In the Southern Wastelands, within the Demon Spirit Valley, countless streams of light flared, and the rumble of thunder shook the earth. This location, the sixth of the Nineteen Spirit Mansions, was nearly overwhelmed by the Daoist techniques bombarding it from every direction.
The guardian grand formation within the valley was operating at its absolute peak capacity.
Yet, it still could not fully shield the area; the surrounding peaks were collapsing, piece by piece.
Above this scene, two Heavenly Dipper Grand Ultimate Demon Slaying Sword Formations were active, and seventy-two Source Sea Demon Slayers gazed down with icy eyes.
On the ground below stood tens of thousands of Spirit Masters.
Yin Yu had led eighty thousand elite troops in a surprise attack on the Wine Pool Palace, and among them were thirty thousand Spirit Masters accompanying the army.
Aside from the Daoist soldiers belonging to the Daoist and Demonic factions, the rest of the Spirit Masters had mostly been captured.
Now, willingly or otherwise, they were channeling their spiritual power to its limit, assaulting the distant valley.
They spared no expense on Spirit Stones or Elixirs, frantically gathering and then unleashing their spiritual energy.
Some of these individuals had been awed by the Saintly King aura displayed by Zong Shou and had voluntarily defected to serve under him. The remainder were held at sword-point, daring not to show the slightest slackening.
Combined with the Spirit Masters already possessed by the Great Qian, the total force numbered a full forty thousand!
The vast spiritual energy amassed by the combined efforts of over forty thousand Spirit Masters had already engulfed the valley!
Even a Saint Realm expert could not withstand such a direct assault.
Half a day had passed since the bombardment began, and the Spirit Mansion’s guardian formation was finally beginning to buckle, showing faint cracks.
Zong Shou stood atop the mountain peak, recalling the Upper Firmament Profound Spirit Sect from years ago; the mountain-protecting formation of that Third Spirit Mansion was undoubtedly superior to the one protecting the Demon Spirit Sect.
However, he had managed to shatter it forcefully under the pressure of only three thousand Blood Cloud Cavalry.
Yet, this Demon Spirit Sect, after being assaulted by forty thousand Spirit Masters in rotation, was still managing to hold on for half a day.
Indeed, as the Spiritual Tide grew stronger, these grand formations had also increased in power.
“It looks like it won't hold much longer!”
Hu Zhongyuan chuckled grimly, drawing the Tyrant Tiger Saber in his hand. He then licked the dark brownish bloodstains on the blade, his eyes fierce and cruel.
Once the guardian formation was utterly broken, the one hundred thousand iron cavalry outside could charge in, slaughter every living soul, and savor the exhilaration of the killing.
Perhaps due to excessive excitement, a purely black iron tiger materialized behind Hu Zhongyuan, its gaze equally ferocious.
“Disgusting!”
Chu Xue hugged the Blood Moon Saber, turning her head away. She thought that although this maternal uncle had been an annoying prodigal disciple in the past, he was nothing like this—it was almost beyond words.
Zong Shou was equally speechless. Where on earth did this vulgar habit of licking one's blade come from? Did he think it looked cool?
“That’s filthy; be careful you don’t get sick—”
This fellow's blade had drawn the blood of countless people these past few days. Who knew how many ‘bacteria and viruses’ discovered by future generations might be clinging to it now?
Still, as cultivators, they weren't afraid of such things.
Hu Zhongyuan felt a slight embarrassment and quickly wiped the saliva from his blade with his sleeve, turning to face the valley with an earnest expression.
Zong Shou merely sneered, looking up at the sky. Those few Sovereign Intentions were still pressing down upon him.
But what of it? They could only watch as he annihilated the Demon Spirit Sect!
The blood-red light barrier in the distance suddenly flickered. Zong Shou’s pupils instantly widened.
However, before he could issue an order, the two Source Sea Heavenly Dipper Demon Slaying Sword Formations above activated. Two Sword Qi of Annihilation struck down, immediately tearing a massive rent in the guardian formation.
