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

The echoes of the gong had barely faded when the atmosphere on the stage was already as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.

Liu Ruyan's sword missed its mark, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, but she quickly returned to normal.

She slowly sheathed her sword, the crimson blade pointing diagonally at the ground, her phoenix eyes slicing into Xu Yuan like knives.

"You dodged pretty quickly." She sneered. "Looks like I underestimated you."

Xu Yuan did not respond, but simply stood quietly in place, his aura as steady as ever.

A buzz of discussion arose from the audience.

"Was that the third move of the Liu family's Crimson Flame Sword Technique just now? He actually dodged it all?"

"It wasn't dodging, it was anticipation! Didn't you see? Before the sword shadows even reached him, he had already dodged them!"

"This perception... it's insane! He's only at the early stage of Qi Condensation!"

In the Northern Camp, Meng Hu clenched his fists, his face flushed with excitement: "Brother Xu is awesome! I knew he could do it!"

Xiao Yunhan stood with his hands behind his back, a slight smile on his lips, but his eyes held a hint of seriousness.

He saw things more deeply than others. The movement technique Xu Yuan used when he dodged was exactly the same as his performance in the mountains and forests. That feeling of being one with heaven and earth was something that ordinary martial artists could not possess.

"Just how many secrets is this kid hiding?"

On the viewing platform, an elderly man with white hair stroked his beard and smiled, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.

"Interesting," he said softly. "This young man's perception is far sharper than others of his level, even surpassing some late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators. Such talent is rare."

The middle-aged scholar Du An waved his feather fan and nodded slightly: "Indeed extraordinary, but that girl from the Liu family is no pushover either. This arena battle has only just begun."

The man in black robes remained motionless, but two faint, eerie lights flashed by in the shadows beneath his hat.

On the stage, Liu Ruyan took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart.

She admitted that she had underestimated her opponent earlier, but now she regarded this wild boy from the mountain village as a real rival.

"Since your movement skills are so impressive, then try this move!"

She formed hand seals, held her long sword horizontally in front of her chest, and her true energy began to surge wildly throughout her body.

Fine, fiery red patterns began to appear on the blade of the crimson longsword, faintly radiating a scorching aura.

Among the disciples of the Green Mountain Sect below the stage, some exclaimed in surprise.

"That's... the fourth move of the Crimson Flame Sword Technique, 'Burning Heaven Sword'? Senior Sister Liu actually mastered it?!"

"No, it's not just the fourth move. Look at her sword—those patterns are a sign that the Crimson Flame Sword Intent is about to coalesce!"

"Sword intent?! Senior Sister Liu is about to comprehend sword intent?"

Shen Moyan's gaze sharpened slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

Sword intent is a power that a martial artist can only comprehend after reaching a certain level of understanding of the way of the sword. Once comprehended, one's combat power will increase exponentially!

Liu Ruyan had only condensed nine apertures, yet she had already touched the threshold of sword intent?

On the arena, Xu Yuan also sensed the terrifying aura that was brewing.

He could see that the air within a three-foot radius around Liu Ruyan was beginning to distort, a sign of a rapid increase in temperature.

The longsword in her hand had turned a pure crimson red, like a branding iron just taken out of a furnace.

"This sword strike... is quite impressive," Xu Yuan thought to himself.

But instead of backing down, he stepped forward.

With his right fist clenched, the [Yaksha Power], [Bone Armor], and [Demon Transformation] traits erupted simultaneously, covering his entire right arm with jet-black scales, his muscles bulging, and his veins standing out!

"go!"

Liu Ruyan's longsword slashed down!

A crimson sword light tore through the air like a bolt of lightning, carrying the power to burn everything in its path, heading straight for Xu Yuan's head!

Wherever the sword light passed, the bluestone slabs on the arena cracked instantly, and the edges even began to melt!

"So strong!" A chorus of exclamations erupted from the audience.

Xu Yuan's pupils contracted slightly, and he met the attack with his right fist!

"boom--!!!"

Fist and sword clashed, unleashing a deafening roar!

The shockwave exploded, sending rubble flying and dust billowing across the arena!

Amidst the smoke and dust, a figure staggered backward, taking seven or eight steps before finally regaining his balance.

It was Liu Ruyan!

