Su Ningzhen stared at the priest in the dark robe floating in mid-air, unable to suppress the hatred and malice rising in her heart. The anger towards Xie Xuechen’s collusion with the demon race paled in comparison – all that mattered now was killing Sang Qi!
“Sect Leader Xie, let’s join forces and kill Sang Qi!” Su Ningzhen stepped forward. “It doesn’t matter if the Jade Threshold Divine Technique has been leaked. As long as he dies, everything can be forgiven.”
Fu Yuanting and He Xianwo nodded gravely. Although they were shocked by Xie Xuechen’s actions, the pressing matter now was not settling scores, but killing Sang Qi. Even though Sang Qi appeared to have a slight advantage over Xie Xuechen, they had three Fashen cultivators on their side. They believed that with their combined strength, they could stop Sang Qi.
As soon as Su Ningzhen finished speaking, Fu Yuanting and He Xianwo moved a few steps away, forming a defensive formation. Xie Xuechen took a deep breath, the cinnabar between his brows emitting a faint red glow, sacred and brilliant.
— Kill Sang Qi, and save Mu Xuanling.
This was Xie Xuechen’s sole thought.
Xie Xuechen’s aura rose rapidly, breaking through barriers. At that moment, the Heavenly Fashen of the Sword God condensed behind him. The blurry-faced ethereal image of the Sword God was as majestic as a snow-capped mountain, its aura vast and cold, with a domineering pride that seemed to look down upon the eight wilderness.
Sang Qi had seen Xie Xuechen in the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation before, but now Xie Xuechen’s cultivation was even higher than it was then. He couldn’t help but feel wary.
Having just absorbed the Demon Lord’s power and mastered the Jade Threshold Divine Technique, his power seemed formidable but was not yet stable. It couldn’t compare to Xie Xuechen’s unparalleled sword energy honed by ten thousand sword strikes daily, let alone the fact that the man was fighting with reckless abandon…
Sang Qi had intended to sow discord within the Immortal Alliance, to make Xie Xuechen lose all support. But he hadn’t expected Su Ningzhen’s hatred for him to be so strong that she directly ignored Xie Xuechen’s betrayal of humanity.
His cold silver eyes swept over Su Ningzhen’s somewhat harsh face, once eight parts similar to Su Ningxi’s, but now looking nothing alike.
Sang Qi suppressed the killing intent in his heart which was on the verge of losing control and turned his gaze back to Xie Xuechen.
“Ling’er, stay far away.”
Their battlefield was not yet something the current Mu Xuanling could touch.
Mu Xuanling obediently flew to a distance, her eyes fixed intently on the changing scene before her.
Xie Xuechen and the other three surrounded Sang Qi. The four Fashen cultivators all exerted their full strength, condensing their Heavenly Fashen behind them. The Fashen was a manifestation of one’s dao heart and true self. Xie Xuechen’s Fashen was a white-robed Sword God exuding a chilling murderous aura, its presence desolate and vast. He Xianwo’s Fashen was a Vermilion Bird, dazzling and resplendent. Fu Yuanting’s Fashen was an androgynous deity holding a jade bottle. Su Ningzhen’s Fashen was a six-armed female Asura.
Surrounded by the four, Sang Qi remained calm. He slowly raised his right arm, a silver light flickering dimly on it. A silver light composed of countless characters rose from his arm, enveloping him. His body gradually enlarged, his silver eyes cold and emotionless, looking down upon the world.
He had no Fashen; he was the Fashen itself.
He took a deep breath, and in an instant, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged toward him, forming a vortex of spiritual power. In the next moment, the spiritual power rushed outwards like an avalanche. Space, unable to bear its weight, began to collapse and distort!
Xie Xuechen’s sword split heaven and earth. The white-robed Sword of God-wielding Jun Tian broke through the surging waves of spiritual power with unyielding determination. The sword body flashed with golden light, bursting forth with radiance as dazzling as the scorching sun, making it impossible to look at directly.
