Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 537 Two Thousand Years of Diligent Advancement in Dao Power, A Single Thought Strikes the Demon King (8,000 words added)

A blood moon hangs in the sky, its foundation made of countless bones.

The Yunya Sect's training grounds, once brimming with spiritual energy and teeming with cranes, have now been completely transformed into a den of demons and a gathering place for all kinds of evil.

The collapsed jade pillar was soaked in filthy blood, and evil creatures that spewed poisonous miasma clung to the jagged rocks.

The dense, oppressive aura of resentment permeated the air like ink, seeping from every inch of the fractured mountain and every crack in the broken white jade plaza bricks, obscuring the starlight and even making the moonlight hanging in the sky appear hazy and distorted.

In the very center of this dead zone, a magnificent demon palace, built from the bones of countless wreckage and wronged souls, rises from the ground.

In the center of the palace, the demon god Gara sat on a throne made of bones.

The old demon was surrounded by thick, almost tangible black demonic energy, like several thirsty, monstrous dragons, continuously drawing in the rich Yin and evil blood energy from the great formation below.

Around the bone seat, piles of white bones, like mountains, were formed from the remains of those who died in the Cloud Cliff Sect and Jade Dew City. At this moment, they were emitting the last bit of extracted essence, which was being integrated into the operation of Gara's demonic power.

“Hoo…” Gara slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. The breath was foul and viscous, and wherever it passed, even the void seemed to be corroded and rippled.

His demonic face, a blend of ferocity, cunning, and greed, flickered in and out of focus under the blood moonlight.

It devoured the entire soul of Dongyang Shenjun, a primordial spirit cultivator, which slightly stabilized his originally damaged origin.

This unique "delicacy" of the mortal realm, especially the souls of mortals who were powerless to resist, was a quick and nourishing source of sustenance for him. Although each soul was extremely weak, there were enough of them. If he were to devour mortals so recklessly in the Immortal Realm, the pursuit by righteous cultivators and the heavenly punishment of the realm would be more than any demonic disciple could bear.

But this is the mortal realm, and neither righteous cultivators nor the will of a heavenly realm matter to Galo.

Although his own magical power has faded, his cultivation level is still there. Even if he uses his primordial spirit magic power at the Void Returning Realm, it is far beyond what a primordial spirit cultivator can match. Moreover, the demonic arts of the Earth Immortal Realm are far superior to those of the mortal realm.

The old demon was enjoying the gradual return of his power, and he was planning where to go next to plunder major cultivation sects in order to further restore his strength and even reach a higher level.

However, just as this bloodthirsty desire reached its peak, an indescribable drowsiness suddenly struck!
This feeling came abruptly and forcefully, and was definitely not a physiological reaction that someone of his level should have.

Gara's demonic eyes suddenly snapped open, unleashing a burst of crimson, malevolent light in an attempt to dispel the anomaly. But then, the demonic palace, the blood moon, the mountains of skeletons before him... all the scenes blurred, distorted, and collapsed like smoke.

It was not the collapse of space, but the stripping away of perception, as if a carefully arranged canvas was forcibly torn apart from the outside.

When I regained my senses, I found myself in a vast and boundless chaotic starry sky. Beneath my feet flowed a galaxy, and above me lay the eternally silent universe.

Tranquil, vast, and profound... a realm completely opposite to his demonic domain.

In the center of this starry river, a Taoist priest dressed simply stood with his hands behind his back. He was none other than Lu Cheng, the Taoist priest who once rose to fame in the Tongxuan Dharma Realm and whose Taoist cultivation has become even more unfathomable two thousand years later.

He possessed neither light nor power, yet his aura perfectly blended with the starry sky, as if he were the pulse of the universe, the "primordial" origin of all things.

A warning sign screamed wildly in Galo's heart!

"It's you?! That junior who was refining demonic artifacts in the mortal realm!" The demon roared, his voice creating an invisible storm in the starry sky.

"How dare you invade my thoughts!"

Upon hearing this, Daoist Lu Cheng remained calm, his eyes as still as an ancient well. His gaze towards Jia Luo held neither hatred nor fear, only a serene acceptance, like looking down upon the dust and smoke.
"Galo, you smuggled yourself to the mortal realm only to seek a sliver of survival, but now you've built a demon kingdom, devoured Yin energy, and bewitched the human world. You've crossed the line."

"Crossing the line!? Hahaha!" Upon hearing this, Gara laughed wildly, his demonic energy surging and condensing into ferocious demonic divine forms in the starry sky.

"Under the laws of Heaven, the strong prey on the weak! My descent into this realm is a matter of Heaven's will and destiny! Mortal ants and cultivators' nascent souls are all my prey! What boundaries are there?!" As he spoke, his body suddenly moved, transforming into a sky-covering demonic claw without warning, carrying a thick aura of blood and filth and countless wailing phantoms, grabbing down at Lu Cheng.

