Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 557 The cultivators on Demon-Suppressing Mountain are shrouded in darkness; Dao intent condenses within the Cold Light Cave (Seeking rewards and subscriptions!)

Upon hearing this, a fleeting glint of light flashed in the eyes of the Nightmare Demon Ancestor, which was quickly concealed.

Having already witnessed Lu Cheng's Taoist immortality and the Four-Nine Escape Technique, this demon guessed that Lu Cheng must possess a tremendous secret, or even an opportunity to become an immortal.

However, those in the demonic path are selfish and self-serving. He did not want to share this opportunity with Tianming and Jiyuan, especially Jiyuan, the Demon Ancestor. This person not only has high magical power but also deep scheming, which is even greater than his own. If Jiyuan knew about this opportunity, he would have no chance to take it and it would even threaten his life.

Therefore, he forced a smile and said:
"Hmph, this person escaped from my grasp by relying on the Taoist immortality technique of rebirth every other day. This is not only a great humiliation for me, but also a provocation against the majesty of the Six Extremes Holy Sect. If I do not capture this person and expose his soul to all demons, how can my Holy Sect maintain its reputation? How can it rule this world in the future?"

"Oh?"

"The Taoist immortality technique, the method of rebirth the next day? It's ten times more difficult for Taoist cultivators to achieve immortality than for my holy path. That's quite interesting!"

The Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss remained silent for a moment, the invisible shadowy outline around him undulating slightly in the dark red demonic light emanating from the crack in his ink-black pupils above, finally transforming into a soft laugh:
"Very well. He's just a junior at the Void Returning stage. Even if he has some fortuitous encounters, it's nothing more than a minor ailment. Since Fellow Daoist Heart Nightmare is so determined, we two will naturally assist you. The Taiqing Sect possesses one of the ancestral lineages of the Xuanmen sect in the Earthly Immortal Realm, yet it lacks ambition and has no Mahayana cultivator to suppress its destiny. However, this sect has a rich foundation, and its treasure trove and spiritual veins are essential resources for the Holy Sect's eastward expansion plan. As the sages of the Human Sect said, 'If one's virtue does not match one's position, disaster will surely follow.' By attacking and destroying this sect and capturing that junior, we can kill two birds with one stone."

Although the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss still had doubts about the Nightmare's explanation, the resources of the Taiqing Sect were enough to tempt him, and since the Nightmare had already made up his mind, he could take advantage of it.

Upon hearing this, the Heavenly Nether Demon Ancestor, whose ferocious aura was surging, burst into laughter, his demonic voice piercing through space:

“Very well, very well! I already knew from the disciples they sent out that the Taiqing Sect’s ‘Purple Qi Sky-Patrolling Five Thunder Immortal Array’ is unparalleled in this world. I want to see whether their mountain-protecting array is more solid or my ‘Heavenly Netherworld Blood Sea’ is more ferocious.”

After speaking, the three demon ancestors' gazes met on the boiling spatial rift, and their chilling demonic thoughts instantly reached a consensus: to attack and destroy the Taiqing Sect.

Meanwhile, at Taiqing Sect, Mount Taiyue, and Hanguang Cave.

Cold air condenses into mist, rising gently from the spring pool sculpted from millennia-old ice.

The pool water has a strange icy blue color, which is not simply cold, but contains the purest essence of Gui water and the deep vitality of the earth.

Lu Cheng quietly immersed himself in the "Jade Profound Cleansing Cold Spring," his appearance withered, his face ashen, and even his breathing so weak that it was almost nonexistent.

His skin had lost its former warm and jade-like luster, turning a grayish-black color similar to dry, cracked ancient wood. The flesh exposed where his Taoist robe was torn had also lost its vitality and was covered with spiderweb-like scorched cracks.

That was a terrible internal injury left behind after forcibly activating the "Four-Nine Escape Technique".

This technique is truly unparalleled and domineering. It forcibly seizes one's own life force, igniting the three flowers on the top of the head and the five energies in the chest as fuel, in exchange for a moment of escape speed that surpasses the limits of one's cultivation level. Furthermore, it can confuse the workings of heaven, temporarily severing the chains of cause and effect on one's body, making it impossible for even high-level cultivators to predict. However, the price is the complete burning of oneself, fundamentally shaking one's foundation.

Ordinary cultivators who have returned to the Void Realm, let alone use this technique, are very likely to suffer a backlash that destroys all their cultivation.

Even if one manages to activate it by chance, after just one time, the three flowers on the top of one's head will dissipate, the five elements in one's chest will wither, a thousand years of cultivation will be lost in a single day, and one will be reduced to a mortal body.

However, Lu Cheng did not.

