Chapter 1415: Breakthrough at the Last Moment

Pure Nine-Lotus Lamp.

“Junior Brother!” Ni Yuanzhong tried to stop Ye Qing, but Ye Qing, having merged with his sword, was simply unstoppable.

“Senior Brother, lead the disciples in retreat. I will cover your rear.” Ye Qing’s words echoed in Ni Yuanzhong’s ears. Ye Qing had already flown out of Heavenly Peak on his sword, his sword light like a mighty river, vast and formidable, yet sharp and incisive, blocking Su Wen and the other two in mid-air.

Junior Brother probably intends to sacrifice himself… Ni Yuanzhong sighed inwardly upon hearing Ye Qing’s words. He knew that to lead the sect’s cultivators away, a Soul Transformation cultivator was indeed needed to act.

As the Senior Disciple Brother, he should have been the one to step forward, but with Ye Qing already taking action, he had no other choice.

“Leave the Heaven-Reaching Dao Refining Pagoda here. I will assist Ye Qing.” The voice transmission of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Patriarch also resounded in Ni Yuanzhong’s ears.

Although Ye Qing was a prodigy, he alone could never stop Su Wen, the Demon Venerable, and Tu Ming. Furthermore, the Heaven-Reaching Dao Refining Pagoda, having previously refined the Life-Death Disc, had long since become entangled with the great dao of this innate spirit treasure. If it were to leave, it would be easily located by those who had refined the Life-Death Disc.

Moreover, the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Patriarch wanted to see what would happen next with the Life-Death Disc, which had been activated by the Yellow Springs Death River. He still had no intention of giving up on elevating his own Two Extremes Great Dao.

“Yes, Patriarch.” Ni Yuanzhong, being decisive, immediately activated his Heavy Origin Sword to carry people. “Disciples, do not resist.”

As his voice fell, the sword blades dispersed like flowing water, falling as individual droplets before each disciple, transforming into ethereal small boats that carried them.

“Junior Brother, take care!” Ni Yuanzhong sent a final message to Ye Qing, formed a sword incantation, and the small boats, like flying swords, carried the disciples of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect into the sky, heading towards the Eastern Barrens.

On the way, he encountered Qi Yingyu, who was leading disciples from Nine Heavens Immortal City. However, most of those disciples had perished in the netherworld death qi and Yellow Springs demonic flames surging from within the earth’s crust.

Even Qi Yingyu had nearly lost his life trying to save others.

Ni Yuanzhong immediately rescued this group as well, using the Demon-Slaying Great Method to suppress the demonic flames that had entered their bodies.

“This is all we can do for now. Once we reach a safe place in the Eastern Barrens, I will help you remove them one by one.” Ni Yuanzhong sighed, placed the pale-faced Qi Yingyu onto a flying sword boat, and stood up to look back at Heavenly Peak, where he had spent his entire life.

“Ancestor, can we ever return?” After all, Qi Yingyu was a Nascent Soul Dao Child, and his cultivation was a great method inherited from Ni Yuanzhong’s lineage. After receiving Ni Yuanzhong’s true qi, he had already suppressed the demonic flames in his body. He struggled to sit up, asking the question with painful eyes.

Since the establishment of the Eastern Land, the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect had founded its gates here. Tens of thousands of years had passed, and this was the first time they were forced to flee. Even during the low point of the Soul Transformation cultivation breaking, they had been able to protect the dignity of their sacred land by relying on the sect-protecting formation and the Heaven-Reaching Dao Refining Pagoda.

This was unacceptable to Qi Yingyu, who had always been proud to be a disciple of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect.

“We will return, as long as the heritage remains.” “Even if Junior Brother Ye and I cannot achieve it, we can wait for your generation.” “If your generation cannot do it, then wait for the next, and the next after that, until Heavenly Peak is rebuilt!”

Although Ni Yuanzhong himself had little confidence, in front of his disciples, he had to act as the calming pillar, answering with a firm tone.

When they heard his words, Qi Yingyu and the other young disciples clenched their fists, their eyes reddened, firmly imprinting the image of Heavenly Peak, which was gradually disintegrating under the demonic fire and thunderclouds, deep in their hearts.

This humiliation, one day, they would reclaim!

Boom! The mountain peak where the Heaven-Reaching Dao Refining Pagoda was rooted completely shattered under the impact of the Yellow Springs Death River flowing from the Gate of the Underworld.

Amidst the pervasive demonic flames and dark thunderclouds, a clear, water-like sword light, like a brilliant star, moved back and forth under the protection of the Two Extremes Immortal Light radiating from the Heaven-Reaching Dao Refining Pagoda, clashing with top demonic experts like Su Wen.

However, as time passed, both the Two Extremes Immortal Light and the sword light grew increasingly dim.

The reason for such rapid consumption was not only the formidable strength of their opponents but also because Heavenly Peak’s sixth-tier spiritual vein had been destroyed by the Demon Venerable in advance.

