Dragon Leaping the Heavenly Gate was a Return-to-Void technique.

Even at Minor Accomplishment, its consumption was terrifying to a degree a Spirit-Transformation cultivator would scarcely credit.

This was the first time Shen Yi had employed it at full strength.

The effect was strikingly obvious.

In the span of a few breaths, he had left Great Qian far behind.

"..."

Shen Yi dispelled the Nanyang shape-transformation art, revealing that magnificent black robe.

His breathing was somewhat ragged.

He drew out a demon core and put it in his mouth.

Since he'd reached an uninhabited place, there was no further need to hide anything.

That he hadn't revealed his true identity outright had two reasons. First, the situation had been urgent — and with his very life in the balance, had he dispelled the Nanyang shape-transformation art, it would have looked to any onlooker like a demon using some trick to transform itself in order to save its own skin.

Difficult to explain away.

And second, the Thousand Demon Den's intelligence channels were faintly horrifying. Even Xuanguang Cave cultivators who'd slipped secretly into Great Qian had been ferreted out.

Which meant the Thousand Demon Den very likely had cultivators serving as its eyes.

Too many people, too many eyes.

This Gold-Eyed Lion Emperor identity was one Shen Yi wanted to preserve a little longer.

Though he wanted the White Swan's life as well, compared with the remaining treasured sites within the Thousand Demon Den, the latter mattered more.

With Nie Jun holding Songzhou, no great trouble should arise.

And he could seize this chance to slip away and see to other business.

At the thought, Shen Yi looked off toward Lizhou.

Just then, thunder cracked in his ears!

"Tch."

Shen Yi glanced back, and his expression turned grave in an instant.

For a point of purple light had appeared at the edge of the heavens — and then swelled at an unimaginable speed.

The Dao-method loosed from that Purple-Empyrean Divine-Thunder Sword Palace could actually pursue him across a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers?

"He's out of his mind."

Shen Yi frowned…