[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-beyond-the-passage-of-time":3,"chapter-beyond-the-passage-of-time-beyond-the-passage-of-time-chapter-997":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Beyond the Passage of Time",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2345437,4583,"Chapter 997: Demon Spirit Breaking Decay","beyond-the-passage-of-time-chapter-997",997,"\u003Cp>The land for ten thousand miles around was like a shattered mirror, covered in cracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black fire surged from within the fissures, turning these ten thousand miles into a sea of flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it burned, the countless human souls within it let out shrill, mournful wails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could not break free, forced to remain bound within this sea of fire, circling the long spear at the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mount Tianshan was no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where the mountain once stood, there was now only that world-shaking long spear piercing into the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure standing upon the spear was like a demon descended into the world; as his red hair fluttered, seven dazzling balls of fire burned within his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was none other than Xi Mozi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the focus of Xu Qing’s attention was the Heavenly Demon phantom behind Xi Mozi!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the source of the vigilance and sense of danger he felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although this Heavenly Demon was illusory, its tall and majestic body, its dark and ornate armor, exerted an intensely powerful pressure, and the evil light flickering within its deep, cold eyes seemed capable of peering into the human heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its hair was long and curly, like flames in the dark of night, emitting an eerie glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its fingers were slender and sharp, as if they could easily tear through any obstacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In particular, the complex runes covering its body not only represented the source of its power but also seemed to hide some kind of mysterious curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, as it descended, darkness encroached upon the void around it, storms roared into being, and lightning flashed across the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything about it proclaimed its majesty and power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Authority...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp glint flashed in Xu Qing’s eyes as he looked at the demon shadow; from it, he felt the dense fluctuations of an Authority Dao mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also realized immediately that this was no ordinary Authority!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My Authority is named Demon Spirit Breaking Decay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Mozi spoke indifferently, looking down at Xu Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for whether you are Xue Chenzi or not, answering or not answering makes no difference.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I represent the Seventeenth Sovereign Mountain in this battle against you. To avoid bullying the weak, I will only use three divine abilities in this fight. If you fall, Lu Lingzi cannot blame me; if you do not die, it is your own fortune, and I may spare your life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said this, he raised his right hand and pointed at Xu Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the void in front of Xu Qing tore open, and a long spear, several feet thick and dozens of yards long, whistled out from within, tearing through the void and heading straight for Xu Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everywhere it passed, rules and laws collapsed, showing its astonishing power; its might was world-shaking, causing the heavens and earth to change, and it contained the power of Authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It destroyed everything in its path, locking onto Xu Qing’s spirit, carrying a terrifying aura, and erupting with power infinitely close to that of a Sovereign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It arrived in a flash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The formidable strength of this Xi Mozi surpassed every Essence Cultivation expert he had encountered before; it could be said that among the enemies he had met in the Essence Cultivation realm, this man was the first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing did not hesitate; staring at the rapidly approaching long spear, he retreated, maintaining a synchronized speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment Xu Qing retreated, a second long spear appeared from another direction, kicking up a sharp whistle and charging toward Xu Qing with the same power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the killing intent did not end; instead, it grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, a third, fourth, fifth...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A total of nine earth-shattering, terrifying long spears appeared from different directions around Xu Qing, forming a lethal trap that sealed off all his escape routes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked as if he were about to be pierced through, but clearly, this Xi Mozi did not know much about Xu Qing, or to be precise, even if he knew about Xue Chenzi, he knew nothing about Xu Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, in this strike, although each of the nine spears possessed power infinitely close to that of a Sovereign and they had sealed all directions, creating a situation similar to a seal...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had not sealed the sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, in that instant, when the nine spears erupted with heaven-toppling power and descended amidst a deafening roar, piercing through the position where Xu Qing had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing’s figure had already blurred; what was pierced was merely an afterimage left in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His true self had already merged with the sound and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he reappeared, he was in mid-air, behind Xi Mozi, and without any pause, he raised his hand and struck with his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xi Mozi’s combat experience was extremely rich, and his reaction was swift and astonishing; almost the moment Xu Qing appeared and attacked, his own figure blurred as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing’s palm struck empty air, and he suddenly looked up at the high sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High above, Xi Mozi’s figure appeared, looking down at Xu Qing with a strange glint in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Interesting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he spoke, his right hand rose again and pointed toward Xu Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the black sea of fire on the ten thousand miles of land below erupted, countless flames rose into the sky, and the human souls within them twisted, each transforming into a long spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were tens of thousands of them, flying up from the earth along with the sea of fire, heading straight for Xu Qing like a rain of spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more terrifying was that as these tens of thousands of spears rushed out, they each split again, causing the number of spears to surge tenfold, reaching as many as one hundred thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They rose from below, covering the ten-thousand-mile range, and although they flew fast, they were controlled so that no sound was produced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the power of a single spear was not as great as before, their sheer number made their lethality exceed the previous attack, and now, silently, they formed Xi Mozi’s second lethal strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, they slammed into Xu Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, thoughtful; he did not dodge, and after his internal Qi and blood surged, he actually closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment, one hundred thousand spears continued to bombard him from all directions, and the earth-shattering sounds spread far and wide, while the spot in mid-air where Xu Qing stood shone with light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All rules collapsed, all laws vanished into smoke, the void shattered, and the flames were world-shocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xu Qing’s figure remained within, as sturdy as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could even see that those spears landing on him, though they produced roars and caused damage upon