Chapter 56: Chapter Fifty‑Six: Battle May Rest, Clouds Never Cease

Where the sword light passed, space groaned under the strain, leaving a visible, scorching twisted trail. The foul demonic qi that had been baring its fangs and claws, trying to invade the Vast Righteous Domain, upon touching this golden arc, was like snow meeting the blazing sun, emitting a shrill 'hiss' and instantly vaporizing, leaving no room for resistance!

Fast! Indescribably fast!

Fierce! The ultimate strike condensed from all will and power!

Precise! Directly pointing at the demon source core, nowhere to evade!

The giant skull let out a silent shriek, the sky‑covering demonic qi wildly surged inward, trying to condense the strongest barrier before it. Countless twisted wraith faces wailed in the qi, layer upon layer, building a desperate defense.

However, before Ling Xiao's Judgment Sword, which gathered momentum, held intent, infused power, and bore righteousness——

"Boom——!!!"

A heaven‑shaking, earth‑rumbling roar erupted!

The golden sword arc struck the extremely condensed demonic qi barrier without hindrance! No stalemate, no struggle—only devastation like tearing through rotting wood!

The barrier that seemed impregnable, formed from countless wraiths' demonic qi, the instant it touched the golden arc, was like rotten wood thrown into a furnace—crumbling inch by inch, layer by layer. The wraiths emitted their final wail in the pure righteous qi and dragon's might, then turned to flying ash.

The sword light's residual momentum undiminished, carrying the supreme might to incinerate the eight wastes and cleanse the universe, it fiercely thrust toward the skull's massive head!

The soul fire in the skull's eye sockets jumped wildly, filled with unprecedented terror! Its massive frame jerked backward, trying to dodge, but the blazing sword light had already locked onto its soul, faster than lightning!

"Hiss——!"

A soft sound, yet amid the deafening roar it was unusually clear.

The golden blade, with unerring precision, pierced the two violently flickering points of greenish soul fire that represented the demon's origin!

Time seemed to freeze at a ten‑thousandth of an instant.

Immediately——

"Crack……Boom!!!"

Blinding golden light erupted from within the skull's massive head! Like igniting a sun inside its cranium! Countless fine cracks, burning with golden flames, instantly spread over its huge bony frame!

The sky‑covering demonic qi domain violently trembled, like a punctured balloon, letting out an ear‑splitting wail as if from the depths of the Nine Abyss, and began to frenziedly dissipate and vanish!

Ling Xiao's figure appeared at the center of the golden light, Dragon Chant Sword still pointing forward, its tip sunk into the soul fire; he was like a god wielding heavenly punishment, golden light swirling around him, vast righteous qi sweeping in all directions, firmly suppressing and purifying the dissipating demonic qi!

First round, the Judgment Sword, the outcome is clear! Yet deep within the dissipating demonic mist, the two soul fires pierced by the golden light were not completely extinguished; instead, in utmost pain and fury, they revealed a more evil, more frenzied ferocity! A new battle situation quietly unfolded amid the wails of the fading demonic qi.

"Today's humiliation, I will surely repay it in full later!"

The soul fire's chilling voice echoed in the clouds, laced with bone‑deep hatred, yet to everyone's surprise, the roiling mass of soul fire did not, as expected, lunge again at Ling Xiao; instead it shot backward in a rush, unhesitatingly abandoning Mi Tong, spitting harsh words, turning into a blinding dark light that tore through the air and fled toward the horizon, so fast that only a blurred afterimage lingered in everyone's sight!

"Since ancient times, it's said: do not pursue a desperate foe!"

Ling Xiao's brows knit tight, his deep eyes locked onto the direction where the soul fire vanished.

"Letting a tiger return to the mountain brings endless trouble; Ling Xiao knows the demon race will repay a grudge—if he lets it go today, it will become a serious future threat. But the soul fire's escape speed is uncanny; forcing a pursuit could cause mishaps, and besides, he has disciples to settle behind him, and Mi Tong needs supervision."

Ling Xiao could only suppress the urge to chase, turned his wrist, the radiance faded, the Dragon Chant Sword gave a clear hum, and turned into flowing light that hid within his sleeves!

He slowly turned, his gaze sweeping over the people behind him, finally landing on Mi Tong!

"Finally gone!" Mei Ruoxue's taut nerves suddenly loosened; she let out a long sigh, full of relief after the ordeal, her admiring gaze turned to Ling Xiao: "Or is the master even better?"

"Master!" Gu Yusheng dared not relax the slightest, his Chasing Moon still icy and sharp in hand, blade keen, he gave Mi Tong a gentle push and said, "What do we do with her?"

Mi Tong stumbled from the push, turned and glared hatefully at Gu Yusheng; she looked decent enough, but had no idea what "cherishing fragrance and valuing jade" meant!

Ling Xiao's eyes darkened, his gaze lingered on Mi Tong's face a moment, his mind already made up; he said no more, lifted his sleeve, the Instant Treasure Ring flashed light, Mi Tong felt an irresistible huge pull, the scene before her eyes faded in an instant, she let out a soft gasp, and was swallowed by an invisible maw with a "whoosh", vanishing on the spot.

Inside the Instant Treasure Ring. Mi Tong opened her eyes; all around was dark and cold, like falling into an endless abyss—but this wasn't what made her angriest. She was furious that this vile petty man Ling Xiao wouldn't let her watch a good show! She gathered the lingering demonic qi in her body and frantically slammed against the surrounding invisible walls, but it was all like a stone sunk in the sea, only stirring a few barely visible flowing‑light runes on the inner walls of the space.

Besides that, nothing at all! Mi Tong was so angry she nearly ground her molars, yet everything was futile; the space outside the treasure ring remained peaceful, the evening breeze blew over the Cloud Boat, scattering the lingering demonic qi, the sunset lay ahead, dyeing the boat's railings and jade inlays red!

"Master!" Xiao Muyu and the others stepped forward, seeing Ling Xiao put away his ring hand, his face showing a hint of worry: "That demon woman is crafty and deceitful; having locked her in the treasure ring, won't she seize the chance to wreck the spiritual treasures inside?"

They, master and disciples, all knew the Instant Treasure Ring was the master's prized possession, holding pills, spiritual artifacts, swords and many other treasures; now that Mi Tong was locked inside, they feared she would consume and destroy, wiping out those valuables.

"No problem!" Ling Xiao's expression calm, his fingertips lightly rubbed the treasure ring; he had already carved out a separate space inside the ring, layered with strong seals—Mi Tong was trapped there, able only to breathe and curse, unable to stir any trouble.

"When the Lotus Flower Secret Realm opens, I will hand her over to the Tianji Sect for custody; then life or death will be decided by the various great sects." Ling Xiao's voice was calm and unruffled, but if Gu Yusheng and the others paid closer attention, they'd realize this was Ling Xiao's roundabout way of comforting them so they needn't worry.

"Master!" A voice, somewhat weak and unusually gentle, sounded faintly from behind the crowd; turning, they saw Shi Ran standing wind‑blown at the stern of the boat, looking pitiful.