Chapter 17: Slaying Demon Festival Ends

"Yu Yang Palace is truly benevolent toward Mei Yuanzhi; they specifically found a powerful demon with a condensed demon core for him to engage in a major battle," Yun Fucheng chuckled softly. "They probably hope this battle will help Mei Yuanzhi improve, increasing his chances of entering Yuanchu Mountain."

"Brother, do you think Mei Yuanzhi can enter Yuanchu Mountain?" Yun Fuan asked. "If he enters Yuanchu Mountain and becomes a Godfiend, it might put our Yun family at a disadvantage."

In the entire Dongning Prefecture, only Old Ancestor Zhang of the Zhang family is a Godfiend from Yuanchu Mountain.

What if there were another?

"Enter Yuanchu Mountain? Do you think it's that easy?" Yun Fucheng said quietly. "The Great Zhou Dynasty has twenty-three prefectures, but there are only twenty spots. And the descendants of powerful Godfiends in the capital and various prefectural cities all aspire to get in. For a genius born a commoner to enter Yuanchu Mountain... it's much harder than for the descendants of powerful Godfiends."

"What about Meng Chuan then?" Yun Fuan couldn't help but ask. "Aunt Meng will go all out to help Meng Chuan."

"What's Aunt Meng to boast about?" Yun Fucheng gently shook his head, his true essence subtly enveloping the surroundings to block out sound. "She couldn't even enter Yuanchu Mountain herself. Even our father's biggest goal is to enter Yuanchu Mountain."

Yun Fuan nodded.

Whether one could enter Yuanchu Mountain had become a dividing line for the strength of Godfiends.

As long as one was powerful enough, Yuanchu Mountain would actively invite them to join.

"As for Mei Yuanzhi, he comprehended the Ice Force too late; he only has a two or three-tenths chance of entering Yuanchu Mountain," Yun Fucheng said. "Moreover, I know his temper. He's very arrogant, and even if he became a Yuanchu Mountain Godfiend, he wouldn't be content to stay in Dongning Prefecture."

In this world, aside from those tied down by large families, commoners with no real attachments and exceptional talent were more willing to settle down in prefectural cities, the capital, or even move their entire families to the vicinity of Yuanchu Mountain.

Various parties discussed Mei Yuanzhi, their conversations buzzing.

Many believed Mei Yuanzhi's chances of entering Yuanchu Mountain were low, but everyone also knew that at least he still had hope. That was already quite remarkable.

"Be careful," the Yu Yang Palace Lord instructed.

"Understood." The lean Mei Yuanzhi stood up and walked towards the arena.

As he reached the arena, opposite him stood a demon with a black carapace covering its entire body. It had a feminine face and six arms covered in black armor. A sharp black tail was also particularly striking. It looked at Mei Yuanzhi with a faint smile, but its voice was very gentle: "Such a young one, I can feel your vibrant life force."

Mei Yuanzhi drew his sword, and a terrifying chill began to coalesce. At this moment, Mei Yuanzhi seemed like a ten-thousand-year-old iceberg, his aura steadily rising. Even the faint cold air emanating from him caused frost to form on the arena floor.

"Ice Force?" the Centipede Demoness chuckled. "But it seems you haven't comprehended it for long."

"Kill."

A cold glint flashed in Mei Yuanzhi's eyes.

In an instant, his body split into seven, and seven figures appeared in different directions, encircling the Centipede Demoness, each slashing out a sword light.

The seven sword lights struck towards the Centipede Demoness in the center.

"Such little power, and it's even dispersed?" The Centipede Demoness didn't move from her spot. Her six arms continuously struck out in all directions. *Boom, boom, boom!* The demoness's palms, though fair, were incredibly tough, smashing every sword light to pieces with brute force.

*Pfft.*

Mei Yuanzhi's true body, however, suddenly appeared close to the Centipede Demoness. A sword light directly pierced towards the demoness's head. This sword strike was strange but faster and more terrifying than the previous seven sword lights.

"Hm?" The Centipede Demoness was startled. Two of her hands suddenly clasped together, forcefully trapping the sharp sword.

She stared at Mei Yuanzhi and grinned, "So those seven sword lights were just a distraction, and this is the true killing move?"

"Shatter!" A fierce light flashed in Mei Yuanzhi's eyes.

The sharp sword in the Centipede Demoness's hands suddenly exploded. Fragments of the long sword, imbued with true qi, shot out in all directions. Because of the close proximity, some fragments struck the demoness's face, making her shriek in agony.

Ice formed on the surface of Mei Yuanzhi's palms, and he directly struck the Centipede Demoness's chest with both hands.

*Bang!!!* The Centipede Demoness was blasted backward.

"This is the true killing blow!" Mei Yuanzhi's eyes were cold. He knew very well that compared to the Centipede Demoness who had condensed a demon core, he was at a disadvantage. So, from the very beginning, he put in his full effort. The outside world knew he was skilled in swordsmanship. In reality, he had comprehended the Ice Force, and there wasn't much difference between wielding it with a sword or with fists and palms. The sword was not important to him; it was merely to mislead outsiders.

The Centipede Demoness had bloody wounds on her face and a sunken chest. As she flew backward, she let out an enraged roar: "You insidious humans, prepare to die!!!"

