Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 580 Golden Pagoda Suppresses Demons and Locks the Heavens, Blood Waves Burn the Sky and Temper the Dao Heart (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

Tianjue Canyon, though described as a region, is almost equivalent to a small world for ordinary cultivators, covering an extremely vast area.

Like a jagged chasm cleaved open by a giant axe, the cliffs on both sides rise steeply, towering into the clouds. The gray-brown rock formations gleam with a cold, metallic sheen under the constant gale and the occasional aurora borealis.

Since the arrival of the demon army of the Chi Demon Clan and the cultivators of the Taiqing Sect, several fierce battles have taken place, and this place has been permeated with a faint smell of blood and a sulfurous stench all year round.

Beyond the canyon, demonic clouds surged, and countless twisted and howling demonic shadows loomed, marking the territory where the Chi Demon army was entrenched.

Deep within the canyon, cultivators of the Taiqing Sect laid out a continuous array of spiritual veins, taking advantage of the mountain's terrain.

The array flags fluttered and the spiritual light flowed. One after another, array plates with white jade as the base and inlaid with spiritual stone runes were deeply embedded in the mountain, emitting a powerful and stable spiritual energy fluctuation, firmly protecting the Tianjue Gorge occupied by the Taiqing Sect.

At the very center of the array, a giant ship floats, which is the Giant Spirit Warship that the Taiqing Sect has already repaired, almost like a floating continent.

Enormous, majestic, and unshakeable.

At the summit of the giant ship, Master Lu Cheng of the Taiqing Sect stood by the railing, his Taoist robe fluttering wildly in the fierce wind. His gaze calmly looked down at the death zone below, which was divided by the spiritual light of the array and the blood clouds of the demonic realm.

Both the Taiqing Sect and the Eastern Pole Creation Palace are top-tier human sects established in the Eastern Region, and both sects were once known as the "Number One Sect in the East".

However, Lu Cheng clearly understood the principle of mutual dependence, like lips and teeth.

This is also why Lu Cheng brought most of the sect's elite forces to aid the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace.

The Chi Demon Clan's original target for migrating south was the Taiqing Sect, but the Taiqing Sect's high-level cultivators keenly sensed this and thus sold the lands of Qingfeng and Lancang Prefectures to the Jinshi Clan ahead of time.

The Chi Demon Clan's Blood Fiend Technique is naturally countered by the Jinshi Clan, who are known for their stubbornness and would never give up their land to allow the Chi Demon Clan to pass through.

As a result, the southward migration target could only be hastily shifted to the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace. But if the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace were destroyed, the next target would be the Taiqing Sect.

They resisted the demons of Chi in the south, protected the Taiqing realm, and prevented the flames of war from reaching their homeland.

Therefore, Lu Cheng brought most of the sect's elites with him on this trip—the three Mahayana Dao Lords Ming Que, Ming He, and Tong Zhen, more than a dozen Integration Elders, dozens of Returning to Emptiness True Disciples, and a large number of Nascent Soul and Nascent Soul cultivators, to jointly guard this Heavenly Absolute Canyon.

For ordinary people, several decades is half a lifetime; for cultivators, especially those guarding this place, this ceaseless battlefield, it is a period of countless trials and tribulations intertwined with blood and fire.

After the initial few earth-shattering clashes, the power struggle at the top gradually subsided.

With Lu Cheng and three Dao Lords in charge, the "Starry Sky Sword Formation" they set up, along with the "Nine Bends Yellow Springs Immortal Forbidden Zone" which takes advantage of the terrain, complement each other, making it as solid as a rock.

The Mahayana cultivator from the opposing Chi Demon Clan made several attempts to test him, but despite his profound magical power, he suffered considerable losses each time.

From then on, this Mahayana cultivator of the Chi Demon Clan knew that a direct attack would come at too high a cost and would be difficult to overcome, so he turned his attention to the attrition of low- and mid-level cultivators and the grinding wheel of the battlefield.

Such a vast and massive array cannot be supported by just a few high-level cultivators. Moreover, it is like breaking the roots of a large tree; it cannot be uprooted immediately. Instead, one can start from the relatively weak points on all four sides, gradually destroying its foundation and dismantling its system.

