Snow fell urgently, thick clouds and blizzard obscuring the light. The valley was shrouded in an eerie, gloomy atmosphere.
A tall figure emerged from the snowstorm, each step causing the earth to shake and mountains to tremble.
“So, as I said, you’re being too cautious,” the voice was hoarse yet resounding, penetrating through the blizzard’s barrier. “It’s just a weakened Xie Xuechen.”
One-Thought Venerable replied, “After all, he is Sect Leader Xie. I must show him sufficient respect.”
Xie Xuechen stood gripping his sword, his tall figure amidst the snowstorm like an unsheathed blade.
“It was you who set up the teleportation array, bringing Infatuation Demon and Battle Demon into Snow-Embracing City,” Xie Xuechen coldly gazed at One-Thought Venerable. “Someone thoughtful enough to use left-handed writing to disguise their true handwriting would anticipate its discovery. So, the person whose left-handed writing matches the array symbols is not the true array setter. However, someone who has lived closely with him for a hundred years could easily mimic his left-handed writing.”
One-Thought Venerable nodded slightly, “I see. Sect Leader Xie has suspected me for a while.”
“The real Nan Xuyue wouldn’t have missed this point either,” Xie Xuechen continued, “But he didn’t mention it.”
One-Thought Venerable suddenly realized, “So he exposed himself as well.”
“Since Battle Demon is here, the one possessing Venerable Fajian must be Infatuation Demon,” Xie Xuechen looked at the towering giant who had walked to One-Thought Venerable’s side. “The real Battle Demon’s abilities are pure and powerful, solely focused on killing.”
Battle Demon grinned at Xie Xuechen, revealing sharp fangs. His deep voice slowly said, “Only those incapable of killing an enemy in one strike would resort to such convoluted tricks. Sect Leader Xie understands this best.”
Xie Xuechen said, “Given Venerable Fajian’s cultivation level, it would have taken Infatuation Demon more than a brief moment to successfully possess him. So, One-Thought Venerable must have made his move on Venerable Fajian last night.”
One-Thought Venerable didn’t deny it. He nodded with a slight smile, “Last night while discussing the Dao with my senior uncle, our paths diverged. He wanted to extinguish my Dao and harbored thoughts of killing and regret. But I was prepared. I restrained him with an array, allowing Infatuation Demon to ambush him, gradually controlling his inner demons until successfully possessing him this morning.”
“Controlling Nan Xuyue wasn’t part of your plan. He’s just an ordinary person,” Xie Xuechen said.
“Indeed, but the moment he stepped into the Hall of Righteousness, the Inner Demon Array was triggered,” One-Thought Venerable sighed slightly. “Master Nan may seem open and aboveboard, but who knew his thoughts were so heavy? His obsession was so intense that Infatuation Demon instinctively shifted targets and controlled Master Nan instead.”
Xie Xuechen was puzzled about what Nan Xuyue’s obsession could be, but now wasn’t the time to delve into it. He quickly dismissed the thought.
“You stirred up doubts among the Immortal Alliance members, turning them into scattered sand. You possessed Venerable Fajian to incite internal strife within the Alliance. Then you lured me away from the center of the vortex, having Battle Demon assist you in killing me,” Xie Xuechen laid out Sang Qi’s strategy piece by piece. “Sang Qi wants to eliminate the entire Immortal Alliance in one fell swoop.”
One-Thought Venerable said, “Senior Uncle is the strongest cultivator in the Immortal Alliance after Sect Leader Xie. Without uniting, the others stand no chance against him.”
Xie Xuechen said, “Infatuation Demon merely wants the Immortal Alliance to destroy itself. Whether Venerable Fajian wins or loses, lives or dies is irrelevant.”
“Sect Leader Xie is indeed perceptive,” One-Thought Venerable smiled slightly. “But weren’t you above explaining things to your enemies? Why tell me all this?”
Xie Xuechen slowly released the sword in his hand, embedding it into the rock, unmovable.
“Naturally, it’s because I too needed to buy time,” Xie Xuechen said.
One-Thought Venerable and Battle Demon were both startled. They saw that three zhang away, where Xie Xuechen stood amidst the blizzard, the snowfall suddenly froze in mid-air as if time had instantly stopped. Through the thick snow, they saw a handsome, cold face with bright, sharp phoenix eyes. The red light in his brow suddenly brightened. In the next moment, the snow around him surged outward in a vortex. The powerful spiritual energy fluctuation caused heaven and earth to change color. A dazzling light, rivaling the Golden Crow, pierced through the snow’s shroud. Sharp sword energy shot straight into the sky, unstoppable!
