The Demon's whisper was like invisible toxic miasma, corroding every inch of battlefield air, dismantling the just-kindled morale, pressing heavy as a mountain on every Qingxu Temple disciple's heart. The direct threats and temptations toward Tang Xiaoqi drew all attention to that platinum-white flame-wrapped figure.
Xiao Qi stood sword in hand. The platinum-white flames wavered slightly under the Demon's terrifying pressure but did not extinguish. The grief on his face had been replaced by extreme coldness. In those crimson eyes, fury was settling, transforming into harder killing intent. The Demon's words were like a wicked curse, trying to pry open his mental defenses, but what flashed through his mind were Second Senior Brother's resolute self-destruction, Zhao Tiezhu's push before falling off the cliff, Master's final smile turning into starlight.
Give up? Compromise?
Never!
He was about to speak, to thoroughly shatter the Demon's temptation with action and words--
But then, another change!
At that moment, the space beneath the Demon's shadow suddenly rippled violently like water! An aura, blood-related to Xiao Qi yet filled with brutality, death, and pure destruction, erupted without warning!
Demonic energy gathered madly, not scattered mist but condensing into a solid, tall humanoid outline.
When that outline became completely clear, the entire battlefield fell into a deathly freeze.
It was the figure of a middle-aged man, wearing a tattered yet faintly visible of former extravagance armor, features resolute and defined, seven to eight parts similar to the blurry yet warm figure in Xiao Qi's memory fragments.
Xu Zhan! Lord of Xu Lan Mountain Manor, Tang Xiaoqi's biological father!
However, this Xu Zhan had eyes completely pitch-black, no whites at all, like two unfathomable demonic abyss. His skin showed an unhealthy blue-gray color, with jet-black demonic patterns writhing like living things across his body. What radiated around him was no longer the heroic righteousness from memory, but towering, suffocating pure demonic energy! So dense and pure, even surpassing ordinary Shadow Snake Pavilion elders, carrying a source evil and power!
He was completely corroded and controlled by demonic energy! Became a puppet in the Demon's hands, without self-awareness, knowing only slaughter!
Fa...ther? Xiao Qi's pupils contracted sharply. The hand gripping the Red Flame Sword trembled uncontrollably, the platinum-white flames fluctuating intensely. Though mentally prepared, though Su Auntie had hinted, seeing his father who stood tall in memory become so demonic, like a marionette, that impact was far more intense than any attack, nearly tearing his soul!
The Demon shadow let out a low, satisfied chuckle, the voice carrying mockery: How is it? Is This One's gift satisfactory? Reuniting father and son, isn't that a beautiful thing? Unfortunately... he now only follows This One's commands.
Before the words finished, the Demon-controlled Xu Zhan, those empty pitch-black eyes, locked onto Xiao Qi below. No words, no emotion. Only the purest, commanded killing directive!
Boom!
Xu Zhan moved!
He took a step, the void beneath his foot seeming to collapse, emitting a dull rumble. No fancy spells, simply raising his right arm covered in demonic armor, toward Xiao Qi's direction, throwing a punch through the air!
One punch, and the world changed!
Vast demonic essence condensed into a black fist aura over a zhang in diameter. Countless twisted wailing soul faces writhed and struggled on the fist, emitting terrifying aura that corroded souls and contaminated spiritual energy! Where the fist aura passed, space rippled slightly, speed exceeding lightning, with crushing destructive will descending violently!
This strike's power far exceeded any previous Shadow Snake Pavilion elder's attack, already reaching the threshold of Golden Core level! Moreover, the demonic essence nature within was extremely high, carrying erosion force from the Demon's source!
Xiao Qi, be careful! Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng and Third Senior Sister Liu Yun cried out simultaneously, trying to rush forward to block, but the fist aura's speed and pressure gave them no time to react!
Before the fist aura even arrived, that terrifying pressure was like a substantial mountain, pressing heavily on Xiao Qi! His platinum-white flames were pressured into violent wavering and contraction! The sturdy stone tiles beneath his feet instantly cracked, collapsing downward!
Xiao Qi ground his teeth tightly, mouth full of metallic blood taste. Facing this strike from his father yet filled with destruction, grief, anger, and unwillingness erupted like a volcano in his heart!
Can't retreat! Behind him are fellow disciples, the sect Master bought with his life!
And this is his father! Even if controlled, even if just a shell, he absolutely cannot... retreat!
Ah---!
He let out a roar mixing endless pain and resolve, pushing the three fused powers within him to the extreme! The platinum-white flames surged again, the Red Flame Sword letting out a deafening clang, its tip pointing directly at the incoming black fist aura!
Purification! Protection! Break---!!!
He gripped the sword with both hands, pouring in everything, slashing forward resolutely! A sword aura condensed to the extreme, as if able to cut through light and darkness, like a waterfall going upstream, carrying the will to purify all and the faith to protect the sect, faced the destructive demonic fist!
Rumble---!!!!!!
The platinum-white sword aura and black fist aura collided violently in mid-air!
Like two meteors in direct collision!
Blinding light instantly consumed everything. The terrifying energy shockwave surged in all directions like a tsunami! Some demonic creatures and Qingxu Temple disciples too close, could not even scream before being vaporized or shattered by the released energy!
Xiao Qi took the brunt. He felt unimaginable force transmitted through the Red Flame Sword, mixed with the pure demonic energy's crazy erosion, slamming into his chest!
Pfft---!
He vomited a large mouthful of blood, even with some internal organ fragments! The platinum-white flames instantly dimmed. The entire person was blown backward like a kite with broken string, crashing heavily into the ruins dozens of zhang away. The Red Flame Sword flew from his hand, slanting into the ground nearby, flames nearly extinguished.
One strike!
Just one strike, and Xiao Qi who had been invincible in the demonic tide and leading the counterattack was already severely injured, near death!
And that Demon-controlled Xu Zhan's form only slightly swayed. Those empty pitch-black eyes still locked onto Xiao Qi in the ruins, no emotional fluctuation, only cold execution of orders. He slowly raised his hand, seemingly preparing a second attack.
Xiao Qi!!
Stop him!
Senior Brother and Third Senior Sister's eyes nearly burst from their sockets, rushing forward regardless of their own safety, trying to block Xu Zhan.
High in the sky, Palace Master Xuan Xuan True Person let out a grief and fury cry, wanting to break free from the Faceless Elder's entanglement to rescue, but was tightly entwined by the opponent, able only to watch helplessly.
The Demon shadow let out an even more pleased chuckle, as if enjoying a carefully orchestrated drama.
Father and son forced to kill each other. This was undoubtedly the cruelest and most effective means to break Xiao Qi's will and collapse Qingxu Temple's resistance. The cloud of despair descended again, heavier and more suffocating than before.