With a clang of swords, the Nan Ming Li Huo Sword once again soared into the sky, transforming into a streak of light.
Fear flickered in the spider demon's eyes.
The Nan Ming Li Huo Sword was truly terrifying to behold. For one, it was a golden-quality immortal sword.
Even if it were akin to the Xuanyuan Sword, the Nan Ming Li Huo Sword's power depended on Bai Ye's strength. Currently, Bai Ye could only unleash two or three tenths of its power, but that was still formidable.
On the other hand, there was its innate ability:
Exorcise Evil, Repel Demons (possesses a restraining effect on all evil spirits).
Demons, naturally, were evil spirits.
Even disregarding the Nan Ming Li Huo Sword's quality and might, it inherently possessed a suppressive effect on demons.
However, the spider demon's speed was astonishing. It could specifically use its silk to entangle surrounding trees and move, allowing it to traverse the air unhindered by the terrain.
This enabled the spider demon to deftly evade the Nan Ming Li Huo Sword's fiery trajectory.
"You can't hit me," the spider demon taunted Bai Ye. "If you can't land a blow, your sword, no matter how powerful, is useless."
Bai Ye's expression remained indifferent, pitying the spider demon as he spoke, "You are already on the verge of death."
The spider demon scoffed, "Such arrogance..."
But before the spider demon could finish speaking, it suddenly felt something amiss and turned its gaze towards the sky.
The streak of light that had ascended into the heavens suddenly exploded, scattering like a meteor shower, descending from above in a blindingly brilliant and dazzling display.
Flowing Light Through the Heavens (sword light explodes, transforming into one hundred and eight streams of divine light for attack).
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
As the flowing lights rained down, deafening roars echoed continuously.
The ground was blasted open, surrounding trees toppled and crashed to the earth.
The mountain forest within a radius of half a li was utterly devastated, a scene of utter chaos. Vast amounts of dust and sand swirled into the air, forming a mushroom cloud.
After a moment, the dust settled.
Bai Ye casually extended a hand, and the Nan Ming Li Huo Sword descended from the sky, returning to his grasp.
With the sword in hand, Bai Ye strode forward, quickly reaching the spider demon.
At this moment, the spider demon was covered in blood and venom. Its eight legs had been severed, and a gaping wound marred its massive body, revealing its internal organs.
"I told you, you were close to death," Bai Ye said, raising the Nan Ming Li Huo Sword. "Unfortunately, you didn't believe me!"
*Puff!*
Bai Ye swung his sword at the spider demon. Immediately, the spider demon's head detached and rolled onto the ground.
"You have slain a spider demon from the Spider Demon clan, completing Temporary Forbidden Zone Mission One."
"This kill can be transferred."
Bai Ye glanced at the luminous screen. The so-called transfer meant that if someone killed Bai Ye before the forbidden zone ended, Bai Ye's spider demon kill would be transferred to the chosen one who defeated him.
It was a rule that was not difficult to understand.
The forbidden zone was designed to provoke the chosen ones into fighting each other. Otherwise, with only five members in the Spider Demon clan, there wouldn't be enough kills to go around.
Furthermore, the rescue aspect of Temporary Forbidden Zone Mission Two, with only three demon slayers, was also insufficient, hence it could also be transferred.
Only Temporary Forbidden Zone Mission Three was a one-time deal, as the forbidden zone would end and everyone would be sent away upon the defeat of the Spider Demon's controller.
Wiping away the luminous screen with a flick of his hand, Bai Ye approached the demon slayer from before and patted his cheek.
"Hey!" Bai Ye said. "If you're not dead, wake up."
The demon slayer groggily opened his eyes and mumbled, "Where is this? Am I dead?"
"You're not dead, you've still got some life left," Bai Ye replied. "Lie down and wait for the rescue team."
After the forbidden zone concluded, the demon slayer corps' rescue would arrive.
The demon slayer seemed to be prone to tears, and instantly, tears welled up. With a look of a tearful bride, he said, "Thank you, thank you."
With the other's gratitude, Bai Ye's mission was complete.
"You have saved a member of the Demon Slayer Corps (Agatsuma Zenitsu), completing Temporary Forbidden Zone Mission Two."
"This rescue can be transferred."
Seeing the luminous screen appear, with the mission accomplished, Bai Ye did not intend to linger and prepared to leave.
But at that very moment...
Bai Ye sensed something and suddenly leaped to the side.
*Rumble!*
The instant Bai Ye leaped away.
The large tree that Agatsuma Zenitsu had been leaning against was suddenly blasted open, and a surge of energy erupted, striking the spot where Bai Ye had been standing.
Bai Ye looked forward and saw a man, about thirty years old, charging towards him.
"Shrinking Ground to an Inch!"
The man grunted, then took a single step!
Despite being about seven or eight meters away from Bai Ye, the man instantly closed the distance.
"Eighteen Forms of Arhat Fist!" the man roared. "Childlike Worship of Buddha!"
The man bent slightly and then violently thrust his fists towards Bai Ye's chest.
*Bang!*
The man's fist connected with Bai Ye's chest!
Bai Ye glanced at the man and said, "Can't you see what's going on around you?"
The man's face showed surprise, both because Bai Ye stood there motionless, taking his punch, and because of Bai Ye's words.
Bai Ye continued, "This entire area was destroyed by me."
As Bai Ye spoke, he gripped the man's wrist.
Intense pain contorted the man's face, and his clenched fist involuntarily loosened.
Bai Ye said, "Perhaps you have eyes, but no brain?"
*Crack!*
Bai Ye applied sudden force, and the man's palm twisted unnaturally backward. With a sound of bone breaking, his entire palm was wrenched by Bai Ye.
"Otherwise..." Bai Ye said, raising the Nan Ming Li Huo Sword and thrusting it into the man's chest. "Why would you dare to come out and steal a mission?"
*Puff!*
The Nan Ming Li Huo Sword pierced through the man's chest, completely impaling him.
The man's body trembled, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
*Puff!*
Bai Ye smoothly drew his sword, pulling the Nan Ming Li Huo Sword back, a streak of crimson blood splashing onto the ground.
The man seemed to instantly lose all strength, slowly falling to his knees and collapsing onto the ground.
Vermillion blood flowed from beneath the corpse.
Bai Ye looked at the corpse and grinned, there were no divine stone fragments.
Nowadays, everyone had some divine stone fragments, and usually more than one, so the number of divine stone fragments obtained from kills had increased, generally resulting in at least several.
However, not only was the quantity of divine stones obtained random, but the chance of obtaining divine stone fragments upon a kill was also probabilistic, which could be very frustrating at times.
After all, when one was unlucky, even drinking cold water could get them an upset stomach.