“The demons I know are said to be transformed from other creatures. They could originally be human cultivators or powerful members of the Demon Race, or even some powerful ghosts. However, no matter their original form, once they are transformed into demonic beings, they not only become overwhelmingly powerful, but they also become cruel and bloodthirsty, even attacking any other normal creatures that approach them without reason.” Bai Xiaotian fell silent for a moment, barely able to explain further.
“If that is the case, the harm of these demonic beings is indeed far greater than that of the Demon Race and ghosts.” After hearing this, Shen Luo couldn’t help but cluck his tongue in awe.
“This only refers to ordinary demonic beings. Some powerful demonic beings, it is rumored, even possess the terrifying ability to actively transform other creatures into demons. If they were to wreak havoc, the situation would only worsen.” Bai Xiaotian added.
“Considering how dangerous these demonic beings are, the world of the Great Tang is surprisingly peaceful. I assume the court and the cultivation sects within the territory are making significant efforts, right?” Shen Luo, suddenly thinking of Lu Huaming, asked subconsciously.
“From what I understand, I’m not sure how the court deals with it. However, in some important provincial capitals, there are usually one or two demon exorcising families like the Bai family, covertly fighting against the demonic beings. Ordinary people and most low order cultivators are simply unaware of their existence.” Bai Xiaotian provided thoughtfully.
“The demon exorcising families are so mysterious, I feel relieved going to your Bai family. By the way, you never told me before, where is your home?” Shen Luo heaved a sigh of relief, then changed the direction of the conversation.
“Didn’t I tell you? My home is in Jianye?” Bai Xiaotian was somewhat puzzled by Shen Luo’s question.
“When did you tell me that? Jianye, I’ve never been there, but I know it’s a long journey from here. Even if we were to ride fast horses, traveling day and night without rest, wouldn’t it take at least half a month to get there?” Shen Luo began to worry again.
“That’s not necessary, we can travel by water first, and follow the Bailian River downstream towards Jiangyu County. From there, we’ll take a fast horse, and it will take at most ten days to reach.” Bai Xiaotian shook his head in response.
After agreeing to the plan, They looked up at the stars to determine their direction, and moved toward the Bailian River.
After purchasing a fishing boat, they proceeded to navigate downstream toward Jiangyu County.
Surprisingly, Bai Xiaotian proved to be an expert at navigating the boat, far superior to Shen Luo. The pair took turns piloting the boat down the river, covering a distance of sixty to seventy miles in less than half a day.
Just as Bai Xiaotian took over the boat, Shen Luo sat inside the cabin and started to meditate in order to restore his consumed mana.
In a short while, the sound of rushing water began to echo from behind. It was a small white-roofed boat, with two boatmen at either side, swiftly closing in.
With a twitch of his ear, Shen Luo had a sudden sense of foreboding. He opened his eyes and stood up.
Just as he rose to his feet, a grey figure soared into the sky from the back of the small boat, rushing forward like a hawk.
Even before the figure reached its peak, a dark purple light was released, piercing the sky towards the fishing boat where Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian were.
Although Shen Luo could not see clearly what was inside the dark purple light, he found the aura to be extremely familiar.
“Brother Bai, it’s Gu Hualing. We need to leave!” He shouted, then dived headfirst into the river.
Just as Bai Xiaotian leapt into the river, a loud ‘boom’ rang out, the fishing boat was struck by the dark purple light and immediately shattered into numerous pieces.
Before he could stabilize himself in the water, a mass of purple flame descended from the sky, the deadly Demon Bone Phosphorus Fire heading straight for him. The speed was astonishing.
With another loud “bang”, water around Bai Xiaotian exploded, a column of water several feet high rose and crashed onto the Demon Bone Phosphorus Fire.
The “hiss” sound grew louder, the phosphorus fire instantly evaporated most of the water waves, but this fire was also knocked away.
Twenty or thirty feet away, Shen Luo stuck half of his body out of the river, with his hand slightly raised as if casting a spell. Perhaps due to the urgency of the situation, the hem of his green robe partially covered his face and he didn’t have time to take it off.
“Junior Brother Shen’s water control technique is truly impressive. I really admire it. The Spring and Autumn Pavilion is truly a place where crouching tigers and hidden dragons exist!” Gu Hualing said in mid-air, her double wings flapping, laughing lightly. She didn’t seem angry at all for her demon bone phosphorus fire being knocked away.
At this moment Bai Xiaotian had already steadied himself in the water, suddenly he turned his head and shouted loudly:
“Be careful, Junior Brother Shen, of what’s beneath the water!”
Before his words fell, a narrow beam of purple light shot out from the water surface in front of Shen Luo- it was the three-pointed claw stab. Like an arrow leaving the string of a crossbow, it hit Shen Luo in the chest, piercing right through.
There was a “rip” sound!
Thegreen robe was torn to shreds, but there was no splatter of blood. That “Shen Luo” was surprisingly a water clone that looked exactly like him. It disintegrated with a “splash” and melted into the river.
In mid-air, the smile on Gu Hualing’s face froze.
Next to Bai Xiaotian, the water surface “splashed” and Shen Luo, wearing only his close-fitting clothes, emerged from the water. He grabbed Bai Xiaotian with one hand and shouted in a low voice, “Let’s go!”
Bai Xiaotian quickly activated the escape talisman that he had been pinching in his hand. A brilliant green light enveloped him, and the two soared into the sky, leaving a trail of escape light, and flew away into the distance.
“Let’s see how far you can run this time!”
Gu Hualing spoke, recalling the three-pointed claw stab with a wave of her hand. Her bone wings spreading out, enveloped by a layer of purple light, she also flew into the sky and chased after Bai Xiaotian, albeit at a much slower speed.
The two sides chased each other and soon disappeared on the distant horizon, leaving behind two terrified boatmen on the white boat, their faces ashen, trembling.
Shen Luo and Bai Xiaotian flew for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The green light surrounding them gradually dimmed, and the two immediately dove towards the ground below, landing on an unnamed official road.
“That demon girl really clings like a ghost!” Bai Xiaotian kicked the ground irritably.
“She’s a member of the demon race. She must have some unique tracking technique.” Shen Luo speculated.
“The key point is she can fly too. Although she’s not as fast as my flying escape talisman, my talisman can’t hold for many times! Let’s go!” Bai Xiaotian said, running ahead along the official road.
“Judging from the time it took her to catch up with us earlier, her tracking technique might take some time to prepare, or perhaps, her bone wings can’t fly for a long time. Senior Brother Bai, how many more times can you use your flying escape talisman?” Shen Luo stepped forward and asked as he caught up.
“I estimate I can possibly use it four or five more times, but flying straight to the Bai family is impossible. We’ll have to think of something else when the time comes.” Bai Xiaotian said.
Both of them raced along the official road, and by the time dawn was about to break they arrived at a small town.