Chapter 1042: Just A Bit Stronger

Whoosh!

Qing Yin Xianyun could no longer sit still. Her clear eyes snapped open.

Driven by immense curiosity, she disregarded the unknown dangers of the black mist and quietly slipped out of the flying vessel, following the figure carrying the blade from a distance.

As she entered a patch of black mist, she saw a web of blade light, flesh and blood flying everywhere!

The solitary figure charged into the sea of towering demonic shadows like a tiger among sheep. Wherever the long blade pointed, there was no enemy that could withstand a single strike!

With each swing of the blade, bodies were severed, and the powerful demons were sent scrambling in terror.

It was as effortless as cutting through melons and vegetables.

Qing Yin Xianyun's beautiful eyes trembled, and her jade-like fingers lightly covered her red lips.

Shock.

Unprecedented shock!

Even though she had speculated earlier and imagined that Yi Feng's cultivation was profound, witnessing it firsthand still left her utterly stunned. Her heart surged with waves of astonishment, and she stared in awe, not daring to make a sound.

She could never have imagined that Yi Feng would be such a terrifying existence, walking through the sea of demonic shadows as if it were flat ground, his invincible demeanor akin to that of a deity...

This was no longer a being she could contend with.

The three of them, in Yi Feng's hands, were probably not much stronger than these demons. The absurdity was that they had regarded such a supreme expert as nothing more than a mere half-saint throughout their journey...

A mix of awe and shame churned within Qing Yin Xianyun as she gazed at the sea of blood, nearly falling into a daze.

At some point, Yi Feng had already walked over, carrying his large blade, a relaxed and friendly smile on his face.

"Didn't expect you to find out, huh."

He had intended to keep a low profile, sneakily killing monsters and seeking death.

But since he had been discovered, there was no choice but to come clean.

Qing Yin Xianyun felt as if struck by lightning. She quickly bowed, her eyes filled with reverence.

"Greetings, Senior Yi!"

"Earlier, we were blind and ignorant. If we were disrespectful in any way, we beg for your forgiveness!"

Such sudden and excessive politeness was rare in her life, and it made Yi Feng a bit uncomfortable.

With a smile, he sheathed his blade and responded calmly.

"I might just be a bit stronger than you guys. No need to be so formal."

His humble words and refusal to mention their earlier disrespect showcased his magnanimity, truly embodying the demeanor of a supreme expert.

Qing Yin Xianyun's face showed gratitude, but her curiosity grew even stronger.

"Thank you, Senior Yi."

"If I may be so bold, may I ask what realm you have reached?"

This question was a bit tricky.

When it came to realms, even Yi Feng wasn't entirely sure. He could only roughly estimate based on his past experiences that his cultivation was stronger than the three of them.

As for the gap, it probably wasn't too large.

Not giving it much thought, he scratched his nose and casually replied.

"You're too polite. Didn't I just say? I'm probably just a bit stronger than you guys. So, just a bit."

Just a bit?

That probably meant he wasn't a whole realm above them, but rather a high-level expert within the same realm.

Qing Yin Xianyun nodded, finding this explanation acceptable.

Yun Xing had once participated in the Starry Sky War. Even though it had declined since then, there was still some foundation left. Having such a senior expert wasn't too surprising.

Knowing that Yi Feng's cultivation was only slightly stronger, Qing Yin Xianyun felt a bit less pressure.

However, recalling the terrifying toad, she hesitated but couldn't resist bringing it up.

"Senior, your toad earlier..."

Noticing the girl's nervous expression, Yi Feng took over the conversation to ease the slightly awkward atmosphere.

"Don't worry about it. If the toad ran away, so be it. I already know. Don't stress over it. That thing's useless anyway. No need to be so formal. Let's just relax like before."

???

Don't worry about it. Useless.

Qing Yin Xianyun was stunned, unsure how to respond.

Could such words really be used to describe that sky-covering giant toad?

Such a terrifying existence, revered and feared even on Lan Xing, was being dismissed by this senior as if it were a worthless piece of scrap. It was as if a commoner had lost a chicken or duck, and even then, they wouldn't be so nonchalant.

