In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

"Ding--!"

The Qingfeng sword clashed with the heavy sword, producing a crisp metallic clang.

A bizarre scene unfolded.

The terrifying power on the greatsword, enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, vanished without a trace the moment it touched the gray light membrane. No, it didn't vanish; it was "absorbed" and "assimilated" by the gray light membrane.

Qin Mu's expression finally changed.

He felt the spiritual power he had infused into the greatsword being rapidly dissipated by a strange force. It felt like punching cotton, or water seeping into the desert—he had immense strength, but nowhere to apply it.

"What...is this?" Qin Mu took a step back for the first time, his eyes showing a solemn expression.

Su Han did not answer, or rather, he was unable to answer.

That last strike had exhausted his last bit of strength. The chaotic power attached to the Azure Edge Sword was his final act, forcibly condensed using the chaotic vortex in his chest as a conduit. However, the chaotic vortex was too unstable; after absorbing Qin Mu's spiritual power, it immediately began to vibrate violently, threatening to collapse at any moment.

"puff--!"

Su Han coughed up a mouthful of blood, knelt on one knee, and used his sword to support his body so that he would not fall.

"You've reached your limit." Qin Mu noticed Su Han's weakness and shook his head. "Admit defeat. If you continue, you'll die."

Su Han raised his head and gave a bitter smile: "The word 'admitting defeat' doesn't exist in my dictionary."

He struggled to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and channeled the last bit of spiritual energy into the Qingfeng Sword.

The hazy light on the sword shone again, but it was much dimmer than before, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

"Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being impolite." A fierce glint flashed in Qin Mu's eyes, and he raised his heavy sword once more.

This time, he didn't hold back.

"Mysterious Heaven - Return to One!"

The greatsword was slowly raised, and with each step higher, its aura grew stronger. When the sword reached its highest point, the air in the entire arena seemed to freeze, as if an immense pressure was descending, making it difficult for all the spectators to breathe.

This is Qin Mu's ultimate technique, compressing all his spiritual power to its limit and unleashing it in a single sword strike. This sword strike has once killed a true early-stage Golden Core cultivator.

Despite feeling the suffocating pressure, Su Han remained unusually calm.

He knew he couldn't withstand that sword strike.

In his current state, even with the power of chaos, he absolutely could not withstand it.

But so what?

He never came here to win.

"Senior sister, I'm sorry, I might have to break my promise..." Su Han's mind flashed with that beautiful face, a hint of tenderness in her eyes, which then turned into determination.

He poured all his remaining strength into the chaotic vortex in his chest.

If you're going to die, then die spectacularly.

"Chaos... Returning to Origin..."

Su Han uttered these four words in a low voice, and slowly thrust out the Qingfeng sword in his hand.

Very slow, very slow.

It was so slow that everyone could see the sword's trajectory; so slow that it seemed as if time had stood still.

Qin Mu's heavy sword, carrying a world-destroying force, crashed down.

Su Han's sword, however, slowly and resolutely met the attack.

The moment the two swords clashed, there was no earth-shattering roar, no violent energy impact.

Only a hazy gray light slowly spread out from the point where the two swords intersected.

Wherever the gray light passed, everything became blurred and distorted, as if dragged into another dimension. The stone slabs of the arena, the flying dust, and even the spiritual energy permeating the air all dissolved and returned to their origin in the gray light, transforming into the most primordial state of chaos.

"What...is this?" For the first time, fear appeared in Qin Mu's eyes. He felt that the "Mysterious Heaven Qi" he had painstakingly cultivated for twenty years was being rapidly assimilated and devoured by that gray light. Not only his spiritual power, but even his physical body and his soul began to become unstable, as if they were about to disintegrate and return to chaos.

Do not!
Qin Mu tried to draw his sword and retreat, but found himself unable to move. The gray light seemed to have a life of its own, wrapping around his heavy sword and spreading along the blade to his arm and body.

"Do not--!"

Amidst Qin Mu's unwilling roar, the gray light completely engulfed him.

At the same time, Su Han also reached his limit.

The chaotic vortex in his chest collapsed completely after releasing its last bit of power. The demonic seed, freed from restraint, surged wildly against the seal like a runaway horse.

"Snap—"

The Star Seal that sealed the demon was shattered.

The pure demonic energy surged through Su Han's body like a flood bursting its banks. His eyes turned a deep purple, strange demonic patterns appeared under his skin, and two small, curved horns even grew on his forehead.

"Demon... Demonization?!"

"Su Han has fallen into demonic possession!"

"Quick! Stop him!"

The entire arena erupted in uproar. On the high platform, the Yunlan Sect Master's expression changed drastically. He instantly appeared on the arena and struck Su Han's forehead with a palm, attempting to suppress him.

But it was too late.

Su Han raised his head, his purple eyes filled not with reason, but with madness and killing intent.

"Roar--!"

He let out a roar that sounded inhuman, and swept his Qingfeng sword horizontally, unleashing a burst of dark sword energy that actually cleaved through the palm force of the Yunlan Sect Master.

"How is this possible?!" Sect Master Yunlan was both shocked and furious. He was a powerful cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage. Although he had only used 30% of his strength in that palm strike, it was still something that a Foundation Establishment cultivator—even a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had fallen into demonic possession—could withstand.

unless……

The Yunlan Sect Master looked at Su Han's chest, where a rotating, hazy vortex had appeared where the Star Sealing Demon Seal had originally been.

A chaotic vortex.

Although it collapsed, it did not completely disappear. Instead, it merged with the power of the demonic seed, forming a more bizarre and dangerous existence.

"Chaos... Demon Seed..." The Cloud Mist Sect Master's face turned extremely ugly.

He knew things were serious.

With his cultivation level, he could forcefully suppress and seal an ordinary demonic seed. But a demonic seed fused with the power of chaos was beyond his comprehension. Forcibly suppressing it could very well lead to unpredictable consequences.

Just as the Cloud Mist Sect Master hesitated, Su Han—or rather, Su Han who was controlled by the Demon Seed—moved again.

He transformed into a streak of black light and instantly appeared before Qin Mu. At this moment, Qin Mu had just broken free from the erosion of the chaotic power, covered in blood, his aura weak, and he could barely stand.

"Die." Su Han uttered a cold word.

The Qingfeng sword pierced towards Qin Mu's heart.

"Stop!" the Yunlan Sect Master shouted, unleashing his full power in an attempt to stop them.

But someone was faster than him.

A figure in white appeared beside Su Han like a ghost and struck Su Han's chest with a palm.

"boom--!"

Su Han was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the edge of the arena. The gray vortex on his chest trembled violently, and the surge of demonic energy momentarily halted.

The newcomer was a woman, appearing to be in her early twenties, dressed in snow-white robes, with an exquisitely beautiful face and a cool, aloof demeanor. She simply stood there quietly, as if she were the center of the world, drawing everyone's attention involuntarily. (End of Chapter)