Chapter 55: Chapter Fifty-Five: Si Tong Captured

A massive bone claw forged from demonic qi rose high, wrapped in destructive power, about to smash down upon the three who had lost all ability to resist!

The shadow of death instantly shrouded this space, as angry winds howled and demonic qi surged heavenward.

Just at this critical moment, when all hopes were dashed——

Ang——!!!

A clear, stirring dragon chant that pierces clouds and splits stone suddenly exploded from the Nine Heavens above!

This dragon chant contained the utmost yang and righteous qi, unstoppable, like a thunderclap cleansing the universe; it instantly tore through the thick demonic qi and deathly gloom, clearly reaching every ear present and striking straight at the core of the demonic qi skull!

The demonic qi skull's wild laughter cut off abruptly; its massive head snapped toward the sky, the green flames in its eye sockets flaring violently, revealing utter disbelief.

The next moment, a blinding golden sword light, like a meteor tearing through night, plummeted from the clouds!

Its brilliance forced the surrounding surging demonic qi back several zhang; as the light faded, a tall, pine-like figure stood firmly between the three and the massive demonic qi skull.

The newcomer was Ling Xiao! Dressed in sky-water-colored plain robes, his garments snapped and fluttered in the sword qi's surge.

Ling Xiao's face was icy and stern, his eyes sharp as lightning; the Dragon Chant Sword he gripped hummed with a clear tone, its blade flowing with light, spewing forth golden edges over a chi long, exuding a majestic, supreme aura that subdues all evil.

The sword tip pointed obliquely at the ground, yet an invisible sword qi locked onto the huge demonic qi skull ahead, forming a stance of equal opposition.

One person, one sword, facing the sky-covering demonic qi skull, deep and still as a mountain, his momentum showed not the slightest weakness!

"Master!" "Master!" Gu Yusheng and the others shouted in unison!

Ling Xiao glanced back slightly, raised his hand, and the violet demonic qi rolled on the spot into a black-clad girl bound in shackles, kneeling before Gu Yusheng.

This was Si Tong, with violet pupils and red lips, her ears long and slender. Her deep violet eyes were like a cold pool holding myriad star‑specks, glimmering with a chilly light beneath thick lashes like butterfly wings, yet deep within lay a hint of barely perceptible panic and stubbornness.

Her lip color was an intensely vivid red, like a poppy petal steeped in blood, yet now, from being tightly pressed, it appeared slightly pallid.

Her unusually pointed ears emerged from her black, waterfall‑like yet slightly disheveled hair; the ear contours were smooth and sharp, now trembling slightly from her tension, transmitting a near‑translucent jade sheen in the dim light.

Her skin was a cold porcelain white, which against the black clothing revealed a fragile, brittle translucence, as if a light touch would shatter it.

Her overly ornate features and eerie bearing remained like a poisonous mushroom growing in darkness, exhaling a dangerous yet alluring aura.

Gu Yusheng's eyes flashed with astonishment, yet he acted swiftly, swiftly pulling Si Tong over and laying the Chuyue Sword across her porcelain‑white neck!

Seeing his good disciple understand his intent, Ling Xiao was greatly pleased and said to the skull, "I have just captured…"

Ling Xiao's voice was not loud, yet it carried a strange penetrative power, clearly rising above the demonic qi's howl; each word sounded like cold jade striking frozen air.

His eyes flashed like lightning, locking firmly onto the huge demonic qi skull's churning head; the corner of his mouth curled into a cold arc: "... Your most powerful minion, oh no, should be your clan's holy maiden!" He shook his head: "But she… is nothing more than that!"

The instant his words fell, the two clusters of grim green soul‑fire in the demonic qi skull's eye sockets stalled, then flared wildly, swelling as if cold water had been poured into boiling oil, erupting in a silent yet soul‑shaking roar!

The sky‑covering demonic qi surged violently, like an enraged sea's furious tide, revealing its master's overwhelming shock and incredulity——

Si Tong was the top‑rank demoness it had nurtured at great cost, devouring countless living souls; she was its clan's glory and a vital pillar for its invasion of this realm—yet this person had silently seized her?!

"Roar——!!!" The demonic qi skull's massive jaws opened, no longer laughing but emitting a soul‑rending shriek; substantive sound waves wrapped in destructive demonic energy crashed toward Ling Xiao like a mountain‑shattering wave!

Under this roar, space itself seemed to warp and deform, the ground cracking inch by inch.

Yet, facing this mountain‑shattering demonic roar impact, Ling Xiao's stance remained unmoving like a divine needle stabilizing the sea.

His Dragon Chant Sword let out an even clearer, more stirring long note; its blade blazed with gold, forming an immaculate golden light curtain that steadfastly blocked the violent sound‑wave demonic qi three feet before him.

The golden light and demonic qi collided and annihilated, emitting a sizzling, grating noise that illuminated his icy‑cold profile and the terrified faces of the three disciples behind him.

"Master, be careful!" Gu Yusheng instinctively tightened his grip on the Chuyue Sword resting across Si Tong's neck, the blade pressing a shallow red line into her porcelain skin.

Si Tong, held at swordpoint, saw her violet pupils contract sharply upon hearing "nothing more than that"—"Nothing more than that!!!" Hmph! I never imagined my all‑out effort would earn such an evaluation… but!

Si Tong glanced at Shi Ran, who stood unmoving behind her, and curled her lips: "Good sister, I didn't expect your wound to heal so quickly—sorry! Today I'll wound you again!"

She pressed her poppy‑red lips tight, her expression haughty; the Chuyue Sword was fierce, nearly piercing her disheveled black hair, yet her eyes flickered with a hint of excitement—she was determined to see this play through to the end.

Ling Xiao did not turn back, so he never saw Si Tong's demonic visage; his entire qi was locked firmly on the demonic qi skull ahead.

The sword tip remained angled at the ground, yet its swallowing‑and‑spewing golden edge grew ever brighter and sharper, as if it would cleave space itself.

His surrounding righteous qi and the Dragon Chant Sword's radiant divine might merged into one, forming an invisible domain that not only shielded the three behind him but also pressed back against the sky‑covering demonic qi with overwhelming force.

"Now," Ling Xiao's voice rang again, like a cold spring from the Nine Heavens flowing over, carrying an indisputable judgment; each word clearly entered the skull's soul: "It's your turn!"

The instant the word "you" landed, it was as if an invisible edict thundered and exploded!

The frozen scene was instantly torn apart by violent golden light!

Ling Xiao's figure vanished on the spot—not a blur from high speed, but a pure burst of energy—his whole body seemed to become a great sword piercing heaven and earth, rising from the ground! The Dragon Chant Sword, angled at the earth, finally erupted with its long‑dormant true dragon might!

Ang——!!!

A clear, stirring dragon chant that shook the Nine Heavens erupted without warning! It was no illusion but a substantive sound wave, wrapped in peerless righteous qi and pure anti‑evil divine power, like a golden fury‑sea tsunami, radiating violently outward from Ling Xiao as its origin!

Sword light!

A golden sword light pure to the utmost, condensed to the utmost, and domineering to the utmost!

It no longer "spewed forth" but erupted completely! No longer just an edge, it became substance! The sword body was utterly devoured by blinding golden light, turning into a radiant golden rainbow that tore through the dark heavens and pierced the thick demonic qi, its target aimed straight at the leaping, astonished‑filled soul‑fire in the hollow eye sockets of the massive skull!