Chapter 503: Re-entering the Demon Bone Forest, Sinister Demon Sovereign

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If this could be widely popularized, the number of Demon Dao Incarnations would increase again. Both the Joyful Demon Sect and the Underworld Mountain Sect each have at least two Nascent Soul Great Perfection cultivators who are restricted by their inheritances and cannot advance further. Such beings are similar to the Yellow Spring Master. They have reached the absolute limit, virtually half-step Incarnations, and their combat power has long surpassed that of ordinary Great Perfection cultivators. What they lack is an opportunity.

Attention returned to the scene. The various slaughter weapons surrounding them, their eyes glowing with blood-red killing intent, aimed directly at Xie Xie An. He slammed his hands onto the ground. The ground seemed to transform into a surging river, and the resulting waves scattered the slaughter weapons in all directions. Meanwhile, the members of the "Old Fogey" team instantly converged with the help of the Earth Wave Art. Xie Xie An opened his mouth and spat out a cicada-wing-thin, elliptical leaf that rapidly expanded. Everyone was already accustomed to this. Without needing a reminder, they jumped onto the leaf-shaped artifact.

The artifact hugged the ground, resembling a sled gliding down a snowy peak. Despite being on flat ground with no apparent propulsion, it somehow managed to slide forward. With a whoosh, it swiftly slid out of the slaughter weapons' encirclement. A moment later, a violent sonic boom erupted. This was one of Xie Xie An's countermeasures against the airspace restriction in the Savage Ancient Plains. If flying was forbidden, they would slide on the ground. As long as their speed was sufficient and the terrain not overly complex, it worked. Its maneuverability was quite high, but the artifact itself wasn't durable.

It was crafted from the veins of a mulberry leaf called "Divine Earth Mulberry," combined with Yellow Jade Silkworm Silk. Its cost was considerable, and each use caused significant wear and tear, with a low chance of successful repair. Each time it was used, he grieved for a long time. This time, he had no choice but to use it to escape the slaughter weapons' encirclement.

In a short while, the leaf, which had been sliding supersonically across the ground, gradually came to a halt. After everyone disembarked, Xie Xie An looked at the artifact, now riddled with holes, and secretly sighed. Knowing it was not the time to dwell on such matters, he quickly looked at Wujin and Qianyuan, then questioned the latter: "How is Senior Wujin? Are there any signs of recovery?" Qianyuan, who had casually slung the person over his shoulder, suddenly heard Xie Xie An's inquiring question. Demonic Lord Qianyuan also felt a little apprehensive. "It still doesn't feel right. That sensation of being tainted by killing intent is very similar to the demonic corruption effect of Demon Dao Incarnation inheritances. Can the Ancient Demon of Slaughter really influence the entire Savage Ancient Plains? Is it possible that it's about to break through its seal?"

"No." Xie Xie An shook his head, denying the possibility. "The sealed area is very stable. The reason this situation occurred is actually due to the unique nature of the Savage Ancient Plains itself, which amplified this killing domain that influences the mind and will. It's an environmental anomaly. The top priority is still to leave the ancient plains territory as soon as possible and complete the task assigned by the sect."

Heavenly Demon Bone Forest. This place had once brought Wang Yu a significant psychological transformation, crushing his nascent moral sense and extinguishing any possibility of him returning to the righteous path. His first close friend also lies buried here. Every time he thought of it, his heart was filled with regret and emotion. This time, re-entering the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest, he would be encountering the most formidable power in the Ice Prison Realm. And it was an Incarnation-level Demon Venerable. The pressure and challenge were substantial, but he had prepared thoroughly.

The aurora swept across the sky, pausing for a moment at an ancient ruin before continuing deeper. Miasma and poisonous mist gradually appeared in the air. The pervasive stench of corpses and a fishy odor were the enduring characteristics of this dense forest. Inhaling too much carried the risk of poisoning, as potent toxins were ubiquitous. Confident in his divine abilities, Wang Yu traveled almost non-stop, directly entering the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest's core region. From high above, he looked down. Below lay a bizarre purplish-green lake.

—Poison Dragon Lake!

It was the habitat of the Demon Venerable. Rumor had it that the lake water was highly toxic; if a Core Formation cultivator carelessly touched it, their flesh would rot and bones decay at best, and at worst, their Golden Core would be ruined, making further progress impossible for life. There were also rumors that the lake water was formed from the Demon Venerable's drool while it slept soundly, leading outsiders to maliciously refer to it as the "Drool Baby Lake."

As Wang Yu's thoughts swirled in his mind, a sharp burst of sound suddenly exploded in his ear. "What petty wretch dares to trespass into the True Dragon's Lair?!"

Wang Yu's expression hardened, and a profound sense of revulsion washed over him. A gigantic humanoid cockroach appeared in mid-air, its buzzing wings screeching like fingernails on a blackboard, compounded by its hideous appearance. It was truly nauseating. The physical discomfort made Wang Yu strike without mercy. He violently squeezed his right hand, and an invisible force field rapidly compressed around the insect beast. *Splat!* The insect beast burst into a mass of green goo. Even without direct contact, Wang Yu distastefully wiped his hands, then directly vibrated the air with his spiritual sense. The sound, like thunder, resonated throughout Poison Dragon Lake.