Before the claws even arrived, the demonic power that could steal souls and corrupt the body had already filled and permeated the galaxy!

This is Gara's signature demonic technique—the Myriad Souls Corroding God Claw, which merges the power of ten thousand souls' resentment and evil. Ordinary magic weapons are corrupted upon contact, and even the primordial spirit will be scattered upon touching it. It is a highly renowned demonic technique even in the Immortal Realm, and its ferocity is immeasurable in the mortal realm.

However, Lu Cheng remained unmoved in the face of this ferocious claw. He simply raised his right hand, bent his finger forward, and gently touched the demonic claw that was tearing through the air!
"Buzz!"

Five-colored light flows at the fingertips; it is not a divine weapon, but it contains the laws of the universe!

Five divine lights—gold, cyan, blue, red, and yellow—suddenly burst forth, transforming into an indestructible, rotating light barrier. The five elements flowed endlessly, generating life without ceasing; yin and yang complemented each other, their cycle never ending.

The demonic claws struck it, unleashing a piercing shriek and a surge of magical power. The filthy black energy frantically eroded it, but it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, constantly being decomposed, assimilated, and neutralized by the rotating five-colored divine light. In the end, it couldn't even break through the surface of the light barrier!
"Five-colored divine light? No, it's the five elements within your chest! The foundation of the five elements?! I underestimated you!"

Lu Cheng fused the true blood of the Twenty-Four Transformations God and Demon into his own body. This seemingly casual flick of the finger was actually a sublime evolution of the Five Elements Immortal Qi driven by the Five Elements Peacock Magic Power, turning heaven and earth into a furnace and refining all laws into nothingness.

When the Demon God Jialuo saw the power of Lu Cheng's Five Elements Immortal Qi, he instinctively assumed that the other party's cultivation path was the Innate Five Elements Great Dao, otherwise it would be difficult to cultivate the Five Elements Dao to such a level.

Seeing that her attack had failed and that her right demonic claw was faintly burned by the Five Elements Immortal Qi, Galo's murderous intent intensified.

Without hesitation, he unleashed a primordial spirit demonic treasure!
It was a demonic bell crafted from the skulls of nine different creatures—the Nine Grudges Summoning Bell. When the bell was shaken, it didn't produce a piercing sound, but rather nine distinct, mournful wails that intertwined to form an all-pervasive, cursed cacophony!

This demonic sound ignores spatial distance and the defenses of the five elements, penetrating directly into the mind and soul, capable of arousing the deepest fear, despair, and madness in people's hearts!
The sound of bells echoed through the starry sky, as if the deathly silent galaxy was tinged with a layer of despairing gray. Countless eerie and demonic figures emerged from the sound of the bells, screaming as they pounced on Daoist Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng frowned slightly. This demonic sound was strange and difficult to completely block with the flow of the five elements alone. He would probably be affected to some extent.

With a thought, a clear light shone from his brow, and the outline of a phantom tower appeared, hanging above his head and emanating wisps of energy. This was the Xuanhuang Pagoda, which he had forged using the fortune and merit of the human race as its source. The majestic righteousness and human will contained within it were the greatest nemesis of such evil curses.

The pagoda's clear light shone down, cleansing filth like sweet rain. The approaching demonic shadows screamed and vanished, the demonic sounds that pierced the soul seemingly encountering an invisible barrier, their power greatly diminished. Lu Cheng stood amidst the profound yellow light, like a primordial deity descending to earth, impervious to all evil!
"Human destiny? What a treasure! No wonder a mere mortal dared to come alone to cause me trouble."

Galo completely abandoned his contempt, and for the first time, his ferocious face showed a serious expression.

The Taoist priest before him possessed profound Taoist cultivation and unpredictable methods, far surpassing the likes of the Eastern Yang Divine Lord. His demonic body trembled violently, and violent demonic energy surged into the sky. His figure was strangely split in the demonic light, with his limbs and head flying off in different directions, before transforming back into eerie demonic light!
A middle-aged scholar, dressed in a scholar's cap and blue robe, unfolded a folding fan in his hand, which turned out to be a skull demon fan flowing with black blood. With each wave, a bone-chilling wind blew like a knife!

The withered old man held a filthy demon banner. The banner fluttered, and countless wronged souls that had been devoured and refined struggled and wailed within it, emitting the Soul Devouring Banner that shook the very soul!

A stunningly beautiful and alluring woman, barefoot, lightly touches the starry sea. Her red veil is graceful and her charm is innate. Every gesture she makes stirs up the seven emotions and six desires. Her bewitching power is enough to make even an immortal lose his mind. This is the alluring demon's desire!
The Four Manifestations of the Mighty Vajra, with three heads and six arms, each wielding a demonic weapon or blade burning with hellfire, is covered in jet-black bone armor. Its killing intent soars to the sky. This is the pure form of slaughter, the form of the Wrathful Vajra!
The Five-Transformation Eerie Child held a pair of black jade scissors. Wherever he passed, the space was left with faint traces of cutting, exuding an invisible sharpness that could sever cause and effect. It was his Jade Scissors for Severing Fate!
The six ethereal shadows blended into the starry sky background, silent yet exuding the most deadly sense of threat. They were Gara's insidious and cunning innate shadow demon, skilled in concealing his assassination nature!

