Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 538 Flying Sword Cleanses a Thousand-Year Calamity, Eternal Merit Before the Stele of Merit (12,000 words added)

In the blink of an eye, we've traversed thousands of miles, crossing the sea of ​​stars.

The realm of profound mystery, above the Heavenly Palace of Heaven and Earth.

A vast rainbow of light, like a celestial river descending, carrying indescribable Dao intent and pressure, plunged into the lower realm, into the highest point of the Heavenly Dao Palace—the Xuanzhen Jade Palace—where spiritual energy rises and the phenomenal world is ever-changing.

Within the rainbow of light, a colossal, mountain-like yet ethereal, phantom figure could be faintly seen. Its form was noble and majestic, as if it were the embodiment of heaven and earth, the condensation of all things.

This was the manifestation of Daoist Lu Cheng after he had traveled through the void with his primordial spirit and struck the demon king with his mind. This rainbow of light, containing supreme magical power, gently receded and returned to the center of his brow, where he sat quietly on the core altar of the Jade Palace.

In an instant, as if the sun had risen and the moon had set, and the stars had shifted, Lu Cheng's true form moved slightly and opened his eyes.

In the depths of those eyes, there was no longer the joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness of the mundane world, but the profound vision of the ephemeral existence of stars and the cycle of life in the universe. They were as still as an ancient well, yet they penetrated the dark and mysterious heavens.

The path of cultivation, a thorny road that defies fate and pursues the Great Dao, is rooted in the profound mysteries of its progressive transformations in the realms of life and nature:

From the initial glimpse into the innate realm, one captures that sliver of pure and ethereal energy amidst the myriad turbidities of the world, sensing the wandering spiritual energy—this is the initial path to enlightenment. Then, in the Qi Refining realm, one uses the mortal body to inhale and exhale spiritual energy, transforming it into magical power, like trickles of water converging into a stream, accumulating the initial foundation of magical power.

Next comes the Foundation Establishment Realm, where one uses Qi Refining Technique to refine the physical body and undergo a complete transformation, cleansing away acquired impurities and forging a physique more suited to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Then one enters the Purple Mansion Realm, where one opens up a void within the sea of ​​consciousness, as if the inner world is newly formed, and magical power is deposited and purified here, transforming into a deeper foundation.

Only when the Golden Elixir is condensed can one truly step onto the threshold of the Great Dao. One gathers the essence of heaven and earth, refines one's own essence, qi, and spirit, and finally condenses them into a single point, transforming into a flawless, golden, and immortal "True Seed".

This golden elixir is like the primordial yang at the beginning of a person's life; it is the root of life and the mother body for the future development of the "nascent soul".

The mystery of the Nascent Soul realm lies precisely in this. The Golden Core breaks through to form the Nascent Soul, which, based on the Golden Core, gives birth to a primordial true spirit form—the Nascent Soul.

This tender "innate fetus" is both extremely fragile and extremely powerful. Its strength may not be as robust and powerful as a cultivator's physical body, but it possesses a purity and essence that the physical body cannot match, as well as almost limitless growth potential.

This is what the Taoist scriptures refer to as the "innate wonder".

An ordinary baby, from birth to adulthood, is only a dozen times taller, yet it takes more than a decade to consume grains and cereals.

However, in the mother's womb, from a tiny speck of yin and yang seeds, to a fetus with all four limbs and five internal organs, its size increases by more than ten million times, yet it only takes ten months!
The key lies in the word "innate".

Unfortunately, no matter how strong a fetus is, the small world inside its mother's womb is ultimately a cage, limiting its infinite possibilities.

The Nascent Soul realm sought by cultivators is the initial achievement of this "Innate True Spirit." Those who cultivate to the peak of the Primordial Spirit realm transform themselves into another level of "Innate Fetus," using this vast and boundless world, where rules are manifested, as their "mother."
Then, this nascent soul absorbs the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, gradually grows into an adult, and from nascent soul to primordial spirit, gradually transforming its physical body into that of an earth immortal.

For cultivators with advanced primordial spirit cultivation, their primordial spirit possesses combat power almost equivalent to that of their physical body, and primordial spirit separation is no longer a weakness.

At this moment, Lu Cheng's thoughts traversed the boundless sea of ​​stars, and his primordial spirit returned to its place. The Jade Palace was silent, with only the flow of Daoist rhyme and the misty immortal glow.

Below, a group of core disciples of the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace, led by Miao Chuyun, Youming Daoren, Shi Sheng, and Yun Huang'er, as well as the Xiao sisters, Xue Yuzhen and Yun Ling'er, Chi Yang and Tun Yue, and their wives and subordinates, were present.

After the Master's primordial spirit returned to its place, they quickly gathered together and stood solemnly, holding their breath and concentrating, awaiting the Master's decree.

Lu Cheng opened his eyes, which seemed to crackle with electricity, and swept them over every devout and resolute face in the hall. His voice was not loud, but it resonated clearly in everyone's heart:

"The Demon God Galo has been severely injured."

He spoke calmly, as if stating a trivial matter. At this moment, within the Seven Cultivation Yuan Shen Pearls of Daoist Lu Cheng, a demonic spirit was sealed, howling and struggling.

