The major Independent Demon leaders within the hall all started to worry, and even the glances they cast towards Wu Kongxue were tinged with a hint of blame.

The Sky-breaking Map was of great importance, and everyone had entrusted the map to Wu Kongxue for safekeeping as a vote of trust in his strength. But no one could have imagined that such a thing would happen.

Lady Lian Yue had just come to terms with the complete destruction of the Yinyue Mountain Range, and the deaths of ninety-nine percent of the Yin Yue Palace disciples. Now upon hearing this news, her complexion inevitably grew even paler, but Lady Lian Yue still seemed relatively composed as she said,

"Everybody, what Lord Wu Kongxue did was not wrong; carrying the Sky-breaking Map on his person would have simply made it easy for the Dragon Clan Patriarch and Pengmo Island’s Island Master Zong Jue to take it from him. Placing the Sky-breaking Map in the hands of an ordinary Independent Demon, on the other hand, made it unclear to Zong Jue and Fang Tian where the map was located. What Lord Wu Kongxue did was to protect the Sky-breaking Map, and he is not at fault."

Hearing Lady Lian Yue defend him, Wu Kongxue’s expression improved slightly.

Lady Lian Yue then looked towards Wu Kongxue, inquiring, "Lord Wu Kongxue, to which level of Independent Demon did you hand over the Sky-breaking Map?"

"His cultivation is not high, only at the realm of a Fourth Tribulation Independent Demon," Wu Kongxue replied with a wry smile. "I spent a lot of thought initially in choosing someone to entrust the Sky-breaking Map to and finally encountered this Independent Demon while wandering around the Yin Yue Palace, thinking him to be reliable. So, I had him swear an oath and placed a Restriction on him, and then handed over the Sky-breaking Map to him."

Fourth Tribulation Independent Demon.

"Only Fourth Tribulation? The Attack Power of the Heavenly Fire is tremendous; a Fourth Tribulation Independent Demon can only resist it for two or three instances. According to the reports, that mysterious True Master Tianhuo’s Heavenly Fire even covered the entirety of the Yinyue Mountain Range. Lord Wu Kongxue, the ordinary Independent Demon you mentioned, I’m afraid he couldn’t withstand it," the Fire Demon worried.

Wu Kongxue helplessly said, "If I had known someone was going to set the entire Yinyue Mountain Range ablaze with Heavenly Fire, I would never have entrusted the Sky-breaking Map to a Fourth Tribulation Independent Demon."

"Initially, I thought that to super experts such as True Master Ming Liang, the Dragon Clan’s Fang Tian, and Pengmo Island’s Zong Jue, it would make no difference whether it was a Fourth Tribulation Independent Demon or a Sixth or Eighth Tribulation Independent Demon. Moreover, there are a great number of Fourth Tribulation Independent Demons, making it even harder for Zong Jue and the others to track down. So, I entrusted it to him."

The assembled Independent Demons could only sigh in resignation.

Wu Kongxue’s reasoning was flawless.

To those supreme experts, indeed there was no difference between the Fourth Tribulation, the Sixth Tribulation, and so on. Hiding it with a Fourth Tribulation Independent Demon, who had even higher concealability, was the right move. But who would have thought... that someone could actually set the whole Yinyue Mountain Range on fire with Heavenly Fire.

"Enough," Wu Kongxue’s expression turned cold. "It’s too late to say anything now, but there is one thing we must do, and that is... to find the Sky-breaking Map. Fire Demon, take a few Ninth and Tenth Tribulation Independent Demons with me. We’ll use Instantaneous Movement to rush to the Yinyue Mountain Range immediately."

Lady Lian Yue nodded and said, "Good, you go ahead first. I believe this matter won’t stay hidden from True Master Ming Liang for long, and we will also be setting out immediately."

Wu Kongxue nodded.

Then, within the hall, Wu Kongxue, the Fire Demon, four Tenth Tribulation Independent Demons, and six Ninth Tribulation Independent Demons vanished into thin air, already making their fastest way towards the Yinyue Mountain Range. They had to find the Sky-breaking Map at all costs.

******

The surface of the Yinyue Mountain Range was burning with a layer of purple flames, but at that moment, the purple flames had already weakened significantly. The overall height of the Yinyue Mountain Range was forcibly reduced by ten meters, those ten meters thick of countless plants, trees, rocks all turned to ash. It looks like, the remaining Heavenly Fire could still burn away a thickness of another two or three meters.

The Yinyue Mountain Range was evenly shaved off by ten meters, and everything above, including palaces, had all vanished.

At this moment, above the Yinyue Mountain Range, a great battle was raging.

"Don’t get close to True Master Tianhuo, his close-quarters combat strength is incredibly strong," the Independent Demon Qiao Yu shouted in warning.

After sacrificing one Eighth Tribulation Independent Demon and one Seventh Tribulation Independent Demon, these demons finally realized the oddity of Qin Yu’s close-quarters combat. The demons began to employ various restrictions, spell talismans, and even attacks from flying swords at a distance.

