Zhang Lan and his two companions began their assault on the abandoned campsite.
Soon, a white-robed cultivator dashed out from the camp.
His Dao robe was once luxurious, suggesting it was expensive, but after half a month on the run, it was now covered in mud and tattered.
His face resembled the portrait Mo Hua had seen, but much older and with peeling, decaying skin.
It seemed that without gathering, the demonic technique he practiced had backfired, causing his appearance to age and decay.
Indeed, he was a demonic cultivator who practiced plundering.
Once Zhang Lan and his companions confirmed his identity, they didn't waste any words and immediately engaged in battle without mercy.
The demonic cultivator cursed and retaliated.
The battle erupted instantly.
Mo Hua kept his distance, secretly watching them fight.
Zhang Lan practiced spiritual cultivation, specializing in water-based spells, which were powerful. From afar, he cast spells, condensing sword-like water formations that continuously attacked the demonic cultivator.
Situ Fang and Situ Xiu practiced physical cultivation, both skilled in swordsmanship.
Situ Fang wielded a slender and agile blade, imbued with faint green spiritual energy, striking swiftly and densely. Situ Xiu, on the other hand, employed vigorous movements, using spiritual energy to enhance her physical body, radiating a faint golden glow all over.
The two engaged in close combat, holding off the demonic cultivator.
The demonic cultivator, also a physical cultivator, possessed robust vitality, wielding an iron fan adorned with delicate and ethereal beauties.
Whenever he swung the fan, it emitted waves of pink spiritual energy.
No wonder he was a demonic cultivator; even the color of his spiritual energy wasn't orthodox...
Mo Hua silently thought to himself.
The demonic cultivator's cultivation was likely at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer, not a match for Zhang Lan's trio in terms of strength, but his agility allowed him to evade Situ Fang and Situ Xiu's attacks and dodge Zhang Lan's water formations as much as possible.
However, under the trio's combined assault, he gradually couldn't hold on.
Each sword formation that hit him worsened his injuries, each strike from Situ Fang caused more blood to flow.
Moreover, the faint green spiritual energy at his wounds prevented them from healing.
Before long, a sword formation from Zhang Lan struck the demonic cultivator, sending him crashing to the ground, motionless.
Mo Hua didn't act rashly, waiting until he saw Zhang Lan secure the demonic cultivator with shackles before approaching.
"Is he dead?" Mo Hua asked.
"Not yet, this beast is tough," Zhang Lan replied.
Mo Hua scanned with his spiritual awareness and confirmed that spiritual energy was still flowing within the demonic cultivator.
"Are all demonic cultivators this resilient?" Mo Hua wondered.
"Not all, but many are tough opponents. Demonic techniques, despite their flaws, have great power. Otherwise, so many wouldn't fall into demonic paths," Zhang Lan explained.
Mo Hua nodded in understanding.
With the demonic cultivator captured, the group breathed a sigh of relief.
"What do we do next?" Situ Xiu asked.
Zhang Lan kicked the demonic cultivator. "Take this beast back, deliver him to the Dao Court for interrogation, and convict him according to the law. There's also a matter to report to Lord An."
"Lord An?" Mo Hua glanced at Zhang Lan.
Zhang Lan slipped up, looked up at the sky, pretending he hadn't said anything.
Situ Fang and Situ Xiu chopped down a few trees, made a raft, and placed the demonic cultivator on it, preparing to tow him back.
Mo Hua stared at the demonic cultivator for a while, then kindly reminded, "Break his legs."
"Huh?" Situ Fang froze.
"And destroy his meridians, shatter his sea of qi!" Mo Hua added.
Situ Fang was speechless.
This kid, saying such terrifying things with such an innocent face...
Zhang Lan pondered for a moment. "There's some sense in that."
Situ Fang hesitated. "He's already captured and defenseless. Would doing this be an abuse of our authority?"
"We're just temporarily restraining him, not capturing," Mo Hua corrected.
"Will this work..." Situ Fang hesitated.
Meanwhile, Zhang Lan had drawn his sword and was about to sever the demonic cultivator's meridians. Before, Mo Hua didn't understand why Zhang Lan, a spiritual cultivator, carried a sword. He thought it was just for show.