The Nine-Tailed Fox lineage's Soul Illusion Technique is so profound that it can be both real and fake, and vice versa.

Without this level of skill, this race would not have been able to rank among the powerful true spirit races in the primordial era.

"His demonic body is already unstable, and his primordial spirit is also damaged. My attack was enough for him to recuperate for a thousand years. Although this fiend is crazy and violent, he knows the consequences. In order to prevent his demonic essence from dissipating, he dares not easily carry out the act of slaughtering mortal beings again."

"However, demonic nature is unruly and difficult to tame. The healing of its injuries and the refinement of its demonic arts all require a massive amount of pure living souls to nourish it. Since it is inconvenient to move lightly, it will send countless minions and demonic offspring to scatter throughout the realms, infiltrate the mortal world, and secretly carry out abductions, set up altars for blood sacrifices, and raise evil spirits to plunder living souls for it, repair its internal injuries, and corrupt the Heavenly Dao with its demonic influence."

At this point, Lu Cheng's voice paused slightly, then carried a chilling, metallic tone: "This is your battlefield! It is also the trial and opportunity bestowed upon you by Heaven!"

"Flying swords refine demons, cleansing the universe! You cultivate the orthodox Xuanmen sect, and should use your Daoist arts to protect living beings and sever evil influences. This is accumulating good deeds, known as 'heretical merit'! This accumulation of merit is not merely for fame, but also concerns your future Daoist destiny, influencing the power of the Heavenly Tribulation, and even determining your Daoist achievements after ascension to the heavens! The struggle between righteous and demonic destiny has begun. If you can establish merit in this struggle, slay demons and eliminate evil, and stabilize the land, you will be in accordance with the Heavenly Dao and accumulate a solid foundation for your Dao! This is not only a matter for our Daoist Palace lineage, but also concerns the survival of billions of living beings here, and your own path to transcendence!"

After their master finished speaking, Miao Chuyun and the Netherworld Daoist led their fellow disciples to bow respectfully and reply in unison, "Disciples will obey the decree!" Their voices resounded throughout the hall.

They knew perfectly well that their master, the human god-king who had traversed mountains of corpses and seas of blood and shattered the Heavenly Dao of ten thousand demons over thousands of years, had already stood at the pinnacle of this world.

Ascending to the heavens was not an unrealistic dream for him, but a clear and easy path. In fact, if it weren't for protecting his close relatives, Miao Chuyun and Youming would have no doubt that their master could break through the barrier and ascend to heaven at any time.

But it is precisely because of these worldly ties that we have been able to stay by our master's side for so long and listen to his teachings.

Throughout history, after such a great cultivation that establishes a sect and influences for thousands of years, the second and third generation true disciples all have extraordinary opportunities. Their chances of attaining enlightenment and ascending to immortality are naturally far greater than those of others!

Miao Chuyun and Youming, who were already Nascent Soul cultivators, had a strong desire to pursue the Dao. Many disciples of the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace behind them shared this sentiment.

Among the crowd, Shi Sheng and Yun Huang'er, both Nascent Soul True Monarchs, stood side by side. Even with the help of longevity pills in their first lives, they failed to cultivate their primordial spirits, but in their second lives, they had a much better chance.

Shi Sheng had a handsome face and sharp eyes, with a sword intent that he held back but did not unleash; Yun Huang'er, on the other hand, was exceptionally beautiful and had an otherworldly temperament, like a snow lotus on an iceberg, pure with a hint of coldness.

Their relationship is extremely delicate. In their previous life, they were husband and wife. After reincarnation, in this life, in order to strengthen their foundation and increase their power, even if they were to marry again, they would remain virgins. They would be husband and wife in name only, just companions to each other. They would be without desire in form and without emotion in sex. Only in this way could they achieve perfect harmony of body and spirit and increase their cultivation and power.

However, this method is ultimately a helpless choice for those who lack aptitude and comprehension, and who want to get started as quickly as possible.

However, compared to the pleasures of lust, ascending to immortality is far more important.

"You shall bear my command token and contact the righteous allies scattered throughout the Seven Realms. With the Heavenly Dao Palace as your central hub, command all cultivators! When you encounter any henchmen of the demonic path, kill, suppress, or capture them without regard to circumstance, and decide the matter according to your own methods!"

"We will obey the decree and do our utmost to vanquish the demon, living up to the expectations of the Divine Lord!" The crowd in the hall was filled with excitement, and a vast expanse of immortal energy and radiant light soared into the sky.

Streams of light flew out from the Jade Palace. These were disciples and elders riding the spiritual light of their magical treasures, quickly gathering, breaking through the clouds, tearing through space, and spreading like wildfire towards the border between the mortal realm of the Seven Realms and many spiritual mountains and blessed lands, towards the mountains, rivers, cities and towns that were about to be tainted by demonic energy.

Daoist Shisheng rode his sword, traversing a thousand miles in an instant, his robes fluttering in the fierce wind. Yun Huang'er followed closely beside him, their minds connected by a divine connection.
"Master has painstakingly planned this battle between good and evil. As long as Senior Sister Miao and Senior Brother Youming make great contributions, they will have a high chance of ascending to heaven in the future."

