BOOM!
Zhang Shun stomped the ground and shot out of the defensive line like a loosed arrow, instantly charging toward the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon.
When he was thirty feet away, he viciously swung his Long Saber, unleashing a materialized blade of light. A trace of apprehension flashed through the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon’s massive eyes, and its enormous body dodged with extreme speed to evade the attack.
However, the blade of light was too fast. How could Zhang Shun’s lethal strike, charged for so long using a Secret Technique, be so easily dodged?
ROAR!
Seeing that it was impossible to avoid, the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon roared. Raging Flames unexpectedly ignited all over its body, acting like an Armor.
SLASH!
The fierce blade of light chopped into the Flames, nearly half of its energy SIZZLING as it was annihilated. However, the remaining power tore through the fiery defense, leaving a two-foot-long, bone-deep gash on the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon’s body.
If this strike had landed on a human, it would have been enough to cleave them in two. But the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon’s body was too massive, and the blade of light had been weakened by the Flames. Such an injury was nothing more than a flesh wound to it.
Driven by pain, the Tiger Demon spewed Flames from its massive maw.
WHOOSH!
The scorching Flames swept out like a fiery tongue, forcing Zhang Shun to dodge repeatedly and directly setting the jungle ablaze. Amidst the Flames, a Rapid Insect that was fighting two Demon Fiends was caught in the blaze. It instantly turned into a fireball, letting out agonizing wails.
"A Qi and Blood Realm Great Demon is actually this terrifying?" Qin Yu watched the scene from afar, a chill rising in his heart.
How could he not see that the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon was coming for him? If he allowed it to get close, he wouldn’t even survive a single encounter!
After injuring the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon, the residual power of Zhang Shun’s blade of light flew another hundred feet, still sweeping down a swath of trees. Its power was simply unimaginable.
"Qi and Blood Realm Martial Artists can mobilize the Qi Blood in their bodies for ranged attacks, and Demon Fiends have similar methods. However, it’s not as terrifying as you think. This kind of attack consumes a massive amount of Qi Blood. Whether it’s a Martial Artist or a Demon Fiend, they can’t keep it up for long." Beside him, Xu Chen shot an arrow, tearing through a Demon Fiend’s abdomen as he spoke.
As he finished his sentence, the Flames in the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon’s mouth indeed extinguished. Its cushion-sized Tiger Claws slammed down, making the earth rumble and leaving behind massive craters. Its strength was so great that even Zhang Shun didn’t dare block it head-on. Wielding his Long Saber, he dodged rapidly and occasionally struck back, but he didn’t unleash another attack of that magnitude.
"I see!" Qin Yu nodded. Still, it was terrifying enough. Even if it was just a trump card technique, it was enough to easily slaughter someone in the Bone Forging Realm. If he wanted to rely on Rapid Insects to besiege such an existence, he didn’t know how many would have to die before they could overwhelm it. The gap in strength was simply too vast.
Despite his thoughts, Qin Yu’s hands didn’t stop. He drew his Longbow to the fullest, instantly aimed at the Tiger Demon’s eyes, and loosed the bowstring.
SWISH!
Amidst a sonic boom, the Armor-Breaking Arrow tore through the air.
A hint of mockery flashed through the eyes of the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon, which was currently locked in combat with Zhang Shun. This arrow was too slow for it, and its power was too weak. By merely shifting its head slightly to protect its vital eyes, its massive Tiger Claw continued to swat at Zhang Shun, producing the CLANG of metal clashing.
The tremendous force of the Tiger Claw sent Zhang Shun flying. He had to frantically surge all the Qi Blood in his body to barely disperse the impact, yet a trace of blood still trickled from the corner of his mouth.
CLINK!
The Armor-Breaking Arrow hit the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon squarely on the forehead but was blocked by invisible Flames. After barely penetrating the fire, it lost all momentum upon touching the beast’s fur and fell harmlessly to the ground, completely unable to injure it in the slightest.
Seeing this, Qin Yu’s expression changed. He thought, "Is the defense of this Blazing Flame Tiger Demon actually this astonishing?"
Before Qin Yu could attack again, a Wolf Demon that had broken through layers of obstacles roared and lunged at him. There were simply too many Demon Fiends, and they were mixed with a large number of wild beasts. Even with the Rapid Insects at the front lines bursting out with all their might, they could only hold off a portion of the swarm. The team of just over a hundred people had been scattered, forced to form small circles to fight. After all, the Martial Artists of Cyan Peak County were not a formal army and were not adept at large-scale battles.
