leonardwarren Chapter 23: The Soul-Eating Rat Demon
Chapter 23: The Soul-Eating Rat Demon
"That's... Xuan Tianyi?!"
Liu Ruyan's cool voice carried a rare hint of emotion.
With a single sword strike, she forced back the wicked woman wielding a poisoned iron fan and employing cunning moves. In the instant her beautiful eyes glanced towards the edge of the camp...
Just then, they saw Xuan Tianyi kneeling on one knee, and in front of him lay the charred chest and gruesome corpse of Zhao Tiezhu.
The lingering essence of thunder, which cleansed evil spirits and contained hidden vitality, had not completely dissipated in the air, and rippled gently like water.
"Good lad!"
On the other side, Yan Jun was equally shaken. With a single sweep of his massive, door-like sword, he forced two fearless men in black back several steps. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"He actually broke through to a breakthrough in the heat of battle and even grasped the true meaning of thunder?! What a monstrous talent this is!"
Originally, it was thought that Xuan Tianyi simply possessed some mysterious celestial inheritance, and had some quick wit and potential, making him worthy of cultivation.
But to everyone's surprise, this young man's martial arts talent was terrifying!
With his third level of Body Tempering cultivation, he turned the tide and killed a powerful enemy at the peak of the ninth level of Body Tempering, and even touched the threshold of "True Meaning of Martial Arts" between life and death!
This is simply defying common sense and unheard of!
The surviving guards and some patrol soldiers who witnessed the scene were dumbfounded, as if they were statues of clay or wood.
Looking at the bloodied, gun-wielding boy, panting heavily but with his spine straight, it was as if I were looking at a monster that had stepped out of a myth.
The thunder that erupted just now, as powerful as the heavens, and the greenery that stubbornly sprouted from the scorched earth, were deeply imprinted in their minds, destined to be unforgettable for a lifetime.
"Xuan...Young Master Xuan...did he really kill that evil disciple at the peak of the ninth level?"
A young guard stammered, almost unable to believe his eyes, and rubbed them hard.
"It's the true meaning... My grandfather said it's a power at a higher level than star power..."
Another slightly older soldier murmured, his eyes filled with awe and longing.
The unusual activity at the center of the battlefield was naturally noticed by the evil thugs who were locked in combat with Liu Ruyan and Yan Jun.
Especially the evil female disciple who fought against Liu Ruyan, who wielded a soft sword and was nicknamed "Poisonous Dove".
She was already unorthodox and had unpredictable movements. She was good at sneak attacks and poisoning. It was already difficult for her to fight Liu Ruyan, who was in the Star Sea Realm, head-on. She barely managed to hold on with her ruthlessness and the support of her companions.
The thunderous true intent that Xuan Tianyi unleashed, along with the fall of Zhao Tiezhu, struck Poisonous Vulture's heart like a thunderclap.
This caused a momentary, violent tremor in her already tense mind, and her movements with the poisoned soft sword in her hand faltered slightly.
When masters clash, victory or defeat often hinges on this single point.
Who is Liu Ruyan?
He immediately shouted and seized this fleeting opening.
The longsword in his hand hummed, and the starlight on its blade suddenly intensified, like a dream.
Her lithe body moved like a cloud in the wind, twisting at an incredible angle to dodge the Poisonous Vulture's slightly stiff, snake-like sneak attack.
At the same time, the longsword drew a cold and lonely arc of light, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, directly piercing the throat opening exposed by the poisonous pigeon due to its mental shock!
"Star Moon Sword Technique - Starfall!"
This sword strike was fast, accurate, and ruthless, with the timing perfect. It also contained Liu Ruyan's pure star power and sharp sword intent, leaving the momentarily stunned Poisonous Vulture with no way to avoid it!
The shadow of death instantly loomed over her, filling her eyes with horror and despair.
However, just as Liu Ruyan's sword tip was about to touch the poisonous pigeon's throat, and the biting cold made the hairs on her neck stand on end—
"How long are you going to wait?! If you keep watching, this bitch will tear me apart first! Do it!!"
