Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy

The light that appeared out of nowhere was like a swarm of stars, flickering and rippling. Surging from all directions, it gradually gathered towards Daoist of the Taiyin and Cheng Junie.

This is...

With the reminder from the Bone Armor floating in his mind, Daoist of the Taiyin became vigilant. Dark, murky water currents swiftly entwined around his body, making his figure seem to flicker in and out of sight, ready to slip into the void at any moment to evade harm.

Noticing the change in Daoist of the Taiyin's expression, Cheng Junie's eyes flickered slightly. These suddenly appearing points of light are...?

The water churned, and the points of light drew near. At this point, Daoist of the Taiyin and Cheng Junie finally saw clearly what these densely packed, star-like points of light in the water truly were.

They were a school of fish, each only the size of a human palm, bronze-colored all over, with scales like armor, long dragon-like whiskers, and sharp, pointed teeth. They all exuded a chilling, bloodthirsty aura.

"Greedy Dragons?" His pupils contracted, and Cheng Junie blurted out a name that even Daoist of the Taiyin had never heard.

Without a moment's hesitation, recognizing the school of bronze fish with dragon whiskers, Cheng Junie turned and fled, several Magic Artifacts flaring with Spiritual Light on his body to aid his escape through the dark waters.

He transformed into a streak of crimson flame, instantly piercing through the water. With incredible speed, he shot hundreds of miles away in a single thought!

Parting the water as he advanced, Cheng Junie's hands continuously formed spells, pouring vast amounts of exceptionally pure True Yuan into his Magic Artifacts.

BOOM—

The boundless current was forcefully torn open! A sprawling, hollow tunnel formed underwater, stirring up countless bubbles.

In the dim, lightless depths, finding one's way was difficult. Cheng Junie could only do his best to avoid the points of light from the school of Greedy Dragons, keeping his distance from them.

Appearing and disappearing like a phantom, Daoist of the Taiyin caught up to Cheng Junie and naturally inquired, "What is the origin of these Greedy Dragons, to make you flee so decisively?"

Casting a glance at Daoist of the Taiyin, Cheng Junie remained silent.

The corners of his mouth curled into a slight arc as Daoist of the Taiyin lifted a finger. "We're grasshoppers on the same rope now. If you don't tell me, then I'll have to..."

Barely visible shadows began to spread through the water, and an immense pressure started to loom. Daoist of the Taiyin's intention was clear. I may not be able to kill you, but the weight of millions of tons of water pressure bearing down will ensure those so-called Greedy Dragons catch up to you.

The corner of Cheng Junie's eye twitched. After a moment of silence, he said, "If I tell you, there's no guarantee you won't burn the bridge after crossing it."

With a sneer, Daoist of the Taiyin raised three fingers and said, "You think I'm like you? I swear by my very soul, I absolutely will not attack you within one month. Should I break this vow, may my soul shatter! Will that suffice?"

Seeing Daoist of the Taiyin swear by his soul, Cheng Junie's expression softened. Oaths in the Cultivation Realm were not like those made by mortals in the mundane world. Cultivators sought longevity, pursuing the Great Dao. Every word and action was observed by the unseen will of Heaven. Once an oath was uttered, it would invariably take effect. For Daoist of the Taiyin to swear by his soul was an exceedingly serious vow. After all, the soul was the foundation of all conscious existence. A shattered soul meant losing even the chance for reincarnation and further Cultivation.

Glancing back at the relentlessly pursuing and ever-increasing points of light, Cheng Junie paused for a moment and said, "The Greedy Dragon is a descendant of an ancient Dragon Blood lineage. Dragons are exceedingly promiscuous, mating with all creatures and giving birth to countless Dragon Race offspring. These Greedy Dragons were born from the union of a True Dragon and a bizarre Exotic Beast fish called the Greedy Bloat.

"The Greedy Bloat fish possesses indestructible teeth capable of chewing through divine metals and precious iron as if they were tofu. It also harbors a strange poison within its body. This poison is exceedingly potent; even those in the Blood-Stained Realm would find the pain unbearable upon being bitten, wishing for death. There is almost no way to alleviate this agony. Moreover, if too much of the toxin accumulates, it triggers an even more terrifying consequence."

"What consequence?" Daoist of the Taiyin asked involuntarily.

"This Greedy Bloat fish's poison... it damages a person's Cultivation!"

"Damages Cultivation?" Surprise flickered in Daoist of the Taiyin's eyes. He had read countless ancient tomes and had never heard of any poison that could damage a person's Cultivation. If that were the case, then this poison would undoubtedly be the nightmare of all cultivators. No wonder Cheng Junie ran as if he'd seen a ghost upon spotting the Greedy Dragons!

Cheng Junie continued, "The Greedy Bloat fish's only weakness is its frail body; even an ordinary person with a sharp weapon could kill it. Thus, it poses little threat to cultivators. But the Greedy Dragon is different. This Dragon Blood descendant has inherited the True Dragon's treasured scales, making its body indestructible; only a few methods can kill it. Moreover, the Greedy Dragons' habits are extremely similar to those of the Greedy Bloat fish. They always move in groups. When they appear, their numbers are at least in the tens of thousands. Anyone below the Dao Body Realm who encounters them and gets surrounded has only one path: death."

Having revealed the terrifying nature of these Greedy Dragons, Cheng Junie glanced sideways at the relentless Dragon Blood descendants pursuing them. In truth, he was still concealing some characteristics of the Greedy Dragons. Firstly, although these Greedy Dragons aren't very intelligent, they are extremely vengeful! If you kill one, the others will firmly remember your aura and quickly spread it to their companions. They won't rest until they kill you. Furthermore, the Greedy Dragon's poison is even more potent than the Greedy Bloat fish's. The slightest bite will instantly reduce one's Cultivation, and it's almost incurable.

No wonder the Bone Armor said, 'If you see its light, you will perish'—those lights must refer to these Greedy Dragons. But what does 'move when grass appears' mean?

Now aware of the horrors of the Greedy Dragons, Daoist of the Taiyin's gaze shifted subtly. Divine Light flickered on his fingertips, ready to unleash the Black Water True Skill and bring the mountain-crushing water pressure down upon Cheng Junie.

Soul shattered? What soul could a mere Avatar like me possess?

Just as Daoist of the Taiyin was about to make his move, tens of thousands of points of light suddenly burst forth in the abyss-like black waters ahead, gleaming relentlessly. It was a massive shoal of Greedy Dragons!

Their pupils constricted simultaneously. Daoist of the Taiyin and Cheng Junie exchanged a look, both recognizing the same unspoken agreement in the other's eyes: Team up!

Cheng Junie wanted to live. He had spent centuries cultivating to reach the Blood-Stained Realm through fortuitous encounters; he certainly couldn't resign himself to dying in the belly of a fish. Daoist of the Taiyin, on the other hand, coveted the Exotic Treasures hidden in this place. He was merely an Avatar created by the Dual Heart Mirror. Even if he died, he could be resurrected from the Dual Heart Mirror without any major consequences. But the Exotic Treasures of this strange place were of great use to his original body. So, they had to be obtained.

"Let's strike together!" Cheng Junie yelled.

"Understood!" Tai Yin replied.

Spreading his ten fingers, a torrent of sword light surged in Cheng Junie's eyes. Behind him, like a peacock fanning its tail, countless dazzling, sharp beams of silver sword light steadily rose. Taiyi Dividing Light Sword Skill! It was also one of the thirty-six top-grade Sword techniques of the Sword Sect!

Unlike the aggressive and domineering Nanming Lihuo Sword Skill, the Taiyi Dividing Light Sword Skill valued Sword Intent over force. As the Sword technique unfolded, an infinite number of sword beams covered everything, each beam embodying a thread of the Taiyi Subduing Demon Sword Intent.

Like water droplets piercing stone! Its power was in no way inferior to the Nanming Lihuo Sword Skill!

"Rise!" Cheng Junie commanded.

With a gesture of the Sword technique, endless Taiyi Subduing Demon Sword beams surged like a galactic torrent, fiercely colliding with the towering, wall-like swarm of Greedy Dragons!

DING DING DING DING—

Underwater, visibly turbulent rays of light burst forth incessantly. It was the afterglow of the Taiyi Subduing Demon Sword beams striking the Greedy Dragons' bodies! The chaotic and violent currents vibrated unceasingly. The water within a hundred-mile radius trembled!

Witnessing the Taiyi Subduing Demon Sword beams, capable of piercing through towering mountains, only managing to create dents on the Greedy Dragons' scales, Cheng Junie's lips twitched. Is this the terror of the Dragon Blood lineage? Even inheriting just a sliver of a True Dragon's talent is enough for these creatures to ascend from mediocrity, becoming fearsome beasts that make cultivators below the Dao Expert realm flee on sight!

