Great Villain: Starting by Humiliating the Son of the Heavenly Fate

Chapter 147: Unusual Changes in the Red Maple Heavenly Valley

"Agreed."

"I'll have a share as well."

Jiang Chen's logic resonated with Ji Ruxue, prompting her to voice her agreement.

"Mm-hmm."

"The monsters in this Red Maple Heavenly Valley are exhibiting peculiar behavior. We must tread with caution."

"Unearthing the reasons behind these monsters' strange behavior could potentially be a significant contribution to our Holy Land."

A nod from Jiang Chen, a wave of his hand, "Let's proceed, I've already identified several of these beasts."

Ji Ruxue was subtly energized.

She gave a nod, ascending to take a seat at Jiang Chen's front on the jade flute flying artifact.

Jiang Chen activated his Yuan Power.

The jade flute advanced.

With a soft whoosh.

The jade flute morphed into a beam of light, traversing through the sprawling red-hued forest akin to an ocean.

Throughout their journey, they encountered a multitude of demonic beasts, though the mightiest was merely at the Mysterious Platform realm.

With a swift movement of his hand, Jiang Chen swiftly subdued and dispatched them, thereafter storing them within the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring.

Before long, deep, resonant growls echoed from up ahead.

"Two Six Extremes Flame Armored Beasts!"

"These monsters, both of the Heavenly Origin realm, outmatch the one we previously encountered."

Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed, "Do you think you can handle them both?"

His combat abilities had already ascended to the Late-stage Inquiring Journey realm.

Eliminating Heavenly Origin realm demonic beasts had become as trivial as killing chickens for him, thus, he didn't particularly relish the prospect.

However, Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing, in need of the experience and eager for combat, seemed to be perfect candidates.

Consequently, he suggested they join forces and engage the demonic beasts.

"We're up to it!"

Ji Ruxue nodded affirmatively, "I've yet to truly exert myself."

"Let's tackle this together!"

Xie Xiaojing unsheathed her weapon, bracing herself for the ensuing combat.

Just at that moment, the jade flute serendipitously soared above the two Six Extremes Flame Armored Beasts.

Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing shared a glance, nodded to each other, and simultaneously descended, carried by the wind.

"Roar Roar!!"

The two Six Extremes Flame Armored Beasts had already marked the presence of Jiang Chen and his two companions, radiating aggressive hostility.

As Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing began their descent, the demonic beasts bellowed in fury, charging to retaliate.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The clash of sword light and flames intertwined, the shockwaves of residual energy consistently rippling outwards, decimating miles of the surrounding red maple forest within moments!

Jiang Chen maneuvered the jade flute to hover over the raging battle.

Should Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing encounter any imminent threat, he stood prepared to intervene.

However, Ji Ruxue, fittingly the epitome of a heroine and the Holy Maiden of Purple Heaven Holy Land, exhibited impressive combat prowess.

Xie Xiaojing too held her own, quite commendable given her status as a sworn sister acknowledged by Ji Ruxue.

The conflict ensued in a deadlock for some time.

Together, Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing launched a decisive attack, dispatching one of the demonic beasts.

Quickly following up, they vanquished the second one.

This marked the conclusion of the battle.

"What a thrill!"

Gazing at the fallen demonic beasts, their massive forms akin to small mountains sprawled on the ground, Ji Ruxue flashed a triumphant smile.

Xie Xiaojing also wore a joyful expression.

"Let's proceed, there's more to be done!"

With a wave of his hand, Jiang Chen swiftly disassembled the two demonic beasts, transferring their remnants into his storage ring.

The rationale behind dismembering the demonic beasts lay in distributing their remains across multiple storage rings.

This tactic helped conceal the vast expanse of the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring's storage space.

Having cleared the aftermath of the battlefield, Jiang Chen, alongside Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing, resumed their hunt for the demonic beasts.

Whenever they chanced upon an average Heavenly Origin realm demonic beast, Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing would step in.

Should they face a Late-stage Heavenly Origin realm demonic beast, or an unusually large swarm of Heavenly Origin realm demonic beasts, Jiang Chen would take charge.

More often than not, a single decisive move was all it took.

Regardless of the demonic beast's might or their numbers, they would fall instantly!