Thus, the middle area of ​​the Heavenly Canyon became the battlefield for the continuous battles between the two races.

The Chi Demon cultivators are fearless and possess formidable individual combat strength. They are particularly skilled in close combat and the mind-corroding "Blood Fiend Heart-Eroding Demon Art." Each time they charge in a group, they are accompanied by towering waves of blood and piercing demonic howls, as if they are sweeping the blood river of hell back into the human world.

On the Taiqing Sect's side, they used formations as the foundation and warriors as the vanguard, employing talismans, magic weapons, and large-scale Daoist techniques in turn to neutralize each impact at the entrance of the Tianjue Canyon.

Besides the cultivators of the Taiqing Sect, there are also native cultivators from the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace. They are now also under the control of the Taiqing Sect to prevent their orders from being issued to multiple parties and giving the Chi Demon Clan an opportunity to take advantage.

So far, Lu Cheng's command has been fair, or rather, more favorable to the native cultivators of the Creation Heaven Palace.

This is also the unsolvable problem of the temporary administration. If Lu Cheng treats people fairly, the local cultivators will think that the higher-ups are biased towards the Taiqing cultivators. Only if Lu Cheng is biased towards the local cultivators will the local cultivators feel that they are being treated fairly.

Just as the Chi Demon Clan had thought, the Nine Turns Yellow Springs Immortal Restriction, covering tens of millions of square kilometers, was not something that a few cultivators could control at will.

If the local cultivators harbor resentment and become disloyal, they could become a weakness in the Tianjue Canyon's defense system.

Therefore, Lu Cheng entrusted the more difficult, arduous, and dangerous war missions to the cultivators of the Taiqing Sect, but provided them with extremely generous compensation in spirit stones.

The Taiqing Sect and the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace have two separate financial systems. Even if they are dissatisfied with this, the local cultivators can only complain about their own sect. Moreover, there is a certain gap between the Taiqing Sect cultivators and the local cultivators. Most local cultivators only know that the Taiqing Sect cultivators receive very high allowances, but they do not know exactly how high they are.

"For some cultivators, the trials and tribulations of war can temper their minds and bodies, which will greatly benefit their future path of cultivation."

But this is not the case for the vast majority of cultivators.

Most cultivators are better suited to cultivating and improving themselves in a peaceful environment. After experiencing battle, most cultivators don't think about how to further improve; instead, after escaping tribulation, they indulge and numb themselves. Such an experience is even detrimental to their path of cultivation.

Lu Cheng had long understood this principle.

He was born with a sharp sword mind; after experiencing danger in sword fights and magical duels, his first thought was how to make up for his own weaknesses and increase his strength.

After most cultivators escape tribulation, they often experience a strong sense of powerlessness and may turn to alcohol, beautiful female cultivators, or even hallucinogenic pills to free themselves from that powerlessness and fear.

"The vast majority of cultivators have mediocre aptitude. If they are properly guided and instructed, they may be cultivated into a minority. These experiences will greatly benefit their future cultivation."

Lu Cheng pondered these thoughts.

Amidst the carnage below, where mountains of corpses and seas of blood raged, two figures stood out like lotus blossoms in a turbid world. Wherever they passed, the demonic aura vanished and the blood waves dissipated. Their formidable magical power often turned the tide of battle, making them pillars of stability in the eyes of countless Taiqing disciples and local cultivators.

These were the two Daoist partners Lu Cheng brought with him on this trip: the sisters Xiao Yuhong and Xiao Yuxue.

The two women, with their beautiful faces and slender figures, stood side by side on a temporary white jade altar located in the outpost camp.

Xiao Yuhong wore a moon-white Taoist robe with cloud patterns, exuding a gentle yet resilient temperament; Xiao Yuxue wore a black outfit adorned with starlight, her brows revealing a lively yet sharp expression.

Above their heads hung a magnificent seven-story golden pagoda, radiant with light and solemnity!

