Volume Two – The Unveiling of the Nine Provinces, Initiation into the Spirit Ruins Chapter 110: A Test of Strength

Squeak, squeak... Three enormous rat demons howled in agony before Chen Yu. Their eyes blazed with fury and murderous intent.

Yet Chen Yu had only wounded them; he had no intention of killing them.

But the three rat demons thought otherwise. Since being imprisoned in the Demon Suppression Hall of the Spirit Ruins, beneath this sunless darkness, they had been unable to cultivate properly. Even drawing in spiritual energy had become a luxury. On top of that, they suffered torment at the hands of the Spirit Ruins disciples.

So, just as Chen Yu was about to leave, the three rat demons let out furious squeals and lunged at him.

Chen Yu furrowed his brows. Though he was reluctant to kill them, since they had shown hostile intent, he would no longer hold back.

Without drawing his sword, the tempestuous spell he wielded manifested on its own. Fierce winds howled and torrential rain roared, transforming into countless sword-shaped storms cascading down like a deluge. The three rat demons, barely within ten feet of him, were pierced through like sieves by the pervasive sword energy.

Chen Yu shook his head slightly and walked away coldly. He wanted to find stronger demons to test his sword against.

Soon enough, he found his target. When he arrived, he was surprised to discover not beasts, but four cultivators. Yet from their auras emanated a deeply unsettling presence, suffused with the stench of blood and sin.

“Tsk, tsk... didn’t expect another to show up,” said a ragged man with a full beard, his eyes wickedly fixed on Chen Yu. A piece of bone and flesh hung from his mouth.

Chen Yu frowned but said nothing unnecessary. “Show me your strongest strength.”

“Hahaha... What an arrogant little calf,” the four laughed wickedly as they advanced on Chen Yu. With a few swift movements, they surrounded him.

“Boy, do you know you’ve walked into a wolf’s den?” they said bitterly.

“It’s been ages since we tasted fresh human flesh. Today we’ll have a feast. Ha ha...”

“Kill!” Before they finished speaking, they lunged at Chen Yu without hesitation. Their movements were coordinated, ebbing and flowing like tigers, snakes, turtles, and eagles in perfect harmony.

“So it’s a combined attack? A four-person formation?” Chen Yu thought, pleasantly surprised.

“Hahaha... brat, back in our prime, this strike alone could kill a First Yuan realm cultivator,” the bearded man laughed arrogantly.

“Heroes don’t boast about past glories,” Chen Yu said calmly. “Your technique does surprise me, but that’s all.”

He cast the Instant Bloom spell. Golden flowers blossomed above his head, spiritual energy like invisible petals shielding him. The four could not get close enough to touch him.

“How is this possible?” The four were shocked, thinking, “This is the Instant Bloom, the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars technique? How can it be so powerful?”

Chen Yu didn’t answer but instead asked quietly, “Are you four the strongest on this level?”

The four were taken aback. Seeing Chen Yu’s dismissive attitude, their anger deepened. They growled, “So what if we are? What if we’re not?”

Chen Yu muttered to himself, “Seems this level really isn’t suited for me.”

His gaze sharpened. Forming his hand into a sword shape, he thrust forward suddenly. A golden sword qi shot from his fingertip, swift as lightning.

Pfft... pfft... pfft... pfft...

Four sprays of blood blossomed, each piercing the forehead of the four men, leaving finger-shaped holes imbued with the essence of wind and rain.

Chen Yu shook his head and quickly moved onward.

“Already coming out so soon?” The demon warden of the hall was puzzled at Chen Yu’s disappointing return. But when he saw Chen Yu heading toward the First Yuan realm floor, his earlier dissatisfaction lessened. He murmured, “How long can you last on the second floor?”

The second floor was very much like the first—endless yellow sand—but even hotter, the heat waves rolling off it feeling like they could roast a person alive. Even Chen Yu, well cultivated, felt the oppressive heat.

Just as he stepped in, a sword wind suddenly attacked from the side.

Chen Yu sensed danger and swiftly transformed into a streak of golden light to evade. “An ambush?”

“Heh heh... Golden Light Flash, huh? I know that one too. Die!” The figure shouted wickedly, swinging a broken sword at him.

“A First Yuan Four Apertures realm demon,” Chen Yu thought heavily but remained composed. He dodged each attack gracefully.

Yet soon he sensed something was off. The attacker had many chances to hurt him but deliberately avoided doing so. Could there be another plot?

At that moment, the man shouted, “Attack!”

Two more figures suddenly burst from the scorching sand, eyes gleaming with ferocity and cruelty.

“Scoundrels of the Spirit Ruins, prepare to die.”

“Seems there are more of them,” Chen Yu said coldly. His hands gripped the sword, and suddenly his aura shifted. Like a dragon emerging from the depths, he roared, “Shake the mountains and earth, wind and rain sword qi!”

With one stroke, killing intent radiated in all directions. The three attackers’ assaults were all deflected, their bodies pushed back several steps.

Though they possessed the cultivation of First Yuan Four Apertures, the wear of the Demon Suppression Hall reduced their power to at most First Yuan Three Apertures.

Still, even so, it was no small challenge for Chen Yu.

But he had underestimated the three’s resolve. Once repelled, they quickly withdrew into the sand, unwilling to fight further. This was the reason they had survived so long in the hall.

Chen Yu came to the hall to fight. How could he allow them to escape?

He immediately unleashed Golden Light Flash and gave chase.

“Trying to run away like this?” Chen Yu slashed from behind with a roaring dragon and tiger cry. Sword qi surged, sand and stones flying, forcing the hidden enemies to reveal themselves.

“Bastard...” The man cursed furiously, “You two, hurry and help!”

Enraged, he punched toward Chen Yu. At the same time, two others wielded swords and charged from both sides.

“What an arrogant Spirit Ruins scoundrel. Today, you’ll bleed five steps away.”

Chen Yu snorted coldly, clashing briefly with one attacker before swiftly retreating to avoid their strikes.

“Just a First Yuan One Aperture cultivator dares to chase us? Foolish beyond measure.”

“No need to waste words. Kill him.”

“Kill!”

“Good! That’s more like it. Let’s see just how capable you demons really are,” Chen Yu shouted.

He stood his ground, sword in hand, and engaged all three.

Sand flew in every direction, sword qi cutting through the air. Relying on his own strength alone, Chen Yu managed to block the attacks of three First Yuan Four Apertures cultivators—a feat to be proud of.

The three grew increasingly alarmed, thinking: This Spirit Ruins villain is strong. When did the Spirit Ruins produce such a disciple?