"Lu Cheng! Taste the Six Extremes Demonic Form of this Venerable One!" Gara's six clones roared in unison, their voices overlapping and carrying a strange power. At the same time, each of them occupied a different position, as if they wanted to tear apart Lu Cheng's will and body.

Faced with this sudden and terrifying transformation and siege, Daoist Lu Cheng remained calm, but his eyes flashed with an unprecedented sharpness!
"I'll use your essence to sacrifice for my magic weapon!" A clear shout rang out, like a thunderclap from the heavens resounding across the starry river!
Lu Cheng Daoist moved. He spread his five fingers on his left hand and grabbed fiercely into the void!
An indescribable stream of dark light flew out from his palm and expanded instantly. It was not demonic energy, but a deeper, purer, and heavier form!
It suddenly transformed into a colossal hand that covered most of the starry sky. As soon as this hand appeared, it exuded a terrifying aura that suppressed and annihilated everything!
Neither metal nor wood, neither light nor darkness, it is a demonic artifact born from pure evil. It can be said that this calamity and the descent of the demon god Gara both originated from this.

The five fingers of the Heaven-Covering Demon Hand were slightly curved, like five enormous, toppled mountains. With boundless power, it directly grabbed at the middle-aged scholar's clone who was waving the demon fan and stirring up a bone-corroding, yin wind. One force overwhelms ten techniques!

At the same time, Lu Cheng Daoist pointed his right sword finger in unison!
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!" Five sword cries, clear and resonant, echoed throughout the universe!

Five dazzling sword rainbows of gold, cyan, blue, red, and yellow soared into the sky, intertwining and generating each other, instantly forming a magnificent sword formation in the starry sky that encompassed the four elements and five symbols and locked away time and space.

Five Elements Flying Swords, Five Elements Generation and Destruction Sword Formation!
Lu Cheng did not waste these two thousand years. Although his magical power did not increase very quickly, his Taoist cultivation and supernatural abilities improved by leaps and bounds.

It turns out that Lu Cheng had cultivated the Xuan Tian Divine Art for two thousand years, progressing from the sixteenth transformation to the twenty-fourth transformation, and had respectively fused the blood of nine true spirits: the Five Elements Peacock, the Golden Crow, the Yinglong, the Nine-Tailed Fox, the Xiangliu, the Golden-Winged Roc, the Bifang, the Xuan Turtle, and the Zhu Yan.

In this battle, he relied on the connection between his own destiny and that of Gara to strike from afar with the Nine-Tailed Fox's Soul Technique. When the truth was disguised as falsehood, the falsehood became true, and when the falsehood became true, the truth became falsehood. The Nine-Tailed Fox clan's illusion magic was unparalleled in the world, and he was killed in this Soul Technique. If his Dao heart and demonic thoughts were slightly weak, he would have been killed in an instant.

It was this vague sense that made the demon god Gara dare not be careless, knowing that a single mistake would lead to her death.

As for setting up a sword formation with his natal sword treasure, the Invisible Sword, it is a sword light differentiation technique that Lu Cheng has cultivated over the past two thousand years:

The sword technique of sword light splitting is an extremely sophisticated sword technique that can split a flying sword into thousands or tens of thousands of swords without diminishing its power. Not to mention setting up any sword formation, who can stop the torrent of flying swords?
Lu Cheng is currently at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and the invisible sword he wields is at the top level of the seventh rank. If he could split into thousands or tens of thousands of seventh-rank flying swords, he could kill the demon god Jialuo with a single strike, causing him to be reduced to ashes, his soul scattered, and his eternal damnation.

Unfortunately, even with Lu Cheng's cultivation level, he could only split into five. This was only because his own cultivation method and the characteristics of the flying sword were compatible. It would be extremely difficult to make any further progress. Without great opportunities or encounters, it would be difficult to make any further progress even after ten thousand years of cultivation, which is normal.

However, if used well, five top-tier seventh-order flying swords would be an extremely formidable weapon among cultivators of the same level!

