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Pi Shouxuan leaned against the cold stone wall, his chest aching from the sneak attack by Wen Caiting, but what hurt even more was the shattered ambition and the humiliation of being betrayed.

“W…why?!”

Pi Shouxuan stared intently at Wen Caiting, his voice hoarse and dry, like a broken gong: "Wen Caiting! I have treated you well! I promised you the position of sect leader of the Yin Kui Sect and the opportunity to share in the great cause of the Holy Sect! Why did you betray me?! Are you willing to forever remain subservient to others and be Zhu Yuyan's dog?!"

"Haha~"

Upon hearing this, Wen Caiting merely smoothed her slightly disheveled temples, and her charming smile reappeared on her face. However, this time, the smile carried undisguised sarcasm: "Senior Brother Pi, oh no, Pi Shouxuan, even now, don't you understand?"

As she spoke, she turned slightly to the side and gracefully curtsied towards Zhu Yuyan: "The Sect Master's divine might is as vast as a prison, and his wisdom as deep as the sea. He has long seen through your and Zhao Deyan's wolfish ambitions. As an elder of the Yin Kui Sect, I, Wen Caiting, am naturally loyal to the Sect Master and will eliminate traitors. How can there be any talk of betrayal? As for those empty promises you made... they are nothing but illusions. How can they be compared to the trust bestowed by the Sect Master?"

"you……!"

Pi Shouxuan trembled with rage, another mouthful of blood welling up inside him, which he forced down, his face growing even more ashen. He abruptly turned to look at Zhu Yuyan, his eyes filled with resentment and the last vestiges of desperate madness.

He was unwilling to give up! He had been planning for years, patiently enduring until now, and was about to succeed. How could he let it all fall apart at this last step!
"Zhu Yuyan!!"

With a roar, Bi Shouxuan frantically channeled the remaining Heavenly Demon True Qi within his body, disregarding his injuries, in a desperate struggle! He knew he was no match for Zhu Yuyan, but he was very close to Wen Caiting! If he could subdue Wen Caiting instantly, perhaps he would still have a sliver of hope, which he could use as leverage!
With a thought, he moved! Like a dying beast, Pi Shouxuan lunged forward, his five fingers forming claws, carrying a chilling force, aiming straight for Wen Caiting's fair neck! This strike condensed his life's power and his pent-up resentment; it was as fast as lightning and exceptionally ruthless!

However, while he moved quickly, Zhu Yuyan moved even faster.

No one even saw how she moved. It was as if their vision had only blurred for a moment, and the dark figure had already appeared in front of Wen Caiting as if by teleportation, blocking the path of Bi Shouxuan's attack.

Faced with Bi Shouxuan's claw, which was imbued with his remaining power and capable of splitting stone tablets, Zhu Yuyan simply extended her slender, jade-like index finger and gently touched the Laogong acupoint on Bi Shouxuan's palm as he gripped her with all his might.

A very faint "pop" sound rang out in the air, yet it made everyone's heart skip a beat.

Pi Shouxuan's lunging body seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall of bronze and iron, abruptly freezing in mid-air. The crazed and ferocious expression on his face instantly froze, replaced by extreme pain and unbelievable horror! He felt that his palm force, and even the true energy that was frantically circulating throughout his body, was instantly disintegrated, melted, and devoured by an irresistible and supreme power the moment it touched that finger, like ice meeting boiling water!
"Ugh—!"

A short, shrill scream escaped from Bi Shouxuan's throat. He flew back like a kite with a broken string, even faster than when he came, and crashed heavily into the stone wall again!
"boom!"

The stone wall emitted a muffled thud, and Bi Shouxuan remained embedded in it for a full breath before slowly sliding to the ground. He curled up like a boiled shrimp, mouthfuls of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs gushing from his mouth, his life force fading rapidly like a candle flickering in the wind.

Pi Shouxuan struggled to lift his head, his eyes filled with utter despair as he looked at Zhu Yuyan. With just a casual flick of her finger, she had rendered the head of the Yin Kui Sect elders utterly powerless, leaving him in a life-or-death predicament.

What a terrifying gap!

Zhu Yuyan slowly withdrew her finger, her gaze calmly fixed on the dying Bi Shouxuan. She gently shook her head, her tone filled with chilling disappointment:
“Brother Pi, you still don’t understand. You think that by colluding with Zhao Deyan and secretly plotting, you can overthrow me and take control of the Holy Gate? Do you know that several months ago, with the help of the Alliance Leader, I truly reached the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Demon Technique… an unprecedented level of eighteen levels.”

The words "Alliance Leader" that she uttered made Zhao Deyan, who was suppressing his injuries and whose mind was racing, twitch his eyelids!
"As for that Evil Emperor's relic..."

