Xuanwu Five-One Outpost.

At the top of a tall tower, Shen Mo lounged there with a look of utter relaxation.

A small sword spun playfully around him.

It was none other than Sui Xing, the sword spirit of the Heaven-Severing Sword Codex.

Whenever Shen Mo opened his mouth, Sui Xing would fly over to the nearby tray.

The little sword flicked lightly, sending out invisible currents of air.

In an instant, several purple fruits the size of fists were peeled, then sliced into thumb-sized pieces of flesh and delivered to Shen Mo’s lips.

He took a bite, and sweet juice instantly filled his mouth.

Streams of spiritual energy flowed through his entire body.

It was truly a refreshing sensation, as if all worries were forgotten.

Shen Mo smacked his lips. “These Innate Demonic Spirit Fruits are pretty tasty.”

Sui Xing chuckled, forming a line of words: “They were originally Innate True Spirit Fruits. Even a mortal could build their foundation in a single day and ascend to the heavens with just one bite.”

“Now, even though they’ve been tainted by demonic energy, their medicinal power hasn’t weakened—instead, it’s become even stronger.”

“It’s only because Dad possesses an Eternal Flame and can refine demonic energy. Anyone else wouldn’t even dare touch these.”

Shen Mo burst out laughing.

Sure enough, the fifth layer of the Demon Suppression Sea was filled with rare treasures and spiritual plants never seen before.

These heavenly materials and earthly treasures had undergone subtle changes due to the demonic energy.

Some became even more powerful. Some, far more dangerous.

The Innate Demonic Spirit Fruit was a perfect example.

Some Demon Suppression Guards thought they were still Innate True Spirit Fruits and ate them without hesitation.

But the demonic energy inside drove them mad, turning them into bloodthirsty berserkers.

Their own comrades had to end their lives with their own hands.

Since then, no Demon Suppression Guard dared touch the Innate Demonic Spirit Fruit.

Shen Mo had only discovered a few by pure chance.

With the Nine Nether Ice Flame, he could remove the demonic taint and use the pure medicinal power for himself.

Five Innate Demonic Spirit Fruits could compare to a thousand-year Azure Thunder Lotus.

Azure Thunder Lotuses of a thousand years were nearly impossible to find, but Innate Demonic Spirit Fruits could be gathered easily.

Other people avoided such treasures, but for him, the more, the better.

Ever since he issued the mission to collect these fruits, he received a whole basketful every day.

Fortunately, he had the Heaven and Earth Great Furnace technique.

Otherwise, even refining them would be overwhelming.

Buzz.

A faint humming rang out.

The ground trembled slightly.

Shen Mo suddenly sat up, looking toward the direction of the sound.

“There’s movement over there.”

Sui Xing paused, then said, “That’s the direction of Zhū Qu Five-One Outpost. With such a big commotion… it must be a demon beast attack.”

Zhū Qu Five-One Outpost…

Shen Mo’s spirits lifted, and he immediately stood up.

Ye Yan was a Demon Suppression Guard of the Zhū Qu Fortress.

Lately, he hadn’t found an excuse to visit.

Even though he was a Demon Suppression General, that place belonged to the Zhū Qu Fortress.

Now, he finally had a reason.

And one delivered right to his door!

“General Shen! General Shen!”

A Demon Suppression Guard called out from the bottom of the tower.

“Zhū Qu Five-One Outpost is under attack from an eighth-rank demon beast. They urgently need your support!”

Shen Mo’s eyes lit up. “Tell them—I’ll be there right away!”

“Let’s go, kid!”

Sui Xing obediently slipped into Shen Mo’s sleeve.

With a single leap, Shen Mo shot out like lightning.

Ever since he condensed the Xibai Ju manifestation, his movement technique had grown even faster.

Even though he was only at early Manifestation Realm, not even those at the peak could necessarily keep up with him.

At best, they’d be eating his dust.

Between Xuanwu Five-One Outpost and Zhū Qu Five-One Outpost stretched over three thousand li.

In between were endless mountains and deep valleys.

Some places were home to demon beasts as strong as Demon Emperors.

