Chapter 492

Facing so many figures in black robes.

The nine water demons instinctively transformed into their massive original forms, their grotesque and terrifying faces all different, yet each holding an identical fear!

Such an act certainly did not quite comply with the Seven Dragon Grandson's order to seal their auras.

After all, they were facing only a cultivator at the Void Return realm; there was absolutely no need to make such a display.

"..."

Previously, separated by vast distances of water and land, observing through the sword formation, Su Hongxiu had not seen so clearly.

Now arriving here in person, she suddenly discovered that Shen Yi's realm was merely the eighth layer of the Void Return.

The opponent had just personally slain that Red-Eyed Profound Phoenix while separated by a full four realms.

She turned her gaze to look.

She saw that over the empty expanse of the Wang Yang, all nine water demons were guardedly staring into the void, as if seeing something extraordinary.

Xiang Tianyan Sijiu?

As the Dao Son of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Su Hongxiu had also heard a little about this spiritual technique.

But enveloping nine demons with cultivation far surpassing his own in this spiritual technique, aside from consuming a great deal, also required extremely high mastery of Xiang Tianyan Sijiu itself.

Judging solely from this performance, one could infer it.

Shen Yi's mastery of this method, he feared, had already surpassed the major accomplishment realm and was very close to that state of perfection.

Is this the existence that carries the entire fortune of the Nanyang Nanyang Baodi upon its body?

For a full hundred thousand years, finally bringing the human cultivators to open the Great Formation protecting the Sect.

The opponent's emergence is very likely the manifestation of the residual will of the Nanyang Nanyang Baodi itself, or even possibly the work left behind by that Great Dao Integration realm giant?

This is the only explanation Su Hongxiu could think of.

Roar—

In an instant, the wild howl of the Azure Dragon Star-Shattering Spear echoed again across the sky!

In this duel involving Bai Yujing, it was actually an exchange between Void Return realm cultivators that had the most magnificent momentum.

Facing nine alone, he not only showed no fear but instead took the initiative to launch an attack.

Above the desolate blue sky, a huge dragon head emerged from the clouds, looking down on the human world indifferently; its whiskers and claws solidified, and purple hues shimmered on its green scales.

This was the first time Shen Yi used the Hongmeng Chen Ziqi to enhance a technique other than the Spiritual Body Method.

In the next moment, the azure dragon phantom roared and swept out.

At a speed barely visible to the naked eye, it enveloped one of the massive water demons!

Its fiercely extended claw tip coincided with the sharp edge of that long spear.

Pfft!

A figure in a black robe crossed the long sky; by the instant the azure dragon phantom dissipated.

Shen Yi had already appeared behind that water demon; the entire long spear was dyed red with blood, a bloodline appeared on the shoulder of the massive demon, and its entire upper body tilted down diagonally, splitting into two from the lower body standing in the water.

Boom—

A hundred-zhang-high water wave splashed high into the air.

The other eight water demons finally broke free from Xiang Tianyan Sijiu.

Stimulated by the pungent smell of blood, opening their eyes, they saw that figure glancing sideways, and the aquatic general behind him who had already lost all breath.

Clang!

Shen Yi slightly turned his palm; the dragon spear in his hand shook violently, blood splattered, and cold light rose again.

His gaze swept one by one over this group of fierce great demons.

Yet not a single one dared to meet those purple-gold eyes; all remained in place, breathing heavily.

Previously hiding underwater, even if the Red-Eyed Profound Phoenix's cries were more miserable, the pressure given to them by facing this figure in a black robe now was greater.

In matters of combat, the most feared thing is not understanding clearly.

Fundamentally unable to comprehend how the opponent did it.

Without understanding, one cannot counter; the fear in the heart will grow more intense with thought.

"You come?"

Shen Yi casually picked one, slowly raising the spear tip.

The catfish demon pointed at instinctively dodged, but found the spear tip following his movement, so he spoke in a low, furious voice: "I'll come later!"

Damn thing, is he even picking?

This is a surround-and-kill! Not a game!

Who would duel you one-on-one!

"Then you come."

Shen Yi reversed the spear tip, pointing it again at a python demon.

"..."

The eight great demons exchanged glances; under the circumstances where they could not figure out the opponent's foundation, whoever moved first would most likely take another spear strike.

By all rights, they were all great generals who had fought their way up through the Turtle Army, relying on merit to achieve today's cultivation and foundation.

Their courage and spirit were both excellent.

But precisely because of this... having finally achieved their current accomplishments, everyone wanted to be the one receiving the reward, to take another step upward, rather than becoming the one sacrificed; moreover, given the cold and heartless nature of the Seven Dragon Grandson, he might not even remember them.

In the hesitation.

Another despairing wail rang out again in the ears of the demons.

