Chapter 823: Not a Flash in the Pan

Zuo Wuji never underestimated any opponent, especially not a demon. He unleashed a full-power, explosive strike. The moment the impact reverberated through his staff, Zuo Wuji was confident he had killed the demon, yet he remained fully on guard, watching both his current opponent and his surroundings.

Only when the opponent truly died and reverted to its original form did Zuo Wuji slowly lower his staff. After a flourish, he planted it firmly beside him with a thud, his gaze fixed on the Horse Demon next to the Old Ox. He said nothing provocative, simply stared.

At that moment, Zuo Wuji's thoughts were simple.

"If I die today, then so be it. But at least I'll kill to my heart's content!"

Zuo Wuji had no other thoughts, desiring only a sense of exhilaration. What he didn't realize was the profound impact he was having on those around him.

While his actions naturally stirred intense malice from the demons, they subtly ignited a fire in the hearts of the surrounding mortals—a simmering anger and hatred towards the monstrous beings that had long been suppressed by fear.

The Horse Demon looked at the overturned cart, its scattered fruits still rolling. The demon was truly lifeless. It was absurd for a mortal to kill a demon with a single strike of a blade, sword, or staff, yet at this moment, the Horse Demon's rage intensified.

"How dare he kill my demon soldier! Flay him alive and strip his bones clean!"

With a furious roar from the Horse Demon, the other five demon soldiers, who had also been stunned, immediately charged forward as one, abandoning any sense of demon pride.

Zuo Wuji, staff in hand, unleashed a wild flurry of moves, creating a whistling wind.

"Bring them on, however many!"

Having already assessed the capabilities of these so-called demon soldiers, Zuo Wuji wielded his staff like a swimming dragon, seamlessly incorporating techniques from staffs, spears, sabers, and swords—sweeping, chopping, pointing, lifting, and thrusting with ease.

To Zuo Wuji, the five demon soldiers showed no coordination whatsoever; they even got in each other's way, practically digging their own graves.

He flung one demon into the air, then used the staff's flexibility to block a claw. The staff bent like a bow under the grip, but it held firm due to Zuo Wuji's Martial Aura, even sending the demon flying back. Leveraging the recoil, he spun the staff around with one hand, delivering a fierce blow to the head of a demon behind him.

*Clang*...

The demon's head and neck snapped sideways as its body flew through the air. The next moment, Zuo Wuji planted his feet, and the staff, returning to the front with the force of recoil, transformed into a spear, its tip already before the demon that had just been sent flying and was now trying to stand.

By the time the demon could see clearly, all that filled its vision was the tip of the staff.

*Thud*...

The demon was sent flying backward again, crashing into another cart. This time, it did not get up.

At that moment, the Horse Demon was about to erupt, but just as it moved, the Old Ox grabbed it, a hint of mockery in its voice.

"Heh heh, Brother Horse, is it really necessary to gang up on a mere stick-wielding mortal—and have you personally ambush him? Wouldn't that make these mortals laugh?"

As the Old Ox was an outsider, the Horse Demon's face darkened, and it swallowed its rage, refraining from immediately attacking.

Zuo Wuji slowly retracted his spear-like stance, standing firm in the center of the battlefield with his staff. The last demon soldier had fallen; all five were now dead.

Yan Fei and Lu Chengfeng had been waiting for their moment to strike, but Zuo Wuji had single-handedly dealt with all the demon soldiers, stirring deep emotions in both masters. The area remained eerily silent until Lu Chengfeng finally let out a loud shout.

"Good! Well done!"

Even the usually reserved and quiet Yan Fei couldn't help but clap his hands together, shouting his praise.

"Wuji, well fought!"

They had just prepared to intervene, their vital energy surging. Since the demons' attention was already fixed on them, there was no longer a need to hide. While cheering for their disciple, they confidently stepped forward.

Zuo Wuji's emotions also surged. Though he outwardly maintained his composure, his heart pounded several times faster, and he gripped his staff even tighter.