Poisonous Dove suddenly turned its head and looked at the dense shadows in the camp that the firelight could not illuminate, and let out a scream full of resentment, fear and desperate roar!
The sound was sharp and piercing, like the cry of a night owl, instantly drowning out the shouts and screams on the battlefield, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
Like ice water thrown into boiling oil, it instantly shattered the brief silence and shock brought about by Xuan Tianyi's comeback.
Yan Jun, Liu Ruyan, and all the patrol soldiers who heard the voice felt a sudden sinking feeling in their hearts. A strong sense of foreboding, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled around their hearts.
There are enemies again?!
Moreover, it's an enemy that could make this fearless villain cry for help in his desperate situation?!
Liu Ruyan's swordplay involuntarily slowed by a fraction, her beautiful eyes sharply sweeping towards the shadowy direction that the poisonous dove was looking at.
It was that one-thousandth of a second when the mind was slightly distracted and the sword's momentum was slightly halted!
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Without warning, the ground beneath their feet trembled violently and cracked open!
It was as if an ancient ferocious beast, which had been sleeping deep underground, had been violently awakened and was now roaring and turning over in anger!
"Bang!!!!"
In the center of the camp, near where Liu Ruyan stood, the solid ground cracked inch by inch like a fragile eggshell, and gravel mixed with soil shot up into the sky like a fountain!
A massive, twisted black shadow, exuding a nauseating stench and overwhelming malevolent energy, burst forth from the earth with a ferocious, all-destroying force!
The timing of the dark figure's appearance was extremely malicious, precisely when Liu Ruyan's old strength was exhausted and her new strength had not yet been generated, and when her mind was slightly distracted by the poisonous pigeon's cry for help!
The terrifying impact, mixed with the stench of evil, slammed into Liu Ruyan like an invisible giant hammer.
"puff--!"
Caught off guard, Liu Ruyan only had time to spread her star power across her back before being struck solidly by this immense force.
With a muffled groan, a sweet taste rose in his throat, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood, staining his full front of his clothes red.
Her shapely body was sent flying into the air by the immense force, like a kite with a broken string, and her long sword almost slipped from her hand.
Smoke and dust filled the air, and gravel fell like rain.
The monster that burst from the ground revealed its terrifying true form at that moment.
Standing nearly ten feet tall, with a hunched posture, it maintains a roughly distorted human form, but the details are chilling.
The exposed skin was a sickly grayish-black, covered with scab-like fleshy bumps and coarse, needle-like black hairs.
Its limbs were unusually thick and strong, with bulging muscles, and sharp claws, each a foot long, curved like a sickle, gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light, extended from its fingertips.
Its head was enormous, with faint traces of rodent features. Its snout protruded, and its fangs were exposed, dripping with corrosive, sticky saliva and emitting a nauseating stench.
His eyes were bloodshot and as big as lanterns, filled with madness, greed, and a pure desire for destruction, devoid of any rationality.
What's most striking is its long, thick tail, which resembles an exposed spine and is covered in menacing bone spurs.
With a casual swing, it produced a whooshing sound as it lashed the ground, leaving cracks and furrows.
A dense, suffocating aura of evil spread out from its center like a tangible tide.
The pressure contained within it had reached the level of the Star Sea Realm!
Moreover, it's far from being as simple as just entering the Star Sea!
"Soul-Eating Rat Demon!"
Upon seeing the monster, Yan Jun's pupils constricted, he gasped in shock, and the color drained from his face instantly.
"A weapon of war from the Rat Spirit branch of the Seven Saints Cult! They actually brought this monstrous thing out with them!"
The Soul-Devouring Rat Demon is a monster cultivated using secret methods by the Seven Saints Sect. It combines the flesh and soul of a powerful rat-like beast with evil and forbidden techniques.
They possess immense strength, astonishing defense, unpredictable speed, and are fearless in the face of death.
Although their intelligence is easily confused, their fighting instincts are extremely terrifying, making them absolute killing machines on the battlefield.
