Chapter Eight: Is That All?

As they ventured deeper, Wu Shu could distinctly sense a pervasive stench of blood in the air—the scent unmistakably that of battle beasts' blood.

It was clear that the war beasts within the Elephant Mountains conducted sacrificial beast tides of varying intensities across different regions, using these sacrificial blood pools to sustain the mountain’s array. Had he not seen it with his own eyes, Wu Shu would never have believed this hidden aspect of the once ferocious beasts.

The protection of the Elephant Mountains was genuine, as was the fact that these beasts honed their strength through combat against human disciples who dared to train there.

What puzzled Wu Shu, however, was why the beasts insisted on maintaining the array through sacrifice. Would it not be more straightforward to simply surround and annihilate the demonic tribes attempting to penetrate the array? At least, dying that way would be meaningful.

Yet, upon reflection, even humans struggled to guard against infiltrating demon spies—let alone the beasts. Unless they regarded every cultivator entering the Elephant Mountains as a demon spy, it would be nearly impossible to fully safeguard the array in every direction.

Soon, Wu Shu and Li Jianfeng approached the edge of the array. Li Jianfeng cautiously signaled Wu Shu to proceed carefully.

Wu Shu, however, paid no heed to Li Jianfeng’s warning and called to the night-walking beast beside him, “Night-walking beast, stay close.”

Li Jianfeng was genuinely speechless. Matters of life and death aside, he had never seen someone so reckless. Granted, Li Jianfeng himself hadn’t faced many life-or-death battles.

He started to wonder if he had overestimated Wu Shu. Facing demons, Wu Shu was still so careless in his actions. Yet, this brashness oddly suited Li Jianfeng’s taste — a style of boldness without much cunning, but full of audacity.

Just as Wu Shu was within a few dozen meters of the array, dozens of figures suddenly appeared from the forest behind them. Leading them was a young man with icy eyes and an eerie aura.

Upon recognizing the leader’s face, Li Jianfeng’s heart skipped a beat. “Fu Xin? How are you here?”

Li Jianfeng’s fear suggested that Fu Xin was a powerful demon left behind outside the mountains. According to Li Jianfeng’s earlier words, Fu Xin was likely a demon adept at mental attacks.

Otherwise, given Li Jianfeng’s strength, it would require significant effort for anyone to gain the upper hand against him.

Turning to the crowd, Wu Shu mockingly feigned fear, “Demons, huh? How terrifying…”

Fu Xin’s face suddenly broke into a smile at Wu Shu’s taunt. Behind Wu Shu and Li Jianfeng lay the great array of the Elephant Mountains, while before them stood Fu Xin’s forces. Even if Wu Shu and Li Jianfeng were granted wings, escaping this place today was impossible.

Fu Xin sneered coldly, “Li Jianfeng, has Kun Nation no one else? You actually had to come out yourself to greet a third-level body refiner, a useless brat. I can’t see any talent in that kid.”

Wu Shu was startled by Fu Xin’s words. Was he saying that Li Jianfeng personally came to meet him? Had someone been watching him secretly since he neared the Elephant Mountains? Or even since he left Giant Earth Town? If not, how else would Li Jianfeng have met him so quickly?

If so, Li Jianfeng’s status in Kun Nation must be extraordinary.

“Want to fight? Just start already; don’t be so dramatic. This fussiness—demons really are unbearable,” Wu Shu retorted.

If his earlier words were mocking, now he was outright insulting them as effeminate. Of course, Wu Shu meant no offense to women—only to the demons.

Fu Xin growled in anger, “Boy, I hope your strength matches your sharp tongue. Kill them!”

Without hesitation, the fight began, and it was Wu Shu who provoked it first.

The sudden chaos made Li Jianfeng feel as if his head were made of iron. Wu Shu was too reckless! Didn’t he know to buy time? The longer they delayed, the more reinforcements would arrive.

After Fu Xin gave the order, his dozen men surged forward, ready to beat the insolent speaker into submission.

Just as Li Jianfeng prepared to fight, Wu Shu said calmly, “Li Jianfeng, stand behind me. These demons aren’t worth our full strength.”

Li Jianfeng couldn’t believe his ears, but chose to trust Wu Shu and stepped behind him.

Wu Shu then sternly commanded the advancing foes, “Kneel!”

To everyone’s astonishment, the attackers suddenly lost control of their bodies and collapsed, prostrating themselves as if worshipping Wu Shu. It was truly unbelievable.

Wu Shu then glanced at the stunned Fu Xin and asked coldly, “Is that all?”

Without hesitation, Wu Shu strode toward the array. Li Jianfeng wanted to stop him. Wu Shu’s earlier display had shocked him. To Li Jianfeng, the demons posed no threat—why hide in the array? After all, this was no ordinary array. For those ignorant of arrays, entering one could mean facing untold hardships even if they survived.

