Chapter 48: The Great Demon Appears

Facing Li Qing's inquiry, Meng Kan chuckled. "Fellow Daoist Li, you have certainly asked the right person."

"My family's residence is located on Huangyu Island, so I am somewhat familiar with the news there. The so-called Giant Spirit Pavilion is a well-known major power on Huangyu Island, a formidable force backed by cultivators at the late stage of the Foundation Establishment stage..."

"I have also heard something about the auction hosted by the Giant Spirit Pavilion."

"The Giant Spirit Pavilion auction is held once every five years and is quite prestigious among the surrounding islands."

Li Qing's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Meng Kan spoke with a hint of pride, suggesting that his family likely held some influence on Huangyu Island. With Meng Kan's help, the next steps would be much easier to manage.

"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Meng knows the regulations of the auction, and whether I would be eligible to participate?" Li Qing asked with interest.

Hearing this, Meng Kan showed a trace of hesitation.

"Fellow Daoist Li, many Foundation Establishment cultivators attend the Giant Spirit Pavilion auction. Generally speaking, those below the late stage of Qi Refinement are not qualified to enter!"

"In fact, even those at the late stage of Qi Refinement cannot enter without an invitation!"

Seeing Meng Kan's expression, Li Qing immediately saw through the man's ulterior motives.

"Fellow Daoist Meng, I wonder if you could help me secure a qualification to enter the auction?" Li Qing paused slightly before continuing, "Of course, I will not let you work for nothing!"

Seeing Li Qing take the initiative to make a request, a smile immediately appeared on Meng Kan's face.

"Fellow Daoist Li, what are you saying? The matter of the spirit mine was thanks to your help. I will take responsibility for this matter."

Meng Kan's tone seemed quite magnanimous, but it clearly carried a hidden meaning. Li Qing understood the implication behind the words: it was nothing more than a transaction. He would trade the matter of the spirit mine for Meng Kan's help in entering the auction.

"Good. I find that we get along quite well, Fellow Daoist Meng. I hope we have many opportunities to interact in the future."

Through their casual conversation, Li Qing achieved his goal.

In truth, Meng Kan was even happier. Previously, he had been afraid that because Fellow Daoist Li saw him as the only one left, he would demand an exorbitant price. Regardless of how one looked at it, the incident with the Jade-Devouring Insect was a massive oversight by their watch team. Now that both sides had reached an agreement, the matter of the insect could be successfully covered up. He had successfully resolved the issue with nothing more than a small effort.

As for the auction entry qualification, he hadn't lied to Li Qing, but he had exaggerated the difficulty. Whenever an auction was held, the Giant Spirit Pavilion would typically grant a portion of the slots to various powers on Huangyu Island. Therefore, most major shops and factions held some quotas, which were mostly used as gifts to win over customers.

*Rumble! Rumble!*

While the two were chatting, a massive roar suddenly echoed from the distance. They exchanged glances and walked to an open space to look outward.

In the direction of Huangyu Island, several massive traces of combat were faintly visible. Both men looked on in shock. It seemed the situation was far more serious than they had imagined. Judging by the intensity of the battle, these could definitely not be the traces of a fight between Foundation Establishment experts.

In the distance, a massive dragon formed from a torrent of water surged forward, emitting thunderous sounds as it moved.

"蛟龙乾水术 (Flood Dragon Water-Drying Technique)!"

The massive commotion in the distance was a powerful spell from the Thousand Water Spirit Control Sect. This spell could only be cast by a Golden Core True Person.

At this moment, the three others who were cultivating in the room also gathered after sensing the external disturbance. A grand and magnificent battle was unfolding right before their eyes. As Qi Refinement cultivators, they rarely had the chance to witness such a spectacle.

*Chirp!*

A sharp cry rang out. A massive silhouette emerged from the sky, its giant blue-black wings shimmering with spiritual light.

"A Tier 3 Great Demon—the Azure Jun Thunder Eagle!" Meng Kan watched the terrifying demonic body appearing in the distance in disbelief.

"A Great Demon..." Li Qing murmured to himself.

A Great Demon was a true Tier 3 existence among demonic beasts, equivalent to a Golden Core True Person among human cultivators. In the Haoyuan Sea region, Golden Core cultivators were practically at the absolute pinnacle of this world. As for Tier 3 Great Demons, they were even rarer to encounter.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The massive air currents generated by the Tier 3 Great Demon turned into howling gales. The originally calm nearby waters instantly became turbulent and surging.

*Chirp!*

With another sharp cry, the originally clear sky began to fill with dense thunderclouds. The pressure from the massive thunderclouds was so intense that even Li Qing and the others on Huangyu Island could feel the terrifying lightning power contained within.

The dragon formed by the Flood Dragon Water-Drying Technique soared into the sky, spreading its claws to charge forward. Seeing the attack from below, the Tier 3 Azure Jun Thunder Eagle spread its terrifying wings, which spanned hundreds of feet. With a flash of its massive silhouette, the Azure Jun Thunder Eagle appeared directly in the center of the thunderclouds.

Following another clear cry—

*Rumble!*

The sky-covering thunderclouds began to swirl. Purple lightning began to brew with immense terror. At that moment, the dragon-shaped spell charged upward.

*Crack!*

Purple lightning descended from the sky. The head of the dragon formed by the Flood Dragon Water-Drying Technique was instantly shattered. Without the support of spiritual energy, its massive form dissipated, splashing seawater toward Huangyu Island.

The Tier 3 Great Demon clearly would not let it go. Its massive wings flapped again, and thick purple lightning continuously fell from the sky. The sky now resembled a thunderstorm, with explosive, murderous energy raining down.

The roaring sound echoed in the ears of Li Qing and the others.

*Rumble!*

Massive bolts of lightning fell from the sky like giant purple snakes, charging straight toward Huangyu Island. Just as Li Qing thought a brutal battle was about to begin—

*Swish!*

A massive, milky-white sword light rose from within Huangyu Island. As the sword light appeared, it grew larger and larger, instantly matching the size of the Tier 3 Great Demon, the Azure Jun Thunder Eagle. The sharp, exposed sword qi slashed fiercely toward the demon.

*Chirp!*

The cry of the Tier 3 Great Demon carried a hint of panic. The Azure Jun Thunder Eagle spread its massive purple wings, lightning immediately coating its body. With a flash, it transformed into a massive streak of purple light and vanished before the sword light.

Having lost its target, the massive sword light continued its momentum, slicing through the sky like lightning. In an instant, the thunderclouds in the sky formed by the lightning were split in two, before slowly dissipating.

The surrounding world seemed to stand still. The Azure Jun Thunder Eagle glanced toward the ground, its demonic aura surging toward the heavens, before it actually transformed into a cloud of demonic mist and vanished into the horizon.

Li Qing vaguely saw that as the Azure Jun Thunder Eagle departed, there were some people on its back.

By now, anyone with eyes could see the outcome. The Azure Jun Thunder Eagle had been unable to withstand the defender of Huangyu Island and had retreated.

Li Qing's heart was filled with curiosity. He wondered which Golden Core True Person within the sect was capable of repelling an enemy with a single strike. As spirits of heaven and earth blessed by the Great Dao, demonic beasts possessed naturally powerful physiques and were nearly invincible among their own rank. For a single streak of sword light from the island to force it to retreat—it was evident just how terrifying the strength of the Golden Core True Person guarding Huangyu Island truly was.