The blood-red airflow spewed by the demon earlier was extremely potent. If it had touched him, it would have undoubtedly corroded his life force.
"I want to see what exactly this demon is!"
Zhou Yan's eyes turned icy. He unleashed the Thunder Sword Art, transforming into a bolt of lightning and charging forward.
The demon, enveloped by the lightning, stiffened.
Immediately, a ghastly sword mark appeared on its chest, nearly piercing through.
The demon roared, its monstrous visage contorted in pain. It swiped a claw, the surging wind like a tempestuous wave crashing down.
Zhou Yan parried with his sword, but was still sent flying back, his tiger's mouth split and blood dripping.
"Roar!"
The demon let out a furious roar, its eyes filled with anger.
That brief exchange had inflicted an injury upon it.
"So strong!"
Zhou Yan's pupils contracted, his expression grave.
"A Saint-grade demon indeed!"
A deep sense of dread flickered in his eyes.
For that sword strike, he had used eighty to ninety percent of his strength, only to be repelled.
"It seems I have no choice but to fight head-on!"
Zhou Yan gritted his teeth. In his hand, he clutched a dagger, a bronze dagger, its surface mottled with rust, appearing utterly unremarkable.
"Die!"
Zhou Yan roared, swinging the dagger and bringing it down with force.
A clang of metal against metal erupted as the dagger collided with the demon's claw.
Instantly, sparks flew. Zhou Yan's body trembled, his arm went numb, and the dagger nearly slipped from his grasp.
"How is this possible?"
He was shocked, his eyes wide.
After just one blow, he understood that he was no match for this demon. The demon's physique was terrifying, its strength immense, and its speed not slow, far surpassing martial artists of the same rank.
Furthermore, its physical defense was terrifyingly strong; ordinary weapons could not harm it.
"I refuse to believe I can't defeat you!"
A fierce fighting spirit blazed in Zhou Yan's eyes.
His speed suddenly increased. He unleashed the "Youlong Bagua Steps," his body moving with ethereal grace, like a swimming fish evading the demon's onslaught.
"Roar!"
The demon roared repeatedly, its crimson eyes gleaming with ferocity. Its body contorted, its speed increasing as it lunged at Zhou Yan.
"You seek death!"
Zhou Yan's expression turned frigid, a cold glint in his eyes.
Instead of retreating, he advanced.
Zhou Yan threw a punch, imbued with astonishing power, sending the demon flying back.
"What a resilient physique!"
Zhou Yan exclaimed inwardly.
The demon's body was akin to a divine weapon. His punch had landed squarely on it, yet only left a faint imprint, failing to break its skin.
"Awoooo!"
The demon roared and swiped a claw, pressing down from the air.
"Hmph, a mere trick, daring to show off!"
Zhou Yan's expression remained unchanged. His wrist flicked, and the dagger, at a tricky angle, plunged into the demon's throat.
Blood sprayed forth.
The dagger, incredibly sharp, instantly tore through the demon's thick hide and severed its windpipe.
"Die!"
Zhou Yan seized the opportunity, driving forward, his hand shooting out to deliver a chop precisely at the demon's neck, cleaving its head open.
With a *thump*, the demon's corpse fell to the ground with a dull thud.
From the corpse, thick, foul-smelling blood mist billowed out, emitting a stench.
This blood mist surged towards Zhou Yan.
"Not good!"
Zhou Yan's expression shifted. He quickly held his breath and retreated.
He knew that this blood mist was condensed from the demon's filthy aura, and if it touched his body, it would immediately corrupt him, causing his flesh to rot.
Zhou Yan activated the "Fenyen Art," enveloping himself in raging crimson flames, shielding himself from the approaching blood mist.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Zhou Yan's gaze flickered. He noticed that the blood mist was actually seeping into the crimson flames.
Instantly, the crimson flames blazed, flickering intensely.
"Hmm?"
Zhou Yan was astonished. His crimson flames were condensed from a secret art of the Fenyen Valley, possessing the power to incinerate all things, yet now they were being merged with this blood mist into a single mass of flame?
"No wonder... the demon's attacks could harm me!"
Zhou Yan suddenly understood. The blood mist contained a trace of a strange dark energy, which was why he felt pain.
And this dark energy was precisely what the flames countered.
"Devouring flames to strengthen itself?" Zhou Yan murmured.
Information flowed into his mind, detailing information about the demon.
"Netherworld Wolf Demon, Saint-grade low-rank, skilled in stealth and assassination!"
"This is a demon that has lived since ancient times, possessing a long lifespan and immense strength. However, its flaw is fatal: once its life force is depleted, it will perish completely!"
Numerous thoughts arose in Zhou Yan's mind, and the more he thought, the more shocked he became.
Demons lived for an incredibly long time.
They could live for three hundred years, equivalent to a human in their fifties or sixties.
In other words, a demon's lifespan reached around five hundred years.
Humans, on the other hand, had a lifespan of only around one hundred and twenty years.
This demon, capable of living for over five hundred years, was truly rare.
"It is indeed powerful!"
Zhou Yan sighed inwardly.
Demons, though lacking true sentience, possessed instincts and understood how to avoid danger.
"But since I'm here, how can I let you escape!"
Zhou Yan's gaze turned chilling. In his hand, the dagger erupted with brilliant radiance. With the move "Slithering Snake Emerging from its Hole," he thrust it into the demon's abdomen.
Immediately, a jet of blood shot out.
"Roar!"
The demon cried out in agony, letting out roars. Its massive body thrashed wildly.
Rumble...
The earth trembled, rocks tumbled, and surrounding trees snapped.
This demon, worthy of being called a ferocious beast, feared no death. Even with an arm severed, it did not retreat a single step, launching furious assaults again and again.
"Damn it!"
Zhou Yan frowned. He rapidly retreated, evading the demon's attacks, and then searched for an opportunity to strike.
This demon had completely gone berserk, lost its reason, with its only thought being to kill.
Suddenly, Zhou Yan's spine tingled. A sense of crisis descended upon him.
He lightly tapped his foot, leaped into the air, and dodged the sneak attack.
A short sword was embedded in the spot where Zhou Yan had been standing, mere inches from his body.
Had he been a moment slower, Zhou Yan, even if not pierced through the chest, would have had an eye blinded by the strike.
Zhou Yan looked up, his gaze falling upon his attacker, and his expression turned to horror.
It was a seductive woman. A venomous smile played on her lips, and she held a short sword, her eyes filled with amusement. "Heh heh... discovered your tracks so quickly?"
"Who are you?"
Zhou Yan narrowed his eyes, staring at her, a chill running through him.
This seductive woman's cultivation was extremely strong, already reaching the Qi Condensation realm.
"Jie jie... I am your nightmare!"
The seductive woman cackled, a bloodthirsty gleam in her eyes. Her figure moved like a phantom, instantly closing in on Zhou Yan.
"Die!"
The seductive woman shrieked. Her short sword unleashed a blinding radiance, a cold gleam piercing the void, sharp and merciless, exuding an overwhelming killing intent as it lunged for Zhou Yan's throat.