Atop the mountain peak's secluded villa.
Within a tranquil pavilion beside a lotus pond, Lin Zhao sat cross-legged, focusing his energy on comprehending and refining the sword intent that had entered his spiritual void. This sword intent originated from the skill fragment "Blazing Flame Prison." Lin Zhao had nurtured it for a long time, but this wisp of sword intent was exceedingly profound, and he had not yet managed to truly dissolve it into a sword technique he could perceive and master.
It was not until deep into the night that Liu Liying, after stir-frying a few small dishes in the kitchen, arrived at the pavilion with a food container and a pot of wine, placing them beside Lin Zhao. She softly said, "Young Master, have something to eat before cultivating?"
"No rush."
Lin Zhao shook his head. A new golden progress bar appeared before his eyes, indicating that his efforts to refine the sword intent were finally showing promise. He became even more focused, and for a while, Liu Liying dared not disturb him, so she stood quietly to the side, waiting.
After a full quarter of an hour, accompanied by a brilliant radiance within his spiritual void, Lin Zhao finally refined the sword intent derived from Blazing Flame Prison, making it his foundation. As Lin Zhao squinted to observe, he found this sword intent spinning endlessly like a deep abyss, its power fierce. His heart immediately gave it a name: Cage. Once an enemy was trapped within this cage, it would be difficult to break free!
Simultaneously, a bell chime sounded in his ear, and he promptly input the name of his self-created skill. When a system announcement chime rang out, it was confirmed that this newly created skill was indeed of high caliber—
"Ding!"
System Announcement: Congratulations to player [White Robe] for successfully creating the skill [Cage] (Immortal Grade ★★★)!
...
Immortal Grade Three Stars, nearing the pinnacle of strength!
Lin Zhao took a deep breath, his heart filled with excitement as he opened his skill list. Sure enough, the golden icon for the Cage skill appeared at the very top of his skill list, indicating the highest priority. With a flick of his hand, a detailed description floated before his eyes—
[Cage] (Immortal Grade ★★★): Creates a sword dao cage with one's sword intent, trapping targets within a certain range and continuously inflicting them with excessive damage. The higher one's attack power, the greater the damage of the cage. The skill lasts for 12 seconds, with a cooldown of 60 seconds.
...
Let's test it out!
Lin Zhao rose, threads of transcendent sword intent coiling around his body. He floated into the air, and the next moment, he drew his sword from above. The instant he unsheathed Zhan Lu, his body erupted with boundless sword intent. A sword intent like a deep abyss descended from the heavens, and with a single strike, it transformed into a massive cage. Countless sword qi filled the cage, raging above the lotus pond. Wisps of pond water were drawn up, condensing into a sword dao cage in the air. The moment the sword was unleashed, its momentum was awe-inspiring.
"..."
Liu Liying, holding her folding fan, stood by the edge of the pavilion, gazing up at Lin Zhao's masterpiece, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise. As Lin Zhao returned after sheathing his sword, Liu Liying pursed her red lips and said, "Young Master, what is the name of this sword strike?"
"A self-created strike, named Cage," Lin Zhao replied.
"Mm."
Liu Liying said softly, "This strike is more profound than all of Chi Zhongyu's sword dao combined."
Lin Zhao pressed his forehead and chuckled, "Liying, you can praise me if you want, but we don't favor one over the other here at the mountain peak villa."
Liu Liying's pretty face flushed slightly. "Yes, Young Master. Liying understands. The food isn't cold yet, will you eat something?"
"Good."
Lin Zhao opened the food container. It contained several home-style dishes, such as stir-fried river shrimp with chives and stewed loaches. Paired with a pot of apricot blossom wine he had obtained from Dong Cang, it was a perfect match. He considered it a reward for himself. Sitting cross-legged in the pavilion, he ate and drank, chatting casually with Liu Liying.
After he had eaten and drunk his fill, Lin Zhao mounted his flying sword and ascended into the air, hovering in the wind. He looked in the direction of the Demon Ancestor Mountain. Ever since the battle in Western Shu, the Demon Ancestor Mountain had been eerily silent for a long time. He wondered what schemes they were brewing. In the past few days, Lin Zhao had felt an inexplicable anxiety, though he couldn't pinpoint the reason. He had a nagging feeling that something had already happened, but he lacked the insight to perceive it.
"Young Master."
Beside him, Liu Liying, bathed in a golden, radiant glow, asked, "Are you troubled by something?"
"No."
Lin Zhao smiled. "Perhaps I'm just worrying unnecessarily."
Liu Liying smiled softly. "Liying will go prepare your bed. You should sleep early."
"Alas..."
Lin Zhao shook his head. He had brought Liu Liying back to the mountain peak villa with no intention of treating her as a servant girl to fetch tea or fold clothes. After all, she was a dignified Folding Fan Goddess. Yet, Liu Liying had involuntarily taken on that role, leaving Lin Zhao helpless. He turned and glanced south, frowning. His mind was a jumble, with no clear thoughts.
Alas, if only he had Mr. Qin, or Mr. Qin's master, those transcendent and refined divination skills. Then he wouldn't be so restless.
Residing in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, yet unaware of the subtle changes occurring in the world's general trend—this was truly agonizing.
...
The Demon Ancestor Land, the Forbidden Area of Demon Soul Mountain.
Within Demon Soul Mountain, layers of mountain ranges loomed like giants gazing at the human world in the night sky. The surging demonic energy was so intense that mortals could not look directly at it. Even veteran demons who had cultivated for many years found it difficult to fend for themselves within Demon Soul Mountain.
"Rustle..."
