Chapter 298

Black-red demonic light like a poisonous dragon tearing through the sky, carrying the demon emperor's remnant will to kill and the terrifying might of Nascent Soul stage, instantly arrived before Wang Ping's face!

The shadow of death had never been so real. Wang Ping could clearly feel the destructive power contained in that demonic light, enough to utterly annihilate both his flesh and soul. His meridians were depleted, his spiritual power exhausted, his soul weak, even the strength to maintain his stance was about to be lost.

However, at this critical moment of life and death, Wang Ping's eyes burned with a near-mad calm. It was his firm belief in his own path, his resolve to disregard life and death, and after seizing the sole chance of victory, his obsession to grasp it at all costs!

"Now!"

He silently roared in his heart, his body reacting beyond its limits!

No dodging, because there was nowhere to dodge, and time did not allow it. No defense, because any defense before this absolute strike, which concentrated most of the demon emperor's remnant will, would appear pale.

What he did was to pour all his remaining, last trace of will and spiritual power, together with his final comprehension of the Five Elements Great Dao, not outward for defense or attack, but——inward to detonate!

"Five Elements cycle, mutual generation and mutual restriction, origin returns to position, chaos first opens!"

Hum!!!

Wang Ping's body seemed, at this moment, to become a small Five Elements universe about to explode! In his dantian, the five already dimmed but with complete Dao patterns golden cores emitted an unbearable hum, then suddenly reversed!

Not the normal cycle of mutual generation, but taking earth as the hub, forcibly reversing the Five Elements, turning mutual generation into mutual restriction! Metal overcomes wood, wood overcomes earth, earth overcomes water, water overcomes fire, fire overcomes metal! This was a near-suicidal mad act, but in this extreme reversal and conflict, it erupted with a power far exceeding normal Five Elements mutual generation—a chaotic and primordial force, as if from the very beginning of heaven and earth's creation——chaotic power!

"Five-Colored Divine Light……Ultimate Secret……Chaos……Return to Origin!"

Wang Ping's seven orifices simultaneously spurted blood, fine cracks even appeared on his body surface, as if exquisite porcelain was about to shatter. But his hands, at this moment, steadily and slowly, came together before his chest.

As his hands came together, the originally scattered five-colored light from the broken formation on his body surface, almost imperceptible, was suddenly forcibly drawn out from all parts of his body, from his limbs and bones, from his dantian and sea of consciousness, and gathered!

Yellow (earth)'s heavy bearing, green (wood)'s vitality extinguished, red (fire)'s fierce purification, white (metal)'s sharp slaughter, blue (water)'s icy return to stillness……The five kinds of true meaning of Dao after point-awakening, five kinds of utterly different legal auras, under this mad Five Elements reversal and will integration, did not conflict and annihilate each other, but were forcibly blended, compressed, collapsed!

A beam of light only as thick as an arm, with a chaotic and indistinct color, seeming to contain all colors in the world yet also seeming like a void, suddenly shot out from where Wang Ping's palms joined! The beam was soundless, without astonishing energy fluctuations, without brilliant radiance, yet gave a feeling of extreme heaviness, extreme antiquity, as if it could evolve all things and let all things return to chaos——a strange sensation!

The timing of this chaotic beam's appearance was exquisite to the utmost!

It did not go toward the black-red demonic light shooting at Wang Ping's face, but——slightly deflected by an imperceptible angle, striking first after waiting, precisely aiming at midair, at the core of the demon emperor's remnant demon soul, that old golden-colored wound crack which Wang Ping had pressured with gravity technique and which everyone's combined effort had disturbed, briefly exposing it!

"What?!" The demon emperor's remnant's blood-red pupils suddenly contracted to the size of a needle tip, mental alarms shrieking to the extreme! He never imagined that Wang Ping, at the moment of the absolute strike, would choose not defense or mutual destruction, but to aim his final, most deadly blow at his deepest hidden flaw! Moreover, the aura of that chaotic beam made even this ancient demon emperor feel an instinctive, indescribable dread and fear!