That flesh-winged silkworm comparable to Bai Yujing, which had already taken Su Hongxiu's strongest sword strike at this moment, relying on a tenacious will to hold on, was now entangled by a Shi Gui who feared no death, receiving no support for a long time; with the balance shifting, it was finally torn apart, its flesh wings ripped off.

"Die for this Venerable One!"

Wu Jun let out a long, piercing cry as golden patterns across his body converged like flowing light.

His entire form plunged straight into the unhealable wound of the silkworm, furiously battering its internal organs until continuous explosions erupted within that massive body.

The Dragon Grandson's uncle, having lost both wings, finally exhausted his strength and crashed down into the waters with a thunderous boom.

【Beast Bai Yujing Flesh-Winged Silkworm slain. Total lifespan: 322,000 years. Remaining: 97,000 years. Absorption complete.】

The fall of a great demon comparable to a Bai Yujing beast effectively declared this encirclement and slaughter a failure.

"..."

Shen Yi calmly sheathed his spear and exhaled a single breath.

Even a landlord has no surplus grain.

First, he slew the Crimson-Eyed Profound Phoenix; to intimidate this horde of demons, he was forced to unleash his full power, striving to quickly kill a water demon.

It seemed no one remembered he was merely a cultivator at the eighth layer of the Killed Fanxu realm; though the Hongmeng Chen Ziqi was strong, it was not inexhaustible.

If he could truly devour this group of great demons, who would bother wasting words with them?

"You..."

The remaining demons at the twelfth layer of Killed Fanxu seemed to realize something, yet when they raised their eyes again, a face covered entirely in scars stood before them, its slick, bald head gleaming brilliantly under the dense coverage of golden patterns.

A familiar countenance; it was indeed the Young Master.

But the aura radiating from the opponent was utterly alien to them, matching the realm of Wu Rongbao.

"Why do you not yet kneel and serve my Lord?"

Wu Jun's voice drifted lightly; before the words fully faded, he violently thrust a fist forward, golden patterns spreading like a chessboard to cover the great demon's head.

Crack!

The instant the head exploded, the great demon's body slowly knelt upon the water's surface.

A slaughter of Killed Fanxu beings by a Bai Yujing great demon.

Swift and brutal!

Wu Jun's slightly battered stone body sped across the sky, harvesting their lives.

Over a hundred massive bodies knelt one after another, blotting out the sky like towering statues, sinking into the dark red waters, surrounding the black robe gently swaying in the center.

Within Shen Yi's brow, in the sea of consciousness.

Ke Shisan stood utterly stunned; it was hard to imagine how such shameless and sycophantic things could exist among the Water Clan!

Even in this situation, he did not forget to flatter?

"Hah."

Shen Yi adjusted his breathing.

He stored the pile of corpses into his ring, then strode across the long sky, seizing the nine Mysterious Mechanism Cords.

Even though Su Hongxiu appeared as if her lamp was nearly out, wielding that Bai Yu Sword, though unable to unleash techniques, she had pressed Wu Rongbao from start to finish, showing no sign that the two were of the same realm.

The innate divine ability of the Jin Wengui Demon was like tofu before that sword, destroyed with crushing ease.

In a short time, this old Wang Ba was covered in blood, clearly having lost the ability to resist.

Just as Su Hongxiu's killing intent surged, her figure suddenly stumbled, followed immediately by a faint voice from behind.

"Save your strength; leave the rest to me." Shen Yi casually tore off the Mysterious Mechanism Cords and stored them in his ring.

"..."

That phrase sounded strangely unfamiliar.

Su Hongxiu glanced at the increasingly dissipating Bai Yu Sword in her hand, silent for a moment; the opponent was merely at the Killed Fanxu cultivation level, yet he could see she was at the end of her tether. Continuing the fight would inevitably damage her foundation.

For a Dao Son of the Heavenly Sword Sect, one must always stand before all others; showing fear was absolutely forbidden.

But Shen Yi was the Shen Zongzhu.

It was reasonable for a Dao Son to receive the Shen Zongzhu's care; it should not count as shameful.

She finally halted her movements, her arm hanging slightly limp, the Bai Yu Sword in her palm transforming once more into purple light and returning to the gates of the Long Han Dacheng.

"Disciple Hongxiu thanks Shen Zongzhu Nan Yang for intervening."

She nodded slightly, then fled downward, landing beside her unconscious sister. Trembling, she reached out to pinch the other's cheek, leaving a bloodstain on the cheek with her aged fingertip.

A rare, gentle smile appeared on Su Hongxiu's withered face.

She then wiped the blood from the other's face with her sleeve before sitting cross-legged to resist the backlash of the Samsara Sword Fruit.

"Heh."

Wu Jun arrived beside the old Wang Ba, driving both palms deep into the opponent's shoulder flesh. Two equally grievously wounded Bai Yujing great demons, both Jin Wengui Demons, began to grapple beneath the sky.