If Li Jianfeng had known that Wu Shu’s strength was only at the third level of body refinement, he would have rushed in at once to protect him from the demons’ onslaught without the aid of the array’s sudden attack carved into the spirit stone.

Hesitating, Wu Shu entered the array. Inside, he moved freely, as if no one else were present. It made one question if the Elephant Mountains even truly housed an array.

Wu Shu’s ease of movement misled Fu Xin and the demons. They assumed the array had been broken.

Fu Xin laughed aloud, “Blessed by the heavens, the array is broken! Demonic servants, slay them quickly! Follow me to greet the ancestor!”

Hearing the array was destroyed, the demonic servants grew ferocious, ready to devour Li Jianfeng alive.

Fu Xin’s so-called demonic servants were mostly talented Kun Nation youths under his control. Fu Xin, possessing strange abilities, was poised to strike. Li Jianfeng, unwilling to engage, retreated toward the array.

Once inside, feeling the array’s eerie power, Li Jianfeng was pleased.

The joy stemmed from the fact that the array was still intact; the demons had not achieved their goal in the Elephant Mountains.

“The Nine-Turn Illusion Severance Array: the outer layer is the Nine-Turn Array, the middle region is the Illusion Array, and the core is the Severance Array. However, if a demon ancestor truly lies suppressed within the Elephant Mountains, I believe the core must be further guarded by a grand array,” Wu Shu murmured to himself, ignoring Li Jianfeng and the others.

Then, looking at Fu Xin both inside and outside the array, Wu Shu said blandly, “Tsk tsk… Weak and narrow-minded. You demon spawn should just tuck your tails and flee back to the Demon Realm. By the time you rescue your so-called ancestor, he’d probably be long dead.”

After several demonic servants entered the array, Fu Xin realized the array was still intact.

Looking back at Wu Shu, Fu Xin suspected Wu Shu’s strength was concealed. Wu Shu’s ability to move freely within the array indicated he was no ordinary cultivator.

More importantly, Wu Shu looked very young. When did Kun Nation produce such a favored prodigy?

Standing outside the array, Fu Xin coldly said, “Boy, you’re arrogant. Tell me your name—one worth remembering.”

“Ha! You think someone like you deserves to know my name?” Wu Shu sneered.

“Who, me?” Fu Xin was furious, his demonic heart shaken.

Wu Shu glanced disdainfully at the night-walking beast beside him. “See? Your so-called divine beast is just a little donkey in front of me.”

The night-walking beast was highly intelligent, but once inside the array, the Nine-Turn Array’s strangeness immobilized it. Wu Shu pretended not to notice it, then suddenly turned to insult it.

The beast immediately shrank slightly, struck a pose, raised its head, and brayed loudly.

Nearby, Li Jianfeng’s spirit beast, the fierce white tiger, Little White, stared in disbelief, while Li Jianfeng himself was utterly stunned. Such complete prostration? Could this really be the legendary night-walking beast? It even brayed like a donkey.

After the night-walking beast’s example, as Wu Shu’s gaze passed over Little White, the tiger also shrank slightly, wagged its tail, and let out playful barks, seeking favor.

Exchanging looks with Wu Shu, Li Jianfeng said, “Brother Shu Wu, this isn’t very appropriate, I’m human.”

Wu Shu was at his wit’s end with Li Jianfeng and the beasts’ reactions. If not for the pressing danger, he would have shouted, “Can you guys be more alert and restrained when I’m pretending? I’m just acting cold-hearted, no feelings!”

But since he was already pretending, he had to do it with style.

Taking a few confident strides to Li Jianfeng’s side, Wu Shu showed no extra moves, yet Li Jianfeng felt his body lighten, as if the array’s restrictions vanished.

“Brother Li, let’s go together.”

What? Together?

The night-walking beast and Little White were dumbfounded. Little White barked even more energetically at Wu Shu.

Wu Shu said, “Little White, don’t worry; I’ll bring you along.”

Seeing Wu Shu take Little White but not the night-walking beast, the latter nearly cursed.

Damn! Was this on purpose?

How could the noble night-walking beast be reduced to this? If not for that girl’s orders, he’d kick Wu Shu to death.

Yet no matter what, they had to get out of the array. Resigned, the night-walking beast looked up sincerely and brayed mournfully.

“Oh, almost forgot the night-walking beast. What a memory I have.”

Wu Shu’s mischievous humor left Li Jianfeng dumbfounded.

Fortunately, a true prodigy had indeed appeared among Kun Nation’s youth—their skill in arrays was undeniably remarkable.