Chapter 421 – Refugees of Chicken Ann City
"Surrender?" Gaki sneered at Liu Xuande. Then, he glanced at Xu Lanying, "Sure. Since you have a beautiful woman with you, I'll allow it."
Liu Xuande laughed and kowtowed, "Thank you very much for your understanding, Sir!"
"Now, drop your weapons and your spatial rings. If I find that you are hiding any treasure in you, I'll kill everyone."
"..."
Liu Xuande's face was cramped as he didn't want to surrender his treasures and items. He glanced at Zhang Yide, who hadn't stopped killing Gaki's soldiers.
"Then, I guess the negotiation is off."
"Well, I don't mind. I intend to kill all men and capture that woman anyway."
As if Zhang Yide had heard the conversation, he roared and disengaged from the battle. He turned around and charged at Gaki instead.
The giant Oni snorted, "I've been watching you. I've already learned all your tricks!"
Gaki merged his Blood Element Essence and Soul Qi together, transforming the domain around him into a blood field while he brought out a large metal club and a saber.
The blood domain instantly drained the blood of unfortunate orcs and the weak onis in the field to the last drop. As for Liu Xuande, his feet were fast enough to get away from the domain range before it could reach him.
Zhang Yide had a soul physique, so he wasn't affected by the blood domain. Still, he could feel that his Soul Qi slowly left him while he was in the crimson dome.
Despite being in the oni's soul domain, Zhang Yide was unfazed. He let out a warcry as he thrust his spear forward.
SWUA
As if the previous fight with Mao Miaomiao had awakened something in him, the domain strike of Zhang Yide got sharper and more accurate. With just one thrust, a gaping hole appeared on Gaki's face.
The hole was large enough that Zhang Yide could see everything behind the oni. However, the demon hadn't died yet.
People with soul physique couldn't be killed easily. A simple domain strike with a low amount of Soul Qi could, at best, slightly damage Gaki's soul.
To kill an 8th-stage cultivator or 8th-stage demon, they had to destroy their opponent's dantian or their soul core, which could be anywhere in one's body – Many 8th-stage and 9th-stage cultivators hid them in random parts, such as their eyes, shoulders, or even thighs to avoid fatal blows in a real fight. After all, most fighters always targeted the chest area or head of their opponents.
The gaping hole closed in an instant as Gaki self-healed himself. He sneered at Zhang Yide as he continued to fly backward, avoiding a direct confrontation.
"What a weak strike. Are you sure you're really an 8th-stage cultivator? Many grandmothers at the Holy Land can fight better than you."
"Oh, I see that you're grandmama's boy. You're referring to your grandmother now after I only lightly stab you? Why don't you go home and bring your grandmas, so adults can have a bed talk."
"Your mouth gets ahead of you, I see. Very well, let's see how long are you going to last within my domain."
"Don't worry about my stamina. Even your mother is pleased with how long I can last on bed!"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"BASTARD!! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?"
As Kishin Douji always neglected Gaki during his childhood, his mother was all he had. Even after he grew up, he still respected his mother.
Zhang Yide had touched on the topic that Gaki couldn't stand. Thus, he was infuriated.
Instead of following his battle plan and slowly drain Zhang Yide's energy in the blood domain, he charged forward, planning to smash his opponent to mincemeat.
"WHO AM I!? I'M YOUR FATHER, FOOL!!" Zhang Yide sneered and bellowed. As soon as Zhang Yide got close to Gaki, he finally activated his soul domain, the second domain ability.
Multiple giant pythons, vipers, anacondas, and snakes manifested. Half of them transformed into living spears and chased after Gaki.
The living spears weren't sharp, but they had mouths and fangs. Gaki disregarded the snakes and swung his giant club at Zhang Yide's face.
Zhang Yide didn't dodge. His head was smashed and was disfigured. However, he didn't die from the strike.
The snake spears instantly bit Gaki and poured the poison element essence into the oni's soul physique. At the same time, they returned the favor by draining Gaki's blood element essence.
"Let go, you trash!"
Gaki continued to smash Zhang Yide's head to the point that he couldn't keep up the regeneration speed. His entire head became minced meat.
But the headless body weaved his spear and stabbed Gaki's dominant hand, which had been holding the metal club.
That was the place where Gaki had hidden his dantian core and soul core!
Gaki stopped moving. He glared at the headless man in shock and wanted to question Zhang Yide, "How did you discover my soul core?"
It was too late for Gaki to move. His Soul Qi was instantly sucked dry by the snakes, and the blood domain was dispersed. Then, the 8th-stage oni was disintegrated into dust as his soul was destroyed along with the soul physique.
"BAHAHAHAHA!! Another one bites the dust!"
...
After Gaki died, Liu Xuande dragged Guan Yunchang and Xu Lanying to the northwest and broke through the demon army's encirclement. Zhang Yide took the role of a vanguard and destroyed all opposing demons on their way.
None of them showed remorse for leaving the local citizen of Chicken Ann City behind. The three men and the succubus let the humans and Poison Pavilion's agents in the city fend for themselves.
The gang kept traveling northwest until they were 50 kilometers away from Chicken Ann City. Now, they were on the border area between Chicken Ann City's territory, Tian Long Forest's south border, and Xuan City's east border.
If they kept traveling north, they would enter Mao Xueyan's former territory. As for the west, it belonged to the suspicious self-proclaimed demon lord, Brocell.
As for the south, several kilometers away, Huangjin Monastery and their temples stood in the way between them and Siren City.
Now, they had to choose which path they would refuge to take shelter.
"What now?" Xu Lanying stared at the trio, wondering what Liu Xuande had in mind.
