The Demon Lord jumped back. "Okay… it's time. The Rebirth begins."
Darkness swirled around him, devouring everything it touched.
Jing Quan glared at him, eyes burning. "Why didn't I erase you completely, make it as if you never existed? I should have stayed true to myself. I should never have become a Sword Saint. Even if I earned the title— the greatest Sword Saint ever… now that Lin Min is dead, it means nothing."
His sword began to glow with blinding light.
"Did you think I planned to run from the beginning? No. I wanted you to fight me with your full power. This time, I'm taking revenge for my generals. I know you killed ten thousand of my army with a single slash. That usually destroys your body, but you used it again to wipe out the demons entering this village. You won't be able to heal yourself."
Jing Quan steadied himself. In an instant, he moved with lightning speed. He appeared right in front of the Demon Lord, sword ready to strike.
The Demon Lord reacted immediately, raising his sword, Blood Veil— a weapon capable of transforming into countless deadly forms. Many warriors had already died to it.
"This is destroying the village… the monsters keep increasing… and I'm bleeding. This is bad. I have to go up to him," Jing Quan said.
He soared into the sky, the Demon Lord rising after him. They clashed in midair, their swords colliding with thunderous force.
"You want an answer to that question? Fine. I know I'm going to win. You mocked me this time. How dare you think I would hide? I plan to kill you easily. But will you let your village die? Will your civilians perish? Won't you destroy the demons like before? And if you do that again, you won't be able to heal. I've said it before, and I'll say it again… I know exactly what you will choose," the Demon Lord said as their blades sparked again and again.
"I defeated you before, and I'll defeat you again," Jing Quan said.
Then he saw them— five black dragons crashing down into the village, spewing fire across the buildings. His Sword Spirit Manifestation had already been destroyed.
"I have no choice but to use it. If I do, I won't be able to heal. But I can't continue living like this. The love of my life is dead… and now my life feels worthless," Jing Quan said.
He activated Time Cutting Blade. Before the Demon Lord could react, the world slowed. Jing Quan sliced off one of his hands, then leapt back to reassess.
"You bastard," the Demon Lord growled, blood spilling from the severed limb.
Jing Quan raised his sword. "This will buy me enough time. I won't be able to heal… but it doesn't matter. Celestia Judgment!"
Divine energy erupted from his blade. As he slashed, waves of radiant power swept across the village. Every demon in its path vanished into nothingness. The black dragons were erased instantly. The light spread to the surrounding villages, wiping out every demon as if they had never existed.
Jing Quan staggered, his wounds worsening. "Now I feel it… the damage."
"You cut my hand. Have you forgotten I can regenerate? I'm a demon. I can heal. And you used that technique again. Good. Exactly as I expected. Now… I win," the Demon Lord sneered.
He absorbed the fear of every civilian— every trembling heartbeat— fueling his power. "Now this is what I'm talking about."
A dark energy blast formed in his palm and surged toward Jing Quan.
Jing Quan reacted instantly, slicing the blast apart. He pushed forward with everything he had as their swords collided again, shaking the sky.
The Demon Lord realized, I have to retreat. If this continues… he's going to win. He's really going to win…
Then Blood Veil shifted form. Void energy and burning force exploded from it in waves. Jing Quan leapt back, slashing to counter the surging power.