The First Immortal of Destiny

Chapter 278: Chapter 278: Devil’s Shadow in the City_1

RUMBLE!

The mire and poison swamp within a radius of hundreds of feet surged towards Shen Mo like a black, overwhelming waterfall.

This Evil Python possessed Skills, capable of freely manipulating the swamp tainted by its venom!

”Universal Blade Net.”

The Demon Slaying Sword flashed, and a vast sword Qi slashed straight down.

This sword style was created by a Senior who practiced the ”Universe Sword Guildbook,” after encountering a perilous area during his travels.

That perilous area was densely filled with tiny spatial rifts.

Whether it was the resilient vitality of a peak Class III demonic beast or an incredibly sturdy top-grade magic artifact, either would be shredded to pieces if caught by the countless rifts.

The poisonous swamp controlled by the Evil Python primarily injured enemies by adhering toxins to them.

Under the Blade Net, it was instantly diced into a rain of mud clumps that splattered to the ground.

In the next moment, Shen Mo executed the River Opening Sword Style.

BOOM!

The Poison Swamp Evil Python was slammed deep into the mire, unable to move.

WHOOSH!

The Soul Refining Flag appeared in Shen Mo’s hand, and he gave it a slight shake.

The surface of the flag snapped, and blood-red light surged forth, wrapping around the body of the Poison Swamp Evil Python.

The Evil Python roared and struggled relentlessly.

But the outcome was already sealed.

A moment later, its soul was absorbed into the flag, and its corpse became a blood meal for a Demon Soul General.

This Evil Python is incredibly toxic, and its ability to control the poison swamp is quite useful!

If I encounter similar terrain when searching for treasures or fighting others in the future, it could be quite effective.

For now... I won’t let a minor Heavenly Demon Demon-corrupt it!

Soul Generals, like those of Master Hong Jue, Shen Mo Demon-corrupted using minor Heavenly Demons, aiming for their potential to advance.

Sometimes, when an ordinary Imperial Soul was needed, it wasn’t very effective.

It’s better to keep some ordinary Soul Generals as backup.

Besides, this Poison Swamp Evil Python is already at the peak of Class II. Even if Demon-corrupted, I wouldn’t be able to raise its Realm in the short term. There’s little point in Demon-corrupting it now!

Having acquired a Soul General of decent quality, Shen Mo was in high spirits and was about to look for more demonic beasts to test his Sword Array.

Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly!

Within the vision of his Flawless Dharma Eye, he saw a cultivator, dressed as a rogue cultivator, ambushing a fellow cultivator in the western district of Hongye City.

If it were merely that, it wouldn’t be a major concern—just another tragic killing among cultivators.

But in the next moment, the rogue cultivator dragged his fellow cultivator to an abandoned courtyard and then voraciously devoured him.

Whether it’s my own Demon Soul Generals or the Heavenly Demons on the Tianshan Mountain battlefield... this is exactly how they behave when devouring creatures!

He definitely wasn’t mistaken.

A mutated Heavenly Demon has infiltrated the city, despite the Bone Viewing Mirrors on all the city walls!

In an instant, a thousand thoughts raced through Shen Mo’s mind.

Then, he summoned the Thunderstroke Sword, activated his Violent Speed method, and sped towards Hongye City.

At the same time, he didn’t forget to use a Sound Transmission Talisman to notify Chen Mengze, Tian Shouren, and the others in the Defense Division.

「These days.」

Over twenty cultivators had registered with the Defense Division, including four rogue cultivators at the Qi Gathering Realm.

With Chen Mengze, who was at the Qi Gathering Realm Seventh Layer, it shouldn’t be difficult to eliminate this middle-stage Class II mutated Heavenly Demon.

But they had to be quick. Otherwise, if it advanced to the late-stage and recklessly devoured a large number of city dwellers, even Chen Mengze and her team might not be able to stop it!

「Inside Hongye City.」

Chen Mengze had been assessing the strength of the newly arrived cultivators.

Upon receiving Shen Mo’s talisman message, she immediately set aside her current task, gathered the Defense Division cultivators, and hurried towards the location of the mutated Heavenly Demon.

Only Tian Shouren and a few others remained to guard the Defense Division headquarters.