The furious Centipede Demoness's aura surged, and her demon core shattered directly. In an instant, her demonic power became incredibly potent.

"Die!!!"

The Centipede Demoness's six palms simultaneously struck out in a furious rage, but bizarrely, they aimed at two of the closest academy camps: Lieyang Academy and Fengyang Academy.

*Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!!!!!!!!!!*

Hundreds of black lights shot out from her six palms in an instant, aimed at the seating areas of the two academies. Furthermore, the Centipede Demoness's tail also swelled dramatically. The incredibly sharp tail barb danced, instantly striking towards the somewhat startled Mei Yuanzhi.

"This is bad."

"Be careful."

All sides were somewhat shocked and in disarray.

The deans of Lieyang Academy and Fengyang Academy were both startled and enraged, while their twelve disciples were even more terrified.

"They can't stop it." Faced with hundreds of black lights, these two deans would be fortunate to protect one or two disciples while defending themselves. They couldn't save everyone.

"Qiyue!" Meng Chuan was also greatly alarmed. They were clearly just spectating, but the danger had come suddenly. The Centipede Demoness was directly attacking the academy disciples watching the battle?

"Freeze!" The Yu Yang Palace Lord, who was seated, frowned slightly and softly rebuked.

The surrounding void trembled.

Hundreds of black lights, faster than arrows, were all shattered and annihilated.

The Centipede Demoness, unable to resist, was pulled into the air, completely suspended and unable to move a single inch. She looked incredulously at the Yu Yang Palace Lord, who was seated in the main position: "Impossible! From such a distance, you couldn't possibly stop my attack after shattering my demon core..."

"Nothing is impossible."

The Yu Yang Palace Lord stood up. In just two steps, he reached the arena, looking at the suspended Centipede Demoness, who was completely frozen and powerless to resist. "I truly didn't expect you to have the audacity to shatter your demon core and even attempt to kill my human race."

"Hahahaha," the Centipede Demoness laughed shrilly. "Don't you humans want me to temper your young geniuses? How could I grant your wish? On the contrary, I want to kill your human juniors, the more the better. What a pity, I failed in the end, couldn't kill even one. Cough, cough, cough—"

Green blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

Having shattered her demon core, she wouldn't live much longer.

"Just wait," the Centipede Demoness shrieked maniacally, "this entire world will eventually belong to my demon race! By then, all you humans will die, every single one of you—"

*Pfft.*

In an instant, the Centipede Demoness's entire body was completely sliced and pulverized by invisible threads, turning into a puddle of black carapace and green blood.

"Ridiculous," the Yu Yang Palace Lord sneered, then turned to look at Mei Yuanzhi. Mei Yuanzhi was still somewhat bewildered. He hadn't realized that while he was unleashing a series of killing moves, the Centipede Demoness had intentionally taken one of his blows, flying backward to get closer to one of the academy camps. She then took the opportunity to try and kill those academy disciples. From start to finish, the Centipede Demoness had never intended to truly fight him.

"To bring in a powerful demon with a condensed demon core like this... such powerful demons aren't always so obedient. All right, you may descend." The Yu Yang Palace Lord instructed.

"Yes," Mei Yuanzhi nodded.

The Yu Yang Palace Lord stood alone on the arena, looking at all sides.

The spectators from all sides were left with lingering fear; the Centipede Demoness's desperate, life-sacrificing attack after shattering her demon core had been truly terrifying.

"Since I dared to arrange for a powerful demon with a condensed demon core to enter the arena, there would be no mistakes," the Yu Yang Palace Lord stated calmly. "This Demon Slaying Gala concludes here!"

After speaking, the Yu Yang Palace Lord turned and departed. In just a few steps, he vanished from everyone's sight.

"Everyone."

Only then did the Prefect stand up and say with a smile, "Everyone was startled just now, but with the Palace Lord present, that powerful demon with a condensed demon core was nothing but a mere clown! During today's Demon Slaying Gala, all the disciples from the eight academies have witnessed the might of demons. These demons were suffering in prison and wearing chains, so they couldn't even unleash their peak strength. On the battlefield, you will have companions, but demons will also be even more terrifying. Therefore, all academy disciples must cultivate with greater diligence, so that when you enter the battlefield in the future, you can protect yourselves and slay more demons."

The Demon Slaying Gala concluded.

Everything the Centipede Demoness did had shocked the academy disciples. Of course, the Yu Yang Palace Lord's incredible strength also filled them with yearning; in his presence, the Centipede Demoness was as weak as an ant.

"That was incredible, A'Chuan, did you see it? Hundreds of black lights were all shattered, and the Centipede Demoness was suspended, unable to move!" Liu Qiyue was still very excited on their way home. "From start to finish, I couldn't see the Yu Yang Palace Lord truly make a move. Just a bit of power he emanated was already so terrifying."

"You almost got killed by the Centipede Demoness, and you're still so excited," Meng Chuan said helplessly.

"Don't you think the Palace Lord is incredibly strong?" Liu Qiyue pressed.

"He's a Godfiend from Yuanchu Mountain; how could he not be strong?" A trace of longing also appeared in Meng Chuan's eyes. He had always looked forward to the day he would become a Godfiend.