Chapter 191: Chapter 174: Spirit-Seizing Golden Toad, Tallying the Spoils
Thunderwood Island, the bamboo forest swayed silently, appearing no different from when Gu Yuan left.
Some of the little demons on the island were even dozing, drooling profusely.
But Gu Yuan’s extraordinary Divine Sense, combined with the Heaven-Revealing Spirit Eye, still detected some peculiarities.
There was a faint trace of Demon Qi lingering around the island.
He halted his Escape Light, looking down at the sea below, remaining motionless for a long time.
"Clever kid, you noticed after all. But it doesn’t matter, today you’re destined to die here!"
Seeing Gu Yuan discovering the abnormality, the demons hidden below no longer concealed themselves. Demon Qi surged into the sky, accompanied by a sinister voice.
Several Demon Clouds rose into the air, instantly surrounding Gu Yuan.
The leading Earth Demon transformed into human form, but was short in stature and hideous in appearance.
Yet its aura was thick, its skin emitting a golden brilliance, even its hair was a pure golden hue, making it seem as if the whole being was cast from pure gold, quite peculiar.
Its aura was far beyond that of an ordinary Earth Demon, reaching the Mid-Stage Earth Demon realm!
"Is it you?"
Gu Yuan steadied his gaze and recognized that the demon before him was someone he had encountered once before, the very Golden Toad that attacked Suyin Island back in the day!
Since that day, several months had passed, yet unexpectedly, this Golden Toad had managed to track him down.
"Boy, did you think hiding on Thunderwood Island meant I couldn’t find you?"
"If not for being injured by that wench from Suyin Island that day, could you have escaped for so long?"
"If it weren’t for your meddling, Suyin Island and the Spirit Pearls would have long been mine!"
The short Golden Toad looked at Gu Yuan with a resentful gleam in its eyes.
The attack on Suyin Island was something it had been planning for quite some time, promising many costs, and this time bringing the innately exotic "White Jade Thunder Insect" as an ally, to fully suppress the Spiritual Artifacts of a few wenches on Suyin Island.
But unexpectedly, Gu Yuan suddenly appeared and its efforts were nearly in vain, failing not only to capture Suyin Island but also getting injured by that wench’s Spiritual Artifact, resulting in months of healing.
When it emerged from seclusion months later, it discovered Thunderwood Island had already changed owners.
This made it both shocked and furious, while also giving rise to murderous intent and greed.
This Human Race cultivator, despite being at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, had such means. Surely not of shallow background, capturing him might reveal several opportunities.
Yet it wasn’t foolish enough to act recklessly, as this Human Race cultivator acted brazenly, killing demons and seizing the island openly, clearly having something to rely on.
So rather than acting rashly, it schemed secretly while Gu Yuan was absent, inviting aid, setting up Array Banners, and ambushing around Thunderwood Island.
Unexpectedly, since seizing Thunderwood Island, Gu Yuan paid it no mind, using it merely as a resting place, not returning for a long time.
This made it extremely angry and anxious.
But fortunately, heaven favors those who persevere, as it finally awaited Gu Yuan’s return.
"Boy, no matter how extraordinary your Divine Sense is, once you stepped into this island’s bounds, you became mine!"
"Brothers, quickly activate the array!"
The Golden Toad laughed triumphantly, shouting to those on either side.
Beside it stood three Earth Demons, each with different appearances, but all exuding tumultuous Demon Qi, showing they had cultivated for many years. Among them, one even touched the threshold of the Mid-Stage Earth Demon, its Demonic Power emitted externally, shaping a figure of fish and dragon, quite mystifying.
At this moment, those three Earth Demons each held a brilliantly glowing Array Banner, and upon hearing the Golden Toad’s shout, they all roared angrily and exerted their Demonic Power. In an instant, a black canopy formed in the sky, enclosing Gu Yuan with lightning speed.
"Haha, this ’Sea-Overturning Spirit-Suppressing Array’ is a Tier Two Middle-grade Array, enough to suppress a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. No matter how unparalleled your Sword Technique or extraordinary your Divine Sense, you cannot escape!"
Seeing Gu Yuan trapped inside, the once slightly tense heart of the Golden Toad was completely at ease.
It had long since used the Array Banners to silently stir the nearby sea area’s Spirit Meridian. Once Gu Yuan was trapped within, it was as if being pressed by a weighty sea, greatly limiting his Sword Technique, and his Divine Sense felt like encountering heavy water, hard to maneuver.
With this array, combined with its Mid-Stage Earth Demon cultivation and three Early Stage Earth Demon helpers, regardless of how strong Gu Yuan’s methods were, it was certain he wouldn’t escape.
Now, with contentment, it glanced sideways at Gu Yuan.
But at this moment, it realized something was amiss.
The Human Race cultivator before it stood still from the beginning, not moving an inch, without a trace of panic on his face, even a cold smile curling at his lips.
Moreover, on that cultivator’s shoulder rested a four-winged emerald insect, its mandibles rubbing together, and in its pea-sized eyes seemed to spark a thirst for "food."
"Attack, kill this brat!"
A inexplicable unease rose in the Golden Toad’s heart, prompting it to shout to those around it.
"Don’t worry, big brother, watch me suppress him with the Array Banner!"
The Demon Beast on the verge of advancing to Mid-Stage Earth Demon chuckled hideously, waving the Array Banner in its hand. Suddenly, torrents of water transformed into a massive black hand, spanning several dozen feet, reaching to grasp Gu Yuan.
This massive hand had an overwhelming aura, seemingly condensing an entire sea’s water within, with earth-shattering might, reaching the power of Late Stage Earth Demon.
The three Earth Demons joining forces to set up an array were formidable, making even an average Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator hard-pressed to stop.
"Splash!"
But just as the black hand was about to strike Gu Yuan, his entire figure suddenly transformed into a stream of water, disappearing from sight.
When he reappeared, he was already beside the Golden Toad.
"What?"
This Shifting Technique was miraculous to the extreme, and the painstakingly set up grand array by the Golden Toad seemed like mere decoration, not even managing to halt Gu Yuan for an instant.