Liu Xuande glared at the south as he was wary of Miaomiao. He shook his head, "We can't go back to Siren City for sure since that deity told us not to step foot near that place for 5 years."
Xu Lanying grinned as she learned something new. Still, she hid her curiosity and probed further, "So, are we fleeing west, then?"
"How about north?" Zhang Yide pointed at Tian Long Forest.
Liu Xuande shook his head, "Nope! We're not running into that god-forsaken forest."
"But the forest queen has already moved her forces to Siren City. The forest is empty!"
"Because it's empty, nasty wild insects, wild beasts, and bandits might be lurking there. I want to go to a place where we can recuperate, not a place to hunt some bugs."
"I see. So we're going west to seek shelter under Brocell?"
Liu Xuande nodded, "We'll pretend to surrender to Brocell. Once we regain enough strength, we'll kill the bastard and steal whatever treasure and secrets he has."
"Sounds like a plan," Guan Yunchang and Zhang Yide laughed as they were used to this type of scheme. As for Xu Lanying, she inwardly sighed.
'I guess I have to tag along with them until I can remove the slave brand on my nascent soul. Well, since Brocell is rumored to be a demon, he might help me.'
Xu Lanying also wanted to meet Brocell as well.
Thus, the gang moved west, heading toward Xuan City, where the dungeon master had been hiding.
...
= Chicken Ann City =
Jian Yong, Jian Meng, ten Poison Pavilion's agents, and their disciples managed to break out of the city from the south.
These men used to be mercenaries of Liu Xuande, and they were usually asked to concoct various non-poison pills instead of doing what they were good at, such as assassinating someone or making poison.
Still, the two elders of Poison Pavilion didn't mind. After all, making poisonous substances was their hobby, not their real abilities or occupation.
After all, they had the surname of "Jian", which could be translated as "Sword".
Jian Meng easily cut through 6th-stage orcs and onis with ease even though his 5th-stage cultivation base seemed weaker than average cultivators. As for Jian Yong, he lopped off the heads of all pursuers with only his bare hand.
Both Jian Elders grumbled and clicked their tongues as they didn't want to reveal their TRUE cultivation base. They continued to use their limited strength while being wary of the other agents from the Poison Pavilion and their disciples.
Seeing how both elders slaughtered demons like flies, one of the agents admired Jian Meng, "Elder Jian, I didn't know that you were so good with the swords. You could even kill 6th-stage demons!"
Jian Meng pretended to be humble, "I used to work as a spy at Mountain Goose Sect for years. Obviously, I had to learn some sword skills to hide my identity."
"You're so talented, elder Jian! Once we get back to our headquarters, we should report your skills to the higher-ups, so they can give you more cultivation resources! Someone like you doesn't deserve to be sent to do mundane tasks like this."
"I'll think about it."
As they chatted, they broke away from the pursuers and got a chance to catch their breath.
Now, they were 50 kilometers south of Chicken Ann City, close to the mountain foot of Mount Hua Sect. If they moved east, they would find Mount Hua Sect, where they could ask for help.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAnother option was the south. However, they might have to fly over several mountains to reach the city of Zither Tongue, the home of Zhang Ren and his army.
However, if they were to head west, they would find Siren City!
The agents and the two Jians drew a map on the mud soil, planning their next move.
Jian Meng glanced at the square box in the map, which they indicated as Siren City.
Jian Yong noticed the eyes of his colleague. He wondered what his relative was thinking, "Do you think we should move west? Siren City won the war game, and they will start expanding their forces soon. I think they will begin hiring people in a few months."
Jian Meng shook his head, "No."
"Why?"
"I crippled Jia Shan a year ago. I think he should have found out about my deeds, and I doubt he would forgive me."
"Ah, shame."
The agents of Poison Pavilion also sighed in regret. They, too, wanted to rest at Siren City or join them.
But as the elders had been deciding where they should move, one of their disciples boldly joined their conversation.
The silver-haired maiden was the granddaughter of Dong Zhongying, the only survivor of the Dong Clan!
Dong Bai spoke in a clear voice that all disciples could hear her as well, "Senior Jian, Siren City is close by. We should move west."
Jian Meng immediately shook his head, "No. We won't go there."
"Then, I quit."
Dong Bai stripped her uniform in front of many men and wore a normal cultivator robe. Then, she tossed all items, which she had obtained from Jian Yong to the elders.
"Little wench, we took you in because we pitied you. Do you think you can leave us like this?" Jian Yong was offended.
"I didn't tell you to take me in. I PAID you to keep me safe for a year. Technically, I'm your employer, not your servant, SENIOR."
"Fool. You think you can hire us for measly 50 essence cores?"
"Look. Those 50 essence cores were my down payment, and I'll pay the rest once the contracted time is over. I would even pay you 10,000 essence cores if you were to kill Zhang Jue, but you all ignored my request. Well, since you kept ignoring my existence, I have no reason to keep pretending to be your disciple. Also, since you accepted my down payment and refused to complete the simple task, I'm free to leave."
"What down payment!? I thought that was a gift!"
"Well, if you don't understand, I'll keep it short. YOU'RE FIRED!!"
Dong Bai rolled her eyes and kicked the ground. She took out her flying sword treasure and rode it toward the west.
Jian Yong was so mad that he almost unseal his Qi suppression bracelet, which was the tool to hide his true strength. However, Jian Meng stopped him.
"Let her go."
"But that girl knows too much."
"That spoiled brat can't do anything to us. Leave her be. Actually, this might benefit us in the long run."
"Why?"
"Don't you know that Mao Miaomiao is a womanizer? A spoiled woman like her will surely cause a commotion in the city."