Now he understood. Even as a spiritual cultivator who primarily used spells, having a sword or blade could be useful in certain situations.
At least for severing meridians, it made things much easier.
But before Zhang Lan's sword could strike, the demonic cultivator suddenly opened his eyes wide, shook his hands, and the shackles fell off.
Zhang Lan's gaze sharpened, and he accelerated his sword strike.
The demonic cultivator twisted his body, avoiding vital points, so the sword only grazed his skin.
"Watch out!" Zhang Lan shouted.
In the split second the demonic cultivator opened his eyes, Mo Hua had already retreated several yards away.
When he scanned with his spiritual awareness earlier, Mo Hua sensed something odd about the demonic cultivator's spiritual energy fluctuations.
But he didn't expect the demonic cultivator to be so cunning and resilient. Despite his numerous injuries, he still had the strength to resist.
Dodging Zhang Lan's strike, the demonic cultivator aimed a palm strike at Zhang Lan's face.
Zhang Lan's expression hardened, he stepped back to avoid it. There wasn't enough distance to use spells, so he thrust his sword backhand.
The demonic cultivator, however, didn't engage directly. With a flicker of movement, he appeared next to Situ Xiu, who was about to strike from behind.
Situ Xiu had intended to attack when the demonic cultivator wasn't paying attention, but he had already noticed and used his eerie agility to evade around him.
Failing in her surprise attack, Situ Xiu was instead struck by the demonic cultivator's palm, ribs cracked, blood spraying as he flew sideways.
This blow was devastating, and the strange spiritual energy invaded her organs with the force.
Only now did Situ Xiu realize that the demonic cultivator hadn't been exerting his full strength before!
But it was too late for him to muster further fighting spirit in the short term.
Situ Fang also drew his sword and slashed at the demonic cultivator, but after a few moves, she suddenly felt weak all over. Her meridians were corroded by the demonic cultivator's strange pink spiritual energy, rendering her own spiritual power inoperable.
This demonic cultivator's spiritual power was poisonous!
They hadn't noticed it during the initial fight; now, after some time, its effects were starting to show.
Struggling to gather her strength, Situ Fang suddenly coughed up blood, glaring resentfully at the demonic cultivator.
The demonic cultivator licked his lips, looking at Situ Fang. "Not bad!"
It had been a month since he last gathered.
He needed to vent his demonic fire and replenish his spiritual energy.
His gaze roamed over Situ Fang, wavering, and in a moment of distraction, a faint blue sword qi pierced through his shoulder.
Enraged, the demonic cultivator's mouth bled as he turned to face Zhang Lan.
Zhang Lan, not far away, pointed his sword with icy determination.
This one was a tough opponent.
The demonic cultivator suppressed his thoughts; if he didn't deal with Zhang Lan, he wouldn't escape.
Even if he fled, he wouldn't last long in this perilous Black Mountain.
With his body weakened and demonic fire raging, he needed to gather.
Just kill Zhang Lan...
With a fierce glint in his eyes, the demonic cultivator charged straight for Zhang Lan.
Zhang Lan's heart skipped a beat. His speed is incredible!
The demonic cultivator moved even faster and more unpredictably than before. Had he been holding back earlier?
"Alright, I'll see what you're capable of!"
Zhang Lan's gaze sharpened, executing the Falling Petal Step. Suddenly, his figure multiplied, fluttering like falling petals.
The demonic cultivator was taken aback.
This Dao Court cultivator wasn't weaker in speed than him.
He was a master thief, relying on his speed to survive!
The demonic cultivator found himself in a dilemma but had no choice but to fight back. He and Zhang Lan sparred for about ten rounds, but Zhang Lan managed to evade all his attacks.
By now, Zhang Lan had discerned his opponent's true intentions. In every move, he subtly condensed sword qi to deter the demonic cultivator.
Just as Zhang Lan was about to seize an opening and end it with sword qi, the demonic cultivator suddenly disappeared.
Zhang Lan extended his spiritual awareness but sensed nothing.
Suddenly, a warning sign surged within him. He looked towards Mo Hua in the distance and shouted urgently, "Watch out!"
At the same time, a shadow emerged behind Mo Hua. The demonic cultivator's voice was hoarse and fierce:
"You were planning to break my legs, brat?"
(End of the Chapter)