This was the second time Fang Han had seen the Demon Marshal.
The first time had been in the vast sands of the Hanhai Desert, when he had still been nothing more than a lowly outer disciple in the Fleshly Body Realm—pathetic in power, barely worth mention in the cultivation world. Though he had been a martial grandmaster in the mortal realm, in the grand scale of the Dao, he was still a mere ant, without the slightest authority or influence.
Now, however, he stood as a cultivator in the second level of the Mystical Power Realm—one who wielded true qi and divine abilities.
Yet the higher his cultivation climbed, the more vividly Fang Han sensed the terrifying depth of the Demon Marshal's power. When the man descended, it was as if a black sun had risen within Fang Han's mind, blotting out the heavens, devouring all light and plunging the world into utter darkness.
It was a feeling of the spirit, not the senses.
Outwardly, the world remained unchanged—gentle breeze, radiant sunlight, petals falling like rain, auspicious clouds drifting through the sky.
Such terrifying demonic power! Fang Han felt a chill run down his spine. Back then I actually dared to speak against him in front of Fang Qingxue—foolish courage born of ignorance. The more one knows, the deeper one's fear.
"The disciples of Taiyi Sect truly live up to their reputation—so arrogant."
The Demon Marshal, Ying Tianqing, descended slowly, his posture that of an emperor surveying the world. He gazed upon the three true disciples of the Taiyi Sect, mockery gleaming in his eyes.
"Ying Tianqing!"
Yao Dian, one of the three, sneered coldly. "I knew you were lurking in Wanhui Sea City. Word is you've been making waves in the demonic world lately, gaining fame and cultivating new divine powers. But we of Taiyi Sect have never compromised with demons. While we gave Wanhui Immortal Island some courtesy within the city, now that we've left its borders—we act freely. And that means slaying demons."
Yao Dian's words were icy, but his tone was confident.
"You dare to intervene for those Feathering Gate disciples," Xia You added, "then be ready to bear the consequences."
Yu Fen closed his eyes briefly, a hint of contempt on his lips. "Do you know how much your head is worth in Taiyi Sect? Thirty million merit points—and a Dao Artifact."
The three disciples showed no fear at the Demon Marshal's arrival. On the contrary, their confidence was unnervingly calm—an omen that made Fang Han's heart grow heavy.
Something's off, Fang Han thought. They should be terrified—Ying Tianqing's cultivation is at least at the Celestial Realm, perhaps higher. I've fought Yao Dian before; even if he's strong, he's nowhere near this level. What are they relying on?
"Slay demons?" The Demon Marshal's voice was soft but razor-sharp. He laughed—a deep, echoing laugh that made the air tremble. "You insulted Fang Qingxue, and I merely intended to discipline you—to take an arm as food for my demon gods. Yet you speak of killing me? Very well. I'll flay your souls, cast you into the Nine Nether Abyss, where you'll wail for eternity."
"Let's see who's condemned for eternity!"
Yao Dian's roar cut him off. Brilliant white gang qi erupted from his body like pillars of cloud. His "Heavenly Lion Gang Qi" gathered above him, condensing into a vast white cloud that spanned dozens of acres. From it, a celestial lion formed, roaring toward the heavens. Wind and clouds churned, and the sea below erupted into waves like mountains.
Crack! Crack!
The air itself seemed to fracture as the gang qi sealed the heavens and earth.
So strong?! Fang Han's mind reeled. Yao Dian's power should only be between five and eight thousand horse-strength, yet now—it's more than forty thousand!
His aura had exploded severalfold.
If Yao Dian had possessed such strength during their previous battle, Fang Han would have died instantly, the Five-Prison King Cauldron seized without resistance.
Then—boom, boom!—two more detonations resounded. The other two Taiyi disciples, Xia You and Yu Fen, unleashed their own power. From the crowns of their heads, heavenly gates opened wide, gushing torrents of violent gang qi that surged skyward.
Each of them radiated strength equivalent to ten thousand galloping horses—no illusion, but pure, raw force.
Their Heavenly Lion Gang Qi resonated together, harmonized by the teachings of a common master, intertwining into a fearsome unity.
"The Mad Demon Lifespan-Reducing Pill…"
The Demon Marshal's expression darkened. "A secret Taiyi Sect elixir—temporary, violent, granting five to tenfold power, at the cost of a hundred years of life. So you came prepared. You'd rather sacrifice a century of your lifespan than spare me. Seems you're not here for those Feathering Gate disciples—you came for me."
"As long as we kill you, the merit rewards and sect favor will more than compensate. Losing a century is nothing!" Yao Dian laughed wildly. "A single Mad Demon Pill takes ten years to refine—rarer than a Dao Artifact! The fact that we used one on you should make you proud, Demon Marshal!"
"Borrow your head, then."
"Kill!"
Xia You and Yu Fen shouted as one. Their combined gang qi swept out like collapsing mountains, drowning everything within its reach. Even Fang Han, Long Xuan, and the Demoness were enveloped in the oncoming tide of white radiance.
"Not good—into the Cauldron, now!"
Fang Han's voice was grim. The air itself howled with roaring lion cries that shattered the atmosphere. Their gang qi carried sound—a weapon of spirit and vibration.
Daoist gang qi truly was terrifying. If Fang Han ever cultivated the Wood Emperor Gang Qi, he could merge it with his Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds, fusing vibration and essence into a single destructive wave.
But now—the combined power of three Taiyi disciples, surpassing a hundred thousand horse-strength—was apocalyptic. Without a divine artifact, there was no surviving it.
As Fang Han dove into the Five-Prison King Cauldron, fleeing with Long Xuan and the Demoness, one final thought echoed in his heart:
I underestimated the disciples of Taiyi Sect.