Mirror Flower Valley.

After learning about the true relationship between He Xianwo and Sang Qi, the cultivators fell into despair. What made them even more desperate was that Sang Qi’s revealed strength was superior to Xie Xuechen’s. If Xie Xuechen couldn’t stop Sang Qi, Mirror Flower Valley would be razed to the ground today.

The Grand Elder knew that this was a critical moment of life and death for Mirror Flower Valley. She had no choice but to set everything aside and focus all her efforts on fighting the enemy. At her command, several Fashen Venerables formed an array, concentrating on manifesting their Fashen. The Fashen of the female cultivators of Mirror Flower Valley were mostly spiritual grasses and celestial flowers. Several Fashen, tens of zhang tall, spread their branches, leaves, and vines, emitting an intoxicating fragrance. For a moment, the valley was filled with an ethereal, celestial aura, a sight of indescribable beauty.

Sang Qi smiled lazily, seemingly unconcerned by these threats.

“Of those who surrounded me twenty years ago, how many are still here?” His cold silver eyes scanned the surroundings, sweeping over faces that were trying to appear calm but were filled with fear and unease. “You, and you…” His slender index finger pointed at several faces one by one. Those who were pointed at couldn’t help but tremble, showing signs of fear. “I remember all of you,” Sang Qi said as he slowly closed his five fingers. A mysterious force surged inward as his palm closed as if an invisible hand was pulling at those he had pointed to. Everyone was shocked and terrified, unleashing their Fashen power without reservation, launching their strongest attacks against Sang Qi.

Boosted by the formation and complemented by their cultivation techniques, several streams of spiritual power, like colorful ribbons, attacked Sang Qi simultaneously. They stirred up a hurricane on the ground, destroying countless flowers and plants. The lake’s surface trembled violently, reflecting rippling waves of light. Sang Qi’s eyes flashed, and he stretched out his demon arm.

The demon markings rotated rapidly, and countless tadpole-like black runes twisted and floated up. Within a radius of ten zhang around him, everything suddenly fell into stagnation, as if time itself had been frozen in its tracks. The colorful ribbons of spiritual power, which had been as swift as lightning, suddenly slowed down upon entering this circle.

Sang Qi extended his other hand, long and pale, slowly condensing a ball of pearly white light in his palm. This seemingly pure white light ball emitted an extraordinarily terrifying and sharp aura, bearing a three-part similarity to Xie Xuechen’s sword qi. Left and right, white and black, spiritual power and demonic qi condensed in Sang Qi’s two palms. He smiled slightly, slowly bringing his two hands closer together. The two mutually repulsive forces suddenly became agitated, yet under Sang Qi’s control, they intertwined and merged, exploding into a dazzling light.

Boom——

A tremendous sound shook the entire Mirror Flower Valley incessantly. The abundant spiritual qi in the valley began to seethe like boiling water, no longer gentle and calm, but seemingly stimulated into a violent and unpredictable state. The waters of the Jade Belt River surged, flooding the flower and herb fields on both banks. A water spout appeared on Misty Wave Lake, trampled under Sang Qi’s feet. Even though many had anticipated and prepared defenses, numerous people were still affected by this terrifying explosion, spitting blood and falling unconscious.

The Fashen bearers were at the forefront, taking the brunt of the impact. Several of them suffered damage to their spirit apertures, with blood seeping from their eyes and ears, an extremely horrifying sight.

Xie Xuechen opened a barrier to protect more than a dozen people around him, including Su Ningzhen and Gao Qiumin. Gao Qiumin looked at the scene before her in horror, her voice trembling as she said, “How can he be so terrifying… Master, we’re all going to die here today…”

Su Ningzhen snorted coldly, lowering her eyes thoughtfully, but showing no sign of fear on her face.

Xie Xuechen’s expression became even more solemn. He said in a deep voice, “All of you stay here, do not leave the barrier.”

Sang Qi’s strength was terrifyingly powerful. Below the Fashen level, not only was it impossible to face him head-on, but even the residual waves of his attacks were difficult to withstand. Sang Qi was a once-in-ten-thousand-years prodigy. Not only had he created his demonic technique with his half-demon body, but he had even dual-cultivated it with the Jade Que Scripture. The demonic qi and spiritual qi repelled each other, but when forcibly merged, they exploded with ten times the power, comparable to the force of a Fashen’s self-destruction.

The Grand Elder’s face was ashen. Their strongest attack had not even slightly shaken Sang Qi, and they had been beaten to the point of no resistance with just one exchange. Yet Sang Qi seemed to be at ease, completely unharmed.

