Warm blood splattered across everyone’s faces. Shattered organs and shredded flesh rained down, and the coppery stench of blood filled the grand hall.
"AHHH!"
Some of the female disciples could no longer hold back their screams. They began to retch violently, frantically brushing away the blood and bits of flesh that had landed on them.
Shen Haoran felt his own stomach turn. It wasn’t that these Martial Artists lacked fortitude. Was there anyone here who hadn’t killed before? Most were veterans who could kill without batting an eye. But their kills had always been swift and clean. When had they ever witnessed such a gruesome, bloody spectacle?
"Hahaha, what do you think? Such a wonderful celebratory salute! It’s practically art. How could we possibly let it stop?" Demon King Husky roared with laughter at the Martial Artists’ terrified expressions. A cruel smile touched his lips as his gaze swept over the crowd.
In the crowd, anyone the Demon King Husky locked his eyes on began to rise uncontrollably into the air. No matter how they struggled, they were utterly powerless against the force. In the end, they could only detonate in a shower of gore, just like the disciple before them.
Seeing this, Shen Haoran’s figure flashed, and he appeared beside Murong Wanqing. Black flames erupted from his body, instantly incinerating the falling blood and flesh. He fixed a cold glare on the Demon King Husky.
’The Demon King seems to be selective.’ All the weaker Martial Artists had been killed by his cruel methods. Those who remained were the pillars of the Northern Domain’s younger generation—the strongest of the lot.
In a single round, the number of Martial Artists had plummeted from over a hundred to just over twenty. The grand hall’s bluestone floor was completely stained a dark crimson, and a thick, nauseating stench permeated the air.
"Run! Run for your lives!" Unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere any longer, some Martial Artists shrieked and bolted for the hall’s exit.
"Hahaha, run! Go on, run! The more you fear, the more delicious your blood becomes! Struggle! Cower! Hahaha!" Watching them scatter, Demon King Husky laughed maniacally. The Demon Sword in his hand transformed into a long, black serpent and shot toward the fleeing Martial Artists.
THUNK. THUNK. THUNK. A series of soft thuds echoed through the hall. The disciples trying to escape were impaled one after another by the Demon Sword the Husky had thrown, skewered like candied fruit on a stick and killed instantly. The difference in power was simply too vast. These Spirit Marquis Tier Martial Artists might be considered geniuses of their generation in their respective sects, but before a Spirit Emperor Powerhouse, they were like three-year-old children, with no way to fight back.
"How delicious!" The Demon Sword flew back into the Husky’s hand. He licked the blood from its blade, his face a mask of pure ecstasy. Then, his gaze fell upon Shen Haoran and the others.
Now, only about ten people remained in the hall. All the other Martial Artists had been killed at the hands of the Demon King Husky. These people were the future of the Northern Domain, and now they were all dead. It was a devastating blow to their sects, and indeed to the entire Northern Domain.
The remaining Martial Artists glared venomously at the Demon King Husky. The dead were their sect-brothers and sisters. The killing intent in their hearts was impossible to conceal, yet under the crushing pressure of the Spirit Emperor, none of them dared to resist. They knew there was only one consequence for resistance: death.
"The appetizers are finished. Now, it’s time for the main course!" The Demon King Husky slammed his Demon Sword, now transformed into a Giant Sword, into the floor. He stared hungrily at the dozen or so people left. Although they only had Spirit Marquis Tier cultivation, the Spiritual Power within them was incomparably pure—a fatal attraction for him.
Hearing the Demon King Husky’s words, Shen Haoran and the others knitted their brows. ’So he sees us as his meal.’ Staring at the Demon King Husky’s savage face, a few disciples took an involuntary step back.
"Tch. To be seen as food by a dog... how infuriating," Shen Haoran said, shooting a cold glance at the Demon King Husky and spitting contemptuously.
"Brat, what did you say? You have the guts to say that again!" Upon hearing Shen Haoran, the Demon King Husky’s gaze turned instantly frigid. Veins bulged on his forehead; Shen Haoran’s words had struck a nerve. The name Husky was indeed associated with a domesticated dog in the Human Race, but it had been bestowed upon him by the Demon Emperor himself. He had come to see the name as a symbol of his conviction. Now, someone dared to defile that conviction. Icy killing intent began to rage within him.
"Shen Haoran, are you insane? Why would you provoke him? Do you have a death wish?"
"You might not value your life, but we do! You idiot!"
It wasn’t just the Demon King Husky who was enraged. The other surviving Martial Artists—with the exception of Murong Wanqing and Jian Wushuang—glared at Shen Haoran with displeasure.
"Do you really think this dog is going to let you go? Begging him to spare your lives? What a joke. If you want to live, there’s only one way: kill him. Today, either he dies, or we do!" Shen Haoran said coldly, casting a dismissive glance at the other Martial Artists.
"Tch. To think I was afraid of a mere dog! Brother Shen is right. This thing clearly has no intention of letting us go. Our only hope for survival is to fight for our lives. In the Human Race, a Husky is just a pet kept in a kennel. I refuse to believe we’ll fall to this creature today!" Jian Wushuang declared, stepping forward and glaring coldly at the Demon King Husky.
"You’re insane! Have you both lost your minds? That thing is a Spirit Emperor Tier powerhouse! How could we possibly be his match? Stop dreaming!" Seeing Shen Haoran and Jian Wushuang ready to fight back, some of the Martial Artists clutched their heads and screamed in despair.
"Tch. Just one Spirit Emperor Powerhouse. It’s not like I haven’t killed one before," Shen Haoran said, licking his lips as a cold smirk played across his face. ’A Spirit Emperor Powerhouse... I killed one back in the Five Elements Sect’s Secret Realm. Granted, this Demon King Husky seems much stronger than that one, but I’ve grown over the last two years. I’m not that same greenhorn anymore!’
The other Martial Artists were stunned by his words, momentarily at a loss. ’Did he just say... he’s killed a Spirit Emperor Powerhouse before?’
"Count me in!" A Martial Artist stepped out from the crowd. Shen Haoran glanced over and recognized him. It was a lone practitioner, the Wine Venerable. His strength had also reached Tier Nine Spirit Marquis Peak.
"Me too!" After the Wine Venerable stepped forward, another disciple followed suit. He was also a Tier Nine Spirit Marquis.
"Wuqing, Xue Shitian, don’t tell me you two are scared!" Jian Wushuang sneered, looking at the two who had yet to move. When the Black Jade Death Warriors appeared, they had stood by and done nothing. Now, faced with a Spirit Emperor Tier powerhouse, they still intended to stay out of it.
"Scared? You think I’m capable of fear?" Xue Shitian shot Jian Wushuang a cool glance and stepped forward. He knew that if they didn’t risk it all in this fight, they would most certainly die here.
With Xue Shitian having stepped forward, Wuqing naturally had no intention of avoiding the battle either. He took a step forward as well, joining Shen Haoran and the others on the same battle line.
Now, the six of them—Shen Haoran and his allies—stood in a tense standoff against the Demon King Husky, their fighting spirit soaring. They were all geniuses of the Northern Domain; the pride in their bones would never allow them to submit to this Demon King.
"Let’s see what this Demon King Dog is really made of!" A cold smirk spread across Shen Haoran’s lips. In the next instant, his battle intent erupted, surging toward the heavens...
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