The powerful fist wind had not yet reached him, but Zhou Cheng already felt a sharp stab of pain in his back.
A frenzied glint flashed in his eyes.
Even if I die, I'll drag you down with me!
He patted his storage bag, took out a handful of talismans, and threw them behind him, shouting, "Go to hell!"
Boom!
The attacks within the talismans erupted, and the vast spiritual energy formed a huge vortex, emitting a terrifying suction force, as if it would devour everything around it.
"Haha, haha... Xiong Zhuangzhuang! You can't escape!"
Zhou Cheng was already injured, and when the talismans exploded, he was also affected due to his close proximity. Now, facing the vortex, he had no power to resist. He could only laugh maniacally, and then, with hatred for Xiong Zhuangzhuang, he was swept into the vortex.
In less than a breath, he was torn to shreds by the raging spiritual power within the vortex, vanishing into thin air.
From a distance, Xu Yi had not expected Zhou Cheng to choose such a desperate, mutually destructive method. Standing there, she could feel the oppressive force of the vortex.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang was likely in grave danger.
Just as Xu Yi shook her head and sighed, Lu Zaiye spoke, "Xiong Zhuangzhuang won't die that easily."
Xu Yi's eyes lit up. She stared intently in the direction of the vortex, curious how Xiong Zhuangzhuang would escape from it.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Xu Yi still couldn't see Xiong Zhuangzhuang's figure. Just as she was wondering, Shi Liu suddenly retreated a few steps, "Is something about to emerge from the ground?"
Hearing this, Xu Yi formed a hand seal, preparing for defense.
The next moment, a dusty head emerged from the ground, revealing a row of white teeth. "Don't attack, it's me."
Xu Yi: ...
Could she say she almost attacked?
This was a bit too horrifying.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang chuckled twice again, and then, like a bamboo shoot breaking through the soil, he grew out of the ground.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang swept away the dirt on his body with spiritual energy, muttering fiercely, "He who courts destruction will destroy himself."
Xu Yi blinked, sensing a more complex meaning in Xiong Zhuangzhuang's tone.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's heart was much softer than his appearance suggested.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang took a deep breath, suppressed the annoyance in his heart, and pretended to be calm, saying, "The commotion here is too great. No demonic beasts should come for a while. Coincidentally, I have a cultivation technique that can conceal one's aura. You two should learn it too."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang knew that demonic beasts' senses were far superior to those of cultivators of the same level. If they did not conceal their auras and proceed with caution, they would soon be discovered by the demonic beasts here, falling into crisis again.
Therefore, for everyone's safety, this Gui Xi Gong (Breath Concealing Technique) had to be learned.
"A cultivation technique to conceal one's aura? Was it with this that you dodged the mountain peak giant eagle's attack just now?" Xu Yi's eyes lit up.
"Yes."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang did not hold back, carving Gui Xi Gong onto a blank jade slip and handing it to the two.
Xu Yi said, "I'm really sorry," while quickly accepting the jade slip.
Lu Zaiye chuckled, once again seeing through Xu Yi's true intentions behind her playful facade.
They found a secluded spot. Xiong Zhuangzhuang kept watch, while Xu Yi and Lu Zaiye diligently studied Gui Xi Gong.
The next day, the three chose a direction with the weakest demonic energy to proceed.
To show respect to Xiong Zhuangzhuang, Xu Yi and Lu Zaiye did not ride demonic beasts. Instead, they walked with Xiong Zhuangzhuang. The two demonic beasts wagged their tails lazily, following beside them.
Along the way, Xu Yi had a sudden thought and asked, "Xiong Zhuangzhuang, do you know the characteristics of the Soul Returning Demonic Fruit? Perhaps we might actually encounter one."
They were in Shenzhou now, and anything was possible.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's spirits lifted, but he soon frowned again. "According to the sect's records, there are no set locations for the Soul Returning Demonic Fruit. It is only known that it emits a unique fragrance when ripe."
Back then, in order to find a way to cure Xiong Da, Xiong Zhuangzhuang had flipped through all the records in the sect related to the Soul Returning Demonic Fruit, but the information he obtained was very little.
Xu Yi tapped her chin, remaining silent. With just these few sentences, it would be difficult to find the Soul Returning Demonic Fruit based on the requirements.
"Actually, I've come to terms with whether or not we can find the Soul Returning Demonic Fruit," Xiong Zhuangzhuang said, a hint of melancholy appearing on his rugged face. "I am more worried about Elder Chi Yu and Junior Sister Yin. I don't know where they are now."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang had tried to contact them using a communication disk when he was at the Demon King's Palace, but this time, he had received no response.
Elder Chi Yu had profound cultivation, so Xiong Zhuangzhuang could be somewhat reassured. However, Junior Sister Yin only had Golden Core cultivation, and she would likely face great difficulties alone.
Xiong Da was his contracted demonic beast, and it was his duty to go all out for it. But Junior Sister Yin was innocent.
If she were implicated because of this, Xiong Zhuangzhuang would never be able to forgive himself in this life.
Xu Yi's mood also grew heavy. She racked her brain for words to comfort Xiong Zhuangzhuang.
However, judging by Xiong Zhuangzhuang's expression, her words did not seem to have much effect.
Perhaps it was due to Gui Xi Gong, but they had traveled for three days within Shenzhou without encountering any major crises. The occasional demonic beasts they encountered were also killed by their combined efforts.
And they finally figured out where they were.
According to Shi Liu's reconnaissance, this was the territory of a Divine Transformation stage demonic beast, the Golden-Horned Green Ox. If they could cross through here, they would reach Yangshen Qian and thus leave Shenzhou.
After discussing it, they boldly decided to pass through the Golden-Horned Green Ox's territory.
Although the Golden-Horned Green Ox's cultivation was two realms higher than theirs, as long as they did not cause too much disturbance, the other party would likely not discover them.
With their plan in place, Xu Yi walked over to Shi Liu, affectionately petting it a few times. Just as Shi Liu was about to jump up in protest, she said, "Shi Liu, we are leaving. You and Mudan should stay here."
Shi Liu and Mudan simultaneously raised their heads in shock, unable to believe what they had heard.
"Xu Yi, what do you mean by this? Am I the kind of horse that fears death!"
Shi Liu angrily dodged Xu Yi's hand, staring at her face, wondering if kicking her head with a hoof would make her come to her senses.
"Rumble rumble." The snow leopard also let out an unhappy rumble.
"That's not what I mean," Xu Yi quickly explained as the two demonic beasts bristled. "We are leaving Shenzhou, and you are demonic beasts by nature, so staying here is the best."
Xu Yi did not want the two demonic beasts to follow them into danger.
"Who says so? I, I, I can also return to the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge!" Shi Liu said this somewhat guiltily.
In fact, in its opinion, it and Mudan had benefited the most from this trip to Yangshen Qian.
They had not only obtained the complete inheritance of the Demon Attendant but had also returned to their homeland, Shenzhou.
As long as they waited for a while and digested everything they had learned at the Demon King's Palace, they would surely be able to advance further.
Xu Yi and Lu Zaiye had treated them well on this journey. They were not ungrateful demonic beasts, and to turn away at this moment felt wrong, so they were unwilling to leave.
"Shi Liu, I knew you couldn't bear to leave me."
Xu Yi was deeply touched and gave Shi Liu a big hug.
Seeing this, Mudan also looked at Lu Zaiye expectantly.
Lu Zaiye sensed Mudan's gaze. His indifferent eyes swept over it, and it immediately cowered, lowering its head.