A Compendium of One Hundred Demons: My Path to Immortality in a World of Demons and Monsters

At this moment, the battle outside the Hall of Righteousness was also nearing its end. Xu Yuan's heart sank, and he hurriedly rushed out of the Hall of Righteousness.

The entire Black Wind Stronghold was in chaos. Soldiers were mopping up the remaining bandits. Xu Yuan grabbed a fleeing bandit and shouted, "Where is Zhang Biao?"

"The... the chief is in the backyard..." The bandit was so frightened by Xu Yuan's bloodthirsty aura that he wet his pants.

Xu Yuan casually tossed him to a soldier beside him and turned to head straight for the inner camp.

Upon arriving at the inner village, Xu Yuan found only a dry well in the backyard. He went forward to investigate and discovered a hidden passage, just wide enough for one person to pass through, its destination unknown.

The muddy footprints left by the well were still fresh, indicating that Zhang Biao had just left!

Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Yuan gathered his energy and lightly descended into the dry well.

The passageway in front of him was narrow and damp, so Xu Yuan could only walk forward by bending over. After walking about a hundred steps, the space in front of him suddenly opened up, revealing a natural cave.

At this point, the cave branched into three paths.

Xu Yuan's mental catalog of ghosts lit up slightly, and his Yin energy perception was fully activated. He quickly sensed a faint aura carrying a bloody smell.

"On the right!" Xu Yuan's eyes flashed, and he immediately chased after the intersection on the right.

As he went deeper into the cave, the light inside became increasingly dim, with visibility limited to just a few inches in front of him.

Xu Yuan decided to forgo his eyes and rely entirely on the information transmitted through his Yin Qi perception, following the wisp of blood energy as he groped his way forward.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of flowing water suddenly came from ahead, and the light became bright again.

It is an underground river.

On the riverbank, a tall figure was throwing something into the river with his back to him.

"Zhang Biao!" Xu Yuan stopped, calmed his breathing, and pointed his long sword diagonally at the ground.

The figure slowly turned around; it was Zhang Biao, the leader of Black Wind Stronghold.

He was about forty years old, with a rugged face and a scar on his left cheek that ran from his brow bone to the corner of his mouth, adding to his fierce appearance. At this moment, he was carrying a package and staring at Xu Yuan with a sinister look in his eyes.

"Just you?" Zhang Biao looked behind Xu Yuan.

"Killing you is enough for me alone," Xu Yuan said calmly.

Zhang Biao grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth: "Kid, you're pretty arrogant. You killed Chen Bao?"

"Yes."

"Very good." Zhang Biao nodded, but did not rush to make a move. Instead, he threw the package in his hand on the ground. "This contains the gold and silver that Black Wind Stronghold has accumulated over the years. If you let me go, all of this is yours."

Xu Yuan's expression remained unchanged.

"Kid, you'd better think this through," Zhang Biao squinted. "Women? Power? Or... cultivation resources? Just name your price. I have connections on the grasslands. As long as you agree, wealth and glory will be within your grasp!"

Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly: "You have connections?"

Zhang Biao's smile deepened: "Indeed, I have connections with the Right Wise King's tribe of the Xiongnu. Now that the Great Qian Dynasty is about to fall and the world is in chaos, those who understand the times are the heroes. Kid, you have good talent. If you're willing to join me in serving the Xiongnu, I guarantee you'll at least become a centurion."

Then he offered another tempting offer: "Young man, you practice the Blood Fiend Blade Technique, right? This blade technique is just the most rudimentary martial art in the Great Qian Army, but on the grasslands, it has a more complete lineage. If you join me, I can introduce you to the true Blood Fiend Scripture, allowing you to directly reach the Qi Condensation Realm!"

Xu Yuan's heart skipped a beat. The other party had actually been able to tell that he was practicing the Blood Fiend Blade Technique, and even stated that there was a complete lineage of it on the grasslands. However, he remained outwardly calm: "Finished?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao's face immediately darkened, and he threatened, "Kid, I admit you have good talent, but you're only at the fourth level of Blood Refinement. Don't be stubborn and end up being punished."

Xu Yuan slowly raised his long sword: "I don't like your wine."

"You're asking for death!" Zhang Biao roared, his figure rushing forward like a cannonball, a nine-ringed broadsword appearing in his hand, the blade flashing like a bolt of lightning, aimed straight at Xu Yuan's face.

