Chapter 742: Wind Fuels the Fire

The Tiger Demon King's rage was unnaturally exaggerated, and it was clear he had severely misjudged Ji Yuan. Although that sword strike was stunning, it caused little actual damage, merely scratching the surface without any lasting effects. This was the Southern Desolate Territory, teeming with countless demons. How could he let them escape from him?

To be mocked in front of so many demons—the Tiger Demon King's hatred wouldn't be appeased until he killed these celestials. Once they were dead, he would then go after that demon sprout and Lu Wu.

Seeing his demonic energy surge to a level that astonished the other demon kings, the Tiger Demon King's rage remained undiminished, while his arrogance soared to its peak.

"Hee hee hee hee... Ha ha ha ha ha..."

Ji Yuan watched the fierce Tiger Demon's exaggerated demonic energy, noting its incredible surge, and couldn't help but slightly frown. It wasn't out of fear, but rather because he hadn't anticipated the Demon King's demonic energy could be so immense.

"This fierce Tiger Demon is truly formidable. No wonder he dares to be so arrogant."

Juyuanzi's expression also turned solemn. Judging by such potent demonic energy, the demon king certainly had the right to be arrogant. Meanwhile, Lian Baiping glanced behind the demon king, and after a quick calculation, his brows furrowed deeply as well.

"Compared to this Demon King, I'm more concerned about the two demons who were just beside him; neither of them is simple."

Ji Yuan glanced at Lian Baiping, then his gaze returned to the distant sky, where the demonic energy now resembled fiery clouds.

"Let's first deal with the immediate challenge. This tiger demon is clearly not normal. If numerous great demons attack together, we might be able to escape without issue, but it's hard to say for Xiao San."

Jiang Xueling gazed sharply at the surrounding horde of demons.

"Then, Mr. Ji, considering that my Weimei Sect specifically escorted you here, please have no reservations. At least take down that Tiger Demon King."

"Even if I don't act, he won't spare me."

Ji Yuan's words were calm, but he had already decided to kill. He didn't intend to use the Immortal-Binding Rope, because even if he bound the Demon King, surrounded by demons in the Southern Desolate, it might not be suitable to then kill him. Therefore, a direct confrontation resulting in death by sword or Samadhi True Fire would ensure a clean end. Even if they later needed to ease tensions with the Southern Desolate demon race, they could claim the battle was too perilous to hold back.

Meanwhile, intimidated by the fierce Tiger Demon King's aura, the demonic and malevolent energies of all the surrounding demons receded somewhat, tacitly supporting his intent to slay the celestials.

Only Miaoyun instinctively felt that even if this brute tiger's strength seemed to have surged, confronting that Sword Immortal would definitely not end well; he might even die.

Although Miaoyun Demon King wasn't on good terms with the fierce Tiger Demon King, this situation was no longer just about one demon; it concerned the entire Southern Desolate region, and, more importantly, it was about the dignity of the entire demon race.

"Luhu, this celestial cannot be overcome by force. Didn't you see what happened when I exchanged a sword strike with him?"

The fierce Tiger Demon King seemed not to hear the telepathic message. After a moment, he turned his head and looked at Miaoyun with contempt, though he said nothing. His gaze clearly regarded Miaoyun as a weakling.

"Today, I shall taste the blood of a Sword Immortal! Even if you are a True Immortal, what of it? All demons, follow me! Roar—"

At this moment, the fierce Tiger Demon King seemed to have calmed down. As his words faded, he vanished from his original spot in the air.

*Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh...*

The entire area now resembled the aftermath of a typhoon, with gales raging across a misty sky. There was no sunlight or lightning, and the Demon King's location was unclear. Various demons floated in the air, their demonic and sinister glows appearing to be the only source of light.

Ji Yuan and the three others were fine standing atop the Devouring Beast's head, but the disciples of Weimei Sect, hidden behind them by Yuhui's Grand Void Concealment Art, were extremely nervous, unsure how their Patriarch and the elders would cope.

But the next moment, Ji Yuan and the others suddenly looked down. Then came a thunderous crash, and a violent tremor shook the ground beneath their feet.

"Owooh..."

The Devouring Beast's pained roar caught everyone's attention. Ji Yuan immediately leaped from its forehead, swept his sleeve, and then reached out as if grasping a gust of wind, or rather, gripping a tornado within the raging gale, and pulled it downwards.

*Boom!*

Amidst the clashing air currents, the tiger demon's figure emerged. At this moment, he seemed to have merged with the raging gale, and the demonic wind was thick with his energy. His sharp claws wildly swung, unleashing endless demonic winds imbued with savage power, like countless flashes of blade light striking towards Ji Yuan.

Yet, facing such dense, terrifying attacks, which truly resembled wind blades, Ji Yuan stood perfectly still. Attacks devoid of true intent posed absolutely no threat to him. He didn't need to employ sword techniques or protective secret arts; he simply uttered the word "Disperse" with a silent decree.

The next moment, all the "blade lights" transformed into a gentle breeze before Ji Yuan, softly caressing his clothes and long hair. There was no sensation other than a cool touch.

"Hahaha, you do have some tricks! They say immortals who grasp 'truth' truly understand the wonders of the Dao. Hahaha, it would be magnificent to kill a True Immortal!"