“Grand Elder, even if we have to self-destruct, we must stop Sang Qi!” One person said while coughing up blood, clutching her chest.

“If one of us self-destructs, it won’t be enough to deal with him. If we all self-destruct, Mirror Flower Valley will cease to exist…” The Grand Elder sighed mournfully. Twenty years ago, when they surrounded this half-demon, she could never have imagined today’s calamity.

Sang Qi laughed coldly, “The Grand Elder does have some self-awareness.”

As he spoke, Sang Qi made his move again, not giving them any more time to catch their breath. Spiritual power once again condensed in his palm. The abundant spiritual qi in Mirror Flower Valley was perfect for him to condense spiritual power into a weapon. Another surge of powerful spiritual energy shot out in all directions. Everyone hurriedly used their Fashen to defend, but they couldn’t withstand it for more than a few breaths before their Fashen were scattered by Sang Qi’s spiritual power.

Just then, a golden light descended from the sky like a fiery meteor, coming with such force that it forced Sang Qi to withdraw his hand to defend himself. His demon arm opened its five fingers, and thick black demonic qi formed a barrier-like screen to block the extremely sharp sword tip.

The golden light sword was the most yang, the most unyielding, a sword of domineering light, carrying an unstoppable sharp aura. It pierced through Sang Qi’s demonic shield, a crack appearing on the shield and then spreading outwards. The golden cracks tore through the thick black mist, only to encounter another pure white barrier.

The sharpness that bore a three-part similarity to the Jun Tian sword neutralized Jun Tian’s attack. As Jun Tian’s momentum slowed, Sang Qi seized the opportunity to use his previous technique, intending to use the overwhelming power of the yin-yang bipolar formation to destroy Jun Tian’s sword’s sword qi. Demonic qi and spiritual qi regathered and merged, the two forces holding Jun Tian in place, making it unable to advance or retreat. The pure golden sword qi was compressed and fused into the demonic qi and spiritual qi. With an explosive sound, Jun Tian turned into fine golden sand, returning to Xie Xuechen’s hand, its radiance seemingly dimmed considerably.

Xie Xuechen felt the dissatisfaction and anger transmitted from his palm. Jun Tian’s sword had never suffered such humiliation and blow. The head-on attack of the yin-yang bipolar formation was stronger than when the Law Mirror self-destructed, but what made it uncomfortable was not just this heavy blow, but being trapped in hand, unable to advance or retreat, losing all face.

“Sect Leader Xie, your sword intent has weakened. Is it because your heart demon has stirred, your dao heart is in chaos?” Sang Qi coldly and arrogantly looked at Xie Xuechen, curling his lips into a mocking smile as he said, “The sword intent of Yuxue City is the Emotionless Sword, the sword qi of Jun Tian sword is the most unyielding and fierce destructive qi. But you’ve let your heart be swayed and emotions stirred for one person. Is your sword intent still pure?”

Xie Xuechen calmly replied, “It seems you’ve indeed put a lot of thought into dealing with me.”

Mu Xuanling heard clearly. She later understood that Sang Qi sending her to Mirror Flower Valley was deliberately letting her walk into a trap, to make Xie Xuechen’s heart and emotions stir for her, thus disrupting his cultivation. Xie Xuechen was the only person Sang Qi feared. Even though he had obtained the Jade Que Scripture and gained strength surpassing Xie Xuechen, he still wanted to be fully prepared, thinking of every possible way to weaken Xie Xuechen. And in dealing with Xie Xuechen, he didn’t need to use underhanded schemes, because he knew someone like Xie Xuechen too well. Schemes couldn’t deceive Xie Xuechen, but an open ploy could make him willingly walk into the trap.

The most difficult to break through is the word ’emotion’.

She was his weakness…

“Sect Leader Xie, you are my most respected opponent. I can give you a dignified way to die so that Ling’er will have a place to pay her respects in the future,” Sang Qi said with a smile as if victory was already in his grasp.

Xie Xuechen gripped Jun Tian tightly, his handsome face as cold as ice, never showing a trace of fear. He rose with the wind, his white robes fluttering, and behind him appeared a Sword God Fashen as tall as the sky. The breath of wind and snow surrounded him, plunging the entire Mirror Flower Valley into winter in an instant, frost forming on grass and trees.

“Sang Qi, do you know where Jun Tian comes from?” Xie Xuechen held his sword horizontally in front of him, his two fingers pressed together as he brushed along the sword’s body. Wherever they touched, strange light flowed, and the previously dimmed Jun Tian sword rekindled its fighting spirit.

Sang Qi’s smile faded, his silver pupils fixed on Xie Xuechen.