He wanted to withdraw his demonic light aimed at Wang Ping to defend, but Cangxuan's "Heaven Azure Forbidden Void Domain" and "Star Trace Soul Lock" were still taking effect, space viscous, star traces entwining, slowing his demon soul's operation and demon element adjustment by that infinitesimal instant!

He wanted to move his demon soul to avoid this strange beam, but Yuliuli's "Pure World Immortal Light Universal Illumination" continued to weaken his demon might, interfering with his perception, and Lei Zhen's thunder remnant waves, though mostly blocked by the demon god dharma image's arms, still exploded and interfered with his mind!

And Wang Ping's beam, condensed from his last will and all potential, fused with the Five Elements reversal chaotic power, the "Chaos Return to Origin Beam," had already surpassed the range of ordinary techniques, nearly a "certain hit" lock on the level of law!

"No——!!!" The demon emperor's remnant could only let out a roar containing endless shock, anger, and unwillingness.

The next instant!

Puff!

A sound so slight it could almost be ignored.

That chaotic beam, like a red-hot branding iron plunged into snow, or like a precise surgical knife cutting through diseased tissue, encountered no resistance, easily and effortlessly pierced through the solid demonic flames surrounding the demon emperor's remnant demon soul and the layered demon soul structure, precisely striking that old golden-colored wound crack!

Time seemed to solidify at this moment.

Immediately after——

"Ah——!!!"

A scream so tragic it could not be described, as if from the deepest part of the soul, mixed with endless pain, anger, fear, and collapse, suddenly burst from the demon emperor's remnant's mouth! This scream even formed substantive sound waves, making the entire hall hum, the remaining demon guards on the floor clutching their heads and rolling, collapsing and dissipating!

Only seen, the demon emperor's remnant's originally somewhat solid figure instantly became extremely distorted and transparent! The old wound crack struck by the chaotic beam seemed to become a collapsing point of origin! The faint golden ancient sword intent remnant was stirred and aroused by the chaotic power, mixing with the invading chaotic power, forming a terrifying chain reaction of collapse!

Hiss hiss hiss——!

Countless fine cracks, mixed with pale gold and chaotic colors, spread frenziedly from the old wound center across the demon emperor's remnant's entire demon soul! Wherever they passed, the demon soul rapidly scattered and annihilated like weathered sand sculptures! His mighty aura, comparable to mid-Nascent Soul, surged down like an avalanche, instantly dropping to early Nascent Soul, and still continuing to fall!

That damaged demon god dharma image behind him emitted a soundless wail, then collapsed with a boom, turning into sweeping black-red demonic qi, but was quickly purified and dissolved by Yuliuli's Pure World Immortal Light and the lingering chaotic qi in the air!

And that absolute strike demonic light aimed at Wang Ping, at the moment before it would touch his brow, because the demon emperor's remnant suffered heavy blows, lost mental control, and lost control of his demon elements, its power dropped by over seventy percent, and its trajectory also deviated imperceptibly!

Even so, the remaining thirty percent power of the demonic light was still enough to heavily injure or even kill the now oil-exhausted Wang Ping!

"Wang Brother!" Lei Zhen's eyes nearly split, wanting to rush over, but already powerless.

In this flash of lightning——

"Shift Stars, Change Dipper!" Cangxuan shouted fiercely, his face deathly pale as paper, obviously bearing a great cost from this technique. He forcibly activated the last trace of Heaven Azure Dao power, creating an extremely brief spatial distortion before Wang Ping!

The weakened demonic light entered the distorted space, its direction changed slightly, brushing past Wang Ping's left shoulder! Screech! Wang Ping's left shoulder, together with part of his left arm, was instantly eroded and dissolved by demonic qi, revealing stark white bones, intense pain making his vision blacken, nearly fainting, but ultimately avoiding the vital point!

"Immortal Spirit Protection!" Yuliuli also timely poured down a gentle immortal light, enveloping Wang Ping's wound, stopping further demonic qi erosion, and bringing a trace of weak vitality.

"Success! The demon head suffered heavy wounds!" Mu Lan's voice sounded, filled with joy and surprise.

At this moment, the demon emperor's remnant in midair had become miserable to the extreme. His demon soul became extremely illusory and transparent, cracks covered it, his aura was feeble, almost falling from Nascent Soul realm, leaving only a thread of extremely weak yet stubborn remnant will, filled with resentment and madness, struggling.

