Chapter 114: Shadows of the Abyss, The Collapse of Dragon Qi

The Chaotic Forbidden Domain was like a lonely island in a raging sea, struggling to resist the erosion of the monstrous demonic energy from the outside and the frantic onslaught of three Soul Transformation Demon Lords. Lin Xuan, Huangfu Tianji, and Huangfu Hao were like three arrows released from their strings, piercing through layers of demonic shadows and shooting straight toward the core where the demonic energy surged—the massive pit deep within the Imperial Palace.

The closer they drew, the clearer and more terrifying that evil, chaotic, and all-consuming will, originating from the main body of the Abyss of Ruins, became. The demonic energy was now as thick as a physical substance, crazily battering the Chaotic Domain Lin Xuan had expanded, emitting "hissing" sounds of corrosion as the range of the domain was constantly compressed.

At the edge of the pit, space was twisted and the laws were in disarray, as if connecting to another world filled with despair and destruction.

"Halt!"

How could those three Soul Transformation Demon Lords sit by and watch them approach the source? The Bone-Armored Demon Lord roared, and the demonic axe in his hand slashed out a hundred-foot axe radiance once more. The other two Demon Lords also struck with all their might; the poisonous blades transformed into a pitch-green ghost realm that blotted out the sky, and the shrill demonic sounds condensed into countless twisted skulls, closing in from three directions, determined to completely drown the three of them!

This attack, condensing the full strength of the three Demon Lords, was far more powerful than before!

"I shall clear the path! Hao'er, provide cover! Little Friend Lin, preserve your strength to deal with the source!" Huangfu Tianji’s hair and beard stood on end, his Imperial Dragon Qi erupted without reservation, and the golden dragon sword in his hand emitted a heaven-shaking dragon roar! He himself seemed to have transformed into a five-clawed golden dragon, carrying the magnificent momentum of suppressing mountains and rivers and ruling over all the people, and slashed out with one sword!

"Imperial Supreme World-Shocking Slash!"

The magnificent sword aura was like a golden heavenly river, meeting the strongest axe radiance of the Demon Lord head-on!

"BOOM——!!!"

Golden and black energies crazily intertwined and annihilated each other; the terrifying shockwave instantly cleared the demonic puppets and building debris within several hundred feet! Huangfu Tianji gave a muffled groan, blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and his figure swayed slightly, but he had ultimately blocked that axe radiance!

At the same time, Huangfu Hao’s sword transformed into thunder, and countless purple electric snakes darted about, forming a web of lightning that barely blocked the overwhelming poisonous blades and ghost realm. Although he was retreating step by step and the lightning light was constantly dimming, he had managed to buy a moment of time.

As for the intangible, soul-attacking shrill demonic sounds, Lin Xuan’s eyes narrowed, and the nine-zhang Chaotic Star Dharma Idol suddenly appeared behind him! The stars of the Dharma Idol rotated, casting down cold starlight, and an artistic conception of the beginning of chaos and absolute silence permeated the air!

"Star Annihilation, All Sounds Return to Void!"

The Dharma Idol opened its mouth, as if spitting out a silent ripple. Wherever the ripple passed, the violent shrill demonic sounds were wiped away by an invisible hand, instantly subsiding! This was a soul-defense divine ability that fused the power of Star Annihilation with the characteristics of Chaotic Return to Void!

The combined strike of the three Soul Transformation Demon Lords was barely blocked by the three of them working together!

Taking advantage of this gap, Lin Xuan’s gaze was like lightning, locking onto the place in the center of the pit where the demonic energy was thickest. The Chaotic Immortal-Slaying Sword emitted a passionate sword cry, and man and sword became one, transforming into a gray stream of light that tore through the darkness, charging straight down regardless of anything else!

"How dare you, junior!" The Bone-Armored Demon Lord was shocked and furious, but it was too late to stop him.

Huangfu Tianji and Huangfu Hao also gave their all, desperately entangling the other two Demon Lords.

"Puff!"

The Chaotic sword aura was like a hot knife through butter, instantly sinking into the core of the surging demonic energy!

The expected feeling of hitting a solid object did not come; instead, it felt like stabbing into a boundless, viscous, and ice-cold dark quagmire. An evil will, far more terrifying and ancient than the Soul Transformation Demon Lords, was thoroughly awakened by this sword, like a prehistoric beast stirring from its slumber!

"HUM——!!!"

The entire pit—no, the entire Imperial Capital—shook violently! The pillar of demonic energy that had been shooting into the sky suddenly contracted, and then erupted with even more violent intensity! Countless twisted, painful phantom souls wailed and struggled within the pillar, and a terrifying pressure capable of freezing the soul of a Soul Transformation cultivator swept out like a tsunami!

