The city lord of the Barbarian City in the Demon Race's territory looked like a hulking brute, but in truth he was a shrewd and cunning man. He knew Yu Mo's character well—there was no way Yu Mo would praise a human warrior so highly unless he'd been pushed to his limits.
The Barbarian City lord immediately realized that this human must truly be extraordinary. With a cultivation at the first level, he had killed Di Xiao at the third level... No one among the Demon Race had ever pulled off such a feat. It had always been Di Xiao who killed those above his level. This time, the tables had turned, which only spoke to how formidable this human truly was.
"Gu Man, I'll need you to take action this time. I'll watch your flanks!" Yu Mo glanced at Feng Biao not far away and gave his instructions. He clearly didn't trust Feng Biao and needed to keep himself free in case Feng Biao made any rash moves.
"No problem. I love crushing the pride and confidence of young people the most—especially ones like this human... It's sure to feel great!" Gu Man nodded heavily, his expression growing excited. He waved his hand and shouted to the followers he'd brought along: "You lot, go test him out. Don't be careless—I don't want to be collecting your corpses!"
The Barbarian City's powerhouses advanced with savage grins, sizing up Yang Kai with great interest.
Yu Mo furrowed his brow, sensing something was off. But when he thought about how many of them there were against Yang Kai alone, he figured there shouldn't be any problem, so he didn't intervene.
"City Lord, if we catch this human brat, is there a reward?" The Barbarian City warriors called out, apparently hoping to squeeze something out of Gu Man.
"Reward my ass! I've already been banished by Lady Shirley to this bumf**k edge of the Demon Territory—this place is even more barren than Sand City. You lot dare ask me for rewards? If you want rewards, go ask Yu Mo!" Gu Man cursed.
Hearing this, Yang Kai's eyes lit up, and the corner of his mouth curved upward slightly.
Though Gu Man's words were complaints, they revealed news that thrilled Yang Kai.
This really was the edge of the Demon Territory! That meant as long as he left this place, he could escape the Demon Territory entirely.
"What are you waiting for? Once you catch him, you won't be shortchanged!" Yu Mo snapped. "Gu Man, you're nothing but petty. If you weren't such a short-sighted fool, Lady Shirley wouldn't have posted you here. You'll never amount to anything!"
Gu Man wasn't offended at all. Instead, he chuckled. "Did you hear that? Lord Yu Mo said there's a reward if you catch him. What are you waiting for, you idiots? Get moving!"
The Barbarian City warriors' auras sharpened the instant they heard this. Their expressions turned hostile as they eyed Yang Kai and quietly moved to surround him.
Yang Kai showed not a hint of panic. He simply watched them with cold eyes, secretly gathering his Divine Sense, ready to unleash the Soul-Devouring Insects at a moment's notice and slaughter every one of these warriors below the Transcendent Realm in a single strike!
Just as the two sides stood on a knife's edge, An Ling'er suddenly trembled. A look of fear and pain crept across her lovely face, and she tugged involuntarily at Yang Kai's clothes.
"What's wrong?" Yang Kai asked in a low voice, brow furrowed. He thought An Ling'er might have been hit by some underhanded trick of the enemy.
But An Ling'er's beautiful eyes were quivering. She extended a finger and pointed into the distance: "Over there!"
Everyone turned to look in the direction she indicated. One glance, and they all froze.
In the sky to the south, wind and clouds converged as a mass of churning, rolling dark clouds surged toward them with terrifying speed. Within those clouds was an aura that made everyone deeply uncomfortable, and faintly, a ribbon-like thread of Divine Sense reached out toward them.
Every face changed dramatically.
"Nan Sheng Gu?" Yang Kai murmured.
"That should be her!" An Ling'er nodded gently, her beautiful eyes dimmed and hollow, as though all light had been drained from them.
"Damn!" Yang Kai couldn't help but curse inwardly. Being chased by Yu Mo and Feng Biao, and then ambushed here by Gu Man and his forces—none of that had really bothered him. He still hadn't shown all his cards, and he was confident that if he activated Demonic Frenzy, he could get An Ling'er out alive.
But at this critical moment, this past generation's Saintess—who had killed no one in life but slaughtered millions in death—had tracked him down here too. It threw Yang Kai's plans into chaos and made him anxious.
He had experienced Nan Sheng Gu's power before. It was simply beyond what he could contend with. Even now, having advanced to the Transcendent Realm's second level, Yang Kai had not the slightest confidence.
Last time, he had escaped her only by using that void tunnel beneath the sea. Now, stranded in the middle of nowhere, there was no way to flee.
Yang Kai was emotionally wrought, and Feng Biao and Yu Mo wore equally grave expressions.
They were all Transcendent Realm powerhouses, so they could naturally sense how formidable the approaching presence was—a being even they had to fear deeply.
What kind of expert would come to a place like this? The two of them couldn't quite figure it out. They exchanged a meaningful glance at Yang Kai, hoping to get an answer from him.
"If you don't want to die, you'd better run. My reinforcements are here," Yang Kai said coldly, struggling to keep his composure.
Yu Mo chuckled. "Why does it feel to me like this person is brimming with killing intent toward you and the woman beside you?"
Yang Kai pursed his lips, knowing he couldn't fool Yu Mo and the others.
"You really do know how to stir up trouble, kid. You've managed to provoke such a powerful enemy—you surviving this long is nothing short of a miracle."
"You think I wanted this?" Yang Kai said with indignation. If he hadn't learned a few moves of the Nine Heavens Divine Art from An Ling'er and taken on her aura, Nan Sheng Gu wouldn't have targeted him so specifically.
"Still, Yu Mo, this person's aura feels rather strange..." Gu Man furrowed his brow. Sensing carefully, he felt the approaching presence was far too deathly, lacking entirely the fluctuations a living being should possess. He shook his head and asked, "What do we do?"