A Compendium of One Hundred Demons: My Path to Immortality in a World of Demons and Monsters

Meanwhile, at another camp in Demon Valley.

Liu Ruyan sat cross-legged in the tent, an oil lamp in front of her, the flickering candlelight casting an unpredictable shadow on her delicate face.

The curtain was lifted, and a man in black slipped inside.

"Miss, we've found out." The man in black said in a low voice, "That Xu Yuan has hunted down a total of thirteen demons in the past two days, including four demon generals and nine demon soldiers. He's currently ranked seventh in points."

Liu Ruyan's eyes turned cold: "Seventh?"

"Yes," the man in black continued, "but he seems to still have energy left. Every hunt is clean and efficient, and he has never been injured."

Liu Ruyan was silent for a moment, then slowly asked, "What about Shen Moyan?"

"Young Master Shen went to Xu Yuan's place tonight, and the two talked for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The specific content is unknown."

Liu Ruyan frowned slightly.

Shen Moyan...

Her senior brother from the Green Mountain Sect has always been arrogant and his lineage is quite mysterious. How could he possibly be interested in a wild boy from a mountain village?

Could it be?

She suddenly remembered something.

Shen Moyan seems to have a cousin who lives alone in Qingyang County, while Xu Yuan seems to have come from that poor and remote place.

"I see." Liu Ruyan sneered. "Trying to back Xu Yuan up? Shen Moyan, you're giving him far too much credit."

She stood up, walked to the tent flap, lifted a corner, and looked up at the night sky.

"Tomorrow we'll hunt that half-step demon general. I want to see what kind of trouble this country bumpkin can cause."

She withdrew her gaze, a cold smile curving her lips.

"Pass down the order: proceed according to plan."

"yes!"

…………

The next morning, deep within Demon Spirit Valley.

As the horn sounded, all the participating martial artists gathered in an open area.

Today is the fourth day of the Demon-Slaying Tournament, and also the day to hunt down half-step demon general level demons.

On the high platform, Shangguan Yunhe sat in the center, with the figures sitting on his left and right sides all exuding extraordinary auras—there were battalion commanders from various camps of the Demon Suppression Division, elders of the Green Mountain Sect, and heads of various families.

Among the crowd watching the ceremony, three unfamiliar faces caught Xu Yuan's attention.

An elderly man with white hair, a gaunt face, gentle eyes, and an aura that was restrained and unfathomable.

A middle-aged scholar, dressed in a scholar's robe and wearing a feather fan, smiled amiably, like a schoolteacher.

There was also a man in black robes, wearing a bamboo hat, whose face was obscured, and who exuded a chilling aura.

Xu Yuan also stood in the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the three people.

The white-haired old man seemed to notice his gaze, turned his head to look, and smiled slightly.

The smile was gentle, yet it inexplicably sent a chill down Xu Yuan's spine.

"Are these three people from Tianwu Academy?"

Just then, Shangguan Yunhe spoke up.

"Gentlemen!" His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, "Today's hunt will proceed according to the following rules—"

"The half-step demon general-level monster 'Crimson Scale Python' dwells in the deep, cold pool of the valley. Participants from all camps, families, and sects can freely form teams or act alone."

"Whoever inflicts the greatest damage on the Crimson Scale Python will be credited with the greatest achievement, and will receive an extra 300 points!"

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Three hundred points!

This is equivalent to hunting down thirty demon soldiers or three demon generals!

"Furthermore," Shangguan Yunhe continued, "anyone who can slay the Crimson Scale Python alone will be guaranteed a spot in the top ten, and the reward will be doubled!"

Double the reward?

Many people's eyes immediately turned red.

But reason quickly prevailed over impulse.

A half-step demon general is equivalent to a peak Qi Condensation Realm expert!

Let alone killing alone, even if you team up to attack, the slightest mistake could result in total annihilation.

"The rules are set. Get ready. The hunt will begin in an hour!"

The crowd dispersed and began to discuss and devise countermeasures.

Xu Yuan stood still, fully activating his [Yin Qi Perception] ability.

Within an area of ​​eighty feet, all kinds of auras were clearly visible.

He quickly pinpointed the direction of the cold pool in the valley—there, an extremely dense demonic aura emanated, far surpassing the others, clearly indicating the presence of the Crimson Scale Python.

"Brother Xu, what should we do?" Meng Hu approached with a serious expression. "Should we team up with people from other battalions?"

Xu Yuan shook his head: "Teaming up would only restrict our actions; let's act on our own."

"Myself?" Meng Hu's eyes widened. "That's a half-step Demon General!"

"I didn't say we'd just go up and chop it down." Xu Yuan chuckled. "We'll follow behind, see what happens, and if there's an opportunity, we'll go in; if not, we'll retreat."

