Chapter 174: Late-Stage Star Spirit Star Demon

Jiang Changkong held his phone, feeling utterly bewildered.

Help?

Weren’t you having a great time running back and forth between both sides? What kind of help do you need?

Boom!

A violent shockwave swept in all directions, and even Jiang Changkong, who was far away, could feel the ground trembling.

This is… a late-stage Star Spirit!

Jiang Changkong abruptly looked up, his gaze filled with shock and suspicion as he stared in the direction of Heng Yongxing and the others.

Without hesitation, he rushed over immediately.

These idiots, could they have bitten off more than they could chew?

Just as Jiang Changkong had thought, these guys had indeed bitten off more than they could chew.

It was even more exaggerated than his first time—they had directly attracted a late-stage Star Spirit Star Demon.

Looking at the dense blood cloud ahead, Jiang Changkong’s expression turned grave.

He wouldn’t dare to play like this. Once the blood cloud thickened to a certain extent, he would burn part of it away with flames.

He made sure the blood aura wouldn’t become too dense or drift too far.

He remembered the research institute’s requirement: no Star Demons within a five-mile radius.

As long as the five-mile radius was cleared, even with the wager at stake, there was no need to rush to attract Star Demons from farther away.

However, Jiang Changkong never expected they would dare to play like this.

Boom!

The earth shook, space trembled, and terrifying starlight illuminated the area for a thousand meters around.

Boundless starlight, dazzling and brilliant, as a massive and hideous Star Demon swallowed a Star Demon corpse in one gulp.

Star Power erupted—golden sword radiance, earthy yellow sword light, Taiyin Star Power…

At this moment, Heng Yongxing and the others dared not hold back, unleashing their full strength.

Yet, against a late-stage Star Spirit Star Demon, their combined efforts were as fragile as ants.

Wherever the brilliant starlight passed, all attacks crumbled instantly, like fireworks, fleeting and gone in an instant.

An Lin and the other mid-stage Star Spirit Martial Artists bore the brunt of the impact, sent flying hundreds of meters under the force of the Star Power.

Blood splattered, and under the shockwave of Star Power, none could stand firm—all were sent flying.

Some weaker Star Gate Martial Artists died on the spot, their life force extinguished.

An Yuanshan crashed heavily to the ground but ignored his injuries, scrambling to his feet. “An Lin, we’ll do our best to delay. You all, run!”

“Understood.”

An Lin and the other mid-stage Star Spirit Martial Artist stood up, their expressions grave, positioning themselves in front of the others and pushing their Star Power to the limit.

Roar!

The Star Demon roared, releasing countless beams of starlight, like a peerless Demon God. With every step, the earth shook, and dust flew.

“I never thought we’d survive there only to die in the abyss of Pingan City,” An Lin said grimly, a hint of coldness in his tone.

“Returning to our roots, we should be content,” the other mid-stage Star Spirit Martial Artist added solemnly.

Boom!

The earth trembled, Star Power erupted, and the Star Demon’s claws gathered countless beams of starlight, descending to envelop them.

“Kill!”

The three shouted in unison, charging toward the Star Demon to buy time for Heng Yongxing and the others to retreat.

“Don’t forget about me, the guild leader.”

Anding Bang roared, swinging his heavy sword: “Three Mountains and Five Peaks.”

“One blade, sunset.”

Suddenly, countless rays of twilight light appeared in the Void, transforming into blood-like blade radiance.

The Sunset Blade, desolate and mournful.

Jiang Changkong, stepping on the Profound Sun, finally arrived.

Boom!

Violent Star Power descended, and several powerful forces of Star Power clashed in an instant.

Splat!

Crack!

Blood splattered, the sound of bones breaking echoed, and terrifying Star Power spread in all directions, sending An Yuanshan and the others flying.

Jiang Changkong’s expression darkened. He tumbled repeatedly in the air before barely landing, sliding back over ten meters before finally stabilizing himself.

Blood dripped from the base of his thumb. Jiang Changkong’s face turned grave—there was indeed still a significant gap between him and a late-stage Star Spirit.

His full-strength blade strike had not only failed to harm the Star Demon but had instead left him injured.

Just now, he had used all the Star Power and five Power Runes within his body, yet he hadn’t even managed to force the Star Demon back a single step.

“Changkong.” An Yuanshan and the others looked delighted and quickly called out.

“Hurry up and leave. Whether your legs are broken or your arms are broken, I can only give you three breaths of time to escape.”

Jiang Changkong said with a heavy expression. When he arrived, he had kept a backup plan, which should be able to hold for three breaths.

“Let’s go.” An Lin and the others didn’t hesitate in the slightest. They supported An Yuanshan and Anding Bang and immediately left.