There were differences between Fashen. He Xianwo and Fu Yuanting were evenly matched, Su Ningzhen slightly weaker, while only Xie Xuechen and Sang Qi were equally powerful. Every collision between them erupted with overwhelming force, causing heaven and earth to tremble.
Mu Xuanling watched the battle between these transcendent beings from afar, her hand holding Duan Nian trembling uncontrollably. She saw the gap between herself and the Fashen cultivators. She was still too weak; even Su Ningzhen was a head above her.
The spiritual power within her body that belonged to Xie Xuechen seemed to respond to the world-shaking battle, surging and boiling in her meridians and blood. Mu Xuanling’s gaze moved from Sang Qi to Xie Xuechen. He was dressed in white, his features cold and clear, his gaze firm. Under Sang Qi’s overwhelming spiritual pressure, he remained calm and composed, like the eternal snow on Yong Xue City, quiet and vast. Demonic energy obscured the sky, but wherever he stood became a source of light.
It was hard to look away from him.
Mu Xuanling felt her spiritual power being drawn to him. She forced herself to close her eyes and flee far from this area. She grasped her slightly trembling right hand, trying to calm her breathing.
Among the three sect leaders, only Su Ningzhen fought recklessly without regard for her safety. He Xianwo was relatively cautious, while Fu Yuanting intentionally conserved his strength. With their hearts not united, Sang Qi easily broke through their formation. Blood trickled from the corner of Su Ningzhen’s mouth, her eyes bloodshot. The six arms of her Fashen stretched out, six orbs of golden-red light condensing in her palms as if prepared to perish together with Sang Qi!
He Xianwo and Fu Yuanting were both startled and intended to stop her, but it was too late. Sang Qi’s silver eyes swept over Su Ningzhen, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips. “How presumptuous. You think you can harm me?”
His dark robe billowed, and his demonic right arm struck down on Su Ningzhen’s head. This palm seemed to collapse the sky, enveloping Su Ningzhen’s Fashen with overwhelming force. Su Ningzhen’s Fashen only withstood it for a breath before completely crumbling and dissipating. Su Ningzhen violently coughed up blood and fell from mid-air. A young girl’s figure flew towards Su Ningzhen, catching her falling body.
Mu Xuanling narrowed her eyes and murmured in realization, “Gao Qiumin?”
At that moment, Mu Xuanling heard Sang Qi’s mental message — “Ling’er, capture Su Ningzhen alive!”
Mu Xuanling didn’t know why Sang Qi gave this order, but she immediately dove towards Su Ningzhen.
Gao Qiumin sensed Mu Xuanling’s approach and hurriedly raised the Spring Birth Sword to block. Mu Xuanling lifted her right hand, and Duan Nian lashed down, striking the Spring Birth Sword. The celestial-grade weapon’s blade shook violently, and Gao Qiumin felt her entire arm go numb. The Spring Birth Sword flew from her hand, caught by Mu Xuanling’s whip.
“Demon woman, don’t you dare harm my master!” Gao Qiumin glared at Mu Xuanling with hatred. She deeply regretted not killing her with one sword strike back in the dungeon of Yong Xue City!
It was all because of that meddlesome Nan Xuyue!
Mu Xuanling gave her a cold glance without bothering to respond. She walked straight towards Su Ningzhen. Su Ningzhen’s Fashen had been severely injured, and her usually impeccable hair was now disheveled and messy. Speckles of blood splattered her body. She glared at Mu Xuanling with vicious eyes, sending Fu Shi Zhi Chen flying towards Mu Xuanling’s face.
Mu Xuanling whipped out Duan Nian, entangling it with Fu Shi Zhi Chen. The purple and silver twisted and coiled together, inseparable.
