C8 Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures Dark Night Demonic Lotus

Zhang Heng hastened toward the northwest at breakneck speed. As he traveled, the roars of Cloud Leopards grew increasingly numerous, yet they could not drown out another type of roar. Soon, Zhang Heng could distinctly hear the Cloud Leopards' mournful cries, which came one after another.

"What kind of beast could this be? To hold its own against so many Cloud Leopards at the First Steps of Qi Refining—it must be formidable," Zhang Heng mused, not slowing his pace for a moment. Shortly after, he arrived in the vicinity.

He stealthily perched on the branch of a pine tree and peered ahead. There lay a clearing, a hundred feet across. In this clearing grew a singular, stunning plant. Its leaves were round and lush, reminiscent of lotus leaves, each as large as a cartwheel. Amidst the verdant surroundings, a massive, peculiar flower stood out at the center.

The flower, akin to a white lotus, boasted jade-like sepals and a pristine white corolla, exuding elegance and charm. It also released a fresh, delightful fragrance. Oddly enough, not a single blade of grass grew within the area shrouded by this plant, and its foliage even encroached upon the neighboring pine forest. Every pine tree it touched, whether an ancient giant or a young sapling, withered and died without exception.

While Zhang Heng observed, numerous insects, lured by the scent, buzzed towards the flower. But as they reached the space above the plant's leaves, they plummeted like inebriated fools. Zhang Heng watched as their bodies were dissolved and consumed by the petals.

"Dark Night Demonic Lotus?" he whispered to himself.

"The demonic beasts are indeed clashing over a rare treasure!" Zhang Heng felt a surge of excitement. "The ancient texts say that this Dark Night Demonic Lotus is a mid-grade yellow treasure. Its rank may not be the highest, but its utility is coveted by those in the Qi Refining state."

"The lotus seeds it produces can accelerate the condensation of Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi for all Qi Refining braves, enhancing their ability to advance their Qi Refining level."

"Moreover, braves within the third grade of Qi Refining who consume these seeds can even ascend a minor level directly."

"I've been troubled by my inability to draw in more Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi to elevate my brave's Qi Refining level. This Dark Night Demonic Lotus is exactly what I need to hasten the process!"

The Dark Night Demonic Lotus is the perfect treasure for me right now. It's like a godsend in the midst of a snowy night!"

"Heaven helps those who help themselves! Today, no matter what, I, Zhang Heng, am determined to claim this Dark Night Demonic Lotus."

Zhang Heng resolved firmly in his heart while he discreetly surveyed the scene before him.

"This is a Wind Thunder Demonic Tiger, a formidable beast in the late stage of the First Steps of the Qi Refining Realm."

The Wind Thunder Demonic Tiger before him was massive, standing three meters tall and stretching ten meters long. Its white fur was interlaced with vibrant blue lightning patterns and silver-gray, crescent-shaped wind patterns.

Next to this imposing creature, the once robust Cloud Leopard looked utterly diminutive.

Currently, the bodies of seven or eight Cloud Leopards lay lifeless on the ground.

The survivors, a dozen or so, were encircling the Dark Night Demonic Lotus.

The mighty Wind Thunder Demonic Tiger was repeatedly attempting to breach the Cloud Leopards' defenses to reach the nearby Dark Night Demonic Lotus.

"It appears the Dark Night Demonic Lotus was initially under the Cloud Leopards' protection, but its impending maturity and the rich scent of its blossoms have lured the Wind Thunder Demonic Tiger to covet it."

"I'll sit back and watch the tigers fight, then step in to take advantage of the aftermath once a victor emerges."

Zhang Heng mused to himself.

Just then, the Wind Thunder Demonic Tiger launched another offensive.

With a heavenward howl, it unleashed a silver-gray wind blade from its maw, slicing towards a Cloud Leopard's head.

The Cloud Leopard narrowly twisted away, evading the lethal strike.

But in a twist of fate, the wind blade arced through the air with a piercing screech, burying itself into the throat of another Cloud Leopard.

Blood gushed as the Cloud Leopard's head was severed by the wind blade, and the others roared in outrage.

Unfazed, the Wind Thunder Demonic Tiger leaped forward, its paws striking the nearest Cloud Leopard. The beast's skull shattered on impact, and as the tiger's claw infused with electric blue light penetrated the body, the Cloud Leopard convulsed uncontrollably.