"..."

Wu Rongbao's eyes were blood-red as he exerted all effort to activate the golden patterns, only to be ruthlessly crushed back.

The bloodline within this Shi Gui far exceeded the upper limit of the Jin Wengui Clan.

Creak, creak.

"Will I also... become... a spiritual puppet like you..." Wu Rongbao felt his powerful demon body gradually cracking, despair and fear welling in his eyes; suddenly, he let out a self-mocking laugh, realizing he was actually conversing with a lifeless object.

Just then, it heard the Shi Gui's reply.

"Dream on." Wu Jun curled his lip, then violently tore Wu Rongbao's body apart; the Turtle Clan bloodline must be his own, as for the father, he would serve the Master in another way.

In the next moment, carrying the old Wang Ba's corpse, it sped back to Cuiyun Reef, then vanished into Shen Yi's brow.

【Remaining demon lifespan: 1,910,008,000 years.】

Merely twelve great demons had offered nearly a million years of demon lifespan.

Yet compared to the demon lifespan, their flesh, blood, and demon souls themselves were far more precious.

Shen Yi rose and walked to the other side of Cuiyun Reef; just as he summoned the Wu Guang Profound Sword to prepare to leave, he heard Su Hongxiu's whisper from behind.

"Heal your injuries first; do not worry about anything else."

"Hmm?" Shen Yi turned back and glanced over.

"The Dao Son may act willfully, as long as they win." Su Hongxiu opened her eyes; in ordinary times, she rarely explained anything to others.

"And if they lose?" Shen Yi had roughly understood something.

"If they lose, we replace the Dao Son."

Su Hongxiu answered with extreme decisiveness, yet this also illustrated from the side what kind of existence the Sect's Dao Son truly was.

To inherit the Dao-Union Sacred Land, one must bear responsibility for the lives of the land's sentient beings.

This is not raising an heir, playing house, or nurturing a child.

Mortal Emperors can ascend the throne first and then slowly learn the Way of the Sovereign, but the Dao Son of an Xian Sect is different; the instant they achieve Dao-Union, the life and death of the entire Sect hangs upon that single person, with no room for regret.

The Dao Son may make any decision, as long as they win, and they must never lose even once.

First seize power, then prove one has the strength and mental fortitude to hold that power, and only finally truly ascend the throne.

"..."

Shen Yi, slightly unaccustomed, sheathed his flying sword.

Since leaving Nanyang, this was the first time he experienced the feeling of not needing to retreat immediately after engaging in combat.

It felt somewhat strange overall.

At the two ends of Cuiyun Reef, the two sat cross-legged with their backs to each other.

Blood rivers flowed from the ring on Shen Yi's finger into his brow; one after another, pillar stones began to take shape, vast amounts of demon longevity began to drain away, and vast quantities of demon essence merged into the demon souls.

No one knew how much time passed.

A flesh-winged silkworm opened its eyes in that boundless night curtain.

Hindered by the presence of the Su sisters, it did not roar nor radiate its aura, yet in those eyes that turned slightly, an unspeakable ferocity emanated.

Without needing the Measuring Pillar to observe, a mere rough glance revealed it was far beyond what a First-Rank Dao Pillar could match.

Nearly thirty demon essences had added another Bai Yujing demon enforcer to Shen Yi's side.

Among the nine other demons previously, only two were Golden-Winged Tortoise Demons.

The remaining great demons were generals of the Turtle Army, whom the Turtle Clan had suppressed other water tribes and driven out rivals to achieve sole dominance over the years, finally subduing them.

Another hundred and forty-odd demon essences were exhausted.

They all opened their eyes in the night curtain; their exaggerated and fearsome forms gradually came to life.

"Hah."

Shen Yi did not rush to break through to the ninth layer of Return to Emptiness; instead, he stood up and looked at the old crone whose hair was gradually turning black.

Su Hongxiu opened her eyes as well, picked up her younger sister, and placed her into the teleportation sword array.

She then formed a hand seal, watching silently as Su Yushang vanished from the spot.

Although the aura on her body was not considered dense, the weakness that seemed as if she would enter Nirvana in the next moment was gone.

"This disciple still has matters to attend to; does the Nanyang Sect Master have any interest?"

After seeing her sister off, Su Hongxiu clasped her hands toward Shen Yi; although she was not very familiar with this young cultivator, the other party's actions earlier suggested a strong interest in demon corpses.

Hearing this, Shen Yi directed his gaze toward the waters ahead.

If he remembered correctly, the other party had previously said they would kill its entire family; now that even that Dragon Grandson had not appeared, it certainly could not be considered complete.

He was just somewhat puzzled; could one really enter the water to kill the Dragon Grandson?