As a disciple of Lu Cheng, the Divine Lord of the Heavenly Dao Palace, Miao Chuyun and Youming Daoist have perfect cultivation and techniques, and their path forward is clear. The biggest hurdle to ascending to the upper realm is that the merits of the heretical path are insufficient. If their fate is not good, they may encounter severe heavenly punishment and die under the lightning.

The intensity of the ascension tribulation is sometimes difficult to estimate.

However, if one performs great service to a region or world and is favored by the Heavenly Dao, the possibility of encountering an extremely powerful tribulation for ascension is greatly reduced.

Blessed by Heaven and replenished by destiny, this is the significance of Miao Chuyun and the Netherworld Daoist participating in this battle between good and evil.

"We must work even harder. Before Master ascended to the upper realm, he protected us. For every bit of effort we put in, we would reap tenfold rewards. But if Master ascends to the upper realm in the future, our path to enlightenment will become much more difficult."

Upon hearing this, Yun Huang'er's fingertips brushed against the jade pendant at her waist, her cool divine sense penetrating directly into Shi Sheng's heart:
"Ascension is a smooth path for our Master. Our senior sisters and brothers are also quite confident. In comparison, we must work even harder. Otherwise, we might stop at the gates of Heaven and regret it for a thousand years..."

Their eyes met, revealing a tacit understanding that had developed from long-term companionship.

Two lifetimes of Daoist companionship, what need is there for further explanation?

Shi Sheng and Yun Huang'er are a proper Daoist couple, supporting and encouraging each other on their path of cultivation.

In contrast, many Daoist couples in the world, who are male and female cultivators who are bound together purely for the sake of cultivation and mutually replenishing each other's energy, have instead become each other's karmic obstacles and inner demons, and barriers on the path of cultivation. Such a Daoist relationship is better left unformed.

This battle is a war between good and evil that has lasted for thousands of years.

Led by the banished demon god Jialuo, they occupied the Yin-Yang realm, gathered countless demonic cultivators and demonic offspring as their henchmen, established a demonic kingdom in the human world, and committed rampant evil.

Although demonic cultivation techniques are fast-paced and incredibly powerful, the difficulty of ascending to immortality is far greater than that of righteous cultivation techniques. Now, a banished demon from the upper realm has descended to earth, alarming many old demons in various realms, who have come to become his disciples, seeking instruction in demonic arts and the path to immortality.

The demon god Jialuo was a cultivator from the Upper Realm who had fallen to the Lower Realm after reaching the Void Returning Realm. He truly possessed extremely high cultivation and attained great power. He subdued many old demons who had come to his door and brought them under his command, amassing a tremendous force in a very short time.

On the other side, led by Lu Cheng, the Divine Lord of Tongxuan Sword in the Tongxuan Realm, and with the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace as their hub, they gathered countless righteous cultivators to oppose those demonic offspring and henchmen, using flying swords to refine demons and protect the peace and tranquility of the mortal world.

During this process, the Demon God Jialuo made rapid progress because he was recovering his power. Every time he made a certain improvement, he would immediately find Lu Cheng Daoren to fight him. However, they had their share of victories and defeats. Every time Lu Cheng Daoren was about to fight to the death, the Demon God Jialuo would sense it in his demonic heart and instinctively retreat.

In his view, the advantage lies with him. He is recovering his power at the Void Returning Realm. As long as he refines a few more magical treasures and recovers more magic power, he will naturally be able to suppress his opponent in the future. The reason he does not kill his opponent now is only because his opponent may actually kill him. Even if there is only a three or four level chance, or even a one or two level chance, it is not worth it for him.

Therefore, whenever the two sides reach the crucial moment of their decisive battle, the demon god Gara will retreat.

Lu Cheng did not pursue him to kill him, nor was he in a hurry. The Demon God Jialuo had attracted out almost all the hidden old demons in the world. Killing them all and destroying their path could sever the demonic path's destiny for 100,000 years.

Because among the righteous cultivators, almost only Lu Cheng Shenjun can fight the demon god Jialuo alone without being defeated, so no matter which realm the righteous sects are in, whether they are willing or not, they have to follow the lead of the Tongxuan Realm's Heaven and Earth Dao Palace.

It would be fine if it took decades or even centuries, but after a thousand years, the demonic path in the Yin-Yang realm was eradicated, and the Heavenly Dao Palace had become a giant of the righteous path.

After all, the face of the righteous path is not the face of beasts; it cannot be used to advance when people are employed and then turned around when they are not, much less be turned over at will.

At the same time, Lu Cheng also disciplined his disciples, using moral education and strict sect rules to restrain them, gradually giving them the demeanor of a prestigious and upright sect.

After all, Lu Cheng was somewhat uneasy about this demonic tribulation. If he hadn't refined the Seven Cultivation Primordial Spirit Pearl, causing the demonic energy of the lower realm to surge, the demon god Jialuo would likely not have been able to successfully cross over to the lower realm and would have perished in the void turbulence.