This display of overwhelming power astounded Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing, earning their awe.

Subtly, Jiang Chen's image in their minds grew ever more imposing.

Before they knew it, night had descended.

Yet, for cultivators at the Heavenly Origin realm, the night proved no different from the day.

Uninterrupted, the trio pressed on with their hunt!

All the demonic beasts surpassing the Mysterious Platform realm were defeated, their remains consigned to Jiang Chen's Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring.

Time progressed inexorably.

Before they knew it, twenty days had slipped away.

In this time, Jiang Chen, accompanied by Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing, scoured the entirety of the Red Maple Heavenly Valley on their relentless hunt.

The accumulation of remains within the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring was akin to a mountain.

There were over forty Heavenly Origin realm demonic beasts alone, with the count of Mysterious Platform realm demonic beasts approaching a staggering thousand!

Naturally, Jiang Chen intended to retain these spoils for himself.

As for the portion of the loot owed to Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing, he planned to recompense them with other treasures.

In addition to the demonic beasts, the trio managed to gather a bounty of natural treasures, ingredients for pill refinement, artifact crafting, and formation setting.

These, if traded, would fetch a considerable sum.

At this juncture, Jiang Chen steered the jade flute artifact, carrying Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing, as they prepared to make their return journey.

"The demonic beasts in this Red Maple Heavenly Valley are indeed exhibiting strange behavior."

"Under normal circumstances, such a large presence of Heavenly Origin realm demonic beasts wouldn't be found in a location so close to the Purple Heaven Holy Land."

"The Purple Heaven Holy Land routinely organizes disciples to purge the surrounding demonic beasts. The sudden, unexpected surge in their numbers is a matter of concern that must be reported."

Ji Ruxue surveyed the swiftly receding red forest beneath her feet, her brow slightly furrowed as she spoke.

After twenty days of hands-on experience, the initial novelty had faded, replaced by an increasingly thoughtful demeanor.

"Yes."

"Rumors have circulated about an unusual increase in demonic beasts across other parts of the Holy Land as well. The cause remains unknown."

Xie Xiaojing slightly nodded, conjecturing, "Maybe, the Holy Land will schedule an early grand hunt this time to purge the area of these demonic beasts."

Jiang Chen chose to remain silent.

Still, myriad thoughts whirled within his mind.

The Holy Land's occasional organization of a 'Grand Hunt' fell perfectly in line with the protagonist's knack for grand narratives.

Perhaps, this 'Grand Hunt' might be a storyline following the contest for the position of the Holy Son.

One thing puzzled Jiang Chen, though.

Throughout the twenty days of training with Ji Ruxue, everything had proceeded without a hitch.

Could it be that this training period with Ji Ruxue would pass without any incidents?

Had he made an incorrect assumption?

Could this training merely serve as a catalyst leading to the 'Grand Hunt' plot, set to occur earlier than expected?

However, the surge in demonic beasts had been noted in other areas of the Holy Land as well.

Couldn't these locations alone suffice to set the 'Grand Hunt' plot in motion?

'What is truly transpiring here?'

Jiang Chen couldn't help but knit his brows in silent contemplation.

Suddenly!

Boom!

A violent detonation echoed from a short distance ahead.

The ground trembled vigorously, myriad web-like fissures spreading instantaneously across the entire Red Maple Heavenly Valley.

Yet, what left them utterly astounded was...

A faint, red-hued, colossal energy beam erupted from beneath the ground, piercing through the cloud layers and leaving a wake of shattered clouds in concentric rings!

Terrifying shockwaves radiated in every direction, spawning whirlwinds.

Myriad red leaves, akin to a cloud of butterflies, were tossed haphazardly into the air by the fierce gusts.

'Good heavens!'

'Has it finally arrived, the irregularity aimed at Ji Ruxue!!'

'This anomaly is quite formidable. If Ji Ruxue were to face this relying solely on herself and Xie Xiaojing, although they wouldn't perish, they'd undoubtedly sustain severe injuries.'

'...'

Jiang Chen promptly halted the jade flute flying artifact, his pupils constricting as he stared at the faint red energy beam.

The beam evoked in him a chilling sense of unease.