Otherwise, the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Patriarch could have continuously drawn spiritual energy from the earth veins using his natal artifact, assisting Ye Qing in a protracted battle.

“The disciples are already a thousand li away. You may withdraw as well.” The Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Patriarch sensed Ni Yuanzhong’s group and immediately spoke to Ye Qing, whose sword intent was weakening.

Even with his protection, Ye Qing had faced life-or-death crises multiple times, almost being imprisoned by Su Wen in the Red Lotus of Bliss, just like Yuan Qingque.

Although the Life-Death Disc was out of control, the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Patriarch still did not want to miss this opportunity for the great dao to manifest. He intended to take that crucial step at the critical moment to elevate his own great dao.

Once that step was taken, there would be no turning back; it would be life or death.

Therefore, before that, he needed an heir. With Yuan Qingque’s primordial spirit already imprisoned, Ye Qing was the most suitable successor to inherit the Two Extremes Great Dao.

“If I die on the path of cultivation, the Demon-Slaying lineage, from top to bottom, will need your protection.” These words from the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Patriarch made Ye Qing hesitate for a moment, but then he immediately saw the Red Lotus of Bliss in Su Wen’s hand, gripping his sword even tighter.

“Patriarch, the sect will surely produce disciples more suitable to inherit your Dao Fruit than me in the future.”

After saying these words, Ye Qing’s gaze was no longer clouded by confusion. He gripped his sword and took a step forward.

He had been brought to Heavenly Peak by Yuan Qingque since childhood. Yuan Qingque was his only family, and Yuan Zhen was the one he grew up with. If he were to leave now, the demonic path and the Demon Venerable would unleash their attacks upon them without restraint.

Thinking of this, Ye Qing’s gaze grew sharper. His Floating Cloud Sword Intent, already sharp and incisive, completely sublimated under this conviction to save his loved ones, overwhelming and suppressing the Taihe Sword Intent within his Dao Fruit.

With an earth-shattering sword cry, a colossal sword intent, vast enough to blot out the sky, pierced through the boundless demonic flames, cut open the continuous dark clouds and black thunder in the sky, and surged directly into the Gate of the Underworld opened by Tu Ming.

Accompanying a pained cry, Tu Ming’s figure emerged from the void. He stared with wide, disbelieving eyes.

“This is impossible!” He muttered to himself as a sword mark appeared on Tu Ming’s forehead, then instantly spread across his nose, mouth, neck, and entire body.

Amidst a spray of blood, Tu Ming was split in two as if by a single sword strike, dying instantly.

And the Gate of the Underworld, after Tu Ming was slain by Ye Qing’s single sword, also began to collapse. The ceaselessly pouring waters of the Yellow Springs Death River, having lost their source, began to dry up.

“Trash!” Su Wen’s figure emerged from the boundless demonic flames. He glanced at Tu Ming’s lifeless corpse and couldn’t help but curse.

It was important to note that he had taken Tu Ming’s weaker cultivation into account, thus only tasking him with opening the Gate of the Underworld to guide the Yellow Springs Death River water to irrigate the Life-Death Disc and awaken the great dao of this innate spirit treasure.

Fighting Ye Qing was primarily his and the Demon Venerable’s responsibility. Under the suppression of their realm and cultivation, as long as they proceeded methodically, Ye Qing would eventually exhaust himself and be worn down to death.

He might even have had the chance to plant inner demons within Ye Qing, turning him into the most powerful sword cultivator incarnation he had ever created.

However, under these circumstances, Tu Ming made a single misstep. His true body behind the Gate of the Underworld was caught by a wave of Ye Qing’s sword intent, and he was instantly slain by a single sword strike, utterly defenseless.

“Eastern Continent’s Demonic Path Master, Underworld Supreme—grand titles, but he couldn’t defeat the old Yuan Qingque, and now he can’t defeat the young one. Indeed, the demonic path can only rely on me!”

After inwardly scolding Tu Ming, Su Wen looked at Ye Qing, who had broken through in battle and whose sword intent had sublimated, and adjusted his strategy accordingly.

“Fellow Daoist, delay leads to complications. If other Holy Land Soul Transformations arrive, your revenge plan today might be cut short. Let us both hold nothing back and crush this junior with all our might!”

As Su Wen spoke, a gleaming white bone bead rose from behind his head. Boundless demonic flames and endless dark thunder immediately converged, forming a three-headed, six-armed, hideous and terrifying Heavenly Demon avatar!

This was a great divine ability, the result of cultivating the Demonic Heart Great Method to its peak, named Heart Demon Sarira, Heavenly Demon Possession! After the avatar appeared, its chest split open, and the cavity sucked Su Wen entirely inside.

After merging, this Heavenly Demon directly extended its long, slender hand, clenching it into a fist and forcefully smashing it into the still-undissipated Gate of the Underworld. As the demonic claw stirred, it once again pierced and tore open the passage between the Heavenly River Realm and the Underworld Realm after the Gate of the Underworld dissipated.