"Ant……ant! Dare……dare to destroy this emperor's demon soul foundation!" The demon emperor's remnant's voice was intermittent, filled with endless hatred, "This emperor……even if soul flies and spirit scatters……also wants to drag you……to mutual destruction!!!"

He knew his demon soul collapse was imminent, returning to peak was already a bubble, despair and madness completely devoured his last trace of reason! That illusory broken demon soul core suddenly lit up with an ominous, as if about to burn everything last dark red light, a stock of destructive, unstable to the extreme terrifying fluctuation, began to frenziedly gather!

He wanted to self-destruct his remnant soul! With his last strength, to activate all remaining demonic qi and restrictions in the "Ten Thousand Demon Soul Devouring Region" hall, dragging everyone together to be buried with him!

"Not good! He wants to self-destruct!" Cangxuan's face drastically changed.

"Stop him!" Yuliuli's immortal light tried to suppress, but the demon emperor's remnant's power from burning his remnant soul, carrying a decisive destructive will, for a moment was difficult to completely suppress.

At this final moment, Wang Ping, nearly unconscious, relying on sheer will to hold on, deep in his sea of consciousness, that will-star, tempered through hardships and always resilient, suddenly brightened slightly. A sharp aura, nurtured for long, lying dormant deep in his soul, was stirred by this life-and-death crisis and the demon emperor's remnant's final mad fluctuation, and quietly awakened.

This was……the seed sword qi of the Innate Nurturing Sword Technique! Though not yet accomplished, it contained the purest innate Geng Metal slaughter qi, specially slaying evil thoughts of the soul!

Almost instinctively, Wang Ping used his last trace of divine thought to activate this sword qi!

"Slash!"

No radiance, no momentum. Only a path of pure to the extreme, refined to the extreme invisible sword intent, silently shot out from Wang Ping's brow, faster than time and space perception could grasp, ignoring distance and defense, directly slashing into the demon emperor's remnant's demon soul core, which was brewing self-destruction and was at its most fragile!

This sword qi, for the demon emperor's remnant at his peak, might be insignificant. But for his remnant soul core at this moment, on the verge of collapse, soul power dissipating, preparing to self-destruct with no defense, it became the last straw that broke the camel's back, and also the deadly blade that severed his last thread of vitality!

"Ugh……"

The demon emperor's remnant's mad howl ceased abruptly. The dark red light on his demon soul core, which had been continuously expanding, suddenly extinguished. His eyes, filled with endless resentment and unwillingness, blood-colored, their light rapidly dimmed and dissipated.

Finally, not even a complete wail could be emitted, the entire remnant, like smoke blown away by wind, completely scattered and annihilated, turning into specks of dim black light points, slowly drifting down.

An ancient demon emperor of ages past, the Blood Prison Demon Emperor, his remnant hidden for ten thousand years, intending rebirth, here, was completely annihilated by a group of golden core juniors joining forces!

With the demon emperor's remnant's complete demise, the entire "Ten Thousand Demon Soul Devouring Region" hall seemed to lose its support.

The flickering black-red runes on the walls quickly dimmed and faded, and the dark-red light curtain sealing the hall shattered silently. The ground no longer surged with demonic energy or demon guards.

The suffocating, dense demonic aura and devouring breath in the air also began to rapidly dissipate, replaced by the originally suppressed, now gradually revealing, purer and more ancient source of law aura, although faint demonic pollution still lingered, it no longer possessed active corrosiveness.

The hall returned to tranquility. Only the scattered mess on the ground, broken corpses, heavily wounded heavenly pride gasping for breath, and the slowly drifting fragments of the demon emperor's last residual demonic techniques, pure soul power, and source of law mixture falling from the air proved the heart-stopping, life-or-death fierce battle that had just taken place.

"Is... is it over?" a surviving heavenly pride collapsed on the ground, gazing at the now-clear dome, as if from another world.

"The demon emperor's residual thought... was it... slain by us?" another spoke with a tone full of disbelief.

