Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 498 Sword Slays Demon God, Burns Crimson Realm; Now, the Mysterious Tower Shades the Azure Sky (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

When the last breath of the Holy Sun Demon God, the leader of the Twenty-Four Demon Gods, dissipated in the desolate star field, Lu Cheng stood in the void, his mind seemingly rising to an infinite height.

The mournful winds of the Profound Realm, the lingering malevolent energy of the Crimson Sun Realm, and even the most subtle pulsations of operation deep within the cracks of time and space were all reflected in the Divine Court, revealing every detail.

It is a true sense of control, encompassing all living beings with a single thought, and penetrating the netherworld with a single breath. When the relationship between humanity and the universe, the connection between humanity and the universe, reaches this state, there is no further improvement or progress to be made.

"The Holy Sun... is indeed finished." Lu Cheng closed his eyes, contemplating the feeling at this moment, and sighed softly.

He knew in his heart that there was still a wisp of Sheng Yang's body remaining in the world. However, the other party's Dao heart and cultivation had been destroyed by his sword, and his fortune had dissipated like snow meeting the sun, making it difficult for him to become a major threat.

After this epic battle, Lu Cheng's accumulated foundation was enough to look down on all cultivators and beings in this world. The immense tribulation power and resentment accumulated by the Heavenly Dao of Ten Thousand Demons over the past 100,000 years of oppression between the two worlds all became whetstones to hone his Dao power.

Tribulations are calamities if you can't overcome them, but if you can, they become resources for your path of cultivation.

Golden-winged Roc Jin Ling watched Lu Cheng, who was meditating with his eyes closed, from behind. She originally thought that her cultivation and magic power were about the same as his, or even if she was a little weaker, she was not far behind.

However, it now seems that this Taoist priest was able to defeat the combined forces of the fully-powered Sheng Yang and Kong Ji with just one sword, while he himself struggled to defeat the heavily injured Sheng Yang. This evidence surpasses all other deductions.

'Perhaps I really should become his disciple and learn the Daoist arts…' Such a thought flashed through the mind of the Golden-Winged Roc.

In the vast universe, a streak of light is on its way home.

Chaos surged, and the turbulent currents of spacetime, like the gaping maw of a raging beast, devoured stardust and dust.

Lu Cheng returned to the Tongxuan Dharma Realm. When he passed through this place, he suddenly felt something in his heart, as if a clear sound was flowing by, mysterious and profound. This was the blessing of Heaven.

He immediately stopped and gazed at the chaotic, churning land, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

The Boundless Blood Sea Divine Sword trembled and resonated softly in his hand, and the blood sea killing power accumulated within the sword also gave rise to a kind of yearning for return.

'I have reclaimed the destiny of the Tongxuan Dharma Realm, and this is precisely when my fortune is at its strongest; hence this sensation!'

Lu Cheng murmured to himself, then he joined his fingers like a sword, picking up a wisp of Five Elements Thunder Essence that had been condensed to the point of almost becoming a substance. Its color was purplish-red, containing the essence of life and death, which was the essence of the Five Elements Thunder of the Profound Heaven Divine Art.

The purple lightning silently penetrated the Blood Sea Divine Sword, and the sword's divine light suddenly became clear and transparent. Its aura was no longer entangled with Lu Cheng's main body, becoming pure and independent, yet still connected by cause and effect.

At the same time, Lu Cheng's aura dropped almost imperceptibly, and his Xuan Tian Divine Skill realm suddenly fell back to the fifth level. Just like back then, Lu Cheng injected his five life forces into his external body.

The Taoist priest gestured, and suddenly a deep rift was torn open at the edge of the dark tide.

Immediately afterwards, the Boundless Blood Sea Divine Sword transformed into a dazzling rainbow of light, shooting into the turbulent spacetime currents, only to be instantly swallowed up.

This time was different from the time with Ice Phoenix True Monarch. The last time was a real gamble with his life. If Lu Cheng hadn't cultivated the Taoist Transformation Ascension Technique, he would have almost certainly died.