Beneath that withered exterior, layer upon layer of profound energy flowed with difficulty and tenacity. It was not merely vitality, but rather the essence of the Great Dao, infused with the spirit of heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, and the evolution of all things, carrying an incomparably deep resilience and an undying will. This was precisely the solid foundation brought about by cultivating the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Mysterious Heaven Divine Art to its deepest level.

"The Forty-Nine Escape Technique is extremely domineering, drawing life force from both the inside and outside. Fortunately, I have cultivated the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Mysterious Heaven, which gives me thirty-six layers of life force to draw upon. Therefore, although I was seriously injured after using it, my mana at the Void Returning Realm did not drop too much. It can be considered a stroke of good luck amidst misfortune."

The essence of the Gui water in the cold spring and the vitality of the earth veins were drawn by this divine power, flowing like a hundred rivers converging, slowly seeping into the dry and cracked meridians of Lu City.

Each subtle penetration was accompanied by indescribable pain, as if forcibly piecing together shattered glass.

Lu Cheng's mind sank into the deepest part of his consciousness, like an old monk in deep meditation, silently enduring the torment and pain of being skinned, bones removed, and his body reshaped.

The process of burning the three flowers and extracting life force was like being pierced by millions of steel needles at the same time, causing excruciating pain.

But it was precisely this unprecedented and domineering extraction, like a giant hammer forging iron, that forcibly hammered out the domineering aura and unruly nature that had settled in his blood, bone marrow, and even the depths of his primordial spirit during his cultivation of the thirty-six transformations of the "Mysterious Heaven Divine Art".

Those invisible, unruly, and fierce wills originating from the bloodlines of ancient gods and demons and the Dharma forms of great demons were usually suppressed by his Dao heart. They seemed to be restrained, but in reality, they were always lurking in the deepest part of the operation of his profound skills, making them really difficult to completely subdue.

This ruthless extraction was like removing the fuel from under the pot, directly extracting and burning away these deepest and most stubborn "impurities".

Now, although the total amount of Xuan Tian magic power flowing within his meridians has decreased sharply, and his realm has fallen, he can no longer even maintain the seventh level of the Returning to Emptiness realm, and his realm has slipped to the middle stage of the Returning to Emptiness realm, it is now more refined, docile, and agile than ever before.

Every strand of magical power was as responsive as an extension of one's own arm, carrying a sense of purity and simplicity, as if all worldly desires had been washed away.

It was a deeper level of control, a more fundamental grasp of "force" itself. Even in the depths of his being, Lu Cheng's deduction of the higher levels of the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Mysterious Heaven became clearer.

"Misfortune and fortune are interdependent. The Taoist Transformation and Ascension Technique is a profound protective art of the Taoist sect. To master it, one must undergo countless battles and trials. Even if a timid person has high talent in cultivation, they cannot cultivate it." With this thought, a few profound ripples appeared in Lu Cheng's heart. In a daze, the Taoist inexplicably thought of the Nightmare Demon Ancestor.

This was also a sudden impulse on another level. As a warning from the heavens, Lu Cheng immediately knew that he was probably being targeted by this old devil because of his previous behavior.

Despite their best efforts to evade, they could not completely escape this calamity. Even a true disciple of a major sect would face imminent disaster and grave danger if a cultivator at the Void Returning stage were targeted by a demonic Mahayana cultivator.

"Then there is only one option: to face the calamity head-on and overcome it!"

Lu Cheng pondered this for a moment, and then his mind returned to a state of tranquility, peace, and focused cultivation.

Lu Cheng Daoist was diligently cultivating in the Cold Light Cave of Taiqing Mountain, recovering from his internal injuries, but he was not entirely ignorant of the affairs of the outside world.

His two Daoist partners, the sisters Xiao Yuhong and Xiao Yuxue, his concubines Xue Yuzhen, Yun Ling'er, and Lin Qinghan, and his disciples Miao Chuyun, Youming Dao, Zhang Zhaodi, and others often came to visit him.

In addition, Duan Tianyan, Wan Shuang'er, Yan Xiao, and Chu Yibai, these friends, disciples, and former subordinates from the sect, came to visit Lu Cheng and also informed him of the situation outside.

Day after day, time flows on.

Inside the Cold Light Cave, a cold mist swirled, and tiny ripples spread across the surface of the icy blue spring water.

Today, Daoist Lu Cheng no longer needs to soak in the cold spring all the time. He can now wear a Daoist robe and sit cross-legged on the stone wall. He only enters the cold spring at a few fixed times of the day to dispel the residual fire poison in his body.

At that moment, he was meditating and cultivating on the stone wall when the cave entrance barrier trembled slightly, and several familiar auras accompanied by footsteps approached from afar.