As for the other Martial Artists, they had already run some distance earlier.

If Jiang Changkong could truly buy three breaths of time, it would be enough for them to escape.

Roar!

The Star Demon roared again, its voice shaking the heavens. The terrifying roar was deafening.

Frightening Star Power erupted as its sharp claws swiped toward Jiang Changkong.

“Kill!”

Jiang Changkong raised his long blade toward the sky, and the Sunset Blade slashed down once more.

Boom!

The blade light descended, and the claws swept down. A terrifying force erupted, causing Jiang Changkong to grunt as he was sent flying over a hundred meters away.

“Changkong!” An Lin and the other three had already rushed a hundred meters away. They glanced back, their hearts shaken, and couldn’t help but cry out anxiously.

If they left, Jiang Changkong would likely be in danger.

“We can’t just leave like this,” another mid-stage Star Spirit said with a grim expression. “You take them and go. I’ll help him.”

“I’ll help—”

Before An Lin could finish speaking, a piercingly cold energy erupted. A terrifying Lunar Cold Energy swept across the heavens and earth.

A long sword, adorned with osmanthus blossoms and shimmering with a hazy moonlight, shot through the air, heading straight for the Star Demon.

“Jiang Changyue!”

The four of them looked overjoyed, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

“It’s him who made a move.” In the distance, Heng Yongxing stared intently at that hazy moonlight—this was the Moon Mist technique!

“Sunset!”

Jiang Changkong raised the Sunset Blade once more. This sword strike was something he had prepared before coming.

To block the Star Demon and buy time for them, relying solely on Blazing Sun Star Power was far from enough.

Therefore, on his way here, he had left behind the Lunar Sword and, using the Three Blades of the Fleeting Swan, combined with Moon Mist, controlled it with the Spirit Control Art, waiting for the right moment.

Taiyin and Taiyang, two forces converged, simultaneously charging toward the Star Demon.

Boom!

The Sunset Blade light shattered, and Jiang Changkong was sent flying once again. The Blazing Sun Star Power simply couldn’t break through its defense.

Immediately after, the Lunar Sword arrived in an instant, moving at an extreme speed—so fast that An Yuanshan and the others couldn’t even see it clearly.

Hum!

The Lunar Sword slashed down, colliding with the beast’s claw, yet there was not the slightest sound. The Lunar Sword was sent spinning away.

Jiang Changkong had been prepared. He leaped up, caught the Lunar Sword, and without the slightest hesitation, turned and fled.

Roar!

The Star Demon roared, about to give chase, but its claws suddenly sprouted silvery-white ice pillars from the inside out, rapidly spreading upward.

The Star Demon’s speed faltered as the silvery-white cold energy quickly erupted, spreading across its entire body and freezing it solid.

“Aren’t you going to leave now?”

Jiang Changkong shouted angrily, almost kicking the stunned An Lin and the other three.

Did they really think I could freeze this thing? It was only a temporary delay.

An Lin and the other three snapped back to reality and hurriedly fled.

The group ran quickly. Behind them, the Star Demon remained frozen for two breaths before its Star Power erupted, shattering the silvery-white ice with a thunderous crash.

They continued fleeing for several minutes until the Star Demon was no longer in sight, and only then did everyone stop.

“Thank you, President Jiang, for this time.” An Lin gasped for breath, clasping his hands in gratitude.

“What happened to you all? How did you manage to lure out a late-stage Star Spirit Star Demon?”

Jiang Changkong sat on the ground without any regard for his image, panting as he said, “Fortunately, Jiang Changyue was nearby as well. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to save you.”

Heng Yongxing felt somewhat awkward and self-reproachfully said, “I was too eager to win, which led to this tragedy. I will make amends for this.”

“After such a commotion, the research institute’s outpost will likely have to wait for a while.”

Jiang Changkong frowned and said, “After that Star Demon leaves, we’ll compete again.”

“What’s there to compete about? You’ve won,” An Yuanshan said weakly. “Yongxing, just admit defeat gracefully.”

Although unwilling and still wanting the Moon Laurel Leaf, Heng Yongxing had no choice but to concede now.

Things had already escalated to this point. If he didn’t admit defeat, he would feel even more indebted to these people.

Moreover, Jiang Changkong had consistently killed more Star Demons than them. Even if they competed again, he would still lose.

“This time, President Jiang has won,” Heng Yongxing said, reluctantly taking out the Hidden Star Ring.

“President An, any objections?” Jiang Changkong looked at Anding Bang.

“None. I should thank you for stepping in to help,” Anding Bang replied, clutching his arm. “Does anyone have Healing Medicine? Please bring it out quickly.”