Pfft!
The demonic cultivator abruptly lost connection with his two magical treasures, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.
"This is impossible, impossible!"
"How could you refine my artifact in an instant? I'm at the seventh level of Qi Refining, and you're only at the third level. My soul strength should be far superior to yours!"
Every artifact contains a soul imprint engraved by its master with fresh blood. The stronger the master's soul, the stronger the soul imprint.
By all accounts, this demonic cultivator's soul should be much stronger than Alaric Ye's. Even if Alaric Ye tried for an entire day and night, he might not be able to refine his artifact.
Yet Alaric Ye managed to do it in an instant.
Alaric Ye let out a cold laugh, "Didn't Zhou Yuan tell you? I'm an Insect Cultivator!"
"Insect Cultivator...?" The demonic cultivator murmured in confusion.
Isn't an Insect Cultivator just someone who raises insects?
What does that have to do with such abnormal soul strength?
The demonic cultivator was utterly baffled, but now was not the time to dwell on these questions.
He was in deep trouble!
This young man, who didn't seem very old or powerful, was so bizarre and terrifying. Up to now, he hadn't even been able to see clearly what that shadow that snatched his artifact was!
Alaric Ye smiled faintly, "Do you know why I didn't let Little Strong kill you directly? He had a perfect opportunity to crush your skull during his sudden attack."
The demonic cultivator's face turned even paler.
So that shadow was called Little Strong.
Little Strong... what kind of monster is that?
Indeed.
Little Strong's sudden attack was incredibly fast. The demonic cultivator felt a lethal crisis at that moment, his soul trembling, his hair standing on end. Little Strong should have been able to kill him, or at least severely injure him.
But Alaric Ye didn't let Little Strong do that!
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Alaric Ye said coldly, "I want to repay you in kind!"
"Since you wanted me to be torn apart by ghosts and zombies, I'll return the favor and let you understand what it feels like to be devoured by the ghosts and zombies you raised!"
Clang! Clang!
Alaric Ye shook the bell that controlled the two zombies, mimicking the demonic cultivator's tone, "Zombies, ghosts, obey my command!"
Roar! Roar! Roar!
The two zombies and numerous ghosts looked at the demonic cultivator with eyes full of indescribable hatred and resentment.
He was their true enemy.
When they were under the demonic cultivator's control, they naturally didn't dare to retaliate. But now, Alaric Ye had become their new master, and they had only one thought in their minds: revenge!
"Give me back my life!"
"Give me back the lives of my children and wife!"
The ghosts wailed mournfully.
Seeing the dire situation, the demonic cultivator's figure flashed like a leopard, quickly fleeing towards the outskirts of Paoma Town.
The Hundred Ghost Banner and the Corpse Control Bell were his strongest and most proficient artifacts, and now they had fallen into Alaric Ye's hands and been instantly refined by him. Plus, that shadowy figure, Little Strong, who was so fast that even the Divine Eye couldn't catch him, was lurking around.
Although he didn't know what Little Strong was, his intuition told him that Little Strong posed a deadly threat!
This was no ordinary third-level Qi Refining outer disciple; he was clearly a prodigious Insect Cultivator!
Today, he had really kicked an iron plate.
"Seek your revenge, I will give you the chance!" Alaric Ye shouted.
The two Copper Armored Corpses and numerous ghosts immediately went mad, chasing after the demonic cultivator.
However, the demonic cultivator was at the eighth level of Qi Refining, while the two zombies were at the fourth level and the ghosts at the third level, far slower in comparison.
Even Alaric Ye, in his current state of not being able to circulate his mana and feeling mentally exhausted, found it hard to catch up.
Just as the demonic cultivator thought he was about to escape, a terrifying black shadow, as large as a millstone, blocked his path.
He finally saw Little Strong's true form!
It was... a cockroach with two enormous pincers!
The demonic cultivator slapped his storage bag, and a sharp flying sword shot out, transforming into a sword light that stabbed towards Little Strong. There was a "ding" sound, and sparks flew.
His mid-grade artifact flying sword was caught by Little Strong's massive pincers. No matter how he tried to control it, the sword was like a stone sinking into the sea, completely unresponsive.
"What kind of monstrous cockroach has such terrifying strength!"
Then he saw an even more horrifying scene. Little Strong used his other pincer to grab the sword hilt, and with a series of swift movements, slashed out beams of cold light.
The demonic cultivator's pupils contracted sharply.
"That's the Top Xuan Swordsmanship!"
This was clearly a cockroach, with absurd strength and speed, and it even knew swordsmanship!
The next moment, he heard Little Strong speak.
"Your flying sword is pretty good. It's mine now. Whether it recognizes me as its master doesn't matter, as long as it can cut."
Little Strong swung the flying sword and vanished with a "whoosh," leaving the demonic cultivator in shock.
"It can talk! Isn't that something only Foundation Establishment stage beasts can do?"
In the Cultivation World, it was common knowledge that Qi Refining stage beasts had low intelligence. Only Foundation Establishment stage beasts could undergo a qualitative change and speak, and only Golden Elixir stage beasts could transform into human form, though just a transformation.
Only Elemental Infant stage beasts could reshape their bodies and truly cultivate into human form.
But now he encountered a cockroach with Qi Refining stage strength that could speak.
"What is going on? This kid either raises mutated spirit insects or monstrous spirit insects!"
The demonic cultivator quickly took out two yellow talismans and stuck them on his legs.
"Divine Speed, activate!"
The two talismans glowed brightly, and his legs turned into afterimages, allowing him to escape Paoma Town in just a breath.
The Divine Speed Talisman was his life-saving measure, each one extremely valuable.
"Damn it, I lost so much. I only got three Top Xuan Sect disciples' bodies but lost two artifacts and two Divine Speed Talismans!"
The demonic cultivator fled quickly, feeling heartbroken. After running about a kilometer, he finally let out a long sigh of relief and looked back.
Seeing that the terrifying cockroach and the eerie young man hadn't caught up, he sighed in relief again.
"At least I saved my life. If that kid had decided to let the cockroach ambush me earlier, I'd be dead by now. Luckily, he was careless and inexperienced in battle!"
Thinking of this, the demonic cultivator broke out in a cold sweat.
"I must report to the sect that a prodigious Insect Cultivator has emerged in the Top Xuan Sect. It's best to eliminate him before he fully rises."
A cold gleam flashed in the demonic cultivator's eyes.
Just as he was about to continue fleeing, he saw an even more terrifying scene.
A cockroach carrying his flying sword appeared in front of him, speaking in a disdainful tone, "You're too slow. I've been waiting for you here for a long time."