This time, the avatar possesses the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator, an eighth-order Immortal Light Guiding Talisman, and experience. Although it is a traversal of the void, the chances of successfully returning to the Earthly Immortal Realm are actually quite high.

Ten days later, in the Tongxuan World, cracks crisscrossed the sky.

The shattered inspiration, like the gasps of a dying dragon, dissipated into the blood- and fire-stained void.

The once mighty demon army's warships and fortresses, brimming with demonic energy, are now nothing but scorched earth and white bones.

The same applies within the Tongxuan world; however, blood and corpses are sometimes the most fertile nourishment.

When Lu Cheng's figure, like a ray of dawn light, landed from the starry sky on the altar where the Five Elements Sky Array had been set up.

Several dark and twisted auras, like vultures smelling the scent of corpses, eagerly tore through the void and appeared.

"This humble Taoist congratulates Daoist Lu on slaying the Holy Sun with his sword, dominating the Seven Realms, and reigning supreme over the world!" Daoist Yuqingzi was the first to speak up, his voice hoarse like the friction of rotten wood. He was a disciple of Ancestor Hunxie, and for some reason, even though Ancestor Hunxie Yang Xiao had left, he had not left and remained here.

As Jade Chime Daoist appeared, a host of old demons, including Yin Cha Fairy, Hundred Bone True Venerable, and Black Fiend Demon Venerable, also made their appearance.

When Lu Cheng was fighting to the death with Sheng Yang and Kong Ji, they had disappeared somewhere, but now they have all shown up, wanting to gain some benefits.

The two remnant realms of Qingming and Chiyang were occupied by the Heavenly Dao of Ten Thousand Demons for 100,000 years. Everyone knows the benefits that the Demon Saints and Demon Gods of Ten Thousand Demons have gained. However, no one dared to make a move because Shengyang and Kongji occupied these places. Now, Shengyang and Kongji have been forced to retreat.

Yu Qingzi, Yin Cha, Bai Gu, and Hei Sha, these old demons, felt they had done something and also came to Lu Cheng wanting a share of the spoils.

Lu Cheng remained indifferent, seemingly having anticipated this situation.

Without even glancing at the demons, he produced an object in his palm—a nine-tiered jade pagoda, its entire body a deep, dark yellow. The pagoda trembled slightly, and an invisible yet tangible ripple spread throughout the surrounding world.

"boom!"

Lu Cheng's divine sense and the remnant will of the Tongxuan Heavenly Dao intertwined instantly. On the scorched earth of the Azure Netherworld, a dazzling golden pillar of light suddenly rose and pierced the universe; within the ruins of the Crimson Sun World, a deep, dark red aura rose majestically.

The two resonate with each other, forming a magnificent light curtain that spans the desolate world and covers billions of places!
On the light screen, countless profound runes flowed endlessly, suppressing, cleansing, and transforming the remaining calamity, malevolence, and demonic aura between the two realms. They then converged on the Xuanhuang Pagoda in Lu Cheng's hand, and the Xuanhuang aura of merit, like smoke and mist, permeated and enveloped the pagoda's body.

Beneath this pagoda, calamities will not befall, and the treasures of merit will shine upon its master.

The Xuanhuang Merit Pagoda has appeared in the world, its majesty pervading heaven and earth.

The demons present froze simultaneously, their eyes flashing with surprise and uncertainty.

The fawning smile on Yu Qingzi's face froze, Yin Chaxianzi's seductive demeanor suddenly vanished, and the sound of bones grinding together beneath Bai Gu Zhenzun's black robe became even more jarring.

They could clearly sense that although Lu Cheng's aura had subsided, after merging with the world around him, the invisible pressure he exuded was like a bottomless abyss, becoming even more unfathomable.

"When the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace was first established, it was inevitable that a few 'offering' positions would be available. However, now that both realms belong to us, fellow Daoists should be mindful of their actions in the future to avoid harming everyone's interests. At that time, even if I can tolerate it, other fellow Daoists may not be able to." Daoist Lu Cheng finally spoke, his voice as calm as an ancient well, yet every word struck the hearts of the demons.

The expressions of the demonic cultivators present changed upon hearing this, with a momentary surge of resentment and hostility.

