Chapter 552 — The Youth's Nightmare

Shen Mu was overjoyed. His purpose in coming here had been to journey and gain experience, to witness the formidable side of the divine ability practitioners of the vast world, and to learn from the strengths of others, so that he might grow strong enough to contend with the Primordial Ancestor Human Emperor. Taihuang Heaven's demon race was full of powerful divine ability practitioners—surely excellent opponents with whom to exchange techniques!

Moreover, with a deity like the Black Tiger God present, there was no need to worry about encountering a demon god and being unable to escape.

The Black Tiger God's speed was extraordinarily swift; even facing three to five demon gods, he could retreat with perfect composure.

And with the Black Tiger God's words, even if trouble were caused, the Black Tiger God would shoulder the blame—nothing to do with Sect Leader Shen. Sang Hua and Yu He also relaxed.

With a deity like the Black Tiger God at their side, their journey would surely be free of peril. The group immediately descended the city tower.

Yu He, bold yet meticulous, and somewhat more mature than Sang Hua, said, "Tiger Venerable, this time we are heading into demon race territory. It would be best if you did not release your aura, Tiger Venerable, otherwise demon gods of the demon race will block our way.

Better to pretend to be an ordinary divine ability practitioner. The reason the gods of our Taihuang Heaven cannot enter demon race territory is precisely that the demon gods are extremely sensitive to the scent of deities. " The Black Tiger God withdrew his aura and smiled. "Rest assured, I will not give myself away and draw the demon gods. This is your training; I will only watch from the sidelines and not interfere. " They moved at a swift pace; even the lower-cultivation divine ability practitioners could keep up.

This time, because Sang Hua and Yu He intended to infiltrate demon race territory, they had brought only elites—every one a skilled hand from the army, veterans of life-and-death slaughter. As they approached demon race territory, the sky gradually darkened. Wisps of demonic qi drifted to and fro through the mountain forests.

The place seemed shrouded in a layer of gray mist—one could see things, but not far. One divine ability practitioner prepared to activate a flame technique for illumination, but Shu You immediately crushed the technique with a squeeze, saying in a low voice, "This is demon race territory. Unless it is a matter of life and death, no one is to use illumination-type techniques, or we will expose our trail!

Remember, when you encounter an enemy, you must finish the opponent as quickly as possible and end the battle—never draw more enemies! " Everyone felt a chill of awe and quickly voiced their assent. "Shu You's judgment is not bad.

" Shen Mu praised inwardly, then said to Sang Hua, "Have you been to the Suppressing Gods Pagoda? " Sang Hua shook her head, her long braid hanging before her chest. "I haven't had the chance yet. These past few days have been far too busy—no time to go. Recently the demon race has been utterly quiet, and it frightens me.

And the Celestial Master left this time with twenty-four deities, and there has been no news since.

I cannot shake an ominous feeling.

" Shen Mu frowned slightly.

The Woodcutter Sage and the twenty-four deities had left and still had not returned, and there was no word of any great battle breaking out—truly somewhat strange. "Careful—we have now officially entered demon race territory! Ding Yun, scout ahead with your Primordial Spirit! " At Yu He's command, one divine ability practitioner immediately sat cross-legged, his Primordial Spirit leaving his body, and another practitioner stepped forward and hoisted him onto his back. Most of them were Seven Stars realm divine ability practitioners.

At the Seven Stars realm, a cultivated Primordial Spirit could already leave the body—only, the practitioners of Taihuang Heaven had not undergone Jingping Kingdom's Primordial Spirit Transformation, so their spirits were not yet strong enough to fly very far. Still, they sufficed for scouting.

The group continued on.

After a moment, Ding Yun's Primordial Spirit flew back. "Two hundred li to the southwest, there is a town.

Around two thousand people are being enslaved by the demon race, building something—I do not know what. Nearby there are also villages, inhabited by the old, the young, women, and children—quite a number of them. But on the road there, there are six demon race watchtowers. The towers are very tall; I did not dare look closely, for fear the demon race practitioners inside would sense my Primordial Spirit.

" Yu He asked, "How many li apart are the watchtowers? " Ding Yun's face reddened slightly, and he mumbled, "My arithmetic is poor—I did not calculate. . . " Yu He furrowed her brows and said with worry, "The demon race in those watchtowers are all Six Harmonies realm or Seven Stars realm practitioners—extremely alert. If we alert them and they send word out, what awaits us will not be a mere handful of stragglers, but demon race powerhouses of the Heaven-Man realm, or even Life-Death realm and Spirit Bridge realm! " Ding Yun shook his head.

"There are watchtowers elsewhere too—quite a few.

" Shu You pondered for a moment.

"Then we can only slip over quietly and eliminate the demon race in the watchtowers at the first opportunity. But if any one of them senses us in advance, we must retreat. . . " Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly.

"Among you, whose vital essence is the most tenacious?

The strongest? " Everyone looked at him, opening their mouths one by one, but saying nothing. Yu He and Shu You hesitated, then also fell silent.

Shen Mu explained, "If one's vital essence is sufficiently tenacious, one can activate a sword pellet from a hundred li away.

The sword pellet is rather small; it can reach a hundred li directly and obliterate the demon race in the watchtowers without giving them any chance to react! " Everyone still opened their mouths, but said nothing.

Shen Mu was puzzled and about to speak again, but Sang Hua, being blunt and outspoken by nature, said, "Grain-threshing Brother Sect Leader, among the practitioners present, apart from Tiger Venerable, isn't your vital essence the most tenacious and strongest? " Everyone hurriedly nodded. Shu You said helplessly, "At the battle of Li City, Sect Leader slew four demon race powerhouses in succession—we are all convinced.

Any further humility would be hypocrisy.

" Shen Mu scratched his head, only then recalling that among the few things in which he surpassed Yu He, Shu You, and the others—aside from his sword techniques, divine abilities, and Primordial Spirit—was his vital essence cultivation. "Very well, I will clear out the watchtowers. Stay close behind me!

" Shen Mu rose, touched his fingertip to the point between his brows.

"Primordial Spirit, leave the body! " His Primordial Spirit flickered and vanished.

"What a powerful Primordial Spirit! " Everyone, including Yu He, was startled. Shen Mu's Primordial Spirit was nearly forged to the point of substantiality—scarcely inferior to the Primordial Spirit of a Heaven-Man realm practitioner.

Truly formidable!

"Although I am first in Taihuang Heaven at the Seven Stars realm, and consider myself to have reached the standard of a youthful true god in every aspect, my Primordial Spirit is still far inferior to his.

" Yu He was downcast.

Sang Hua stepped forward, about to pick Shen Mu up and carry him on the journey, when she suddenly saw Shen Mu's body—bereft of its Primordial Spirit—run forward, its speed gradually increasing.

She could not help but be startled. The Black Tiger God strode after Shen Mu.

"Don't just stare—this is the divine control technique, my lord's method. Hurry and keep up!