Chapter 216: The Seven Kill Ring

Inside a room at the fortress, an old man and a youth stared at each other for a long time. The old man's face first showed astonishment, and his aged gaze was filled with disbelief. The youth's face held no expression, and he stood in place, calm and composed.

"It is truly incredible. When Zhuge An told me before, I didn't quite believe it! You have actually managed to advance to the Golden Core Stage in just a few short years!"

The old man was none other than Nanxuan Laozu. He kept sizing up Zhang Nuo, only speaking with surprise at the very end.

"I only achieved this through a stroke of good fortune!"

Facing this Nascent Soul Stage old monster, Zhang Nuo did not dare to mention much about his cultivation progress.

"I didn't bring you here for anything major. It's just that the final battle against the Five Great Demon Mountains is about to begin, so there is something I would like to give you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Nuo's expression changed slightly, though it vanished in an instant. What exactly did Nanxuan Laozu mean by wanting to give him something?

As he spoke, Nanxuan Laozu gently flipped his palm, and a black ring appeared in his hand. This ring was quite wide, pitch-black as ink, and on its surface was written a blood-colored character for "Kill"!

"This is...?"

With a slight hesitation, looking at the surface of the ring, it appeared plain and unremarkable, without the slightest fluctuation of Spirit Power; it did not look like a Magic Treasure.

"This is a replica of the 'Seven Kill Ring'!"

Nanxuan Laozu smiled slightly and raised one hand, and the ring slowly flew toward Zhang Nuo. Reaching out to grab it, Zhang Nuo toyed with it for a moment before looking at the Laozu again.

"This is a type of destiny ring. Different destinies have different rings. For cultivators who do not understand the art of divination, destiny rings are optional, because they do not believe in them to begin with."

Seeing that Zhang Nuo was somewhat confused, Nanxuan Laozu explained slowly.

"Legend has it that in the Human Realm, there is only one of each type of destiny ring, but as time has passed, these destiny rings have long since gone missing. The destiny rings of today are all replicas. The one in your hand is no exception!"

"Then what is its use?"

Having heard the other party say so much, what Zhang Nuo cared about most was its utility. If it were merely a ring, even if he wore it, it would be useless. Could it be just to satisfy a curiosity?

"Inside this ring, there is a small amount of 'Evil Qi'! Wearing it matches your destiny, so it might be of some help to you! Additionally, it is also a Storage Ring, which works on the same principle as a Storage Bag!"

Frowning slightly, Zhang Nuo gently put the 'Seven Kill Ring' on his hand and sank his Divine Sense into it. He felt that the space inside was much larger than a Storage Bag, but in the gray, hazy space, there seemed to be a certain aura that made him restless. As time passed, his heart became unsettled.

He hurriedly withdrew his Divine Sense and calmed himself for a good while before Zhang Nuo felt some relief.

"Many thanks, Laozu!"

"No need to thank me! I have been preparing this ring for nearly a hundred years, but today I can finally give it away! You must remember, kid! Although this is a replica 'Seven Kill Ring', the 'Evil Qi' inside is still not weak, so its influence on you might be significant. Used well, it could make you invincible and fearless, but if you are too heavily influenced by the 'Evil Qi', you might sink into it and become a walking corpse that lives only for slaughter!"

Nanxuan Laozu spoke with extreme solemnity, and Zhang Nuo did not dare to take it lightly! With a slight nod, his complexion turned a bit uglier. So this ring was a double-edged sword! It seemed he would have to be extra careful in the future.

Ten days later, the Four Great Sects of the Tianjiang Plain, having united with many small sects in their vicinity, began a massive offensive against the Qingnian Demon Mountain, one of the Five Great Demon Mountains.

The numerous fortresses previously established by the Five Great Demon Mountains in front of Qingnian Demon Mountain were cleared out by these cultivators through continuous attacks within less than a month. Xiao Zhengxing led the disciples of the Wuji Sect and was the first to charge to the foot of Qingnian Demon Mountain. Looking up at the Demon Mountain that reached into the clouds, waves of biting Demonic Qi washed down.

"It truly lives up to being the head of the Five Great Demon Mountains!"

With his protective light flickering incessantly, Xiao Zhengxing exclaimed with a somewhat grim expression. This was his first time viewing Qingnian Demon Mountain from such close range.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao! You really did beat us to it!"

The voice of an old man sounded slowly from behind, but Xiao Zhengxing did not even turn his head; he knew from the voice that it was Zhuge An who had arrived.

"Shall we attack the Demon Mountain now?"

"Wait a few days. The Demon Mountain fortresses we just captured still need to be cleared out!"

Standing shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Zhengxing, Zhuge An looked at Qingnian Demon Mountain and said.

Just as the two were talking, a black rainbow shot down from the top of Qingnian Demon Mountain, and in the blink of an eye, it was a hundred zhang away from them.

"Wang Ji!"

Xiao Zhengxing's face stiffened. Seeing that the person who appeared was none other than the Sect Leader of Qingnian Demon Mountain, Wang Ji, a nameless fire rose in his heart, and he wanted to lunge forward. However, he was stopped by Zhuge An.

"Sect Leader Wang! Have you been well?"

"Thanks to the good fortune of Sect Master Zhuge An! I am doing fine! It seems you have decided to use my Qingnian Demon Mountain as your target this time?"