Miao Chuyun, who was guarding the cave entrance, exchanged a glance with the Netherworld Daoist, and after a brief exchange of feelings, opened the barrier.

Three figures entered the Cold Spring Cave. Duan Tianyan, who was in the lead, was dressed in a crimson Daoist robe and exuded an aura like a raging furnace. He had now advanced to the Nascent Soul stage and was a pillar of the sect.

It is only natural that sects would be willing to support cultivators with impeccable lineage, even if they were weaker in talent and magical power, and place them in relatively key positions.

Following them were Wan Shuang'er and Shang Qingyu, both still beautiful and elegant, but with a hint of seriousness in their expressions.

As soon as Duan Tianyan entered, his gaze passed over the wisps of cold mist and landed on Daoist Lu Cheng. Seeing his withered appearance, a trace of pity and shock flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it and burst into loud laughter, dispelling some of the silence in the cave:

"Hahaha! Senior Brother Lu, your junior brother has come to see you. Shuang'er and Junior Sister Shang are here too. You're finally awake! Shuang'er and Junior Sister Shang... cough, it puts our minds at ease a lot!"

Upon entering the Cold Light Cave, Duan Tianyan's demeanor and words, expressed with remarkable precision, revealed his understanding of human nature and social dynamics. His insight into the ways of the world and his mastery of human relationships were both profound knowledge and literary talent. He believed that cultivating the Tao was also a way of cultivating the mind. Lu Cheng was pleased with Duan Tianyan's growth and nodded slightly in response.

Junior sister Wan Shuang'er followed behind without saying a word, but took out a jade box from her sleeve and gently placed it on the stone platform by the pool.

Opening a corner of the box lid, a rich blend of lush vegetation and the unique, ethereal aura of the Jade Purity Sect permeated the air.

Shang Qingyu then set down a wine jar, its surface ancient and shimmering with a faint glow: "This is the 'Azure Jade Nourishing Spirit Wine' that the Jade Purity Sect entrusted to us. It can be used to nourish the soul. Once Senior Brother's injuries are fully healed, we must have a good drink!"

"Thank you for your concern, my three old friends."

"With the help of this 'Mysterious Spring' and the sect's spiritual medicine, your life is safe and your foundation is intact. You only need some time to recuperate." Lu Cheng did not refuse too much. They had known each other for thousands of years and had a long history of friendship. It would be too much to refuse at this time.

Duan Tianyan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, then his face lit up with excitement, and his voice boomed with joy: "Senior Brother Lu, just rest assured and recuperate! These damned demonic cultivators are about to meet their end!"

Shang Qingyu chimed in from behind, her tone filled with excitement and admiration:
"Yes! We have come here to tell our senior brother this great news! According to the latest news from our friends, the Jade Purity Sect, the Upper Purity Sect, the Western Great Zen Temple, the Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, the Myriad Manifestations Palace, the Eastern Extreme Creation Palace, the Absolute Heaven Sword Sect, the Three Emperors Palace, and our Taiqing Sect, the nine major sects of the human race have mobilized a total of thirteen Mahayana stage patriarchs to join forces in suppressing the demon!"

At this time, the Taiqing Sect did not have any Mahayana cultivators present. They must have spent a considerable amount of money to invite close Mahayana cultivators to help, at least to avoid missing such a grand event and losing face.

Even a tiger must not collapse when it is thin, no matter the cost. Otherwise, if it collapses and is surrounded by wolves, the price to pay will be far greater!

Wan Shuang'er added key details in a slightly excited voice:

"The thirteen righteous patriarchs have joined forces and converged at 'Demon-Suppressing Mountain'! It is said that this is one of the key nodes in this demonic passage. The demonic defenses are on the verge of collapse, and those demonic cultivators are retreating in disarray! The demonic calamity will soon be over!"

This news is absolutely earth-shattering!
With the combined efforts of the nine sects and thirteen of the most powerful Mahayana cultivators in the mortal realm, subduing the demon, normally it would be enough to sweep away the world and restore peace to the land.

However, to the surprise of Duan Tianyan and his companions, when they heard this good news that was enough to excite and delight the vast majority of cultivators in the entire Earthly Immortal Realm, Daoist Lu Cheng, who was standing by the Cold Spring, did not show any joy. Instead, his withered face, covered with cracks, slowly and deeply furrowed his brows.

"The thirteen Mahayana masters have gathered to suppress the demons; the demonic calamity will soon be over?" Lu Cheng's voice was even lower and deeper than before, each word seemingly carrying the chill of an icy spring:
"Junior Brother Duan, Junior Sister Wan, Junior Sister Shang, do you really think so? If I were you, I would have made preparations to deal with the tribulations long ago."