“Jun Tian is a strand of killing intent left by Pangu’s axe, a destructive qi that split open heaven and earth and shattered the cosmos,” Sang Qi said in a deep voice, staring at the changes in Jun Tian’s sword. It seemed that a power he couldn’t understand was surging out of Jun Tian’s sword in waves, giving him a sense of danger. But Xie Xuechen’s qi was weaker than his by a lot, how could he still have the power to threaten him?

“Destructive qi? No.” The white-robed Sword God behind Xie Xuechen turned to the side, and that originally blurry face gradually became clear. Sword-like eyebrows concealing sharpness, phoenix eyes keen, features as if carved by knife and axe, cold and handsome, eight parts similar to Xie Xuechen, but with two additional parts of divine-like compassion and solemnity.

Sang Qi’s pupils contracted, and he suddenly retreated, his hands crossed in front of him. Thousands of strands of demonic qi surged from his demon arm, intertwining with spiritual qi to form a powerful protective barrier. He didn’t know why the Sword God Fashen had changed like this, but he dared not show any contempt. Could it be that the Jade Que Heaven Breaker wasn’t Xie Xuechen’s strongest killing move?

“You only see the destruction it brings, but you can’t see the vitality after this sword strike.” Xie Xuechen’s cold voice slowly said, his majestic qi spreading his voice to every corner of Mirror Flower Valley as if resonating in everyone’s heart. “The strongest sword qi is not the Emotionless Sword, but the Emotional Sword. The Heaven-Opening Axe shattered chaos, separated yin and yang, and opened up the universe. This is the most domineering and powerful qi since the creation of the world, but its fall is not for destruction. Its name is — Birth of All Things!”

As the last three words rang out, that sword finally fell. The sun and moon hung high, shining brightly, but suddenly dimmed, as if all light had condensed on that one sword. Swallowing the sun and moon, the sword broke through the void. This was the power to create a realm. Even if gods were present, they would have to bow their necks and await execution.

The demonic qi dispersed upon encountering the light, and the spiritual power melted like spring snow. Sang Qi looked at the approaching Jun Tian sword with fear, realizing that he couldn’t withstand this “Birth of All Things” sword strike, nor could he dodge it!

His spiritual power was more vast than Xie Xuechen’s, but he still couldn’t defeat Xie Xuechen. After all his careful planning, was he destined to end in miserable defeat?

Unwillingness surged in his heart as Sang Qi’s eyes reflected this world-shaking sword strike. His heart contracted frantically, violently trembling, as surging spiritual power desperately blocked the falling momentum of the Jun Tian sword.

— This shouldn’t be a power that humans could possess. How could he borrow the power of heaven and earth?

Sang Qi spat out fresh blood, his silver pupils tinged with crimson. He raised his head and let out a long howl, his aura rising once again. Suddenly, he gripped his right arm with his left hand and pulled hard, actually tearing off his demon arm. Demonic qi turned the gushing blood into a blood mist. His crimson eyes revealed desperation and madness, but the corners of his mouth curled into an eerie arc.

“Hahahahaha…” Sang Qi let out a hoarse laugh. He threw the demon arm forward, and the severed limb seemed to have gained its consciousness, opening its five fingers like an eagle’s claw. The demon arm continuously expanded and enlarged, actually managing to catch this sword strike. At the same time, Sang Qi rapidly retreated, escaping the range of the “Birth of All Things” sword. The demon arm ultimately couldn’t withstand this sword strike and was crushed into blood mist by the golden light. Sang Qi couldn’t avoid it in time and was slashed across the chest by the Jun Tian sword. Fresh blood gushed out, soaking his black robe. He fell from the air, crashing heavily into a sea of flowers.

Mirror Flower Valley suddenly fell into dead silence. No one spoke, no one moved, as if no bloody battle had ever occurred, were it not for the faint scent of blood carried by the wind.

Xie Xuechen’s face turned pale as he staggered and half-knelt, supporting his entire body on Jun Tian to avoid collapsing completely.

This “Birth of All Things” sword strike was what he had comprehended at the brink of death, and it was also his strongest sword move. This strike had drained all of his spiritual power, leaving his spirit apertures in a state of deathly silence. Even the Jun Tian sword no longer radiated brilliance. Because when Pangu opened the heavens, it was with full force, leaving nothing in reserve.

Extreme fatigue and pain swept through his entire body. The Jun Tian sword suddenly disappeared, and just as he was about to fall without its support, a pair of soft arms caught his body.

“Xie Xuechen.” Mu Xuanling caught his falling body, supporting his weight with her slender shoulders. Her hands held his arms, her forehead lightly pressed against Xie Xuechen’s brow, allowing her spiritual power to flow into his spirit apertures.

