What He Fangyuan said actually posed no problem.
Although everyone was confident in their abilities, there was no need to confront the numerous demons head-on.
If they focused on assassination, catching the demons by surprise, even if each person could only take down one demon, it would still result in a loss of over a hundred demons in this forest.
Such a strategy would make the cleanup much easier!
Moreover, the more powerful demons were likely to be at the center of the forest.
The ones on the periphery were certainly weaker.
If everyone was careful and picked their targets, there shouldn't be any issues with this first wave of assassinations.
"Let's go, let's keep up!" Meng Fan said to Liu Yanping and Li Xuerou.
No one objected to He Fangyuan's decision, as it seemed reasonable to all.
Over a hundred disciples of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect began to disperse, stealthily advancing and seeking their targets.
Upon entering the forest, Liu Yanping said to Meng Fan with a hint of surprise, "Meng Fan, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I feel like many of the Shu Mountain disciples seem to harbor some hostility towards you."
Meng Fan rolled his eyes; it was all because these two young ladies were always by his side!
Two stunning beauties, always sticking close to him, looking incredibly intimate.
And then there was his own handsome appearance… Wasn't it natural for others to be jealous?
"Maybe they're just jealous of my good looks," Meng Fan casually brushed it off.
But such jealousy was nothing serious, just human nature. Although some might be irked by Meng Fan, no one would actually come forward to provoke him, let alone start a fight!
"Meng Fan, should we speed up? If we're too slow, others will have taken down all the demons!" Li Xuerou couldn't help but speak up when she saw Meng Fan's unhurried pace.
Others were hastening their steps, hoping to encounter demons sooner and slay them.
Compared to them, Meng Fan's pace was indeed slower.
"Killing the demons and obtaining their demon cores is the only way to be rewarded upon our return. If we're too slow and the demons are all slain by others, wouldn't it be embarrassing to return empty-handed?" Li Xuerou added.
Meng Fan looked at Li Xuerou in surprise; he hadn't expected his "adopted sister" to be so competitive and eager for battle!
He really didn't care about receiving rewards upon returning. As for slaying demons, he would do so if he encountered them, but he wasn't desperate.
Rushing to kill?
He wasn't that enthusiastic.
However, seeing his sister so invested, he didn't want to hold her back.
And with Liu Yanping also looking eager to try, Meng Fan relented, "Alright, let's pick up the pace!"
The forest was vast, so the hundred-plus disciples from the Shu Mountain Sword Sect quickly spread out upon entering.
Of course, those who were close stuck together in small groups.
Like Meng Fan's group of three or four, though there were many who preferred to go solo.
Having spent so much time at the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, where their days revolved around sleep and cultivation, these disciples naturally developed a sense of heroism.
Slaying demons and exterminating evil, their blood boiled with excitement!
Soon, the trio encountered their first demon.
A bull demon.
This bull demon stood on its hind legs, mimicking human walking.
Moreover, its limbs and bones were different from a normal bull's, appearing extremely agile, as if it were evolving towards humanity.
If it evolved further, it might become a "Minotaur."
One could imagine that deeper in the forest, some powerful bull demons might have truly become Minotaurs!
"Liu Senior Sister, you're the weakest among us, why don't you go first and practice a bit," Meng Fan suggested to Liu Yanping.
What do you mean I'm the weakest? Liu Yanping instinctively wanted to retort, but the words died on her lips. She simply didn't have the confidence to argue.
Li Xuerou was about to make a move, but upon hearing Meng Fan's words, she immediately reined in her eagerness.
Meng Fan really didn't understand his sister well; she was indeed very competitive and combative.
Liu Yanping drew her Illusory Rain Sword, and before the bull demon noticed her, she launched a sneak attack.
Emerald Sea Tide Rises Sword!
This young lady only had this one sword technique to show off.
As for the Demon-Slaying Sword Technique, she hadn't mastered the Sword Intent, and in terms of power, it was still inferior to the Emerald Sea Tide Rises Sword.
If she could master the Demon-Slaying Sword Intent and combine it with the Emerald Sea Tide Rises Sword, she would have a stronger killing power against these demons.
However, although Liu Yanping was a bit weaker, she was still a cultivator who had mastered Sword Intent, placing her in the upper-middle tier among the hundred-plus Shu Mountain disciples.
Dealing with such a small bull demon shouldn't be a big problem.
Liu Yanping thrust her sword into the bull demon's neck, then swiftly withdrew it, causing blood to gush out.
The bull demon roared in rage, its front hooves kicking towards Liu Yanping.
The noise was not insignificant!
In fact, at this moment, the forest was filled with such commotions, bound to attract the "big demons" within.
The element of surprise was only effective for a brief moment.
Soon, it would come down to a head-on fight.
Ahead, Liu Yanping's movements were graceful, easily dodging the bull demon's hooves.
"Liu Senior Sister, how long will you keep poking at it? Put in more effort and chop off its head," Meng Fan urged Liu Yanping.
The bull demon's hide was thick; stabbing it like this would require at least a dozen thrusts to kill it.
Decapitation was the most effective and quickest method.
Liu Yanping took a deep breath; the bull's neck was much thicker than a human's, and she instinctively felt that decapitating it wouldn't be easy.
Emerald Sea Tide Rises Sword Intent!
She swung her sword again, this time employing her Sword Intent.
Although her cultivation level was suppressed and she couldn't use True Qi, the enhancement of her sword technique by the Sword Intent was still terrifying.
With this strike, the bull's head was cleanly severed, rolling to the ground as blood sprayed everywhere.
Meng Fan's mouth twitched; Liu Yanping had used a knife that kills chicken to kills a bull.
Uh… Wasn't that actually a bull?
Then it's fine!
However, Liu Yanping had indeed overdone it.
This bull demon was so weak; there was no need to use Sword Intent.
Liu Yanping wielded a Spiritual Sword, and even without Sword Intent, she could have easily slain this small bull demon.
In this expedition, among the hundred-plus disciples of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, some had not mastered Sword Intent and didn't possess spiritual weapons.
Such individuals were still capable of slaying demons like this bull demon.
Otherwise, the Clan wouldn't have sent them here.
But Meng Fan didn't say anything to Liu Yanping; after all, it's better to be safe than sorry, and caution is always a virtue.
Liu Yanping opened up the bull demon and retrieved its demon core.
With this item, they could return to the Shu Mountain Sword Sect and be rewarded; the more they had, the greater the reward.
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan
Recheck: Lotas