Category: I, The Man Who’ll Conquer Both the Immortal Venerable and the Demon Empress

Chapter 205: Primordial Yellow Dao Body: A Love Betrayed

No fancy techniques, no dazzling displays.

Shi Hao’s swordsmanship was simple, direct, and deadly.

He flickered, his movements swift and unpredictable, appearing in the midst of the enemy ranks, his sword flashing, killing one, injuring two.

Swords and sabers clashed around him.

He retreated, his figure a blur.

A small figure rolled through the chaos, her hook flashing, severing limbs, then rolled back out again.

Those who had lost their legs stumbled and fell.

The Purple Robe Evil Venerable, seizing the opportunity, charged forward, his iron palms crushing skulls and bones.

The Thunder King, his body covered in wounds, roared, his energy crackling like lightning, as he attacked the Purple Robe Evil Venerable.

The Purple Robe Evil Venerable snorted and quickly retreated.

A series of clanging sounds, and the Thunder King found himself bound by iron chains, struggling to break free, but his strength was gone.

Sparks danced along the chains, but they held firm.

A flash of light, and a beautiful figure appeared before him.

Du Yuejiao’s sword, a graceful arc of crimson, sliced across his throat.

She retreated, and the Purple Robe Evil Venerable, stepping forward, struck the Thunder King’s head with his palm, sending it flying.

Blood splattered across his robe.

At the same time, the Thunder King and the Sky King, their bodies also covered in wounds, were struggling.

The Crimson Rainbow Poison Venerable, although injured, along with Red Scorpion, Poison Crow, and Lü Shijun, pressed their attack on the Thunder King.

And Sha Lingshan, with Plum Blossom Lady and Peach Blossom Lady, fought the Sky King.

With the Thunder King dead, the remaining two were quickly being overwhelmed.

But they had no time to waste. The electrical energy, drawn by the Thunder Sound Universal Transformation Array, had reached the Primordial Yellow Dao Body.

The Purple Robe Evil Venerable charged towards the white jade platform where the Dao Body lay, along with the two mid-rank guards and several other martial artists.

He cut through them, his powerful palm strikes crushing their bodies, clearing a path to the platform.

The Sky King, intercepted by Shi Hao, rushed towards them, his body riddled with wounds from their earlier encounter, two sword cuts and a fan strike, Plum Blossom Lady and Peach Blossom Lady’s blades leaving deep gashes, Sha Lingshan’s fan strike having shattered his internal organs.

He was clinging to life, his heart meridian the only thing preventing his death. He wouldn’t last much longer.

But he still charged towards the Purple Robe Evil Venerable, his energy converging, forming a blade of pure force.

Facing this suicidal attack, the Purple Robe Evil Venerable was forced to retreat.

As the Sky King’s attack missed, his body split apart.

Shi Hao, seizing the moment of vulnerability, his sword piercing the Sky King’s heart, unleashed a burst of energy that tore him in two.

Although a single strike to the heart would have been enough to kill him, in this moment, even Shi Hao couldn’t think rationally.

Facing such desperate, suicidal enemies, he almost expected them to rise from the dead and continue fighting.

With the Sky King dead, Hou Bomin, Xiang Gu, and Du Yuejiao charged towards the platform.

The Thunder King, however, intercepted them.

The Crimson Rainbow Poison Venerable, Red Scorpion, Poison Crow, and the others followed.

As they attacked, the Thunder King roared, his left arm detaching from his body, flying towards them, and exploding in a flash of lightning.

The force of the blast threw them back.

The Purple Robe Evil Venerable and Shi Hao charged forward. The Purple Robe Evil Venerable, with a powerful palm strike, suppressed the remaining energy from the explosion.

Shi Hao’s sword aimed for the Thunder King’s neck.

The Thunder King kicked out with his right leg, which, breaking off at the hip, exploded, the force of the blast throwing the Purple Robe Evil Venerable, Shi Hao, and even Sha Lingshan, who had been approaching, backwards.