Ten thousand feet of sword energy plunged inside, sweeping through in an instant and carving a gigantic gash across the valley floor.
The foundation of the guardian spiritual formation began to crumble in tandem.
The forty thousand Spirit Masters followed immediately. Countless spiritual techniques bombarded the area in one continuous surge, sweeping away the last remnants entirely!
“You may proceed, but only after a quarter of an hour!”
Zong Shou floated in the void, his tone cold, detached, and devoid of emotion.
“Everyone, kill without mercy!”
“We obey the order!”
Hu Zhongyuan let out a loud laugh and charged to the front of the cavalry formation.
He waited quietly while the tens of thousands of Spirit Masters continued their relentless bombardment.
From the depths of the valley, screams and wails occasionally drifted out.
“Zong Shou, you demon, I’ll fight you to the death!”
“Damn it, damn it!”
“I don’t want to die! I haven’t killed anyone, spare me—”
Some black streaks of light shot up, attempting to flee the valley. Yet, as soon as they appeared, they were instantly pulverized into dust by millions of spiritual techniques.
Even if any managed to slip through, the two Heavenly Dipper Demon Slaying Sword Formations in the air needed only a single strike to cut them down.
Even the ground beneath was sealed off by extensive petrification techniques, rendering almost all earth-burrowing methods utterly ineffective.
Precisely at the third quarter mark, all spiritual techniques abruptly paused.
Then, the hundred thousand iron cavalry surged into the valley like a torrent of steel amid a roaring sound. Leading the cavalry formation were the twenty thousand Profound Dragons of the Azure Life Dao!
Zong Shou flicked his sleeve again, and a torrent of gold and silver light also rushed forth.
The Sacred Fire Silver Ants were born from the world's malevolent energies. But recently, they hadn't had any chance to slaughter; to prevent these natural entities from revolting, their inherent nature could not be suppressed for too long. This was the perfect time for the silver ants to feast.
Chu Xue also held the Blood Moon Saber and flashed to the valley entrance.
Her role was to cover Hu Zhongyuan’s rear, guarding against any Saint Realm experts within the Demon Spirit Sect who might counterattack.
Zong Shou remained outside, watching with leisurely composure. The Sovereign Intentions overhead grew even more intense.
They pressed upon him so heavily that his very bones began to creak audibly.
Zong Shou paid them no mind, instead using their force to temper his own physical body.
These few figures wished nothing more than to crush him, Zong Shou, into dust, didn't they?
This was precisely what he desired! They hated him to the marrow, yet were utterly helpless.
“Junior Brother, I know you fear nothing, but you should take care—”
A sigh came from behind as a young man in a white robe strode through the void: “You provoke them so blatantly; where does that leave the dignity of those Holy Venerables?”
“Senior Brother Ming Yu!”
Zong Shou turned back and offered a smile utterly devoid of warmth: “Did Martial Uncle Xiu Guan or Junior Brother Wei Xu send you with that message?”
“No!”
Ming Yu felt a pang in his heart and shook his head: “Martial Uncle said I could leave you to your actions, and Junior Brother Wei Xu said it was fine too. It’s just that—”
He had witnessed the dispersal and retreat of the three Divine Venerables of the Confucian School during the battle at the Fallen God Plains.
The Confucian Divine Venerables were projections of the focused thoughts of the three Confucian Sovereigns. Therefore, their instinctual awareness would not allow them to oppose the Sacred Emperor.
This was also why, after the defeat of sixty thousand Purple Scale Flame Spear Cavalry, even the Demonic and Daoist Factions made no attempt to salvage the situation.
Zhu Zi alone could no longer resist the suppressive force of the Seven Swords of Azure Life.
The advantage held by the Sovereign Realm experts had been wiped clean. Until Zhu Zi could resolve the resistance from the three Confucian Divine Venerables and the Primordial Demon Lord recovered from his injuries, the Daoist, Confucian, and Demonic traditions were temporarily at a disadvantage.