This tower is the Demon-Refining Golden Tower, a natal spiritual treasure created by the two sisters after going through many hardships and integrating the essence of their own "Demon-Subduing Heart Sutra"!
At this moment, on the battlefield ahead, a torrent of blood, centered around dozens of elite Nascent Soul stage Chi Demon warriors and carrying hundreds of fierce soldiers, is frantically assaulting a flank defense line of the Taiqing Sect.

Blood surged and demonic energy condensed into a hideous ghost face, emitting a shrill shriek that bewitched people's minds. Furthermore, the filthy blood light corroded the spiritual patterns of the defensive formation. The light barrier was about to collapse, and the faces of the many disciples behind the formation turned pale, with even the hands holding magical weapons trembling slightly.

It's understandable, though. These disciples are only at the Nascent Soul or even Golden Core stage (native cultivators). Relying on their numbers and the advantages of the formation and terrain to fight against higher-level cultivators, it's normal for them to lose their composure. If they can overcome this, it will greatly benefit them in overcoming their inner demons in the future.

Of course, if it can't be overcome, then there's no need to say more. "Sister!" Xiao Yuxue shouted, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

"Make your move!" Xiao Yuhong made a hand seal at the same time, and the two were of one mind, their magical powers resonating instantly.

Om-!
The Demon-Refining Golden Pagoda hanging above their heads emitted a deep hum, its body radiating golden light, and the countless demon-subduing talismans carved on its surface seemed to come alive, flowing endlessly.

At the base of the golden pagoda, a condensed, almost tangible, pale golden beam of light descended from each of them, enveloping the two sisters.

Immediately, the pagoda began to rotate rapidly around them, the golden light becoming increasingly intense, intertwining and connecting with each other, and actually merging and transforming in front of them into a larger, more solid, nine-story glazed demon-refining golden pagoda phantom with a faint purple aura in its golden light!
A myriad of rays of light shone forth, and a thousand auspicious clouds drifted by.

The enormous glazed golden pagoda trembled slightly as the two women chanted their mantras, and a vast and boundless white-gold light burst forth from its base!
This light is not the power of Buddhism, but rather a fusion of Taoist methods of salvation, and the unique Taoist principles of salvation, suppression, demon refining, and self-nurturing found in the "Heart Sutra for Subduing Demons".

Wherever the platinum light shines, it's like boiling water being poured onto snow!

"Hiss—Roar—!"

The surging, crashing waves of blood encountered the demon-slaying light as if they had met their nemesis.

Amidst the sizzling sounds, the dense blood-fiend demonic energy rapidly dissolved and dissipated, and the solidified ghost faces emitted mournful and painful howls before crumbling apart.

The Chi Demon elites at the forefront saw their protective blood aura rapidly dim under the golden light, and their movements visibly stiffened and became sluggish, as if they were sinking into an invisible quagmire.

Their prized bloodlust, capable of eroding magical power and damaging primordial spirit, was now not only unable to pollute the golden light, but was instead gradually drawn away and purified by the demon-refining power contained within it, transforming into pure spiritual energy. A portion of this energy was fed back to the golden pagoda itself, making its light even brighter. Another portion quietly dissipated, nourishing the mental and magical energy depleted by the Taiqing Sect disciples struggling to maintain order behind it.

"It's Grandmaster Xiao's Demon-Refining Golden Pagoda!" Inside the defensive line, a Taiqing Sect disciple who was almost exhausted shouted excitedly upon seeing this scene.

"Quickly! Stabilize the formation! Counterattack!" The Nascent Soul stage deacon leading the team was greatly encouraged and shouted sharply.

The pressure on the front line decreased sharply, and the shaky light shield quickly stabilized.

The disciples within the formation were greatly encouraged, as if they had been parched for a long time. Their magic weapons, which had been dim, regained their brilliance, and beams of sword light, seas of fire, and ice dragons rained down on the Chi Demon cultivators, whose formation was scattered and whose demonic powers were restricted!

In an instant, the vanguard cultivators of the Chi Demon Clan suffered heavy casualties, and their offensive stalled.