Shen Yi withdrew his gaze and nodded: "I am interested."

Seeing this, a barely perceptible smile appeared on Su Hongxiu's lips; this young Sect Master truly suited her temperament.

Inside a vast underwater palace far from Cuiyun Reef.

The magnificent Shi Dian was adorned with various treasures, appearing incredibly luxurious.

This was the territory of the Dragon Grandson's maternal clan.

Even if the Flesh-Winged Silkworm Clan did not count as a top-tier power, as long as they hung the Long Gong banner, within the Yu Nanhong waters, they were a veritable colossal entity that no one dared provoke.

Ke Laoqi leaned against a throne resembling a bed, gripping the conch shell in his hand tightly.

As time passed, his expression grew increasingly gloomy.

There was still no reply from over there.

Ke Laoqi finally could not hold back and sat upright, looking at the conch shell in his hand.

Behind him, a beautiful woman gently patted his shoulder: "You are the Dragon Grandson; do not lose your composure. With your uncle here, nothing will go wrong... even if something truly does go wrong, you must stabilize your mind; only then will there be a chance to rise again."

Ke Laoqi took a deep breath: "No need to comfort me; I know what I am doing."

After making his decision, he had cautiously hidden here with his mother.

But even so, the unease in his heart grew stronger and stronger, seeming about to fill his entire chest cavity.

"Hurry and arrange for the palace guards to be vigilant; take good care of yourself. I have urgent matters to inquire about and intend to go see Father."

Ke Laoqi finally stood up, casually brushing off his mother.

Even at the risk of exposing this matter, he wanted to rush to his father's side as quickly as possible; only then could he feel a shred of security.

"..."

The beautiful woman fell silent for a moment, somewhat sighing; her son was good in every way, except he lacked patience, not as steady as his father.

"Very well, go ahead." She gently waved her sleeve.

Ke Laoqi walked straight toward the palace exit; having just taken two steps, he sensed something was amiss.

Instinctively, he picked up the conch shell and began transmitting a message to that noble Dragon Son, his voice trembling slightly: "Father... I am with Mother... send someone quickly to fetch me... I have matters I wish to request an audience with you regarding."

That conch shell seemed to have lost its power.

Whether transmitting a message to Wu Rongbao or his father, there was not the slightest response within.

At the same time, within the Long Gong at the other end of Yu Nanhong.

In the magnificent and grand main hall.

On both sides sat four figures each, eight in total, all wearing sword robes, gazing indifferently at the scene below.

And upon the highest throne, a shadowy figure leaned back lazily.

He lowered his gaze to look down.

That dragon-headed demon, wearing a golden crown and splendid robes, seemed to be pressed firmly to the ground by an invisible giant hand; even though the demon body beneath the splendid robes had struggled until it trembled all over, it still could not stand up.

In front of it lay a water mirror.

The image within the mirror was vivid, as if one were present in person.

The beautiful woman leaning on the stone seat trembled slightly all over, staring blankly ahead, while Ke Laoqi was so terrified he collapsed on the spot, shivering and wriggling backward.

Before them.

An elderly figure and a man in a black robe slowly stepped into the hall from both sides.

The Bai Xi youth's face was stained with blood, and the dragon spear in his hand displayed a terrifying blood-red hue; he stepped over Ke Laoqi, and the bald man behind him, whose whole body radiated Jin Guang, kicked and crushed the Dragon Grandson's heart.

"Roar!"

Within the hall, the splendid-robed dragon-headed great demon suddenly raised its head, unleashing a roar.

On both sides, sword-robed elders slowly rose, picked up a jade cup, and smashed it with a bang onto the splendid-robed great demon's forehead, saying indifferently, "What are you yelling about? If you lose, you must admit it. Dare to cause trouble, but dare not take responsibility?"

"Yell again, and today we'll deal with you too!"

Upon hearing this, the splendid-robed great demon stared fiercely at the shadowy figure above, baring its sharp dragon fangs.

The shadow seemed to find it quite amusing: "Try looking at me again?"

Before the words had finished.

The splendid-robed great demon suddenly clenched its teeth, then unwillingly closed its eyes.

A pfft sound came again from the water mirror.

That sharp dragon spear cleanly and decisively pierced through the beautiful woman's throat.

After an unknown amount of time.

"..."

When the splendid-robed great demon opened its eyes again, the many figures in the scene had already vanished, as if they had never appeared; inside the empty hall, only its single figure remained.

The Seven Sons of Yu Nanhong are usually relatively gentle.

But this does not mean they can tolerate the Daozi being ambushed and killed.

This is a warning, and it also signifies that matters end here.

The Daozi kept the appointment and wagered his life against the Dragon Grandson.

Su Hongxiu won, and its wife and children are the things the other side deserved.

(End of this chapter)