A Fashen was still a Fashen after all. Although severely injured, it wasn’t something to be easily dealt with. Mu Xuanling put aside her contempt and focused entirely on dealing with Su Ningzhen. Seeing Mu Xuanling distracted, Gao Qiumin seized the opportunity to form hand seals, sending a blast of spiritual power towards Mu Xuanling.
Mu Xuanling glanced sideways, wielding the Spring Birth Sword in her left hand to easily shatter Gao Qiumin’s attack.
“Born with the nine orifices, yet this is all you’re capable of,” Mu Xuanling said coldly. She raised the Spring Birth Sword again, sending an even more fierce sword energy slashing towards Gao Qiumin’s face. Gao Qiumin’s face paled in shock as she rolled on the ground, her hair coming undone.
She avoided a fatal blow but was still injured by the sword’s energy. A stinging pain shot through her neck, and a warm wetness spread. She covered her neck with a pale face, but blood still gushed through her fingers.
Mu Xuanling swung the sword again, this time cutting into Gao Qiumin’s left arm, nearly to the bone.
“This is payback for those two sword strikes in the dungeon,” Mu Xuanling’s lips curled slightly. “With some interest added.”
Master was right. One’s grudges should be settled by oneself. There’s no such thing as true empathy. Those who claim to care for you only see that you’ve healed, forgetting the pain you once endured.
She could also feel wronged and sad.
“There are fifty-one lashes left,” Mu Xuanling said.
“What?” Gao Qiumin endured the intense pain, looking at Mu Xuanling before her with confusion and fear.
Mu Xuanling tightened Duan Nian, glancing at Su Ningzhen whose aura was weakening, and smiled, “You’re always so forgetful about the mistakes you’ve made.”
Su Ningzhen’s hand holding Fu Shi Zhi Chen trembled uncontrollably. She knew she probably couldn’t match Mu Xuanling.
She shouted fiercely, “Palace Master Fu, Island Master He, hurry and capture this demon woman!”
Fu Yuanting and He Xianwo, who had been focused on dealing with Sang Qi, suddenly came to their senses upon hearing Su Ningzhen’s voice. Fu Yuanting’s heart leaped with joy, and he immediately rushed towards Mu Xuanling. Seeing Fu Yuanting’s fierce approach, Mu Xuanling had no choice but to withdraw Duan Nian and turn to face Fu Yuanting.
He Xianwo, seeing that the opponent was just a small half-demon who hadn’t reached Fashen, was unwilling to gang up on her, so he didn’t follow Fu Yuanting.
Fu Yuanting had conserved his strength when dealing with Sang Qi, so his condition was still unimpaired. His Fashen power was more than enough to handle Mu Xuanling, but his goal was to capture her alive as a hostage. Seeing Mu Xuanling’s Duan Nian coming at him, Fu Yuanting underestimated her and tried to catch her spiritual weapon barehanded. However, as soon as he touched Duan Nian, a heart-piercing pain shot through his palm. He withdrew his hand in surprise, avoiding her attack.
— There was a sharpness on Duan Nian that was extremely similar to Xie Xuechen’s sword intent.
Fu Yuanting’s expression darkened, no longer daring to underestimate Mu Xuanling. He harbored killing intent, thinking that as long as she was left with one breath, it would suffice.
Fu Yuanting’s spiritual power seemed to have substance, making the surrounding air suddenly thick and heavy. Mu Xuanling’s sweeping whip shadows unconsciously slowed down, her attacks becoming weaker. Fu Yuanting slowly raised his palm, spiritual power gathering in it, then swung it towards Mu Xuanling.
Mu Xuanling withdrew Duan Nian, opening a purple shield in front of her. Her hands crossed over her chest, her eyes seeming to flicker with light, her eyelashes trembling slightly. A white light slowly emanated from between her ten fingers, carrying the killing intent of wind and snow, the sense of all things withering. The light grew increasingly intense, and at the moment the purple shield was broken, white light shot out from her palms, colliding fiercely with Fu Yuanting’s palm force, bursting into dazzling brilliance.