Judging from its imposing aura and size, the creature before us is at least at the mid-stage of the Star Sea Realm!
"Squeak—creak!!"
As soon as the Rat Demon appeared, its crimson rat eyes locked onto Liu Ruyan, who was in mid-air with disordered breathing and unable to gain any leverage.
It let out a sharp, piercing howl that went straight to the soul, the sound waves spreading out like tangible ripples.
The soldiers and refugees who were closer to the scene were immediately struck as if by a heavy blow. Blood flowed from their ears and noses, and they fell to the ground screaming and rolling around, clutching their heads.
Whoosh!
Before the howl had even subsided, the rat demon's enormous body displayed a terrifying speed completely disproportionate to its size.
His figure left a faint afterimage in place, but his true form appeared like a ghost above and to the side of Liu Ruyan!
A hideous claw covered in grayish-black keratin, gleaming with an eerie black light.
With a terrifying shriek that seemed to tear the air apart, it spread its five fingers wide and fiercely grabbed at Liu Ruyan's crown!
The claw-like wind was fierce; even before it reached her body, it made Liu Ruyan's scalp tingle.
If that claw strikes firmly, even if Liu Ruyan is a Star Sea Realm martial artist, she will have no chance of survival!
"Be careful, Ruyan!!"
A furious roar, its eyes blazing with fury, came from not far away.
The greatsword in his hand burst forth with a dazzling crimson light, and he was about to recklessly burn his life essence and unleash a secret technique to rush to the rescue.
However, the other two black-clad villains who had been fighting him all along would not let him escape so easily.
At this moment, he was like a madman, completely abandoning his defense, roaring and rushing forward, trading injury for injury, even at the cost of having his arm severed by the greatsword, just to keep him tightly entangled in place!
They wore fanatical and cruel smiles, clearly having received orders to hold off Yan Jun at all costs!
"Get the hell out of my way!"
With a fierce roar, the greatsword danced wildly, unleashing a torrent of crimson sword energy that instantly cleaved a man in black away, leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound on his chest.
But another man in black, like a leech, clung tightly to his left leg and bit him, the eerie black energy seeping wildly into the wound.
This caused the stern action to pause involuntarily.
In that brief moment of hesitation, the rat demon's claws were already less than three feet away from Liu Ruyan's head!
A foul stench filled the air; the scent of death was so palpable.
Faced with this sudden and fatal attack, as well as the aggravation of her old injuries, the turmoil of her blood and qi, and the loss of control of her body, a trace of solemnity flashed in Liu Ruyan's cold eyes, but she did not panic much.
Faced with life and death, she calmed down completely.
The stellar energy within his body circulated wildly at an unprecedented speed, forcefully suppressing the churning blood and qi and the excruciating pain emanating from his meridians, like being pierced by ice needles—
That was a lingering ailment left from a serious injury in his early years, and now, under pressure from both internal and external forces, it showed signs of erupting.
"snort!"
She endured the pain, let out a sharp cry, and in mid-air, where she had nowhere to put her footing, her delicate body twisted violently in an unusual way.
Her long, slender legs tapped her toes several times in the air, as if stepping on invisible steps. Her figure was like a willow catkin drifting in the wind, or a swirling snowflake, flying backward.
It was her unique movement technique – "Flowing Wind and Returning Snow"!
In the nick of time, the rat demon's claws, sharp enough to cleave gold and shatter stone, whistled through the air.
It barely grazed the strands of hair on her forehead before the sharp claws severed a few strands of her hair, which then drifted down.
In the instant they passed each other, the longsword in Liu Ruyan's hand transformed into a cold, clear stream of light, its blade gleaming with starlight.
A condensed, thin as a cicada's wing yet incomparably sharp arc of sword energy silently sliced through the air.
He met the rat demon's other claw as it swept across after missing its first attack!
"Clang—!!"
The deafening clang of metal against metal reverberated throughout the surrounding area, the piercing sound waves causing pain to the eardrums of everyone nearby, and sparks flew out like fireworks!
Liu Ruyan's body trembled violently. Using the force of the impact, she flew backward several feet before landing lightly.
