"You don't seem scared?"
Bei Ming found Zhang Ergou surprisingly calm despite his shock, which made him even more intrigued.
"Scared? Haha, ridiculous. What cultivator doesn't consider slaying demons their duty."
Zhang Ergou ignored the blood flowing from his lips and glared at the culprit who was putting on such a show.
"Stubborn brat."
Seeing Zhang Ergou's defiance, Bei Ming's expression darkened.
"Since you refuse to join me, keeping you alive will only be an obstacle to my demonic race. Today, I shall kill you myself." Su Dan Novel Network.
"Many have tried to take my life; who do you think you are?"
Zhang Ergou suddenly threw the spear in his hand. It flew directly towards Bei Ming's face.
Bei Ming, caught off guard by the sudden attack, dodged hastily. The spear tip grazed his cheek, and blood gushed out.
"Brat, you're courting death."
Bei Ming was utterly enraged.
Black energy swirled around his hand as he unleashed a palm strike towards Zhang Ergou.
However, the anticipated impact on Zhang Ergou never occurred. Instead, the black demonic energy seemed to recoil as if facing its natural predator.
He retreated in a hurry, even appearing flustered.
Bei Ming, confused, struck out again. It was then he noticed two transparent flames flickering around Zhang Ergou's hands.
The black demonic energy scattered and fled upon encountering the flames.
Those who were too slow were all refined by the spiritual fire.
"Well done, I underestimated you."
Seeing this, Bei Ming began to consider retreat.
Yet, he showed no sign of fear, launching another sword strike towards Zhang Ergou.
Demonic energy, by nature, craved the Yin and darkness.
Conversely, the spiritual fire within Zhang Ergou was the epitome of Yang, inherently opposing all darkness in the world.
Witnessing his demonic energy being suppressed, Bei Ming immediately changed tactics.
But this was unsustainable. His cultivation was largely supported by demonic energy.
Without it, defeat was inevitable.
Bei Ming was already contemplating an escape route.
Li Xun, Li Zhan, and Qu Yao, seeing Zhang Ergou and Bei Ming engage once more, didn't stand idle. They converged on Bei Ming from the east, south, and west, surrounding him.
This made Bei Ming's escape significantly more difficult.
While Bei Ming and Zhang Ergou fought, Li Xun retrieved the long sword Bei Ming had dropped.
"This is the moment."
As Bei Ming launched a sword strike at Zhang Ergou, his entire back was exposed to Li Xun.
"Go!"
Li Xun's long sword flew out, aimed directly at Bei Ming's back.
*Swoosh!*
*Thwack!*
Sensing danger from behind, Bei Ming spun around in a panic. He was still struck in the arm by Li Xun's sword, and blood spurted out like a fountain.
"You dare, you impudent brat!"
Bei Ming, enraged, swung a palm at Li Xun behind him.
*Bang!*
Li Xun's body, like a kite with a broken string, flew in a graceful arc and crashed into a pile of ruins.
As Li Xun was sent flying, Li Zhan drew his bowstring taut, aiming for the back of Bei Ming's head.
*Twang!*
The arrow shot out but stopped dead a few inches from Bei Ming's body.
Bei Ming turned and gave Li Zhan a deep look. Li Zhan felt as if he were being stared down by a ferocious beast.
A chilling, sinister sensation crept up his spine.
With the interference from Li Xun and Li Zhan, Zhang Ergou's pressure significantly lessened.
Bei Ming, now preoccupied, had to guard against the young girl who hadn't attacked yet.
These human cultivators were truly cunning.
Bei Ming felt a surge of displeasure at the thought of being defeated by mere juniors. He was a prominent figure in the Demonic Realm. How long had it been since he arrived in the cultivation world, only to be routed and forced to flee? He could already imagine the ridicule.
However, the coordination between these youngsters was remarkably seamless. He'd repel one, and another would suddenly appear from a different direction, keeping him constantly on edge.
Furthermore, one of them possessed the spiritual fire he detested so intensely, adding to his woes.
Without the array's cover, Bei Ming found himself increasingly outmaneuvered and gradually losing stamina.
In contrast, the young man opposite him fought like an unkillable cockroach, growing stronger with each passing moment. His spiritual energy seemed inexhaustible. As their strengths shifted, Bei Ming began to show signs of defeat.
He swatted away an arrow shot by Li Zhan.
Bei Ming noticed that the young girl on the west had remained inactive.
Could that be a weak point? It seemed like the perfect escape route.
Bei Ming fought while retreating, his path leading him towards Qu Yao's position in the west.
"No, he's trying to escape! Qu Yao, be careful!"
Zhang Ergou quickly sent a telepathic message to Qu Yao.
Qu Yao braced herself, unleashing her dan fire. The yellow flames were particularly striking in the dark night.
"What bad luck, another fire spirit root."
Bei Ming's retreating steps faltered. The distant flames made him wary.
Demons were naturally afraid of fire.
No matter what kind of flames the young girl wielded, Bei Ming wanted no part of it.
*Thwack!*
Finally, Li Zhan's arrow found its mark, embedding itself firmly in Bei Ming's back, drawing a spray of blood.
Bei Ming staggered and lunged towards Li Zhan. Zhang Ergou and the others moved to attack, but they hadn't anticipated Bei Ming's sudden change of direction.
*Bang!*
Li Zhan's body plummeted rapidly, crashing into the ground and creating a large crater.
Both Li Zhan and Li Xun were now incapacitated.
"Brat, I will return."
After leaving behind a threat, Bei Ming broke through the area where Li Zhan had been and fled.
Zhang Ergou immediately gave chase, unleashing his Phantom Steps to their maximum, his body a blur of afterimages.
...
"Li Zhan, Li Xun, how are you?"
Qu Yao hurried to retrieve Li Xun from the ruins and Li Zhan from the crater, bringing them together.
She then administered a pill to each of them, and their complexions slowly began to improve.
...
Zhang Ergou closely followed Bei Ming's retreating figure, never falling behind.
However, Bei Ming's movement technique seemed superior to the Phantom Steps. After crossing several mountain peaks, Zhang Ergou lost sight of him.
With no other choice, Zhang Ergou had to return to check on his companions.
...
"How was it, Brother Ergou?"
Seeing Zhang Ergou return, the others breathed a sigh of relief.
Encountering such a formidable enemy so soon after arriving, and nearly losing half their fighting strength, left them all shaken.
The sight of Zhang Ergou unharmed offered them some comfort.
"He escaped." Zhang Ergou's tone was dejected.
"And I discovered that the direction he fled was not towards the Demonic Realm."
Instantly, the expressions of the others changed drastically.