“Jun Tian!” One-Thought Venerable’s face changed drastically, taking half a step back.
“His divine aperture has recovered?” Battle Demon recalled Xie Xuechen wielding Jun Tian in the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, with his world-destroying sword intent. For a moment, his heart faltered, but soon it ignited an even greater battle spirit within him.
Battle Demon knew no fear; he only knew killing and fighting. The strength made his demonic energy boil, and encountering strength made him even stronger!
Battle Demon grinned widely, pulling out two battle axes from his back, his eyes glowing with bloodthirst.
“As expected of the First Sword Cultivator’s spiritual power. This kind of killing is truly exhilarating!”
One-Thought Venerable realized he had been tricked. His usually kind face was now shadowed. “Sect Leader Xie isn’t so easily dealt with.”
“Back then, I was suppressed by the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, that’s why I lost to him. Now I’m stronger than I was in the Formation, while he…” Battle Demon narrowed his eyes, “It seems he hasn’t fully recovered yet.”
From within the snowstorm came Xie Xuechen’s cold voice: “But it’s more than enough to kill you.”
Before his words faded, Jun Tian was already before their eyes.
The intense spiritual energy fluctuation in the Hall of Righteousness shook the entire city. Countless cultivators rushed over, witnessing the spectacular, colorful spiritual energy clashing in mid-air. They knew it was a battle between Fashen, far beyond their ability to intervene, and could only stay as far away as possible.
When Mu Xuanling arrived at the Hall of Righteousness, it was already in ruins. She found the unconscious Nan Xuyue among the debris and quickly revived him.
Nan Xuyue hadn’t suffered any external injuries. After Infatuation Demon possessed Venerable Fajian, it had relinquished control over him. Being possessed by a demon god, even for a brief moment, was extremely damaging to an ordinary person’s body. Nan Xuyue’s face was pale, his limbs felt as heavy as lead, and his body was ice-cold. He only remembered following Xie Xuechen into the Hall of Righteousness; everything after that was a blank.
“Master Nan, it’s too dangerous here. Let me take you away first.”
Seeing his condition, Mu Xuanling immediately recognized the symptoms of demonic possession. She supported Nan Xuyue with her shoulder, helping him away from the battle’s epicenter. Nan Xuyue leaned half his body on Mu Xuanling, slowly regaining some strength.
Fu Lansheng, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, saw Mu Xuanling supporting the ashen-faced Nan Xuyue and was startled. He hurried over to help.
“What happened?” Fu Lansheng took over supporting Nan Xuyue, holding his arm. “My father and the others are besieging Venerable Fajian, while Sect Leader Xie and One-Thought Venerable are nowhere to be seen.”
Nan Xuyue thought for a moment and said, “I was possessed by a demon earlier and lost all memory of what happened. But from the current situation, it seems highly likely that One-Thought Venerable is a demonic spy who has taken Sect Leader Xie away.”
“Then he’s lost,” Mu Xuanling smiled faintly. “At this moment, Xie Xuechen is the invincible Sect Leader Xie.”
She had administered the medicine herself and knew exactly when its effects would wear off. Xie Xuechen knew this too, which is why he allowed One-Thought Venerable to take him away, to see what other traps the enemy had prepared.
Fu Lansheng anxiously watched the fierce battle in the sky, where his parents were among the combatants. But a battle at that level was beyond the intervention of a small Golden Core cultivator like him, even with countless magical artifacts at his disposal. He couldn’t influence the outcome of this battle.
Mu Xuanling, who was very familiar with the Three Demon Gods, quickly assessed the situation in the sky and said, “Venerable Fajian has been possessed by Infatuation Demon, and the others have fallen into Infatuation Demon’s Inner Demon Array.”
Fu Lansheng, knowing nothing about Infatuation Demon, looked at Mu Xuanling in confusion.
“Infatuation Demon’s method is to find the obsession in people’s hearts, plant a seed, and let it grow over time. The stronger the obsession, the faster it blooms. Infatuation Demon can draw power from others’ obsessions, and once the obsession in someone’s heart matures, they can be possessed by Infatuation Demon at any time,” Mu Xuanling’s expression was grave. “So even if we defeat the possessed Venerable Fajian, Infatuation Demon can still possess someone else.”