But when his toes touched the ground, his foot went slightly weak, his face turned even paler, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth again.
Even though she managed to deflect most of the force of the Star Sea Realm Rat Demon's furious attack head-on, the strain on her was still immense.
The Soul-Devouring Rat Demon was also momentarily hindered by this sword strike imbued with pure star power and sword intent, leaving a shallow white mark on its claws.
The faint starlight power at the wound attempted to penetrate, but it was blocked and dissolved by the eerie black light on its surface.
"Sword intent?!"
The rat demon let out a muffled roar, filled with surprise and rage.
It clearly hadn't expected that this seemingly weak and unstable human woman would also comprehend the power of intent, and that it was so pure and sharp, subtly restraining its evil aura.
"Evil spirits and heretics should be punished by everyone!"
Liu Ruyan took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood in her throat. Her beautiful eyes gleamed with a cold light, like ancient ice.
Ignoring the hidden dangers of internal injuries, the stellar energy within his body accelerated its circulation once again;
The longsword in his hand hummed and vibrated, its blade shimmering with dreamlike starlight.
His aura suddenly became ethereal and profound, as if he had resonated with the stars in the night sky.
"Starry Sky Sword Technique - Galaxy Pours Down!"
She gave a clear shout, and her figure transformed into a streak of ethereal starlight as she took the initiative to meet the attack!
The sword light, no longer just one or two streaks, transformed into countless points of cold, star-like sword energy, as if the Milky Way had reversed its course.
They converged into a dazzling yet icy river of sword energy, carrying an overwhelming power of purification and a cutting intent, sweeping towards the Soul-Devouring Rat Demon!
Where the sword energy passed, deep furrows were plowed into the ground, and a cold, invigorating starlight aura filled the air, temporarily dispelling some of the stench and evil brought by the rat demon.
"squeak--!"
Sensing the threat contained within the sword energy, the rat demon let out a piercing shriek, yet it neither dodged nor evaded.
With a burst of red light in his eyes, he brandished his giant claws covered in a dense, eerie black light, and fiercely clashed with the star-like sword energy!
He actually intended to use his incredibly powerful physical body and surging evil power to forcibly tear open this dazzling river of swords!
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"
A dense, resounding clashing of metal, like raindrops pattering on banana leaves, erupted as sword energy and claw shadows collided wildly.
Each collision unleashed a dazzling burst of light and shockwaves, blasting the surrounding ground into craters, and instantly turning nearby rubble into dust.
"Hehehe! Interesting! By devouring you, my cultivation will surely increase greatly!"
The rat demon laughed incessantly. Although it was blocked by the sword energy and had dozens of wounds of varying depths on its body, oozing foul-smelling black blood, those wounds were actually wriggling and healing at a speed visible to the naked eye!
Its attacks became increasingly frenzied, no longer relying solely on brute force, but instead employing a strange and swift movement technique. Its massive body left behind afterimages as it rapidly spun around Liu Ruyan.
With sharp claws, bone spurs, a whip-like tail, and even the occasional spurt of highly corrosive dark green venom from its mouth, it launched a relentless barrage of attacks from all sorts of cunning and vicious angles.
Liu Ruyan's swordsmanship was exquisite, and her movements were agile. When she unleashed "Flowing Wind and Returning Snow," she was like a willow catkin in the wind or a startled swan in the snow, dodging the rat demon's heavy blows at the last second.
The longsword in his hand traced a series of mysterious trajectories, sometimes pointing, sometimes stabbing, sometimes slicing, sometimes cutting, the sword intent chilling, like starlight twinkling.
It can always accurately target the relatively weak points of the rat demon, such as its eyes, throat, joints, and waist.
Her Star Moon Sword Intent seemed to have an extra restraint against this evil entity.
Each time the sword blade sliced across the rat demon's body, it left a charred mark, emitting wisps of black smoke with a fishy smell, causing the rat demon to roar in pain.
In an instant, sword light crisscrossed, claw shadows filled the sky, starlight and black energy intertwined and collided, and the sound of explosive energy bursting was endless.