"It appears that the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger has awakened its innate bloodline ability," I mused.

"The Wind Blade ability is manageable, but the lightning power is another matter. It has a paralyzing effect upon contact with an enemy. If I were to be struck during battle, I could end up as incapacitated as someone with Parkinson's disease."

Zhang Heng furrowed his brow in deep contemplation.

Nearly all demonic beasts carry within them a hint of the bloodline from an ancient Great Demon. With a stroke of luck, they might awaken the Great Demon's supernatural powers, known as bloodline abilities.

At that moment, the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger's onslaught continued unabated. Within moments, it had slain another seven Cloud Leopards.

Eventually, a Cloud Leopard, noticeably larger than its peers, stepped forward and issued an enraged roar at the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger.

"The alpha Cloud Leopard has stepped in to turn the tide, though I doubt it will make a difference," I thought to myself.

"For one, it's only in the mid-stage of the First Steps of Qi Refining, and it doesn't seem to have awakened its bloodline ability."

Events unfolded just as Zhang Heng had anticipated.

The alpha Cloud Leopard soared into the air, launching itself at the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger with the force of a mountain.

The Wind Lightning Demon Tiger seemed intent on intimidating the other Cloud Leopards.

It didn't charge forward to engage in close combat.

Instead, it let out a series of skyward roars.

Suddenly, arc-shaped wind blades burst forth from its maw.

With piercing howls, they completely engulfed the alpha Cloud Leopard.

Caught mid-leap, the Cloud Leopard's massive form was shredded by the relentless wind blades.

The remaining Cloud Leopards, witnessing the fate of their leader, let out mournful cries and beat a hasty retreat, fleeing the clearing.

Watching the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger unleash a volley of wind blades, effortlessly dismembering the lead Cloud Leopard, Zhang Heng's brow creased slightly. "The Cloud Leopard Boss, though at the same mid-stage of the First Steps of Qi Refining as myself, likely possesses the strength of a late-stage human in the same realm. To think the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger could dispatch it as easily as slicing through fruit. It seems the Demon Tiger's power must have surpassed that of a late-stage human, reaching the pinnacle of the first grade."

In the presence of such Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Zhang Heng couldn't bring himself to walk away. Besides, with his Small Completion technique and the formidable Demon Clan physique, he was not necessarily destined to lose.

As the Cloud Leopards scattered, Zhang Heng, gripping his Damascus Steel Spear, leapt from the pine tree, his gaze fixed curiously on the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger. The tiger, upon noticing Zhang Heng's abrupt arrival, let out an intimidating roar. Sadly for the beast, its efforts to deter Zhang Heng were in vain as he steadily advanced.

Provoked, the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger roared and unleashed a silver-gray wind blade that hurtled towards Zhang Heng. Unruffled, Zhang Heng's Qi Sea whirled into action, channeling Yuan Qi into the spear tip with lightning speed. The Overlord Spear technique was unleashed, and with a precise thrust, he struck the wind blade, shattering it with a sound reminiscent of glass breaking. The pure Yuan Qi effortlessly broke the wind blade, a construct of the tiger's bloodline power.

The Wind Lightning Demon Tiger, wary now, let out two more roars. In response, two more wind blades sliced through the air, each tracing a distinct arc—one aimed at Zhang Heng's head and the other targeting the back of his heart. Unfazed, Zhang Heng marched on, the Overlord Spear technique flowing through him, his arms delivering both thrusting and spiraling power. Accompanied by the whistling of his spear, he shattered each wind blade in turn.

The tiger, enraged, let out a series of roars, sending a barrage of wind blades at Zhang Heng. Yet, he managed to obliterate each one in the nick of time, his agile form relentlessly pressing forward. In a mere moment, Zhang Heng closed the distance, standing just ten feet from the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger.

At last, the tiger, pushed to its limit, roared and lunged at Zhang Heng. With a swift motion, the spear shattered another wind blade, and Zhang Heng's spear traced a beautiful arc through the air. It met the tiger's claw with a metallic ring, leaving only a superficial scratch on the formidable paw of the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger.

Zhang Heng felt as though he had been struck by a rampaging colossus. His blood and Qi roiled within him as he was sent flying, crashing through three ancient pines before he could steady himself.