At the same time, Lu Cheng could also clearly sense that after this battle between good and evil, he would ascend to the heavens.

Because of his terrible deeds, after killing the demon god Gara, Heaven and Earth could not repay him. Such a great favor had become an enemy of Heaven and Earth. If he did not leave now, he would become an enemy of Heaven and Earth.

Jumang Realm, Qingping Island.

This place was originally a secluded spot where mortals gathered spiritual herbs and cultivators searched for minerals. It was a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters with decent spiritual energy.

But more than a decade ago, a strong aura of resentment and death suddenly surged into the valley, and there were often sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling at midnight, as well as rumors of ordinary woodcutters disappearing.

Now, the valley entrance is filled with a menacing aura, forming a faint blackish-purple miasma.

Three figures appeared silently atop a mountain outside the valley.

The leader was Miao Chuyun, dressed in a gray-blue Taoist robe. She had a gentle aura, but her eyes were sharp as lightning.

Behind him on the left was the Netherworld Taoist, tall and thin, with a pale face, but not sickly; instead, he exuded a chilling aura that seemed almost tangible. On the right was Shi Sheng, carrying an ancient sword that hummed softly, brimming with fighting spirit.

“Senior Sister Miao, the evil aura in the valley is thick and lingers. There are at least three Nascent Soul level 'Hundred Bones Sect' demonic cultivators presiding over the array. The array should be the 'Nine Nether Soul Gathering and Evil Refining Array,' which imprisons the souls of the dead to refine the 'Hundred Sons Yin Soul Sword.'”

Miao Chuyun nodded slightly upon hearing this, a faint blue light flashing in her eyes, as if she could see through layers of illusion:
"Indeed. Tens of thousands of mortal souls are already trapped in the valley, wailing and struggling in unbearable pain. In addition, a Golden Core demon cultivator is leading dozens of Purple Mansion Realm demon cubs to activate the formation and torture the souls. It seems that they secretly abducted mortals here to carry out this evil practice when Gara was defeated and fled last time."

A chilling killing intent emanated from Shi Sheng, and the ancient sword behind him rang out with an increasingly sharp sound: "His actions deserve to be punished!"

"Master Lu's decree is to eradicate evil completely, and to especially protect the souls of the living from rebirth," Miao Chuyun said calmly.

"Junior Brother Youming, you will wield the Soul-Suppressing Banner, responsible for capturing living souls, protecting their spirits, and sending them into reincarnation. Junior Brother Shi, you will break through the formation and slay the demons head-on. Remember, if there are demons above the Nascent Soul stage, focus on trapping and suppressing them, leaving them alive to extract their souls and search their memories. This may lead to clues about Gara and his other henchmen."

Furthermore, the Hundred Bones Sect has a Nascent Soul Ancestor who has been in seclusion for many years. Although I cannot sense him now, I suspect he is hidden within the formation. Therefore, I can only support you from the sidelines and cannot fully assist you!

"Alright!" Daoist Shisheng responded without hesitation, his eyes flashing with a fierce sword light.

Seeing Shi Sheng in such a state, the Netherworld Taoist's eyes flashed with envy.

Over the years, he has followed his master's orders, shifting from punishment to forgiveness, gradually distancing himself from the path of killing, and instead focusing on accumulating merit. In recent years, he has been mostly an assistant, and has almost forgotten how exhilarating and joyful it was to slay demons with his sword.

However, he also knew that he was only half a step away from ascension, so even if he was itching to ascend, he had to endure it and exercise self-control, which was an essential step in the orthodox cultivation of the Xuanmen sect.

Seeing that her two junior brothers were ready, Miao Chuyun said no more. With a flick of her hand, a talisman appeared in her palm, one of the precious talismans bestowed by Lu Cheng: the Mysterious Female Demon-Attracting Talisman. This talisman was neither offensive nor defensive, but it had the effect of confusing the secrets of heaven and simulating demonic energy.

She tossed the talisman into the air, and a dark demonic rune spread out from it, instantly enveloping the three of them.

From the outside, the three of them suddenly appeared to have a cold and eerie aura, with a hint of demonic energy surging within them, almost identical to the demonic energy in the valley below.

"Go!" Miao Chuyun shouted, and the three of them transformed into three illusory beams of demonic light, treating the protective valley demon array as nothing, and silently "merging" into the array's baleful aura.

The next moment, the three of them appeared deep within the valley. The scene here was like a living hell:
In the center was a huge black blood pool, the stench of which filled the sky. Countless twisted and struggling transparent souls floated above the blood pool, emitting silent and mournful cries. Around the blood pool were nine white bone altars. On each altar sat a Nascent Soul level Hundred Bones Sect demonic cultivator, dressed in black robes with only his skeletal hands showing. He was chanting incantations and drawing blood energy and resentment to refine the nine bone sword prototypes shrouded in black energy that hung above the blood pool.
A demonic cultivator at the peak of the Golden Core stage, with a ferocious face and his body shrouded in a rusty, bloodthirsty aura, was wielding a bone whip covered in barbs, lashing the bodies of several cultivators bound to the altar chains, intensifying their pain to extract even more desperate soul power.