"Wang Yu of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect has come specifically to pay respects to Poison Dragon Demon Venerable."

Dragon-like demonic beasts, whose greatest wish is to transform into true dragons and acquire the legendary true spirit bloodline, are therefore very sensitive about being called "Flood Dragons." This bit of flattery, neither too much nor too little, was purely a gesture of courtesy. He couldn't disregard basic etiquette just because his opponent's subordinate was repulsive. One had to admit, Wang Yu's brazenness had indeed grown thicker.

As the sound spread, more buzzing sounds echoed from all directions, and various flying insect beasts, mosquitoes, and flies emerged from the dense forest. The sky and ground were teeming with black specks. The Poison Dragon Lake began to boil, and a water pillar shot skyward. Above it, a handsome man appeared, bare-chested and draped only in a dark green embroidered crane cloak. His bluish-green hair reached his waist, two curved, spiraled horns grew backward from his forehead, and his eyes were turquoise-purple with the distinctive vertical pupils of a demonic beast. His Fifth-level aura was fully unleashed.

Although the aura was powerful, Wang Yu's mental cultivation was not to be underestimated. He easily dispelled this display of intimidation, simultaneously noting that the Demon Venerable's aura matched the intelligence reports. It was roughly equivalent to the strength of a human Incarnation Realm cultivator at the third layer. Still within his maximum tolerance for pressure, negotiations were possible!

"Junior Wang Yu, with the Daoist title Jifa, pays respects to Senior Demon Venerable."

The Poison Dragon squinted, a slight curve appearing at the corner of its mouth. Its voice, infused with a demonic aura, was like a woman's enchanting whisper, laced with allure and charm. "Interesting. State your purpose."

Wang Yu's expression wavered, but his Immaculate Heart State quickly calmed the ripples in his mind. Still, he was inwardly astonished; this charming demonic art was far more potent than Xueyu's paltry skills. And this Demon Venerable was renowned for poison! Raising his guard further, Wang Yu wasted no more time. He stated directly: "I possess an item that I wish to exchange with Your Honor for a drop of Nine-Turn Gu God's Tear!"

This item was a rare treasure Wang Yu had acquired from Donghai Province, under the command of the Yellow Spring Temple, after the Yellow Spring Temple and the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect re-established their good relations. It originated from the Abyssal Depths of the Chaotic Ancient Sea. He had spent half a year acquiring it. It had previously been mentioned that the Ice Prison Realm possessed two Fifth-tier dragon veins, each representing a peak era: the Ancient Immortal Dynasty and the Ice Phoenix Holy Lord. Dragon veins are indeed rare treasures nurtured by heaven and earth during these two periods. The item Wang Yu had obtained was called the Stone Dragon Pearl! It was similar to the dragon vein treasure he had obtained from the ancient Heavenly Soul Sect ruins, but instead of being a rare treasure nurtured by a dragon vein itself, it was a portion of essence artificially separated. In his hands, such a treasure could only be integrated into his Natal True Artifact, the Fiendish Demonic Dragon Armor, primarily enhancing the artifact's foundation and expanding its limits and effects. However, if it fell into the hands of a Demon Venerable like Poison Dragon, who yearned for draconic transformation, it would represent a significant hope in the pursuit of a true spirit bloodline, even if not a crucial item. It was far better than having no possibility at all.

Due to this instinct rooted in its bloodline, the Poison Dragon Demon Venerable was very likely to agree to the exchange, even if the item requested was the Nine-Turn Gu God's Tear, as both were equally precious. They simply operated in different domains; which was more precious or valuable depended entirely on individual needs and perspectives, making direct comparison futile. To obtain this Stone Dragon Pearl, Wang Yu had paid a considerable price and owed the Yellow Spring Master a favor, which he would naturally have to repay later. From a normal perspective, this was a fair, win-win transaction. However, if one party possessed overwhelming power, taking it for free was also an option.

Wang Yu knew such a thought—"I simply picked it up"—was not uncommon. This was precisely why he, having taken precautions early, deliberately waited until he had broken through to the eighth layer of the Nascent Soul before attempting this. Given the "character" the Poison Dragon Demon Venerable had displayed in the past, the possibility of him simply seizing the item was high. Thus, Wang Yu had deliberately announced his title, intending to deter him. Although the Poison Dragon resided year-round in the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest, it wasn't completely ignorant of outside affairs. Paying attention to major external events was a given. Wang Yu was certain that his self-introduction would have its intended effect.

However, things did not go as planned; the Poison Dragon's shamelessness and depravity were far beyond his lowest estimations. The Poison Dragon's unparallelled handsome face revealed a gentle smile, and its eyes burned as it stared at the Stone Dragon Pearl and spoke. "Very fair terms of exchange. I'll count to three, and we'll both toss our items over together, alright?"

"Agreed."

"One, two, three!"

