Chapter Seventy-Four: The Illusory Realm of the Heavenly Demon

Stepping onto this unfamiliar land, Long Yun glanced around, and could not help but draw in a sharp breath. As far as his eyes could see, there was nothing but empty wilderness and trees—no houses, not a single person in sight.

Standing upon this desolate expanse, it felt as though he had entered some primeval era, so ancient and barren that even the breath of life seemed to have vanished.

Long Yun’s brows furrowed slightly as his spiritual sense cautiously extended outward. At the same time, he readied his body, determined his direction, and soared away.

The Heavenly Demon Mirage gave him a sense of vastness—an immeasurable distance, a place where he felt stripped of any dominion over life itself.

What a formidable presence! Long Yun abruptly halted, instantly withdrew his spiritual sense, and broke out in a cold sweat. At that moment, a chilling, sinister air swept over him.

He hurriedly suppressed his aura, allowing the intent of the sword to surge around him, transforming into a sacred force that guarded his body. His gaze was wary as he stared ahead.

Just now, his spiritual sense had suddenly brushed against an aura of extreme evil—a power so overwhelming that it made him tremble.

The owner of that aura seemed to have sensed Long Yun’s alien presence. A colossal spiritual sense swept back and forth, passing over Long Yun countless times.

Relying on the protection of his sword intent, Long Yun suppressed all traces of life within himself, becoming like an abandoned sword. Though the probing sense was powerful, it did not discover him.

Only after a long time did that presence finally fade away. By then, Long Yun’s back was already slick with cold sweat. How could such terrifying demons exist within the Heavenly Demon Mirage?

At this rate, he feared he would not earn a single point. He even suspected that Azure Sect had deliberately assigned him to an especially dangerous region.

With that thought, he dared not linger. Carefully restraining his aura, he continued forward. He had to leave this place, or he would never be able to hunt any demons.

While Long Yun was cautiously avoiding the notice of those formidable monsters, in another area, two figures stood side by side. The fierce wind whipped their robes, making them billow.

“Brother Chu, the demons here are of low rank. If we continue like this, we won’t earn many points. Let’s try another region,” suggested Bai Yuanzhan, another disciple of Azure Sect at the Return to Origin stage.

Chu Huaran gazed ahead, a trace of pride flickering in his eyes. He replied, “Very well. As hosts, if our points aren’t far ahead of theirs, all the elder’s efforts would go to waste. Let’s move on and try our luck.”

Bai Yuanzhan chuckled. “Of course we won’t let the elder’s efforts go to waste. It’s just a pity about those two disciples from Jade Sword Sect, thrown into the Death Domain for nothing!”

A cruel smile curled at Chu Huaran’s lips. “Those two are rare talents of Jade Sword Sect, their gifts even surpassing my own. Even if I said nothing, the elder would never have allowed them to remain.”

Bai Yuanzhan nodded, grinning. “But, Brother Chu, that little girl is quite fetching. If she weren’t a disciple of Jade Sword Sect, she’d make a fine companion to warm your bed!”

Chu Huaran laughed. “I’m afraid she doesn’t have that fortune. Enough talk, let’s go. We mustn’t waste any more time!”

With those words, the two figures vanished from where they stood.

The Death Domain—within the entire Heavenly Demon Mirage—was the most perilous place. It was said that demons abounded there, with countless innate-level demons prowling its depths.

The disciples participating in the hunt possessed, at most, the cultivation of the First Stage of the Innate Eight Realms. Entering the Death Domain meant certain death; thus, it had always been sealed.

This time, Chu Huaran had secretly hinted to the elder who activated the Heavenly Demon Mirror, asking him to throw Long Yun and Liu Xiaoxiao into the Death Domain.

The elder, astonished by the talent of Long Yun and Liu Xiaoxiao, became jealous. With Chu Huaran’s instigation, he agreed without hesitation.

But, as the one involved, Long Yun knew nothing of this. At this moment, he was treading carefully through the Death Domain.