The electrical energy had almost reached the Primordial Yellow Dao Body.

The Thunder King, although reduced to a single arm and a single leg, stood firm, his figure like an unyielding pillar.

Hou Bomin, the Monkey Thief, the weakest among them, only seventh-rank, but his experience in the jianghu had honed his instincts. Although forced to retreat, he flicked his wrist, and his chain, empowered by the Constraining Rope Star, snaked through the air, wrapping around the Thunder King’s head.

He pulled, and the Thunder King’s body swayed.

The chain tightened, coiling around his remaining arm.

Two swords pierced his body… Plum Blossom Lady and Peach Blossom Lady, having recovered from the explosion, seized the opportunity created by Hou Bomin’s attack.

“Hahahaha!” The Thunder King laughed, his voice filled with defiance.

Then, his body exploded, a wave of force expanding outwards.

Plum Blossom Lady and Peach Blossom Lady, caught off guard, would have been killed if not for Sha Lingshan, who, appearing behind them, grabbed them and pulled them away.

The Purple Robe Evil Venerable and the Crimson Rainbow Poison Venerable, unleashing their full power, barely managed to contain the blast, both coughing up blood.

Red Scorpion, Poison Crow, and Lü Shijun were thrown backwards, their internal energy disrupted… Fortunately, they had been further away, the force of the explosion weakened, or they would have been killed instantly.

Hou Bomin and Xiang Gu, however, sensing the Thunder King’s desperation, had already retreated.

And Shi Hao, flipping over the exploding body in mid-air, his sword pointed downwards, ignoring the Thunder King’s final act of defiance, landed on the white jade platform.

The electrical energy had almost reached the Primordial Yellow Dao Body.

The concentrated energy, like a miniature sun, pulsed with power.

The two guards by the platform drew their swords, attacking Shi Hao.

His sword, carrying the force of a collapsing mountain, descended, its power unstoppable.

The two guards, their confidence shaken by his aura, attacked simultaneously.

A clang, and Shi Hao was thrown back.

But the two guards felt a chill… his attack had been too easy to deflect.

Behind them, a girl, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, her hand outstretched, a pearl glowing in her palm, approached the Primordial Yellow Dao Body.

It was Little Demonic Mother.

She stared at the Dao Body, its eyes glowing with a menacing light, its aura radiating power, making her heart pound.

But she didn’t hesitate… The Black Phoenix Poison Pearl was within her reach.

She had waited too long. She had to reach the high ranks.

Little Demonic Mother, whose real name was Yan Lengyue, had once been a young lady from a prominent martial arts family.

She had fallen in love with a man who had whispered sweet nothings, promising her the world.

But on their wedding night, he had killed her father.

He had only wanted their family’s secret martial arts manual. Her father, overjoyed, had presented the manual to his new son-in-law, hoping he would master it and protect his daughter.

And then, as he turned to leave, his son-in-law had stabbed him in the back with a poisoned blade.

Yan Lengyue had vowed revenge. She would kill the man who had betrayed her, used her, deceived her.

But in her quest for revenge, her family, her loved ones, had all been killed by him.

Desperate, she had turned to the demonic sects, embracing their dark arts.

But the man who had betrayed her had also joined the demonic sects, his strength always surpassing hers.

She had finally reached the fourth rank, but he had already ascended to the high ranks.

His name had been Ding Juncan. For a while, he had posed as a righteous martial artist, but after killing his father-in-law, his true nature revealed, he had changed his name to Ding Mocan, “Ding the Demonic.”

He was now a high-rank expert, number seven on the Blacklist.

The gap between the fourth and third ranks, although seemingly small, was a chasm, a difference not just in power but in their very essence.

With Ding Mocan’s ascension to the high ranks, Yan Lengyue’s hopes for revenge had seemed dim.