The golden sword is incomparably sharp, cutting through space; the green sword contains life force and killing intent, corroding the demonic body; the blue sword freezes all laws, slowing down movement; the red sword burns the sky and boils the sea, purifying filth; the yellow sword is as heavy as a mountain, suppressing the source!
The sword formation spun down, like a net covering the sky and the earth, simultaneously enveloping the withered old man's clone who was holding the Ten Thousand Souls Devouring Banner and trying to incite the wronged souls to attack, the alluring and seductive Demonic Desire who was trying to arouse Lu Cheng's inner demons, and the three-headed, six-armed Vajra who was wielding demonic weapons to fight head-on!
The sword energy stretched out in countless directions, each one containing the five elements sword intent to slay demons and monsters, cutting through the void and emitting a howling sound that tore apart the souls of cultivators!
The demon god Gara manifested six avatars, and the middle-aged scholar was being chased and grabbed by a sky-covering giant hand, seemingly terrified.

The withered old man, the alluring woman, and the mighty Vajra were unable to dodge and were surrounded by Lu Cheng's Five Elements Life and Death Sword Formation, facing an endless barrage of Five Elements sword energy.

Only the sinister child and the ethereal, eerie shadow clone remained. The two merged and vanished without a trace, even Lu Cheng's divine sense couldn't detect them.

Faced with this hidden assassination attempt by the Shadow Demon, a golden light flashed in Lu Cheng Dao Ren's eyes, and his Fiery Eyes Golden Pupil technique instantly captured the elusive trajectory and whereabouts of the Shadow Demon!

"Screech!" Immediately afterwards, a sharp cry, seemingly from the primordial wilderness, rang out from Lu Cheng!
A blazing, sun-like crimson-gold light erupted from his body, transforming into a phantom image of a three-legged golden crow!
The pure, domineering, and all-consuming true fire of the sun burst forth at this moment, instantly burning and forcing back the Child of Destiny and the Shadow Demon clone who had sneaked up and were wielding black jade scissors to stab Lu Cheng in the back!

The blood of the golden crow, true yang dispels illusion!
If Lu Cheng were to focus on the Golden Crow True Blood, then a single burst of Solar True Fire would likely be enough to obliterate Zhan Yuan Tong Zi and the Shadow Demon clone, reducing them to nothingness.

However, with such true blood in his body, Lu Cheng needed to cultivate twenty-four different paths. He could use the Golden Crow Sun True Fire, but its pure circulation was somewhat insufficient.

Therefore, when the real fire burned, it sent the shadow demon clone flying backward.

However, the Child of Severing Fate separated from the Shadow Demon's clone and finally swung his scissors to cut it down, full of ferocity and malice, stubbornly resisting the true fire.

Lu Cheng neither dodged nor evaded, but instead unleashed the sharpest and most destructive technique in the Xuan Tian Transformation, the Geng Jin Sword Finger, and pointed it out, striking the boy's brow.

At the same time, a layer of ancient, solid, and seemingly earth-supporting primordial energy instantly enveloped the Taoist's entire body:

I have the Xuanhuang Pagoda standing above my head, which makes me invincible. What do you have?
boom!
The black jade scissors struck the Xuanhuang Qi, leaving a deep mark, but they could not truly sever the protective Xuan light that pierced Lu Cheng and the merit and destiny in the dark.

"boom!!!"

"Sizzle!!!"

"Oh!"

"Ahhhhh..."

A series of earth-shattering explosions and energy storms erupted in the sea of ​​stars!
The demonic hand formed from the Seven Refined Yuan Shen Pearl finally caught the Demon Fan Scholar. The bone-corroding yin wind released by the demonic fan disintegrated inch by inch under the immense power of the demonic hand. The scholar's clone let out a fierce roar of unwillingness, and his body began to crack like porcelain, with the demonic energy in his body dissipating wildly!

Within the Five Elements Sword Formation, the Myriad Souls Banner swayed precariously, as countless wronged souls were cleansed and purified by the Five Elements Sword Qi, causing the banner to tear!

The withered old man's clone was severely injured, and the Demoness's attempt to use her powers backfired. Her soul was impacted by a righteous and grand idea, causing the illusion to distort and collapse!
Under the endless bombardment of the Five Elements Sword Qi, the Vajra Image with three heads and six arms was exhausted and could not defend itself. The demon soldiers cried out, their bone armor shattered, and they were forced to retreat step by step!

The Shadow Demon and his Child Avatar also failed to achieve their goal against the Golden Crow True Fire and the Xuanhuang Pagoda!

In the blink of an eye, the six avatars of the demon god Gara seemed to have all fallen into a hopeless and irreversible predicament.

The chaotic starry sea was deathly silent, with only the eternal starlight flowing through the cold void, outlining the silhouettes of two supreme cultivators of this realm. A chilling aura froze time and space. "Five Elements Revolve, Slash!" Daoist Lu Cheng shouted, his Daoist robes fluttering as he activated his magic seals. The five flying swords, almost formless and shapeless yet imbued with an aura of annihilation, suddenly hummed.

The invisible sword itself was already integrated with the Five Elements Immortal Qi and the origin of the Mysterious Heaven Divine Skill, thus instantly transforming into the purest killing power.

In an instant, the sword formation activated, as if a world had been created and creation had begun!