Mu Xuanling’s figure retreated several dozen zhang, her face slightly pale, her breath unstable, but she hadn’t sustained any substantial injury.
Fu Yuanting never imagined that his full-force palm strike could be blocked by Mu Xuanling — was the Jade Threshold Scripture truly so miraculous?
Although he was shocked, he also understood that this was Mu Xuanling’s limit. She couldn’t possibly defeat a Fashen.
Just as Fu Yuanting was about to pursue, he suddenly felt a massive spiritual force sweep toward him like a hurricane. He turned to defend, only to see a black shadow flash past him, standing in front of Mu Xuanling.
Sang Qi had freed himself from Xie Xuechen’s attack, sent Fu Yuanting flying with a palm strike, and retreated to the side with a smile.
“Today I truly witnessed Sect Leader Xie’s formidable skills, truly admirable,” Sang Qi said with a slight smile. “The battle between us need not be settled in haste. We have a long future ahead.”
Mu Xuanling looked at Sang Qi and asked with concern, “Master, are you alright?”
“It’s Sect Leader Xie who might be in trouble,” Sang Qi looked at the cold-faced Xie Xuechen and said smugly, “Sect Leader Xie, I owe my current state to your generous gift of the divine technique. Today you won’t be able to detain me. Why don’t you think about how to explain this to the others?”
Mu Xuanling said, “Master, I’m useless. I couldn’t capture Su Ningzhen.”
“She had help, it’s not your fault,” Sang Qi comforted her gently. “Ling’er, let’s go back.”
“Mu Xuanling.”
As they turned to leave, Mu Xuanling heard Xie Xuechen’s restrained soft call from behind. She paused slightly, turning her head to look at him.
Those deep, dark phoenix eyes gazed at her quietly, as if waiting for something.
But all he received was an extremely cold glance from Mu Xuanling.
As if in her eyes, he was no different from any blade of grass or stone in this world.
She had once smiled and whispered in his ear — for her, everyone else was just “others” except Xie Xuechen.
Now, for her, there was no longer a unique Xie Xuechen in this world.
In the Zhu Shen Palace, demons and monsters knelt, prostrating themselves at Sang Qi’s feet with fervent devotion. This once lowly half-demon had achieved a unique miracle in the three realms. He was the first prodigy to create his demonic technique by cultivating demonic energy in a half-demon body. He was revered as the High Priest by the demon race, holding a lofty position, yet still not content with this. He schemed to lure Xie Xuechen into a life-and-death battle with the Demon Lord, reaping the benefits himself. He devoured the Demon Lord, gaining his overwhelmingly powerful demonic energy, and becoming the true supreme being of the demon realm. But it wasn’t enough. He opened divine orifices, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, giving half-demons new possibilities. Half-demons with divine orifices no longer needed to endure the pain of cultivating demonic techniques and could rival human cultivators.
Sang Qi sat on the throne, resting his chin on his hand as he looked down at the bowing crowd of demons. He spoke lazily, “From today onwards, I am the Sovereign of the Demon Realm and the Emperor of the Demon Race.”
“We pay homage to the Sovereign! The Sovereign looks down upon the eight wildernesses, unrivaled and supreme!” A unified voice rang out in the great hall, the echoes lingering.
Mu Xuanling stood below Sang Qi. Her status was different from others. As Sang Qi’s most trusted personal disciple and the Half-Demon Holy Maiden, she didn’t need to kneel to Sang Qi and could even command both the demon and monster realms.
As soon as Sang Qi emerged from seclusion, he sensed that the talisman he had left for Mu Xuanling had been burned, a signal that she was in danger. It was perfect timing as he had just merged the Demon Lord’s demonic energy with the spiritual power of his divine orifices and wanted to test the gap between himself and Xie Xuechen. In a moment of impulse, he went directly to the human camp. In their last encounter at Yong Xue City, Xie Xuechen had collapsed from exhaustion, but this time, he seemed even stronger than during the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, beyond Sang Qi’s imagination. He almost fell there. However, he left decisively, with spiritual power surging in his divine orifices, sustaining no significant injury. Instead, it gave him some insights, and after resting for a few days, his cultivation could progress even further.