She had become obsessed with advancement, with becoming a high-rank expert, with revenge… It was her only reason for living.

But reaching the high ranks was no easy feat.

She had been stuck at the fourth rank for thirty years.

Every day, every night, her heart ached with the memory of her father, lying dead in a pool of blood… because of her.

Because she had loved the wrong man.

The “Blood Bath” ritual of the demonic sects was a brutal and dangerous practice.

Cruel to others, and cruel to oneself.

The pregnant woman, her host body, suffered immensely, her life force drained away.

She had been reborn as a fetus, absorbing her “mother’s” essence, regaining a tenth of her former power with each passing year.

But the process had been agonizing, each surge of returning power a torment, her screams echoing in the darkness of the hidden chamber where she had been born.

She had sacrificed so much.

And she had harmed so many.

There was no turning back.

She would become a high-rank expert, then she would have her revenge… Only after seeing her enemy die could she finally find peace.

Only then could she face those she had harmed in her quest for revenge… her father, her family, and the countless others who had died by her hand, their faces a blur in her memory.

And the woman, her “mother,” whose body she had used for the Blood Bath ritual, her life force drained away, her body withered, her gaze fixed on the emerging fetus…

—”If I can’t be your lover, then let me be your tool.”

—”I’ll do anything for you, as long as I can be with you.”

Yan Lengyue hadn’t understood that kind of love, that selfless devotion. Why had she been so kind, so loving, despite her own coldness and indifference?

But she would never forget that woman’s final expression, a look of peace and contentment, a mixture of maternal love, romantic devotion, and familial affection… so complex, so unforgettable.

Now, pushing aside all other thoughts, all other emotions, she pressed the Sui Marquis Pearl against the Primordial Yellow Dao Body.

There was no turning back.

Chapter 204: Primordial Yellow Dao Body: Dragon Battles in the Wild!

“Lightning King!” The Thunder King roared, his eyes bloodshot.

“Go!” The Lightning King, with his last breath, pushed him away and collapsed, blood pooling around him.

The Thunder King, enraged, attacked Hong Ni Poison Venerable.

The Poison Venerable, Lü Shijun, and the other Poisonous Sunflower Sect members, seeing his ferocious charge, his power like a raging tiger, retreated, not daring to face him.

As they retreated, the Thunder King grabbed a large rock and hurled it, crushing several Poisonous Sunflower Sect members as it flew towards Sha Lingshan.

She was forced to dodge, and Xiao Wang, the Sky King, whom she had been holding back, seized the opportunity and escaped.

The three surviving Divine Kings, regrouping their remaining forces, retreated, fighting as they went.

Their pursuers pressed their attack.

The Thunder King, unleashing his full power, intercepted the Purple Robe Evil Venerable.

He looked towards the Lightning King’s body, lying broken and bloodied in the distance, his eyes filled with rage and grief.

The Shen Ting Sect had to be revived.

They had endured too much, sacrificed too much.

Once, the Shen Ting Sect had been the most powerful Daoist sect.

Until four hundred years ago, when they had chosen the wrong side, supporting the Xiao family of the Great Liang Dynasty instead of the Li family of the Sheng Dynasty, alongside the Taisu Immortal Pavilion. They had been persecuted ever since, their power and influence dwindling.

Three hundred years ago, they had almost regained their former glory, but the Taisu Immortal Pavilion had interfered, thwarting their plans.

For three hundred years, they had endured, their hopes for revival passed down through generations.

And now, their chance had finally arrived, only to be met with defeat and despair.

They had to hold out until their leader returned. Even if it meant their deaths, their mission had to be fulfilled.

The Thunder King and the Purple Robe Evil Venerable clashed, their energies exploding, and the Purple Robe Venerable stumbled back.

The Crimson Rainbow Poison Venerable attacked, hoping to prevent the Thunder King from recovering.

But the Thunder King, instead of retreating, charged forward, his body slamming into the Poison Venerable’s attack.

