Chapter 113: Kill Them For Me — I'll Pay More

The underground river was icy cold, piercing to the bone.

The water was about ten meters deep, and the current was not particularly swift.

A dense, bloody aura had dyed the river red, almost comparable to when Jiang Changkong slaughtered Star Demons.

Star Demons swarmed over the corpses, feasting—some were human, others were Star Demons.

The Star Demons blocked the path. With just a casual glance, the weakest were at least at the Early Star Sea Stage, while the strongest had reached the Star Gate Initial Stage.

These Star Demons all looked identical, likely belonging to the same clan.

Nantian Wang unleashed a sword gleam that churned the river water, enveloping several Star Demons.

Yao Meng swept her finger like a sword, parting the river currents, similarly enveloping several Star Demons.

Jiang Changkong simply stopped swimming. With the Taiji Diagram, he pushed aside the water and walked atop the surface.

“You’re wasting Star Power,” Nantian Wang seized the opportunity to approach him, speaking with some seriousness.

Yao Meng added, “Such a big commotion isn’t worth it. We may soon face several Star Gate Peak experts.”

“It’s fine,” Jiang Changkong waved his hand slightly and quickened his pace. It was just the Taiji Diagram—it wouldn’t waste much Star Power.

Moreover, the Essence, Qi, and Spirit extracted from these would far exceed what was consumed.

Nantian Wang had given five hundred top-tier Star Sea Stage Star Stones, and with these Star Demons, it should be enough to fully master one martial art to the Minor Achievement level.

If not, at least the Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan could reach Minor Achievement.

Jiang Changkong walked on water as the Star Demons glared fiercely, roaring and lunging forward, eager to devour all three of them.

“No need to act,” Jiang Changkong waved his hand. Taiji in motion, combined with object manipulation—Qiankun Great Shift!

Plop, plop…

One by one, the Star Demons turned their gaping maws, biting into their companions instead. Their sharp teeth pierced through the skin, and Star Power poured in relentlessly.

The corpses began sinking to the riverbed, but Jiang Changkong raised his palm, using Star Power to keep them from falling.

Star Demons turned on each other, and even those at the Star Gate Initial Stage could not escape the fate of self-destruction.

The two watched the Star Demons kill themselves, their expressions complex.

Though they had witnessed this move before, seeing it used on such a large scale was even more shocking.

Coupled with Jiang Changkong’s ability to fight Star Demons for an entire day, it was clear his Star Power was profound.

Strong in strength, yet able to fight for a full day—truly a little freak.

“Can I take half of these Star Stones?” Jiang Changkong asked.

“Just dig out the ones from the Star Gate Stage Star Demons. Toss the rest,” Nantian Wang said with a look of disdain.

Though he also carried top-tier third-grade Star Stones, they were only for casual use and squandering. Normally, he wouldn’t even glance at them.

Among these Star Demons, hardly any were at the Star Sea Peak Stage. Digging them out felt beneath him.

Yao Meng remained silent but wore a similarly disdainful expression.

Jiang Changkong couldn’t help but sigh inwardly once more—rich fools.

After digging out the Star Gate Stage Star Stones, Jiang Changkong said, “You two go ahead. I’ll burn these Star Demon corpses and catch up in a moment.”

“A waste of time,” Nantian Wang frowned slightly.

“It won’t take long. I promise it won’t delay us,” Jiang Changkong assured them.

The two went ahead first. Without Jiang Changkong parting the water, they swam to conserve Star Power.

Once Jiang Changkong confirmed they were far enough away, he extracted the Essence, Qi, and Spirit and set the corpses ablaze.

The river water could not extinguish his flames.

After burning them, Jiang Changkong checked the accumulated Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Combined with yesterday’s, it had already exceeded five thousand.

Without rushing to enhance his abilities, he caught up with the other two.

The three continued swimming. Before long, they encountered dozens more Star Demons, this time mostly at the Star Sea Peak Stage.

The other two still looked down on them, so Jiang Changkong dealt with them himself, and the Essence, Qi, and Spirit soared.

“How much farther?”

After swimming for another half hour, Jiang Changkong asked, “How much longer?”

“Almost there. At our speed, we’ll arrive in another quarter of an hour,” Nantian Wang replied after a moment’s thought.

The three of them pressed forward and encountered another group of Star Demons, which Jiang Changkong once again dealt with.

As Nantian Wang had said, about a quarter of an hour later, a massive opening appeared on the left wall of the underground river.

The opening was six meters in diameter, and inside was pitch black.

The three entered the opening. The water inside was shallow, only reaching their knees.

However, a piercingly cold aura enveloped them within the cave. Even Jiang Changkong felt uncomfortable.

In the dim cave, an occasional arm drifted past.

“Let’s go,” Nantian Wang said, leading them deeper into the cave.

Jiang Changkong remained calm and followed behind.

The cave twisted and turned. After a few minutes, the path ahead grew darker, and the bone-chilling cold intensified.

Voices reached their ears: “Young Master Tianyun, we’ll hold off this Star Demon. You hurry and pick the herb.”

“Be careful.”

Then came the rumbling of impacts and the roars of a Star Demon.

Nantian Wang and Yao Meng’s expressions changed, and they rushed forward quickly.

Jiang Changkong followed at a leisurely pace.

At the bottom of the dim cave was a spacious area with a stone platform. A blue flower emitting a chilling aura was in full bloom.