SWISH!
Before Qin Yu could draw his blade, Xu Chen dropped his Longbow and unsheathed his Long Saber. With a single slash, he slit the beast’s throat, sending its hideous head flying.
"Your Archery Skill has reached the Microcosm level! Provide ranged support to the others! I’ll clear the obstacles for you!" Xu Chen growled lowly. He flicked away a few poisonous snakes and scorpions that were slithering over, then pulled an exquisite Jade Bottle from his robe and tossed it to Qin Yu.
"This is a Blood Replenishing Pill! It can quickly restore your Qi Blood. You’re still in the Muscle Refining Realm, so drawing your bow over a dozen times in a row has likely exhausted your Qi Blood.
"Also, there are three secretly crafted Demon Suppression Bureau Armor-Breaking Arrows in my quiver. Take them! The arrowheads are engraved with special Runes that can pierce the Protective Gang Qi of a Qi and Blood Realm Demon Fiend!"
Qin Yu was about to say that he was actually quite skilled in Sword Skill as well, but after catching the Jade Bottle, he swallowed his words.
Blood Replenishing Pills were good stuff. An ordinary archer would indeed be easily exhausted after shooting more than a dozen arrows at full strength. Breaking through the Tendon Barrier meant that the tendons throughout the body were strong and flexible, capable of fierce explosive power, but unless one broke through to the Bone Forging Realm, they couldn’t sustain it for long.
However, perhaps because his body had been modified by the Insect Race, his recovery ability had vastly improved. After firing over a dozen arrows, his arms only felt a bit sore and numb, far from being completely drained.
"Thank you, Brother Xu." Without hesitation, Qin Yu opened the Jade Bottle, poured out a thumb-sized black pill, and popped it into his mouth.
The Elixir melted the moment it entered his mouth. A surge of Qi and Blood Power rose from his abdomen and circulated throughout his body, causing most of the soreness to fade away.
Qin Yu immediately grabbed Xu Chen’s quiver. Sure enough, among the dozen or so Arrows, there were three black Arrows with peculiar Runes on their heads.
"Rune Armor-Breaking Arrows?" Qin Yu thought. "The Demon Suppression Bureau is indeed wealthy to have such good stuff."
These items were not sold on the open market at all. If one occasionally leaked out, it would fetch an astronomical price. Furthermore, their quality would still be far inferior to those from the Demon Suppression Bureau.
Gripping the Arrows, Qin Yu looked around, enveloping the entire battlefield within his perception through the Insect Swarm’s Mind Network.
At this moment, the battlefield had already descended into absolute chaos. Over a hundred Martial Artists were engaged in a massive melee with a horde of Demon Fiends, Poisonous Insects, and wild beasts. Screams constantly rang out—some from humans, and some from Demon Fiends.
The remaining dozen or so Rapid Insects were already covered in wounds, yet they continued to bite and tear madly. Compared to the Demon Fiends and Martial Artists, the coordination between the Rapid Insects was far more exquisite. Not only did they not fall into a disadvantage, but they grew braver as they fought, holding back the most ferocious wave of Demon Fiends.
In the very center of the battlefield, Zhang Shun and the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon were locked in a frantic struggle. Massive trees snapped and the ground caved in, exploding into deep craters under the Tiger Demon’s strikes. Although a few more wounds had appeared on the Blazing Flame Tiger Demon’s body, relying on its thick skin and flesh, the injuries were completely inconsequential. On the contrary, the scorching Flames it spewed left Zhang Shun in a wretched state, rendering him completely unable to face it head-on. The occasional clash between his Long Saber and the Tiger Claws made his entire body tremble violently.
Clearly, he had fallen to a disadvantage.
Qin Yu furrowed his brows. Through his telepathic perception, he could feel the twenty-seven Rapid Insects that had been lurking over ten miles behind him rapidly approaching, though they did not directly join the fray. Before setting out, he had mobilized the Rapid Insects from the Mine Cave base to act as a hidden force, ready to back him up at a critical moment.
Having these Rapid Insects enter the battle right now would undoubtedly turn the tide. However, the key to this battle lay not elsewhere, but with that Blazing Flame Tiger Demon. If it could be slain, the remaining Demon Fiends would collapse without a fight!
Nocking a black Rune Armor-Breaking Arrow onto his Longbow, Qin Yu narrowed his eyes at the gaping wound on the side of the Tiger Demon’s neck as data surged wildly within his Insect Nest vision.
Perhaps he didn’t need his hidden forces to make a move.
He could turn the tide of the battle himself!