The joy of surviving mixed with grief over lost companions and a sudden surge of immense accomplishment intertwined in the survivors' hearts. Everyone's gaze unconsciously turned toward the youth who had almost become a blood-man, his left shoulder bare white bone, his breath extremely weak, yet still stubbornly standing—Wang Ping.

It was he who, at the critical moment, spotted the demon emperor's flaw; it was he who proposed the tactic of division of labor and cooperation; it was he who, in desperation, erupted with that world-shocking chaotic strike, heavily damaging the demon emperor's foundation; finally, it seemed also his mysterious sword that completely severed the demon emperor's last counterattack.

Although everyone had paid a great effort—Cangxuan's spatial blockade, Yuliuli's purification weakening, Leizhen's frontal containment, Mulan's auxiliary recovery—none could be dispensed with. But there is no doubt that Wang Ping is the deserving core and greatest contributor of this battle!

"Wang brother!" Leizhen struggled to crawl to Wang Ping's side, looking at his horrific injuries, his tiger eyes brimming with tears, he quickly produced the finest healing medicine and stuffed it into his mouth, then used his remaining thunderous power to help dispel the last trace of stubborn demonic energy at the wound's edge.

Cangxuan, Yuliuli, Mulan, and others also gathered around, their gazes toward Wang Ping filled with complex and unfathomable meaning. There was admiration, gratitude, shock, and also a hint of indescribable... awe.

"Wang Daoist... great kindness needs no thanks." Cangxuan fell silent for a moment, then clasped his hands in a solemn salute. This proud and arrogant heavenly pride of the Tiancang tribe now sincerely acknowledged Wang Ping.

"Wang Gongzi turned the tide, saved our lives, Liuli keeps it in heart." Yuliuli's voice remained clear and cold, yet carried a hint of imperceptible softness. She took out an elixir emitting rich vitality and handed it to Leizhen, "This is my Luoxian tribe's 'Life-Creating Fortune Elixir,' which may benefit Wang Gongzi's injuries."

Mulan also sighed: "The Ancient God tribe owes you a favor. If not for your Five Elements Great Dao, which restrains demonic energy and exposes its flaws, we would all have been buried here today."

Wang Ping took the medicine, feeling the weak warm current and vitality slowly growing within his body, weakly waved his hand, voice hoarse: "Not the achievement of one person alone... without your... strong assistance... Wang Mou would have long since... turned to ashes..." Each sentence he spoke tugged at his wounds, cold sweat pouring forth.

Everyone said no more, knowing that at this moment the most important thing was to recover from injuries. They quickly cleared a relatively safe area, each taking medicine and regulating their breath.

Cangxuan, Yuliuli, and others who still had strength began to collect the pure energy fragments drifting in the air, left behind after the demon emperor's residual thought dissipated.

These fragments contained part of the purified demon emperor's soul power, part of the heavenly pride's origin devoured by him, and ancient law fragments from the Wanfa Pool and this place itself, extremely valuable, although not enough to allow an immediate breakthrough, they are excellent supplements for consolidating foundations and comprehending laws.

After discussion, the people distributed the fragments relatively fairly according to their contributions in this battle. Wang Ping, as the primary contributor, naturally received the largest and most refined share.

Cangxuan, Yuliuli, Leizhen, Mulan, and others also each received their share. The other surviving heavenly pride also received small portions, enough to benefit them greatly.

After regulating breath for about several hours, everyone's injuries slightly stabilized, although still far from full recovery, at least they regained mobility.

At this moment, in the center of the hall, where the demon emperor's residual thought had appeared, the spatial rift had already disappeared, replaced by a slowly rotating, stable seven-colored light gate emitting clear spatial fluctuations—precisely the exit from this secret realm!

"The exit has appeared!"

Everyone's spirits lifted. After enduring successive life-and-death battles, each person was already physically and mentally exhausted, eager to return home.

"Let's go, this place is not suitable for lingering." Cangxuan rose first, his silver eyes regaining their usual indifference, but when looking at Wang Ping, he slightly nodded in signal.

Yuliuli, Mulan, and others also rose one after another.

