CHAPTER 335: CHAPTER 312: SETTING FIRE TO TEN THOUSAND CAVES MOUNTAIN!

CLANG—

Entirely distinct from the thunderous peal of lightning, a sound akin to the clashing of metal and iron reverberated the moment the Divine Extermination Strike, like pale lightning, burst upon Wu Qi’s body.

Countless splattering sparks of dazzling fireworks, blinding to behold, surged with extreme brilliance.

Vomiting a large clump of dark green blood plasma, Wu Qi’s body cracked open with numerous ugly and twisted crevices, from which large volumes of dark red, filthy yellow, ghastly green, and pitch-black smoke billowed.

"No soul?"

Eyes narrowing slightly, Qi Xiu revealed a hint of surprise.

In this world, the only beings that could survive without a soul are those strange entities born from the underworld. However, the intense demonic aura on this Vine Demon also clearly indicates that he is indeed a Demon.

"Capture first, ask questions later."

When the first Divine Extermination Strike failed to kill Wu Qi, Qi Xiu raised his hand and pointed, firing off another Divine Extermination Strike with extreme tyranny.

"Again?!"

Even without a soul, the terrifying power contained in the Divine Extermination Strike subjected Wu Qi to an unprecedented agony. It felt as if every inch of his flesh was being obliterated, nearly shattering his Consciousness outright.

He’s so far away from me; he must be a magic cultivator. I need to find an opportunity to get close and chop him up!

A flicker of murderous intent passed through the depths of his eyes as Wu Qi clutched the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff in his hand, and the demonic energy in his body surged abruptly.

BOOM—

Great swathes of vines shot out from the void, sweeping and lashing, with sweeping blasts of Qi Force, each capable of splitting mountains and tearing apart the earth.

With a phantasmal gait, Qi Xiu, as leisurely as if strolling through a courtyard, dodged the incoming vines and their Qi Force. His expression remained calm as he deftly sidestepped another vine spike that came at him.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH—

A tempestuous onslaught of vines, like a torrential downpour, bore down on him. Within these vines intertwined thin slivers of silver thread, exuding an ancient and Divine Marvelous scent.

Just once! If only I could strike him just once!

Lurking deep within the ocean of vines, Wu Qi’s eyes brimmed with venomous intent as he manipulated the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff. A Divine Marvel light, resembling the hue of flower blossoms, continuously shone from the Treasure Bead atop the Dao Body Magical Treasure, latching onto the vines.

Divine Marvel—Blossoming Profusion!

This was one of the Divine Marvel Powers possessed by the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff.

Anyone wounded by it would immediately have the Blossoming Profusion Divine Marvel take root inside their body, consuming the host’s flesh, Cultivation, and even their soul, causing flowers to bloom endlessly.

And this Divine Marvel was extremely difficult to expel. The more one resisted, the more severe the erosion became.

Previously, Wei Wujie had been injured by this Divine Marvel. His flesh and Cultivation were nearly hollowed out by this Blossoming Profusion Divine Marvel. If Dongfang Qing hadn’t used the Nine Extremes Apocalyptic Thunder Relics to reconstruct his body for him, even if he had managed to save his life, at most only one-tenth of his Cultivation could have been restored.

Watching the extremely inconspicuous slender silver thread mixed within the countless vines drawing near, now only five meters from Qi Xiu...

Success! At this proximity, a hit is virtually guaranteed! Wu Qi’s heart surged with elation.

With a shift of his gaze, Qi Xiu’s robe suddenly burst into purple flames.

In the next instant!

He transformed, his body abruptly becoming a phantom made purely of purple fire. The endless sea of fire empowered him, towering over a hundred meters tall, majestic and grand, his luminescent eyes looking down upon Wu Qi.

[Formless Fire Emperor Magic Body]

HISS—

The silver threads, mixed with the Blossoming Profusion Divine Marvel, shot into the Formless Fire Emperor Magic Body and were instantly incinerated.

"A Dao Body manifestation that dominates Heaven and Earth?! Are you a Dao Expert?!"