If Shen Mo had nothing better to do, he wouldn’t provoke such beasts, and naturally took a detour.

He’d only return when he had the strength to kill them easily.

A quarter of an hour later, Shen Mo arrived swiftly outside Zhū Qu Five-One Outpost.

There, a tall mountain loomed.

Standing here, one could take in everything happening outside the outpost with a single glance.

“A beast tide?”

“And an eighth-rank demon beast leading the charge.”

“This doesn’t look normal at all.”

From afar, Shen Mo saw the restless horde of demon beasts and immediately sensed something was off.

He glanced at his own life panel, but there were no changes.

It must be the demon clan from the sixth layer causing trouble.

Still, such petty tricks were far too simple to deal with.

As the saying goes, overwhelming strength breaks all schemes.

As long as you’re powerful enough, every plot and conspiracy is as fragile as paper.

Zhū Qu Five-One Outpost.

The defensive formation was on the verge of collapse.

Rocks crashed down from above.

Demon Suppression Guards were constantly being struck, desperate cries ringing out everywhere.

The ground itself had started to crack from the tremors.

Demonic energy surged up from underground, flooding into the outpost.

Some guards had already been tainted by the demonic energy, turning vicious and bloodthirsty, drawing their blades against their own comrades.

“We’ve already used up another box of supreme-grade spirit stones!”

At the formation’s core, two guards shouted in agitation.

The eighth-rank demon beast was simply too terrifying.

Every movement put unbearable strain on the defensive formation.

Supreme-grade spirit stones were being consumed faster than snow melting under the blazing sun.

Often, a dozen or so supreme-grade stones wouldn’t last even ten breaths before all their energy was sucked out, turning them into useless, transparent husks.

Now the formation’s core had become downright dangerous.

It was constantly draining spiritual energy.

If anyone put their hand in now, they’d be instantly sucked dry!

Ye Yan listened to these sounds, his gaze growing fiercer and fiercer.

In his mind, Lin Dongtian roared, “Run! If you wait for Shen Mo, the outpost will collapse before he gets here!”

“With Lin Hu protecting us, we can at least escape with our lives!”

Ye Yan clenched his fists, a look of struggle on his face.

He had poured his heart into building up this outpost, all for the sake of leaving a good impression on Zhū Xuánjī.

But now, all that was about to go up in smoke!

“It’s time to go.”

Ye Yan looked toward the giant beast outside the outpost, over three hundred zhang long, and turned to leave.

He was someone who always planned ahead—he’d considered every possible situation.

Although eighth-rank demon beasts were rare near Zhū Qu Five-One Outpost, he’d still accounted for the possibility of such an attack.

That’s why he had a backup escape plan ready.

The Minor Teleportation Talisman.

It was a precious talisman he’d spent a huge amount of merit to exchange for from the Heavenly Dao Treasury.

Once used, it would instantly transport him out of the outpost.

But the Minor Teleportation Talisman was random.

He had no idea where he’d end up.

Maybe at another outpost.

If his luck was bad, he might land right in an eighth-rank demon beast’s lair.

But whatever happened, it was better than dying here.

As long as the outpost hadn’t completely fallen, it was time to escape.

“Look! Over there!”

Just as Ye Yan was about to leave, shouts of shock erupted from the city wall.

Ye Yan looked up instinctively.

Suddenly, he saw four ancient swords tearing through the sky.

Those swords were as vast as the ocean, as weighty as mountains, as if they had been soaked in the river of history for countless years.

The moment the ancient swords appeared, every demon beast outside the outpost instinctively withdrew its demonic aura.

As if they had sensed a terrifying natural enemy.

“Perish.”

A deep voice echoed above the outpost.

The four swords flashed forward like lightning.

Each targeted the giant beast’s head, throat, chest, and abdomen.

Its tough hide and flesh were like tofu before those blades.

The ancient swords pierced through with ease.

A spray of purple-black blood followed.

The giant beast froze instantly, as if someone had hit the pause button on time.

====================================================================================

Get access to 20 chapters in advance and enjoy 2 daily updates by supporting the series. Available on Patreon: /Alex_Cruise or Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/anish_44

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Madara Web Novel