Lin Xuan bore the brunt of it, feeling an indescribable force transmitted along the sword blade. The Chaotic Immortal-Slaying Sword let out a painful wail, his thumb-web split open, and he felt as if he had been struck by an ancient divine mountain. Blood sprayed wildly, and he flew backward at a speed even faster than when he had gone in!

"Brother Lin!"

"Little Friend Lin!"

Huangfu Hao and Huangfu Tianji were struck with terror.

While flying backward, Lin Xuan endured his severe injuries and the palpitations of his soul, staring fixedly at the core of the demonic energy pillar. There, he saw a pair of eyes slowly opening, like two massive black holes! Within those eyes, there were no pupils, only endless chaos, destruction, and a cold indifference as if looking down upon ants!

The main will of the Abyss of Ruins' demonic consciousness had descended!

Although it was not its complete form, its level had already surpassed Soul Transformation, reaching an unimaginable realm—Void Refinement? Or perhaps even higher?

A single glance was enough to make Lin Xuan’s Dao foundation tremble and his soul feel as if it were tearing apart!

"Ants... the scent of chaos... disgusting..." An intent, seemingly woven from the roars of billions of vengeful souls, sounded directly in everyone’s sea of consciousness, filled with blasphemy and the desire for destruction.

The three Soul Transformation Demon Lords, including the Bone-Armored Demon Lord, stopped their attacks at this moment and knelt on the ground with extreme reverence, even tinged with fear, bowing toward the eyes in the pillar.

"My Lord!"

The demonic consciousness’s gaze swept across the battlefield and finally landed on the most powerful presence, Huangfu Tianji.

"Imperial Dynasty Dragon Qi... a fine supplement..."

A trace of greed flashed in its black-hole-like eyes. Immediately, a pitch-black ray, condensed to the extreme and seemingly capable of swallowing all light, shot out silently, aimed directly at Huangfu Tianji!

This strike was so fast it exceeded the limits of spiritual sense perception! The destructive Dao rhyme contained within it made Huangfu Tianji, an Imperial Lord at the mid-stage of Soul Transformation, feel an unprecedented sense of impending death! He roared wildly, pouring his lifelong cultivation into his dragon sword, and the Imperial Dragon Qi transformed into nine solid golden dragons circling his body, attempting to resist!

"Father!" Huangfu Hao’s eyes were splitting with rage, and he wanted to rush forward, but he was pinned in place by that terrifying pressure!

"Hiss—!"

There was no earth-shattering explosion.

The pitch-black ray seemed to ignore all defenses, easily piercing through the nine golden dragons, piercing through Huangfu Tianji’s protective Imperial Dragon Qi, piercing through the dragon sword in his hand, and finally, passing straight through his chest!

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Huangfu Tianji’s body stiffened abruptly. He looked down at the bowl-sized hole in his chest, the edges of which were constantly being corroded and expanded by demonic energy. His eyes were filled with disbelief, unwillingness, and a trace of relief.

The dragon sword in his hand let out a mournful cry, its spiritual light instantly dimming, and it shattered inch by inch.

The vast Imperial Dragon Qi around his body, as if having lost its core, began to fluctuate violently and dissipate!

"I... have failed... my ancestors... Hao... er..." He turned his head with difficulty, took one look at the despair-filled Huangfu Hao, then looked at Lin Xuan, who had just steadied his figure and was pale-faced. His lips moved, and in the end, the unfinished words turned into a sigh, and the light in his eyes dimmed completely.

The current Imperial Lord of the Tianhe Imperial Dynasty, a mid-stage Soul Transformation cultivator, Huangfu Tianji, had fallen!

His body, under the erosion of the demonic energy, quickly turned into fly ash and dissipated into the air.

"No—!!!" Huangfu Hao let out a heart-rending cry of grief, tears streaming down his face, and he nearly fainted.

With the Imperial Lord fallen and the Dragon Qi masterless, the Imperial Dynasty’s fortune, which was already teetering under the impact of the demonic energy, now let out a groan of unbearable burden and began to collapse at an accelerated pace! The resistance will of the entire Imperial Capital suffered a devastating blow!

Eunuch Wei and the other royal retainers were also shaken to their cores, their faces filled with despair.

The Abyss of Ruins’ demonic consciousness emitted a joyful, hair-raising wave of intent, as if it had enjoyed a grand feast. Its black-hole-like eyes turned once more, this time locking onto the severely injured Lin Xuan and the Chaotic Star Dharma Idol behind him that emitted an aura it found disgusting.

"Next... it is your turn... little bug of chaos..."

An even more terrifying murderous intent submerged Lin Xuan like an icy tide.

The catastrophe of the Imperial Capital, due to the fall of the Imperial Lord, had entered its darkest hour!