"This Wind Thunder Demon Tiger is in the late stage of the First Steps of Qi Refining, a notch above my own level. Demonic beasts are inherently more powerful than humans at the same level, but I didn't expect its physical strength to be so formidable," Zhang Heng mused, concern creeping into his thoughts. He had hoped to leverage the Demon Race's physical superiority to overcome his opponent, but now he was not so sure.

"The lightning energy in its bloodline is causing me trouble too. It's made my hands numb after traveling up my spear," he noted. "I must maintain control of my hands to prevent any shaking."

Undeterred by its missed attack, the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger lunged at Zhang Heng again without a moment's hesitation. With no choice left, Zhang Heng braced himself and met the charge with his spear.

Several exchanges later, Zhang Heng had inflicted numerous wounds on the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger. However, he too was battered by the beast's relentless onslaught, his muscles aching and an old wound forced open once more.

The Wind Lightning Demon Tiger, seemingly insane with rage, continued its fierce barrage. "You think you can outlast me?" Zhang Heng, equally provoked, grimly swallowed another mouthful of blood and fixed his piercing gaze on the beast. "You may have more Yuan Qi than most of your peers, but you probably didn't realize the surging Yuan Qi in my Qi Sea is anything but ordinary."

As he prepared to counter another incoming Wind Blade, Zhang Heng's hands, once steady and precise, began to shake uncontrollably. His spear thrust missed its mark, failing to connect with the Wind Blade.

With a sickening sound, Zhang Heng's shoulder was sliced open, blood spraying from the wound. Had it not been for his robust Demon Clan physique, that Wind Blade might have severed his right arm completely.

"Damn it," he cursed inwardly, "the excess lightning energy in my body has caused paralysis, making it impossible to steady my hands."

"Could this be why the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger keeps pouncing on me?"

"He must have anticipated that the continuous influx of lightning energy would paralyze my body and cause my hands to tremble. He was waiting for this exact moment."

Sure enough, the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger pounced with the force of a mountain, claws aimed to crush with full power.

Zhang Heng met the attack with his spear, his hands trembling uncontrollably once more.

"This is bad. My hands are numb and shaking. If it knocks the spear from my grip, I'm in serious trouble," Zhang Heng thought to himself.

But it was all too late to change.

In a flash, the spear's tip and the tiger's claws inevitably collided.

Contrary to expectations, Zhang Heng's iron spear was not knocked away, nor was he thrown back.

Instead, the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger let out a pained howl.

Zhang Heng focused his gaze.

He saw that most of the tiger's paw had vanished, the wound gaping with torn flesh and shattered bone.

Such catastrophic damage left almost no chance for recovery.

"Before, I could only wound its flesh! Now, I've actually crushed its bones!"

"The power of my Overlord Spear technique has surged! But why?"

Zhang Heng remained on guard against the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger's potential stealth attack, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

After a short while, his expression eased: "Could it be due to the paralysis from the lightning?"

"The paralysis made my hands shake uncontrollably."

"Unintentionally, I incorporated a third type of force into my spear technique, beyond the thrusting and spinning—trembling force."

"It's the addition of this trembling force that has elevated my Overlord Spear technique from Small Completion to Great Completion!"

Zhang Heng eyed the Wind Lightning Demon Tiger before him and murmured, "There's only one way to find out!"

He stopped trying to control the lightning energy within him, letting it wreak havoc.

Instead, he embraced the paralysis to fully experience the subtle benefits of the trembling force.

Zhang Heng thrust his spear.

The sound was like a chorus of wailing ghosts.

The Wind Lightning Demon Tiger scrambled to evade.

Zhang Heng's spear struck a boulder in its place.

The spearhead not only penetrated the stone with ease but the subsequent force spread and shattered the entire boulder.

Zhang Heng was elated as his spear pierced the rock, "Before, when my Overlord Spear Technique was at Small Completion, I could only make a deep hole in the rock."

"Now, with one thrust, I've actually shattered it."

"This is undoubtedly the might of the Great Completion Spear Technique, enhanced by the trembling force."

Finally at ease, Zhang Heng coolly regarded the Thunderstorm Demon Tiger, scoffing, "I wouldn't have thought a creature like you capable of such deceit and trickery."

"Sadly for you, your plans backfired, only serving to aid me."

"As a token of my appreciation, I've decided to end your life."