The aftershocks of the battle between Star Sea Realm experts plowed the ground dozens of feet around, leaving it in ruins, and no one dared to approach.
However, it was clear to anyone with eyes that Liu Ruyan had already lost ground.
The Rat Demon possesses ferocious power, astonishing defense, ridiculously fast speed, and abnormal regenerative ability.
Although Liu Ruyan's attacks could cause damage, most were only superficial wounds and unlikely to be fatal.
This only enraged the monster, making its attacks even more frenzied and reckless.
Even more fatally, Liu Ruyan's aura began to show obvious fluctuations and decline.
Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead, and her face was unnaturally pale.
Each time he channeled his sword intent and unleashed a masterful sword move, a hint of undisguised pain would flash across his brow.
The hidden injuries left in his body from his early years were clearly triggered and erupted under such intense fighting!
The flow of star power became noticeably sluggish, and his movements were no longer as fluid and agile as they had been initially.
"Oh no, Ruyan's old injury has flared up!"
Yan Jun, who was being desperately held back by the men in black, was extremely anxious upon seeing this scene, his eyes bloodshot.
He frantically swung his greatsword, trying to break free, but the two black-clad villains were like leeches clinging to him.
Burning his life essence was a life-or-death fighting style that prevented him from escaping for the time being.
Sure enough, after a fierce battle, Liu Ruyan's delicate body trembled slightly, her sword moves showed a slight, almost imperceptible pause, and her recovery speed slowed down by half a point.
It was this extremely subtle flaw that the Soul-Devouring Rat Demon, with its terrifying combat instincts, keenly detected!
"Heh!"
The rat demon's eyes gleamed with ferocity, and it let out a triumphant shriek.
A sharp claw slashed away Liu Ruyan's longsword, which was slightly slowed by her exhaustion; another claw, imbued with dense evil power and black light that was almost tangible, followed...
With lightning speed, accompanied by a chilling wind that seemed to tear at the heart, it struck Liu Ruyan's chest!
At the same time, the hideous tail covered with bone spurs lashed out silently like a steel whip toward the back of Liu Ruyan's head, sealing off all her escape routes!
A pincer attack from both sides, the killing trap is set!
Liu Ruyan's old strength was exhausted, and new strength had not yet emerged. Her hidden injuries erupted, and her star power was stagnant. There was no way to avoid it!
"A great opportunity!"
The Poisonous Vulture, who had been lurking on the edge of the battlefield like a venomous snake, gleamed with ruthlessness and glee in its eyes.
This is the moment she's been waiting for!
His body moved like a venomous snake that had been poised for a long time, suddenly leaping out, the soft sword in his hand coated with potent poison and gleaming with a ghostly blue light.
Like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, it was silent yet swift as lightning, striking Liu Ruyan's unsuspecting back vital point!
This sword strike was vicious, cunning, and perfectly timed!
It formed a perfect finishing move with the rat demon's deadly pounce!
"Like smoke!!"
Yan Jun let out a desperate roar, his star power burning like flames, ready to erupt at any cost, even at the risk of serious injury, to forcefully rescue his loved ones.
Liu Ruyan sensed the deadly killing intent coming from both sides, and a trace of sadness and determination finally flashed across her cold eyes.
She had done her best, but her hidden injuries had erupted, and she was surrounded by powerful enemies. This calamity... was inescapable.
Even if it means death, this evil man must pay the price!
She gritted her teeth, ready to unleash that forbidden technique regardless of the cost.
Just when everyone thought this aloof and ethereal captain was about to perish—
"Sizzle—!"
A jet-black spear shadow, crackling with fine, bluish-white lightning, ripped through the dark night sky like a thunderclap.
With a speed that surpasses the limits of visual perception, it breaks through the billowing smoke and chaotic energy, fiercely attacking from the edge of the battlefield!
Where the gunshot passed, the air exploded with a sharp bang, and the residual arcs of electricity jumped in the air, making a faint "crackling" sound.
