Chapter 354 ·Who Exactly Is This

Hearing ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Li Qingqiu’s voice, Chang Jie felt a chill spread throughout his entire body, his pupils trembling violently.

A ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍person!

There ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was actually someone within the Clear Sky Sect capable of killing his master in a single move—his master hadn’t even had time to resist!

What ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍kind of terrifying strength was this?

Li ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Qingqiu looked at Chang Jie’s trembling figure, feeling a surge of satisfaction in his heart.

What ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍satisfied him was not Chang Jie’s reaction, but the power of the Heaven-Descending Demon-Subduing Universe Finger.

He had not even used the true Heaven-Descending Demon-Subduing Universe Finger—he had merely utilized its method of circulating energy to launch an attack, yet from the summit of Clear Sky Mountain, across hundreds of miles, he had slain the Old Man of Demonic Shadow.

He was simply too strong!

After subduing the Sword Demon, Li Qingqiu’s strength had been continuously increasing. He had never stopped improving, and the Old Man of Demonic Shadow was clearly far inferior to the Sword Demon.

Seeing that Chang Jie had lost the ability to communicate, Li Qingqiu abandoned any attempt at conversation and directly cast the Soul Restraining Curse on him, searching his soul.

Chang Jie’s eyes instantly lost all vitality. If not for Li Qingqiu gripping his shoulder, he would have collapsed to the ground.

With Li Qingqiu’s current cultivation, his spiritual sense and soul strength far surpassed before, making soul-searching much faster.

After half an hour, Li Qingqiu released his grip, and Chang Jie fell to the ground.

With a wave of his hand, he drew the three storage pouches from Chang Jie’s waist into his grasp. At the same time, he pulled over the broken wooden staff from not far away and tossed it into a storage pouch.

His gaze shifted to the opposite bank of the river, where he noticed one of the Old Man of Demonic Shadow’s storage pouches lying in the grass. Clearly, its material was extraordinary. He immediately retrieved it from afar.

Through Chang Jie’s memories, Li Qingqiu gained a certain understanding of the master and disciple, as well as the Myriad Yin Sect.

The Myriad Yin Sect was indeed a purely demonic sect, committing deeds even more heinous than Zhao Zhi. Even Chang Jie himself used humans as Gu vessels, raising numerous ghost servants of all ages and genders.

Killing this master and disciple pair could truly be considered acting on behalf of heaven.

Li Qingqiu then used the Five Elements Mystic Heart Flame to burn Chang Jie’s corpse into ashes.

He turned and vanished, executing the Extreme Movement Technique to swiftly return to the summit of Clear Sky Mountain, continuing to wait while sorting through his spoils.

Chang Jie was merely a true transmission disciple of the Myriad Yin Sect and had no access to the sect’s upper-level schemes. From him, Li Qingqiu could not determine whether the Myriad Yin Sect had further plans. Thus, it was best to wait and see.

The Myriad Yin Sect had three great cultivators of the Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm!

Such cultivators were too powerful. If they infiltrated the Taikun Mountain Range, they could inflict immeasurable damage upon the Clear Sky Sect in an instant. That was why Li Qingqiu had acted immediately.

This strike greatly boosted his confidence, further confirming his dominance within the Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm.

At his current level, he could face most great cultivators of this realm without fear—unless encountering those with special divine abilities or secret techniques. After all, the world was vast and full of wonders.

The storage pouch left behind by the Old Man of Demonic Shadow was of extremely high grade, its internal space vast enough to hold an entire mountain. Inside were all kinds of items—elixirs, magic implements, treasures, talismans, spirit stones—so many that Li Qingqiu was dazzled.

It was practically a walking sect treasury!

……

Theworld was dark, thunder roared, and the battlefield between the Clear Sky Sect and the Myriad Yin Sect had expanded to a radius of a hundred miles. The mountains and forests within this range had been blasted beyond recognition, with dust continuously rising.

Half an hour had passed since the battle began. Both sides had suffered casualties, but the situation remained within control.

Wei Tianxiong wielded a sword, holding back dozens of Myriad Yin Sect cultivators. Around him orbited seven fist-sized dark green pearls, blocking spells from all directions.

His gaze shifted toward the horizon, where demonic energy churned, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

He could sense a terrifying aura belonging to the Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm gathering at the horizon, yet it had not entered the battlefield.

“What exactly is that person hesitating for?”

Wei Tianxiong frowned, puzzled.

Was the enemy waiting for the other two great cultivators of the Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm?

If so, the situation would be dire—after all, Li Qingqiu had not arrived.

Deep down, he always felt that there was a gap in foundation between the Clear Sky Sect and the Myriad Yin Sect. It seemed unlikely that the Myriad Yin Sect would dispatch three Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm cultivators just to deal with a group of Spirit Sense Realm disciples.

The higher the cultivation, the more one valued benefits and time. Great cultivators of this realm were struggling against heaven itself—they would not waste their energy or time merely to display strength.

They would only act if there was something to gain.

Wei Tianxiong seemed to realize something and turned to look back at the Spirit Mine stronghold. The bronze long chest still stood on the peak, its purple vines intertwined into a massive wooden structure. Though empty on the surface, he could sense a soul sealed within it.

It seemed that the Heaven-Connecting Radiance Realm cultivator was hesitating because he was seeking a way to rescue that soul.