However, the Chi Demon Clan was exceptionally fierce. When a Void Returning Stage Demon General who was overseeing the battle from the rear saw that the situation was not good, his eyes flashed with blood-red light, and with a roar, he slammed a demon banner covered with barbs into the ground.

He opened his mouth and spat out a stream of pure, natal demonic blood, sprinkling it onto the demonic banner!
"A sea of ​​blood surges to the heavens, ten thousand demons devour the heart! Rise!"

Boom!

The demon banner trembled violently, and its surface suddenly expanded, transforming into a filthy pool of blood ten feet in diameter!
The blood pool churned, from which countless twisted demonic shadows, formed from viscous blood plasma and resentment, crawled out, emitting chilling shrieks. They merged into an even larger, more filthy, and foul-smelling wave of blood, which rushed in again with even greater ferocity!
"Hmph, stubborn as a mule!" Xiao Yuxue raised her eyebrows and angrily rebuked.

Xiao Yuhong remained calm, her hand seals changing once more: "Subduing Demon Golden Wheel, turn!"

The Demon-Refining Golden Pagoda spinning above the two sisters suddenly accelerated, and the platinum light on the pagoda body changed from pale gold to a bright crimson gold color, which blended with the white light and became even more dazzling!
The exquisite golden bells hanging under the eaves of the tower moved automatically without wind, emitting a series of clear "ding-dong" sounds that went straight to the depths of one's soul, instantly suppressing the filthy demonic sounds.

At the same time, the form of the huge glazed golden pagoda suddenly changed! The pagoda body shrank and condensed, and the nine layers at the top of the pagoda instantly merged into one, transforming into a crimson-gold demon-subduing treasure wheel with a diameter of about ten feet, sharp edges like blades, and mysterious "卍" characters slowly rotating at its core!
Back then, the Xiao sisters cultivated both Buddhism and Taoism in the mortal realm, which can be said to have given them a strong Buddhist nature. Now, thousands of years later, although the true meaning of their cultivation methods has almost entirely shifted to the Taoist lineage, there are still some lingering Buddhist influences in their expression.

As the treasure wheel spun, countless fine runes, incantations, and spells poured out from it, like a shower of golden rain, carrying the awe-inspiring intent to purify all evil spirits and sever all demonic thoughts, and crashed fiercely into the filthy blood waves!
Zila——!
Like a red-hot iron plunged into ice water, the moment the golden rain and blood waves collided, the ear-piercing sound of corrosion and the screams of the demons echoed throughout the heavens and earth.

Wherever the golden light reached, the blood waves were plowed and evaporated as if by an invisible force. The twisted demonic shadows struggled and roared in the golden light, eventually turning into wisps of black smoke and dissipating.

The Crimson Gold Demon-Subduing Wheel itself was unstoppable, spinning and cutting through the filth and demonic thoughts, forcefully splitting a huge, long-unhealable rift in the "Sea of ​​Blood and Ten Thousand Demons" that had been stirred up again!

The Chi Demon Clan cultivator who had just cast the spell was caught in the treasure wheel and shredded into a sky full of blood mist in a very short time, extremely ferocious!

"Good!" Miao Chuyun, who was overseeing the battle from afar, stood atop a floating array plate. Seeing this, he nodded and smiled, then said to his junior brother Shi Sheng, who was controlling the "Hun Tian Yi" (a type of celestial globe) to maintain the array's operation:
"Master's Demon-Refining Golden Pagoda is changeable at will, combining strength and gentleness, and is specifically designed to counter such filthy demonic arts. It is truly a blessing for our Taiqing Sect! Order the Geng Metal and Wu Earth camps to rely on the power of the Golden Pagoda to break through demons and launch a combined attack from both sides!"

The order was swiftly relayed. Taking advantage of the moment when the Chi Demon's offensive was firmly contained by the Demon Refining Golden Tower, and even breached, two elite battle-training teams, which had been poised to attack, were like two unsheathed divine swords, carrying a torrent of incomparably sharp sword energy, fiercely piercing into the chaotic Chi Demon formation from the left and right flanks!