All three were taken aback upon hearing this.

Duan Tianyan asked in confusion, "Senior Brother, what makes you say that? The combined forces of thirteen Mahayana patriarchs are almost the strongest power that the righteous sects of this realm have used in tens of thousands of years! The collapse of the Demon Realm is already clear evidence of this!"

Lu Cheng slowly exhaled a breath of cold air. The icy mist briefly condensed before his eyes before dissipating. His gaze seemed to pierce through the cave, seeing the "Ink Pupil" rift still expanding deep within the Eastern Celestial Ruins:
"Throughout history, when have demonic cultivators ever invaded and been so easily subdued? This time is especially extraordinary. I feel that a single misstep could lead to a calamity for the entire realm. The 'Ink Eye' deep within the Eastern Heavenly Ruins Secret Realm is no ordinary spatial rift. In my opinion, this calamity will be difficult to quell in the short term."

Meanwhile, in the eastern part of the Immortal Realm, at Demon-Suppressing Mountain.

This place is not named after a demon; quite the opposite. It was originally an unnamed, desolate mountain that was neither high nor majestic nor strange, and it also produced no spiritual or mineral resources.

However, the fact that this battle was fought here today led the cultivators of the Earthly Immortal Realm to bestow upon it the name "Demon Suppressor," a name chosen to leverage the power of the place, hoping it could truly be used to suppress the demon in one battle.

Today, a dozen powerful and irresistible auras descended upon the mountain peak, stirring up subtle ripples in the surrounding landscape.

All thirteen Mahayana cultivators from the nine sects of the human race who responded to the call to jointly annihilate the demonic calamity are here.

Their Taoist robes varied, some exuding a serene and otherworldly aura, others radiating a radiant light, some displaying a sword-like aura soaring to the heavens, and still others embodying the Zen spirit of Buddhism. They gathered in one place to carry out their grand plan together.

The Ziwei Daojun of the Yuqing Sect is a graceful female cultivator with a face as beautiful as jade, and a ethereal beauty. Around her are the images of the stars of the universe flowing around her. She holds a whisk and her aura is as deep as the sea. The Wangchen Daojun of the Shangqing Sect has eyes like lightning and carries the Demon-Slaying Sword in its sheath on her back.

The Vajra and Prajna Kings of Xiji Zen Temple, with their 16-foot-tall golden bodies, chant countless Buddhist mantras; the Wanfang Patriarch of Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, holding a tender green willow branch, brimming with vitality; the Wanmiao Ghost Mother of the Wanxiang Senluo Hall, whose form shifts between reality and illusion, like a projection of the myriad phenomena; the Xuanji and Yuheng Heavenly Craftsmen of the Dongji Creation Heavenly Palace, clad in patchwork robes, their Daoist aura resonating with the creation of heaven and earth; the Seven Cultivation Sword Master of the Juetian Sword Sect, whose entire being is like a divine blade unsheathed, its sharpness fully revealed; and the Nine Flames Dao Lord of the Three Emperors Hall, whose body is surrounded by the undying Daoist intent passed down through generations.

Besides these ten high-ranking Taoist masters, there were also two rogue cultivators, Long Zhang and Feng Tu, who were invited by the Taiqing Sect at great expense to represent them.

In addition, Daoist Ziwei has a junior brother who has recently advanced to the Mahayana realm and is hiding among the crowd, concealing his aura and not revealing his strength.

There were only three figures opposite them.

The leader was none other than the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss. He was not the ferocious figure with overwhelming demonic energy and three heads and six arms that everyone had expected. On the contrary, he was of moderate height and had an ordinary face. Only his eyes were unfathomable, like black holes that had swallowed countless stars. Just by glancing at him, the surrounding void seemed to collapse inward.

To its left, the face of the Nightmare Demon Ancestor was shrouded in a faint, hazy demonic aura, sometimes shifting and sometimes becoming clear, but still retaining an elegant and refined demeanor.

On the right is the Heavenly Nether Demon Ancestor, with blue skin and no hair. He is tall and has a ferocious appearance. He is the only one who fits the general cultivators' understanding of demonic cultivators in the ancient demon realm. He is surrounded by a deep sense of malevolence and demonic energy.

“Cultivators of the Nine Sects of the Earthly Immortal Realm,” the voice of the Demon Ancestor Jiyuan was unremarkable, yet it disregarded spatial distance and directly penetrated into the primordial spirit of each Mahayana cultivator, carrying a strange power that bewitched people.

"You all have come here, intending to hinder the progress of my Holy Church?"

