In a Fantasy World as Cannon Fodder, I Got Entangled with the Heroine - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Blood of Ten Thousand Demons · Fragment

Translation by: Weebsread👹

The Thunderflame Skywing Eagle burst onto the scene, landing at Jiang Qian’s side with a mighty sweep of its wings. Its Sixth-rank demonic beast aura clashed against the oppressive force exuded by the middle-aged man, filling the air with explosive tension.

The man’s eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the sight of the majestic, unmistakably authentic Thunderflame Skywing Eagle.

Impossible! He’s only at the early Heart Movement Realm—a mere novice among Beast Masters. How could he possibly subdue a Sixth-rank demonic beast? This defies all sense!

He wasn’t the only one reeling. Bai Piaoxue and Jiang Zixuan, watching nearby, were left utterly stunned.

“Jiang Qian… When did he ever tame a Sixth-rank demonic beast?” Bai Piaoxue murmured. “He barely left the sect in recent weeks; there’s no way he went out searching for one…”

A thought flashed across Jiang Zixuan’s mind—could he have acquired this beast in the secret realm? But no, it’s unthinkable. What kind of legendary opportunity could grant him that? What kind of inheritance did he stumble upon?

To command a Sixth-rank demonic beast… just what sort of good fortune has he obtained?

Her curiosity about Jiang Qian’s mysterious inheritance only deepened.

…

This single inheritance had already given Jiang Qian the ability to command a Sixth-rank demonic beast.

Jiang Qian vaulted onto the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle’s back. “Take him—ascend to the storm clouds and fight!”

The eagle bobbed its head, flames crackling in its eyes.

With a piercing screech, it spat out a blast of thunderous fire, forcing the middle-aged man to retreat upward into the swirling black clouds.

“Cousin, Senior Sister Bai, stay here! I’ll return soon!” Jiang Qian called out.

Even as his words faded, Jiang Qian and the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle vanished into the maelstrom above.

Jiang Zixuan and Bai Piaoxue could only watch from the ground, helpless.

Both were skilled enough to ride their flying swords into the storm, yet their foe was a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator—a realm far beyond their abilities.

If they followed, they’d only become burdens, dragging Jiang Qian into danger.

Suddenly, Jiang Zixuan caught a flicker of movement from the corner of her eye—a shadow darting away. She abruptly turned toward its retreat.

“Bai Piaoxue, I think I spotted a survivor from the Bian Sect trying to escape! I’m going after them!” she declared.

“Go! Be careful!” Bai Piaoxue nodded, steel in her gaze.

Without hesitation, Jiang Zixuan raced toward where the shadow had vanished.

…

Within the churning storm clouds—

Jiang Qian sat astride the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle, his voice calm and composed: “Sun Qianling, Sect Master of Bian Sect. Your cultivation technique—‘Blood of Ten Thousand Demons: Fragment.’”

Sun Qianling materialized before him. All traces of previous arrogance had vanished, replaced by a deeply furrowed brow as he regarded Jiang Qian with suspicion.

“How do you know so much?” he demanded. “And how do you know I only possess a fragment of the ‘Blood of Ten Thousand Demons’?”

Of course he knew—the remainder of the ‘Blood of Ten Thousand Demons’ technique had already been discovered by Duan Yuqing, who went on to master it.

Jiang Qian couldn’t help but respect Duan Yuqing—his talent was undeniable. Even lacking the first half of the technique, he managed to cultivate it and spent over three centuries perfecting it.

Jiang Qian had sought out Sun Qianling alone for one reason only: to obtain the fragment of the ‘Blood of Ten Thousand Demons.’

The complete art was a cultivation technique of incalculable grade.

Sure, he wanted a peaceful, laid-back life—but even a salted fish needed strength, or else he’d end up as someone else’s meal, powerless to resist.

“Who knows?” Jiang Qian replied, lips curling into a faint smile. “Maybe I’ve planted a spy in your Demon Sect .”

Sun Qianling let out a frigid snort. “Once I’ve beaten you half to death, you’ll tell me everything.”

“Oh, will I?” A sinister black aura began to spiral around Jiang Qian. His eyes stained blood-red, his smile turning wicked.

For a brief instant, he looked even more demonic than Sun Qianling himself.

“How very ironic,” Sun Qianling sneered. “Azure Mountain Sect's supposed righteous disciples, secretly cultivating demonic arts!”

Jiang Qian didn’t bother to retort. He simply patted the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle’s head. “Attack!”

With a shrill screech, the eagle plunged straight at Sun Qianling.

Lightning crackled along Sun Qianling’s arms as he exhaled heavily, sending bolt after bolt shooting to intercept the eagle.

Yet the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle weaved past them with ease, movements sharp and fluid.

Can’t hold back any longer, Sun Qianling realized grimly. Or I’ll really die beneath this bird’s talons.

Lightning began to twist around Sun Qianling, the arcs slowly turning blood-red. The air thickened with a sharp, metallic tang.

“Brat, you’re forcing my hand!” Sun Qianling roared. In an instant, blood-red lightning erupted around him, shrouding him in a cocoon of violent power.

The energy detonated outward, forging a towering giant of blood-hued lightning—immense and terrifying, suffocating the very air.

Glaring down at Jiang Qian, Sun Qianling spat, “When you reach the Yellow Springs, say my name. It’ll hurry your reincarnation.”

As the words fell, a colossal lightning hand swept down at Jiang Qian.

But Jiang Qian faced it calmly, raising his right hand, unhurried. Tendrils of black mist unfurled, ensnaring the giant lightning palm.

At the same moment, the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle released a hail of thunderfire orbs, bombarding Sun Qianling and forcing him to block the onslaught—leaving him little room to pay heed to the creeping black energy.

Yet as the clash wore on, an odd change took root.

Sun Qianling’s colossal form began to shrink, bit by bit.

Conversely, Jiang Qian’s aura grew, bursting forth until he broke through on the spot—advancing straight to the late Heart Movement Realm.

The truth was plain to see: Jiang Qian was siphoning Sun Qianling’s power through the black mist.

This was one of the Myriad Demon Sacred Body’s Heaven-defying skills—a technique reminiscent of the famed Northern Darkness Divine Art. It allowed him to absorb the power of any demonic cultivator, converting it into his own strength.

There was a caveat, though: it could only be used once per day. Any more, and the demonic energy would run wild, consuming the user and turning him into a mindless slaughterer.

With the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle—a Sixth-rank demonic beast—relentlessly assaulting Sun Qianling, Jiang Qian stole his enemy’s power at dizzying speed.

It didn’t take long.

Sun Qianling’s face paled as his vitality rapidly drained away. He fought desperately to break the black mist’s grip, but it was futile.

Now, he was just a fish waiting to be butchered—utterly at Jiang Qian’s mercy.

Moments later, a hand thrust into the black mist and seized Sun Qianling by the throat.

Jiang Qian’s grip was unyielding. With a crisp snap, he broke Sun Qianling’s neck.

The breath left Sun Qianling’s body. Even the infant-like nascent soul within him was devoured by Jiang Qian.

Pocketing Sun Qianling’s storage ring, Jiang Qian tossed the corpse to the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle.

Hungry and satisfied, the eagle gulped down the body whole.

For a demonic beast, the flesh of a Nascent Soul cultivator was the finest tonic—a rare treasure indeed.

Jiang Qian remounted the eagle, his attention turning to the storage ring in his hand.

But in that very instant—

A strange crimson light erupted from the ring, engulfing both Jiang Qian and the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle.

TL Note:

- The road to the underworld: A common xianxia euphemism for death, referencing the path souls travel after dying.