Wang Yu raised his hand but remained still. The other party, however, tossed over a bottle. Just as Wang Yu was about to examine it with his spiritual sense—thinking that if it truly was the Nine-Turn Gu God's Tear, delaying his own throw by a beat wouldn't matter—he was sincerely making the exchange and had no intention of playing tricks. But... the moment his spiritual sense touched the jade bottle, a spiritual poison attached to its surface instantly spread. This unknown toxin took effect with extreme speed. It wasn't lethal; it merely plunged Wang Yu's spiritual sense into darkness for an instant. In that moment, he was like a blind man, the world silent, even his spiritual warnings vanishing.

The Fiendish Demonic Dragon Armor and Extreme Yin Dragon Body instantly manifested. Simultaneously, Wang Yu formed the Immortal Spirit Seal, and the interconnected Immortal Spirit Bones within his body immediately emanated a thin layer of light membrane. This was one of the unique phenomena of a Fifth-tier Body Refinement cultivator's realm. Named — Immortal Spirit Body! Coincidentally, the body-refining divine ability Wang Yu cultivated also shared this name. It was not merely a shortcut to the correct path, but also a manifested divine ability that allowed him to grasp this power in advance. This layer of light membrane had no peculiar effects. Its sole purpose was to render the cultivator's physical body indestructible, with its duration entirely determined by the total amount of immortal spiritual essence contained within the Immortal Spirit Bones, not by vital energy or physical strength.

Wang Yu's reaction speed was swift, but just as he had deployed all his defensive measures, the Poison Dragon Demon Venerable's attack arrived. Facing a junior in the late Nascent Soul stage, he shamelessly opted for an ambush, utterly lacking the demeanor and dignity of a powerful cultivator, pushing his maliciousness to the extreme. A putrid, poisonous wind blew in his face. The Poison Dragon's hands transformed into dragon claws, and highly toxic demonic energy condensed into claw-like gauntlets between its fingers as it fiercely clawed at Wang Yu's neck.

Poison Dragon Wind-Tearing Claws! It was one of its racial bloodline inheritances, and the most skillfully employed of its bloodline divine abilities.

*Clang!*

A sound like clashing metal rang out. The light membrane formed by the Immortal Spiritual Radiance was harder than expected; the Demon Venerable's claw only managed to dent it. Any force that managed to penetrate was completely resisted by the Fiendish Demonic Dragon Armor. It was strange, indeed. This Natal True Artifact had often been damaged after he reached Core Formation, yet when facing Incarnation-level opponents, it became exceptionally indestructible. Ever since his body refinement cultivation reached the ninth layer of the Nascent Soul stage, it had naturally advanced, reaching the peak Fourth-tier rank. The enhancements it provided became increasingly formidable, and it was more effective in combat than the Glazed Pagoda, which primarily offered supplementary effects.

The first strike failed, and Wang Yu was about to awaken from the poison's influence. The Poison Dragon Demon Venerable opened its mouth and spat again. A cloud of dark green poisonous mist enveloped Wang Yu. This was a mysterious poison specifically designed to target the physical body; strange rust-like marks spread across his Extreme Yin Dragon Body as if it were rusting metal. The Dragon Armor's protection seemed non-existent. Wang Yu, suddenly regaining his senses, activated his Aurora Evasion technique, rapidly widening the distance from the Demon Venerable. Only then did he fully grasp the series of events that had just transpired. Anger flared within him. This fellow... did he truly take him for a pushover?

Sensing the effects of the body's corrosion, he had an idea. The swarm of Red Rust Insects, obtained from Ten Thousand Gu, flew out of the ice jar, gathering on his body surface to secrete toxins. Using poison to fight poison, they corroded away the foreign toxin before reabsorbing it. They directly devoured this mysterious poison targeting the physical body. The neutralization took only half a breath.

Immediately after, the world changed dramatically, the sun and moon losing their light. At some unknown moment, shadows obscured the world. A gigantic, seemingly endless moon meteor stone was about to plunge into Poison Dragon Lake—it was the Moon Meteor Pupil Art of the Lunar Nether Eyes! One with nothing to lose fears nothing. This was the Poison Dragon's home turf. Wang Yu decided to go for the grandest display; since he didn't expect to kill the Poison Dragon Demon Venerable anyway, he might as well turn its lair into ruins. The vast swarm of insect beasts flanking them was also Wang Yu's target. This was one of the contingency strategies he had prepared in advance. If they wanted to play rough, he wouldn't back down!

The Demon Venerable's expression finally changed. It instantly transformed into its true form: a jade-green Poison Dragon over three hundred zhang long, its tail condensing a vast amount of demonic energy.

—Dragon Tail Whip!

This was one of the physical bloodline divine abilities almost all dragon-species demonic beasts possessed. Although the meteor Wang Yu summoned with the power of the Lunar Star was massive, the attached power was too weak and completely dispersed. Unless dealing with much weaker targets, it was difficult to achieve decisive results. The jade-green demonic energy dragon tail, enlarged a second time, directly whipped the meteor into countless fragments. With a thought from Wang Yu, ice flames ignited on the shattered stones. A rain of meteoric fire... would completely destroy the core area of the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest!