“Black Sky Demon.”

Staring intently at the black shadow behind Han Yuan and the heart-pounding murderous spirit it exuded, even Zhou Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.

The sword pill floated up in front of Zhou Yuan, filling the area with a mighty sword light before it turned into an incomparably sharp sword shadow.

Chi!

The sword shadow shot out like a bolt of lightning, aiming directly for Han Yuan.

Han Yuan stood motionless in the void until the sword shadow was no more than a foot away from his face. He slashed the black sickle through the air, striking the sword shadow. The beam of sword light shattered, and the sword pill trembled before shooting back.

Swoosh!

The Black Sky Demon vanished.

Zhou Yuan stepped sideways when he heard a harsh whistle of wind in his ear. He then saw the silhouette of the sickle slash down close to his body and rip the void apart.

Unsuccessful, the blade changed its attack once again. Wrapped in a strong murderous spirit, it moved in a tricky trajectory and swung down at Zhou Yuan’s neck.

Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brows. The speed of the Black Sky Demon was astonishingly fast. He didn’t know what it was, but watching the sickle blade slash through the air in his direction, he didn’t panic in the slightest. Instead, he clenched his hand, and snowy-white hair spread out, covering his fist like a glove.

Clang!

A punch thrust out and collided with the sickle blade.

The void rippled, and during that moment of collision, Zhou Yuan could feel a powerful killing intent emanating from the blade, wanting to rush into his body and wreak havoc.

Roar!

But before the tyrannical power and killing intent could spread out, the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi within Zhou Yuan’s body whizzed out, quickly eliminating them.

But this exchange made Zhou Yuan understand the Black Sky Demon possessed almost all the powers of Han Yuan as well as an innate tyrannical strength and killing intent. In terms of combat strength, it had even surpassed Han Yuan himself.

But after Han Yuan summoned the Black Sky Demon, his Genesis Qi was in deficit and was unable to participate in the battle. Otherwise Zhou Yuan would have been caught in a predicament of having to fight against two.

Chi!

The Black Sky Demon’s figure moved like a ghost. The sickle blade in its hand turned into countless blade shadows and flooded towards Zhou Yuan like the tide.

Clang!

Within a few seconds, Zhou Yuan and the Black Sky Demon fought dozens of rounds. Every time, he would be pushed back half a step. The combat strength of the Black Sky demon was so incredibly fierce and tough that even he was at a disadvantage.

It was no wonder that Han Yuan saw this as his killing move.

But although the situation seemed disadvantageous to Zhou Yuan, his expression was still emotionless. Despite its fierce combat strength, it was impossible for the Black Sky Demon to possess the same battle consciousness and grasp of the changing situation like humans do.

Clang!

Another collision, but this time, Zhou Yuan’s eyes flashed, and he didn’t retreat an inch. Instead he took a step forward, and his figure got strangely close to the Black Sky Demon, appearing in the small blind spot of where the sickle blade was swinging down. At the same time, with the clench of his hand, the sword pill transformed into a beam of sword light.

Chi!

Zhou Yuan flashed dozens of steps away, the beam of sword light piercing the chest of the Black Sky Demon.

Uproar broke out in the outside world. The Black Sky Demon that Han Yuan had worked so hard to bring out was just gotten rid of like that?

However, even if his move was successful, there wasn’t a hint of joy on Zhou Yuan’s face. Instead, a glint of suspicion came to his eyes because he found that the Black Sky Demon, which was pierced by his sword, was still as powerful as before. Its strength hadn’t weakened in the slightest.

In midair, Han Yuan faintly smiled, “Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, your sword pill technique is indeed remarkable, but unfortunately it won’t have much effect on my Black Sky Demon.”

Zhou Yuan furrowed his brows and stared closely at the Black Sky Demon. A moment later his heart quivered as he discovered a wisp of Spirit hidden among the tremendous Genesis Qi pulsing around the Black Sky Demon’s body.

“The core of the Black Sky Demon is a Spirit that controls Genesis Qi?”

Zhou Yuan’s eyes widened in astonishment. It was no wonder that his previous sword strike had little effect—the core of the Black Sky Demon was a certain Spirit or Beast Spirit, and pure Genesis Qi attacks naturally had reduced effects on spirits.

Therefore, as long as the inner Spirit core remained, no matter how Zhou Yuan attacked, it would be able to quickly recover. And if this went on, Zhou Yuan would be exhausted to death.

To destroy the Spirit core, he needed to attack with Spirit power, but it would be difficult to break through the outer Genesis Qi defense with Spirit power alone.

This was the troublesome nature of the Black Sky Demon.

Chi!

But just when there were many thoughts churning in Zhou Yuan’s mind, there was a tyrannical aura rolling in like a storm. The tremendous shadow of the Black Sky Demon’s body shrouded Zhou Yuan. Wrapped in deadly intent, the black sickle blade pierced through the void and slashed down crazily at Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan frantically retreated.

Boom!

The Black Sky Demon’s sickle blade tore deep marks into the ground. Its attacks were ferocious.

Roar!

As the offensive became more and more frenzied, the Black Sky Demon lifted its head and roared skywards, swallowing the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth. Its body rose steadily, and its offensive grew even more terrifying. It continuously delivered slashing attacks at Zhou Yuan.

As a result, Zhou Yuan appeared to be at an absolute disadvantage.

In the outside world, on the Fire Pavilion’s side, Zuo Ya couldn’t help but snicker, “I thought Zhou Yuan was very capable, but Han Yuan forced him to such an embarrassing state.”

Zhu Lian shook his head. “ Pavilion master Han Yuan hid his strength too well. Nobody has seen his Black Sky Demon before. Let alone Zhou Yuan, even senior brother Lu Xiao would find it tricky and troublesome.”

Zuo Ya curled her lips. “If Zhou Yuan is really blocked by Han Yuan, it would be very funny.”

On the Wind Pavilion’s side, Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the rest all watched the battle on the square with solemn expressions. They couldn’t help but marvel at Han Yuan’s strength. As expected, none of the four pavilion masters of the four pavilions were ordinary.

But although Zhou Yuan seemed to be at a disadvantage at the moment, the two women weren’t too concerned because they had confidence in Zhou Yuan.

They didn’t believe that Han Yuan could stop Zhou Yuan here.

Boom!

The black sickle swung down, and a deep crack spread across the square while smoke and dust filled the area.

Zhou Yuan rapidly retreated.

Swoosh!

But the Black Sky Demon was still faster. It appeared directly behind him, its sickle blade tearing through the void as it slashed toward Zhou Yuan’s head.

A fierce glint flashed in Zhou Yuan’s eyes, and snowy-white hair emerged from his palms before rapidly turning jet black.

Clang!

He directly grabbed the blade with his hand, and it ground against the jet-black hair, producing a screech.

“Hmph!” Han Yuan coldly snorted when he saw Zhou Yuan catch his blade. The sickle was filled with deadly poison, which meant the longer the contact, the deeper the poisonous qi would corrode.

Black mist rapidly spread along Zhou Yuan’s arm, but his expression was as calm as ever. He flicked his sleeve, and a beam of dazzling sword light shot out, piercing the body of the Black Sky Demon.

“It’s no use!” Han Yuan’s voice was indifferent. “Zhou Yuan, it looks like you’re going to lose this time.”

For this attack, Zhou Yuan had forcibly endured the corrosion of the poisonous qi. At this moment black qi was visibly flowing within his arms, and once the poisonous qi spread throughout his body, he would no longer have the strength to fight.

“That’s not necessarily the case.” Zhou Yuan’s voice also rang out.

Han Yuan furrowed his brows, but then, as though he suddenly detected something, he turned to the sword light that pierced the body of the Black Sky Demon.

The sword light gradually cracked and shattered, revealing a lantern-like silhouette.

Within the lantern were blazing flames.

That’s—

“Spirit Flame?!” Han Yuan’s expression changed dramatically.

Zhou Yuan had hid the Spirit Flame within the sword light to deliver it to the core of the Black Sky Demon and destroy it.

“So cunning!” Han Yuan quickly folded his hands together in a hand seal, manipulating the boundless black toxic mist to leave the Black Sky Demon’s body and gush towards the Spirit Flame.

“But I’ve known for a long time that your Spirit is at the Transformative stage. But it won’t be enough to destroy the core of the Black Sky Demon!”

There was a sinister glint in Han Yuan’s eyes. How could he not be prepared knowing that Spirits of the Transformative stage could refine Spirit Flame.

The black toxic mist concealed inside the Black Sky Demon was enough to counter the Spirit of the initial Transformative stage!

Zhou Yuan simply shook his head, seeing the black toxic mist gush over, and said aloud, “Spirit Lantern Art!”

The moment his voice faded, a raging Spirit Flame roared out like a fire python and directly collided with the endless black mist. As the Spirit Flame rose, it immediately incinerated the poisonous mist.

Han Yuan’s pupils shrank, and his body went ice cold. He found that Zhou Yuan’s Spirit Flame was incredibly powerful and far beyond the level of the initial Transformative stage.

The Spirit Flame fire python burst forth like a bolt of lightning and coiled around the Black Sky Demon’s body. As the formless flame rose, the Spirit core seemed to have vanished like smoke in thin air.

Ah!

The Black Sky Demon emitted a sharp scream, and the black mist around its body frantically rushed out. In just a few seconds, it turned into a puddle of black ash.

Puchi!

Witnessing the destruction of the Black Sky Demon, Han Yuan, who was connected to it, spurted out a jet of blood and then frantically retreated.

But just as he drew back only a few steps, a sword shadow pressed against his back, forcing him to stop. Its sharp sword qi pierced a hole into his back, and blood oozed from the wound.

The chill qi penetrated deep into his body.

On the square, Zhou Yuan had neutralised all the poisonous qi in his arms. He flung his hands while staring calmly at Han Yuan in midair.

He was satisfied with his counterattack. He had only used the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb and the Spirit Lantern Art to defeat Han Yuan’s ultimate killing move. Thus, his consumption of Genesis Qi wasn’t too much.

In midair, Han Yuan looked a little unwilling and disappointed. He hadn’t expected the ultimate move he had concealed for so long would be buried before it even met Lu Xiao.

The pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion indeed wasn’t simple.

Han Yuan wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth, landed under countless gazes, then mumbled after some difficulty, “Pavilion master Zhou Yuan is indeed strong. I have lost.”

With a wave of his sleeve, Zhou Yuan removed the sword shadow behind Han Yuan, and the sword pill sped towards Zhou Yuan. He opened his mouth and swallowed it, and then smiled.

“Thank you, pavilion master Han Yuan.”

In the battle for the chief pavilion master position, Zhou Yuan had won the first match.