However, under the suppression of the majestic Dharma intent of the jade pagoda in Lu Cheng's hand, and after meeting Lu Cheng's gaze that seemed to pierce through the very origin of one's soul, the first to bow his head was the Black Fiend Demon Lord. He silently took half a step back, and the black mist churning around him subsided slightly.

Yu Qingzi's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he finally chuckled dryly, "That is indeed my wish, but I dare not ask you."

Yin Cha Fairy and Bai Gu Zhen Zun exchanged a glance, and ultimately, weighing absolute power against potential future benefits, they acquiesced to this disguised surrender and shackles.

Lu Cheng was not going to kill them all, but he would never let them reap the rewards so easily.

The task of eradicating the lingering poison of the demon race, which has been tainted for ten thousand years, also requires the efforts of these people. From this perspective, Yin Cha and the others can actually feel more at ease.

……

At the same time, from beyond the heavens, seven dazzling divine lights, like golden bridges and jade pillars piercing the universe, were projected from seven different worlds with different auras.

A burst of rosy light and auspicious clouds erupted, celestial music sang melodiously, and pure and majestic divine thoughts swept across the area, subtly forming a standoff with the target's stagnant demonic aura.

The Purple Star Immortal Light of the Dingzhang Realm, the Sword Qi Torrent of the Tongtian Realm, the Earth Spirit True Fire of the Liehuo Realm, the Mount Sumeru Shadow of the Xuankong Realm, the Ancient Tree of Life of the Jumang Realm, the Chaotic Pure Qi of the Yuqing Realm, the Black and White Dao Disc of the Yin-Yang Realm... All the righteous masters of the seven realms have arrived!
On the other side of the cosmic void, in an inconspicuous, chaotic star field, space suddenly rippled like water. A figure in a green robe, stepping on the ever-flowing divine light of the Five Elements, strolled out leisurely. Who else could it be but Daoist Kongji?!
He appeared without warning, his face even paler and more somber than before, his brows frozen with an eternal, icy loneliness and resolute determination, no longer possessing the magnificent majesty of the former ruler of the Five Elements Divine Palace who once dominated the nine heavens and ten earths.

All that remains about him is an overwhelming weariness and an extreme, restrained sharpness born from the damage to his very being.

Upon seeing this person, the eyes of the cultivators from the Seven Realms were instantly captivated.

"Chasing highs and selling lows is human nature. It's just that you cultivators, who pride yourselves on being righteous, shirked your responsibilities when there were tough battles, but now that it's time to reap the rewards, you're all vying to be the first. It's truly laughable."

Kongji Daoist didn't care that he was surrounded and attacked by the cultivators, but he still spoke of skinning and dismembering without any mercy.

"Demon, prepare to die!" A middle-aged swordsman from the Tongtian Realm, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, shouted without saying much, and drew his ancient longsword, his sword energy surging.

Sword cultivators are known among cultivators of the same level for their fierce attacks and few can rival them. Sword cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage can truly roam freely in the mortal realm.

With just this one sword, there are no more than two people in the entire world who can defeat him.

"If this fiend is not eliminated, the consequences will be endless! Fellow Daoists, this is a golden opportunity from heaven! Slay this fiend to rectify the will of Heaven!"

In an instant, the Dingzhang Immortal Pearl hung high, emitting boundless purple energy; the Tongtian Sword Qi intertwined into a giant net, cutting through space and time; the Jumang Ancient Tree shook down thousands of emerald light needles; the Yin-Yang Dao Diagram rotated, and the black and white energies coiled like dragons and snakes; the raging fire and earth spirit true fire transformed into a firebird divine bird; the shadow of Xuan Kong Sumeru Mountain suppressed and locked down one side... The primordial spirit cultivators of the seven worlds all went all out, unleashing killing moves one after another!
In an instant, the world was filled with the light of the divine treasure soaring into the sky, and the killing aura instantly reached its peak. Wherever the divine light shone, even the shattered remnants of stars evaporated!

Faced with this terrifying combined attack that could shatter the ravaged world, Daoist Kongji didn't even lift an eyelid.