With a slight smile, Zhu Yuyan glanced at the still churning ink pool, a playful smile playing on her lips: "It was taken out long ago by the Alliance Leader, who used his supreme profound skill to refine and purify the mixed essence of the evil emperors of past generations within it, helping my granddaughter to completely refine and absorb it, laying the foundation for her supreme Dao."

Zhu Yuyan looked at Bi Shouxuan as if she were looking at a clown who was performing hard but did not know that the script had already been predetermined: "What you are fighting for here tonight is nothing more than a phantom that I used to simulate its aura with pure demonic energy to lure the snake out of its hole. The real Evil Emperor's Relic is probably in Wan Jing's body right now, helping her cultivate."

It turns out that this was all a setup from beginning to end! A deadly trap set by Zhu Yuyan, or rather, by the alliance leader behind her, targeting all those with ulterior motives! The refining of the relic, the serious injuries, the internal strife and betrayal... it was all a show put on for them! The purpose was to wipe out all these hidden threats in one fell swoop!
"puff--!"

Upon hearing this, Pi Shouxuan was overcome with rage and anger, as if his last breath was slipping away. He coughed up a final mouthful of foul blood mixed with fragments, his head lolled to the side, his eyes went completely dim, and he breathed his last. This leader of the Yin Kui Sect remained immersed in immense shock, resentment, and a sense of absurdity until his death.

Zhao Deyan, who had been secretly trying to suppress the "Corroded Bone Poison Money" toxin, suddenly had his eerie green pupils shrink to the size of pinpoints when he heard that the Evil Emperor's Relic had already been refined. The last bit of hope in his heart was completely shattered.

He knew he had not only lost tonight, but had lost utterly and completely, with no hope of turning the tide. Zhu Yuyan's strength far exceeded his expectations, and she had the mysterious "Alliance Leader" as her backing. He, on the other hand, was poisoned and utterly helpless…

In despair, a fierce look suddenly surged onto Zhao Deyan's face! He was the Demon Commander, the Turkic National Preceptor, a figure who roamed the grasslands and deserts; how could he sit idly by and await his death?!

The moment Zhu Yuyan finished speaking, Zhao Deyan made his move! But his target was neither the unfathomable Zhu Yuyan, nor the prepared Wen Caiting and Danmei.

With a flash like a ghost, he pounced on the "corpses" on the ground who had already lost the ability to resist!
"Eighteen Claws of Returning Souls - Burying Ten Thousand Souls from Heaven!!"

Ignoring the backlash from the poison in his chest, Zhao Deyan forcibly burned his own life essence to unleash his ultimate killing move, which he could only use three times in his life! Although he was in poor condition and unable to unleash its full power, it was enough to deal with a few unsuspecting, dying people!
In an instant, countless claw shadows, condensed with dense death energy and killing intent, like ghostly claws from the deepest hell, enveloped Zuo Youxian, who was on the verge of death, Bi Shouxuan, who had just breathed his last, You Niaojuan, who was only half alive in the corner, and even Bi Chen's still warm corpse!
"Pfft! Pfft! Snap!"

The sickening sounds of bones cracking and flesh shattering rang out in rapid succession! Zuo Youxian and You Niaojuan didn't even have time to scream before they were reduced to mangled pieces by the barrage of claws! The corpses of Bi Shouxuan and Bi Chen were also subjected to frenzied destruction!
As these four people died completely, an extremely dense and pure death aura, resentment, and some of their remaining life essence were forcibly extracted and absorbed by Zhao Deyan's Soul Returning Claw Force, surging into his body like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea!
"Ughhhhhh—!" Zhao Deyan let out a wild roar, a mixture of pain and pleasure. His aura exploded like boiling oil thrown into a raging fire! The aura that had been slightly weakened by the poison surged wildly and rose higher and higher! Black blood gushed from the wound on his chest, but the bluish-black aura on his face seemed to have faded a bit, and his eerie green eyes burned with an almost insane crimson light!

He actually used a secret technique of the Demonic Appearance Sect to forcibly suppress his injuries and temporarily boost his power by absorbing the death energy and remnant soul of his companion before his death, in order to make that final gamble.

This sudden turn of events caused Wen Caiting and Danmei's expressions to change! They hadn't expected Zhao Deyan to be so decisive and ruthless, actually attacking the corpse of his companion! The two moved instantly, their demonic aura and icy true energy rising up, ready to join forces to attack and stop Zhao Deyan from continuing to absorb death energy and stabilize this surging evil power.

"Go back."

However, a cool and calm voice stopped them.

Zhu Yuyan slowly raised her hand, stopping Wen Caiting and Danmei. Looking at Zhao Deyan, who stood amidst pools of blood and mangled flesh like a demon from hell, her deep, star-like eyes showed no sign of seriousness. Instead, a faint hint of interest, as if she were looking at an interesting toy, flashed across them.