Fu Lansheng urgently asked, “Then is there any way to defeat the Infatuation Demon?”
Under the group assault, Venerable Fajian was already heavily injured. His defeat was only a matter of time, but the others had also paid a considerable price, all visibly wounded and their auras significantly weakened. Mu Xuanling furrowed her brow, contemplating countermeasures.
“Only the Prajna Sutra from Xuantian Temple has exorcism techniques. The Prajna Sutra can illuminate the mind and reveal one’s true nature, restoring the self and dispelling the influence of inner demons, leaving the Infatuation Demon nowhere to hide. But now Venerable Fajian is under control, and One-Thought Venerable is a traitor…” Mu Xuanling said helplessly, “We can only try to capture Infatuation Demon in the fleeting moment it leaves Venerable Fajian’s body upon his defeat. But that window of opportunity is extremely brief and hard to seize.”
There was another method – her Judgment Vine. This divine artifact, created by Sang Qi, was the nemesis of demonic beings. Once bound by the vine, even the Three Demon Gods would find it extremely difficult to escape, at least for a short while. But in the face of powerful enemies, exposing even a moment’s weakness could be fatal.
However, Mu Xuanling couldn’t act. If she did, her identity would be exposed.
The battle between the Fashen was nearing its end. The Dust of the World enveloped Venerable Fajian’s body, and a golden light pierced through his chest. But this alone wasn’t enough to kill a Fashen. Venerable Fajian revealed an eerie smile and a golden pearl appeared before him, spinning and emitting a dazzling golden light.
Everyone’s expressions changed. Someone shouted, “Not good, he’s going to self-destruct his Golden Core!”
If a Fashen’s Golden Core self-destructed, half of Snow-Embracing City would be obliterated!
One-Thought Venerable watched the scene before him, his face ashen.
He hadn’t expected Battle Demon’s defeat to come so swiftly. Jun Tian’s sword transformed into thousands, and with one move of Jade Palace Sky Breaking, it dispersed the gloomy haze covering the sky, forcefully tearing a huge gap in the thick cloud layer. Thousands of small golden swords floated with a golden light, their momentum like a rainbow, grinding Battle Demon into countless specks of dust.
Xie Xuechen extended his hand, and the fine golden light surged towards his palm, reforming into a golden long sword.
No wonder he could secure the position of Sect Leader of the Immortal Alliance at the age of twenty-five — One-Thought Venerable thought dazedly.
A few years ago, when the Immortal Alliance changed leadership, Venerable Fajian had been the most popular candidate. His virtue was respected, and his cultivation was unfathomable. However, on the day of the election, he voluntarily withdrew. He said that in terms of firmness of Dao’s heart, he was no match for Xie Xuechen, and in terms of cultivation strength, he was even less of a match.
One-Thought Venerable wasn’t convinced in his heart. How could his senior uncle admit defeat without even fighting? Xie Xuechen was only twenty-five years old and had ascended to FaShen Shust a few years ago. Even if he was born with ten apertures, how could he compare to a five-hundred-year-old Fashen?
— Sect Leader Xie’s Dao heart is unblemished, and his sword heart is pure, while I already have mixed thoughts. I’m not worthy of the position.
Venerable Fajian had closed his wise eyes.
But One-Thought Venerable couldn’t resign himself to it.
Xie Xuechen came before him, his phoenix eyes clear and sharp, as if seeing through One-Thought Venerable’s thoughts.
One-Thought Venerable let out a long sigh, giving up resistance: “Sect Leader Xie doesn’t kill me because you want me to exorcise Infatuation Demon from my senior uncle, right?”
“This is your last chance,” Xie Xuechen said.
Xie Xuechen grabbed One-Thought Venerable’s arm, and their figures suddenly disappeared from the spot, flying towards Snow-Embracing City.
The spiritual energy fluctuations from the Fashen battle could be sensed from a hundred li away. Xie Xuechen’s gaze sharpened, his speed increasing again. Several figures appeared in his line of sight, confronting each other in mid-air. Suddenly, a massive and terrifying aura rose, as if brewing an earth-shattering event.
