Chapter Seventy: Slaying the Wolf-Lion Beast Demon Once More

Wei Xiaoping watched calmly as the wolf-lion demon beast charged toward him, its speed astonishing. It had begun over a hundred meters away, yet with a blink, it was upon him. Its eyes shone with a ghostly blue light, burning with such savage hatred it seemed as if the creature bore a personal vendetta against Wei Xiaoping.

As it closed in, Wei Xiaoping gripped the Demon-Slaying Sword tightly, his gaze fixed on the oncoming beast, searching for any flaw or weakness in its assault.

The wolf-lion demon beast paused briefly before him, then leapt fiercely from the churning black waves, opening its massive jaws to reveal icy, gleaming, saw-like teeth. It stretched out its forepaws, claws sharp as sickles, and lunged to seize Wei Xiaoping.

In that crucial instant, Wei Xiaoping suddenly crouched low, gripping the Demon-Slaying Sword with both hands and thrusting upward beneath the beast’s belly. He held the sword steady, forcing the demon’s momentum to drag its underbelly along the sword’s point.

The wolf-lion demon beast, now scarcely a meter from Wei Xiaoping, had thought its prey within reach. But Wei Xiaoping’s abrupt move left it no time to halt or veer aside. The beast’s immense inertia carried it straight onto the sword.

A soft tearing sound split the air as the sword’s tip opened a long gash from the beast’s chest between its forelegs all the way to the rear of its belly, black viscous liquid gushing forth. Fragments of underworld demon corpses it had devoured tumbled out as well.

The wounded beast gave a muffled roar and crashed heavily into the River of Black Water, quickly swallowed by the inky waves.

No sooner had Wei Xiaoping slain that beast than two more arrived. They had heard the dying howl of their companion and rushed over, planning to attack together. But before they could join the fray, their comrade had already perished.

One of the newcomers used its jaws to roll over the fallen beast, then began furiously licking its wounds with its tongue. The other raised its head, carefully surveying the surroundings, as if searching for another presence.

As the vigilant wolf-lion demon spotted the leaders of the Underworld Hounds, Horse Chief and Ox Flower, running toward them, it immediately turned and charged in their direction. The other remained, continuing to lap at its companion’s wounds, utterly ignoring Wei Xiaoping, as if he did not exist—even though he was clearly the killer.

Wei Xiaoping wondered, watching the beast’s desperate licking, if the fallen demon was its child or mate.

His question was soon answered. Miraculously, the slain wolf-lion demon beast stirred under its companion’s relentless tongue and, moments later, struggled to its feet.

Wei Xiaoping was astonished: the beast’s tongue had brought its companion back from the dead! He had never imagined such a power existed among these demon beasts.

“Horse Chief! Ox Flower! Stop that wolf-lion demon beast coming your way! Don’t let it reach the one you killed!” Wei Xiaoping shouted to the distant Underworld Hounds.

At the same time, he raised the Demon-Slaying Sword Soul and slashed at the two beasts before him. The one that had been licking its companion gave it a shove, sending it stumbling aside, then leapt away itself, both narrowly dodging the sword’s gleaming arc.

Wei Xiaoping immediately sprang after the beast that had jumped clear, sword raised to strike. But before he could bring it down, the beast lunged at him, maw agape, snapping for his face. The Demon-Slaying Sword Soul was too long and the beast had come too close, leaving him no room to swing or thrust. Instead, Wei Xiaoping clenched his left fist and punched the beast square in the face.

A howl rang out as the wolf-lion demon beast’s massive body, like a ragdoll stuffed with shredded cloth, was sent flying dozens of meters by the force of his blow.

Seizing the moment, Wei Xiaoping turned on the just-revived wolf-lion demon beast, which had not yet regained its full strength. He leapt forward, sword soul in hand, and brought it down in a sweeping arc across the creature’s midsection.

A flash of pale blue light, a shrill wail—and the resurrected beast was cleaved in two. Thick black liquid burst from the severed halves, staining the black river water even darker.

Wei Xiaoping then kicked one half of the corpse, sending it flying dozens of yards into the river. He did the same with the other, kicking it in the opposite direction so that both halves landed far apart in the water.

Why did he do this? Wei Xiaoping had realized that the wolf-lion demons’ tongues could heal, even revive, their own kind. By splitting the corpse and casting the halves far apart, he ensured there would be no chance for resurrection.

Meanwhile, the beast that had been punched into the river surfaced just in time to see Wei Xiaoping kick the last piece of its companion’s body away. Realizing its newly revived kin had been slain and dismembered beyond all hope, the wolf-lion demon beast sat down in the water, lifted its head to the sky, and wailed in heartbroken anguish.