Moro, who had been nailed to Yi Tianxing's shadow, immediately burst out and retreated rapidly.
A gaping hole could be seen in his chest, filled with flashing sword intent, and blood gushed out continuously—it looked savage and terrifying.
Yi Tianxing turned his head, a flash of killing intent glinting in his eyes.
His vision had also returned to normal. The power forged from the sacrificial divine ability of the Greater Demons was indeed frightening, but it could not permanently blind his sight or restrain his body. The stronger the target, the shorter the effect's duration.
Yi Tianxing didn't care about Moro breaking free. Grasping his War Sword, he once again strode forward with steady, powerful steps.
Yet, all around him, the Greater troll warriors, as if utterly terrified, scattered in all directions. None dared block his way.
They watched as Yi Tianxing walked step by step out of the Greater troll Tribe, vanishing into the mountain forest.
"Chief, should we pursue? In the forest, we have the advantage," one troll warrior suggested after a moment of silence.
"No need," Moro replied. "With the strength that human possesses, even if you catch up, it would just be more corpses. His strength is terrifying. I can feel he still has hidden powers he hasn't used. His trump cards must be dreadful."
Blood dripped from Moro's chest, yet the wound was healing visibly fast.
Though he watched Yi Tianxing leave, he didn't act again.
From Yi Tianxing, he sensed a deep, terrible danger.
"We could use that item. With the power of our ancestral treasure, no matter how strong he is, he won't leave alive," one Greater troll sneered angrily. His face was twisted with shame.
Watching a human slaughter his way through their tribe and walk off like nothing happened—it was like being stepped on. It was a slap across every troll's face.
"That treasure is not something to be used lightly. If we do use it, it must be a one-strike kill. But even then, I don't think it will guarantee his death. That man carries a terrible hidden aura. If released, it could destroy the entire tribe," Moro said coldly, eyes narrowed.
He, too, wanted to kill Yi Tianxing. But the price of using the ancestral treasure was too high, and he wasn't confident of success. Deep within, he felt that if that buried power in Yi Tianxing erupted, the entire tribe might be annihilated.
That premonition could not be ignored.
"So what now? Are we really letting a human walk away like this? It's humiliating. He even took the altar! That's one of our tribe's most sacred relics!" a troll warrior growled in frustration.
"He took it because he's strong. That altar—we took it from humans in the first place. That's because we were stronger. Now he took it back because he's strong. That altar only serves to sacrifice for Tiger-Wolf Pills, and those lose effect with overuse. Even if lost, it's not a devastating blow. What we need now is to train harder and reclaim our honor," Moro responded coldly.
"Yes!!"The surrounding Greater trolls all roared in unison, their eyes brimming with hatred and burning determination.
This humiliation would become fuel for their strength, driving them to train harder, to become stronger.
Stepping into the forest, Yi Tianxing felt the restraining force of the Void Demon Hunting Net finally disappear, and he silently breathed a sigh of relief.
He turned back toward the Greater troll Tribe, his eyes showing a flicker of something unusual.
"What exactly is hidden in that tribe that gives me such a strong sense of threat? That's a dense aura of death. Is it some ancient troll powerhouse, or a terrifying slaughter treasure?" Yi Tianxing muttered, visibly puzzled.
To be honest, if possible, he would've preferred to destroy the entire Greater troll Tribe. At one point, he even considered unleashing the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Pagoda to crush Moro and the whole tribe.
But just as the thought surfaced, a powerful sense of foreboding warned him that doing so might bring unpredictable consequences.
Because of that sensation, Yi Tianxing chose to simply stride away without lingering.
"One day, I will return—and bring war with me," he said quietly, eyes fixed on the direction of the demon tribe.
Swish!!
In the sky, a golden light flashed. The giant body of the Golden Roc descended from above, its storm-like winds shredding trees into splinters.
A massive head landed before Yi Tianxing, nuzzling him gently.
"Lord, you're injured. How do you feel? Is it serious?" Huang Chengyan asked, concern on his face as he looked at Yi Tianxing's bloodstained robes.
They had seen the brutal battle from afar, but due to the Void Demon Hunting Net, they couldn't get close. Every twist and turn of the fight had them holding their breath. Especially when Moro broke free and attacked from the shadows—it nearly stopped their hearts.
When Yi Tianxing struck back and pinned Moro into the shadow with a reverse stab, it was terrifying beyond belief.
"Nothing serious. The sword pierced me, but I avoided the vitals. These are just surface wounds. With my physique, I'll recover soon," Yi Tianxing answered calmly.
"Should we wipe out the Greater troll Tribe?" Zhang Fei asked, furious, eyes blazing.
"If war is needed, it will come eventually—but not now. In that tribe, even ordinary adults have combat power at the Life Aperture Realm. A head-on battle would be incredibly costly," Yi Tianxing said solemnly.
Had it been anyone else in his place, they would likely have perished.
"Indeed. The trolls also have the Void Demon Hunting Net, neutralizing our air superiority. Even if we sent an army, the cost would be immense. Since the altar is now in our hands, further fighting would bring diminishing returns. In my opinion, the top priority now is to return to Xuanhuang City and ensure Mister Cai and the scholars make it back safely," Jia Xu advised.
"Agreed. Let's return to Xuanhuang City," Yi Tianxing nodded in approval.
In the Wilds
There stood an ancient city. Not too large, not too small, with towering walls patrolled by guards.
The guards didn't wear ordinary armor but strange vine armor that shimmered faintly with mystical light. The patterns suggested incredible resilience.
The warriors exuded confidence and strong morale—they could easily be called an elite force.
The city could house tens of thousands, and at the moment, it was fully occupied. Though many of the residents looked thin and gaunt, none seemed despairing. There was a quiet faith in the city's protection.
If one looked closely, they'd see a plaque hanging above the gate: Xiaoyao City (Free & Unfettered City)
This likely wasn't the city's original name—the ancient aura of the stone clashed with the newly inscribed plaque.
Around the city, massive breadfruit trees grew. Their fruits were so large, even ten people might not finish one in a sitting. It was clear the residents relied on these for sustenance.
But breadfruit only kept you barely fed—it couldn't offer a good life.
Dong dong dong!!
"Make way! Make way!"
"The City Lord has posted a new announcement! Everyone, come read it! If you're chosen, it's a ticket to a life of luxury!"
"Three days from now: Citywide Selection!!"
Constables banged on copper gongs as they posted notices at key locations and shouted loudly.
Then, the constables disappeared.
"Selection again?! Didn't that just happen three months ago? This is the third time!"
"My god, I have unmarried daughters—how can we survive this again?"
"They picked a hundred young girls last time, sent to the City Lord's mansion. Now only three months later, they're at it again. Is the City Lord some kind of demonic pervert?"
"Rumor is… the City Lord is cultivating a yin-harvesting demonic technique and needs virgins as cauldrons. Once a girl enters his manor, she's never seen again. They're likely all dead."
"By now, the number of girls taken must exceed five hundred. Countless families weep in sorrow every day."
"The City Lord's mansion is a den of nightmares. Once you enter, you'll never come out."
The city was filled with wails. Pale faces. Despair.
Especially among the young women, many of whom turned ghostly white, nearly fainting from terror.
To them, the words "City Lord's Mansion" were more dreadful than monsters.
Amid the crowd, some exchanged meaningful glances.
Several citizens gathered, whispering among themselves.