"Who are you?! How dare you..." The Golden Core demon cultivator was the first to notice the three clusters of black energy that had suddenly intruded, and he shouted angrily.

However, what answered him was three overwhelming beams of celestial light that pierced through the demonic aura!

"Humph!"

"kill!"

Miao Chuyun let out a cold snort, which was like the soft ringing of a jade chime, echoing throughout the valley. It carried the power of breaking through demons and purifying the mind, which made the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Hundred Bones Sect who were activating the formation tremble in their souls!
The hand seals she had already prepared were instantly unleashed—the Blazing Sun Needle!
Although he suppressed his magical power to the Nascent Soul stage, in an instant, dozens of pure, extremely strong, and fine golden rays shot from his fingertips, aiming with unparalleled precision at the dantian and qi sea of ​​the nine Yin Demons presiding over the altar! This incantation is specifically designed to break Yin and evil magical power, and can sever the circulation of demonic arts. Those struck by it feel as if ten thousand blazing needles have pierced their bodies, tracing back to the source and stabbing at the demonic infant, causing excruciating pain!
"Ah! Enemy attack!"

"The Blazing Sun Divine Needle is from a cultivator of the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace!" The three Nascent Soul demon cultivators from the Hundred Bones Sect were caught off guard. Their demonic cultivation was abruptly interrupted, and the Yin Soul Sword light they were refining dimmed. They were also struck by the needle and fell to the ground with screams.

It's no wonder they behaved badly; their appearance was too abrupt, and their actions were too decisive and ruthless.

Meanwhile, Shi Sheng had already been preparing to act.

The ancient sword on his back was now in his hand, its blade clear and cold as water, without the slightest glint of light. He took a step forward, his body moving with the sword, becoming one with it, and unleashed a mysterious and profound trajectory.

There was no earth-shattering momentum, only a transparent sword light that was condensed to the extreme and seemed capable of cleaving space!

The objective was to engage in close combat and instantly close in on the other six Nascent Soul demonic cultivators from the Hundred Bones Sect.

"Instant Sword Technique, Sky-Splitting Sword Intent? No!" The Nascent Soul Demon Cultivator who was in the lead suddenly narrowed his eyes. He felt that all his space for dodging was locked by that invisible sword intent, and a deathly chill instantly spread from his spine to the top of his head!

The gray-robed Taoist roared, his entire body erupting with bloodlust. The bone whip in his hand grew wildly, transforming into a roaring bone dragon, and met the seemingly ordinary sword light head-on.

Click!

The space where the bone dragon was struck seemed to cave in for a moment. The powerful bone whip artifact, under this mysterious sword strike, was cut in two without even uttering a mournful cry!
Immediately, the invisible sword energy pierced through the blood-fiend shield hastily erected by the demonic cultivator, grazing his neck like a gentle breeze.

The demonic cultivator's ferocious expression froze, and an unbelievable fear lingered in his eyes.

The next second, its head silently slid off, and its demonic body, along with its undisturbed demonic nascent soul, was instantly bound by a chain that flew out from the stone sword sheath and put into a specially made demon-sealing bag.

The whole process was fast, accurate, and ruthless!

A Nascent Soul Realm demonic cultivator, who was incredibly powerful in the entire mortal realm, was killed and captured without even putting up a decent resistance.

Although the various demonic arts and evil techniques passed down by the demon god Gara have raised the cultivation level of demonic cultivators over the past few hundred years, the Hundred Bones Sect in the past would not have been able to easily gather nine Nascent Soul demon cultivators to make flying swords.

Even so, the fact that he could slash and capture the opponent with a single sword strike reveals the formidable and solid skill of Daoist Shisheng.

Moreover, the sword light continued relentlessly, slashing and killing, aiming to kill the remaining five Nascent Soul demon cultivators who still had strength left.

Furthermore, with the help of the Blazing Sun Needles, they were truly unstoppable, cutting down and capturing one enemy after another!

Meanwhile, on the other side, the figure of the Netherworld Taoist had already moved around the field like a ghost, gently waving a small black banner in his hand: the Soul-Suppressing Banner!
A deep vortex appeared on the surface of the banner, and a gentle yet irresistible immense magical power enveloped the entire blood pool.

Those mortal souls that were wailing and struggling were as if they were being held up by an invisible, warm hand. They instantly stopped screaming in pain, and their terrified souls calmed down. They were gently drawn into the space inside the banner by a series of suction forces.

The words "reincarnation" flashed on the banner, subtly aligning with the laws of reincarnation in the universe, protecting the true spirit from obscurity, awaiting its eventual reincarnation in the netherworld.

"You junior disciples of the Xuanmen sect, you've gone too far! You've destroyed my spiritual treasures, slaughtered my disciples, and obstructed my path to enlightenment! Today, I will fight you to the death!"

In an instant, a murderous aura surged to the heavens, and demonic power overwhelmed everything!
A furious and violent roar suddenly resounded from the depths of the valley, the sound waves containing demonic power, causing the mountain-shaped ground to crack.

Boom!

The earth exploded!