However, Xie Xuechen turned his face away, politely declining her kindness. He said in a hoarse voice, “It’s useless. The ‘Birth of All Things’ has exhausted all spiritual power, and the spirit apertures are dormant. They can only recover on their own.”

“How do you feel?” Mu Xuanling asked worriedly.

Xie Xuechen replied, “No harm, just exhausted.”

Xie Xuechen’s gaze turned to where Sang Qi had fallen. That sea of flowers was in ruins due to the battle, with broken branches and fallen petals. Sang Qi lay in a pool of blood, almost undetectable of any life signs. Even if Sang Qi wasn’t dead, he shouldn’t have any strength left to fight. But this person was full of tricks and always had backup plans, so Xie Xuechen had to remain cautious. Just as he was about to warn Mu Xuanling to be careful, he heard Su Ningzhen’s hoarse and vicious voice from nearby.

“Qiu’er, grab Mu Xuanling!”

Mu Xuanling turned her head to look at Su Ningzhen. Gao Qiumin had long harbored hatred towards Mu Xuanling, but Xie Xuechen had always protected her, so she couldn’t act. Now, hearing Su Ningzhen’s order, she didn’t hesitate and pounced toward Mu Xuanling.

Mu Xuanling’s expression sharpened as she dodged Gao Qiumin’s attack.

Gao Qiumin’s Spring Birth sword had already been taken by Mu Xuanling. The weapon in Gao Qiumin’s hand now was the World Sweeping Dust, the heirloom artifact of Mirror Flower Valley’s Valley Master. The World Sweeping Dust missed its target and fell to the ground, stirring up countless dust clouds. Its aura was fierce, far beyond the Golden Core level.

Mu Xuanling suddenly realized, “Su Ningzhen has transferred her cultivation to you. She truly has put a lot of thought into this.”

Gao Qiumin stared at Mu Xuanling with hatred, relentlessly pressing forward, attacking without mercy. Mu Xuanling, worried about hurting Xie Xuechen, could only dodge and lure Gao Qiumin away.

Xie Xuechen’s eyes turned cold as he said in a deep voice, “What is the meaning of this, Valley Master Su!”

The Grand Elder was also confused and angry. They had been severely injured by Sang Qi and had no strength left to fight. Seeing Gao Qiumin attacking Mu Xuanling, she urgently said, “Su Ningzhen, Gao Qiumin, kill Sang Qi first!”

Su Ningzhen seemed not to hear, her eyes bloodshot, staring fixedly at Mu Xuanling.

Xie Xuechen and Sang Qi had fought to mutual destruction, and now he could only watch helplessly as Mu Xuanling and Gao Qiumin fought. After watching for just a few moves, Xie Xuechen relaxed slightly. Although Gao Qiumin had received Su Ningzhen’s hastily transferred cultivation and had abundant spiritual power, she lacked combat experience and was impulsive and impatient. She would soon be defeated.

Mu Xuanling and Gao Qiumin were entangled in combat. With her rich combat experience and composure, Mu Xuanling quickly figured out Gao Qiumin’s patterns and began to run circles around her. The more Gao Qiumin struggled, the more agitated she became, easily falling into Mu Xuanling’s traps. Mu Xuanling swung out Duan Nian, the purple whip entangling the World Sweeping Dust. Gao Qiumin held onto the dust whip tightly, refusing to let go, but this allowed Mu Xuanling to close in and strike her right shoulder with a palm. Gao Qiumin cried out in pain, losing her grip on the World Sweeping Dust and stumbling backward.

At this moment, Su Ningzhen unexpectedly attacked Mu Xuanling from behind. Although Su Ningzhen was at the end of her strength, she was still cunning and formidable. No one had anticipated that Gao Qiumin was just a diversion, and she had been waiting for the moment when Gao Qiumin was defeated. Just as Mu Xuanling had relaxed her guard after a sigh of relief, Su Ningzhen suddenly appeared behind her, striking her back with all her remaining strength. Mu Xuanling spat out a mouthful of blood, her body involuntarily flying forward, falling in the same place as Gao Qiumin, her injuries even more severe than Gao Qiumin’s.

Seeing her plan succeed, Su Ningzhen’s eyes flashed with wild joy as she moved forward to capture Mu Xuanling. However, a black shadow approached the two faster than her. A pale hand grabbed Mu Xuanling, while a foot stepped on Gao Qiumin. Gao Qiumin let out a cry of pain, looking up at Sang Qi with terror.