The sharpness of metal is like the divine light of Geng metal that cleaves through the starry sky; the vitality of wood transforms into boundless vine-like binding sword energy; the gentleness of water contains the chill that freezes all things; the ferocity of fire ignites the Southern Bright Fire that burns away the stars; the weight of earth condenses into the phantom of Mount Sumeru that suppresses all things!
The sword formation transformed into a cage, within which the power of the five elements—birth and death—revolved wildly.

As soon as Galo's six demonic clones came into contact with the barrier made of invisible sword energy, which was like a physical cage, they vanished in an instant, like snow meeting the scorching sun.

The withered old man let out a mournful howl, attempting to erode the sword net with his decaying demonic light, but he was entangled, absorbed, and annihilated by the ever-renewing wood-element sword energy;
The alluring demon conjured countless bewitching and enchanting phantoms, its seductive arts aimed directly at the Dao heart, yet under the pure and majestic blazing sword energy, they screamed and turned to ashes.

The wrathful Vajra-like figure, a blend of Buddha and demon, unleashed a demonic fist imprint with three heads and six arms, powerful enough to shatter mountains. However, it was fiercely blocked by the earth element sword energy, as heavy as an ancient divine mountain. The metal sword energy then pierced through the skull and instantly disintegrated.
Under the relentless, ever-changing sword energy of the Five Elements, all resistance became futile.

Within the Five Elements Sword Formation, spacetime was fractured, laws were disordered, and demonic energy dissipated rapidly, like ink poured into boiling water.

"Roar!"

Galo's true form unleashed a roar that shattered the starry sea, suddenly transforming from illusion to reality. The destruction of his clone felt like tearing apart his very soul, bringing excruciating pain.

But as a former Void-Returning Demon Lord who once roamed the Immortal Realm, his foundation was far more than that.

"Undying Demon Evolution!" Gara roared in demonic words.

Centered on the Shadow Demon, that point of ghostly light frantically absorbed the surrounding energy at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Within a fraction of a breath, the five avatars—the withered old man, the alluring demon, the wrathful Vajra—re-emerged once more, standing unharmed beneath the starry sky! Their five bodies, united as one, instantly stabilized themselves according to a distorted, time-space-inverted, yin-yang-confusing orientation.

"Wait, why are there only five incarnations?"

The old man, the seductive demon, and the Vajra all died under the Five Elements Sword Formation, while the boy was pierced through the brow by Lu Cheng's Geng Metal Sword Finger, erasing his existence.

Only the middle-aged scholar was crushed by the sky-covering hand formed from the Seven Cultivation Primordial Spirit Pearl, and he was the only one who did not come back to life.

The Demon God Jialuo gazed intently at the Seven-Cultivation Primordial Spirit Bead flying in the air. He saw that within the dark red sphere, one more of the thirteen soul rays had appeared, transforming into fourteen soul rays.

"What a magical artifact! It's so powerful; it can actually devour demonic spirits!"

The fear in his heart lasted only a moment; in an instant, the Demon God Gara flicked his sleeve and threw out his natal demonic treasure.
"Shh!"

A demonic array composed of endless skeletons, vengeful spirits, and turbid blood appeared out of thin air, encompassing Lu City and the sword array!
The remaining five avatars no longer fought independently; their powers were linked by the great formation, forming a Six Hell God-Slaying Diagram that covered the starry sea and exuded an aura of decay, depravity, and destruction!
The deathly starlight was stained a murky dark purple by the demonic array, and thick, foul-smelling drops of demonic blood condensed in the void. Each drop of rain contained the true meaning of a curse, and demonic sounds pierced the ears, reaching straight to the Purple Mansion, trying to shake the rock-solid foundation of Lu Cheng's Dao heart!
"What can a mere Five Elements Sword Formation do to me?" Galo's true form was hidden at the core of the demonic formation, her voice hoarse and smug:
"I am indestructible! Lu Cheng, today I will let you taste the flavor of the Six Extremes Demonic Prison!"

"...At most, it can be called the Five Extremes Demon Prison now."

Faced with the terrifying pressure of the demonic array that would make even ordinary Void Returning cultivators wary, Daoist Lu Cheng showed no sign of panic. Instead, he revealed a thoughtful expression that was hard to describe.

Then, he suddenly did something that greatly surprised Galo.

The phantom of the Xuanhuang Pagoda, which hung down with thousands of mysterious and yellow energies and flowed with the fortune and immeasurable merit of the human race, slowly withdrew its impregnable radiance and shrank back into its body at the slightest thought of Lu Cheng!
As the primordial energy dissipated, the seemingly indestructible defense vanished.

"Hmm?" Galo's blood-red eyes narrowed sharply, but then he thought that such a powerful defensive magic weapon, which had supported all-round defense for so long, must be exhausted and unable to continue if it was put away now.

This is an opportunity you can't miss!