Qing Yin Xianyun was utterly baffled, only able to watch as Yi Feng walked away with a faint smile.

"Let's head back. We didn't encounter many demons this time."

His leisurely figure, hands clasped behind his back, still appeared ordinary, yet it felt unfathomably deep. Qing Yin Xianyun's eyes were filled with awe, and even from a distance, she couldn't help but ignore everything around her.

Snapping out of her daze, she hurried to catch up, finally managing to return to the flying vessel with the senior.

When they sat side by side again, Qing Yin Xianyun could no longer remain calm. It was impossible for her to maintain her previous indifference. Her seemingly composed exterior was barely concealing the shock within her heart.

She could hardly believe that the young man she had been traveling with was such a formidable expert. In Yun Xing, which had been isolated and in decline for a hundred thousand years, there was still a senior expert who surpassed them.

Sitting quietly beside him, Qing Yin Xianyun's beautiful eyes reflected reverence.

Yi Feng remained as composed as ever, casually asking a question.

"How much longer until we reach that gate?"

Qing Yin Xianyun quickly replied, her tone respectful and her words cautious.

"Reporting to Senior."

"Based on our current progress, we should reach the center of the demonic domain where the Starry Sky Gate is located by tomorrow."

The center of the demonic domain—there should be plenty of demons there.

Yi Feng's eyes sparkled with curiosity and a hint of anticipation.

"Is it dangerous there?"

Qing Yin Xianyun answered earnestly, holding nothing back.

"Reporting to Senior, the center of the demonic domain is where the demons gather. The elite demons are almost all there. Not only are they highly skilled and physically powerful, but they also possess unique demonic techniques, making them extremely dangerous."

"The most perilous aspect is that the demons possess high intelligence. They are cunning and treacherous to the extreme. They lack the moral principles we humans adhere to and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Killing their own kind is commonplace for them. They are a group of brutal and despicable creatures."

"If it weren't for the demons, the three of us wouldn't need to remain constantly vigilant, conserving our strength along the way..."

Qing Yin Xianyun's eyes were filled with wariness.

Only when she looked at Yi Feng did a respectful smile appear.

"Of course, now that we have Senior with us, it shouldn't be too dangerous."

Noticing the wariness in the girl's eyes, Yi Feng smiled and nodded, feeling quite satisfied.

"You're too kind."

Highly skilled and intelligent—it seemed the demons had no weaknesses.

This was perfect.

The stronger, the better!

This time, there was a real chance of successfully seeking death.

Even if he didn't succeed, he could still gain a lot of experience.

After all, the amount of experience he gained from killing monsters was directly tied to their strength.

After a full day of travel.

The flying vessel entered a strange realm. The sky suddenly cleared, and the swirling black mist gathered on the ground, rolling like a mighty river.

Qing Yin Xianyun stood quietly at the front of the vessel, her expression turning grave.

Sensing the extraordinary atmosphere, Yi Feng also stood up and gazed into the distance.

In the distance, the black mist surged like tidal waves, rising and falling on the ground, leaving only a crimson path paved with massive, eerie bones. Even from the flying vessel, the terrifying aura of death was palpable.

On either side of the path bloomed eerie, blood-red flowers, beautiful yet exuding a dangerous aura.

"Is that it?"

Yi Feng's eyes lit up with anticipation as he asked curiously.

Beside him, Qing Yin Xianyun turned with a solemn expression and nodded gravely.

"Yes, that is the center of the Black Domain, where the demons gather."

As she spoke, Qing Yin Xianyun extended her jade-like hand, pointing into the distance.

"Senior Yi, that beam of light should be the Starry Sky Gate!"

Yi Feng followed her gaze and indeed saw a faint, dark light, pure black in color, rising from the ground and piercing into the sky, even the dark clouds above unable to obscure it.

From a distance, it looked like a beacon of death.

Endless darkness gathered and churned within that light, as if an immensely terrifying power was brewing within, on the verge of unleashing a cataclysmic disaster!