She gently moved her slender neck, producing a soft, crisp sound, and the cuffs of her dark palace dress moved without any wind.

"Absorbing this remnant of death energy has restored some of your strength."

Zhu Yuyan looked at the menacing Zhao Deyan, and the playful smile on her lips became even more obvious: "Perfect, I haven't had a chance to stretch my legs in a long time."

"Zhao Deyan, let me see just how much you really are after burning your life essence and absorbing death energy, you Turkic national teacher and Demonic Sect Master."

Before she finished speaking, the solid, black, glass-like demonic aura surrounding Zhu Yuyan suddenly surged like towering waves on a calm sea, pressing down on Zhao Deyan, who had just boosted his aura with evil magic, with an even more terrifying and domineering force.

"Zhu Yuyan! Prepare to die!"

Zhao Deyan knew this state couldn't last; he had to finish the fight quickly. With a tearing roar, he launched the first attack! His figure transformed into a shadow shrouded in intense death energy, his claws flashing out simultaneously!

"Eighteen Claws of the Returning Soul - Haunted by Vengeful Spirits!"

In an instant, countless claw shadows, imbued with icy, deathly energy, appeared like thousands of wronged souls crawling out of hell, emitting piercing screams as they enveloped Zhu Yuyan from all directions!
These claw shadows, both real and illusory, were not only incredibly sharp but also carried a strange power that disturbed the mind and froze the blood, sealing off all of Zhu Yuyan's escape routes! This was because he had used the death energy he had absorbed to push the power of the Returning Soul Claw to an unprecedented level!
Faced with this terrifying attack that could instantly kill an ordinary grandmaster, Zhu Yuyan did not even flinch. Just before the countless claw shadows reached her body, the solid Heavenly Demon Field around her rippled slightly.

Like a gentle breeze ruffling the surface of a deep pool.

The next moment, the countless sharp and ruthless claw shadows, imbued with icy death energy, vanished without a trace upon contact with the seemingly thin layer of black glass light! It was as if they were attacking not a person, but an unfathomable universe, all their power being swallowed up and dissolved into nothingness!

Zhao Deyan's determined strike couldn't even make Zhu Yuyan move half a step!

"what?!"

A look of disbelief and horror flashed in Zhao Deyan's bloodshot eyes. He felt as if his violent claws had struck empty air. The feeling of attacking with all his might but having nowhere to put his strength made him feel so uncomfortable that he almost vomited blood!

"Is it only to this extent?"

Zhu Yuyan's cold voice rang out, carrying a hint of disappointment: "Borrowing the external death energy, you merely have the form but not the substance. Zhao Deyan, you have disappointed me greatly."

Before she finished speaking, Zhu Yuyan simply raised her right hand, her five fingers slightly curled, as if she were plucking a flower, and gently brushed it towards Zhao Deyan.

This flick, seemingly slow, was actually faster than lightning! A finger wind, condensed to its extreme, as black as ink, seemingly capable of devouring all light, appeared instantly in front of Zhao Deyan's chest, as if breaking through the limitations of space!

Heavenly Demon Acupoint Flicking Technique!
Zhao Deyan's hair stood on end, a deadly sense of crisis instantly gripping his heart! He roared, pushing the absorbed death energy and his own demonic power to their limits, crossing his claws in front of his chest, the dark golden claws glowing with an eerie light, attempting to block this seemingly nonchalant finger strike!

"Ding--!"

A crisp sound, like the ringing of a jade chime, rang out!
The finger strike landed precisely on the center of Zhao Deyan's crossed claws!
Zhao Deyan felt an irresistible, extremely pure, and chilling energy instantly penetrate his proud protective death aura and claw gauntlets, and fiercely drilled into the meridians of his arms!
"Crack... Pfft!"

A sickening cracking sound came from Zhao Deyan's arms. He felt as if he had been hit by a giant elephant at high speed. He groaned, his feet left the ground, and he flew backward. While still in the air, he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of foul blood mixed with icy shards! His arms hung limply at his sides, clearly the arm bones were broken, and fine cracks appeared on his pair of dark gold claws!

With just one move! A seemingly casual move! Zhao Deyan, who had temporarily enhanced his power through evil magic, was severely injured!
Zhao Deyan crashed heavily onto the edge of the ink pool, splashing up a patch of viscous water. He struggled to get up, but found that the demonic energy that had seeped into his body was like a bone-deep infection, wreaking havoc in his meridians, frantically devouring the death energy and his own demonic power that he had forcibly raised, and even aggravating the poison of the "Bone-Corroding Poison Coin" in his chest. Attacked from both inside and outside, he was in unbearable pain!
"Impossible! How could your Heavenly Demon Technique be this powerful?!"

Zhao Deyan raised his head, his face filled with fear. He couldn't understand why, despite both being demonic techniques, the difference between them was so vast! (End of Chapter)