Chapter 303: Chapter 183: The Seventh Area

’The third stage of the Heroic Body?’

’He’s already condensed a Divine Seed!?’

They were all Grand Generals of the Demon Slayer Bureau, ranked among the Seven Demon Slayers.

It had only been a few days, yet Gu Zheng had already broken through to the third stage of the Heroic Body.

Zuo Lingfeng’s face was wooden, but his mind was reeling.

If it had been anyone else, he wouldn’t have been so shocked. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

It was his familiarity with Gu Zheng that made the blow so severe.

Fortunately, Zuo Lingfeng was no ordinary man. He was a Grand General who had slain tens of thousands of Demon Fiends, his mental fortitude long since tempered.

He took a deep breath, gave a thumbs-up, and said with admiration, "Impressive!"

As he spoke, his expression relaxed imperceptibly, and a look of determination appeared in his eyes.

Gu Zheng, who had been carefully watching Zuo Lingfeng’s expression, had a sudden realization.

’I’m almost certain. Zuo Lingfeng has obtained that predecessor’s legacy!’

The greatest treasure in these ruins—the first of them—was the legacy of the powerful expert who had passed away here.

The second was the Heaven-piercing Halberd now in Gu Zheng’s hands.

Zuo Lingfeng had obtained the first, and now Gu Zheng had obtained the second.

’Since we both got something, Zuo Lingfeng must feel a lot better now, right?’

Gu Zheng mused internally. Instead of saying anything else, he asked directly, "Zuo, did you find anything else?"

"Nothing else. Oh, wait. On second thought, there is something."

Recalling something, Zuo Lingfeng replied, "No Demon Fiends have come near this palace complex, though I’m not sure why. I suspect that even after that predecessor passed away, the aura from his skeleton is still at work, deterring the Demon Fiends outside and keeping them from approaching."

"If we bury the predecessor’s remains, that deterrent effect might disappear. When that happens, the Demon Fiends outside will charge in."

"I’m not saying this because I’m scared, but because I sensed the aura of a fourth-rank Demon Fiend in the volcanic cluster to the northwest!"

"If a fourth-rank Great Demon were to charge over, I fear we’d have no chance of escape."

Zuo Lingfeng’s expression was grave.

It was a possibility they had to consider.

They were trapped in this region with no way out.

If a fourth-rank Demon Fiend discovered them, escape would be impossible. They would be doomed!

"Then we won’t bury the remains."

Gu Zheng decided instantly. "That predecessor has been gone for so long. This palace is effectively his tomb already. Leaving it as it is will be fine."

"We’ll focus on killing Demon Fiends. We need to slay them in large numbers as quickly as possible. As long as we trigger the zone-transfer mechanism, we’ll be able to leave."

"Good!" Zuo Lingfeng nodded. "Then let’s head northwest and start hunting from the perimeter."

"Let’s go!"

Gu Zheng gave a wave, gripped his Heaven-piercing Halberd, and strode toward the exit.

Zuo Lingfeng was already a step ahead of him, heading out.

The two of them exited the underground passage, leaped into the air, and streaked northwest at a low altitude.

"I’ve observed the area. The Demon Fiends on the outskirts of the volcanic cluster are mainly Thunder Swift Demons and Thunderous Bone Demon Fiends, with some Thundercloud Leopards and Multi-Armed Thunder Monkeys mixed in."

As they flew, Zuo Lingfeng added in a low voice, "As for the fourth-rank Demon Fiend I sensed, if I’m not mistaken, it must be a Thunder Dragon!"

A Thunder Dragon, a type of Demon Dragon!

These beings are incredibly formidable, especially since they wield Thunder Power.

Even without any other strange abilities, their pure Thunder Power makes them incredibly difficult to kill.

"We’ll focus on the Thunderous Bone Demon Fiends and Thunder Swift Demons!"

Gu Zheng said in a low voice. "Those two types of Demon Fiends are the most numerous. The faster we kill them, the sooner we can leave."

"Alright." Zuo Lingfeng nodded.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

A scorching astral wind blasted against their faces.

As they neared the volcanic cluster, the air immediately changed.

Black smoke billowed from one active volcano after another, surging toward the sky dome.

The sky of the Shadow Realm had no sun or stars; its day and night cycles shifted in sync with the mortal world.

This volcanic cluster, however, remained perpetually dim, regardless of day or night.

Of course, the surging lava and crimson flames illuminated half the sky.

Countless Thunder Swift Demons and Thunderous Bone Demon Fiends moved swiftly across the volcanoes, each keeping to itself.

As Gu Zheng and Zuo Lingfeng drew near, they separated with a tacit understanding, each choosing a direction and beginning their hunt.

SHING! SHING! SHING!

Three hundred and sixty blades shot out, dancing through the air. A group of Thunder Swift Demons on a mountain path barely had time to react before it was too late.

SLICE! SLICE! SLICE!

The ferocious, terrifying Thunder Swift Demons, their bodies covered in blades, were decapitated one by one, their black blood splashing onto the scorched earth.

Spirit Capturing!

[Demon Points +9]

[Demon Points +8]

...

After reaping a wave of Demon Points, Gu Zheng continued to skim across the landscape. His three hundred and sixty blades shot out from afar, vanished mid-flight, then reappeared to bore straight into the heads of more Thunder Swift Demons.

THWIP! THWIP! THWIP!

A series of sickening thuds echoed faintly along the mountain path.

A nearby volcano began to rumble, spewing out massive gouts of lava and thick, rolling smoke, its awesome power shaking the surroundings.

Gu Zheng activated his Dark Vision. The three hundred and sixty blades fanned out, continuously shooting forth to slay one Thunder Swift Demon after another.

Then, Spirit Capturing! Spirit Capturing!

[Demon Points +15]

[Demon Points +9]

...

Whether they were first-rank or second-rank Thunder Swift Demons, caught completely off guard, they were all slain in an instant.

Thunder Swift Demons were famous for their lightning-fast speed, but that was only when they were on guard. How could they attack an enemy they couldn’t even see?

And to escape, you first have to start running!

...

On one side, Gu Zheng hunted down Thunder Swift Demons, following their auras.

On the other, Zuo Lingfeng did the same, hunting down Thunderous Bone Demon Fiends.

His weapon was peculiar, like a cross between a sword and a saber. Infused with Divine Wondrous power, it constantly shifted between corporeal and incorporeal. In its ethereal state, it would strike out as a series of afterimages, passing through the Thunderous Bone Demon Fiends and instantly extinguishing their Soul Fires!

With a single sweep, a whole swathe of Thunderous Bone Demon Fiends fell.