"Evil heretics, attempting to defile the purity of this world, we, as the bulwark of this world, how can we allow you to run rampant?" The Jade Purity Sect's Ziwei Daoist spoke clearly, his whisk fluttering lightly, and the starry sky Dharma image around him surged, intending to use the power of the celestial stars to first lock down this space.

"Further words are useless." Daoist Wangchen of Shangqing Sect was the most fierce in nature. With a slight twitch of his shoulder, the Demon-Slaying Sword on his back was already unsheathed and slashed out.

"Once we slay these three demons, we can naturally seal the spatial rift."

Before the words were even finished, the sword energy had already condensed into a crimson-gold streak that stretched across the heavens and earth, carrying the supreme true meaning of Shangqing's destruction of evil, slaying demons, and eliminating calamities, and fiercely slashed down towards the Silent Abyss Demon Ancestor.

The sword energy was so intense that it tore through the sea of ​​clouds, and the entire Demon Suppression Mountain seemed to be split in two by this unparalleled sharpness.

This sword strike represented the sentiments of the vast majority of Mahayana cultivators present.

What's the point of reasoning with evil spirits and heretics? Let's all stand shoulder to shoulder and fight together. Talking too much to them will only increase our inner demons!

This meeting between the two sides was not proposed by the righteous cultivators, but by the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss on the other side. Therefore, the cultivators present had no reservations about taking action at this time.

However, faced with this fierce sword strike that was enough to threaten an ordinary Mahayana cultivator, the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss did not move at all; only the seemingly endless aura of annihilation around him seemed to come alive.

Silently, the magnificent celestial river carved out by sword energy seemed to encounter an invisible wall of "disappearance" when it was still a hundred feet away from the Nightmare Demon Ancestor. The crimson-gold light dimmed and withered at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The Demon-Slaying Sword Qi, imbued with boundless vitality and supreme Yang Dao Fire, was like being plunged into icy, millennia-old ice. Its sharpness, its intensity, and its essence were swiftly eroded and disintegrated by a deeper, more primordial void Dao intent. By the time the sword qi reached the Nightmare Demon Ancestor, only a few wisps of thin crimson energy remained. These were gently brushed away by the invisible force field surrounding him, completely dissipating without even a ripple.

hiss!
Even the Mahayana cultivators, whose minds were as calm as still waters, couldn't help but feel a flicker of fear in their eyes. The sinister smile on the Nightmare Demon Ancestor's lips froze instantly, and a deep sense of dread flashed in the depths of his eyes.

There are some differences between demonic and righteous cultivators when they reach the later Mahayana stage. Righteous Mahayana cultivators, upon reaching their later stage, will inevitably disregard everything else and focus solely on preparing for the Ascension Tribulation. This single step is the difference between immortals and mortals; if they fail to cross it, their millions of years of arduous cultivation will be lost in an instant.

However, the situation is different for demonic cultivators. Unless they are exceptionally talented and have created their own demonic arts, many demonic cultivators who cultivate the true teachings of the Heavenly Demon are unwilling to ascend to the upper realm. The demonic realm, which is the opposite of the immortal realm, is probably not a good place. It would be better to ascend and become a demonic slave or servant under the patriarch. The real fear is that they might be refined by the patriarch into one of the 480 million avatars. Those tens of millions of years of arduous cultivation would then be a complete joke.

Therefore, many late-stage Mahayana demon cultivators often choose to corrupt the various realms, respecting the powerful beings of the ancient demon realm's Heavenly Dao and using the law of the jungle to empower themselves, allowing them to temporarily avoid ascending to the upper realm.

Even after completely creating one's own demonic arts and altering one's foundation, and even after ascending to the Demon Realm, one must still be cautious and proceed slowly.

"In the struggle for the Great Dao, the strongest prevails." The voice of the Silent Abyss Demon Ancestor remained calm, his gaze sweeping over the righteous cultivators present.

"Since you insist on blocking our path, let's follow the rules of my Ancient Demon Realm—to determine who is superior. I will accept any challenge from you thirteen people right here. If you can defeat the three of us, my brothers and I will immediately retreat to the Ancient Demon Realm, seal the rift, and never repeat our mistake. If you cannot defeat us, then our Holy Sect shall reserve a territory within this Immortal Realm."

The tone was calm, but the content was incredibly arrogant. To challenge thirteen Mahayana cultivators of the same level by oneself—what confidence, or rather, what arrogance!

"Arrogant!" The Vajra King of Xiji Zen Temple roared angrily, his voice shaking the surrounding area. His sixteen-foot-tall golden body instantly radiated boundless Buddhist light, and the chanting of Buddhist hymns resounded throughout the heavens and earth.