Wei Tianxiong had no time to dwell further and chose to trust the Sword Demon—and Li Qingqiu.

On the other side—

Qi Changfeng was locked in battle with Lu Qing. The two were evenly matched, but compared to Lu Qing, Qi Changfeng was more concerned about Yuan Li.

Yuan Li remained the most eye-catching presence on the battlefield. Alone, he faced hundreds of Myriad Yin Sect cultivators, fighting with overwhelming force, yet still holding the advantage.

His fists and kicks shook the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the thunderous booms impossible to ignore.

Another figure’s momentum rivaled Yuan Li’s—Ji Ya.

As the battle dragged on, Ji Ya’s momentum not only did not weaken but grew stronger. Meanwhile, the Myriad Yin Sect cultivators, worn down by prolonged combat, struggled more and more, forcing them to commit increasing numbers to surround him.

Ji Ya relied solely on the Nine Heavens Divine Palm and the Mountain Lord Divine Incantation, freely expending his vital energy. The results were remarkable—he successfully tied down over a hundred enemies.

Among the Myriad Yin Sect, there was one particularly fierce figure who had already slain over two hundred Clear Sky Sect disciples.

Clad in black, wielding twin swords, he relied purely on swordsmanship rather than grand spells. His twin blades could cut through all techniques.

Black hair, black robes—like a phantom—unstoppable!

He drew ever closer to the Clear Sky Sect’s formation.

A bolt of lightning shot forth like a thunder serpent, striking directly at the black-clad man.

He twisted his body, narrowly evading it, and without turning back, rushed to the formation, slashing with both swords.

Boom——

Sword energy erupted, immense and overwhelming, slamming into the formation barrier and forcing it to cave inward. In less than two breaths, the formation protecting the Spirit Mine stronghold shattered. The thousand disciples maintaining it spat blood from the backlash.

It was not that the black-clad man alone could overpower a thousand—but the formation had already been strained from prolonged use, and he had struck it five times before.

Seeing the formation finally broken, a sneer appeared on his lips.

At that moment, Xu Ning charged forward with her sword.

The black-clad man leapt up, transforming into a streak of sword light weaving through the battlefield, while Xu Ning became a bolt of lightning in pursuit. Without her restraint, far more would have died by his blades.

Two streaks of light darted through the mountains and forests at such speed that cultivators on both sides could not react in time.

Hum—

A dragon’s roar echoed. A golden dragon burst from the chaotic forest, biting down on the black-clad man—it was Zhao Zhen using the Divine Dragon Transformation.

The black-clad man’s movement was momentarily restrained, his brows furrowing as Xu Ning closed in.

At the critical moment, he dissolved into sword energy and reappeared several miles away on a hillside, staring at them with killing intent.

More than five hundred cultivators battled between them. Xu Ning and Zhao Zhen turned simultaneously, locking onto his figure, both frowning.

Though he could not harm them, they had to admit they could not deal with him either.

Rumble——

Theworld shook. The black-clad man, Xu Ning, and Zhao Zhen all turned their heads. So did every cultivator on the battlefield.

A terrifying mass of demonic energy surged from the horizon like a falling meteor—unstoppable—heading straight for the Spirit Mine stronghold of the Clear Sky Sect.

The disciples within the stronghold were instantly enveloped by an overwhelming pressure. Those attempting to reform the formation were frozen in place, unable to continue.

The disciples guarding the bronze long chest bore the greatest pressure—the demonic energy was aimed directly at them. As they looked toward the horizon, their organs trembled violently, unbearable pain surging through them.

At that moment, they heard the sound of footsteps—and the pressure suddenly vanished.

The demonic energy moved at incredible speed, crossing the hundred-mile battlefield in the blink of an eye, arriving before the bronze long chest. From within it, a withered hand stretched out.

The instant the hand emerged, the demonic energy dispersed, revealing a white-haired woman in black robes. She looked up—and found that the world had changed.

She stood in a far darkerworld. There were no mountains—only endless desolate land, with ancient swords embedded everywhere.

Her aged face rapidly transformed into that of a beautiful woman, though her eyes remained cold. She frowned slightly and murmured,

“A Dharma Manifestation Domain…”

She looked around, attempting to locate her enemy—but found nothing.

“Even after falling into my Dharma Manifestation Domain, you remain so calm. Truly overestimating yourself.”

The Sword Demon’s voice echoed, filled with mockery.

The white-haired woman replied calmly, “I had already sensed you had a hidden reliance. Trying to suppress me with a domain—don’t underestimate me.”

She raised her right hand, beginning to cast a technique.

However, her expression changed drastically—she found herself unable to connect with her natal magic treasure.

How could this be!

At that moment, the ancient swords around her began to tremble violently, rising from the ground one after another, flying into the sky, all pointing their tips at her.

A chilling sensation spread through her limbs. A terrifying killing intent locked onto her from all directions, leaving her nowhere to escape.

“Who exactly are you?”

She finally cried out in alarm—true panic had set in.

The Sword Demon did not answer. Countless ancient swords erupted with terrifying force and shot toward her.

A shrill scream echoed within the Dharma Manifestation Domain.

In reality—

The Clear Sky Sect disciples on the mountain peak stared nervously at the white-haired woman. She stood motionless before the bronze long chest.

Behind the chest stood another figure.

It was the Sword Demon.

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