Chapter 86: Joint Demon Hunt

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Joint Demon Hunt

After watching Yi Xiaoyao slay the Rock Armor Iron Lizard and hearing his dissatisfied muttering, Zhou Yan and his teammates let their weapons fall from their grasp. The looks on their faces were priceless.

"This... this kid, he really killed the Rock Armor Iron Lizard?"

Zhou Yan’s face was a mask of utter shock. Even seeing it with his own eyes, he could hardly believe the scene before him.

"No way. A defense that even Captain Zhou Yan couldn’t get through... and this kid just broke it like that?"

"And he even seems a little unhappy with the outcome. Is he saying that on purpose to mock us?"

"Judging by his expression, I don’t think it was intentional. Besides, the fact that he dared to show up in this area means his strength must be impressive."

As the last team member spoke, they all suddenly recalled how they had mocked and belittled Yi Xiaoyao earlier.

’Arrogant? Crazy? Stupid?’

No, those were words Yi Xiaoyao should have been directing at them.

At this thought, everyone’s faces paled. Zhou Yan, in particular, was deeply ashamed and regretful of his earlier actions.

From the moment he’d met Yi Xiaoyao, Zhou Yan had acted with a sense of superiority due to his higher cultivation, even smugly showing off.

But in the end, Yi Xiaoyao had shattered the Rock Armor Iron Lizard’s defense—a defense Zhou Yan couldn’t break even when giving it his all—with a single slash. ’How ridiculous I must have looked,’ he thought.

Fortunately, Yi Xiaoyao didn’t mock them in return for their earlier behavior. Instead, he approached them with a friendly air.

"You’re the captain of this Demon Hunting Team, right?"

Yi Xiaoyao asked Zhou Yan with a faint smile.

Seeing that Yi Xiaoyao showed no signs of arrogance, Zhou Yan inwardly relaxed. He immediately stepped forward and replied with a smile, "Yes, yes, I am Zhou Yan. Yi, your skills are truly incredible. We were in the wrong earlier, please don’t take it to heart."

The other team members also gathered around, cupping their fists toward Yi Xiaoyao. "Thank you, Yi, for helping us kill this Rock Armor Iron Lizard!"

Then, one of them suggested to Zhou Yan, "Captain, how about we trade this Demon Beast’s Demon Core for Spirit Stones and give Yi fifty percent?"

"Right, right! Yi contributed the most. Let’s give him half the Spirit Stones. I hope you won’t think it’s too little, Yi," Zhou Yan said, nodding in agreement.

Yi Xiaoyao smiled and shook his head. "You can just call me Yi Xiaoyao. I don’t really care about the Demon Core or the Spirit Stones. There’s something else I want from this beast."

"What is it you want, Yi?" Zhou Yan asked, puzzled.

It was common knowledge that while a Demon Beast’s entire body was a treasure trove, the Demon Core was by far the most valuable part. Other materials were difficult to transport, so everyone was confused about what Yi Xiaoyao could possibly want.

"I need this Demon Beast’s blood," Yi Xiaoyao said.

Everyone was taken aback. They’d thought Yi Xiaoyao would ask for something valuable, but it was only the Demon Beast’s blood.

After all, most people simply let a Demon Beast’s blood drain away after killing it. Who would have any use for that?

So, without a second thought, they all readily agreed. "No problem! The Demon Beast’s blood is all yours!"

Yi Xiaoyao thanked them and immediately turned to collect the Demon Beast’s blood and refine it into Essence Blood.

Once Yi Xiaoyao had absorbed all the Rock Armor Iron Lizard’s Essence Blood, he immediately felt a scorching heat in his palm.

He raised his hand and saw that the Dragon-shaped Mark on his palm, which had already taken form, had now become completely solid.

A look of delight washed over Yi Xiaoyao’s face.

’The Nine Heavens Dragon Soaring Technique has reached the Great Success stage!’

Now, with the Nine Heavens Dragon Soaring Technique, his speed was likely so great that not even a high-level, second-tier Demon Beast could catch him.

This meant that even if he encountered a high-level, second-tier Demon Beast he couldn’t defeat, he could still retreat unscathed and escape with ease.

Just then, Zhou Yan and his team members walked over to Yi Xiaoyao with a proposal.

"Yi," Zhou Yan began, "we’ve seen that your strength is exceptional, and we know you need Demon Beast blood. But dealing with a high-level, second-tier Demon Beast by yourself must be difficult. How about we work together?"

Yi Xiaoyao’s eyebrow twitched. He seemed tempted by the offer.

It was just as Zhou Yan had said. Although Yi Xiaoyao had been able to break through the Rock Armor Iron Lizard’s defenses and kill it, he had only managed it because the beast was already trapped by the others. Taking on a high-level, second-tier Demon Beast by himself was still next to impossible.

Besides, the team didn’t seem to have any malicious intentions, so Yi Xiaoyao readily agreed.

"Alright. From now on, I’ll hunt high-level, second-tier Demon Beasts with you."

Zhou Yan and his team were overjoyed. "Haha! With you here, Yi, this trip is sure to be a great success!"

The rest of the team also stepped forward to voice their thanks.

"It’s nothing. We’re all just getting what we need," Yi Xiaoyao replied with a faint smile.

And so, Yi Xiaoyao continued onward with the Demon Hunting Team.

Where before the team had been on edge while traveling through this region, the atmosphere relaxed considerably with Yi Xiaoyao’s presence.

Along the way, they were all secretly amazed. Not only did Yi Xiaoyao have the cultivation of a fourth-level Foundation Establishment expert at such a young age, but his actual combat strength far surpassed that level. They couldn’t help but feel ashamed of their own shortcomings in comparison.

Soon enough, the group encountered another high-level, second-tier Demon Beast. With practiced coordination, the Demon Hunting Team trapped the beast, leaving Yi Xiaoyao to deliver the final blow.

Each time, no matter how formidable the Demon Beast’s defenses were, Yi Xiaoyao would end it with a single slash, leaving the team speechless with amazement again and again.

Their shock was even greater when they encountered a Demon Beast with weaker defenses and watched Yi Xiaoyao cleave it in two with a single strike.

Gradually, Yi Xiaoyao had subtly taken Zhou Yan’s place as the heart and soul of the Demon Hunting Team.

Zhou Yan harbored no resentment over this; even he was filled with nothing but admiration for Yi Xiaoyao.

After hunting Demon Beasts together in the Earth Star Forest for several days, the group grew closer, and Yi Xiaoyao gradually began to consider them friends.

Several days later, the team managed to trap a Sword-toothed Silver Tiger after a difficult fight. Yi Xiaoyao lopped off its head with a single slash, and the team erupted in cheers.

After Yi Xiaoyao finished refining and absorbing the Demon Beast Essence Blood, the team began harvesting the valuable materials from the carcass, setting aside a share for him.

Even though Yi Xiaoyao only ever asked for the Demon Beast Essence Blood, the team insisted on giving him a share of the other spoils every time. Unable to refuse their generosity, he had no choice but to accept.

Just as the group was preparing to move on, a sharp whistling sound tore through the air above them.

Immediately after, three members of the Demon Hunting Team cried out and collapsed.

"Lin! Dong! Hu!"

Everyone’s faces paled as they whipped around, crying out the names of the fallen. To their horror, they saw three sharp arrows, each one buried deep in a man’s skull. They had been killed instantly.

...