”Fellow Daoist Chen, did Master Shen specify the Cultivation Realm of that demon head?” a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator, maneuvering a leaf-shaped magic artifact, asked as he closely followed Chen Mengze.

The other three, including the first Qi Gathering Realm rogue cultivator to join the Defense Division, had slower escape speeds and had fallen slightly behind.

As for the Body Tempering Realm cultivators, they could only rely on Lightness magic, talismans, and their own legs to sprint through the city.

They weren’t expected to engage the Class II mutated demon head directly. Instead, these Body Tempering Realm cultivators were needed to evacuate the nearby ordinary mortals, preventing them from being caught in the battle’s aftermath or becoming blood food for the demon head.

”It should be middle-stage Class II, but it has devoured a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator.”

”Who knows how many it secretly consumed before this? It’s highly probable it has already advanced to late-stage Class II!”

”Later, the four of you, guard the perimeter and don’t let it escape.”

”I will be the one to slay it!”

The cultivator on the leaf-shaped magic artifact felt a sense of relief and said no more.

By the time Chen Mengze and the others arrived, the mutated Heavenly Demon seemed to sense that something was amiss. It summoned its Flying Sword and flew towards a bustling area of the city.

Evidently, now that its presence was exposed, it abandoned all pretense of concealment and intended to feast voraciously to smoothly advance to peak Class II or even Class III!

It has indeed advanced to late-stage Class II.

A chill flashed across Chen Mengze’s pretty face as she hurled out her finger-sized Finger Hammer.

”Die, you demon head!”

The Finger Hammer, unremarkable in appearance, streaked through the air, leaving a thin afterimage.

The next moment, with a BANG, it struck the mutated demon head, smashing it down into a courtyard!

This place appeared to be the residence of some Cultivating Family.

Just as the building collapsed, a Qi Gathering Realm Layer IV cultivator rushed out, wielding a magic artifact.

At the same time, several Body Tempering Realm cultivators, protecting their family members, moved closer to their family’s Qi Gathering Realm cultivator.

”Fellow Daoist Chi, quickly, get away! This is a Demon-corrupted cultivator!” shouted a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator from behind Chen Mengze, who seemed to recognize the cultivator from the small family.

Demon-corrupted cultivators, Demon-corrupted demonic beasts, Demon-corrupted Soul Ghosts—these all referred to mutated Heavenly Demons.

Hearing this, the Chi Family’s Qi Gathering Realm cultivator’s expression changed drastically.

He hastily urged his assembled family members to flee the residence.

But it was too late. The mutated demon head, its leg bone shattered by the Finger Hammer, unleashed its Demonic Qi without reservation.

In the blink of an eye, it swept away six members of the Chi Family, including two at the Body Tempering Realm.

Then, from within the ruins, came the sickening sounds of flesh and blood being chewed and swallowed!

Patriarch Chi’s eyes turned crimson. Holding his Flying Sword, he was about to charge the demon head in the ruins to fight it to the death.

However, he was stopped by Chen Mengze and the others who had just arrived!

”This demon head is late-stage Class II. You are no match for it.”

A hint of guilt flickered across Chen Mengze’s face, but it was quickly replaced by a cold, resolute expression.

If this mutated Heavenly Demon were allowed to roam and devour freely, it wouldn’t be long before the death toll wasn’t just six, but sixty, six hundred, or even six thousand!

The Chi Family being caught in the battle’s aftermath was simply their misfortune, happening to be in the demon head’s escape path.

”Fellow Daoist Chi, protect your family members and leave. If you have any strength to spare, please help evacuate the surrounding citizens.”

”Don’t let them become the demon head’s blood food!”

”Otherwise, if it advances to peak Class II, I’m afraid none of us will be a match for it.”

Although grief-stricken, Patriarch Chi understood the priorities.

After ensuring his clan members escaped, he joined the arriving Body Tempering Realm cultivators from the Defense Division and began evacuating the nearby populace.

「Inside the Chi Family residence.」

Four Qi Gathering Realm cultivators from the Defense Division, armed with magic artifacts and talismans, each guarded a direction.

Chen Mengze, meanwhile, summoned a brocade handkerchief magic artifact to protect herself, then, sword in hand, charged towards the mutated Heavenly Demon.