In the depths of his weary eyes, a five-colored glint flashed and disappeared.

"brush--!"

There was no earth-shattering roar. Only a five-colored divine light, seemingly encompassing the origin of all colors in the world yet returning to absolute purity and monotony, quietly rose from behind Daoist Kongji and swept across the void.

Like a gentle tide, it silently swept over the incoming purple immortal pearls, crisscrossing sword energy, emerald needles, black and white dragons, world-burning flame birds, and the shadow of Mount Sumeru... The ultimate killing immortal light, the spiritual essence of magic treasures, and the laws of supernatural powers unleashed by the primordial spirits of the seven realms... as if wiped away by an invisible giant hand!
One moment the combined attack of the seven realms was dazzling and magnificent, the next moment only a desolate void remained.

It was as if all the violent energy and principles of the past had been gently and thoroughly "taken away" by the five-colored divine light, and refined without a trace!

The seven Nascent Soul True Persons all let out a muffled groan, their faces suddenly turning pale. Even the old monk from the Xuan Kong Realm, whose cultivation was slightly inferior, suffered a backlash from the damage to the Sumeru Mountain magic treasure, and a trickle of dark golden blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

More than ten days later, news of the Seven Realms' righteous cultivators besieging Daoist Kong Ji, killing four and seriously injuring three on the spot, finally reached Lu City.

People are speculating about how Lu Cheng, the master of the Heavenly Dao Palace in the Tongxuan Dharma Realm, broke the Five-Colored Divine Light and the Great Sun Golden Flame.

But no matter how much they guessed, they could not have imagined that Lu Cheng had not broken the code at all. He was simply relying on his life to tough it out, using his own swordsmanship and magic to deal with the situation, blocking and parrying as best he could. If he could parry, he would; if he couldn't, he would die.

Then he transformed his physical body and continued the sword fight.

The Five-Colored Divine Light and the Great Sun Golden Flame are incredibly powerful, but even for Saint Yang and Kong Ji, unleashing their full potential requires a tremendous expenditure of mental and spiritual energy.

Moreover, Lu Cheng's swordsmanship is profound, and he wouldn't give them many opportunities to fully display the power of his two divine abilities.

Even so, righteous cultivators from the Seven Realms still flocked to the Tongxuan Dharma Realm in large numbers. The two broken worlds, Qingming and Chiyang, were still worlds, but even broken worlds are still worlds. Obtaining even a tiny bit of resources from them might be enough for a cultivator to achieve enlightenment and ascend to immortality.

Moreover, in a broken world, the constraints of the Heavenly Dao are relatively lighter, and it may even give birth to many rare and precious materials that would not exist in the normal world.

The Heaven and Earth Dao Palace of Lu City established a great sect in the original Chiyang Realm, now the Tongxuan Realm. Relying on the Five Elements Reincarnation Pan Kong Grand Array, it broke the demon race array around the Tongxuan Realm and liberated one divided world after another.

The lower and middle levels of the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace are still very weak, but it is foreseeable that as time goes by, the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace will have some degree of conflict with cultivators from outside the Seven Realms because of spiritual objects.

From the perspective of the Heavenly Dao Palace, our sect was established in this world to defeat all demons and save all people. Therefore, the precious spiritual objects of both worlds naturally belong to the Heavenly Dao Palace.

From a cultivator's perspective, rare and precious treasures belong to the virtuous. A spiritual object that can help one break through realms and extend lifespan is right before one's eyes; anyone who dares to prevent one from obtaining it is naturally an obstacle to one's path and an enemy, and there's no room for argument.

A century later, Daoist Kongji, along with the still loyal demon cultivators of the Heavenly Dao, ascended to the upper realm via the Ascension Platform.

The process of a cultivator ascending to the upper realm involves many tribulations, some major and some minor. Ascending from the Ascension Platform is relatively easier. If there is a highly skilled cultivator among the companions, it's like getting on a ride, greatly increasing the chances of success.

The ascension of the most powerful demon saints and demon gods of the Heavenly Dao of Ten Thousand Demons to the Upper Realm signifies the overall victory of human cultivators in this war between humans and demons.

