In the next moment, countless immortals gave chase. Innumerable glowing spells obscured half the sky as they unleashed their most skilled restraining techniques, attempting to drag this massive fierce beast back to the shores of the Eastern Sea.
Suddenly, it let out a long roar towards the sky. The immortals felt their vision blur, and the beast vanished from sight. It reappeared instantly beyond the range of the countless restraining spells, beating its wings. In another blink, it had already flown away from the town, speeding towards the Central Plains inland.
So fast! Such an enormous body, such domineering demonic energy, yet so swift! If it were to fly inland, calamities would surely follow. More terrifying still, seemingly attracted by its surging demonic power, countless powerful demons and fierce beasts that had not yet migrated from around the Eastern Sea began to stir. They rose into the air in droves, following behind like a blanket of dark clouds.
That direction led to Yangxi City, a massive city with countless mortals. If these fierce beasts and demons were to descend there, the entire city would be reduced to ruins in an instant. That would be catastrophic.
Master Shen sternly ordered a Sea Sect elder: “Half of you stay behind to continue guarding! The rest, give chase with me!”
Ji Tongzhou gazed in shock at the dense spiritual energy net above Yangxi City. It hadn’t been like this when he left. In just a day and night, the Eastern Sea area seemed to have been turned upside down. In the distant shores of the Eastern Sea, thunder clouds gathered densely, black as night. Above the thunder clouds, the sun blazed fiercely, so bright he could barely open his eyes. There was not a hint of wind, and the heat was as oppressive as a desert.
Beside him, Xuanshan Zi’s expression grew solemn. Countless waves of demonic energy were surging from the Eastern Sea towards the inland. Had the immortals guarding the Eastern Sea shores failed to hold them back?
The Mountain Sect immortals stationed in Yangxi City also rose into the air, cautiously watching the direction of the Eastern Sea. There were countless mortals here who couldn’t evacuate thousands of miles in a day like cultivators could. If a horde of demons invaded, the spiritual energy net wouldn’t be able to hold back much. The casualties would likely be severe.
Nearby immortals had already recognized Xuanshan Zi. Given the special circumstances, they only nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Some impatient immortals couldn’t wait any longer and flew towards the Eastern Sea to investigate.
Xuanshan Zi was about to speak when he suddenly sensed something. He slowly turned around to see several elder immortals arriving on clouds of mist. The one in front was tall and fat with skin as white as snow and a pair of sharp phoenix eyes glinting like divine blades—it was Zong Quan, an elder of the Five Zhang Mountain of the Dragon Name Seat. Beside him was another white-bearded elder whom Ji Tongzhou also recognized: Zong Li, an elder of the Three Zhang Mountain of the Dragon Name Seat.
Zong Li glanced at Ji Tongzhou, then looked at Xuanshan Zi. He immediately cupped his hands and said with a smile, “So Master Xuanshan has come as well. With the Sea Calamity approaching, is it appropriate for Master Xuanshan to bring along junior disciples? I’m afraid that’s not quite suitable.”
Ji Tongzhou’s face turned cold. He remembered his royal brother’s white hair at the temples and tears, and the dozens of cities and prefectures that Wu Gou had annexed from Yue Kingdom over the years. The enemy was right in front of him, even chatting casually as if nothing was wrong, yet he could only watch in silence.
Xuanshan Zi replied calmly, “Greetings to the esteemed members of the Dragon Name Seat. I didn’t expect to meet you all in Yangxi City. Master Zong Li, how are your sect’s disciples who were injured during the last Eastern Sea trial? Have they fully recovered?”
At the mention of this, the faces of several Dragon Name Seat members immediately darkened. The harsh words of Wu Zhengzi and his disciples still rang in their ears. They hadn’t expected Xuanshan Zi, who was known for his aloofness from worldly affairs, to also come and provoke them. Zong Li was straightforward and was about to lose his temper, but Zong Quan beside him smiled and said, “Master Xuanshan is kind to inquire. Those few disciples were reckless and deserved to suffer a bit. We’re grateful for Master Xuanshan’s concern. We had heard earlier that Master Xuanshan was seriously injured, but seeing you today, you seem even better than before. It seems that rumors in this world are often unfounded.”
If Zong Li was a sharp knife, Zong Quan was a soft one. The hidden meaning in his words was chilling. He implied that they had been keeping track of Xuanshan Zi’s injuries and cultivation, and their various probes and infringements on Yue Kingdom over the years also showed their confidence.
Xuanshan Zi glanced at him indifferently and said softly, “Tongzhou, let’s go.”
Ji Tongzhou silently followed him on his flying sword. The overwhelming demonic energy in the distance was hair-raising. The faint sounds of thunder grew more frequent and louder. The stifling hot summer day suddenly had subtle fluctuations, with a breeze stirring up from somewhere, gently swaying the robes of the immortals in mid-air.
Someone exclaimed, “They’re here!” The immortals seemed to wake from a dream and flew swiftly toward the surging demonic energy. Xuanshan Zi said, “Tongzhou, stay close to me. Don’t leave my side for a moment!”
In the distance, a dark mass like storm clouds of demons came howling and flapping their wings. They were quickly intercepted by the immortals. Suddenly, various immortal spells shook the air. The surroundings flickered between light and dark, the scene spectacular. Thousands upon thousands of demons battled with the immortals in one place, creating a chaotic scene where it was impossible to see who was fighting whom. Ji Tongzhou, a junior disciple, felt like a small leaf that could be torn apart by the gale at any moment in the collision of overwhelming demonic and spiritual energies. If not for Xuanshan Zi’s protection, he would have been knocked down long ago.