After pondering for a moment, Meng Hu hesitated before nodding, "Okay, I'll listen to you!"

Just then, a cold gaze fell upon them.

Xu Yuan turned his head and happened to meet Liu Ruyan's phoenix eyes.

She stood in the center of a group of scions of prominent families, a cold smile playing on her lips, looking at him as if he were a dead man.

Xu Yuan calmly withdrew his gaze, pretending not to have seen it.

"Brother Xu, it seems that Liu Ruyan has her eye on you again," Meng Hu whispered.

"So what if she's watching me?" Xu Yuan said nonchalantly. "It's not like I haven't been watched by her before."

Meng Hu gave a thumbs up: "Brother Xu, you're really awesome."

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn is quickly up.

The bugle sounded again, and the hunt officially began!

Hundreds of martial artists surged into the depths of the valley like a tide, rushing towards the cold pool.

Xu Yuan, with Meng Hu by his side, followed behind at a leisurely pace.

[Yin Qi Perception] Fully activated, everything around you is under control.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a commotion suddenly arose ahead.

"The Crimson-Scaled Python! The Crimson-Scaled Python has appeared!"

"Run—!"

Screams, cries of alarm, and the clashing of weapons mingled together.

Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed, and he quickened his pace.

A moment later, the scene before him made his pupils shrink slightly.

On the bank of the icy pool, a giant python, ten zhang long, was wreaking havoc.

Its entire body is covered in crimson scales that gleam with a metallic sheen in the sunlight. Its vertical pupils are cold and ruthless, and it occasionally spews out green poisonous mist from its mouth, instantly withering away any vegetation in its path.

By this time, seven or eight people had fallen into pools of blood. Some were corroded by the poisonous mist and their faces were unrecognizable. Others had been struck by the giant tail and their bones were shattered.

"This...this is a half-step demon general..." Meng Hu's voice trembled.

Xu Yuan didn't move; he began to fully analyze the weaknesses of the Crimson Scale Python using his [Yin Qi Perception].

The demonic energy was dense, but there was a slight stagnation in its operation, which was at the joints where the scales were not fully covered.

It is extremely fast, but there is a brief lag when turning, which is due to the inertia caused by its large size.

The poisonous mist is potent, but there's a noticeable inhalation before it's sprayed, a common trait among snake-like monsters.

"There's a chance." Xu Yuan's lips curled into a smile, his heart slightly at ease.

Just then, several figures stepped out from the crowd and rushed straight at the Crimson Scale Python!

The person in the lead was none other than Shen Moyan.

He was dressed in white, his long sword unsheathed, and a streak of azure sword light slashed towards the seven-inch mark of the Crimson Scale Python like a bolt of lightning!

"clang--!"

The sword light struck the scales, leaving a white mark.

The red-scaled python cried out in pain, letting out a sharp hiss as it swept its massive tail across the ground!

Shen Moyan dodged the attack with a swift movement.

At the same time, several more people joined the fray.

Lin Xiaotian of Dongying wields a giant axe, possessing immense strength; each strike carries the power to split mountains and shatter rocks.

Qin Shuang from the Western Camp moved with unpredictable agility, constantly harassing the Crimson Scale Python.

There was also Liu Ruyan, who stood at a distance, her hands forming a seal, and fireballs bombarded the Crimson Scale Python.

Under the combined attack of the crowd, the Crimson Scale Python seemed to be gradually losing ground.

But at that moment, something unexpected happened!

Suddenly, the Crimson-Scaled Python opened its mouth and spat out a fist-sized, crimson bead.

The bead hovered in mid-air, spinning wildly and emitting a terrifyingly hot aura.

"A demon core!" someone exclaimed. "It's going all out!"

Before the words were even finished, the demon core suddenly exploded!

Countless crimson flames poured down like a torrential rain, covering an area of ​​thirty feet in radius!

"Oh no, retreat quickly!"

The crowd scattered and fled, but some were unable to escape in time and were engulfed by the flames, turning into charred corpses amidst screams.

Shen Moyan and the others also retreated in a disheveled state, all bearing some injuries.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Crimson-Scaled Python retreated back into the icy pool, revealing only its pair of cold, vertical pupils, which it watched warily at the group.

"Damn it, it got away!" Lin Xiaotian cursed angrily.

Qin Shuang frowned: "It's injured, but it still has the strength to fight. However, if it stays in the cold pool and doesn't come out, we won't be able to do anything to it."

Liu Ruyan looked at the cold pool and pondered, "The cold pool is bottomless. Going down rashly will surely lead to death. We must find a way to force it out."

Everyone fell silent.

Everyone knows that, but how easy is it to force a half-step demon general level monster out of the cold pool?

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out in the arena.

"I'll give it a try!"