The gigantic form of Man Yuan toppled backward, hot golden blood gushing from his throat and the center of his brow. He held one hand to his forehead and the other to his throat, his pupils rapidly dilating, but it was too late. The sword through his throat was the end of his life, and the sword through his brow was the end of his divine essence. The moment Yan Bei Chen, with two fingers pinching, drew out Man Yuan's demon core, Man Yuan had already perished. His physical body, however, was too robust, and after rolling to the ground, he wildly swung his Sun, Moon, Water, and Fire Cudgel, smashing everything in the Neishang Sky. His own peak thirteenth-realm destiny exploded, scattering to every corner of the Neishang Sky—a spectacle that many great demons could only watch helplessly.
"Slay Yan Bei Chen!"
The Demon Ancestor, seeing his beloved disciple perish before his eyes, was enraged and went berserk. He rose, conjuring a thousand-zhang Dharma form. A palm filled with demonic energy descended from the heavens, aimed at Yan Bei Chen's head. Yu Zhi, in turn, produced a magical artifact and hurled it at Yan Bei Chen's chest. Fu Sheng, Ning Yuan Sheng, Lu Hai, and other great demons unleashed their attacks, a sky full of sorcery bombarding the sole fourteenth-realm Sword Cultivator in the human world.
Even amidst the thunderous roar of wind and lightning, a sword light streaked from the south, its aura also locking onto Yan Bei Chen!
The Demon Emperor finally made his move. If they could kill another Yan Bei Chen in this battle, the destiny of the Neishang Sky would be inexhaustible. In the hundred years to come, the Neishang Sky would usher in an era of heroes emerging in droves!
Under the圍攻, Yan Bei Chen, with almost no hesitation, twisted his body to evade Yu Zhi's artifact. Wrapped in a fierce sword aura, he endured a sweeping blow from Liu Bai's Azure Wave Cudgel. Then, with his left index and middle fingers pressed together, he suddenly thrust them into Liu Bai's abdomen. A strand of sword energy pierced Liu Bai's body, then propelled the Demon Ancestor's proud disciple toward the heavens. Simultaneously, the earth of the Neishang Sky rumbled as streaks of golden sword intent connected heaven and earth!
"Not good!"
The Demon Ancestor roared, "He's ascending! Stop him!"
Liu Bai was used as a shield by Yan Bei Chen, meeting the Demon Ancestor's descending palm. A mournful cry erupted as Liu Bai desperately fueled his Water Dao, shouting, "Master, save me!"
At this moment, Yan Bei Chen, bathed in golden sword path radiance, appeared like a celestial being. Holding Liu Bai's body aloft, he manifested a sword immortal Dharma body of several hundred zhang. After enduring a sword strike from the Demon Emperor, he retaliated without hesitation. At the same time, his four natal flying swords shot out in four directions with a *swish*. In the next instant, four twelfth-realm great demons were flung backward, their bodies shredded by the dense sword qi in mid-air, perishing instantly.
There was little Yan Bei Chen could do. Before his ascension, he wanted to kill as many great demons as possible. He had already endured too many attacks, and killing a thirteenth-realm demon was no longer feasible. So, he would kill more twelfth-realm demons.
In the air, Yan Bei Chen's golden Dharma form met the Demon Ancestor's palm. The top of the Dharma form began to crack, while the Demon Ancestor, bombarded by sword qi surging towards the heavens, could barely maintain his aerial Dharma form. The great demons attacked like madmen, even Fu Sheng, Nan Qing Feng, Lu Hai, and others detonating one or two natal items, disregarding the cost to their cultivation to intercept Yan Bei Chen's ascension.
"Yan Bei Chen!"
From afar, a figure streaked towards them—it was the Demon Emperor, his sword strike descending from the heavens.
*Swish—*
Yan Bei Chen's sword immortal Dharma form began to crack from the middle, on the verge of splitting in two. Yan Bei Chen at the core of the Dharma form spat out a mouthful of blood. His situation was now extremely perilous, but he hesitated not. He looked up at Liu Bai, whose finger he held, and smiled faintly, "Stay well in the human world from now on!"
"You!"
Liu Bai's heart chilled.
Just then, Yan Bei Chen raised his long sword and thrust it directly into Liu Bai's chest. At the tip of the sword was a demon core wreathed in flames—it was Man Yuan's thirteenth-realm demon core. Yan Bei Chen intended to use Man Yuan's demon core as a cost, with fire consuming water destiny, to sever Liu Bai's great Dao lifeblood!
"Yan Bei Chen, how dare you?!"
Liu Bai roared.
But in the next moment, the sword tip, holding the flaming demon core, pierced directly into Liu Bai's heart meridian. Liu Bai's Ice Soul, cultivated from the essence of water within his bloodline, collided with the demon core and sword tip. A deafening boom sounded, and then Yan Bei Chen, with all his might, pushed the sword tip completely through Liu Bai's body!
*Clang~~~*
With a soft clang, under the backlash of the Great Dao, Yan Bei Chen's sword shattered. The flaming demon core and the Ice Soul together backlashed against the sword, shattering it. However, at the same time, two of the five golden water destiny meridians deep within Liu Bai's sea of consciousness were severed by Yan Bei Chen. From then on, Liu Bai could only be considered an ordinary thirteenth-realm demon, having lost the foundation of a Demon King.
...
*Boom—*
With a deafening roar, the massive sword immortal Dharma form in the sky of the Neishang Sky was destroyed. Under the fierce onslaught of the demons, the Demon Emperor, and a host of great demons, Yan Bei Chen officially lost. His aura plummeted, falling from the fourteenth-realm Sword Immortal to the thirteenth-realm. As the golden Dharma form rained down, Yan Bei Chen, like a fish swimming against the current, transformed into a rainbow light and ascended, sword in hand!