A "Great Sun Seal" containing the supreme meaning of liberation and capable of purifying all demons rose slowly from his palm, like a sun descending from the Western Paradise, shining in all directions, and pressing down on the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss.

Where the light shines, it seems that even the gloom hidden in the crevices of the rocks has nowhere to hide.

Buddhism and demons are mutually exclusive. This seal is precisely the nemesis of demonic forces!

Vajra King appeared to be furious, but in reality, he intentionally used the Buddha-demon restraint to preemptively deplete a large amount of the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss's magical power, creating an opportunity for the other fellow practitioners present.

Just as the enormous palm of light was about to strike, the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss finally moved. He slowly raised his withered right hand, his five fingers spread wide, to meet the radiant Buddha sun.

There was no earth-shattering collision, no explosive burst of energy. But the moment that palm, imbued with boundless emptiness and spiritual energy, touched the boundless Buddha light, an incredible scene unfolded.

The intense, pure Buddha light seemed to have encountered its nemesis, and dimmed at a heart-stopping speed.

The profound meaning and liberating essence within the Buddha's seal were forcibly stripped away, decomposed, and dissolved by a deeper, more "empty" force.

Like a red-hot iron plunged into an eternally frozen abyss, the light wailed in its annihilation.

Vajra King's pupils contracted sharply, his golden body trembled violently, and the brilliant light receded and subsided at a speed visible to the naked eye. The "Great Sun Seal" disintegrated inch by inch in full view of everyone, eventually turning into countless dim golden star points, which dissipated into the slowly rotating, all-consuming vortex of annihilation in the palm of the Silent Abyss Demon Ancestor.

"Nothingness... is not annihilation, but the final destination of all things." The Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss withdrew his palm, as if he had merely brushed away a speck of dust.

"Buddha's light is also light; it has its birth and its death. Your doctrines are ultimately illusory before me."

one move!
With just a casual move, he broke the full-force Buddhist divine power exerted by the Mahayana Buddhist cultivator!
This is no longer a simple matter of the level of magical power, but a complete crushing defeat at a level close to the realm of cultivation!
The chill, like invisible ice water, instantly permeated the minds of every righteous Mahayana cultivator present.

The initial thought of joining forces for a powerful attack was completely shattered by the absolute difference in their cultivation levels.

Even if we can win by attacking together, how many people will die or be injured on the spot?

Moreover, this Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss is probably able to come and go as he pleases.

In this way, it would be meaningless for the cultivators to sacrifice themselves.

The "Great Dao of Nothingness" displayed by the Silent Abyss Demon Ancestor has clearly touched upon the threshold of the elusive and unpredictable "Heavenly Demon".

Its control over the laws surpasses that of all the cultivators present.

At this point, a war of attrition became the only option, exhausting their magical power and probing their true strength. This was the wise choice made by the righteous cultivators present.

Immediately afterwards, Master Wanfang of Lingtai Fangcun Mountain urged the green willow in his hand, attempting to reverse the annihilation and nothingness with the pure Yi wood Qinghua, but the void law forcefully reversed it into a withered and decaying state.
The Myriad Wonders Demon Mother of the Myriad Manifestations Palace manifested countless magical mental images, attempting to seduce his mind, but they were like stones sinking into the sea, without causing a ripple.
The Xuanji Heavenly Craftsmanship of the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace operated its divine mechanism, controlling the remaining giant peaks of the Demon Bone Mountain Range to crash down. However, the peaks silently disintegrated upon approaching, turning into dust that filled the sky.

The Seven Sword Masters of the Absolute Heaven Sword Sect transformed their bodies into swords, their sharpness so great that they were said to be able to break all laws. However, when they came into contact with the eternally dead force field around Ji Yuan, the divine sword cried out in sorrow, its sharpness shattered, and he staggered back. The natal divine sword he controlled dimmed its luster and its spirituality was greatly damaged.
The Nine Flames Daoist of the Three Emperors Palace lit the Suiren Fire, but the so-called inextinguishable Holy Fire of Humanity, when it approached within a hundred feet of the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss, was like a candle flame encountering an absolute vacuum, quickly becoming weak, flickering, and dim... In the end, only a faint spark remained, shrinking back into the old man's palm, flickering uncertainly.

One after another, powerful cultivators who had been renowned throughout the Immortal Realm for countless years unleashed their most treasured supernatural abilities, secret techniques, and supreme artifacts, giving their all, yet they were like moths drawn to an ancient, unyielding block of mysterious ice, unable to budge it even slightly, or even leave a clear trace in that void.

Their magical powers, treasures, and even the great laws they painstakingly cultivated and were so proud of, once they entered that void, were like ice and snow melting in boiling water, silently decomposed, devoured, and returned to nothingness.

