Cultivation through Skin Making

First, we need to leave Cold Pool Valley.

Song Yan picked up a slice of roasted goose with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth, then poured himself a cup of wine.

He swallowed in one gulp and let out a comfortable sigh.

He casually placed the wine cup down.

But as soon as it touched the table, the wooden table suddenly trembled violently.

The wine cup, which was a copper three-legged style, was slightly jolted into the air by the tremor.

Then, continuous vibrations followed.

All the cups, bowls, plates, and chopsticks on the tables of the restaurant bounced rapidly up and down like falling yellow peas, and the fruits, vegetables, and meats in each dish were ejected from their platters, sliding off the tables and falling onto the floor, creating a chaotic mess.

People from the Jianghu rushed outside, each holding a weapon, their faces heavy with concern.

Song Yan also ran out with the crowd.

Looking outside, he saw a transparent barrier that had appeared unknowingly in mid-air—a stream of energy was striking the barrier, creating ripples.

In the cultivator area, there was utter chaos, with glimmers of profound artifacts flying by occasionally, accompanied by cries of "The fox demon has intruded!" or something similar.

Then, suddenly, someone shouted: "It's the fox grandmother, the fox grandmother is here!!"

As soon as the words fell, fear appeared on the faces of some in the Jianghu, and seeing others were confused, they quickly explained: "This Cold Pool Valley Market was established to counter the fox grandmother. She is a great demon who eats people like beans!"

At this moment, everyone was struck with fear.

As if in response to their fear, a gigantic demon shadow began rising outside the transparent barrier.

The demon shadow blocked the light, casting many areas within the barrier into shadows.

The sharp fox face moved downward, emitting a sharp, eerie laugh of "hee hee hee."

Three pale fox tails rose like a blazing sky fire, arrogant and fierce, reaching directly into the firmament.

There were many brave people in the Jianghu, but inexplicably, at this moment, some were so frightened they wet their pants, while others stood trembling, too scared to move.

Song Yan looked up, watching as the fox grandmother raised her hand and struck down fiercely.

Bang!

The array shield shook violently.

Bang bang bang!

Several more strikes, and cracks unexpectedly started appearing on the barrier.

A few more "bang bang" sounds followed.

Suddenly, a crisp "crack" was heard.

A hole was drilled in the barrier, and the fox cubs that had been kept out by the array rushed in together, heading towards the cultivators.

The cultivators also engaged in battle with their weapons.

"Escape..."

"Escape..."

"Run for your lives!"

People in the Jianghu were driven mad with fear, each running towards the back of the market with no regard for anything else.

When they entered, they used the main gate since the road there was wide, but there were still narrow paths at the back.

Song Yan mingled with the Jianghu people, his face showing fear as he ran away.

He neither ran fast nor slow, just staying in the middle of the crowd while running out.

This pace was no different from a leisurely stroll for him, so he subtly glanced sideways, quietly observing the distant battle, as if noticing something.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed slightly.

He noticed a wisp of white crack at the edge of the overwhelming demon shadow of the fox grandmother.

Perhaps to others, that crack seemed obscure, maybe just a ray of sunlight.

But Song Yan had noticed.

Moreover, he noticed dozens of tiny snow-white insects flying within the crack.

They were Phantom-Devouring Flying Ants!

They were used at the market entrance to detect illusion techniques.

Now it seemed the cage had been broken, hence they flew out.

This strange insect is extremely sensitive to illusion techniques. If they detect an illusion, they will instinctively fly to it and tear it apart.

In the next instant, that wisp of white crack vanished, and the little insects were gone.

Song Yan thoughtfully withdrew his gaze.

Previously, Su Canli had discussed the fox grandmother with him.

Su Canli said that the fox grandmother's "Dragon Blood" is external blood, dreadfully powerful, because the power it can unleash even exceeds the Crimson Palace Realm level. This perplexed him greatly. His final conclusion was that there must be a secret, a weakness, hidden within the Dragon Blood. If this weakness could be discovered, the fox grandmother's power would significantly plummet.

Of course, that Su Family elder certainly didn't find the fox grandmother's "Dragon Blood" weakness, otherwise, they wouldn't have been wiped out.

Just as Song Yan was pondering, a calm voice of a cultivator suddenly came from a distance.

"Everyone, don't be alarmed. I just saw the Phantom-Devouring Flying Ants break through the Demon Shadow! This enormous Demon Shadow should just be an Illusion Technique by Old Madam Fox. She has fought against many strong individuals and is now actually at the end of her strength. There's no need to fear..."

