It was carefully moving without causing much disturbance. Even with its limited intelligence it knew the danger of roaming in the territories of other demonic beasts similar to it. If discovered, it could lead to a big fight.

  But it wasn't afraid. Since it travelled underground it was hard to detect. And also it had reached its peak long ago.

  If it came to a fight, it wouldn't lose to anyone.

  After leaving the other's territory, it came above ground. It rarely comes out so it took a moment to enjoy the sun. It flicked its tongue and then suddenly its eyes turned bloodshot.

  The smell that should be coming from the lair was from the outside. Immense killing intent radiated from it as it fell into an animalistic rage

  HOW DARE THEY? TRYING TO STEAL FROM HIM? HIS PRECIOUS OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD HELP HIM BECOME DEMON KING?

  THIEVES! KILL THEM... ILL KILL THEM

  ****

  Ling Yun was walking back to village when he felt a sudden sense of dread in his chest. He scanned again and found nothing.

  There was no strange movements. Everything was the same. The sky was coloured with a red hue as the sun would soon complete its descent.

  Strange.. Why am I worrying so much? Forget it lets go back as soon as possible

  He started hurrying his steps when he heard sudden cries started echoing in the forest. He could feel the dread in the air as he sensed many demonic beast rushing away from this place.

  "Stop being so afraid Ling Yun. Demonic beasts have limited divine sense and the range of your soul sense far surpasses theirs. No one could have detected you." Brahma chided him gently.

  She's right. I'm acting stupid.

  Suddenly he sensed a presence rushing straight towards him. Ling Yun immediately realised it must the demonic beast whose layer he had just plundered.

  Brahma had told him that it was a second rank demonic beast. Second rank demonic beasts were usually contended by groups of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

  A fourth realm Qi refining cultivator like him would immediately die. In his fear he lost his balance and fell down.

  It's over. Yaoyao I'm sorry.

  "Ling Yun stop shaking! Start chanting the Serene Ocean sutra immediately."

  Immediately his mind became clear. A second rank demonic beast is chasing after him. He has no chance of fighting.

  Even though it's close to impossible, the best course of action is to run.

  Yes. No matter how futile it is, I would rather die struggling than shaking in fear.

  He kept on running. He could feel the presence getting closer. Suddenly the ground turned into sand.

  "What?.." Ling Yun was startled as he started sinking into ground. Infront of him what appeared from the ground was a huge snake. It was 8 zhangs long and was grey in colour.

  "A sandwyrm. It must have smelled it's essence. No wonder it could detect you even from outside your range. How could I have neglected this."

  Brahma was muttering her misgivings while Ling Yun remained frozen staring at the sandwyrm, at his death.

  A sandwyrm was earth type demonic beast with a true spiritual bloodline. It was very rarely seen as it mostly lives underground seldom coming up above. Like fishes swim in water, it swims in the ground. It doesn't have any eyes so it relies on its strong sense of smell. It's also uses its vicious poison against its prey.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  The sandwyrm gave a huge roar and then it opened its mouth showing its hundred of sharp teeth waiting to shred him to pieces. Trapped in the quicksand, Ling Yun could feel the poisonous stench coming from its mouth.

  Its long tongue was about to reach Ling Yun to swallow him when suddenly out of nowhere, the tongue got cut in half. Blood spattered on his robes as Ling Yun blinked in shock. Unable to process what happened, he found himself forcefully pulled from above.

  He found himself flying high in the air, a golden hemp rope wrapped around his waist. His ascent stopped and he found himself staring into deep black eyes.

  Standing upright on flying sword, she was clad in silver robes. Her long raven black hair was fluttering in the wind. Her left hand was holding the other end of the rope around his waist. Her face was covered with a silver veil so Ling Yun could only see hints of porcelain white skin.

  Even though her face was covered, Ling Yun could've sworn in his soul that she was a celestial beauty. A fairy untouched by dust, so much that Ling Yun feared that he must have died and an angel has come to welcome him to afterlife.