Wang Ping stood up with Leizhen's support; his left shoulder wound, under the effect of the Life-Creating Fortune Elixir and his own powerful regenerative ability, no longer bled, and even fine flesh buds began to grow on the white bone, but full recovery still required time.

Everyone no longer hesitated, successively stepping into the seven-colored light gate.

Light and shadow flowed, time and space shifted.

When Wang Ping again stepped onto solid ground, he had already returned to the familiar Spirit Realm earth, behind him was the mist-shrouded but now gradually calming Wanfa Pool secret realm entrance area.

The emissaries of all major powers had long been waiting outside; seeing their own heavenly pride appear in such a miserable state, they were all horrified and rushed forward to receive and treat them.

Wang Ping and Leizhen were received by the instructors of the Ninth Dao Institute. Upon seeing Wang Ping nearly crippled in one arm, his breath weak yet carrying an indescribable沉凝道韻, and Leizhen similarly severely wounded yet full of excitement on his face, the receiving instructors were also greatly shocked.

Especially when they heard from other surviving heavenly pride fragments of information about the secret realm's drastic change, the demon emperor's residual thought emerging, everyone jointly resisting the demon, and Wang Ping's supreme contribution, they were shocked beyond measure!

The news, like wings added, spread at an astonishing speed, accompanying the return of the surviving heavenly pride, rapidly spreading throughout all major powers, and like a storm, sweeping through the entire Spirit Realm's younger generation, even startling many elders of the older generation!

"Wanfa Pool Secret Realm Shock! Ancient Demon Emperor's Blood Prison Residual Thought lurked, using inheritance as bait, devouring heavenly pride!"

"Ninth Dao Institute's Wang Ping, breaking through in crisis, Five Elements Perfected, leading heavenly pride to jointly resist the demon!"

"Five Elements Divine Light reappeared, sweeping all, chaotic strike heavily damaging the demon emperor!"

"Heavenly Sword Intent severed residual soul, demon emperor subdued, heavenly pride survived the calamity!"

"Cangxuan, Yuliuli, Mulan, Leizhen and other top heavenly pride all said, without Wang Ping, no one could have survived this journey!"

One shocking piece of news after another continued to be confirmed, spread, and fermented.

Beneath the ancient tree of the Ancient God tribe's ancestral land, the tribe elders listened to Mulan's detailed report, remained silent for a long time, finally sighed long:

"The Five Elements Dao can actually evolve to this extent? This child... has the aura of becoming an immortal. Issue orders: my Ancient God tribe must not be enemies with him; after his wounds heal, we may send envoys to establish relations."

In the Star Subtle Hall of the Tiancang tribe, Cangxuan faced the tribal elders, his tone平淡 yet firm: "Wang Ping's ability is not inferior to mine. His character, courage, and talent are all supreme. The Five Elements Divine Light indeed has unique aspects.

This person should be my Daoist friend, and may also be a formidable rival." The elders exchanged glances, able to make the heavens-high Cangxuan evaluate him thus, this child's weight can be imagined.

In the Cloud Mist Immortal Mountain of the Luoxian tribe, Yuliuli faced the immortal maidens of the tribe, narrated清冷ly, finally added: "His Five Elements secretly harmonize with the birth and death of heaven and earth, his Dao心 is firm and resilient, he values emotion and keeps promises. Luoli thinks, he can be on good terms with." The Luoxian immortal maidens' eyes flowed, they slightly nodded.

The Xieming tribe, Tianxing tribe, Yutu tribe, and other powers, however, reacted differently. The Xieming tribe, due to Mingxian's severe injury and deeper hatred toward Wang Ping, also feared his displayed power to restrain demons. The Tianxing tribe, Yutu tribe, and other martial-warrior tribes, on the other hand, developed strong interest in Wang Ping's strength, listing him as a target to be closely watched, even wanting to challenge.

The Shengyu tribe and Yao tribe (Qinglong, Tianfeng, etc.) had complex feelings. Wang Ping's strength and achievements are undeniable, but his inflicting heavy injuries on the Yao tribe's heavenly pride in the secret realm is also a fact. For a time, there was both awe and fear, also an unresolved grudge.