He watched the powerful, arrogant demon, whose eyes now glowed with a terrifying blood-red demonic aura. This aura rose like a tangible presence, coalescing in the sky and swirling around, as if plunging the entire area into gloom. All sorts of chilling energies continued to emanate from it.

Witnessing this terrifying scene, knowing the demon's intense hatred for him, Zuo Wuji felt a surge of heroic spirit within his chest. He suddenly bellowed forward.

"Is that all you've got? You think you're worthy of eating Zuo Wuji's heart? Why don't you come and face death yourself!"

Zuo Wuji, seemingly a little insane, provoked the Horse Demon.

The Horse Demon's demonic aura suddenly flared, like an illusory fire igniting. A demonic wind howled constantly, and the entire sky darkened.

The Old Ox was a little bewildered. This young man dared to provoke a Great Demon. While the youth might not know the exact level of the Horse Demon before him, he surely knew he stood no chance. Such provocation was practically suicidal.

Originally, the Old Ox had wanted to use his quick wit to prevent the Horse Demon from acting, believing that with Yan Fei and the two disciples combined, they might stand a chance even against an ordinary transformed demon. But now...

"Hee hee hee hee..."

The Horse Demon began to laugh. Although he still had several transformed demon subordinates nearby, he had no intention of letting them fight now. He would personally crush these three and savor their hearts and livers.

"Brother Ox, a mere mortal has provoked me. If I don't act, wouldn't I become a laughingstock?"

The Old Ox had nothing more to say at this point. He simply smiled and gestured forward.

"Please, Brother Horse. But don't finish too quickly; it would be boring if it ended in the blink of an eye."

As he spoke, the Old Ox's peripheral vision subtly glanced at the two beautiful young women beside him. He noticed that Jiyuan and the Old Beggar were no longer pretending to be frightened, vulnerable women; instead, their eyes were bright as they watched Zuo Wuji and his two companions. Of course, no one else was paying attention to the two women at that moment.

"Hmph, I certainly won't let them die so painlessly!"

The Old Beggar, his eyes gleaming with divine light, could not help but send a telepathic message to Jiyuan.

"Mr. Ji, these three are no ordinary individuals. Their destinies are intertwined with great fortune; they must not fall here!"

"Elder Lu, do not act. Simply observe."

Jiyuan responded calmly, but within his spiritual realm, his Celestial Aspect waved its vast sleeve. The alchemy furnace on the mountaintop roared, its lid soaring skyward. Within, true fire raged, and vast clouds of alchemical mist continuously billowed.

"He who wishes to wear the crown must bear its weight."

The next moment, a surge of alchemical mist poured from the furnace, forming an alchemical cloud that ascended into the sky, heading towards the area where the celestial star shone brightly.

The Horse Demon walked slowly forward. With each step he took, the surrounding mortals instinctively retreated, forming a wider circle. Some even secretly snatched food from the ground and quietly fled.

"Hee hee hee... Animals howl madly before they die. All around me are terrified beasts, afraid to face death, yet fighting over food. The so-called teachings of the sages are nothing but self-deception. In my realm of humans and beasts, you will all revert to your true forms."

The demonic energy and strong winds intensified, blowing carts outward and scattering countless fruits and provisions across the ground. Whether willing or not, everyone involuntarily retreated. Only Zuo Wuji, Yan Fei, and Lu Chengfeng stood firm, not yielding an inch.

Yan Fei recalled the battle between the Old Ox and Lu Shan Jun. As a martial artist, he couldn't even stand steadily nearby, let alone participate. Yet now, even in extreme peril and facing certain death, he was confident he could firmly draw his sword.

Compared to his two masters, who were calmly gathering their strength, Zuo Wuji's eyes were bloodshot, gripping his staff firmly.

"Bullshit—"

Zuo Wuji roared, as if completely releasing his inner fear. His true qi surged, and his Martial Aura burst forth, faintly forming a vibrating halo under the impact of the demonic energy.