Although the two realms still need to be gradually cleared out and developed, at least during the thousands of years that Lord Lu of the Heavenly Dao Palace has lived in the world, the demon race has no possibility of any counterattack.

……

As the demons dispersed and the calamity subsided, a magnificent Taoist palace gradually rose from the ruined mountains, its eaves piercing the flowing clouds and its ridge suppressing the trajectories of the stars.

The plaque above the palace gate appears to be blank, but if the observer is of high spiritual attainment, they will gradually be able to see: Heaven and Earth Dao Palace.

At the edge of the Seven Treasures Pond, the water is crystal clear, reflecting an unprecedented clarity in the depths of the sky.

The blue lotus quietly blooming in the pond swayed gracefully, each leaf unfolding with a subtle, clear, and imperceptible Daoist melody.

Lu Cheng felt completely relaxed and at ease. He leaned against the white jade railing, his bare feet casually resting on the warm jade stones, with a jade plate beside him filled with plump purple fruits.

Xiao Yuxue held his upper body in her arms and reached out to massage the sides of Lu Cheng's head.

Xiao Yuhong peeled open a glistening purple berry with her delicate hands. The flesh glowed with a faint ethereal light. She held the berry to Lu Cheng's lips, a few drops of it grazing her fingertips.
"Try it. The Star Essence Fruit that only forms nine times every three thousand years on the Floating Island contains the purest innate star power, which can just right to cleanse the metal element of your lungs that has been scorched by the golden flames of the Great Sun."

Lu Cheng opened his mouth and took it in, but his gaze leisurely turned to the depths of the lotus pond, where Yun Ling'er was soaking in the spiritual spring to cultivate a secret technique that could enhance a cultivator's spiritual sense. Although she had achieved enlightenment with the Ghost Infant Pill, her spiritual sense was more advanced, making it easier for her to reincarnate and cultivate in the next life.

On the other side of the pool, the Demon Saint Devouring Moon lay prostrate on the ground. Its massive wolf body grew stronger under the nourishment of the rich spiritual energy. It and the young dragons often listened to the Dao at the gate of Lu City to resolve the backlash and damage from its innate divine power, "Sun and Moon in the Belly."

Suddenly, the dome of the Dao Palace seemed to be moved by an invisible hand, and countless stars fell from the celestial orbit and intertwined, transforming into the initial outline of the profound "Three Thousand Daoist Explanations and True Scriptures".

Each character condenses within the collapsing, flowing starlight, exuding a chilling sharpness capable of slicing through the five innate energies.

Yun Ling'er suddenly looked up, her eyes reflecting the starry river, but the more she thought, the more she frowned, unable to fully concentrate.

"The Dao resides in the Five Elements, but is not fixed within them." Lu Cheng's voice was calm, like ripples on a pond, yet every word resonated like thunder in Yun Ling'er's heart.

He casually plucked a wisp of breeze that brushed across the lotus pond, and with a few flicks of his fingers, he showed it to Yun Ling'er: "Seeing gold is not sharp, but flowing like water."

Under Lu Cheng's guidance, Yun Ling'er's initially turbulent emotions gradually calmed down, and she returned to her cultivation state.

Lu Cheng's gaze slowly swept over the Dao Palace. Beneath the clouds where the calamity had dissipated, new plants were unfurling their tender buds. Several little demons, not yet fully transformed, clumsily chased after falling petals among the newly blooming spiritual flowers. Their scaled claws brushed against the dew-covered grass leaves, causing the morning dew to fall in a flurry, shimmering with iridescent colors in the sunlight.

A faint smile finally escaped his lips, not a joyful acceptance of eternity, but a serene understanding of destiny and the promise of life.

Xiao Yuhong, gentle and silent, offered him a freshly poured cup of spiritual tea. The tea smoke curled upwards, and the lotus pond rippled without wind, receiving the sweet rain falling from the Nine Heavens Pagoda. In the tinkling sound of the water falling, it seemed as if a poem was being softly hummed.

Heaven is merciless, but in this place where all living things thrive, there is a vibrant spring. After such a long and arduous journey, we can finally take a break.

(End of this chapter)