As the words fell, a giant hand of the Demon Shadow in the sky suddenly grabbed and snatched up the speaking cultivator.

Old Madam Fox's bell-like laughter descended.

It was a mocking sound.

"Clever, so clever!"

Saying this, the giant sharp snout revealed its fangs and with a "chomp," it bit the cultivator in half at the waist. Blood spurted, dyeing the Demon Shadow red, and then slowly slid down from the corner of the shadow's mouth, indescribably real, indescribably terrifying.

The air was filled with a frightening shriek of laughter.

Plop...

Beside Song Yan, a person from Jianghu was so terrified that his knees gave out, and he directly knelt down.

Song Yan quickly raised a hand to support him, asking, "Brother, are you alright?"

The person from Jianghu was apparently still a youngster, dressed in splendid clothing, with a dignified appearance. It seemed he had some fame and status outside, but at this moment, he was stammering, his teeth chattering, unable to speak.

It wasn't until Song Yan helped him up that he gasped, "Thank you, thank you..."

"Let me help you."

Song Yan propped up his arm.

Even when mingling among the people of Jianghu, being alone meant an unclear identity.

And if he chose a woman, she might think he had ulterior motives and wanted to take advantage of her, which would be troublesome instead.

So, he chose this "young hero of Jianghu" nearby.

The youngster was completely limp and clung to his neck like a lifeline, jumping along like a zombie while repeatedly thanking him.

Song Yan supported him and ran forward quickly.

"Shen... Shen Liao, if I don't die today, I'll be forever grateful..." the young hero murmured.

Song Yan said, "I am Han Hu, in Jianghu, it's proper to look out for each other. Brother Shen, no need to be formal."

Having said that, he also "when in Rome" gasped heavily, putting on a terrified look like a drowning man.

After a while, the sound of weapons and screams suddenly came from the back of the crowd.

The young hero named Shen Liao turned his head to look and was scared out of his wits, shouting, "Brother Han, Brother Han! The Demonic Fox is attacking!"

Without him shouting, Song Yan already knew.

A few ordinary Fox Demons had been dispatched here to hunt down this group of fleeing people from Jianghu.

The Fox Demons moved faster than the wind, their claws like Divine Soldiers; the slower ones among the people of Jianghu were instantly killed...

Song Yan quickly joined in the quick "zombie jump".

Not far away at the stables, horses neighed as someone released them and began to flee.

Song Yan assessed the situation, waited until a few Fox Demons pursued others, and mounted a horse himself, then threw Shen Liao onto another horse, and the two of them galloped away.

Clip-clop, clip-clop...

The horse hooves sounded as rapid as cicadas in a summer rain.

Shen Liao had some skills too. Gritting his teeth, he turned over and hung upside down on the horse's belly, hoping that if the Fox Demons relied on sight to chase people, not seeing anyone on the horse might delay their pursuit.

Song Yan clicked his tongue in amazement, mimicked him, flipping upside down as well to hold onto the horse's belly.

He glanced into the distance and saw Old Madam Fox fighting fiercely with the defending cultivators of Cold Pool Valley, the surroundings bursting with a kaleidoscope of energies.

The cultivators were continuously dying and getting injured...

The horses raced out of the Cold Pool Valley and onto a winding path, and from the direction of the market in the distance came the sound of people dispersing.

Song Yan squinted, seeing many cultivators guiding Profound Artifacts and beginning to flee as well.

As he was watching, he suddenly froze. From the distance came Shen Liao's scream, and he saw the latter suddenly had a Fox Demon hanging under him, which bit down, instantly severing the young hero's neck.

Song Yan only glanced before sensing an evil wind coming from beside him.

A Fox Demon finally fixated on him, also pouncing over.

Song Yan's pupils slightly contracted, but he didn't react, allowing the Fox Demon to pounce on him.

The Fox Demon opened its mouth wide, biting toward his neck.

Crunch...

The fangs shattered.

The Fox Demon only felt excruciating pain in its jaw and was momentarily bewildered.

The next instant, it felt itself clamped down tightly, being forcibly pressed against this neck.

The Fox's eyes rolled around, seeing the man using one hand to hold it firmly against his neck, while the other hand gestured "hush."

The Fox Demon wanted to move, but at the slightest movement, it felt a terrifying heat from the hand, as if it would turn him into "grilled fox head."

The Fox Demon dared not move, maintaining the posture of biting the man's neck, hanging upside down under the horse's belly, slipping away out of the valley.