Chapter 31: What I Bit Into Just Now Definitely Wasn't a Skull

A foul stench rose to the sky, along with countless Star Demons.

They had nearly trampled the area around the river into flat ground.

Sweat dripped continuously, and wisps of white smoke rose from Jiang Changkong’s head.

Essence and Energy Smoke Signal!

The powerful blood energy not only failed to repel the Star Demons but instead drove them into a greater frenzy.

The person before them was like a walking delicacy.

Such rich blood energy—if devoured, it would be of immense help to the Star Demons.

Jiang Changkong was drenched in sweat, his internal energy greatly depleted. He hurriedly continued to enhance the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique.

Thud

Occasionally, a Star Demon at the early Star Cloud stage would charge out, only to be killed by a single punch from him.

Time passed bit by bit. The blazing sun in the sky was almost out of sight, replaced only by fiery evening clouds.

He had no idea how many he had killed. He was already far from the river, yet Star Demons still surrounded him.

The Star Power within him was nearly exhausted, and his physical strength was almost depleted as well.

Even though he could continuously improve himself, the rate of improvement couldn’t keep up with the rate of consumption.

When the last trace of strength was spent, Jiang Changkong collapsed with a thud, completely limp.

Forget it, no more fighting. Eat me if you want—I can’t fight anymore.

From noon until now, he had already reached his limit.

Without his “Essence, Energy, and Spirit,” he estimated he wouldn’t have lasted even two hours.

Roar

The Star Demons lunged directly at Jiang Changkong, their bloody maws tearing down.

Jiang Changkong could only close his eyes and give up resistance.

As for the legendary scenario of a beauty saving the hero—clearly, that didn’t happen.

If there really were a beauty around, she’d likely be scared out of her wits by now—who would come to save him?

Clang…

Crack, crack…

A series of metallic clashing sounds rang out, followed by the sound of something breaking.

Jiang Changkong cracked open his eyes a sliver.

Their teeth shattered!

He suddenly felt relieved. Maybe he should crawl away?

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, he felt his body moving—a Star Demon was biting his foot and dragging him along.

Damn it all!

Better not move. He’d recover and then fight back.

Gasping for breath, the Star Demons continued to swarm around him, trying to take a bite, only to shatter their teeth.

Now it was the Star Demons’ turn to be dumbfounded.

The food was completely defenseless, yet they couldn’t chew it!

Thankfully, he had been clever enough to invest his “Essence, Energy, and Spirit” into the Bronze Skin Iron Bone Technique.

The Star Demons’ sharp teeth and claws continued to strike, trying to tear him apart.

But they all shattered.

Jiang Changkong’s entire body was like a turtle’s shell—no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t break through his defense.

This time, he had really overdone it. He wondered how Brother Wen was doing?

Zhang Hua and the others must have run away, right?

Jiang Changkong thought to himself. With such a huge commotion, they definitely wouldn’t have stayed.

They must have seen the towering blood energy earlier.

Letting the Star Demons drag him, he entered the grass.

The battle ended. The Star Demons looked around in confusion—the blood energy was gone, and the tasty food was inedible. They could only disperse.

Jiang Changkong glanced at the Star Demon dragging him. A few others were still nearby.

If he had known it would be like this, he would have stopped earlier and given up resisting.

Now, his physical strength and Star Power were completely depleted—he couldn’t even be bothered to move a finger.

Several Star Demons carried Jiang Changkong through the weeds.

Occasionally, other Star Demons nearby would rush over, take a bite, break their teeth, and leave in frustration.

Star Demons clearly weren’t in the habit of eating rocks, and Jiang Changkong was now as hard as a rock.

After being dragged for an hour, Jiang Changkong’s clothes were already tattered, and the back of his shirt was torn.

His bronze-glowing skin made contact with the ground—he could feel it, but it didn’t hurt.

Jiang Changkong opened his eyes and saw a faint silver light—a crescent moon hanging above the weeds.

Several Star Demons surrounded the crescent moon, their gazes fierce and malicious.

“Senior, this can’t go on. When will rescue arrive?” a low, anxious voice sounded.

