My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 218: I’ll Have to Do It Myself

Normally, when clearing the Demon Dragon Valley, Secret Realm agents would first kill Zhi Yan, then fight Mountain Lord Lou. These two great leaders would not encounter each other.

Even if they did meet, a normally equipped team should quickly crumble, failing the challenge. Few can be as fierce as Li Rui, who can suppress Mountain Lord Lou and even leave him severely wounded.

Because of these two hidden conditions, no one had ever triggered this part of the storyline.

Now, Zhi Yan revealed his ambitious bear's intent, thinking that with his own formidable presence and the Dangkong Mountain magical artifact, as long as he eliminated Mountain Lord Lou, he could command the demon horde. He didn't expect this ragtag group to be entirely unmoved.

"Why? Isn't that Human Race person also an outsider?"

Such a fool wouldn't understand that the Mountain Lord Tiger Race is the local tyrant of Demon Dragon Valley. The other four great leaders changed frequently over the years, but the grand leader's family name never changed.

If Zhi Yan challenged him head-on and defeated him, or if Mountain Lord Lou willingly abdicated, that'd be different.

But now it was a successful sneak attack and collusion with external enemies, unrightfully obtained. Few would willingly submit to him, and it's likely that Dangkong Mountain's Yin Tuo Monarch just wanted to use him like a pawn. Regardless, as long as there's chaos in Demon Dragon Valley, Dangkong Mountain could integrate this place with minimal cost.

On the other hand, although Li Rui is an outsider, he follows the popular route and fights a people's war, so he's not constrained by anything.

Moreover, everyone saw his battle with Mountain Lord Lou, and he was respected for his strength even in direct combat. With his eloquence and natural leadership ability, he naturally garnered much support.

Now, Zhi Yan only has his elite Bear Race by his side; everyone else is against him. This Bear Demon went berserk.

"Since you refuse to obey, don't blame me for being ruthless." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He activated his magical artifact, using the absorbed blood of Mountain Lord Lou to commandeer it, unafraid of the army's charge, slamming his palm down, and a crane's cry resounded in the air.

Countless sharp swords descended from the sky, falling like rain.

"It's the Crane Demon Race's Divine Power!"

Li Rui noticed that on Zhi Yan's string of beads, a skull of a white crane was emitting a blue flame, like a ghostly fire.

"Tell them to fall back! Don't take it head-on!"

He instructed Zhi Yan to relay the order; such a high-level skill was not something the ordinary Demon Race could withstand.

He didn't let the Demon Race go and die in vain to test the enemy, as that would be too reckless.

The Demon Race that fought with him initially was obedient and quickly withdrew when summoned back. However, the Tiger Race guards never pledged loyalty, and now seeking revenge, they charged regardless.

After breaking through a barrage of sword light, half the Tiger Guards were lost, but the Tiger Demon captain persisted at the front.

"Kill!"

"Overestimating themselves!"

Zhi Yan was not afraid at all, letting out a furious roar and activated the mana from another skull.

Howls of wolves arose, and the wolf head on the string of beads burnt. A pack of phantoms surged from black smoke, charging at the Tiger Guards like cavalry.

Despite their charge, using demon techniques and battle sabers against the phantom wolves, half of the Tiger Guards fell again.

"Kill!"

The Tiger Guards' captain continued the charge.

Seeing these Tiger Demons not only oppose him but with such determination, Zhi Yan was infuriated. He advanced without using magical tools, single-handedly charging into a squad of Tiger Guards.

Boom!

He was not only immensely strong but also had thick skin and astonishing speed. If not, even Li Bailang wouldn't have been able to stop him.

Everyone felt a blur before their eyes, followed by the Tiger Guards' leader being killed on the spot, impaled mid-air by the fine steel spike in Zhi Yan's left hand.

Yet it wasn't over. The remaining Tiger Guards flanked from behind, and with a battle roar, they leapt onto the towering back of Zhi Yan.

Dozens of battle sabers sliced down, accompanied by shockwave blasts from their mouths.

From the start, their leader intended to sacrifice himself to create an opportunity for a back attack, and although there was no verbal communication, every Tiger Guard strictly fulfilled their duty.

Thunk thunk thunk!

The battle sabers struck Zhi Yan's body, but contrary to expectations, they failed to injure him. The battle sabers of elite Tiger Guards couldn't pierce Zhi Yan's fur.

It wasn't until the monstrous figure turned around that they realized a turtle head on the string of beads was aflame.

The beads sealed multiple Demon Race Divine Powers; one of them was bound to be effective.

Zhi Yan silently grinned wickedly, raising his right hand to sweep down with overwhelming force.

All Tiger Guards were sent flying, crashing to the ground, their fate unknown.

Those Tiger Guards were all elite monsters, none less capable than experts like Yue Ni. If not, they wouldn't have resisted the army for so long and remained unscathed.

But now, in the blink of an eye, they were decimated.

Li Bailang and An Qing retreated to the rear, not rushing forward.

Even a lone Zhi Yan was too much for him before, let alone now, marked as a dangerous second-phase variant.

"We must maintain morale, otherwise without support from the main forces, defeating him head-on could be tough," Li Bailang said.

"It feels like things are already precarious."

An Qing answered, "Those Tiger Guards were the Demon Dragon Valley's elite; with them wiped out, who else would dare to step up?"

At this moment, the Demon Race in the background hesitated indeed. Zhi Yan, veiled in black smoke, appeared invincible, and it seemed that no matter how many approached, it would only lead to certain death.

"I'll go."

Then, Li Rui's voice emerged from the side. The two turned to find him clutching a bunch of makeshift potions, chugging them one by one.

Once the last potion was gone, and a bunch of buffs were applied, he carried his umbrella and walked forward.

"All buffs to me."

Li Rui's tone was much more serious than before.

After all, facing the boss battle against Zuo Qiutian's avatar in Peach Blossom Spring was a high-risk event marked by the Secret Realm. This side quest was merely dangerous, and he had plenty of support.

Crucially, back then, although he was level 25, at the Secret Realm's level cap, he hadn't advanced. Now at level 30, still the Secret Realm's level cap, the difference lay in his advancement, so it shouldn't be as difficult.

Once An Qing applied another string of buffs, he finally rushed out of the line.

By now, the rebel army had retreated to form a formation at the rear, prepping for a charge from the Bear Race forces. Uncertain of victory, they were.

Since previously, Li Rui and Mountain Lord Lou fought solely with close-combat skills and didn't instantly kill as he had done with other great leaders, leading most people to believe he was only slightly stronger than the Tiger Demon King.

Even Wu Bing didn't know he had a trick up his sleeve yet to be revealed.

Thus, when he charged out, Zhi Yan felt a pang of joy.

Previously, unable to locate the Human Race commander, he didn't expect him to voluntarily step up to meet his end.

Capture the king first, he thought. Once I kill him, surely the minions will not dare defy us!

He halted, raised the fine steel spike on his left arm, and met the incoming Thunder Shocking Earth.

Boom!

For the first time, after using his ultimate move, Li Rui was not defeated but forced back himself.

Seeing this scene, even the rear troops had their hearts in suspense.

But Li Rui remained unflustered. This Zhi Yan had fused Mountain Lord Lou's power so that he couldn't win purely by force, but he never intended to overpower through skill alone.

At his current level, he could cast Thunder Shocking Earth five times before exhausting his Spiritual Power, and this was just the first time. He intended to wear down his opponent, building up battle-scarred bonuses in the process.

At the end, he also had a critical piece of equipment, the Blood Soul Ring.