086 Demonic Cultivator (Part One)

Wang Shaorong surveyed the crowd, her voice ringing coldly, “Does anyone here know how to break this formation?”

No one answered.

In truth, many had already attempted to breach the barrier. The mystical attacks of individual cultivators merely stirred faint ripples on the grand array, utterly ineffective. Even Wang Shaorong, the most powerful among them, could only tear open a gap the size of a bowl, which sealed itself immediately. If she were to enter alone, she would surely be devoured by the soul-devouring island’s cultivators, not even her bones left behind.

Even the flying corpse she had refined could rival a first-tier magic weapon in force!

At this moment, someone suggested, “If we had a formation diagram specialized in breaking arrays, and combined our strength, perhaps we could shatter this barrier.”

Wang Shaorong asked, “Who among us possesses such a formation diagram?”

Again, silence.

Another voice offered, “The cultivators of Soul-Devouring Island are all fiendish heretics, their minds clouded. Why don’t we lay out a feast of rare and exquisite delicacies to lure them out, then defeat them one by one?”

“Ah, an excellent idea!” someone exclaimed, clapping. “It’s said the Soul-Devouring Island cultivators grow restless if they go a day without eating, and lose cultivation after three days. If we prepare fragrant spirit dishes and fine wines, surely we’ll tempt them out!”

Wang Shaorong’s brows knitted in thought; she sensed the plan might work. “Who among you can cook spirit dishes? Quickly, go to the sea, catch some sea monsters, and prepare the food before the Soul-Devouring Island cultivators’ eyes!”

Many among these itinerant cultivators excelled in such arts. Over a dozen immediately took to the air, their escape lights streaking toward the sea to gather ingredients. Others hurried to lend a hand.

Just then—

A streak of black light shot across the distant sky, thick with demonic intent, as imposing as a mountain.

Wang Shaorong’s expression shifted. She instantly channeled her power, and from the crimson coffin at her feet, a white shade surged forth to intercept the newcomer.

The black light halted overhead, revealing a tall, striking figure.

The man clasped his hands in greeting. “Pang Yue of the Demon Sigil Sect pays respects to fellow cultivators!”

A Demon Sigil Sect cultivator?

Wang Shaorong’s eyes narrowed. She soared forward, her words cold, “The Wang clan of Pu Yue are handling business here. Please keep clear, fellow cultivator.”

She studied the demon cultivator before her. He exuded a gravity as deep as a mountain; his tall, upright form radiated a terrifying, hidden demonic aura that set her alarms ringing.

The man smiled slightly. “I have come for Soul-Devouring Island as well.”

Frost crept over Wang Shaorong’s lovely features; a deadly intent flashed between her brows. “Are you the reinforcements summoned by Soul-Devouring Island?”

The crowd behind her instantly grew alert, edging their array closer in wary formation.

“Not at all,” Pang Yue replied, shaking his head with a calm smile. “The disciples of Soul-Devouring Island slew my spirit beast. I am here for vengeance.”

Wang Shaorong’s suspicion was plain. “The one who killed your spirit beast is on the island below?”

“He is already dead by my hand. But… that is not enough. I need more Soul-Devouring Island cultivators to pay with their lives.”

Pang Yue’s tone was flat.

The assembled cultivators thought to themselves: Truly a demon sect cultivator—someone kills his spirit beast, and he demands an entire sect in return!

A muscle twitched at the corner of Wang Shaorong’s eye. After a moment’s silence, she said, “If that is so, fellow cultivator, please proceed. But the barrier below is formidable. Should we not join forces?”

“No need,” Pang Yue declined politely, then smiled. “May I ask your name?”

Wang Shaorong straightened, her voice cool. “Wang Shaorong.”

“A fine name!” Pang Yue laughed heartily, then moved at once, transforming into a bolt of black light and hurling himself at the great array.

He descended like a meteor, splitting into thirty-three black mountains in the sky, each pressing down with the weight of ten thousand tons and thunder booming, crashing into the array’s luminous curtain!

Boom!

A deafening explosion rocked the void. Invisible shockwaves swept through the sky, scattering the clouds to nothing. The sea erupted with towering waves; fierce winds radiated outward in a ring.

The great array twisted and caved in, then, in a blink, shattered. The thirty-three pitch-black, demon-tinged mountains slammed down onto the island, sending dust billowing and the ground trembling as if dragons rolled beneath.

“Unsoiled Heavenly Demon!”

A furious, startled voice rose from the island.

Soul-Devouring Island’s cultivators, used to dealings with demons from beyond the stars, instantly recognized the origin of Pang Yue’s demonic avatar.

A cold voice replied, “Soul-Devouring Island slew my spirit beast; their destruction is ordained.”

As his words fell, thirty-three streaks of black sword light burst forth, each stretching into a ten-foot rainbow, winding like dragons across the island.

The disciples leapt to defend themselves, but none could withstand even a single blow.

Suddenly, a dazzling burst of spiritual light shot into the sky—a plump figure fleeing at breakneck speed.

Wang Shaorong hastened to intercept with her magic, but in that instant, a breathtakingly sharp sword light slashed across the heavens.

In that moment, sea and sky seemed cleaved by that jet-black blade.

The escaping figure’s aura winked out; his fat body was split cleanly in two, tumbling to the ground.

Moments later, the thirty-three sword lights converged, coalescing once more into Pang Yue’s form.

Fang Yun Island was now a scene of utter devastation, not a single soul left alive.

He swept the area with his divine sense, sensed something, and flew toward it.

In the void above the island, hundreds of cultivators stared in stunned silence. For a moment, none could find words.

The barrier that had troubled them so long was shattered in moments by brute force.

And that terrifying swordplay—it sent chills up their spines and raised every hair on end.

Someone finally muttered, “From now on…never, ever mess with a Demon Sigil Sect cultivator’s spirit beast.”

“The price…is far too high!”

Wang Shaorong’s beautiful eyes glittered with calculation. Then she called out, “Go and collect the storage pouches from the bodies of Soul-Devouring Island’s cultivators. Gather all the spirit stones, treasures, and texts on the island as well. I will personally present them to Fellow Daoist Pang.”

The crowd quickly agreed, and hundreds of rays of light shot down like falling stars.

…

Deep within Fang Yun Island, in a cavern, a three-zhang-wide pool shimmered with thick, oily salve, swirling in shades of pale blue and crimson.

Pang Yue stood at the edge, breathing in a heady, intoxicating aroma.

He quickly summoned the Buddha of Infinite Light, whose radiance cleared his mind instantly.

“As expected, it’s Myriad Beast Balm,” he said with delight, and with a wave of his hand, laid a grand Heavenly Demon array around the pool.

The Buddha of Infinite Light sat before the array, forming seals and invoking the power of salvation.

Pang Yue activated the formation. Demonic energy surged, linking to the void beyond this world, and the fragrance of the Myriad Beast Balm rose with it, drifting into the outer void.

Outside the island, the assembled cultivators suddenly felt a mighty demonic aura rising, swirling like desert smoke, soaring upward.

Where the sky had been clear and blue, suddenly black mists churned, swirling into a massive vortex above the island, thunder flashing within, revealing glimpses of another world—vast, empty, and dead.

A host of fierce, maddened presences spilled out, demonic intent spreading as if the apocalypse had come.

The Wang clan cultivators and the scattered cultivators all felt terror grip their hearts and, without a word, came to the same conclusion: they must leave at once!

Someone said to Wang Shaorong, “Fellow Daoist Wang, demon sect cultivators are bound by no taboos, their actions fraught with danger. We had best take our leave without delay!”