Within the Five Elements tribe, an uproar was stirred. The news of Yan Jin's failure and Wang Ping's Five Elements Perfection spread back, causing the Five Elements tribe's high层 to be greatly shaken. Especially the fire meridian, lost all face. Radicals clamored to suppress Wang Ping and reclaim the orthodox name of the Five Elements; also rationalists believed Wang Ping, though not born of the Five Elements tribe, his Five Elements Dao had forged a new path, with boundless potential, and should be sought to recruit or befriend, not lightly made an enemy. Arguments continued without rest.

As for the most mysterious and unfathomable Mengmeng tribe, they remained perpetually shrouded in mist, no one knowing their attitude toward this matter. But according to some secret channels, the Mengmeng tribe seemed to show an extraordinary "interest" in Wang Ping's keen perception that could discern the demon emperor's residual thought's flaw, and that final formless slash that severed the residual soul.

The Hundun魔 tribe, this ancient race possibly related to the ancient demon emperor, fell into a strange silence, no one knowing their movements.

Of course, the most enthusiastic and most deserving of glory, naturally, is the Ninth Dao Institute!

When Wang Ping and Leizhen were escorted back to the Dao Institute, the entire Ninth Dao Institute erupted! Senior leaders personally came forward to console, bestowing vast amounts of precious healing holy medicines and cultivation resources. Wang Ping's feat of resisting the demon emperor and saving the heavenly pride was deliberately promoted by the Dao Institute, instantly becoming a legend admired and worshipped by all disciples!

"Wang Shixiong is mighty!"

"Five Elements Divine Light, exalt the might of our Dao Institute!"

"With one's own power, to turn the tide from collapse, to support the great building about to fall! This truly is our generation's model!"

Praise echoed without end. Wang Ping's name, within the Ninth Dao Institute, had already surpassed the ordinary heavenly pride's range, becoming a symbol, a spiritual banner.

In the Dao Institute's top-tier healing secret realm, Wang Ping soaked in the spiritual liquid containing vast vitality, feeling his injuries slowly healing, flesh and blood at his left shoulder regenerating at a visible speed. His mind, however, was immersed in the previous successive battles, especially the final reversal of the Five Elements, eruption of the chaotic strike, and the insight into activating the seed sword aura of the Heavenly Nurturing Sword Technique.

"Five Elements reversal, Hundun return to origin... that strike, though strong, was nearly self-destructive, not to be lightly used. Need to further perfect Five Elements balance, comprehend deeper levels of Five Elements transformation and Hundun true intent, to truly master."

"Heavenly Nurturing Sword Technique... indeed miraculous. Nurtured in the divine soul, slaying enemies in the formless, specifically targeting soul bodies and evil thoughts. This technique, should be a great killer's mace, needs continued careful nurturing."

"After this battle, although the Five Elements foundation was shaken, it also became more solid due to extreme pressure and Hundun insight. Understanding of Five Elements generation and restriction, Dianling true intent, also deepened by one layer. After injury heals, cultivation might perhaps advance further..."

Wang Ping closed his eyes to look inward; although his body was weak, his Dao心 became more transparent and firm. He knew that the journey to Wanfa Pool, though near death, also brought great gains. Not only did the Five Elements Dianling reach perfection and strength surge, but he also comprehended a new direction between life and death; most importantly, he established his own prestige, establishing an undisputed top position among the Spirit Realm's younger generation!

However, he also understood that fame was both a halo and a burden. From today onward, he would no longer be an unknown nobody, and would inevitably enter the sight of more great figures, drawing more attention, courting, envy, and even... secret schemes and challenges.

"The road ahead is long and arduous. Only by holding firm to one's original heart, advancing with courage and diligence, can one truly stand firm in this vast and tumultuous age, and pursue the supreme Dao!"

Wang Ping silently recited in his heart, his consciousness sinking into deeper levels of healing and insight.

Outside, the legends about him were spreading at an ever-increasing speed toward the farthest reaches of the Spirit Realm. The name of Wang Ping, the Daoist Son of the Five Elements, rose like the morning sun in the east, its brilliance blazing, now unstoppable as it illuminated the heavens of this era.

His legend had only just begun to unfold. And in the future, what awaited him would be an even vaster starry sky, and even fiercer storms and strife!