Chapter Forty-Three: The Sudden Transformation of the Locust Demon

According to Ning Caichen’s nature, he would not seek me out without reason. Could it be that something has happened to Nie Xiaoqian? A trace of doubt surfaced in Su Ye’s heart, prompting him to leave the quiet chamber where he cultivated.

“Little Li, you stay here and continue your cultivation in the mountain. I’ll head to Lan Yin Mountain to see what’s happened.” After instructing Little Li, Su Ye swiftly descended from Yunquan Mountain. At the foot of the mountain, he encountered one of Ning Caichen’s subordinate ghosts.

“Immortal Su, my master requests your immediate presence at Lan Yin Mountain. The locust demon has undergone a strange transformation, and my mistress is in danger!” The ghost anxiously rushed to Su Ye the moment it saw him.

Su Ye did not pause to inquire about the specifics. A gust of wind surged beneath his feet, carrying him rapidly toward Lan Yin Mountain.

It was the season when the wild orchids bloomed in abundance, their fragrance permeating the entire mountain, and Lan Yin Mountain was at its most beautiful. Yet Su Ye had no mind to admire the scenery; riding the gentle breeze, he quickly arrived at the site of Lanruo Temple.

“Heh, I was just about to seek you out, but you have delivered yourself to me. Saves me the trouble!” The locust demon’s voice rang out in a sinister laugh.

For reasons unknown, the locust demon who had been sealed at the ruins of Lanruo Temple had broken free. Not only had its demon soul separated from Nie Xiaoqian and reentered its own body, but its power had increased greatly.

Now, Nie Xiaoqian’s body was bound and hanging from the enormous crown of the locust tree, while Ning Caichen had already fought the locust demon and was clearly outmatched. His injuries were grave, and even his ghostly body was nearly dispersed.

Seeing Su Ye arrive, the locust demon ceased its attack on Ning Caichen, shifting its gaze to Su Ye instead.

The locust demon shook its massive crown, releasing dense and pure dark energy that poured from the branches. Instantly, a rain of locust leaves fell. Soaked in the dark energy, the leaves became as hard as metal, swarming toward Su Ye like sharp, deep-green daggers.

“What pure dark energy—its nature is identical to that of the underworld emissary!” Su Ye’s expression grew solemn. He quickly produced his Jade Scepter, pouring his internal magic into the green scepter.

In that moment, a jade light burst forth from the scepter, blocking the barrage of locust leaves.

This green scepter was acquired from Qiao Ning. After obtaining it, Su Ye had inscribed several talismanic runes on it, restoring and even enhancing its power.

Yet, the locust demon’s current strength far outstripped Su Ye’s. Though the Jade Scepter was formidable, it could not hold off the demon for long.

“Ning Caichen, what’s happening with this locust demon? Why has its power suddenly increased so much?” Su Ye’s voice was low, his face filled with worry.

Since the demon’s transformation, Ning Caichen’s wife had fallen into a deep sleep and had not awakened.

“How would I know why this has happened? I haven’t been at Lan Yin Mountain!” Su Ye retorted coldly. Forming a spell seal with his hands, he began to cast the Spirit-Summoning Talisman, preparing to call upon an underworld emissary for aid.

This talisman was something Su Ye had obtained in his previous life from the ghost judge. Though he had often summoned underworld emissaries to escort captured ghosts to the netherworld, this was the first time he sought their help in subduing a demon.

Su Ye’s intervention gave Ning Caichen a moment to recover. When he regained some strength, he drew his iron sword once more and launched an attack against the locust demon.

“Fool!” A black-gray root broke through the hardened earth, writhing like a serpent as it lashed toward Ning Caichen.

Already severely wounded, Ning Caichen could not withstand such a fierce blow. In an instant, the root sent him flying high before he crashed heavily to the ground.

Su Ye paused his incantation. Having completed the Spirit-Summoning Talisman, he now waited for the underworld emissary to arrive.

But in the meantime, he needed to ward off the demon’s attacks.

Su Ye drew a talisman brush from his sleeve. Activating the Five Thunders of Yin and Yang technique, he pushed the power of the companion jade talisman in his consciousness to its limit. Five-colored spiritual light surged from the brush, and in an instant, a five-colored talisman took shape beneath his pen.

This was the Five Thunders Evil-Suppressing Talisman. Su Ye’s cultivation had already reached the ninth rank, and with the companion jade talisman augmenting him, the power of the talisman soared, nearly reaching the eighth rank.

Command!

Su Ye uttered a low cry. The talisman transformed into a five-colored beam of light, shooting forth, and thunderous power surged within it.

The locust demon snorted coldly, her massive trunk shaking violently. In an instant, endless dark energy erupted from her body, churning and condensing into a thick barrier that shielded her tree form.

Clearly, the locust demon recognized the terrifying power contained in the talisman and dared not use her body to withstand it.

Su Ye returned the brush to his sleeve and quickly formed another spell seal with his hands. Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed from within the demon’s trunk.

This was the Soul-Nurturing Talisman Array Su Ye had previously embedded in the locust tree. Despite the demon’s transformation, he noticed that his array had not been removed.

“Unfortunately, the explosion’s power isn’t particularly formidable and hasn’t caused much damage,” Su Ye sighed softly.

Though the force was not overwhelming, it did affect the locust demon.

The dark barrier surrounding the demon’s trunk began to tremble violently. At that moment, the power of the Five Thunders talisman erupted, shattering the barrier.

In a flash, the five-colored light, infused with lightning, struck the demon’s trunk. The wild energy from the talisman spread, while tiny bolts of five-colored lightning burrowed into the tree, relentlessly destroying its body from within.

“You wretch! Courting death!” The locust demon roared in fury, and a wave of oppressive energy surged out from within, her cultivation rising rapidly.

Within moments, her power broke through the ninth rank, entering the eighth.

The damage inflicted by the talisman and Soul-Nurturing Array was swiftly purged, leaving the demon not only unharmed but far stronger than before.

At that moment, a slender, sharp root shot up from the earth, aiming straight for Su Ye’s body.