Looking up toward the front of Qingnian Demon Mountain, one could see countless cultivators, their Magic Treasures flashing with light, each one eager to kill their way onto the Demon Mountain immediately.

"Fellow Daoist, just hand over the Demon Emperor, and we will disperse immediately!"

"Hehe! Sect Master Zhuge, are you joking? Things have reached this point; even if my Qingnian Demon Mountain is razed to the ground, we will protect Lord Demon Emperor! Furthermore, I would like to advise the people of the Four Great Sects: the Demon Emperor's physical body is almost complete, and I will return all of your actions today twofold!"

Giving a cold laugh at the many cultivators below, Wang Ji said with a grim gaze.

"Fine! Since that is the case, don't blame us!"

Zhuge An understood in his heart that things had reached a point where there was no turning back. He opened his mouth, and a long, narrow Flying Sword was spat out. With a flash of light, it slashed toward Wang Ji.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhengxing, who was to the side, did not hesitate in the slightest. His protective light flashed, and he lunged toward Wang Ji like a meteor.

Facing the strikes of two Golden Core Late Stage cultivators, Wang Ji did not dare to take them head-on. His figure turned into a rainbow, and with a 'whoosh', he broke through the air and fled. At the same time, his hands changed through a series of Dharma seals, and he uttered the word "Activate".

Suddenly, from the top of Qingnian Demon Mountain, a wave of pure Demonic Qi like a surging sea poured out, and in the blink of an eye, it enveloped the entire Qingnian Demon Mountain.

"Mountain Protection Restriction!"

Seeing this, Zhuge An's expression changed slightly, but having such a restriction was within his expectations. Any major sect would have a few defensive supernatural powers; it was impossible for Qingnian Demon Mountain not to have any defenses.

The mountain shrouded in Demonic Qi was like an unshakable giant. The Demonic Qi, churning like boiling water, condensed into streaks of Fowen on its surface, flashing with an eerie air.

"Boom!"

Zhuge An's Magic Treasure struck the Mountain Protection Restriction, but as a streak of black Fowen flowed, it easily neutralized his attack.

"Everyone, let's attack together and break the Mountain Protection Restriction!"

Exerting his power, Zhuge An let out a wild roar to the cultivators of the Four Great Sects! Suddenly, various Magic Treasures were unleashed like raindrops, striking the Mountain Protection Restriction of Qingnian Demon Mountain one after another, but apart from making the restriction flicker a few times, it had no effect.

The method to control this kind of Mountain Protection Restriction lay with the person who triggered it. Aside from forcibly breaking it, there was no other way! Zhuge An also knew in his heart that if they kept attacking like this, although they might be able to break the Mountain Protection Restriction, the price the Four Great Sects would have to pay would be significant.

Inside Qingnian Demon Mountain, Wang Ji watched the outside coldly, a mocking expression on his lips. The Mountain Protection Restriction of Qingnian Demon Mountain was the strongest among the Five Great Demon Mountains; even if the cultivators of the Four Great Sects attacked together, it would be no problem to hold out for a year or a half.

With a flash, Wang Ji disappeared inside the Demon Mountain. A moment later, his figure appeared at the entrance of a cave. He stepped inside, and inside, various Dharma Arrays were flashing with light, and Demonic Qi was crisscrossing.

Wrapped in clusters of Demonic Qi, a person was suspended in mid-air, eyes slightly closed, complexion ruddy, wearing a white robe! This person was the Demon Emperor, who was rebuilding his physical body.

"Have they started attacking the mountain?"

The Demon Emperor's voice suddenly echoed in Wang Ji's mind.

"Reporting to Lord Demon Emperor! Yes! But please rest assured! My Qingnian Demon Mountain's Mountain Protection Restriction will definitely have no problem holding out for a year or a half!"

Sending a voice transmission back, Wang Ji gave his guarantee. This time, the Demon Emperor did not speak again; the Demon Emperor's body moved in mid-air, and then a pair of eyes slowly opened.

Deep within those pupils, a mysterious and eerie aura made Wang Ji shiver uncontrollably as he met the Demon Emperor's gaze.

"Lord Demon Emperor!"

With a thud, for some reason, Wang Ji felt a terrifying power; this power did not come from the outside world, but erupted from the bottom of his heart. The physical body of the Demon Emperor before him carried a sense of majesty.

"Rise! To be able to reach this step, you have performed quite well!"

Lips parting slightly, the Demon Emperor's voice was very soft, yet it was heard with perfect clarity.

"Where are the other four?"

Casting his gaze around the surroundings and failing to discover the other four Sect Leaders of the Five Great Demon Mountains, the Demon Emperor felt slightly surprised.

"They are all meticulously defending the Mountain Protection Array!"

"Give me more time!"

The words were very simple, yet they carried a majesty that made it impossible to refuse.

"Please rest assured, Lord Demon Emperor! Even if I am the only one left at Qingnian Demon Mountain, I will absolutely not let the Four Great Sects enter this place!"

Waving his hand slightly, the Demon Emperor nodded, signaling that Wang Ji could leave.

Quietly withdrawing from the cave, Wang Ji let out a long breath, listening intently to the various booming sounds outside Qingnian Demon Mountain, his brows furrowing once again.

This time, the Four Great Sects had sent out almost all their elites, concentrating their entire offensive on Qingnian Demon Mountain without holding anything back; although he had great confidence in the Mountain Protection Restriction, a feeling of unease constantly lingered in his heart.