Mistaking Qi Xiu’s Formless Fire Emperor Magic Body for a Dao Expert’s domain over Heaven and Earth, Wu Qi let out a piercing scream and turned to run.

Once I get back, I’ll definitely eat those blind Little Demons alive! This is a Dao Expert we’re dealing with!

"Come back here!"

With an outstretched Qing Tian hand, Qi Xiu instantly unleashed five Divine Extermination Strikes. The terrifying pale lightning overtook Wu Qi, striking him heavily.

"Ahh!"

With an utterly wretched cry, Wu Qi fell straight from mid-air.

With a slight curl of his fingers, endless purple firelight swept forth, forcibly dragging the Vine Demon back. With a mere thought from Qi Xiu, thousands of Suppressing Talismans surged forth.

Suppression Talisman Seal Skill!

Thumb-thick golden chains firmly trussed up Wu Qi, as the surging force of suppression permeated his body, silencing all his power.

Reverting from the Formless Fire Emperor Magic Body, Qi Xiu looked thoughtfully at the now unconscious Wu Qi before him.

Without a soul, I can’t perform a Soul Search. This Vine Demon must be one of the Demons assigned to preside over the summoning ritual array in Ten Thousand Caves Mountain. Perhaps the Sect Master and the others have a way to make him talk.

With a thought, Qi Xiu waved his large sleeve, intending to tuck Wu Qi into the Universe in the Sleeve to hand over to the Sect Master for handling.

But just as his robe was about to sweep up Wu Qi, the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff suddenly manifested itself from within his body. This unremarkable black staff obstructed Wu Qi. Around it began to emit layers of grayish-yellow Divine Marvel Power.

Under the influence of this power, the Suppressing Talisman chains on Wu Qi started to dim and then began to break one by one.

"Time?"

His gaze intensifying as he scrutinized the emanating power from the staff, Qi Xiu first thought it was the Power of Chrono Light. But upon closer inspection, it seemed different.

"No, it’s not time, but rather the power of withering under life and death in yin and yang—a power that can lead all things to decay."

Activating his Observing Qi Skill, Qi Xiu immediately recognized the source of the staff’s emitted power.

Divine Marvel—Grey Wither!

"Two kinds of Divine Marvels? A Magical Treasure?" Qi Xiu’s eyes flickered.

Whether it’s a Demonic Artifact crafted by Demons or a Magic Artifact refined through other means, they can generally embody only one Divine Marvel. Only a Magical Treasure personally refined by a Dao Expert can carry two or even more Divine Marvels. A Magical Treasure of superior quality can even allow multiple Divine Marvels to merge, elevating them into an even more powerful Divine Marvel. And this staff in the Vine Demon’s hands possesses two Divine Marvels. It’s indeed a Dao Body Magical Treasure!

"Innate Spirit Essence, capable of protecting its master on its own... To have such a precious Magical Treasure bestowed upon you, your identity must be far from simple. Therefore, I’m even more determined to capture you and bring you back."

Sensing the aura emitted by the staff before him, Qi Xiu sneered coldly. Suddenly, a dazzlingly brilliant golden light burst forth from his back, accompanied by the lofty roar of a dragon.

Dragon Binding Rope!

Having summoned this Dragon Court’s Treasure, Qi Xiu pointed with his hand.

"Shatter it!"

ROAR—

Filled with excitement, the Dragon Binding Rope let out a thunderous dragon’s roar and suddenly transformed into a beam of golden light, shooting straight toward the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff!

WHOOSH—

Without a moment’s hesitation, the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff extended a few vines, swiftly wrapping around the still unconscious Wu Qi. Two vine-like legs grew from the base of the staff, and it bolted away!

Although both were Magical Treasures, the Dragon Binding Rope was refined by the True Dragon Clan, specifically to imprison Karmic Dragons and evil dragons—a Dragon Court’s Treasure. Even Primordial Spirit Bosses would feel intimidated by it. The Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff, while also a Magical Treasure, was merely refined by the Sovereign of Myriad Vines.