"Die, you brat!" Galo laughed wildly. For the first time, his true form broke out of the core of the demon array and echoed his five clones. They gathered all the killing power of the Six Hells God-Slaying Diagram and transformed it into a dark chaotic demonic stream that covered the starry sea and solidified into a tangible substance. It crashed into Lu Cheng Dao Ren, who had lost the protection of the pagoda!
This strike contained the immense source of power he had accumulated by devouring Dongyang Divine Lord, thousands of cultivators from Yunya Sect, and countless beings from Jade Dew City. It was also his cruel interpretation and understanding of the Great Dao as a demonic cultivator in the Void Returning Realm!
The Taoist priest Lu Cheng on the other side seemed to be at his last gasp.

Faced with this powerful attack that nearly destroyed the moon and stars, he only had time to barely condense the Five Elements Immortal Qi and the Five Elements Flying Swords in front of him, transforming them into a defensive system of sword energy flowing with five colors: blue, red, yellow, white, and black.

Boom—Crack!
The sword aura defense trembled violently the moment it came into contact with the dark demonic flow. It only lasted for less than a breath before its surface was covered with spiderweb-like cracks and finally shattered!
The violent impact slammed into Lu Cheng's body without reservation!

puff!
Lu Cheng's face turned pale, and he spat out a mouthful of blood that shimmered with a pale golden color, staining the Daoist robe fluttering in front of him.

For the first time, his tall figure was struck as if by a heavy hammer, involuntarily flying backward, leaving a long trail in the starry sky.

"Opportunity!" Galo's eyes blazed with ferocity. Seizing the opportunity, he pressed his advantage. His five clones roared as they broke free from the demonic array's restraints, like five dark, demonic rainbows tearing through space, instantly rushing towards Lu Cheng.

Close combat is Galo's forte! His demonic body has been tempered by countless demonic tribulations, making it stronger than divine iron and capable of corrupting immortals and gods!
The withered old man's hands became dry and black, his nails grew out of shape, and he carried a curse that seemed to extinguish life, aiming straight for Lu Cheng's heart!

The seductive gaze of the alluring demon transformed into tangible pink chains, binding Lu Cheng's limbs and bones, intending to restrict his movements and undermine his will!
The three-headed, six-armed Vajra-like figure wielded various demonic weapons—knives, swords, pestles, wheels, hooks, and chains—weaving together a destructive storm that was impenetrable to water, its target being Lu Cheng's head, dantian, and purplish-red acupoint!
The other two clones, shrouded in filth and blood, torn apart by vengeful spirits, and chilled by the biting wind, each used their own methods!
In the blink of an eye, Lu Cheng's figure swayed and flickered like a willow in the wind amidst a dense barrage of deadly attacks.

Sometimes his body moved like a dragon swinging its tail, narrowly avoiding the soul-snatching claws aimed at his heart; other times his blood and qi roared like a Kui ox beating a drum, forcefully breaking the alluring chains binding his body.
At the heart of this destructive storm, the five elements of immortal energy between his fingers were highly condensed and compressed, transforming into sharp, metallic rays that could pierce through space and directly confront the Vajra Demon Soldier!

Clang! Clang! Clang! Sizzle!

The sound of metal clashing was deafening. The five elements of immortal energy clashed fiercely with the berserk demonic soldiers. Every clash stirred up destructive energy ripples, tearing apart and reassembling the surrounding dreamlike starry sea!

Lu Cheng displayed astonishing combat awareness and resilience in the fight. He compensated for the disadvantage caused by the lack of defensive magic weapons with his agility, speed, and skill. However, Gara's clones coordinated seamlessly, while the true form of the demon god remained hidden in the shadows, seeking an opportunity to strike a fatal blow.

Finally, Lu Cheng unleashed a "Shattering Void Fist Imprint" imbued with the power of a giant spirit, forcefully repelling the furious attack of the Vajra-faced demon pestle. In the instant before the old force was gone and the new force had been generated!
The true form of the demon god Gara moved! Silently, as if merging into the void itself, a giant claw covered in jet-black bone scales and swirling with the purest primal demonic energy, carrying a terrifying pressure that could annihilate all life, quietly arrived and imprinted itself on Lu Cheng's back!
Timing! Angle! Power! Exquisitely perfect! If this claw strikes, even a Void Returning Body would be severely injured!
laugh!
Just as the bone claw was about to touch the Taoist robe, it was as if Lu Cheng had eyes on the back of his head. An extremely pure blood-qi magic power shot up from his spine, and at the same time, his figure rushed forward like lightning!
The bone claws missed! But the fierce claw wind still left three deep, bone-revealing wounds on Lu Cheng's shoulder, with dark demonic energy frantically eroding inward! However, in this life-or-death moment, Lu Cheng finally caught a fleeting opening in Gara's true form!