Within the shadow of the gun, there lay a faint yet extremely powerful and inviolable will—
That is the stirring of all things reviving, the true meaning of spring thunder cleansing away all filth and evil!
The one who made the move was Xuan Tianyi, who had barely suppressed his serious injuries, swallowed healing pills, and recovered some of his energy and spirit!
His face was still as pale as paper, the blood from his seven orifices was still wet, and his right arm holding the gun was still trembling slightly.
But those eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, fixed on the deadly sword strike from the Poisonous Vulture!
With the blessing of "Spring Thunder's True Meaning," his perception and grasp of timing reached a whole new level.
This shot wasn't aimed at the overwhelming Soul-Devouring Rat Demon, because he knew that in his current state, he was simply not enough to affect that kind of monster.
His target was the equally deadly, but easier-to-reach, poisonous dove!
To relieve the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao!
At this moment, Poisonous Vulture was completely absorbed in the ecstasy of about to kill Liu Ruyan, and the vigilance of dealing with the possibility of Liu Ruyan dying together with him.
She was completely caught off guard by this sudden attack, especially by the thunderous intent contained in the gunshot that made her soul tremble instinctively!
"boom!!!"
It wasn't real thunder, but a thunderous intent imbued with the spirit of "Awakening of Insects," following the shadow of the spear, ignoring physical defenses, and striking directly at the mind of the Poisonous Vulture!
"Oh no... help..."
It was as if a thunderclap in spring had truly exploded in Poisonous Dove's mind, shaking her to her core.
A fleeting look of bewilderment and a fear stemming from the instinct for survival flashed in his eyes!
The poisoned soft sword aimed at Liu Ruyan's back slowed down by an insignificant moment, and the tip of the sword deviated from its original trajectory.
It was this insignificant moment of stagnation that determined her fate.
"Pfft—!"
The jet-black armor-piercing spear pierced Poisonous Vulture's throat with unparalleled precision, emerging from the back of her neck with a spray of tragically beautiful blood, pinning her firmly to the ground!
The gun hummed and vibrated violently due to its immense kinetic energy, and the remaining bluish-white electric light surged into her body, frantically destroying her life force.
Poisonous Vulture's body convulsed violently, its eyes filled with disbelief, astonishment, resentment, and venom as it stared intently in Xuan Tianyi's direction.
He opened his mouth, but could only let out a hissing sound before his head lolled to the side and he died.
[Slayed the Seven Saints Cult's Rat Spirit Guards (Early Star Sea Realm), plundering 1568 Life Source Points.]
"Xuan Tianyi!"
With the pressure suddenly reduced, Liu Ruyan forcefully suppressed the churning blood and qi and the excruciating pain in her meridians, pushing her "Flowing Wind and Returning Snow" footwork to its limit.
Her body moved like a weightless willow catkin, making incredible twists within a small space.
They narrowly avoided the fatal attack from the Rat Demon, whose attack was slightly delayed due to the death of the poisonous pigeon.
But the rat demon's claws were still incredibly sharp, grazing past her left shoulder.
"Sizzle!"
Her protective star power was torn apart, her white dress shattered, and several deep, bone-revealing bloodstains appeared on her left shoulder, with flesh torn open and blood splattering everywhere.
Furthermore, a chilling and vicious evil force, like a bone-deep infection, rapidly seeped into her body through the wound.
Wherever it passed, the meridians seemed to freeze, sending out piercing cold and excruciating pain.
Liu Ruyan let out a muffled groan, her pretty face instantly draining of all color.
Taking advantage of the moment, she swung her sword, unleashing a condensed starlight sword aura that forced the rat demon back half a step, creating some distance between them.
Her beautiful eyes couldn't help but glance at the frail figure of the young man who had intervened in her desperate situation to save her, her heart filled with complex emotions.
Shock, confusion, gratitude, and a touch of indescribable tremor.
It is him again!
This mysterious young man has once again demonstrated his amazing abilities!
When she was on the verge of death, he made an incredible and ruthless move, snatching a chance for her to breathe from the clutches of death!
