Chapter 579: Astonishing Turn

Just as the Star Sword Demon Emperor was pondering what power Ye Liuyun was using, Ye Liuyun flashed, traversed space to appear beside the Star Sword Demon Emperor, swung the Demon Slaying Sword, and struck down directly.

The Star Sword Demon Emperor reacted without delay, immediately raising his sword to block.

His sword, the famed Star Demon Sword known throughout the Three Sects, is a top‑grade Demon Race weapon of Divine Rank. A powerful demon lord once wielded it and could amplify attacks against his Star Demon Sword.

Countless people have tried to destroy his Star Demon Sword. Even with top‑grade Divine Rank treasures, they were all shattered by his blade. It can be said that, nourished by Demon Qi, the Star Demon Sword has almost reached the level of a Divine Rank weapon.

Thus the Star Sword Demon Emperor felt a surge of private delight.

"Once your blade breaks, how will you act? Then I can reverse with a single sword strike and kill you."

Close‑quarters combat is, of course, extremely perilous. If Ye Liuyun's sword were to break, he would fall within the Star Demon Sword's attack range.

"Come back quickly..."

When Xiao Mingyue realized this, shouting any further was already too late; Ye Liuyun's sword had already descended.

A single thought flashed through her mind: "That kid is really courting death!"

What shocked everyone even more was that Ye Liuyun's sword effortlessly cleaved the Star Demon Sword in two and sliced off one of the Star Sword Demon Emperor's arms.

The Star Sword Demon Emperor was quick enough to dodge his head; otherwise, his head would have been the part cut off.

"The Star Demon Sword is broken?"

"How can that kid be so strong!"

Someone present shouted in astonishment.

Startled, the Star Sword Demon Emperor brandished his broken sword and forced Ye Liuyun back.

Competing with True Essence, Ye Liuyun was certainly no match for him. He swung his blade, unleashed a Golden Crow Holy Fire that burned away the Star Sword Demon Emperor's severed arm, and simultaneously retreated to Xiao Mingyue's side.

"Won't you press the advantage?" Ye Liuyun prompted the dazed Xiao Mingyue.

"Oh! Follow me and kill!"

Xiao Mingyue finally recovered, leading the San Yuan Sect disciples to charge at the Night Demon Sect's ranks.

Only about a dozen Night Demon Sect members had gathered here, while the San Yuan Sect arrived with over twenty, giving them superiority in both numbers and strength.

Besides Xiao Mingyue, there was Wen Feng, a Yin Yang Yi Chong strongman. So when they attacked, the Night Demon Sect collapsed.

"Xiao Mingyue, don't overdo it; don't force me to fight you to the death!"

Seeing his side in danger, the Star Sword Demon Emperor immediately retrieved a Demon mask from his Storage Ring and threatened Xiao Mingyue.

"You actually brought the artifact Demon‑Draw Mask inside?"

Xiao Mingyue clearly harbored a fear of the mask and did not wish to duel the Star Sword Demon Emperor to the death.

However, Ye Liuyun had no intention of letting their battle cease. He struck again, Yi Dao toward the Star Sword Demon Emperor.

"Artifact or not, I'll still cut you down!"

"You..." Xiao Mingyue and the Star Sword Demon Emperor simultaneously rebuked Ye Liuyun.

The Star Sword Demon Emperor was angry that Ye Liuyun disregarded the artifact. Xiao Mingyue, thinking Ye Liuyun was unaware of the artifact's power, resented him for causing trouble.

"Fine! Then I'll let you see the power of this mask!"

Having said that, he tried to put the mask directly onto his face,

In an instant, the Star Sword Demon Emperor's Demon Qi was drained by the mask.

Then, purer Demon Qi surged from the mask, enveloping the Star Sword Demon Emperor. The onlookers saw him begin to transform.

In a heartbeat, he turned into a snarling, grotesque ogre.

"Alas, you've caused trouble now. This Demon‑Draw Mask can let a Demon Lord possess the wearer briefly. If you don't force him into a corner, he won't expend his own Demon Qi to activate the mask."

Seeing the Star Sword Demon Emperor use the mask, Xiao Mingyue couldn't help but blame Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun truly wasn't worried. He possessed a Sealing Demon Tablet; once deployed, it could certainly suppress that Demon Lord.

But just as he was about to draw the Sealing Demon Tablet to subdue the Demon Lord, Qing Lin used Divine Sense Transmission Voice: "Wait, see what treasure Xiao Mingyue has."

That reminder made Ye Liuyun react.

Since the Star Sword Demon Emperor could bring an artifact inside, perhaps Xiao Mingyue also carries a defensive treasure. Better to check first—know yourself and know the enemy.

Moreover, seeing Xiao Mingyue's calm demeanor, she didn't seem helpless. If she truly were, now would be the time to scatter and flee.

With that in mind, he pretended to be outmatched and slipped behind Xiao Mingyue.

"You're capable, but your courage is lacking!"

Xiao Mingyue saw this and couldn't help mocking him.

Last time the Star Sword Demon Emperor appeared, the Night Demon Sect outnumbered them and Ye Liuyun simply hid. This time, seeing he couldn't win, he ran to her side again.

"It's just a few moves for me! Not like Miss Xiao, who's so skilled!"

Ye Liuyun also flattered Xiao Mingyue a few times in kind.

"Alright, I'll watch over you from now on!"

Xiao Mingyue clearly liked being praised.

Hearing that, Ye Liuyun knew Qing Lin's guess was correct—Xiao Mingyue indeed had a treasure.

"Since they used an artifact, we won't just stand here to die. Everyone, come to me!"

As she spoke, she raised her hand, producing a staff whose tip was shaped like a crescent moon.

Xiao Mingyue thrust the crescent staff toward the sky, channeling True Essence to activate it. The staff immediately radiated layers of brilliance, forming an energy shield that protected everyone within.

Like a crescent, it enclosed and safeguarded the group.

At this moment, the Star Sword Demon Emperor's face changed, and his body swelled to three times its size, becoming a full‑blown ogre that lunged at Xiao Mingyue and the others with a massive claw.

"Boom—" a muffled thud. The ogre's demonic claw was repelled by the moonlight, which also corroded it, causing a puff of white smoke.

"Roar!" The ogre, in pain, let out a howl and slammed its fist at the moonlight shield with full force.

Another "Boom—" rang out as the ogre's fist again emitted white smoke, yet it kept hammering down heedlessly.

Ye Liuyun, standing behind Xiao Mingyue, asked anxiously, "How long can this shield hold?"

"As long as my True Essence keeps flowing, it will stay open. This giant demon can't break it, rest assured!" Xiao Mingyue said proudly.

Ye Liuyun glanced at the Crescent Moon Staff's True Essence absorption speed and thought, "The Star Sword Demon Emperor is doomed! By the staff's absorption rate, Xiao Mingyue can hold out at least two hours. And the Star Sword Demon Emperor's method of drawing demons into his body only works in the short term; it can't last that long."