Countless white bones stained with blood and flesh shot into the sky, rapidly combining and writhing in mid-air, instantly transforming into a colossal, unparalleled skeletal divine body that towered straight up to the gray sky.

Every bone on its body shimmered with a viscous, eerie light, like jade, and the gaps were filled with the reflection of a filthy river of blood.

Above their heads, blood-red clouds churned, and a figure suddenly appeared amidst the waves of blood.

This demon was over ten feet tall, with no flesh beneath its skull crown, only a deep, dark skeleton. Two clusters of ghastly green demonic flames burned in its eye sockets, and veins and blood vessels on its bare, withered bones seemed to writhe like living things.

The overwhelming demonic power emanating from its body was like a vast ocean and a prison, enveloping the entire valley under its fierce and unparalleled will.

Clearly, Miao Chuyun's previous apprehension and guesses were correct; this place was indeed occupied by an old demon of the Hundred Bones Sect who had been in charge for many years!

"Hmm!? A true disciple of the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace?"

Although Miao Chuyun, Youming, and Shisheng concealed their aura and appearance with the Xuanpin Yinsha Talisman, Shisheng's sword strike, which combined man and sword, broke through the talisman's concealment.

Over the years, Daoist Shisheng, as the true disciple of Tongxuan Yijian, has also become famous and is one of the most renowned sword immortals in the righteous path. Baihai Laomo naturally recognizes him.

"...I have a past with your God Lord. We met once before. Back then, I witnessed the God Lord and the Heavenly Lord Gara fighting swords in the North Pole. I was impressed by your inferiority. Your current power is only one or two tenths of the God Lord's, yet you go out and cause trouble everywhere. You really don't know what's good for you."

"If you hand over your magical artifacts and leave the valley today, I will no longer pursue this matter with you. Go quickly."

The pressure of the primordial spirit crashed down as if it were a tangible force, heavy enough to crush the soul of a Golden Core cultivator!
If it weren't for the exceptionally deep foundation of Daoist Shisheng, and the protective talisman bestowed by his master that circulated around him with precious light, quietly dispelling most of the oppressive force, he would probably have had difficulty even maneuvering his magical power.

"Demon, you refine living souls and nurture the demonic sword, don't you dare say you have a past relationship with my master? My master's reputation is impeccable, how could you possibly slander it?"

"Ants!"

Upon hearing Shi Sheng Dao Ren's scathing words, Bai Hai Lao Mo finally lost his temper.

In the demonic path, the strong prey on the weak. I have already given these juniors enough face because of Lord Lu Cheng, but I did not expect them to be so ignorant of their own limitations and death!
The withered skeletal demon god immediately spread his five fingers wide and swung them down. At the same time, a crack appeared in his palm, from which spewed out a river of extremely thick and filthy blood!
This is his natal qi, refined over ten thousand years, named the Myriad Transformations Bone Fiend Blood-Defiled True Qi! It contains cold, filthy, and evil power, specifically designed to corrupt the body and magical treasures, and erode the true soul and spirit.

The inky river of blood swept across the sky, hissing and crackling wherever it passed, as if tiny black holes had been carved out by strong acid.

The white bone altar, the mountain rocks, and even the demonic energy permeating the valley were all instantly transformed into a pool of foul blood of the same origin, replenishing the power of the torrent!
A foul stench filled the air!

Miao Chuyun's pupils constricted upon seeing this, and he telepathically said, "Junior Brother Youming!"

The Netherworld Taoist and she had a tacit understanding from the beginning.

His words flowed rapidly like pearls, and the Soul-Suppressing Banner in his right hand shook even faster. The dark blue runes on the banner, which resembled a swirling galaxy, suddenly contracted, and countless fine golden runes wove together to form a lifelike phantom of the Listening Beast.

This is the "Listening to Demons" technique from the "Secret Manual of Crossing Calamities and Suppressing Souls of the Mysterious Yin," which is specifically designed to counter evil spells and demonic thoughts of living souls!

The Netherworld Taoist's aura surged forth, and his withered face even radiated a golden halo that exuded a dignified and solemn aura!
With his left hand, he simultaneously crushed a talisman that was neither gold nor jade, but had a smooth and lustrous texture. The power of the talisman instantly merged with the power of the Soul-Suppressing Mantra. He listened as the illusory image turned from the void to reality, and seemed to roar silently to the sky. A vast and pure Yin energy transformed into a stagnant giant net, welcoming the swirling Myriad Transformations of Blood and True Qi!

laugh--!
The pure Yin-Yang true meaning collided violently with the filthy blood river. There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a violent, heart-stopping corrosive sound.

The True Word Listening Dharma Image trembled violently, and a large amount of pure Yin Qi disintegrated and dissolved. The front end of the filthy blood true energy was also continuously purified, and a large amount of filthy black demonic energy rose up, emitting a foul stench. However, its power was indeed blocked head-on.

The Netherworld Taoist trembled violently, and blood trickled from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, clearly indicating that his physical body had been damaged by the impact.

"Shisheng!"

"Leave it to me!" Shi Sheng Dao Ren's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Far from showing any fear, his body was filled with a fierce, resolute, and chilling sword intent that seemed to say "there is no chance of survival."