However, this is not the time for sentimentality.
"Squeak—!!!"
The prey that was about to be eaten was saved, and the deadly attack that had been prepared was broken. The Soul-Eating Rat Demon was completely enraged!
His crimson eyes instantly locked onto Xuan Tianyi, who was swaying and barely breathing in the distance.
How dare this tiny, ant-like insect repeatedly ruin its plans and even kill its "companions"?
Unforgivable!
It must be crushed!
Devour!
With a furious roar, the rat demon abruptly twisted its hideous head, its gaping maw snapping open.
A sinister blackish-red light gathered wildly deep within his throat, and a nauseating, fishy stench spread out.
next moment--
"boom!!!"
A terrifying beam of light, as thick as a bucket, incredibly solid, and wreathed in dense, dark red evil energy, spewed from the rat demon's mouth like a blood-red demonic cannon from the deepest hell.
It tore through the air at a speed exceeding the speed of sound, emitting a piercing shriek, and shot towards Xuan Tianyi with a thunderous roar!
Wherever the beam of light passed, it carved a scorched furrow into the ground.
Several refugees who couldn't escape in time were hit by the aftershocks. Before they could even scream, they were turned into pus in the stench of blood and pus, leaving no trace of their bodies!
The furious attack of the mid-stage Star Sea Realm Rat Demon was terrifyingly powerful!
A stench swept over them, and the aura of destruction, like a tangible shackle, instantly locked Xuan Tianyi in place.
Even before the crimson beam of light reached him, the terrifying pressure already made it difficult for him to breathe.
His bones creaked under the strain, his blood and qi, which had just begun to recover, became disordered again, and his vision blurred.
The scent of death was so clear, so close.
Xuan Tianyi's pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, and the hairs on his body stood on end.
We cannot defeat them by force!
Never try to take it head-on!
Warning signs were blaring in his mind, a frantic alert triggered by his survival instinct and the extraordinary perception brought by the "True Meaning of Spring Thunder".
Without any hesitation, he forcefully squeezed out the little strength he had just recovered, pushing the Bagua Step movement technique recorded in the "Mysterious Thunder Guiding Technique" to its limit.
His footwork changed abruptly, and in the blink of an eye, his figure transformed into a streak of leaping, cyan lightning, desperately dodging to the side and behind.
"call out--!"
A crimson beam of light grazed his shoulder, the intense heat, foul stench, and corrosive scent burning his skin and leaving a charred mark.
Even though he dodged in time, his shoulder was still grazed by the evil energy at the edge of the beam of light. His protective qi and blood were torn apart like paper, and a burning pain shot through him.
Furthermore, a chilling and vicious evil, like a maggot clinging to a bone, clung to the wound, frantically resisting the "Spring Thunder True Meaning" within the body's self-expelling mechanism, attempting to invade the meridians and internal organs.
"hiss--"
Xuan Tianyi gasped, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead.
Even a mere scratch has such power; imagine the force of a direct hit...
Behind me came a hissing sound of corrosion and a short, piercing scream.
He knew without turning around what fate awaited those refugees who couldn't escape.
The ground was corroded by the aftershocks of the beam of light, leaving a pit that emitted a pungent blue smoke.
Before the relief of surviving the ordeal could even begin to form, Xuan Tianyi abruptly looked up at Liu Ruyan, who was still roaring angrily and had been temporarily forced back.
Turning around, he fixed the Soul-Devouring Rat Demon's crimson, savage pupils on him, poised to pounce. A surge of malevolent fire mixed with icy killing intent erupted from the depths of his heart.
"Damn it!"
Xuan Tianyi gritted his teeth, the sound of them grinding together, and a hint of madness, driven to the brink of despair, quietly surfaced in his eyes.
"I'm not a savior! Why is everyone so against me?!"
First it was Zhao Tiezhu, and now it's this rat demon from the Star Sea Realm!
He just wanted to survive in this damn world, why is it so hard!
"So what if you're at the Star Sea Realm? How dare a mere rat offend the Emperor? Do you really think I'm young and easy to bully?!"