Xie Xuechen released One-Thought Venerable, his right hand forming a sword seal. Jun Tian rose, transforming into a rain of swords that flew down like a torrent, forging an airtight cage that tightly bound that dark golden, terrifying aura.
Simultaneously, a purple whip shadow, swift as lightning, entwined around the gray figure in mid-air.
A thunderous boom was heard in the sky, and everyone within a hundred li simultaneously blacked out and fell to the ground. Even those with cultivation couldn’t help but fall to their knees, their chests violently pounding, expressions of shock beyond words.
— This was the power of a Fashen’s self-destruction!
But this wasn’t the full power of a Fashen’s self-destruction. The true self-destruction was contained by the golden cage Xie Xuechen had forged with all his spiritual power. Jun Tian’s sword had blocked seventy percent of this strike’s power, while Xie Xuechen had taken on almost all of it himself.
He tightly clenched his trembling fist, swallowing the sweet taste in his throat.
The various sect leaders besieging Venerable Fajian were well-prepared and weren’t much affected. Duan Xiaorong, seeing Xie Xuechen’s return, let out a sigh of relief and immediately turned to find her son. Seeing that he had used a top-grade protective magical artifact to create a barrier, likely unaffected by the self-destruction force, she finally relaxed.
Xie Xuechen’s figure flashed, darting to Venerable Fajian’s side and bringing him down to the ground. He was tightly bound by a purple demonic vine, his eyes revealing terror.
One-Thought Venerable came to their side, and the others also gathered around.
Fu Yuanting spoke first: “Welcome back, Sect Leader!”
If Venerable Fajian’s self-destruction had succeeded earlier, these people would have hardly survived. Xie Xuechen had single-handedly blocked everything, saving half the city’s population and their lives. Everyone felt grateful.
Even Su Ningzhen’s face showed some genuine respect and fear. This was the first time she had seen Xie Xuechen display his full power. She suddenly understood how monstrous a genius born with ten apertures was. At just twenty-five, he had such awe-inspiring cultivation. In another hundred years, what would he become? Was there a realm beyond Fashen?
Xie Xuechen nodded slightly to everyone, then turned to look at Venerable Fajian possessed by Infatuation Demon, his phoenix eyes filled with cold killing intent: “You dared to detonate Venerable Fajian’s Golden Core.”
He had used his fastest speed, yet was still a step too late.
Infatuation Demon struggled fiercely, his heart filled with fear and confusion. Why was he bound by the Judgment Vine? Why did the Holy Maiden help the human cultivators?
Everyone also saw the strange demonic vine on him, wriggling as if alive. The vine had both demonic and monstrous energy, but no one thought it was a demon or monster that had stopped Infatuation Demon. They assumed it was Xie Xuechen’s or One-Thought Venerable’s technique.
Xie Xuechen said to One-Thought Venerable: “Use the Prajna Sutra to exorcise the Infatuation Demon.”
One-Thought Venerable nodded, putting his palms together and chanting. A golden light gradually rose from his palms, enveloping Venerable Fajian. Where the golden light touched, faint black smoke rose. Infatuation Demon let out painful cries, a black shadow appearing, trying to leave Venerable Fajian’s body but bound by the purple vine, screaming continuously. At this moment, the purple vine gently trembled, releasing its restraint and disappearing.
A ball of golden light transformed into chains, pulling Infatuation Demon out of Venerable Fajian’s body and firmly locking him.
Venerable Fajian’s eyes regained clarity, but his aura was extremely weak. His Golden Core had exploded, and now he was barely clinging to life, like a candle flame about to go out.
One-Thought Venerable knelt before Venerable Fajian, kowtowed, and gently supported him.
“Senior Uncle.” Seeing Venerable Fajian’s dying state, One-Thought Venerable couldn’t help but show remorse and pain.
Venerable Fajian struggled to raise his withered hand, placing it on One-Thought Venerable’s shoulder. His old, hoarse voice slowly said, “One-Thought… I never doubted you because your aura was clean. This shows that you have no guilt about your actions; you were following your Dao’s heart.”
“It’s just that… your path was wrong…” Venerable Fajian sighed weakly. “Fortunately, with Sect Leader Xie here, you haven’t committed… an irredeemable mistake…”
He Xianwo coldly looked at One-Thought Venerable and said, “Xuantian Temple has always helped those in need and been respected. I don’t know why One-Thought Venerable turned to evil.”