He had already abandoned his sword, not because he gave up, but because he had transformed himself into a flying sword!
The ancient sword, refined over many years, no longer hovered in front of him, but transformed into a sword pellet that merged into his ancestral aperture between his eyebrows.

In an instant, hundreds of dazzling, dark golden sword energies burst forth from within Shi Sheng Dao Ren!

"No return!"

With a sharp shout, Daoist Shisheng transformed his body into a sword; his body was the sword, and his heart was the blade!

The sword intent condensed over two lifetimes was poured into the profound skills of the body and instantly erupted, a huge and dazzling black gold sword pillar rose from the ground, several feet in diameter, straight up to the sky!

The sword pillar, with its chilling sharpness, sliced ​​through the void, tore apart the remaining pressure of the filthy blood river, and crashed fiercely into the body of the white bone demon god on the blood cloud!
A single sword strike, a desperate act of defiance, with no turning back!

Even Miao Chuyun and Youming Daoren were often at a disadvantage in terms of magical power when facing these old demons who had been practicing for many years. If Shi Sheng, a Nascent Soul cultivator, wanted to achieve something in such a battle, he could only exhaust all his magical power in a single sword strike.

Boom—crackling sound!
The sword pillar of no return slammed into the body of the white bone demon god. The deafening clang of metal clashing and the sound of bones shattering shook the entire demon valley!
The Xuanjin sword energy frantically cut and gnawed at every inch of the blood-soaked white bone. The true energy of the Myriad Transformations Bone Fiend was shattered and scattered. Countless spiderweb-like cracks exploded on the demonic body. Fragments of the Dark Light Treasure Bone poured down like a rain of jade dust, revealing the dark color that flowed faintly within.

The Hundred Bones Demon let out a furious howl, his true energy blocked and his demonic body injured. He had actually been injured by the combined efforts of three junior Xuanmen disciples!

"Ten thousand bones grieve together, blood forges the eight wastelands!" The two points of pale green soul fire under the skull crown were almost bursting out. At this moment, he no longer held back at all; he wanted to devour them alive.

The old demon suddenly raised his claws high, and countless runes on the surface of the entire white bone demon god shone brightly like blood lines, and his body suddenly collapsed inward!
A suction force ten times more terrifying than before suddenly acted on the entire valley, causing the ground to crack and the vegetation to wither and turn to ashes. Countless corpses of cultivators and demons who had been killed in the battle and had not yet completely decayed, along with their remains still attached to bone and flesh essence, were pulled back by an invisible giant mouth and frantically swept into the collapsing white bone demon body!
The eerie wind howled like the wailing of ten thousand ghosts!
At the point of collapse, a terrifying core, so thick and black that it seemed capable of swallowing even light, was formed. The destructive fluctuations emanating from it alone caused the surrounding void to tremble and distort!

"The profound Dao of the Mysterious Female, all wonders return to one!" Suddenly, a clear female voice rang out, carrying a sense of timeless naturalness. Even in this life-or-death moment, Miao Chuyun's beautiful, orchid-like face remained completely calm.

Instead of retreating, she advanced, her plain white Taoist robe fluttering without wind. She didn't unleash any offensive magic weapon, but rather formed hand seals like lotus buds, and a jade talisman, shrouded in a hazy blue light, emanating the aura of the cycle of birth and death of all things, suddenly rose from her ancestral aperture between her brows!

The Mysterious Female Energy-Attracting Talisman! Borrowing the Dao to generate one, one generates myriad laws! It itself has neither offense nor defense, yet it can attract and absorb all external forces, transforming them into the purest Mysterious Female Energy!
The jade talisman hung high above Miao Chuyun's head, its magical vortex slowly rotating, and the surrounding space seemed to collapse inward, forming a tiny vortex.

The violently surging corpses and remnants, the filthy demonic intent overflowing from the collapsing demonic body, and even the terrifying destructive fluctuations at the core... all these ferocious and strange forces were drawn in by the subtle suction force emanating from the jade talisman and forcibly tamed and guided into the vortex.

Draw away evil and return it to its source; transform the different into the same!
The all-consuming power of the dark core suddenly faltered, and some of the energy that had been forcibly converted flowed down the bottom of the jade talisman, nourishing Miao Chuyun below who was struggling to maintain the Xuanpin talisman light.

"Ahhh! Miao Chuyun and Youming Daoist, it's actually you two who have come here!" The old demon Baihai roared in shock and rage.

His own demonic arts were broken, and the backlash came crashing down.

The collapsed, solidified, inky black core of destruction trembled violently, its surface cracked with countless fissures, and the chaotic and terrifying energy inside was about to spiral out of control and devour its master!

The demonic power backfired, causing his body to wither and decay. This was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity to kill him!

Miao Chuyun's eyes sharpened, and with immense willpower, she raised her hand and grabbed back the Xuanpin Yinsha Jade Talisman that had become increasingly heavy due to absorbing a massive amount of alien energy.

Her face was ashen, and blood dripped from her lips. Without hesitation, she hurled the jade talisman, which contained and refined a massive amount of terrifying power, at the core of the white bone demon god, which was on the verge of collapse and whose internal energy was distorted and conflicting!