“The demonic energy here is so dense that even the spiritual energy of heaven and earth feels thin. The demons are all powerful—what rotten luck to be sent here!” Long Yun sighed.

Along the way, he encountered many demons. To his shock, not a single one was below the innate level. Fortunately, his body contained a potent sword intent, which veiled his presence and kept him from alerting the demons.

Yet at the same time, Long Yun felt deeply vexed. This area seemed completely cut off from the outside; he had wandered for a long time without finding an exit, only to be blocked by an invisible barrier.

“Damn it, those bastards from Azure Sect must have played a trick, or how else could this have happened?” Long Yun cursed inwardly. Still, as long as he kept walking, no real danger would arise.

Perhaps the demons here had grown complacent and were less vigilant, but what concerned Long Yun most was that he might be unable to hunt any demons and earn points.

The thought made him sigh again.

Suddenly, his spiritual sense picked up a faint ripple ahead, and Long Yun’s previously dejected eyes lit up.

“A demon at the Return to Origin stage!” This was the first time since his arrival that he sensed a demon weaker than the innate level, and there were no stronger demon presences nearby.

Long Yun was delighted. Any points were better than none—even if the score wouldn’t be high, at least he wouldn’t finish this hunt with nothing.

In a flash, he moved in the direction of the Return to Origin demon’s aura.

“Not just one!” Long Yun’s eyes gleamed with the thrill of a hunter spotting prey. He gazed greedily at the four dark figures seated on the forest floor, a faint smile curling his lips.

Four demons of the Return to Origin stage were, to him, nothing of consequence.

If it were Chang Yi or Xiao Leng, they might have retreated, but not Long Yun. As a candidate for the Dragon Fang of Divine Dragon Island, he had been cast into demon abysses more than once.

He had survived countless battles encircled by demons, gaining invaluable experience in both demonic combat strength and fighting styles.

All four demons took human form, appearing as if humans who had cultivated into demons. They sat in a peculiar formation, as though emulating a rudimentary array to cultivate together.

Now was the moment! Long Yun’s body coiled like a panther ready to spring, and in a flash he darted out. His fingers shaped into a sword, and two golden rays shone with bewitching brilliance.

Sword intent howled forth, sword energy wrapped within it, bursting from his fingertips like fireworks blooming in the night.

All four demons opened their eyes at once, letting out piercing screams. Before they could react, one of them was pierced through the chest by Long Yun’s sword.

Sword energy raged, and the immense sacred force shattered the demon into dust, dispersing it into the heavens and earth.

The remaining three, seeing Long Yun’s ferocity, roared in fury and turned to flee.

Long Yun would not let them escape so easily. Stepping into the Rising Dragon technique, his body split into myriad images, and his sword fingers danced, sending golden sword-lights tearing through the void, forcing the three demons back.

“Kill—!” one of the demons shouted in human speech, and the three leaped at Long Yun. Three inky-black beams twisted into ribbons, forming a net that descended upon him.

“Oh? Not bad! They even know a combined formation?” Long Yun could not help but praise. Demons usually relied on brute strength, and it was rare to see them master a collaborative array.

This was the first time Long Yun had encountered such a thing.

His sword energy stretched out three meters, blazing with golden light, and the sacred aura swept wildly, dispersing all demonic energy in its path.

The three demons shuddered, their faces hidden beneath the veil of demonic energy, but their furious roars betrayed their near-madness.

Suddenly, the three demonic shadows vanished, whirling around Long Yun at dizzying speed. Their movements became so swift that he nearly lost track of them.

Long Yun’s expression grew grave—their speed was astonishing, and their combined movement formed a flowing array with formidable power.

In that instant, a frigid surge of demonic energy shot toward him!

Long Yun dared not be careless. His sword energy erupted, colliding head-on with the incoming darkness.

A thunderous explosion sounded as his sacred sword energy struck a demon, whose scream was shrill with agony. At the same time, another wave of force howled toward Long Yun from his flank.