As a result, Qin Yu’s Black Flame Monarch’s Ring and its two major domains could hardly play a role, after all, both the Skyfire Domain and the Gravity Domain were limited in range. Those independent demons stayed out of range, so naturally, Qin Yu could not affect them.

In close combat, relying on the two domains and the superb recovery power of his body, Qin Yu even caused a careless Ninth Tribulation Independent Demon to lose his life. However, once the fight turned to a ranged battle, Qin Yu found it strenuous to even face an Eighth Tribulation Independent Demon.

There were many Independent Demons surrounding him, but Hou Fei and Hei Yu were slightly better off than Qin Yu. Their movement techniques were unpredictable, and both the Cloud Piercing Spear and the Black Stick had an incredible level of hardness, with a single blow they could even smash a Low Grade Immortal Device to pieces.

However, once the two brothers were besieged by more than a dozen Seventh Tribulation Independent Demons using formations, they were immediately at a disadvantage.

"Not good..." Qin Yu’s expression darkened, "Whether it’s Feifei, Little Black, or myself, our strongest aspect is close-quarters combat. In terms of speed, we are far stronger than any expert of the same level, but compared to Eighth Tribulation Independent Practitioners, we don’t hold much of an advantage. These demons could seriously injure us if they desperately fight, they are..."

"Buying time!"

Qin Yu completely understood in his heart.

At the beginning when he was besieged by so many Independent Demons, their intention was to keep him engaged in battle, leaving him no time to think carefully about the situation. If his guess was correct, the events occurring at the Yinyue Mountain Range must have reached Wu Kongxue by now.

A hard fight against Wu Kongxue?

"I have only one Top-Grade Elemental Spirit Stone. If I fight to the point of using a Top-Grade Elemental Spirit Stone, I can indeed kill Wu Kongxue, but how would I kill True Master Ming Liang then? I can only endure for a while longer, hoping the situation will develop as I hope it will," he thought.

Qin Yu’s gaze swept across the battlefield, grasping the situation at hand.

"Feifei, Little Black, prepare to enter the Qingyu Immortal Mansion. Shi Xin, you three brothers don’t resist the suction of the Immortal Mansion either," Qin Yu transmitted his voice to the others. As for Mo Qilin, he had entered the Qingyu Immortal Mansion at the very start, causing those Independent Demons to be suspicious and confused.

Upon hearing Qin Yu’s transmission, Hou Fei knew that they couldn’t keep fighting like this any longer, as continuing could lead them to be truly captured by the enemy.

"Damn it, take a hit from Marquis Hou!"

In the final moment of battle, Hou Fei unleashed his strongest combat power. The Black Stick, imbued with the force of a million Jun, cut through the turbulent air and fiercely struck at a Seventh Tribulation Independent Demon, who, without thinking, immediately retreated.

These Independent Demons had now understood that clashing head-on with this group would bring no benefits. Only long-range attacks were effective.

With a fierce shout, Qin Yu charged like a massive fireball towards the demons besieging Hou Fei and Hei Yu, forcing them to retreat one after another. By now, they understood one principle very well: no matter what, they couldn’t get close to this ’True Master Tianhuo.’ Up to this point, these demons still didn’t know Qin Yu’s true identity.

"Let’s go."

Qin Yu flew in front of the two brothers, and with a thought, Hou Fei and Hei Yu directly entered the Qingyu Immortal Mansion.

The Independent Demons saw the two living people disappear so abruptly, and disbelief covered their faces. With so many Independent Demons engaged in combat, the space was very unstable. To carry out Instantaneous Movement under such conditions was asking for death.

Seeing Hou Fei and the other person vanish, the Independent Demons even thought they had performed Instantaneous Movement.

As for the Shi brothers, Shi Xin, Shi Bing, and Si Zhan, their achievements in battle were exceptionally good this time.

The ’Xuan Eye Bead’ within the three of them naturally formed the Xuanbing Battle Armor, which was terrifyingly robust in defense. Coupled with the naturally formed ’Xuanbing Realm,’ anyone trapped by the three brothers in the Xuanbing Realm would see a sudden decrease in attack power due to the unique environment. However, the Shi brothers were Xuanbing Lion Beasts and their strength increased in the current environment.

With the protection of the Xuanbing Battle Armor and the Xuanbing Realm, an environment so advantageous for them, combined with the surprising Penetrating Power of the Low Grade Immortal Device ’Sword Pointed Cone,’ the three Xuanbing Lion Beasts managed to slowly torment to death five or six Seventh Tribulation Independent Cultivators trapped in the Xuanbing Realm, but the three brothers also sustained injuries themselves.

Upon hearing Qin Yu’s telepathic message, the Shi brothers immediately began to dismantle the Xuanbing Realm.

As they dismantled it, Qin Yu charged over like a fireball at extreme speed.