"It is impolite not to reciprocate!" Lu Cheng's eyes flashed with divine light! Ignoring the sharp pain in his shoulder, he forcibly twisted his body in mid-air, spread his five fingers with his left hand, and grabbed at the void! It was not a physical object, but a high-level cultivator's instinctive understanding and application of spatial rules—imprisonment.

Gara's true form paused for a moment! Though only for a split second, it was enough!
"The five elements unite, slaying demons and monsters!" Lu Cheng gestured with his right hand, and the five invisible flying swords that had been briefly suppressed by the demon array suddenly crossed space and came!

Among them, three dazzling sword lights, fused with the ultimate sharpness, gentle penetration, and life-and-death stripping intent of the three elements of immortal energy—metal, water, and wood—transformed into three intersecting rainbows, fiercely piercing through Gara's true form's left shoulder, right rib, and... heart!
puff!puff!puff!
Demonic blood splattered, the dark purple blood like a deadly, poisonous flame, scorching the very air around them! Galo let out a bloodcurdling scream!

Three sword wounds would be fatal to an ordinary cultivator, but he was a demon god, and his core demonic source was not in his heart; this sword ultimately failed to destroy his foundation. However, the power of the five elements' generation and destruction contained within the sword intent raged and wreaked havoc within his demonic body!
Almost simultaneously! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Gara seized the moment when Lu Cheng attacked his true form, and his seven palm strikes, ready to be unleashed, slammed into Lu Cheng's chest, abdomen, and arms that were defending him!

Lu Cheng's body trembled violently, as if he had been struck by seven stars at the same time, and the powerful protective magic power was completely shattered! His internal organs seemed to shift, and his golden body was covered with spider web-like cracks, with a dark demonic palm print even more severe than the one on his shoulder etched on it!

He spat out pale golden blood again, his body flying backwards like a meteor, his aura instantly weakening!
On the surface, Lu Cheng's ability to withstand seven palm strikes and pierce Jia Luo's three swords seems to have resulted in mutual injury and a significant loss for both sides!
The three shocking sword holes on Gara's body continuously emitted mixed five elements of demonic energy, causing him excruciating pain. However, Lu Cheng's dying appearance only fueled the fury and greed in Gara's heart to the extreme!

Devouring this powerful opponent would be enough to completely restore him to his former glory, or even make him stronger than before!

"Surrender now!" Ignoring his injuries, Gara once again activated his five clones, carrying a world-destroying power and a torrent of demonic energy formed from the resentment of countless cultivators' souls that he had devoured and digested, intending to deliver the final blow to Lu Cheng!
The fragments of souls of those devoured beings swirled, wailed, and protested amidst the demonic energy, like grayish-white snowflakes!
At this critical moment!
As Lu Cheng flew backward, the weakness in his eyes suddenly faded, and he unleashed a sharp divine light that penetrated through the ages and made even the demon god tremble!
"You insatiable demon, today you will pay the price!"

Lu Cheng's hands moved with lightning speed, forming a profound and ancient hand seal. This hand seal was not an offensive technique, but a supreme art that communicated with the causal laws of heaven and earth!
The body's Qi and blood surged, and the "Mysterious Heaven Divine Skill" circulated endlessly.

Buzz—! A colossal phantom suddenly appeared behind Lu Cheng. This phantom stood tall and imposing, its grandeur vast and boundless, seemingly forged from the prayers of all living beings, or perhaps an ancient and enduring monument!
That was the Xuanhuang Merit Pagoda. The pagoda trembled slightly, the holy voice of humanity resounded, and boundless golden light of merit burst forth!
"Reverse cause and effect! Return all souls to their origin! Give it all back to me!"

With a command imbued with a grand will, Lu Cheng formed a hand seal and unleashed a palm strike!
*Puff puff puff puff…!* The demon god Gara was struck by this magic seal head-on, as if struck by lightning.

The three sword wounds inflicted by Lu Cheng on his massive demonic body, along with the vast soul essence accumulated from devouring countless living beings and not yet fully refined and integrated into his origin, burst forth like a dam breaking!

In an instant, thousands of clusters of bright or dim spiritual light suddenly exploded in the turbid and surging torrent of demonic energy. Among these spiritual lights were fragments of the primordial spirit of the Dongyang Divine Lord, which was still filled with grief and indignation; remnants of the souls of the elders and disciples of the Yunya Sect, who were filled with fear and despair; and countless pure souls of the people of Yulu City, who were still innocent and undying.

As soon as these rays of light broke free from the demonic body's restraints, they seemed to be drawn by the mysterious origin of humanity and the righteous energy emanating from Lu Cheng. They rushed forward, transforming into streams of light filled with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow. Like stars flying in reverse, they pierced through the barriers of the Dream Star Sea and returned to the vast and boundless depths of the multiverse, returning to the ethereal yet real origin of reincarnation.