  "Are you ok?" The fairy asked seeing Ling Yun was just looking at her in a daze.

  Ah, her soft melodic voice matches her heavenly looks.

  Hearing no response, the fairy was starting to get annoyed. She wanted to wipe that dumb look from this boy's face.

  Should I slap him awake?

  "Ahahaha. Cut this boy some slack junior sister. Any man would be bedazzled seeing your visage for the first time." A handsome young man came flying next to him.

  The young man was dressed in similar silver robes. They must be disciples of the same sect. Seeing that he was not standing on a flying sword but actually flying unlike the girl, the young man must be atleast Foundation Establishment realm.

  He snapped his fingers infront of his face bringing Ling Yun out of his stupor.

  Ling Yun immediately remembered his manners and bowed his head. "Thank you for saving my life senior Daoist. Forgive me for my rudeness. My name is Ling Yun. May I ask the name of my saviour?"

  The young man laughed again. "No worries little brother. My name is Su Feng. Me and my junior sister both are the members of the Absolute Sword sect."

  He turned around and Ling Yun could see a golden sword pointing towards the heaven embroidered on the silver robe.

  Absolute Sword sect is one of the four great sects in the Jiang region. Many would argue it is the strongest, proudly raising the banner of the righteous path.

  "First the news that fairy Feixue has separated from that man and now the rare sandwyrm is infront of me. It seems like the winds of fortune are blowing my way."

  Su Feng was clearly elated with joy. But soon his junior sister poured cold water on him.

  "Weren't you already rejected by fairy Feixue once? You think you have a chance now. And the sandwyrm was divined by Great Wisdom Mother on my request.

  "Don't count on your fortune, senior brother."

  Su Feng's smirk turned into a frown. Ling Yun sympathised with Su Feng as he had many times suffered similar tongue lashings by Brahma.

  "I didn't want to take you with me but I had no choice. You can watch but just stay back while I deal with the sandwyrm. If you get a single scratch master would skin me alive.

  "Oh and take care that this junior brother doesn't get hurt."

  With that he swooped towards the sandwyrm which was still writhing in pain from its tongue getting cut. But the sandwyrm was not stupid. It immediately turned around and spat out a purple glob of poison.

  Su Feng immediately jumped back narrowly avoiding it. The ground he was standing a second before instantly turned black.

  He raised his right hand and immediately three cuts appeared on the grey skin of the sandwyrm. The cuts were shallow hardly causing any damage.

  "Hmm, it needs more power." A sword appeared out of nowhere in his hand. He again rushed at sandwyrm trying to close the distance. The sandwyrm roared again and rocks started growing from its body.

  Most of it formed a protective layer but the rest of them were launched at Su Feng at high speed. The sandwyrm was expertly using its divine skills.

  Like cultivators have their arts, the demonic beasts possess divine skills the only difference that instead of learning they are born with it.

  Su Feng sidestepped the first boulder, ducked under the second and with a downward slash he split the third in half.

  His sword started glowing as he took a stab at its neck. The sandwyrm neck was covered with a layer of rocks but the sword pierced through.

  Su Feng pulled out his sword and immediately flew above as a wave of sand pushed in all directions.

  The sandwyrm roared as a stream of blood was flowing from the spot he was stabbed. Su Feng smirked at him. "There's more to come."

  Ling Yun and female cultivator were floating high in the air watching this fantastic battle. The female cultivator was carefully taking notes, observing how her senior brother used their sects sword art in live battle while Ling Yun was stuck watching in awe.

  Even though it was just a battle between a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a second rank demonic beast, but for Ling Yun it was like the stories of legends playing right infront of him.

  Till now he had treated cultivation like a means to end, a reluctant path he had to traverse to reunite with Yaoyao but seeing this ferocious battle a desire bubbled inside his chest.

  I want to be like them.

  And I want to surpass them.