A blast of energy, like a thunderclap, erupted from his body, and the Poison Venerable, coughing up blood, was thrown backwards. The Thunder King’s reckless, suicidal attack had caught him off guard.

Two more attacks came from the sides.

The Thunder King grabbed a saber with his left hand, his palm crackling with lightning, and with a burst of energy, the saber shattered, its wielder, stunned by the blast, his head ringing, impaled by a flying shard.

The Thunder King’s right palm struck an incoming sword, which, unable to withstand the force, snapped.

Its wielder, horrified, tried to retreat, but the Thunder King’s palm struck his head, crushing his skull, blood and brains splattering.

Covered in blood and gore, he fought like a madman, his fury terrifying, the Poisonous Sunflower Sect members not daring to approach.

The Shen Ting Sect warriors, their spirits lifted, rallied, regrouping and strengthening their defenses.

Shi Hao, once again on higher ground, observed the battle, his face grim.

Despite their heavy losses, the Shen Ting Sect warriors, their resolve unwavering, their desperation fueled by their losses, fought with renewed ferocity.

Although Shi Hao and the Poisonous Sunflower Sect forces were pushing forward, their progress was slow, the enemy’s defenses firm.

And as the cavern narrowed, the Shen Ting Sect warriors, their numbers dwindling, formed a tighter, more cohesive unit.

Their initial advantage in numbers was now useless.

Shi Hao could only continue his relentless assault, hoping to break through.

Time passed slowly, bodies piling up, and finally, they reached the final level.

The fifteenth day of the eighth month, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival.

The hour of the Dog (7-9 pm), dusk.

The white light from above had converged on this final level.

In the center of the cavern was a chasm, filled with swirling demonic energy.

Above the chasm, a white jade platform, supported by pillars that spread outwards like a spider’s legs.

A young man in white lay on the platform, his brow wide, his forehead high, his build muscular.

His bronzed skin, its contours smooth and perfect, as if sculpted, seemed almost… artificial.

The Primordial Yellow Dao Body.

Although called a “Dao Body,” it was actually a demonic body, a vessel of poison.

The I Ching says: “The profound and the yellow are the mingled colors of heaven and earth; heaven is profound, and earth is yellow.”

The I Ching also says: “Dragons battle in the wild, their blood profound and yellow.”

And the Daoist scriptures say: “When thunderclouds gather, yet bring no rain, when the profound and yellow mingle, blood will stain.”

The Primordial Yellow Dao Body, formed from the essence of heaven and earth, refined with countless poisons and herbs, represented the profound mystery of the heavens and the chaotic essence of the earth.

The mountain’s spiritual energy, carried by the electrical currents, flowed towards the Dao Body.

Like a river flowing into the sea, the Dao Body absorbed the energy, its surface crackling with sparks.

A wave of black, bloody mist, accompanied by a sinister, chilling laughter, emerged from the depths of the demonic abyss and flowed into the Dao Body.

Its eyes suddenly opened, flashing with a light like lightning.

Yi Shenzi was returning.

They were running out of time.

“Stop him!” the Purple Robe Evil Venerable roared.

The cavern shook, the entire Wu Gorge trembling, like a wounded beast, its life force draining away.

The Purple Robe Evil Venerable lunged towards the Dao Body, his palm strike carrying a terrifying force.

“Never!” the Thunder King, his body covered in blood and wounds, his eyes bloodshot, roared, intercepting him.

They clashed, their bodies colliding, their energies exploding outwards.

The Purple Robe Evil Venerable was thrown back.

Shi Hao, like a flash of lightning, attacked the Thunder King.

The Thunder King laughed, not dodging or retreating, meeting his attack head-on.

Shi Hao’s sword pierced his chest… His timing had been perfect.

If the Thunder King had dodged, he would still have been injured. And if he hadn’t, he would be dead.

But the Thunder King, his eyes wide, ignoring the sword in his chest, struck out with his palm.

