with a single strike. Sparks flew everywhere, and a tremendous force came from the blade, sending him sliding backward several feet, his feet carving two deep furrows in the ground.

"Li Yuan, are you alright?" Han Kuo called out while fending off the Black Feather Demon King's attacks.

"fine!"

Li Yuan steadied himself, shook his numb arms, and fixed his gaze on the Black Feather Demon King in the air. The opponent had the advantage in the air, and they were forced to defend passively. Sooner or later, they would be worn down and killed.

We must force it to the ground.

He took a deep breath and poured the power of the stars into the nameless sword. The blade shone with a silvery-white light. Li Yuan aimed at the moment when the Black Feather Demon King swooped down to attack and slashed out with his sword.

"Star Slash!"

A condensed silver blade of energy shot into the sky, slashing towards the soft flesh at the base of the Black Feather Demon King's wing. The Black Feather Demon King was clearly not expected that Li Yuan could launch such a fierce long-range attack. In its haste, it dodged to the side, and the blade of energy grazed its wing, cutting off a few black feathers.

"cracking!"

It let out an angry shriek and swooped down, heading straight for Li Yuan.

This is the moment Li Yuan has been waiting for.

He leaped into the air as the Black Feather Demon King charged towards him, starlight and fiery flames intertwined on his nameless blade, transforming into a three-colored stream of light that pierced straight toward the Black Feather Demon King's chest.