The tiger demon laughed maniacally. Meanwhile, many other demons surged forward, resuming their attack on the Devouring Beast with far greater numbers and density than before. Even two other demon kings joined the assault, their primary target being the three remaining Grand Cultivators atop the Devouring Beast's head.

These were no ordinary groups of demons, nor even typical shapeshifting monstrous beings. While not as exaggerated as claiming they were all great demons, their cultivation levels were certainly not poor.

Even cultivators of Jiang Xueling, Juyuanzi, and Lian Baiping's caliber felt overwhelmed facing hundreds of such monsters, not to mention two additional demon kings. They could only gather all their magical power to resist.

*Boom!* *Bang!* *Boom!*

It must be said that the fierce Tiger Demon King in the air was truly exceptional. His evasion technique seemed to merge with the gale, rendering him invisible and intangible. Yet, each time he appeared, his demonic arts were incredibly potent, as if he were freely unleashing tons of demonic power.

Roaring heavenly sounds, sharp, gleaming claws, and even occasional appearances beside Ji Yuan to directly strike with all four paws or pounce—these were very simple attack methods, much like those of a wild beast. Yet, the power they contained made even Ji Yuan's brows twitch.

However, ever since his Sleeve Universe technique was truly perfected, Ji Yuan found that as long as he maintained the state of "unfurling sleeves without acting," he appeared completely at ease against all these exaggerated demonic martial arts attacks. With a sweep and flick of his wide sleeves, all the Tiger Demon King's attacks were like a person punching a fluttering bedsheet—they held no force.

Furthermore, Ji Yuan experienced a peculiar sensation that the tiger demon likely didn't: he felt spiritually grander, as if he were merely waving his sleeves while watching a small tiger repeatedly pounce and bounce off them.

In just over ten breaths since the attacks began, the tiger demon had attacked at least a hundred times. Each strike, at most, pushed Ji Yuan a few zhang from his floating position, making him appear like a dandelion seed swaying in the wind. Yet, in essence, not a single one of the tiger demon's attacks truly landed.

This only fueled the tiger demon's rage and impatience. With each strike, he increased its power. He knew this celestial was undoubtedly employing some profound immortal art for defense. Immortal spells relied on two things: power and realm—both cultivation level and mental state. He had to disrupt Ji Yuan's mental state.

"You cower, only defending and not attacking! Is this all a True Immortal is capable of? Are you perhaps waiting to collect the corpses of your celestial friends?!"

The tiger demon cursed incessantly. Since he couldn't immediately harm Ji Yuan, distracting him would be ideal. If that failed, he would simply wait to kill the other celestials and the Devouring Beast, then overwhelm Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan's gaze swept towards the Devouring Beast. In just over ten breaths, the mountain-sized creature was already lacerated, and the ground below seemed to rain blood. The immortal light on the Devouring Beast's forehead flickered precariously under the terrifying demonic glow.

Ji Yuan calculated that enough time had passed. Any longer, and the Devouring Beast wouldn't be undergoing tribulation, but simply dying during it. So, he turned his gaze back to the attacking tiger demon, a faint smile appearing on his face.

What appeared to an ordinary person as a very gentle smile suddenly sent a jolt of fear through the tiger demon's heart. He subconsciously abandoned his next intended attack, vanishing into the gale and retreating. It seemed the Sword Immortal was finally going to draw his sword.

"Actually, as a demon, you are indeed formidable. It just so happens that I have some methods that specifically counter you..."

Ji Yuan paused, then his voice resonated in all directions.

"Still not stopping?"

Of course, no one heeded Ji Yuan. The horde of demons ignored him, and Jiang Xueling and the others, compelled to self-preservation, couldn't stop either.

Ji Yuan had long anticipated this. He had already given them enough courtesy. A faint flush rose on Ji Yuan's face as he opened his mouth and spat out a reddish-grey flame.

The tiger demon's evasion technique was uniquely swift and traceless, making it difficult to lock onto his aura with a sword. But with Samadhi True Fire, it was a different matter.

"As the saying goes, 'wind fuels fire.' You are bringing about your own destruction."

Ji Yuan spoke softly. As his words faded, the cluster of flames surged wildly against the wind, swiftly engulfing the storm unleashed by the fierce Tiger Demon King. The wind's intensity was such that in an instant, the sky was almost entirely a reddish-grey. A tremor of facing imminent death surged through the hearts of everyone present, except for Ji Yuan, including the Devouring Beast and the three immortal cultivators.

*Controlling fire?*

The fierce Tiger Demon King's heart trembled as if teetering on an abyss. Even though he had retreated in advance, in an instant, he was surrounded by a sea of flames.

*No, I must leave quickly!*

Knowing the danger, the tiger demon gritted his teeth and intended to rush out. He stomped on the gale, unleashing a massive wave of air, and his figure shot like a shuttle into the sea of flames. But the moment his body plunged into the inferno, his consciousness was drowned in excruciating pain.

"Ugh... ah..."

Perhaps because powerful demonic energy and power were being consumed, the Samadhi True Fire exploded outwards in all directions. At this moment, every demon who sensed the grave danger fled in terror, scrambling away from the sea of flames.