"The sages teach humanity that we are the wisest of all beings! You demons are nothing but bloodthirsty beasts. How dare you try to scare us?!"

Zuo Wuji kicked his staff, then charged forward with a full-force thrust, moving against the wild demonic winds with incredible speed, far surpassing his previous efforts. Even the Horse Demon was slightly surprised, and it angrily struck the staff with its palm.

*Boom*...

The staff's tip collided with the Horse Demon's palm, generating a resounding boom. The staff bent into a crescent shape but, unexpectedly, did not shatter. At that exact moment, Yan Fei and Lu Chengfeng attacked simultaneously, appearing on either side of the Horse Demon.

A wooden stick, bearing a longsword, hummed softly. The sword energy, pure and focused, felt sharp enough to pierce the Horse Demon's temple, while Lu Chengfeng's punch, like fire, tore through the demonic wind, aiming directly for its lower back.

*Clang!* *Thud!* "Haaah—"

"Get lost!"

*Rumble*...

Amidst the tearing impact, Zuo Wuji and his two masters were sent flying backward, each covered in streaks of blood.

The Old Ox and the others clearly saw a faint red mark on the Horse Demon's body. However, in a fit of rage, the Horse Demon instantly vanished from its spot, reappearing directly in front of the still-recoiling Zuo Wuji. Its right hand formed a claw, lunging for his heart.

"Wuji!" "Watch out!"

Yan Fei and Lu Chengfeng's eyes widened in horror. Zuo Wuji, too, knew his predicament.

"No way!"

In mid-air, Zuo Wuji wielded his staff, hooking it backward with one foot while gripping it tightly with one hand at his chest. His shoulder bent the staff into a near-full moon shape. His frenzied aura propelled his Martial Aura, making his body and staff appear like a hazy moon.

The demonic winds raged before him. At a certain moment, almost unable to see his opponent, Zuo Wuji let go of the staff.

"Die!"

The Horse Demon roared, already picturing a fresh, beating heart in its grasp the next moment, certain it would be delicious.

*Whoosh*...

A whistling sound cut through the demonic wind as the bent staff unleashed its stored potential energy into terrifying kinetic force. Carrying the Martial Aura, it arced like a full moon, and at the precise moment the Horse Demon's claws dug into Zuo Wuji's flesh, it descended fiercely, striking the back of the Horse Demon's head.

*Thud—* *Rumble—*

Struck by this heavy blow, the Horse Demon's body blurred into a phantom. It crashed headfirst onto the bluestone ground, cracking the nearby stones and sinking the earth by several inches.

Seeing his opponent sprawled face-first, Zuo Wuji clutched his staff, staggering backward wildly, blood spilling from his mouth as he let out a frenzied laugh.

"Hahahaha..."

"Today marks Zuo Wuji's final battle! Though I am no sage, I will make you demon beasts understand that even in despair, humanity remains the wisest of all beings, unafraid of death! Hahahaha..."

"Then die—"

The bluestones on the ground shattered as the Horse Demon shot skyward. A phantom of its demonic true form appeared behind it, charging towards Zuo Wuji amidst wind and thunder.

At that moment, Zuo Wuji, staff in hand, disregarded his injuries. Knowing there was no escape, he too charged forward madly. Yan Fei and Lu Chengfeng, desperate, pushed their true qi to unleash their Martial Auras, rushing towards Zuo Wuji and the demon.

Certain to die, yet their martial spirit remained!

In Jiyuan's spiritual realm, the Martial Dao star shone brilliantly. The alchemical mist from earlier transformed into flames, burning in the starry sky. Startling changes occurred within Zuo Wuji and his two masters; their true qi and Martial Auras merged at this "certain death" moment, truly connecting their inner and outer worlds.

Yet, even so, the gap could not be bridged in an instant. A certain death situation remained a certain death situation. The glory of the martial path was but a fleeting moment!

Well, if Jiyuan hadn't been there, that is.

"Freeze."

A melodious female voice, distinct and clear, resonated solely in the Horse Demon's ears...