Bam!

Carried by that enormous force, the Dark-Tail Spear became a streak of light and bowled the demons over.

Before they could recover—

The black-robed young man was already upon them, the golden flame at his brow blinding, blazing radiance rising from both palms.

He stamped down brutally on the deer demon, and his fists fell like a driving squall.

No blood sprayed. No bones broke.

But that anvil-like sound of formations shattering — each time it rang out, it set the demons' hearts shuddering.

"Save it!"

Gold-Wing felt the first touch of despair.

The moment she had been waiting for was plainly very close, and yet, like fishing the moon out of water, it stayed forever beyond reach.

If Shen Yi cut down another great demon emperor, what would she and the rest have left to hold him with?

Four figures shot up as one and charged at the young man.

Bam! Bam!

Blow after blow burst out.

They were great demon emperors ranked among the foremost of the Thousand Demon Den; even without assuming their true forms, their overbearing demon bodies carried tremendous power.

The trouble lay in the dharma-robes.

Neither side could break the other's defence, and it turned into a bitter grind — a straight contest of reserves.

Nothing was left in the Spirit-Plant Garden but the dull sound of swinging fists.

Until Shen Yi pulled out a fifth handful of demon cores and swallowed them.

"……"

Even the Gold-Winged Demon Emperor, the strongest of them, let her hands fall blankly. She staggered, her strength gone, and dropped to her knees, palms braced against the ground, breathing hard.

Shen Yi looked without expression at the four demons lying at his feet.

The Dark-Tail Spear fell into his palm once more.

Looking at that keen, pressing spearpoint, the Gold-Winged Demon Emperor gave a self-mocking laugh, and at last loosed the golden arrow.

In that instant a vast sound seemed to sweep across the sky.

The arrow vanished quietly from her palm.

When it appeared again, it had already sunk into Shen Yi's chest, and then dissolved into…