Her right hand, gripping the sword, trembled slightly; the web between her thumb and forefinger was split open, and blood dripped slowly down the blade.

That cold and beautiful face was now filled with disbelief.

"You...you..."

As the smoke and dust cleared, Xu Yuan's figure slowly appeared.

He stood there, his right arm armor mostly shattered and bleeding profusely, yet he remained as steady as a rock.

"Good swordsmanship." He spoke calmly, as if commenting on a trivial matter unrelated to himself. "It's just a pity that the strength is a bit lacking."

The entire room fell silent!

A moment later, a loud explosion occurred!

"How is this possible?! He caught it?! He actually caught Liu Ruyan's Heaven-Burning Sword?!"

"Not only did he catch it, he even forced Senior Sister Liu back! This guy is only at the early stage of the Qi Condensation realm?!"

"Monster! This is a monster!"

Shen Moyan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the smile on his lips grew even wider.

"Good lad, you've got some skills!"

Lin Xiaotian's mouth gaped open, unable to close it for a long time. He recalled his previous disdain for Xu Yuan and felt a burning sensation on his face.

Qin Shuang's beautiful eyes sparkled, and her gaze towards Xu Yuan held even more curiosity.

On the high platform, the white-haired old man nodded slightly, his eyes full of admiration.

"Using brute force to overcome skill, and withstanding sword strikes without retreating, this young man's physical strength is truly rare among those of the same level. He must possess a special bloodline constitution."

Duan nodded: "More importantly, it's about mentality. Anyone else might have panicked after that sword strike, but he was able to make the right judgment in an instant and meet it head-on with his fist. This kind of fighting instinct isn't something you can train for; it's more like something you're born with."

The man in black robes remained silent, but the two eerie lights in the shadows beneath his hat flickered even more frequently.

On the stage, Liu Ruyan's face was ashen.

She couldn't understand how her prized killing move could be taken by a wild boy in the early stage of Qi Condensation with his bare fist!

"Impossible... This is impossible!" she roared, her true energy surging once more.

This time, it was even more ferocious than before!

"What is Senior Sister Liu going to do?" someone in the audience exclaimed.

"This is... a blood-burning secret technique?! Has she gone mad?!"

Shen Moyan's expression changed: "Oh no! This girl is going to fight to the death!"

All that could be seen was Liu Ruyan's blood surging, her delicate face now as pale as paper, but her aura was rising wildly!

Nine orifices – Peak of nine orifices – Ten orifices – Peak of eleven orifices – Twelve orifices!

In just three breaths, her aura had surged to the point of condensing twelve apertures!

"Xu Yuan!" she screamed hoarsely, her eyes filled with madness. "Today, you must die!"

Xu Yuan watched this scene with a calm expression.

He had seen the Blood Burning Secret Technique when he was defending Qingyang, so he naturally knew the cost of such a method.

"Did I risk my life...?" he murmured, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Since that's the case—"

He took a deep breath, and the image of a hundred ghosts in his mind began to run wildly!

All illustrations unlocked!

[Yaksha Power: Maximum Output!]

[Demonization: Complete body! 】

[Bone Armor: Full Coverage!]

[Shadow Cloak: Ready to strike!]

【…】

All characteristics erupt simultaneously!

Xu Yuan's aura began to surge wildly!

Condensing the Ten Apertures – Peak of the Ten Apertures – Eleven Apertures – Peak of the Eleven Apertures!

In the blink of an eye, he also reached the level of condensing twelve acupoints!

The entire venue fell silent once again!

A moment later, a deafening scream erupted!

"He can also improve his cultivation level?!"

"This is impossible! The Blood Burning Secret Technique is extremely difficult to cultivate. How could he have learned it without a master?!"

"No, he's not using the Blood Burning Technique! Look at his arm—"

Someone pointed at Xu Yuan's arm, their voice trembling.

There, jet-black scales covered his shoulders, and his pupils had now turned into eerie vertical pupils!

Eerie!

ferocious!

Yet it exuded an indescribable sense of oppression!

Liu Ruyan's pupils contracted sharply, and a tidal wave of emotions surged within her.

"You...you've awakened your bloodline?!"

Xu Yuan did not answer.

He simply looked at her quietly, the faint smile still playing on his lips.

"Come on," he said. "Let me see just how strong you can be after you fight like this."