Noticing Daoist of the Taiyin's continued inaction, Cheng Junie's eyes shimmered with a chilly light as he demanded, "Aren't you going to act?"

"I know, I know." He pursed his lips. Daoist of the Taiyin held out his hands, touched his fingertips together, interlocked his thumbs, and formed an ancient, sinister Dharma Seal.

Black Water True Skill! Sever!

BOOM—

A tremendous and turbulent wave suddenly spread from Daoist of the Taiyin's body, instantly encompassing an area a hundred miles across. The Greedy Dragons had just suffered the bombardment of the Taiyi Subduing Demon Sword beams. They were dazed and disoriented. How could they escape?

In the next instant, all Greedy Dragons touched by this wave found themselves isolated within a bubble of air. The water around them had been entirely controlled and banished by Daoist of the Taiyin.

Greedy Dragons are strong; none below the Dao Body Realm dare provoke them. Their originally fragile bodies were compensated by a layer of scales due to their Dragon Blood. But in the end, their greatest weakness had always been present. Greedy Dragons might be called dragons, but essentially, they were still fish. And if they were fish, how could they survive out of water?

Trapped within air bubbles and deprived of water, the Greedy Dragons began to flap and struggle frantically, attempting to return to the water.

With a soft command, "Let's go!" Daoist of the Taiyin took the lead, bursting out from the Greedy Dragons' encirclement, Cheng Junie close behind.

Accustomed to eradicating threats thoroughly, Cheng Junie asked indifferently, "Why didn't you press the attack and suffocate those Greedy Dragons?" His tone was calm, completely normal. But in fact, he was hoping Daoist of the Taiyin would kill the Greedy Dragons, thereby incurring their eternal enmity and making them his sworn foes!

Glancing at Cheng Junie, Daoist of the Taiyin chuckled, "Without them, I'm afraid your sword would pierce my heart in the next second."

"Heh." Cheng Junie gave a faint smile, offering no rebuttal.

The two shared an unspoken understanding. A moment ago, they had cooperated briefly only to break through the Greedy Dragons' encirclement. In reality, both were intent on seizing any chance to ensure the other's demise. Both were thousand-year-old foxes; who didn't understand the other?

They drifted aimlessly in these waters for an unknown period. Daoist of the Taiyin and Cheng Junie each harbored their own schemes. While staying vigilant for more points of light in their surroundings, they each pondered how to orchestrate the other's death in this strange and eerie aquatic domain.

Just as Daoist of the Taiyin was silently using a mysterious connection to sense the distance to his original body, a streak of dark green suddenly flowed through the obscure and murky water ahead, like a patch of verdant grass. It was a miraculous sight in these unfathomably deep waters.

'Move when grass appears'?! His gaze sharpened instantly. Without further hesitation, Daoist of the Taiyin transformed into a black shadow and shot off in pursuit. Cheng Junie's eyes flickered; after a brief pause, he too chose to follow.

Gentle light shimmered, and the water stirred. In the dim and murky depths, a tall and imposing middle-aged man, dressed in a black-patterned, gold-threaded dragon robe and exuding an air of supreme dignity, stepped into this aquatic region.

Beneath the spring's eye, there's such a world?

As he slowly surveyed his surroundings with his crushed-gold-colored eyes, the man in the dragon robe was about to explore this mysterious domain when, suddenly, countless dense points of light appeared all around him, like a swarm of stars.

Grinding their sharp teeth, tens of thousands of Greedy Dragons surrounded the man in the dragon robe, their bloodthirsty, frenzied eyes swirling with terrifying light.

With a cold snort, the man in the dragon robe declared, "Hmph! A bunch of lowly remnants!" A powerful and authoritative presence instantly erupted from him, transforming into a golden blaze that illuminated hundreds of miles of water.

Under the deterrence of this dragon-attribute aura, tens of thousands of Greedy Dragons trembled in unison, wagging their tails and bowing their heads to the man in the dragon robe in submission.

Glancing over these Greedy Dragons, the middle-aged man's eyes sparkled with keen light. Guardians of the Dragon Blood lineage? Could this place... be True Dragon Ruins?! A deep, uncontrollable longing surged from the depths of his being!