The sight was breathtakingly magnificent! It was like an aurora ocean composed of souls rising from a wave of demonic energy!
The power of the demon god Gara visibly plummeted! The "resources" he had painstakingly absorbed were instantly stripped away by more than half!

The demon's regenerative abilities were severely hampered, causing the three sword wounds to crack and expand, intensifying the pain!

"Ah! You!" Galo was filled with shock and anger, and even felt a sense of unbelievable fear!

The opponent actually possesses such bizarre and unpredictable methods, capable of forcibly reversing his Void Returning level Devouring Law?!
Lu Cheng steadied himself in mid-air, his Taoist robe stained with blood and torn in many places. His aura was weak, but his spine was straight and his eyes were cold as he stared at Jialuo, who appeared weak due to the sudden decrease in his strength.

His voice wasn't loud, yet every word was like thunder from the heavens, carrying an undeniable power of rules, resounding deep within Gara's true spirit:
"Galo! When we fight, victory or defeat depends on our own methods; this is the destiny of cultivators! However, you have committed an unforgivable crime by slaughtering mortals and using the essence of billions of lives to nourish your demonic body!"

"In today's battle, all the souls you devoured have returned to their origin!"

"This is the dividing line! After this battle, if I hear of you again committing such heinous acts that devour mortal beings..."

The previously listless aura around Lu Cheng suddenly erupted with an extremely sharp and resolute force that was chilling, as if a slumbering primordial beast had abruptly opened its cold, vertical pupils:

"Even if I exhaust all the heavens and myriad realms, and shatter the nine netherworlds, I will still use boundless killing techniques to sever your demonic soul and annihilate your very essence! So that you... may never be reborn! Do not say I did not warn you!"

The final number, like a thunderbolt from the heavens, struck Galo's mind with devastating force.

That contained no false threat, but a resolute killing intent that came from the very root of one's Dao heart!
At this moment, Gara had no doubt that if he dared to slaughter mortals again, the seemingly seriously injured human cultivator in front of him would definitely stop at nothing to end this deadlock of battle ahead of time!

"What exactly is going on with this Taoist priest...?"

After uttering these words, the Taoist's figure gradually faded away and disappeared without a trace.

Galo exhaled a long breath, summoning back his five avatars, but his crimson eyes remained fixed on the spot where Lu Cheng had disappeared, his demonic thoughts rapidly calculating:
"It's perfectly normal for him to retreat at this point. Although both sides were injured, his injuries should be more severe than mine. Righteous cultivators often can't win when they get entangled in a fierce battle with demonic cultivators."

"Being unable to devour mortals certainly means losing a significant amount of 'food.' But which cultivator in the righteous or demonic path of the cultivation world doesn't possess a spiritual foundation? Devouring them can restore our mana, and even... devouring our own demonic offspring is also an option if necessary! They were originally inspired by our own demonic energy, sharing the same origin, so devouring them would result in less backlash and higher conversion efficiency!"

As time passed, the Nine-Tailed Soul Technique gradually dissipated, and in the Yin-Yang Realm Demon Kingdom, the mind of the Demon God Gara returned to normal.

In the Tongxuan Realm, within the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace, Lu Cheng Daoist's mind returned to the Yin-Yang Dharma Platform and merged into his physical body.

"Hmph... The demonic cultivator from the Upper Realm who has returned to the Void Realm does indeed have some skill. His magical power has dropped to the Nascent Soul Realm, and nine out of ten of his demonic treasures have been lost. Even if I risked my life, I still couldn't kill him. I would have to use my second life at least."

"The cultivators and mortals of Yunya Sect and Yulu City, I spared Bo Ren, yet he ultimately died because of me. Releasing their souls today is a form of compensation."

Lu Cheng didn't care whether Jialuo devoured righteous or demonic cultivators. Cultivators abandon their country and family, turn their backs on heaven to seek the Dao, and use their destiny for themselves. Such people deserve any amount of blessings, and they deserve any amount of sins, even if their souls are scattered. They are simply bearing their own fate.

However, mortals are innocent and are the foundation of cultivators. Lu Cheng did not expect that refining demonic treasures in the lower realm would attract a demon god named Jialuo, who was destined to face calamity. He also did not foresee the destruction of Yunya Sect and Yulu City, which is why today's battle has occurred.

Galo thought that both sides would be severely injured, and that he even had the advantage. In reality, Lu Cheng cultivated the immortal body of Taoism and possessed twenty-four transformations, which meant he had twenty-four lives. However, he was unwilling to kill the demon god Galo now. He wanted Galo to gather the demonic energy of the mortal world and then destroy him in one fell swoop, so that after he ascended, the demonic path in the mortal world would not flourish for ten thousand years.

This can be considered my last act, something I did for this world.

"Speaking of which, I should also be considered to have started from the demonic path, but now I've turned around and blocked your path... Oh well, the demonic path doesn't care."

(End of this chapter)