The piercing cold originated from that flower.

Six young men were present. Five of them were surrounding and attacking an ugly, crocodile-like Star Demon.

This Star Demon was enormous, with a body width of two meters. Its Star Power fluctuations were intense—it was at the peak of the Star Gate level!

The other young man also radiated a strong aura, also at the peak of the Star Gate level.

He was looking for an opportunity to avoid the Star Demon and pluck the cold-emitting flower.

The five men attacking the Star Demon were also formidable. One was at the peak of the Star Gate level.

Two were at the late Star Gate stage, and two at the mid-stage.

“Chu Tianyun, you shameless bastard! How dare you steal what’s mine!” Nantian Wang glared at the young man, his face filled with rage.

“Well, if it isn’t Nantian Pang. I, Chu Tianyun, have taken a liking to this flower. Be smart and get lost,” the young man Chu Tianyun said coldly.

Nantian Pang… Jiang Changkong’s lips twitched. That nickname was quite fitting.

“Even your elder brother wouldn’t dare speak to me like that!” Nantian Wang was furious to the extreme. A long sword appeared in his hand, its scorching heat sweeping away the cold aura. The water at his feet began to boil.

“Attack,” the five young men exchanged glances and, surprisingly, abandoned the Star Demon, charging toward the trio instead.

Roar!

The Star Demon roared. It didn’t care who was who—anyone who entered this place was its enemy.

“Attack,” Yao Meng snorted coldly. Starlight transformed into a sword, and a crimson sword aura enveloped the five men.

Jiang Changkong drew his long blade and directly confronted the Star Demon. “Leave these men and the Star Demon to Yao Meng and me. You go deal with Chu Tianyun.”

With a loud crash, the water churned violently. The Star Demon’s charge faltered momentarily as terrifying Star Power surged within the cave.

The passageway trembled, and chunks of rubble fell from above.

“Alright,” Nantian Wang took a step forward, bypassing the Star Demon, and headed straight for Chu Tianyun.

“Don’t even think about it!” Two late-stage Star Gate youths blocked his path, their sword lights barring Nantian Wang’s advance.

“Hmm?” Jiang Changkong frowned slightly. This cold aura was somewhat suppressing his Blazing Sun Art as well.

But it didn’t matter much—the suppression wasn’t too severe.

Nantian Wang’s advance was hindered. Chu Tianyun had already leaped onto the stone platform and was preparing to pick the herb.

“Get out of my way!”

Nantian Wang let out an angry roar, his Star Power surging as a blazing sword light forced the two back. He swiftly charged toward Chu Tianyun.

“Thinking of leaving…”

“Stay right here.”

Just as the two were about to give chase, a Taiji Diagram blocked their path.

Jiang Changkong held a blade in his right hand, its edge clashing fiercely with the Star Gate peak-level Star Demon, while simultaneously manipulating the Taiji Diagram to obstruct the two.

By now, Chu Tianyun had already plucked the flower. Hearing the commotion, he chuckled, “Nantian Pang, you’re a step too late. Now, I’ll give you a choice: back off, or all of you die here.”

“There’s another choice—take it back by force!” Nantian Wang roared angrily, his blazing sword light transforming into a Taiyang. “Meng Jie, Changkong, hold them off. One Sword, True Sun.”

“You think they can hold out? Do you really believe you people from the Major Province are invincible?”

Chu Tianyun sneered, his tone dripping with mockery. “This place is special—it suppresses your strength. Add the Star Gate peak-level Star Demon to the mix, and your two companions are in danger.”

Yao Meng frowned. “Changkong, if you can’t hold them off, retreat on your own.”

The chilling energy here was peculiar. If even Nantian Wang was suppressed, Jiang Changkong couldn’t possibly remain unaffected.

Under such suppression, dealing with a Star Gate peak-level Star Demon alone was difficult enough, let alone two Star Gate late-stage opponents.

Yao Meng wasn’t having an easy time either. She was facing one Star Gate peak-level and two Star Gate mid-stage opponents.

Most importantly, these three had no shame—they were actually enveloped in energy Protective Shields, and at the fourth-stage peak level at that!

Though Yao Meng was formidable, she couldn’t break through these three shields immediately.

“I can delay them without issue. Worry about yourself.”

Jiang Changkong took two steps back, holding his blade horizontally.

On the other side, Nantian Wang grew increasingly furious as he failed to subdue Chu Tianyun. “Changkong, I know how strong you are. Meng Jie, delay a few more for me, buy Changkong some time. Help me finish them off—I’ll pay extra.”

Having fought alongside him, Nantian Wang was well aware of Jiang Changkong’s strength. Even he and Yao Meng together could barely block a single strike from him—and that was when Jiang Changkong was holding back.

Jiang Changkong was momentarily taken aback. Your temper is quite explosive, isn’t it?

Before he could respond, Nantian Wang roared, “A thousand fourth-stage early-level Star Stones!”

“Fine, you win. But there’s no need for Yao Meng to delay anyone.”

Jiang Changkong replied, releasing his blade. It flew through the air like a blood-red evening glow, instantly filling the entire cavern space below.

His Essence had already exceeded nine thousand. He had originally planned to save it until he could fully master a martial art, but now he decided to use it.

Upgrade the Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan!

Today was the perfect day to cut down Chu Tianyun—and with Star Stones as a reward, it couldn’t get any better.