contact, ultimately collapsed first under their own recoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could not break through Xu Qing’s physical defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene made Xi Mozi narrow his eyes, but he was not overly surprised; after all, he had long heard that the person before him excelled in defense, and the reason he had attacked this way despite knowing that was because he had his own purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was seen that those shattered spears, after collapsing, erupted with even more black fire, and this fire was eerie, actually adhering to Xu Qing’s physical body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It did not burn, but instead formed one small flame vortex after another, each spinning rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, a flash of killing intent appeared in Xi Mozi’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The time has come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body surged in the high sky, heading straight for Xu Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he approached, he raised his right hand, and the Heavenly Demon phantom behind him also raised its hand; while its eyes glowed with a ghostly light, the sound of complex incantations echoed from the mouth of the Heavenly Demon phantom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every word was clear, yet when they fell into the world, their meaning could not be understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, all the black flame vortexes on Xu Qing’s body, amidst the echoing of these incantations, all began to wander, heading straight for the center of Xu Qing’s brow, and those spears outside his body that had not yet collapsed also simultaneously exploded on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made the black flames more numerous and the flame vortexes more abundant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of them converged at the center of Xu Qing’s brow, and after overlapping in an instant, they formed an incomparably pitch-black, ultimate vortex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As this vortex rumbled and spun at the center of Xu Qing’s brow, Xi Mozi reached out his right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his palm, he held a wisp of his own soul!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He unleashed his final killing move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This killing move was not for slaughter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All his previous words and actions were merely paving the way, all to confuse his opponent; his goal was this very move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit Replacement!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be precise, he did not want to defeat Xu Qing; he had not spared the effort to rush back from the battlefield just for the sake of the Seventeenth Sovereign Mountain’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did it for the Nether Flame Secret Art!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to replace the Nether Flame Secret Art from Xu Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were anyone else, achieving this would be incomparably difficult, but his Authority was special; the so-called Demon Spirit Breaking Decay was merely the form of expression for the \"Breaking Decay\" part of his Authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Authority had another ability, which he had hidden very deeply: Spirit Replacement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a forced transaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using a wisp of one’s own soul to trade for the opponent’s secret art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this soul would not be mastered by the opponent; it would return on its own the moment the transaction was successful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Heavenly Demon’s trade!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in this world, things are often relative; when you are calculating against others, others may also be calculating against you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like now, at the moment the vortex at Xu Qing’s brow rumbled and Xi Mozi’s right hand, holding his own soul, was about to reach in to trade, Xu Qing’s closed eyes suddenly opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold light was fully revealed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Six Thieves Delusion Authority erupted instantly, and while shrouding the surroundings, threads of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires, visible only to Xu Qing, appeared on Xi Mozi’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They connected to his own in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Six Thieves could serve as a path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This path led to the soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing’s soul took a step within his sea of consciousness, followed this path, flew directly out from the center of his brow, and met Xi Mozi’s reaching right hand head-on!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, a black carving knife circled around Xu Qing’s soul body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the soul wielded the carving knife; regardless of the trade, regardless of the means, he slashed down fiercely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under this slash, the wisp of Xi Mozi’s own soul in his right hand let out a shrill sound and was instantly split in two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Xu Qing’s attack did not end; his soul, carrying the knife, charged into Xi Mozi’s body and invaded his sea of consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Mozi’s sea of consciousness was vast, with black fire rising and seven great worlds circling, and above those flames sat a Heavenly Demon holding a long spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he saw this Heavenly Demon, Xu Qing’s killing intent intensified, and he charged forward with the knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Demon suddenly opened its eyes, stood up, and stepped down; the long spear in its hand erupted with full power, resisting the incoming Xu Qing with a single thrust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carving knife and the long spear collided directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst a roar, the carving knife remained unscathed, but the long spear collapsed and shattered into pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Demon also retreated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing was about to pursue, but at that moment, a sense of crisis emerged within his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw that behind the retreating Heavenly Demon, an ancient, rust-covered bell was rising, and as it swayed, a terrifying power began to manifest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing’s soul-eyes flashed, and without any hesitation, he retreated abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he left the sea of consciousness of Ximozi and returned to his own body, that terrifying power spread out and erupted in the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing and the physical body of Ximozi both retreated in mid-air, putting a distance of a hundred zhang between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hundred zhang away, Ximozi’s expression was grim; recalling the danger from before, he felt a palpitation, and now, staring at Xu Qing, he spoke coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You knew my plan early on!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing’s expression was calm as he spoke indifferently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although I didn't know the specifics, it was not difficult to guess that it wasn't a lethal method based on your previous actions and words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Ximozi glanced at Xu Qing with gloom in his eyes and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing raised his hand, and instantly the void trembled; a storm appeared in front of Ximozi, blocking his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ximozi’s body paused, and he looked toward Xu Qing, his expression darkening further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Three moves have passed; I said I would spare your life, do you wish to bring about your own destruction?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Qing shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I never said I would spare your life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Xu Qing took a step forward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing intent erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is more later.\u003C\u002Fp>",2227,"2026-06-21T00:45:20.082Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","3e68ffc20cab7165a12c5348e61c95df51b686c263b0637d3c025973a1016b21","beyond-the-passage-of-time-chapter-998","beyond-the-passage-of-time-chapter-996",998,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbeyond-the-passage-of-time-cover.jpg"]