This was the first time in his life he had witnessed such a struggle. It could no longer be called a magic duel; it was a war between immortals and demons. In the dazzling light, human figures seemed so small, yet they could release immortal spells that seemed to intimidate heaven and earth, sweeping away everything.
Thunder clouds covered the sky, and countless lightning bolts struck down. The spiritual energy net covering Yangxi City was much denser. A huge creature suddenly crashed into it but failed to break through. Instead, it was violently repelled. When the immortals saw its appearance, their expressions changed. Master Shen’s voice transmission spell also came from behind: “Lure this Qiongqi away!”
The fierce beast Qiongqi, one of the Four Fiends, had only been heard of in legends, but no one had ever truly seen it. It had been lurking in the Eastern Sea all this time. Its body was so enormous, about half the size of Yangxi City. If it went berserk here, this city would instantly be reduced to ashes.
The spiritual energy net was immediately spread out densely. Countless attacking spells bombarded the Qiongqi’s body. Despite its massive size, its movements were extremely fast. With a flap of its wings, it soared dozens of miles high. Suddenly, its body shrank drastically, floating unpredictably up and down, left and right. The immortal spells couldn’t harm it in the slightest.
It charged left and right within the spiritual energy net, smashing it to pieces. Seemingly unable to escape, it let out angry roars. Lightning from the thunderclouds above struck down in countless bolts, shattering numerous buildings in Yangxi City. Behind it, many immortals used spells to drive it away, while in front, the spiritual energy net was still being laid. The Qiongqi seemed unwilling to be driven like this, stubbornly trying to break through its restraints and persistently moving towards the inland of the Central Plains.
Xuanshan Zi closed his eyes in concentration, then suddenly opened his mouth and shouted, “Come!”
The Celestial Sound Spirit Language Technique resounded through heaven and earth. Vast spiritual energy surged like a tidal wave. The Qiongqi, bewitched by the spirit language, involuntarily turned around and flew towards Xuanshan Zi.
Xuanshan Zi flew rapidly towards the Eastern Seashore, but the Qiongqi was much faster. With a few flaps of its wings, it was already close. Although its body had shrunk considerably, it was still enormous and intimidating. Ji Tongzhou saw this legendary fierce beast howling as it approached. Its demonic energy felt like knives and swords piercing his body. He couldn’t help but shudder, yet unwilling to back down, he summoned the Xuanhua Fire, eager to fight.
Xuanshan Zi grabbed his arm, stopping his reckless behavior. He suddenly shouted again, “Eastward!”
The spiritual energy net was instantly set up towards the east. The Qiongqi, unable to control itself, turned towards the Eastern Seashore. Covered and blocked by the spiritual energy net, it stumbled and flapped its wings, flying far away. The immortals had no time to marvel at the power of the Celestial Sound Spirit Language Technique and chased after it together. They saw the Qiongqi being driven back to the Eastern Seashore. As the effect of the spirit language faded, it struggled and writhed in the spiritual energy net again. Sensing danger, its body suddenly expanded enormously. The overwhelming immortal spells finally hit it solidly, blasting one of its hind legs to ashes. Black demonic blood sprayed out, dyeing the entire beach black.
It let out an earth-shattering roar of anger. Its blood-filled mouth suddenly opened wide, spewing out countless blood-red mists. More than a dozen immortals couldn’t dodge in time and were engulfed by the mist. They didn’t even have time to scream before only their clothes fell to the ground. Everyone saw that the hind leg that had been blasted to pieces showed signs of regeneration. Was it devouring the immortals’ essence blood and spiritual energy to heal itself?
As the mist grew thicker and spread rapidly, numerous defenses were immediately set up. However, the mist slowly consumed the spiritual energy on the defenses. The immortals immediately flew up to avoid the mist, then recklessly threw countless attacking spells at it. The entire Eastern Sea shore trembled from this spectacle.
Xuanshan Zi’s two uses of the Celestial Sound Spirit Language Technique to control the Qiongqi had consumed a vast amount of spiritual energy. His face was covered in sweat. As the blood-colored mist approached, covering the sky, he pulled Ji Tongzhou back several miles. Even Ji Tongzhou was seeing Xuanshan Zi use the Celestial Sound Spirit Language Technique for the first time. This premier mystic art of Xingzheng Hall had such miraculous effects; no wonder its cultivation method was so demanding.
He was about to speak when he suddenly felt a sharp wind behind him, as swift as a shooting star. In the blink of an eye, it was at his heels, leaving no time to dodge. In that split second, Xuanshan Zi’s long sleeve suddenly unfurled, forcefully catching the object. It was a demon’s skull, with prominent horns, spinning in his palm.
Zong Quan’s hearty laugh sounded from behind at the same time: “My deepest apologies. It slipped from my hand. Please don’t take offense, Master Xuanshan.”
Hearing the voice of the Dragon Name Seat elder at this moment, Ji Tongzhou had a bad premonition. He turned around hurriedly and saw the demon skull in Xuanshan Zi’s hand open its mouth wide. Several beams of green light shot out from its hollow eyes and mouth, piercing through Xuanshan Zi’s body.
The immortal’s face suddenly turned deathly pale. He pushed the demon skull treasure away several zhang with one hand, and it was gently caught by another hand. Zong Quan closed his palm, crushing the treasure in his hand. He said softly, “I feel terrible about this, Master Xuanshan. Are you alright?”
Ji Tongzhou stared blankly at Xuanshan Zi’s cyan robe gradually turning red with blood. His heart seemed to stop.
What had just happened? Right before his eyes? In broad daylight?