“Soon, just hold on a little longer. With this Protective Shield, that Star Cloud late-stage Star Demon definitely can’t get in,” a heavy voice replied.

Star Cloud late-stage?

Jiang Changkong’s hair stood on end, every strand bristling.

At his peak, he was confident he could easily defeat a Star Cloud late-stage opponent, even if it was a Star Demon.

Even against peak stellar qi, he had confidence.

But now, though he had regained some stamina, at best he could escape with his life—but he would definitely be severely wounded.

A Star Cloud late-stage being could absolutely break through his defenses!

Thump

Jiang Changkong’s ankle loosened, and he tumbled out—the Star Demon had thrown him.

He finally saw what the crescent moon was: a faint silver qi shield.

The shield covered a five-meter radius, inside which stood four people—two men and two women.

The four were sitting at the edge of the shield, warily watching the Star Demons outside.

Suddenly, Jiang Changkong was tossed out, landing right in front of them.

“Senior, the Star Demon dragged someone over.”

“Has this Star Demon grown a brain? Trying to scare us by eating someone?”

The four stared in shock at Jiang Changkong lying on the ground, a hint of confusion in their eyes.

Was the Star Demon trying to intimidate them?

Just as Jiang Changkong was about to speak, all the surrounding Star Demons lunged at him like mad.

Gaping maws, chilling fangs, sharp claws—all aimed at tearing him to shreds.

“It’s over, close your eyes. This is going to be too bloody,” the two men said.

“Being dismembered… I hope we can hold out until rescue arrives.”

The two women paled; this scene might very well be their fate as well.

Clang, clang…

Crack, crack

The sound of metal clashing rang out, followed by fangs snapping and claws shattering—the Star Demons were collectively baffled.

What the hell—they couldn’t bite through!

The four tightly shut their eyes, their faces as pale as paper: “Even the bones are crushed…”

“…”

Jiang Changkong was momentarily stunned. Seizing the moment while the Star Demons were confused, he weakly spoke up, “I think… I can still be saved.”

“He’s already dismembered, even the bones are…”

One of the women trembled slightly, eyes shut tight, uttering fearful words when she suddenly froze.

If he’s already dismembered and his bones are crushed… how can he still speak?

“The skull definitely wasn’t bitten just now,” the other woman said, eyes still closed.

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Skull…

The two men abruptly opened their eyes. The scene before them left them bewildered—this guy was unharmed?

And those snapping sounds earlier, the claws and teeth scattered beside him… were they the Star Demons’?

Had the Star Demons’ claws and fangs just shattered?

“Open the shield, save me first, then I’ll save you.”

Jiang Changkong hurriedly said.

“Brother, you’re lucky to be alive, but if we open the shield and the Star Demons rush in, we’ll die too.”

The two men said helplessly, “It’s not that we don’t want to save you, we just can’t.”

Hearing this, the two women opened their eyes, staring at him in shock—this person was still alive?

One of the women said, “You’re surrounded by Star Demons, and there’s a Star Cloud late-stage one hiding in the shadows. None of us will survive.”

“I can handle these few Star Demons, and I can force back the Star Cloud late-stage one too. Just let me in to recover for a bit.”

Jiang Changkong said urgently, “I’m just exhausted right now. Once I recover, I can even kill a Star Cloud late-stage Star Demon.

I’m a student of the Martial Arts School. I assume all four of you are too?”

Now his defense was at the mid-stage of Star Cloud, making it difficult to break through, but not impossible. As for the late stage, that went without saying.

“We’re from Kexiang,” a man said quietly.

Jiang Changkong: “…”

A sworn enemy? Talk about bad luck.

“Are you really sure?” another woman asked.

“Absolutely certain. Saving me is the same as saving yourselves. You’ve seen my defense.”

Jiang Changkong said, “Hurry up. I can’t hold off a late-stage Star Cloud right now.”

Roar.

A low beastly growl echoed as a Star Demon crushed the weeds and slowly approached.

The Star Demon beside Jiang Changkong quickly retreated to the side.