Sang Qi had always been skilled at endurance. Having underestimated his opponent this time, he wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
“Master, how should we deploy next?” Mu Xuanling asked.
“In the war with human cultivators, there’s no need to rush for success. You and I need time to consolidate our cultivation, and the demon army needs time to recruit more demon soldiers,” Sang Qi curled his index finger, lightly tapping his chin. “Spread the news that I have obtained the Jade Threshold Divine Technique, and half-demons who cultivate it can open divine orifices. Any demon who pledges loyalty to me can receive instruction in this divine technique.”
This way, he wouldn’t lack followers, not just half-demons, but also those demons who hadn’t obtained good demon certificates would flock to him. Why endure humiliation under human rule when they could unleash carnage and reclaim this world?
However, he concealed the truth that the Jade Threshold Divine Technique couldn’t be easily cultivated. Because he had previously implanted the Ling Xi parasite in Mu Xuanling’s heart, he could sense the circulation of techniques and spiritual power fluctuations in her body. After Mu Xuanling drank the Enlightenment Water, he removed the Ling Xi from her heart, attempting to extract the spiritual power from her divine orifices, but failed. The spiritual power flowing in her divine orifices was Xie Xuechen’s, which was extremely repulsive to him. Forcibly merging it would likely do more harm than good. This spiritual power was perfectly compatible with Mu Xuanling, perhaps due to the emotional bond between them, or perhaps because Mu Xuanling had dispersed her demonic techniques and wouldn’t resist it. But Sang Qi had practiced demonic techniques for too long, and he had even devoured the Demon Lord’s demonic energy. He couldn’t bear the consequences of dispersing his techniques. So although he managed to cultivate the Jade Threshold Scripture and open divine orifices, his starting point was not as high as Mu Xuanling’s. She had only cultivated for a month, yet could withstand a full-force attack from a Fashen.
This made Sang Qi quite envious, but since he couldn’t obtain Mu Xuanling’s power, he could only make good use of her. Perhaps Xie Xuechen’s regard for her was a chess piece that could be used…
Sang Qi thoughtfully stroked his chin, his gaze falling on Mu Xuanling’s face.
“Master, when you crossed hands with Xie Xuechen today, your spiritual power was more vast and powerful than his. Why didn’t you seize the opportunity to kill him?” Mu Xuanling asked.
“Xie Xuechen isn’t so easily killed,” Sang Qi looked at her with a smile, thinking to himself that she had indeed cut off all emotions and love, without a shred of affection for Xie Xuechen left. “My spiritual power is mixed with the Demon Lord’s demonic energy. Although stronger than his, this man’s sword intent would rather shatter like jade than yield, unbearably sharp. To kill him would likely come at an extreme cost.”
Mu Xuanling nodded in realization: “Master has just learned the Jade Threshold Scripture and will only grow stronger. The longer the confrontation drags on, the more advantageous it is for Master.”
“Correct,” Sang Qi nodded with a smile. “Moreover, killing someone doesn’t necessarily require one’s hand, and being alive isn’t always more comfortable than being dead. Xie Xuechen has neglected his public duty for personal reasons, leaking the human race’s divine technique. Even if we don’t make a move, the Immortal Alliance won’t let him off easily. With discord in the Immortal Alliance, how can they contend with us?”
Compared to killing someone personally, what Sang Qi preferred was toying with people’s hearts.
To see those hypocrites tear off their masks of false benevolence, revealing their hideous true faces. To see that snow-white otherworldly sword god abandoned by all, beset by enemies on all sides, troubled both internally and externally. To see lovers turn against each other, locked in a struggle to the death…