The sounds of slaughter, explosions, deathbed wails, and furious roars at the mountain gate converged into a turbulent and tragic torrent, shaking the hearts of every survivor. Yet, above this brutal battlefield belonging to Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators, in the higher sky, a battle that would truly decide the fate of Qingxu Temple was unfolding. Every clash there tugged at the nerves of everyone below.
Leaning on the burning Crimson Flame Sword, Tang Xiaoqi endured the excruciating pain of his body nearly breaking apart. He raised his head to look at the bizarre sky, rendered grotesque by demonic energy and spiritual light. His eyesight was far beyond that of ordinary people; even in his current state, he could barely make out the shocking showdown high above.
Sect Master Xuan Xuan Zhenren was enveloped in a dense, solid, earthy-yellow spiritual light. This light was not merely defensive; it seemed connected to the earth beneath his feet and the very mountains and veins of Qingxu Temple, exuding a majestic, immovable, mountain-like aura. He wielded no weapon, only his palms. With each push, massive earthy-yellow palm prints inscribed with profound runes condensed into form and, like true mountains carrying the crushing weight of annihilation, slammed toward his opponent.
He could also draw upon the earth's vein energy, transforming it into countless sharp stalagmites and heavy meteorites that poured down like a torrential storm.
His Dao was heavy, steady, and protective.
However, his opponent, the Golden Core stage elder from the Shadow Snake Pavilion, possessed even more terrifying strength.
He was a gaunt old man draped in a wide black robe, his face hidden behind a fierce ghost mask, revealing only a pair of eerie green pupils devoid of any human emotion. The demonic energy roiling around him was not chaotic but condensed into lifelike, scale-armored, pitch-black giant serpents! Each of these demonic energy pythons was over ten zhang long, hissing and coiling, exuding a sinister aura that could freeze the soul.
He used no magical artifact, merely flicking his sleeves to control those demonic pythons.
One python opened its maw and spewed highly corrosive black breath, eroding the mountain-like palm prints conjured by the Sect Master until they were riddled with holes and their spiritual light quickly dimmed.
Another python swung its long tail like a divine whip, easily shattering the incoming hail of stalagmites and meteorites into dust.
Yet another python coiled directly around the Sect Master, using its pure, condensed demonic origin force to continuously constrict and squeeze his protective spiritual light, producing a teeth-grating creaking sound.
Their battle had already surpassed the realm of ordinary spells; it was more like a collision of two fundamentally different Daos!
The heavy earthy-yellow light and the sinister black demonic energy clashed, annihilated, and regenerated ceaselessly in the high sky. Each collision produced a thunderous boom that made the ears of the cultivators on the battlefield below ring. Those with weaker cultivation even felt their qi and blood churn, barely able to stand. The escaping energy shockwaves swept across the sky like invisible ripples, tearing clouds apart and distorting the light.
The violent clash of spiritual energy and demonic energy created a strange spectacle in that airspace: one half was a dense, heavy earthy yellow, the other a churning, restless black, as if the sky had been split into two worlds.
Sect Master Xuan Xuan Zhenren's expression was grim, a trace of bright red blood already seeping from the corner of his mouth. His aura, once as steady as a mountain, now showed a barely noticeable sign of disorder. His defense remained tight, the earthy-yellow light like a fortress, repelling the frenzied assaults of the demonic pythons time and again, even occasionally counterattacking and dispersing one or two.
But Xiao Qi could see clearly: the Sect Master… was at a disadvantage!
The Golden Core elder from the Shadow Snake Pavilion had a long, deep, and continuous aura, his demonic origin seemingly inexhaustible. He controlled the demonic pythons with ease, even with a hint of cat-and-mouse mockery. His attacks were more treacherous and tricky, often launching from inconceivable angles. The corrosive and corrupting power within his demonic energy constantly wore down the Sect Master's protective light and earth force.
More importantly, the demonic cultivator elder did not appear to be using his full strength. He seemed more to be consuming and probing, waiting for the Sect Master to reveal a flaw, or… waiting for the moment the sect-protecting grand formation completely collapsed.