Sword energy crisscrossed, magical artifacts roared, and battle cries shook the heavens!
Under the core suppression of the Demon Refining Golden Tower and the swift counterattack of the War Cultivation Camp, this Chi Demon flanking force finally collapsed, leaving behind a mess of corpses and broken demonic artifacts, and retreated in panic towards the demonic clouds deep in the canyon.

All that remained was the slowly rotating, golden demon-subduing wheel in the center of the battlefield, its golden light gradually fading, and the Xiao sisters beneath it, their auras fluctuating slightly but their eyes growing ever clearer and more resolute.

A decisive victory in a local skirmish gave the Taiqing Sect's defenses a much-needed respite and time to recover.

The disciples with lower cultivation levels, who were responsible for logistics, quickly stepped forward to clear the battlefield, find and treat the wounded, and repair the damaged array plates.

The thick smell of blood and burnt food in the air was partially swept away by the gale-force winds of the canyon, but a deeper sense of oppression seemed to settle down.

At the top of the giant flying ship, Lu Cheng withdrew his gaze from looking down and turned to step into the hall.

Inside the hall, Daoist Youming was using the Water Mirror Technique to observe the flow of spiritual energy along the entire canyon defense line, while Baizhi stood to one side, methodically distributing the healing and restorative pills continuously delivered by the Pill Cauldron Pavilion. The eldest disciple, Miao Chuyun, had also returned and was reporting the details of the battle and the losses to Lu Cheng.

"...Thanks to the help of my two master ladies, Yu Hong and Yu Xue, our casualties in this battle were kept within a controllable range. However, the Chi Mo clan is known for its tenacity, and continuing this kind of attrition will be a huge test of the mental fortitude of our lower-level disciples," Miao Chuyun said in a deep voice.

Lu Cheng walked to the main seat on the cloud-shaped couch and sat down, gently tapping the jade armrest with his knuckles:

"Mental tempering is an inevitable part of the path. Tell the elders of each peak to pay close attention to the disciples' condition and rotate them for rest when necessary. Don't be stingy with pills and spirit stones; the 'sincerity' given by Palace Master Mo should be used where it is needed."

"Yes." Miao Chuyun acknowledged and withdrew. Bai Zhi then presented another jade slip:

"My lord, this is a message from Elder Mingxia of the Dan Ding Pavilion. A new batch of 'Heart-Clearing and Evil-Breaking Pills' has been refined and is of superior quality. In addition, Qixia Mountain has sent a batch of 'Moonlight Dew,' a specialty product that nourishes the soul and accelerates the recovery of magical power. It has also been put into storage."

Lu Cheng nodded slightly: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Distribute the Moon Essence Dew to the disciples who participated in today's battle. Tell Qixia Mountain that I appreciate your kindness."

Then, Lu Cheng's gaze fell upon the gloomy sky outside the hall, and the churning demonic clouds deep within the canyon, which seemed to conceal an even greater storm. His tone was calm and even:

"Although the Chi Demon leadership doesn't dare to launch a direct attack yet, they are certainly unwilling to give up. This continuous harassment serves three purposes: first, to wear down the disciples' fighting spirit; second, to probe for weaknesses in our formation's operation; and third... perhaps they are waiting." Lu Cheng paused here, then continued:
"How is the relocation plan progressing?"

The final killing move of the Heavenly Canyon is to breach the dam of the Netherworld River, causing it to overflow and flood the world. At that time, apart from a small number of Nascent Soul and Mahayana cultivators who can survive, almost no one will be able to live in the surrounding trillions of miles.

However, although the Heavenly Canyon was guarded by the Creation Palace as a natural barrier, it had not been invaded by alien races for ten thousand years. Now, there are many cities and families in the area of ​​trillions of square kilometers around the Heavenly Canyon, all of which have intricate connections with the cultivators stationed in the Heavenly Canyon. Therefore, it is not easy to relocate them, and the local cultivators are unwilling to give up the various benefits brought about by their ten thousand years of cultivation.

This behavior is like farming around a volcano in the mortal realm. Because of the abundant nutrients, the yield is plentiful. Although the volcano will eventually erupt, for mortals, that is something that is hundreds of years in the future.

(End of this chapter)