At the foot of the first mountain in Demon Soul Mountain, a figure slowly ascended. It was Huang Tingyu. However, at this moment, Huang Tingyu was drenched in blood, as if he had been fished out of a pool of it. The battle armor he wore from the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool was almost in tatters. His legs, neck, and arms bore numerous wounds, some from swords, others appearing to be the result of beastly bites.
After killing the horde of demons in the valley, Huang Tingyu's bloodline surged, leaving no room for other thoughts. He was determined to ascend the first peak of Demon Soul Mountain. Without climbing this mountain, his efforts would be in vain.
On the mountain, malevolent energy raged.
As Huang Tingyu looked up, he saw a pair of eyes like blood-red lanterns. When his vision pierced through the blood-colored clouds, he saw a massive figure crouched atop the mountain peak, its hunched back glaring fiercely at Huang Tingyu, the uninvited guest. It was a ferocious tiger covered in pale golden fur, the manifestation of an ancient demon soul guarding the summit. In its life, this tiger was a thirteen-realm tiger demon from long ago.
"Swish!"
The tiger's body suddenly shrunk, eventually transforming into an elder wearing a pale golden long robe. His body was hunched and appeared quite slender, but he was exuding potent demonic energy. He chuckled, "It's not easy to cultivate to a twelve-realm sword cultivator. Why do you rush to your death like this? In this demon realm, there are not many who can cultivate to the twelve-realm of sword cultivators. Which one are you?"
Huang Tingyu sneered, "Is it any of your business?"
"Ha~~~"
The tiger demon spun around and sat on a large rock, laughing. "It's true it's none of my business, but if you want to break through this first mountain, it concerns me. Do you think it's that easy to seek answers from the primeval world?"
Huang Tingyu raised his hand and slowly drew out Hu Po, smiling. "I know it's not easy, which is why I've come to seek answers. Senior Demon, you don't need to say anything more. Today, only one of us can survive on this mountaintop."
"Good!"
The tiger demon grinned, "It's been many years since I've seen such an arrogant demon sword cultivator. Come, come, let me see if your words are mightier than your sword."
Huang Tingyu's sword light flashed, his body rolling in the wind. His sword Hu Po instantly unleashed three torrents of sword qi, attacking his opponent simultaneously from the front and both sides. His opening move was swift and fierce.
The tiger demon's long robe billowed, and his body rapidly expanded. In the blink of an eye, he transformed back into a tiger manifestation. With a roar, his malevolent energy and demonic energy erupted together. As his claws danced, strands of qi surged out, continuously clashing with Huang Tingyu's sword qi. Simultaneously, the tiger demon twisted its body and spat out a stream of malevolent energy directly at Huang Tingyu's face.
The life-threatening attack of a thirteen-realm expert. Huang Tingyu dared not be negligent. Even though this fierce tiger demon soul had been eroded by time for ten thousand years and its combat power was no longer that of a true thirteen-realm being, its foundation as a great demon cultivator was still present. Thus, Huang Tingyu rapidly shifted his body and, at the same time, deployed his life-bound flying sword, clashing with the opponent's offensive. In a flash, the first mountain range was filled with the glint of swords and blades.
...
Outside Demon Soul Mountain.
Lin Zhujie, wearing a green vine-colored long robe, sat lazily by the lake, fishing. As he was casting his line, ripples suddenly surged on the lake's surface. He frowned, his eyes shifting towards Demon Soul Mountain. With the casual deployment of his twelve-realm Water Moon Observation Technique, he could see the great battle unfolding on the summit of the first mountain of Demon Soul Mountain.
The thirteen-realm fierce tiger's demon soul was incredibly ferocious, biting down firmly on one of Huang Tingyu's right arms and refusing to let go, tearing at flesh and bone. Huang Tingyu's entire arm was severely wounded, with only a white bone connecting it. However, Huang Tingyu's ferocity had been completely ignited. His eyes glowed with a primal ferocity. Turning, his head transformed into the manifestation of a Great Yellow Dog's head, which bit fiercely at the opponent's neck. He refused to let go, merely shaking his head, tearing open the opponent's neck until the tiger demon soul's entire head was almost ripped off.
On the mountaintop, the fierce tiger demon soul's wails were incessant. He was already ruthless, but he had encountered Huang Tingyu, who was risking his life.
At this moment, the tiger demon soul's golden blood stained its fur. Huang Tingyu directly drank a large amount of it. As Lin Zhujie squinted to observe closely, he saw that a golden pattern had appeared on the exposed bone on Huang Tingyu's forehead.
His bloodline was beginning to revert to its ancestral form.
At this moment, Lin Zhujie was utterly convinced. The great demon under Lin Baiyi's command, his elder brother Huang, was indeed extraordinary!
...
The Continent, Southern Region.
The Southern Wilderness, shrouded in mist, featured a majestic mountain standing deep within a great river. The spiritual energy of this mountain was incredibly abundant, even comparable to Mount Changming on the southern border of the human race. Halfway up the mountain, exquisite palaces were connected. It was now evening, and wisps of cooking smoke rose, imbuing the mountain range with a sense of human vitality.
Qingtian Sect, the foremost sect in the Southern Wilderness.
Outside the Ancestral Hall of Qingtian Sect, a middle-aged cultivator in a pale purple long robe exuded an aura of refinement. Threads of dense spiritual energy surrounded his body, indicating a most respectable cultivation realm. He was none other than the current Sect Master of Qingtian Sect, Liu Chenqing, a twelve-realm great cultivator and one of the most prominent figures in the entire Southern Wilderness.
However, at this moment, Liu Chenqing's brows were tightly furrowed. His eyes gazed towards the sect gate, where an old man in a gray and white long robe, leaning on a walking stick, was slowly ascending the mountain, stopping to catch his breath with every few steps.