"Xuan Xuan, old Daoist, why futilely resist?" The ghost-masked elder's hoarse, sandpaper-like voice cut clearly through the intense energy explosions, dripping with deep sarcasm. "Your Qingxu Temple's fate is sealed! Hand over the 'Origin Seed' and offer up your sect's heritage, and perhaps I'll leave you a remnant soul to serve as a slave in our Sacred Pavilion, dragging out your pathetic existence. Otherwise… today will be the day your Qingxu Temple's lineage is severed, leaving neither fowl nor dog alive!"
Hearing this, a flash of anger crossed the Sect Master's eyes, but he was not provoked. He only shouted solemnly, "You demonic heretics dare to speak of fate? My Qingxu Temple has stood for a thousand years, weathering countless storms. How could we be shaken by the likes of you? If you want the 'Origin Seed,' you'll have to step over my corpse!"
As his voice trailed off, he suddenly pressed his palms together. The earthy-yellow spiritual light around him abruptly contracted inward, as if condensing all his power into a single point. Then, a low rumble emanated from beneath his feet as if resonating with the entire Qingxu mountain range's earth veins!
**Earth Vein Divine Ability – Move Mountain!**
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Under countless horrified gazes, a several-hundred-zhang-high auxiliary peak behind Qingxu Temple began to tremble violently. Rocks and soil peeled from its surface as spiritual light converged! In the next instant, that massive peak, as if yanked up by an invisible giant hand, was hurled with terrifying, world-crushing force toward the ghost-masked elder in the sky!
This strike had drained most of the Sect Master's spiritual power and borrowed part of the Qingxu mountain range's earth vein origin. It was one of his ultimate trump cards!
A trace of solemnity finally appeared in the ghost-masked elder's eerie green pupils. He did not dare be careless. His hands rapidly formed seals as demonic energy surged wildly around him. The seven or eight demonic pythons let out sharp hisses and suddenly merged, intertwining and fusing together!
In the blink of an eye, a terrifying demon dragon of immense size, nearly blotting out half the sky, with solid, scale-armored flesh, a single horn on its head, and eyes like crimson lanterns, took shape!
**Demonic Dragon Devours Heaven!**
The demon dragon raised its head and let out a roar that shook the nine heavens. Opening its maw wide enough to swallow a mountain, brimming with darkness and destruction that devoured all, it ferociously met the crashing giant peak!
*BOOOOOOM – !!!!!!!!!*
An unprecedented, terrifying explosion erupted in the high sky!
It was as if a hole had been punched through the heavens!
A blinding light instantly consumed everything, temporarily blinding everyone below. What followed was an energy shockwave that swept downward like a tsunami! On the mountain gate plaza, both Qingxu Temple disciples and Shadow Snake Pavilion demonic cultivators were thrown into disarray by this irresistible force. Those with weaker cultivation exploded on the spot!
Xiao Qi gripped the Crimson Flame Sword embedded in the ground with all his might, barely managing not to be blown away. But he felt as if his internal organs had been displaced, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.
The light gradually faded.
Up in the sky, the massive auxiliary peak had vanished without a trace, reduced to漫天 (all-pervading) dust and debris. The terrifying demon dragon had also become somewhat ethereal but still coiled around the ghost-masked elder.
Sect Master Xuan Xuan Zhenren reappeared, staggering back several dozen zhang before barely steadying himself. His face was as pale as golden paper, his aura extremely weak. Clearly, the 'Move Mountain' divine ability had placed an enormous burden on him.
Although the ghost-masked elder's aura was also slightly disturbed, his condition was obviously far superior to the Sect Master's.
The difference was clear!
The Sect Master was at the end of his strength, barely holding on through sheer will and his connection to the earth veins!
"Master…" "Sect Master!"
Down below, countless Qingxu Temple disciples cried out in grief and anger, their morale taking another heavy blow.
Xiao Qi's heart sank to the bottom. At the Golden Core level, they had no way to intervene. If the Sect Master fell, the destruction of Qingxu Temple would be only moments away.
Could it be… was there really no hope?
He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms. Blood trickled down the sword hilt, dripping onto the charred ground. Resentment and rage burned like wildfire in his chest.