The waters of the Yellow Springs Death River flowed along the demonic claw, pouring over Su Wen’s Heavenly Demon avatar, causing yellow, billowing smoke and clouds, like dragons and serpents, to ignite all over its body.

“Truly worthy of being the Master of the Central Demonic Path!” The Demon Venerable was also somewhat startled upon seeing this scene, as his eyes twitched when they met the Heavenly Demon avatar, indicating that Su Wen’s strength in this state surpassed his own.

However, the stronger Su Wen’s power, the better for the Demon Venerable. After all, his goal was to destroy the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect!

With a roar, the Demon Venerable also unleashed his full power, his body contorting as he transformed into the hideous true spirit form of a Wutu True Locust.

The moment he saw the Wutu True Locust, Ye Qing recalled the Heavenly Demon Saint Embryo that Yuan Zhen had captured from the Eastern Barrens using the Azure Mirage Bottle back then. A look of realization flashed in his eyes: “So it was you!”

“It is me, and yet it is not me. This is my disciple’s body, which I possessed for my reincarnation. My true body blocked the disaster when Yuan Qingque ascended while riding it through the Nine Heavens Tribulation.”

By this point, the Demon Venerable no longer wished to conceal anything. He intended to let Ye Qing die with understanding, so he spoke coldly, revealing his identity.

“Demon Venerable!” Ye Qing was first startled upon hearing this, then his expression grew solemn.

In the past, before Yuan Qingque ascended, he left Ye Qing a drop of white dragon essence blood, intending for Ye Qing to refine it for breakthroughs in the future if he lacked Soul Transformation elixirs. Thus, Ye Qing knew everything about the Demon Venerable.

“On the path to the Yellow Springs, I will soon send Yuan Qingque and your Junior Sister to join you!” After the Demon Venerable revealed his true form, his strength was incomparable to moments before. As he spoke, he flapped his wings and flew directly in front of Ye Qing.

If Ye Qing’s sword intent had not already broken through, allowing his sword to move with his will and his intent to precede his thoughts, he would likely have had his head severed by the Demon Venerable’s sharp claws.

With a crisp clang, the Floating Cloud Sword in Ye Qing’s hand bent and nearly broke under the terrifying impact of the Demon Venerable’s sixth-tier physical body.

Booming! At the same time, Su Wen, controlling his Heavenly Demon avatar, had condensed endless dark thunder into a pitch-black lightning spear, which heavily struck down towards Ye Qing’s head.

The Heaven-Reaching Dao Refining Pagoda, activated by the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Patriarch, flew up directly, intercepting the pitch-black demonic spear in mid-air.

A terrifying explosion ripple spread in all directions, affecting even Ni Yuanzhong and his group, who had already flown a thousand li away.

The small boats, formed from one leaf of Profound Origin Heavy Water, actually began to dissipate into mist under this aftermath. One must remember, this was the power of Soul Transformation.

Ni Yuanzhong’s face flushed red. He spared no vital essence to activate the power of his Demon-Slaying Dao Fruit, trying to block the aftermath of the clash between these sixth-tier powers. But he could only barely hold on for a few breaths.

At this moment, an even more violent roar came from Heavenly Peak, which had already been reduced to dust. The aftermath, several times stronger than before, caused Ni Yuanzhong, who was blocking in front, to bleed from all seven orifices, feeling as if his entire being was about to melt.

“Oh, Fellow Daoist Ni!” Just then, a familiar voice rang out, and then a silver light stepped out of the void, transforming into a refined young man.

It was Chen Mobai. Perhaps his Sacred Virtue Great Dao had taken effect, as he finally arrived using Void Walk at the most critical moment.

Seeing Ni Yuanzhong bleeding all over, Chen Mobai immediately rang the Primordial Chaos Bell.

A deep, resonant bell chime reverberated through the clouds, and five-colored ripples spread from the white jade bell, taking over from Ni Yuanzhong to cover all the disciples of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect.

The five-colored ripples then continuously spread, clashing with the aftermath coming from Heavenly Peak. The power that Ni Yuanzhong, despite exerting his full strength, could not stop, was instantly nullified and suppressed under the five-colored ripples.

“Many thanks, Ancestor Chen, for your timely rescue!” After surviving the brink of death, Ni Yuanzhong repeatedly thanked Chen Mobai.

“Where is Brother Ye?” Chen Mobai nodded, looked at all the cultivators of the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect behind Ni Yuanzhong, but did not find Ye Qing. He couldn’t help but frown slightly, suddenly having a bad premonition.

“Junior Brother Ye is covering our retreat. I implore Ancestor Chen to save him!” Ni Yuanzhong immediately pleaded for help.

Chen Mobai did not reply. He simply transformed into a silver light and vanished from the spot.

A thousand li distance was but an instant for him. Just as he stepped out of the void, Chen Mobai saw Ye Qing’s sword-holding right hand torn apart by the Demon Venerable, bleeding profusely, and falling from the sky towards the ground.

The silver light flickered, and Chen Mobai teleported behind Ye Qing, catching his heavily wounded, falling body.

(End of chapter)