"Back then, the Sky Demon Crimson Cetan failed its third attempt to attain nirvana. Just as it was about to pass away, it left behind a backup plan. It used a secret technique to separate a wisp of remnant soul and used its demonic powers to nurture it. After many years, it evolved to develop intelligence not long ago, which is the form you see now."
He secretly observed Xiao Ran and saw that his immense sword intent was still locked onto him.
The Crimson Cetan's remnant soul said timidly, "Can… can this thing be put away?"
"What do you think?" Xiao Ran asked.
"I guess not!" The Crimson Cetan's remnant soul answered honestly.
He continued with his narration.
"After that, I used a secret technique to summon my true body's Skeleton, but it was restrained by some mysterious power. My demonic power leaked out, drawing the nearby Chi Huayuan's attention. I then redirected the demonic power to form a protective barrier to block his attack. I used the secret technique to summon the Skeleton again. You know what happened afterwards."
"Now I understand." Xiao Ran nodded.
The Sky Demon Skeleton was previously stored in the horse demon's innate divine powers. It was that force blocking out the Crimson Cetan's summoning demonic energy.
As soon as he took it out and it sensed the demon's summon, it could not wait to rush here.
"Does that mean you have recently gained sentience?"
"Yeah." The Crimson Cetan's remnant soul nodded, with an aggrieved expression.
Xiao Ran then took out the Sky Demon Skeleton, removed the seal, and threw it in front of him. The Crimson Cetan's remnant soul excitedly asked, "Are you returning it to me?"
Step by steady step… He slowly approached it.
He was still staring at Xiao Ran all the while. Seeing that he did not stop him, the Crimson Cetan's remnant soul became emboldened.
When he reached the Sky Demon Skeleton, he spiraled into a beam of crimson light and dived into the bone.
Boom!
Demonic power exploded in billowing plumes. A crimson glow soared into the sky, rapidly enveloping the entire chamber.
A tremendous pressure swept across the surroundings. The demonic aura was about to spread outwards.
Xiao Ran swung into action. The sword intent discharged from his body instantly and with his body as the focal point, he laid down a barrier field, trapping the demonic energy inside.
Faced with the swift ferocious sword energy, the demonic energy could offer no resistance and was destroyed in a blink of an eye.
Screech!
Several minutes later, the Crimson Cetan's remnant soul let out a low cry. The crimson radiance surrounding his body began to spin faster and faster until it was completely absorbed into his body.
A Crimson Cetan materialized in the air, about a foot in size.
Its entire body was crimson red, and it was ablaze with the Crimson Cetan Holy Fire.
His small eyes turned to look at the terrifying sword energy in the chamber. The small ray of hope that had just risen was immediately extinguished like a small spark of fire by a basin of cold water.
He flew over obediently and stopped in front of Xiao Ran.
"Why didn't you escape?" Xiao Ran asked curiously.
"I can't defeat you."
"You're quite pragmatic."
"In the depths of the Mount Flaming Inferno, there is a tree bearing the Nirvana Third Revolution Sacred Fruit that I left behind. If I can obtain it, my strength will rise from the Connate Realm to the Grand Master Realm," the Crimson Cetan said.
"All right," Xiao Ran nodded.
The Crimson Cetan morphed into a beam of crimson red light and shot into his right arm, leaving a 'Crimson Cetan' motif on his wrist.
He left the burial chamber.
Under the Crimson Cetan's lead, they rushed towards the depths of Mount Flaming Inferno.
The Mount Flaming Inferno range was the lair of the Cardinal Vulpes Tribe. The mountain range stretched endlessly as far as the eye could see. Demonic energy soared into the sky and blanketed heaven and earth.
Two hours later,
Xiao Ran plucked off the Nirvana Third Revolution Sacred Fruit and was about to leave when he saw a familiar woman.
"Why is she here?"
The person in front of him was the Elder Princess Xia Luoran, whom he had met once in the Celestial Dungeon. However, she was in a very sorry state now. Red blood stained her thin veil. She was being pursued by a Level 8 Grand Master Realm Cardinal Vulpes fox demon. They were running towards him.
He pondered for a moment.