Defeat! Defeat! Defeat!
The eight Mahayana cultivators were defeated one by one in a very short time, and few could withstand five moves from the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss.

That not-so-tall figure seemed at this moment to be an incarnation of a celestial demon walking in the world. His understanding and control of the laws of "the Great Dao of Nothingness" made all the Mahayana cultivators present feel a deep sense of powerlessness and bone-chilling cold.

As the many Mahayana cultivators present were defeated one by one, the atmosphere among the righteous cultivators gradually became so heavy that it was suffocating.

Finally, all eyes were on Daoist Ziwei of the Jade Purity Sect. Daoist Ziwei was the most accomplished and possessed the purest Daoist techniques among the thirteen, carrying the last hope of everyone.

Ziwei Daojun stepped forward, his face expressionless, his whisk moving with countless silver threads without wind. Instead of stirring the stars in the outside world, it spontaneously created a magnificent scene of the celestial constellations in motion around him.

The phantoms of ancient stars brightened, emanating a vast and ancient Daoist charm. The starlight intertwined, forming a massive, profound silver talisman before her that connected with the Great Dao of the universe—the Jade Purity Divine Firmament Purple Mansion Heavenly Light Talisman.

"All celestial stars, heed my command. Divine Firmament Jade Palace, where all laws are profound."

The deep, ancient incantation invoked the mysterious Dao of Heaven. The aura of the Purple Star Dao Lord soared infinitely, as if he had transformed into a part of the cosmos.

Finally, she pointed her finger, and the huge star symbol suddenly shrank, transforming into a single point of extremely bright purple starlight that was condensed to the extreme and exuded an aura of creation. With the speed of teleportation, it silently shot towards the brow of the Silent Abyss Demon Ancestor.

It lacks grand scale, but possesses ultimate conciseness, unparalleled penetrating power, and the primordial truth of "the unity of beginning and end, and the tracing of cause and effect back to the 'point'".

This star symbol embodies the lifelong cultivation and Daoist insights of Daoist Ziwei, representing the highest level of understanding of the laws of cosmic energy in the Jade Purity Daoist Method!

Faced with this ultimate attack from the Star Symbol, for the first time, a faint, almost appreciative "ripple" appeared in the usually calm and deep black eyes of the Silent Abyss Demon Ancestor.

He still raised his withered hand, but this time, the eternally spinning vortex of annihilation in his palm suddenly accelerated, and the deep darkness seemed to devour all the light in the world!
However, that intense purple starlight had been condensed to its limit, and even as it was being devoured and disintegrated, it still burst forth with an incomparably dazzling light, stubbornly pushing forward.

Chi chi chi——

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only the ultimate annihilation that occurred silently between two completely opposite forces that both touched upon extremely high levels of laws.

The purple light was constantly worn away by the darkness, peeled away layer by layer, but the purple light itself was like a drill, piercing through layer after layer of deathly silence.

One breath, two breaths... a stalemate!
Finally, that dazzling purple starlight vanished completely, turning into nothingness, just an inch away from the brow of the Silent Abyss Demon Ancestor.

The vortex of annihilation in the palm of the Silent Abyss Demon Ancestor visibly paused slightly, and its rotation slowed down a little.

"it is good!"

For the first time, the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss nodded, his voice still calm, but with an extremely subtle ripple: "The Jade Purity Dao Lineage lives up to its name. This talisman is already taking shape, but unfortunately... it still lacks the tempering and refinement. Let's consider this battle a draw."

Tie!

Although it did not break through the defenses, it did break through the seemingly indestructible void domain, forcing the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss to withdraw his palm.

This is the first time since the start of the war that someone has been able to achieve a substantial stalemate with the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss.

Of course, this was after the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss had defeated eight Mahayana cultivators of the righteous path, expended a great deal of his magical power, and had his true intentions seen through by Daoist Ziwei.

Furthermore, the celestial star map surrounding Ziwei Daojun had dimmed, and her face showed a barely perceptible golden luster, clearly indicating that this attack had also greatly depleted her divine sense and magical power.

The remaining Mahayana cultivators present looked at the chasm that was so close yet insurmountable, and the glimmer of hope that had just risen in their hearts was instantly replaced by an even heavier sense of powerlessness—the strongest attack could only barely result in a draw, and the other side still had two Demon Ancestors who had not yet made a move.

At this moment, the summit of Zhenmo Mountain was deathly silent.

The thirteen righteous leaders had lost their momentum. The mountain wind howled, blowing across thousands of peaks and valleys, carrying the desolate chill of the aftermath of the calamity.

The Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss slowly swept his gaze over the thirteen Mahayana cultivators, whose expressions were solemn. His calm and unwavering voice seemed to toll a death knell for the entire group of cultivators:

"Even if the thirteen of you joined forces and exerted all your strength, you could not shake the Holy Sect in the slightest. You are no match for us, so what can you do but cry out in vain?"

He paused briefly at this point before continuing:
“However, this place is not where my brothers and I wish to stay for long. Bloodbath and slaughter are not the original intention of the Holy Church. What we seek is nothing more than a moment to catch our breath and a place to stand.”

The Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss raised his arm, pointing towards the eastern part of the Earthly Immortal Realm, towards the Taiyue Peak range where the Taiqing Sect was located:

"Simply retreat, and my Holy Sect will unleash its full force to annihilate the Taiqing Sect. I hereby swear a Heavenly Demon Blood Oath: regardless of the outcome of this battle, for ten thousand years, the Holy Sect will never voluntarily cross even half a step west of the Taiqing Mountains, nor will it commit any offense against the territories under the jurisdiction of your other eight human sects." He paused, then added further weight to the argument:

"If you eight sects are willing to retreat and make way, we brothers can even help you seal the ancient demonic rift that caused the great calamity and slow down the spread of demonic energy."

These words were like throwing a boulder into a lake.

"This is outrageous! The Three Pure Ones are of the same lineage!"

"Indeed, our nine human sects have been watching over and helping each other for tens of thousands of years. How can you sow discord with just a few words?"

“Amitabha Buddha, benefactor, you should retreat to the demon realm as soon as possible and stop embracing the blood and turmoil, lest you fall into the Avici Hell in the future and never be liberated.”

However, at that moment, the voice of the Silent Abyss Demon Ancestor suddenly turned cold, and the invisible pressure, like ten thousand mountains, crashed down on the hearts of every Mahayana cultivator:

"But if you remain stubborn and refuse to listen, you will fight to the death with our Holy Church here."

His terrifying demonic eyes swept over the thirteen Mahayana cultivators present. Everyone whose gaze touched felt a chilling stillness rising from the depths of their primordial spirit, as if they were seeing their own path to destruction and their deaths in battle.

"Even if you exert all your strength and manage to hold off or even severely injure the three of us brothers here, so what?"

"My presence in this world is merely that of a temporary guest. I can leave at any time, and this place—"

His withered fingers didn't point to anyone else, but rather to the sky, to the void itself:

"The 'coordinates' of this realm in the endless universe have already been grasped by the Holy Church. Now, we brothers have not announced it in this realm, which has already established boundless merit and saved us from boundless killing karma."

"Once we brothers choose to perish together and withdraw from that rift, we will spare no effort to spread the precise 'location marker' of this realm throughout the vast and boundless ancient demon realm, where demons and demon gods are as numerous as the sands of the Ganges!"

"At that time, it will attract boundless demons and endless demon gods! Countless supreme demon sects and ancient giants who are more cruel, more tyrannical, and more bloodthirsty than my Six Extremes Demon Sect will swarm in!"

"What you are about to face is no longer just a small Six Extremes Demon Sect, but the gaze of the entire Ancient Demon Realm."

"At that time, were there still living people in this world? Could the lineage of this world still be passed down?"

"Is it a fight to the death, leading to utter destruction? Or should we allow the Six Extremes Demon Sect to temporarily seize only a foothold in Taiqing, in exchange for a chance to breathe for ten thousand years, and perhaps even seal that ancient demonic rift for you?"

The voice of the Silent Abyss Demon Ancestor finally turned cold, like a final verdict:

"The choice is yours to make."

The cold wind howled across the thousands of peaks and valleys of Zhenmo Mountain, emitting a mournful wail.

Dead silence.

A deathly silence enveloped the entire mountaintop.

The thirteen human Mahayana cultivators, whose Dao hearts were as firm as ice that had stood for ten thousand years, also felt a bone-chilling cold spread along their spines, instantly freezing their limbs and bones.

Every word of the Demon Ancestor of the Silent Abyss was like a red-hot branding iron, fiercely searing their primordial spirits; he was not bluffing.

This demon's strength is probably infinitely close to the legendary Heavenly Demon realm. He has defeated eight righteous Mahayana cultivators and forced the Jade Purity Sect's Ziwei Daojun to a draw.

The profound depth of the laws contained in the "Great Dao of Nothingness" he displayed far surpassed that of all the cultivators present in the Earthly Immortal Realm. If he were to decide to withdraw, exposing the Earthly Immortal Realm to the entire Ancient Demon Realm... that would be a true catastrophe that destroys the world.

An ancient dynasty and countless lives will all become food for demons; this is an almost foreseeable future!
(End of this chapter)