This explained why, as Zong Shou led his army against the Demon Spirit Sect now, the three Sovereigns of the sects remained silent and refused to intervene.
“It’s just that, Junior Brother, the way you are acting is perhaps a bit too—”
More than just 'too much'; he was making it impossible for those Sovereigns to save face, repeatedly slapping the face of the Supreme Primordial Demon.
Zong Shou himself might not fear them, but Ming Yu worried for Zong Shou’s safety. If he completely enraged those Holy Venerables, disregarding all consequences, then even Xiu Guan’s capabilities might not be enough to protect Zong Shou.
Sensing Ming Yu’s worry, Zong Shou felt a slight warmth in his heart, and his expression softened slightly.
Yet, inwardly, he sighed. It was no wonder that Xi Zi had ultimately chosen the late-joining Wei Xu as the sect leader, rather than the older senior brothers.
“Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother! But Senior Brother Ming Yu, the righteousness of the world currently lies in my hands, not in the Confucian School—”
Ming Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly, not quite grasping his meaning.
“Demonic cultivation often involves sacrificing living people, and their disciples are frequently tyrannical and fond of murder. Instances of atrocities and crimes are endless! The people of the world have suffered under the Demonic Path for too long, but due to the constant warfare in the Cloud Realm, they have been helpless.”
Upon hearing this, Ming Yu’s expression cleared with dawning comprehension.
The Confucian and Daoist schools dared to ally with the Demonic Path because the Confucian School held the power to pen history and control public opinion.
As long as their goals were achieved, minor flaws could simply be erased from the records. Who would know in later generations? Once the grand situation was settled, who would dare point fingers? Even if someone recorded it, it could be dismissed as slander against the Dao and Confucian schools.
But now, the one holding the righteousness of the world was Zong Shou, the reigning Sacred Monarch!
“I issue edicts to eliminate demons! To rid the world of this festering tumor for the sake of all living beings.”
Zong Shou stared coldly at the heavens: “If they truly dare to defy the will of the world, I would welcome it! It would certainly lead to the eternal destruction of the Dao and Confucian sects!”
As he uttered the final sentence, a burst of blood mist erupted from Zong Shou’s right hand.
It was those Sovereign Intentions simultaneously maximizing the oppressive pressure they were exerting.
Zong Shou could no longer resist, and a bloody gash split open on his right hand.
Zong Shou, however, showed neither alarm nor anger; instead, he let out a long, wild, and unrestrained laugh.
Besides this, what other means do you have?
“Insolent whelp! Sooner or later, I shall use your primal spirit and flesh as a candle to illuminate this entire realm!”
The cold voice of the Supreme Primordial Demon, Li Biexue, echoed faintly across the distance.
Zong Shou paid no mind. A warm flow of spiritual energy washed over him, instantly healing the injuries within his body.
It was Lin Xuanshuang taking action, using the Source Life Breath Art to repair his body.
By now, the sounds of slaughter within the Demon Spirit Valley ahead had gradually died down.
Zong Shou flashed into the valley. He saw Hu Zhongyuan standing amidst a pool of blood and corpses, looking up at the sky and grinning.
“My Lord, we have slain them all, not one remains!”
Zong Shou nodded slightly. His spiritual sense had scanned the entire valley; indeed, no living beings remained.
Then, with another flash, he arrived before a strange demonic palace that had completely collapsed under the assault of the spiritual techniques.
Everything within that structure was pulverized. Yet, only a single statue inside remained completely unharmed.
“The World-Ending Divine Venerable?”
The doctrine of the Demonic Path’s World-Ending Divine Venerable was that this world was ultimately destined for destruction. Only by believing in the World-Ending Divine Venerable could one attain new life in the new world under the deity’s protection after the apocalypse.
Zong Shou glanced at it once, then unleashed a sword light, activating the Sword Intent of Annihilation. A blood-red sword gleam struck the statue. (To be continued)
For more novels, visit storyread.net.