"Even the best of the best keep a trump card up their sleeve!"
In the blink of an eye, his gaze swept rapidly across the chaotic battlefield, and his brain worked at an unprecedented speed.
Liu Ruyan's old injuries flared up again, her breathing became disordered, and she was overwhelmed by the rat demon's frenzied attacks. It was only a matter of time before she was defeated.
Yan Jun was tightly entangled by two reckless thugs and found it difficult to break free.
The other soldiers and guards were either dead or wounded; going up against the rat demons of the Star Sea Realm would have been suicide.
Finally, his gaze fell on Wang, the adjutant, who was not far away. He was being protected by several soldiers with minor injuries. He was weak and pale, and had just taken some medicine and left the main battlefield to recuperate.
A crazy and audacious idea burned like wildfire in Xuan Tianyi's heart.
He gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain from the poison in his shoulder and the weakness in his body, and with a burst of speed, he charged towards Lieutenant Wang.
"Lieutenant Wang!"
Xuan Tianyi rushed forward, speaking rapidly, his voice hoarse from urgency and weakness.
"Medicines! Medicines that treat internal injuries and quickly restore qi, blood, and mental energy. Do you have any left? Give me as many as you can! Quickly!"
Lieutenant Wang was meditating with his eyes closed when he heard this and suddenly opened them. He saw Xuan Tianyi, and then he noticed the charred wound on his shoulder and his paper-white face.
He was taken aback at first, then noticed the almost insane, resolute light in the other person's eyes, and his heart trembled.
"Brother Xuan, you..."
Lieutenant Wang opened his mouth, then looked at Liu Ruyan, who was in dire straits and covered in blood under the frenzied attack of the rat demon, and instantly understood what was going on.
He gritted his teeth, without the slightest hesitation, reached into his robes, pulled out a warm, smooth jade bottle, and placed it in Xuan Tianyi's hand.
"This is a Rejuvenating Pill, extremely potent. It can quickly restore qi and blood, stabilize injuries, and boost spirits, but it has significant side effects. Overdose can damage your foundation! Use with caution!"
Lieutenant Wang spoke quickly, his eyes filled with worry and determination.
This was his life-saving elixir, but he obviously couldn't care less about that now.
Xuan Tianyi took the jade bottle; it was warm to the touch. He uncorked it, and a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out, instantly invigorating him.
Inside the bottle lay three pills, each the size of a longan, golden-red in color, with a faint shimmering glow.
Without the slightest hesitation, he tilted his head back and poured all three Rejuvenation Pills into his mouth and swallowed them!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, transforming into three scorching torrents that exploded within his body like a volcanic eruption!
The surging medicinal power rushed to every part of his body, impacting the damaged meridians and bringing a tearing, throbbing pain.
But it also brought an unprecedented sense of power and mental excitement.
"Hmm..."
Xuan Tianyi groaned, veins bulging on his forehead, and a faint blood-red glow flowing beneath his skin.
He felt his energy and blood rapidly recovering and even surging, and the feeling of weakness was temporarily suppressed.
My mind was more focused than ever before, as if I could hear the rush of my own blood.
But this power is superficial; it comes at the cost of overdrawing potential.
Moreover, he could clearly feel the stinging pain in his meridians, which was the side effect of the medicine being too strong.
We can't worry about that now!
He whirled his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the Soul-Devouring Rat Demon, which was being intercepted and restrained by Liu Ruyan and exuding an overwhelming evil aura.
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and like a moth drawn to a flame, he once again plunged headlong into the vortex of death.
"You scoundrels! Look here!"
Xuan Tianyi let out a provocative roar, simultaneously unleashing his newly recovered and even surging blood and spirit power, which had been greatly enhanced by the pills.
Along with the faint yet tenacious "true meaning of spring thunder" within his sea of consciousness, he poured it into the depths of his sea of consciousness without reservation and with frenzied abandon.
That Thunder Jade Token, obtained from the "Zhen Hexagram, First Nine," which had been dormant for a long time!
"Get the hell out of here!!!"