Boom! ! !

An unprecedented wave of destructive energy suddenly exploded, and the world instantly lost its color!
The Mysterious Jade Talisman vanished instantly, but it triggered the uncontrolled magic power of the Hundred Bones Demon himself. The violent torrent was like billions of giant axes slashing wildly, and the White Bone Demon God, which was already covered with cracks, was the first to be hit!
Snap! Snap! Boom—!
The white bone demon god, as large as a mountain, crumbled inch by inch, exploding completely from its head downwards. Every precious bone that had been nurtured for thousands of years turned to dust amidst mournful cries!

"Pfft..." The Hundred Bones Old Demon's natal demonic treasure was completely destroyed. With his mind affected, his demonic body, which was pieced together from countless demonic arts and evil spells, suddenly developed countless terrifying spider web-like cracks, as if it had been hit by a heavy hammer. As a result, he gushed out foul blood uncontrollably.

The pale green soul fire flickered violently in the skull's eye sockets, almost going out. The powerful backlash instantly transformed him from an invincible demon into a flickering candle in the wind.

"Primordial... Soul Disintegration... Body...!!" The Old Demon of Hundred Bones glanced at the three people present with venomous hatred. Withered Bones slammed his hands on his chest, as if he wanted to imitate the forbidden magic of the demonic path, detonate his primordial spirit and remnant body, and launch a blow that would destroy them together.

He might still possess the technique of demonic reincarnation; if so, then only Miao Chuyun, Youming, and Shisheng would die.

On the contrary, the Hundred Bones Old Demon found a place to reincarnate and cultivate for hundreds of years, and once again claimed the title of ancestor.

Miao Chuyun and the other two felt a chill run through their bodies instantly. A primordial spirit demon cultivator was on the verge of death when he detonated his primordial spirit. Its power was enough to wipe out an area of ​​tens of thousands of miles, turning it into a desolate wasteland.

A life-or-death moment!
Just as the destructive demonic light on the chest of the Hundred Bones Demon was about to reach its peak, a gentle and clear aura, seemingly containing the fundamental order of the universe, spread out without warning from a foot above the Hundred Bones Demon's head.

A palm-sized, ancient-style jade talisman appeared to float there out of nowhere.

The jade talisman is pure and clear, neither gold nor stone. Inside, countless mysterious runes flow endlessly like stars, constructing a miniature yet imposing pagoda-like image that seems to contain the essence of the entire universe.

The Xuanhuang Demon-Suppressing Treasure Talisman was personally crafted by Daoist Lu Cheng and is a protective treasure for his disciples!
The appearance of this symbol was as if a firm, immovable anchor point had suddenly appeared in the world, stabilizing the universe. Time and space seemed to freeze.

The ferocious and venomous expression on the face of the Hundred Bones Old Demon, the destructive demonic light that gathered and exploded in his chest cavity, and even the tiny bone fragments that crumbled from every crack on his body... everything was forcibly "frozen" under the shadow of the Xuanhuang Pagoda!
Time did not stop, but all its own movements and energy circulation were slowed down infinitely, like an insect frozen in amber, and even the frequency of the magic light flashing became as slow as a snail.

Under the protection of the precious talisman, all restless demons were suppressed!

"Suppress!" The Netherworld Daoist chanted incantations urgently, combining them with the divine power of the precious talisman.

He pressed his hands down sharply! The Soul-Suppressing Banner hanging in front of him suddenly expanded, its surface unfolding completely like dark clouds. The Divine Listening Dharma Image in the center shone with divine light, and together with the Demon-Suppressing Talisman projected by the Xuanhuang Treasure Talisman, it formed a mysterious cage that combined internal and external elements, layer upon layer, tightly binding and locking the Hundred Bones Old Demon and the chaotic and violent demonic energy around him that was about to explode within it.

Wow!

It was as if invisible chains were tightening in the void! The light above the entire Demon Valley was instantly cleared!
boom!
The shattered White Bone Mountain Range trembled and groaned in the aftershocks, but the wisp of Hundred Bones Old Demon's earth-shattering primordial demonic light, under the double restraint, was as if doused with icy water from the heavens, dimming silently and eventually disappearing.

The light of the talisman flowed gently, caressing the cracks in its demonic body. Like sweet rain falling from the heavens, the frantically overflowing fragments of resentment were silently purified, and the demonic body, forcibly pieced together from countless fragments of living souls and constantly twisting and wailing, gradually "froze away," transforming into wisps of the most primordial, dim essence.

These disciples of Lu Cheng may not be particularly skilled in magic, but each of them has a solid foundation and good fortune. They are also protected by many spiritual talismans and magical treasures bestowed upon them by Lu Cheng. Even when facing demonic cultivators whose magic power is far superior to their own, they can often win battles or even kill or suppress them.

This is exactly:
In an instant, a starlight rainbow descends upon the Jade Palace, displaying divine power atop the Mysterious Palace. The flying sword cleanses away a thousand years of calamity, its merits endure for eternity before the Stele of Merit.

(End of this chapter)