From the fourteenth realm to the thirteenth realm, a vast and immense sword path destiny exploded in the air, scattering into specks and falling onto the shattered mountains and rivers of the Neishang Sky. Thus, the Neishang Sky became the greatest beneficiary of this struggle. The immense sword path destiny from the thirteenth to the fourteenth realm, along with the destiny of the thirteenth-realm Man Yuan and four twelfth-realm great demons, all scattered across the Neishang Sky. In the next century, the rise of power from the mountains of the Neishang Sky had become an unchangeable reality.
"It's over."
The Demon Ancestor sighed, his brow furrowed. He never imagined that after the painstaking efforts of the demon race, even cooperating with the ghost race and borrowing a large portion of the destiny from the Ghost Realm, their meticulously planned Water and Fire scheme would still fail to alter the world's balance. Who knew why the human race had produced such a flawless sword-hearted prodigy as Yan Bei Chen, a fourteenth-realm cultivator.
He looked up at the dome of the heavens, where those high above, thirteenth and fourteenth realm cultivators, would descend again when the time was right. The entire demon race lived under this constant threat.
"Let's go."
Yu Zhi took a deep breath. Although she was not heavily injured, her body was covered in wounds from the scattered sword qi. The killing power of a sword cultivator was too formidable, especially a fourteenth-realm one. Therefore, almost no one present could guarantee they would emerge unscathed, including the Demon Ancestor.
In the wind, the Demon Ancestor's long robe fluttered. He turned to the Demon Emperor in the distance, nodded, and then turned to leave.
The Demon Emperor gently cupped his fist in a gesture of respect to his ally.
Liu Bai scooped up Man Yuan's corpse and the Sun, Moon, Water, and Fire Cudgel, and followed them back to the demon race's realm.
...
Mountain peak villa, Tian Ran Ju.
In the air, an oppressive sword Dao aura grew stronger and closer. Finally, a figure in snow-white robes descended upon the Xue Yu Tian Chi—it was Lin Wan Hua, now a thirteenth-realm cultivator. A thirteenth-realm Sword Immortal of the human race was a true Great Sword Immortal. Throughout human history, thirteenth-realm Great Sword Immortals were few and far between.
Lin Wan Hua's arrival intensified the pressure in Xiu Zhi's heart. This Lin Wan Hua was becoming more and more formidable. She had once hoped to catch up to Lin Wan Hua's pace, but before Xiu Zhi had even reached the twelfth realm, Lin Wan Hua had already reached the thirteenth. How could she possibly catch up?
In the pavilion, Su Qing Jiu, who was refining the flying sword Bai Yu, glanced over and smiled, giving a nod as a greeting. She didn't care whether Lin Wan Hua was a thirteenth-realm cultivator. Once her flying sword Bai Yu was fully refined, she could break through to the next realm whenever she pleased. However... Su Qing Jiu was stationed at Chang Ming Mountain. If she broke through, it would mean she alone consumed the entire sword Dao destiny of the southern human lands. She feared the old foxes of the Confucian, Military, and Mohist schools would not be pleased. Therefore, Xiao Jiu'er was in no rush to break through. What could be better than spending more time with her elder brother Lin Zhao in the human world? Perhaps in the future, when Lin Zhao also reached the thirteenth realm, they could ascend together, swords in hand!
"Sword Immortal Yan has ascended."
Lin Zhao said.
"Mm."
Lin Wan Hua nodded. "Although he lost his fourteenth-realm cultivation, Sword Immortal Yan did indeed dissolve the demon race's Water and Fire scheme for the human world. Thus, the power on the mountains of the demon race and the human race has once again neared equilibrium."
She looked south, frowning. "Although the fate of Empress Lin Xing Chu is unknown, rest assured, Fusheng Great Wall is not far from Xue Yu Tian Chi. I can come anytime."
"I know."
Lin Zhao's heart was heavy. "Will you stay for dinner here before you go back?"
"No."
Lin Wan Hua smiled lightly. "The food at Shan Dian Bie Yuan is delicious, but one can't eat it every day. I'm returning to Fusheng Great Wall. There are things that must be done quickly, otherwise, it will be greatly disadvantageous to the other sword cultivators in this world."
Although Lin Zhao didn't fully understand, he could vaguely guess something. He watched Lin Wan Hua depart.
...
Evening.
A group of scholars arrived from the south, led by a young scholar. He led a donkey laden with book boxes on either side, filled with bamboo slips written by sages. The disciples behind him also appeared very young; some led donkeys, others carried book boxes. They admired the scenery along the way, not traveling particularly fast.
Upon reaching the mountainside, the young scholar bowed towards the Shanjun Temple.
*Swish!*
Su Shanjun also emerged, his expression solemn, devoid of his usual playfulness. He held respect for those who pursued knowledge earnestly. He returned the bow and said, "Mr. Gu, how is it that you have the leisure to visit Xue Yu Tian Chi?"
"Just came to take a look."
Gu Ling Yu smiled warmly. "I wanted to see Mr. Qin's residence and, incidentally, my junior grand-uncle."
"Go on, go on."
Su Shanjun chuckled. "If you settle down in Xue Yu Tian Chi, feel free to visit often in the future."
The young Grand Master of the Imperial Academy smiled and nodded, then led his disciples up the mountain.
...
At the mountain gate, a disheveled man stood with his arms crossed, a blade of grass in his mouth, looking at Gu Ling Yu and his group. "Yo, the Imperial Scholars of the Great Shang Dynasty, how come you have the mood to visit our humble backwater?"
Gu Ling Yu looked up, his smile brilliant. "Well, I couldn't stand so many rules and regulations... I've resigned from my government position."