The aura of the sixth level of Blood Refinement erupted in full force, and the water flow in the nearby underground river seemed to stagnate.

Xu Yuan took a deep breath, and his internal energy and the power of the illustration were running wildly. He pushed the Blood Fiend Blade Technique to its limit, and a faint red fiend aura swirled around his body, which actually condensed into a blurry phantom behind him that resembled the Hungry Ghost Illustration!

"clang---"

The large sword clashed with the long sword, the loud noise echoing through the cave and sending many stone chips falling down.

Xu Yuan retreated seven steps, his tiger's mouth slightly cracked, blood seeping out, his face full of excitement and fighting spirit.

Zhang Biao only took three steps back, but his eyes were full of astonishment.

"Such power at the fourth level of Blood Refinement?" He stared at the illusory image of the starving ghost behind Xu Yuan, and asked warily, "What kind of cultivation technique is this?"

Xu Yuan did not answer, suppressing his surging blood and qi, and raised his sword again.

Although he was at a disadvantage in that attack, he had gained a preliminary understanding of Zhang Biao's approximate strength.

The sixth level of Blood Refinement is indeed powerful, but not invincible!

"continue!"

The swords flashed again.

This time, Xu Yuan no longer fought head-on, but instead used the fluid combat techniques from the Blood Fiend Blade Technique, his blade light and agile, targeting Zhang Biao's vital points.

Zhang Biao's swordsmanship is characterized by its wide and sweeping movements; while he possesses superior strength, he lacks agility.

The two fought fiercely in the cave, their swords flashing and leaving deep scratches on the surrounding stone walls.

Thirty moves, fifty moves, one hundred moves...

After another violent collision, the two stopped simultaneously and steadied themselves.

Xu Yuan had three wounds, the deepest one on his left shoulder, with the flesh torn up. Zhang Biao wasn't in much better shape either, with a knife wound to his ribs and thigh. Although not fatal, the wounds were bleeding profusely.

More importantly, as the battle continued, Xu Yuan's astonishing stamina was fully revealed. The Hungry Ghost Diagram within his body continuously provided him with vital energy and blood support. He could even absorb the bloodthirsty energy permeating the air during the gaps in the battle. His swordsmanship became more and more proficient, and his strength was also slowly increasing.

On the other hand, Zhang Biao, unable to gain the upper hand after a long battle, began to feel anxious, and even his swordsmanship started to show flaws.

"Kid, you forced me to do this!" Zhang Biao suddenly retreated, taking out a blood-red pill from his pocket and stuffing it into his mouth.

The next moment, his muscles bulged, veins popped out, his eyes were bloodshot, and his aura surged dramatically!

"He's taken drugs?" Xu Yuan's heart skipped a beat. He had read many classics while cultivating at the Shen residence, and he immediately recognized that Zhang Biao had just taken a forbidden drug called the Blood Burning Pill.

This is a forbidden drug that stimulates the body's potential. After taking it, martial artists in the Blood Refining Realm will experience a significant increase in strength in the short term, but after the effects wear off, their blood and qi will plummet, and their vital energy will be severely damaged.

"Die!" Zhang Biao's speed suddenly increased, and he slashed down with his sword. Before the sword even arrived, the sharp wind from the sword had already made Xu Yuan's cheek sting.

This strike is unavoidable!

Xu Yuan's expression turned solemn as he poured all his vital energy into the longsword in his hand, causing the phantom of the starving ghost behind him to become three times clearer.

He held nothing back and unleashed a full-force slash.

The moment the two blades collided, time seemed to freeze in the entire underground cavern.

"boom---!"

A deafening clang of metal clashing exploded in the cave, and a violent shockwave swept outwards from the two people in the center.

The underground river's surface erupted with waves several feet high, stalagmites on the cave ceiling snapped off, and pebbles rained down.

Xu Yuan felt as if he had been hit head-on by a charging wild bull. He was sent flying backward and crashed heavily into the stone wall. He felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Zhang Biao was not faring much better. He had to retreat more than ten steps before regaining his balance. The web of his right hand, which was gripping the knife, was split open, and blood dripped down the hilt of the knife.

He stared intently at Xu Yuan, his eyes filled with disbelief!