Xiao Ran decided to lend her a hand. He activated the Transformation Technique to change his appearance and strode towards her. With every step, he progressed by hundreds of feet.
"You won't be able to escape, little girl. I advise you to stop resisting. Surrender to me and be my concubine." The Cardinal Vulpes fox demon said with a gleeful look.
"Dream on!" Xia Luoran retorted.
Clutching at her chest, she endured heavy injuries and invoked a secret technique to escape.
Pooh!
She had been struggling to keep her injuries at bay the whole time, and had even utilized her secret technique twice. This was the third time she invoked it, and her body could no longer endure the backlash of the secret technique. She spewed out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.
At this moment,
she didn't even have the strength to move a finger. She laid on the ground in abject despair and helplessness. Her beautiful eyes were wide open with fury and resentment. Am I going to die here today?
"Aren't you good at escaping? Why aren't you running anymore?" The Cardinal Vulpes fox demon stopped in front of her in a whirlwind of demonic energy.
"Even if I die, I won't let you succeed!" Xia Luoran retorted with venom.
Just as she was about to invoke the secret technique of bloodline ignition to kill herself, the Cardinal Vulpes fox demon laughed scornfully. "It's all right! It's the same even if you die. I can still preserve your corpse and enjoy it slowly."
"You… you're shameless!" Xia Luoran exploded.
"Yes, I'm shameless!" The Cardinal Vulpes fox demon couldn't contain himself any longer. It rubbed its paws together greedily and approached her with a lewd smile.
Xia Luoran's pupils constricted as she pressed her fair hands on the ground.
She wanted to crawl backward, but the moment she exerted any effort, her injuries erupted in unbearable pain and she fell back to the ground.
"Stop struggling. It's useless," the Cardinal Vulpes fox demon said.
He reached out to unbuckle her belt.
"No!" Xia Luoran screamed in horror.
"Can I hear the opposite response?" The Cardinal Vulpes fox demon smiled lasciviously.
Whoosh!
A beam of brilliant sword intent zipped across more than a thousand feet and cleanly sliced off the arm that he had extended.
Xiao Ran appeared and in a flash re-appeared in front of him. "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear her say 'No'?"
"Who are you?" The Cardinal Vulpes fox demon endured the pain of his broken arm and stared at him murderously.
"Do I have to tell you if you ask?"
Rays of green light issued from his head. In a moment, two more heads grew out.
Demonic energy surged, churning ferociously. The heads bared sharp menacing fangs.
"I don't care who you are. Since you dared to chop off one of my arms, I shall skin you alive and eat you alive." All three heads of the Cardinal Vulpes fox demon spoke at the same time.
The huge body moved instantly.
"Heaven Splitting Divine Howl!"
All three jaws opened widely, producing a terrifying demonic howl, which transformed into numerous sharp blades that went slashing toward Xiao Ran.
"Royal bloodline?" Xiao Ran mused.
Thousands of rays of golden light echoed his hand gestures to transform into claws. They lashed outwards in a vicious grasp, screeching madly in their charge forward.
In an instant,
all the onrushing blades were demolished. Under their shocked gaze, the force grabbed the middle head and slammed the huge demon's body down on the ground forcefully and brutally.
He extended his right foot and stomped on it. It morphed into a footprint of golden light several dozen feet in size, crushing him to death instantly.
He retracted his foot and dusted off his hands. Xiao Ran pursed his lips and said, "Your abilities do not match your status at all!"
The Golden Tome of Creation appeared and revealed his individual information as well as his crimes.
In a nutshell, he deserved to die.
Relying on the protection of the Patriarchs of the Mount Flaming Inferno, he bullied and oppressed the surrounding commoners.
Golden light radiated out, showing two items, 300,000 Mastery Points, 35 years of Martial Arts evolution.
After adding the 300,000 Mastery Points to the Sword Intent, he was not far from attaining the Genesis Level.
His Martial Arts evolution had broken through to Level 2 of the Profound Realm, and his purifying spiritual force had doubled in prowess. He had toughened his physical body, and the strength of his physical body also advanced to the level equivalent to a Grand Master Level 1 Warrior.
He turned around and walked to Xia Luoran. "Why are you here?"
"Sir, you know me?" Xia Luoran was stunned.