Blood continuously dripped from Sang Qi’s foot, soaking Gao Qiumin’s shoulder through his robe. His right arm was empty, and his remaining left arm gripped Mu Xuanling’s slender neck. His handsome face was devoid of color, but his lips were tinged with crimson. He coldly smiled and said, “Thank you, Valley Master Su, for delivering two hostages.”

Xie Xuechen clenched his fists, his phoenix eyes coldly staring at Sang Qi. “You’re not dead… Let go of Ling’er!”

To block that sword strike, Sang Qi had self-destructed his life-bound artifact — the demon arm — and even forced out all his potential. Although he had temporarily preserved his life, he had almost exhausted all his essence and wouldn’t live much longer…

But instead of fleeing, he grabbed Mu Xuanling and Gao Qiumin as hostages. Why?

Mu Xuanling’s heart was still aching from Su Ningzhen’s strike, and now with Sang Qi gripping her vital points, she was powerless to resist.

Sang Qi chuckled lightly, pulling at the sword wound on his chest and abdomen, hot blood gushing out and soaking Mu Xuanling’s back. His voice was hoarse and his breath weak as he said, “Sect Leader Xie, you didn’t think I would hand Ling’er over to you without any backup plan, did you?” His hand gripped Mu Xuanling’s throat, forcibly extracting strands of spiritual power from her body and channeling them into his palm, allowing his depleted body to regain some strength. “She is my disciple, suppressed by my primordial spirit. For her entire life, she cannot resist my will.”

Mu Xuanling felt the spiritual power in her body being uncontrollably extracted, while Sang Qi’s breath behind her gradually stabilized. She held her breath and concentrated, trying to resist Sang Qi’s control, but to no avail.

“Ling’er, don’t waste your energy,” Sang Qi lowered his eyes, coldly watching her futile struggle. “I won’t kill you for now, but I can kill Xie Xuechen.”

Mu Xuanling’s heart froze, and she immediately stopped moving.

Sang Qi’s toe pressed hard on Gao Qiumin’s shoulder, causing her to cry out in pain. Sang Qi raised his eyes, his threatening gaze turning to Su Ningzhen as he asked, “Su Ningzhen, if you want Gao Qiumin to live, tell me where she is.”

Gao Qiumin called out to Su Ningzhen for help: “Master, Master save me…”

Su Ningzhen gritted her teeth as she looked at Sang Qi.

“She is Ning Xi’s daughter, Ning Xi’s bloodline. Do you want to kill her?”

Sang Qi laughed coldly: “Bloodline? She betrayed me, a mongrel born of her and Gao Fengxu. Why do you think I should show mercy? Oh, thanks for reminding me, I should first cut off her arm to repay that sword strike from back then.”

As Sang Qi spoke, he began to apply force with his foot. Gao Qiumin let out a heart-wrenching scream as Sang Qi’s foot nearly crushed her shoulder bone. Su Ningzhen urgently said, “Sang Qi, Ning Xi didn’t betray you!”

Sang Qi froze, stopping his action.

Su Ningzhen’s form wavered, her expression miserable and defeated. In a hoarse voice, she said, “The person who injured you that day was me, not Ning Xi.”

“I was following my master’s orders, disguised as Ning Xi, took her Spring Birth sword, and ambushed you outside Mirror Flower Valley, cutting off your right arm.”

“Those who ambushed you that day can all testify to this.”

Sang Qi’s cold gaze swept over the Grand Elder and others in the distance. The Grand Elder covered her mouth as she coughed, fresh blood seeping through her fingers. She said weakly, “This is indeed true.”

They had all acted on the orders of the then Valley Master, Venerable Miao Hua, only knowing they were to ambush a half-demon, unaware of the cause and effect.

“Impossible.” Sang Qi lowered his eyes, a hint of doubt and trembling flashing through his silver pupils. “No matter how similar you and Ning Xi are, I wouldn’t have mistaken you.”

“In the Perching Phoenix Forest, there’s a strange flower called the Spirit Capturing Flower. Its fragrance can confuse one’s consciousness, making people see who they most want to see in their hearts. Even those with Fashen cultivation can’t resist the Spirit Capturing Flower’s confusion,” Su Ningzhen took a deep breath, trying to steady the trembling in her voice. “That day, I had applied the juice of the Spirit Capturing Flower on my body, confusing your consciousness.”

Mu Xuanling felt the hand gripping her turn cold and trembling.

“Then what about Ning Xi?” Sang Qi asked hoarsely. “How did you know about the agreement between Ning Xi and me? What did you do to her?”

Su Ningzhen avoided Sang Qi’s intimidating gaze and said painfully, “I was the one who betrayed the secret…”