One-Thought Venerable said dejectedly, “Because I discovered that evil can never be completely eradicated.”
Su Ningzhen snorted, “Everyone knows that.”
One-Thought Venerable said, “Evil is born from human hearts. Trying to eliminate evil will instead give birth to the demon of killing, leading to more and more killing.”
Su Ningzhen mocked, “So because you can’t kill them all, you joined the demon race?”
One-Thought Venerable ignored He Xianwo’s sarcasm and shook his head, “I believe that to truly expel the demon race, one must cultivate meditation. Of all the methods in the world, only the Prajna Sutra has the effect of exorcising demons. This shows that Heaven has bestowed a great task upon our Xuantian Temple.”
He Xianwo said, “So you colluded with the demon race, thinking that by eliminating Sect Leader Xie, you could become the sect leader yourself, expand Xuantian Temple’s influence, and make everyone in the world join Xuantian Temple?”
One-Thought Venerable said, “No, I wanted my senior uncle to become the sect leader.”
He Xianwo said, “When he refused, you let Infatuation Demon possess him?”
Fu Yuanting frowned and said, “This is absurd. I’m afraid the first person controlled by Infatuation Demon was you.”
One-Thought Venerable trembled at these words, his eyes becoming unfocused: “Was I… the first to be corrupted?”
He believed he wasn’t wrong. If everyone in the world practiced meditation and goodness and learned the Prajna Sutra, then naturally there would be no more demons. It’s just that to achieve his Dao, some sacrifices were always necessary. If Senior Uncle Fajian was unwilling to take on the responsibility of saving the world, then he had to shoulder it alone.
Xie Xuechen observed the changes in One-Thought Venerable’s eyes, knowing he was deeply corrupted.
“Some of what One-Thought Venerable says is correct,” Xie Xuechen said.
Everyone looked at him in surprise.
Xie Xuechen slowly said, “Demons are born from the heart; they are the shadows of humans. However, shadows exist because we stand in the sunlight. When the Golden Crow rises in the east and sets in the west, shadows are long; when the sun is directly overhead, shadows are short. The true method of eliminating demons is not to kill them or practice meditation, but to create a glorious era. When the seas are calm and rivers clear, when everyone lives in peace, inner demons will have no place to take root.”
After hearing Xie Xuechen’s words, everyone fell into deep thought.
Venerable Fajian looked at Xie Xuechen with a smile, his voice trembling: “Sect Leader Xie’s Dao is the righteous path that I sought for five hundred years.”
He Xianwo sighed, “But how difficult it is.”
“The righteous path has always been rough and muddy; those who walk it must do so alone,” Venerable Fajian let out a long sigh, his eyes gradually becoming cloudy. “With Sect Leader Xie in this world, I can depart in peace. Xuantian Temple has committed a great mistake, and we submit to the Immortal Alliance’s judgment. Our temple is willing to hand over the Prajna Sutra technique; whether one joins the temple or not, it can be practiced free of charge.”
“Senior Uncle…” One-Thought Venerable wept silently, “This disciple knows his mistake.”
However, Venerable Fajian could no longer respond.
All cultivators bowed in silent mourning, bidding farewell to a great sage of the generation.
“Heh heh heh heh…” The bound Infatuation Demon let out an unpleasant laugh. Su Ningzhen, quick-tempered, lashed out with her Dust of the World at his face.
Infatuation Demon’s head was knocked to one side, then slowly turned back.
“What are you laughing at?” Su Ningzhen said coldly.
Infatuation Demon laughed, “I’m laughing at you righteous cultivators, with your false emotions. On the surface, you’re open and aboveboard, but underneath, you’re full of filth.”
“What nonsense are you spouting!” Su Ningzhen raised her Dust of the World to strike again but was stopped by He Xianwo.
“That’s right, don’t hit me. Hitting me makes you look guilty,” Infatuation Demon cackled. “Others will say you’re trying to silence me.”
Su Ningzhen angrily withdrew her dust whip: “This demon is best at manipulating people’s hearts. What’s there to listen to?”
An excited smile appeared on Infatuation Demon’s strange face: “Anyway, falling into your hands, I didn’t expect to leave alive. But I still have one thing to say: among you, there’s still another person secretly communicating with the demon race.”
Everyone’s expressions tensed as they demanded sternly: “Who is it!”