Chapter 115: The Compendium of a Hundred Demons

The monstrous creature, about the size of a calf, was covered in thick golden fur. Its form was like a dog, its tail reminiscent of a fox, and along its spine ran a row of sharp, pointed spines.

Hearing Yun Ruo’s inquiry behind him, Zhou Qing recalled that a few years prior, he had purchased a book titled “A Compendium of a Hundred Demons” from a bookstall in Jinling County. That volume contained entries and illustrations of various demonic beasts. As Yun Ruo had said, the depiction of a creature called the Celestial Hound in that book matched the beast before them exactly. Zhou Qing remembered it well, as he had recently leafed through the “Compendium” not long ago.

The Celestial Hound, also known as the Wind Hound, was recorded in the ancient texts as having existed since primordial times. This beast was born with extraordinary abilities: it could spew raging winds from its mouth, was innately combative, and delighted in devouring souls.

However, more than ten thousand years ago, a great conflict erupted between humans and demons, and as a result, most of the extraordinary demonic beasts vanished from the world, leaving behind only the dull-witted, powerless ones.

The common fowl and beasts known today—chickens, dogs, pigs, or snakes, tigers, and rabbits—were all considered demonic beasts in ancient times. Lacking any special powers, they were the lowest of their kind.

But the Celestial Hound before them was different: from birth it could exhale tempestuous winds, possessing supernatural abilities much like the legendary dragons, who were said to command the winds and rain.

According to the “Compendium of a Hundred Demons,” dragons themselves were once classified among the demonic beasts of antiquity, ranking third among their kind, while the Celestial Hound held the eighty-second position.

Though ranked only eighty-second, the “Compendium” described the Celestial Hound’s wind as formidable enough to uproot centenarian trees, and that these winds carried a baleful aura, capable of blowing souls from mortal bodies, leaving them to be devoured.

As the Celestial Hound appeared at the mountain’s edge, Jingyun and Jingxue exchanged a glance, then swiftly retreated to the rear. Jingyun drew eight small formation flags from the pouch at her side and planted them in a circle. Jingxue, meanwhile, took out a short sword about a foot in length, stood within the formation, and called out, "Enter the formation!"

Zhou Qing then saw Wu Feng, Yun Xi, and Yun Ruo all withdraw into the protective circle.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, if you have not yet mastered protective arts, please join us within the formation,” Jingxue called.

“No need,” Zhou Qing replied. He formed a hand seal and pressed his finger to his brow. Instantly, a shield of spiritual light shimmered into existence around him.

Seeing the protective barrier at Zhou Qing’s side, Jingxue said no more. She planted her short sword at the center of the formation. The eight small flags outside the circle vibrated sharply, and a faint golden light enveloped the entire formation.

Though Zhou Qing did not know the specific function of the formation, he could tell at a glance that it was a defensive array.

With Jingxue and Jingyun’s array quickly set up, Zhou Qing glanced back toward the Celestial Hound and noticed that Ao Xuan and Ao Tian, standing a short distance from the beast, had also activated their protective arts.

At a glance, the White Cloud Sect’s protective technique was much the same as Zhou Qing’s Eightfold Shield, both using spiritual power to form a defensive barrier around their bodies.

“Ho—” came a guttural cry.

The Celestial Hound, having reached the mountain peak, paused at the edge, scrutinized the group for a moment, then let out a strange howl. In that instant, its originally jade-green eyes turned pitch black, and its throat began to swell as though something was about to be expelled.

With a sudden gust, the beast opened its maw and spat a black whirlwind directly at Ao Xuan and Ao Tian.

The vortex, small at first, swiftly ballooned to over twenty feet tall—seemingly substantial, not merely air.

Seeing the black whirlwind bearing down, Ao Xuan and Ao Tian exchanged glances. Ao Xuan stepped forward, sword in hand, and met the tempest with the tip of his blade.

The sword’s tip halted the whirlwind, holding it in place as the two forces contended. Meanwhile, Long Ao Tian retreated several paces, forming an intricate hand seal and tapping his sword multiple times.

Zhou Qing noticed that as Ao Xuan braced his sword against the wind, the blade was forced to bend, arching under the pressure.

Just then, the Celestial Hound at the mountain’s edge opened its jaws again, releasing two more whirlwinds: one still aimed at Ao Xuan, the other veering toward the five within the formation.

Reacting quickly, Zhou Qing didn’t hesitate. With a step to the side to steady himself, he summoned a talisman into his hand—a minor Wind-Purifying Talisman. Though capable of using the medium-grade version, he opted for the lesser one to conserve spiritual energy.

With a flick of his wrist, the talisman floated into the air and ignited. Zhou Qing pressed his palms together in an esoteric gesture and pointed at the black whirlwind contending with Ao Xuan. A white whirlwind, forged of mist, formed at Zhou Qing’s fingertip.

Summoned by the minor Wind-Purifying Talisman, the white whirlwind drifted forward at Zhou Qing’s command, colliding with the black vortex.

The two whirls—one black, one white—clashed, holding for just a moment before both dissipated. But by then, the second whirlwind from the Celestial Hound’s maw was upon them.

Ao Xuan braced against it with his sword again, while the other wind met the barrier at the edge of the array, contending for a heartbeat before vanishing into nothingness.

At this, the Celestial Hound opened its jaws for a third time, unleashing yet another black whirlwind—this one aimed directly at Zhou Qing.

Judging from the previous clash of winds, Zhou Qing deduced that the beast was still a juvenile. As the whirlwind rushed toward him, he remained composed, swiftly drawing out another minor Wind-Purifying Talisman.

With the talisman as a medium, channeling the elemental force of wind through his spiritual power, he raised his hand in a seal, conjuring another white mist-formed whirlwind at his fingertip.

At that very moment, Long Ao Tian, who had been tapping his sword, let out a low shout.

He tossed his sword into the air, where it flashed with white light and split into three identical blades, each radiating brilliance.

With a gesture, the three swords shot toward the Celestial Hound like falling white meteors.

“Ho—!” the beast howled, snapping its jaws to seize one of the swords, but the other two pierced its body.

The monstrous creature collapsed, and the wind it had summoned dissipated with its death.

Having vanquished the Celestial Hound, Long Ao Tian raised his hand and pointed into the air. The three swords merged into one and returned to his grasp.