"Go," Qin Yu uttered a low shout, and the Shi brothers did not resist the pull of the Qingyu Immortal Mansion and vanished into thin air.

"Yet another three with a death wish."

The Independent Demons were stunned.

On the chaotic battlefield, with such a disorderly space, it was bad enough that two people performed Instantaneous Movement just now, but now, another three people did the same. Were they seeking death?

"Out of all those people, only True Master Tianhuo is not a fool," thought Qiao Yu and the other Independent Demons.

"Don’t let True Master Tianhuo escape; otherwise, if the masters come back and don’t see a single culprit, that’ll be really bad," Qiao Yu telepathically communicated with the other Independent Demons. Instantly, everyone released various Prohibition Talismans and began a joint attack. Of course, Qin Yu wouldn’t engage in a prolonged battle and dove straight down toward the ground below.

Qin Yu’s charge was clearly an attempt to escape.

However, each of the Independent Demons knew of Qin Yu’s close-combat strength and none wanted to engage directly with him, simply chasing after him from a distance. As Qin Yu fled and the Independent Demons prepared to pursue, a massive aura suddenly enveloped the sky and bore down on them.

"Who is True Master Tianhuo?"

A deep voice, filled with anger, resounded through the earth and heavens, while an expanse of Blood Cloud covered the sky above Qin Yu, the stench of blood so strong it caused Qin Yu discomfort.

"This is bad, the vast Blood Cloud, it must be Wu Kongxue, the number one figure of the Demon Path from the legends. If he catches up to me, there’s no hope for survival," Qin Yu assessed, purely based on the aura, that he was in no way a match for Wu Kongxue; the gap was too vast.

At this moment, Qiao Yu immediately sent a telepathic message: "Lord Wu Kongxue, the one escaping is True Master Tianhuo."

Telepathic messaging was a matter of a single thought. Wu Kongxue instantly focused his attention on the fleeing Qin Yu.

"Trying to escape, courting death."

Wu Kongxue waved his sleeve, and a blood-red beam of light shot out towards Qin Yu as swiftly as Lightning, piercing him through with unbelievable speed. Even with Qin Yu’s quick reflexes, the blood-red light still shot through him.

Wu Kongxue smiled confidently in the air, a hint of bloodlust in his eyes as his fingers unleashed several blood-red beams. These beams shook the space around Qin Yu, with two more beams piercing through his body once again.

Hit by his assault, he believed that the ’True Master Tianhuo’ in front of him was undoubtedly dead.

At that very moment, Qin Yu plummeted down like a kite with its string cut, while the space around him was still in a state of violent shaking.

"Big Brother Wu Kongxue, where is the person?" The Fire Demon and other Independent Demons of the Tenth and Ninth Tribulations all rushed over. In terms of traveling, they were still a bit slower than Wu Kongxue.

"The person? Already dead, falling right over..." Wu Kongxue pointed confidently towards where Qin Yu fell, but there wasn’t even a shadow left there now, and Wu Kongxue stood speechless, his mouth agape. How could someone who was bound to die just disappear?

Without delay, Qiao Yu said, "Lord Wu Kongxue, I saw that the True Master Tianhuo, upon being struck by you, first fell to the ground, but as soon as he crashed into the forest, he vanished."

"Gone? With spatial fluctuations like these, an Instantaneous Movement would be fatal; he must be hiding somewhere, but he won’t escape my Devil’s Consciousness," said Wu Kongxue with a scoff, his Devil’s Consciousness quickly sweeping out in all directions. As a Twelfth Tribulation Independent Demon, Wu Kongxue’s range was incredibly vast, and he didn’t believe anyone could fly out of his devilish consciousness’s span in such a short moment.

"Nothing!"

Wu Kongxue’s face darkened as he refused to believe the outcome and searched again, but the result was still the same.

Before him, the ’True Master Tianhuo’ had somehow vanished.

×

Wu Kongxue had no idea that not far from where Qin Yu fell, concealed among countless shattered rocks within the forest, was a particular fragment that appeared identical to the other shards, yet in reality, it was the Qingyu Immortal Mansion.

Inside the Qingyu Immortal Mansion.

"That was too strong," Qin Yu inwardly felt a surge of fear. If it hadn’t been for his efforts to dodge at the critical moment, he suspected the last blood-red beam might have pierced through his Dantian. Qin Yu was clueless as to what the consequence would’ve been had his ’Planet’ inside the Dantian been pierced through.

As for the severe injuries sustained to his internal organs, they were fully healed thanks to his tremendous Recovery Power.

"Big Brother, how are you?" Hou Fei, Hei Yu, and the others rushed over.

Qin Yu shook his head slightly and spoke gravely, "I’m fine, but we can’t go out now. The high-ranking members of the Independent Demon Army are on their way back. Just one Wu Kongxue can easily kill us, not to mention the Eleventh and Tenth Tribulation experts. Facing any one of them would be extremely dangerous for us."

(To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM for more Chapters. Support the author, support genuine reading!)