The difference between the two was like comparing houses: one an 800-square-meter unmatched riverside mansion, and the other an old, decrepit 30-square-meter flat in the suburbs. The gap between them was more than significant.

The jolting motion of being carried away by the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff jostled Wu Qi awake from his faint.

"What’s happening..."

Groggily lifting his head, Wu Qi opened his eyes to see the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff madly sprinting away with him. Sensing the fear and dread emanating from the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff’s Spirit Essence, Wu Qi was momentarily stunned, then his expression changed drastically.

That person really is a Dao Expert! Otherwise, why would the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff be so afraid? It’s over! A Human Race Dao Expert has broken into Ten Thousand Caves Mountain! We’re all doomed!

Alarmed and anxious, Wu Qi’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted once again.

The Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff moved extremely fast, its two vine legs speeding as it ran on air. In an instant, it had passed through three mountain cave spaces.

But the Dragon Binding Rope was, after all, a supreme treasure specifically for restraining Karmic Dragons. No matter how fast the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff was, could it really outpace a True Dragon?

As the dark wooden staff burst into the fourth mountain cave space, the Dragon Binding Rope caught up, its ancient bloodstained tether poised to whip down.

But at this moment, the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff suddenly extended dozens of vines, which violently pierced into the unconscious Wu Qi’s body.

"Agh!"

Awoken by the intense pain, Wu Qi immediately came to his senses, but before he could grasp what was happening, the Magical Treasure he had relied on for protection had swiftly drained him into a wizened husk.

Qi Xiu, following from behind, saw that the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff had so decisively silenced Wu Qi, and his eyes darkened.

The witness is gone.

With a hint of anger flashing in his eyes, Qi Xiu willed the Dragon Binding Rope to destroy the wooden staff.

Just as the strike was about to land, Qi Xiu, who had caught up, pursed his lips. After a moment of hesitation, he raised his hand to stop the Dragon Binding Rope, instead directing it to firmly restrain this Magical Treasure.

Looking at the staff in his hand, still struggling and trembling, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

This staff was surely bestowed by some Demon King upon these Demons in charge of managing the ritual formations, for their protection. Now that I have seized this Magical Treasure... Those Demons have become toothless tigers...

A cold intent to kill emerged from the depths of Qi Xiu’s eyes. On this mission to Ten Thousand Caves Mountain, beyond the call of duty, there were also personal vendettas.

If I were to take this Magical Treasure out of the mountains now and hand it over to the Sect Master, it could probably be used to convict the Demonic Evil Cultivators. But if I do that, the group of Demons inside this mountain would most likely be taken away by the higher-ups for disposition. Although their ultimate end would undoubtedly be death... But there’s a difference between them being killed by others and me killing them myself. It might seem the same, but it’s not. I’m not someone who seeks revenge for every wrong or harbors grudges. But some things... are a matter of principle.

Quietly stowing the Withered and Flourishing Flower Staff away, Qi Xiu sat down cross-legged, placing his hands on his knees, palms up, with his middle finger and thumb clasped together, forming an ancient Daoist Incantation.

"Let everything follow its natural course, with a clear conscience. Today, I will indulge myself. Since Ten Thousand Caves Mountain is vast and boundless, with interconnected caves, finding these Demons is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Then I, Qi Someone, will set Ten Thousand Caves Mountain ablaze today! Let’s see how long you can hide!"

The Hunyuan Dragon Tiger Scripture Mystery began to circulate. Qi Xiu’s aura grew intense and fiery, and rolling heat waves surged upward, piercing the heavens.

In the next instant!

A purple tiger stepped out leisurely from the void. The temperature around it soared with each step, causing the Cosmic Bi to twist and warp. The extreme heat seemed poised to burn through the void. A pair of lazy yet latently domineering tiger eyes swept around, exerting a terrifying oppressive force.

After the purple tiger appeared, the Mo Jiao with crimson eyes behind Qi Xiu also slithered into view.

After Qi Xiu uttered a few quiet words, the Mo Jiao heard his command, nodded slowly, then turned and disappeared into the depths of the void, its destination unknown.