Shi Hao, seeing his counterattack, knew this was bad.

He focused his energy, but a flash of lightning, and he was thrown backwards, coughing up blood.

“Brother Shi!” Du Yuejiao cried out.

She didn’t hesitate. She leaped forward, her sword flashing, moonlight swirling around her.

Seven sword shadows, trailing streaks of light, like comets, struck the Thunder King.

Three pierced his body.

He roared, unleashing a wave of force that shattered the remaining four sword shadows.

The force, like a thunderclap, struck Du Yuejiao, sending her flying backwards, her internal energy disrupted, blood spraying from her lips.

The Purple Robe Evil Venerable, having recovered, struck the Thunder King again with his palm.

The Thunder King stumbled back, his feet dragging across the marble floor, leaving deep gouges.

He had been struck by four swords and a palm strike.

His body was covered in blood and wounds, but he stood firm, his stance unyielding, a solitary figure against a tide of enemies.

The Thunder King, the Sky King, and the other Shen Ting Sect disciples also fought on, their bodies battered and bleeding, their resolve unbroken.

They had already lost too many.

On the levels above, countless comrades lay dead, their faces twisted in agony, victims of the poison miasma.

On the seventh level, the bodies of the four Thunder Generals and their men, mangled and broken.

And on the sixth level, the Lightning King’s remains, scattered among the rubble.

Now, on this final level, they would make their last stand.

They would die here, but their mission, passed down through generations, had to be fulfilled.

“For the sect!” a warrior roared, charging into the enemy ranks, his sword flashing, his body already covered in wounds.

He cut down three before collapsing, his lifeblood staining the ground.

“For the sect!” the others roared, their voices echoing through the cavern.

The earth trembled, the very mountains seeming to weep.

The Purple Robe Evil Venerable, the Crimson Rainbow Poison Venerable, Sha Lingshan, and the others frowned. These Shen Ting Sect warriors were fighting like cornered beasts, their desperation making them even more dangerous.

Little Demonic Mother turned to Du Yuejiao, “Give me the Sui Marquis Pearl!”

Du Yuejiao looked at Shi Hao, who said, his voice low, “Give it to her.”

Du Yuejiao tossed the pearl to Little Demonic Mother, who, with a flicker, using her supernatural ability, appeared on the white jade platform.

She held the pearl, about to touch the Primordial Yellow Dao Body.

“Stop her!” Two martial artists, guarding the platform, both mid-rank experts, their swords drawn, attacked her.

Little Demonic Mother, her movements swift and unpredictable, tried to reach the Dao Body, ignoring their attacks.

But their swords, crackling with electricity, blocked her path.

More warriors arrived, and she, with a frustrated snort, retreated, a flash of light as she used her supernatural ability.

The electrical energy continued to flow towards the Primordial Yellow Dao Body, shadowy figures swirling beneath it.

The Dao Body, lying on the platform, rose into the air.

Its eyes glowed brighter, like lightning.

“Now!” Shi Hao grabbed his sword, leaped into the air, and, using his momentum, plunged downwards, his sword aimed at the enemy below.

His sword flashed, a blur of motion, cutting down three Shen Ting Sect warriors.

His sword pierced the fourth’s chest, but the man, ignoring the wound, his fingers dripping blood as he gripped the blade, struck at him with his own sword.

Shi Hao dropped his sword, flipped backwards, narrowly avoiding the attack, and landed on the hilt of his embedded sword, driving it deeper.

The man, still roaring, lunged at him.

Shi Hao pulled his sword free, blood spraying from the man’s chest, and retreated.

“Aaagh!” The man, his voice a hoarse whisper, took two more steps, his remaining strength fueling a final, desperate attack, his sword aimed at Shi Hao’s head.

Even in death, his body, driven by momentum, continued forward.

Shi Hao, his face impassive, sidestepped the falling corpse and continued his relentless assault.

Chapter 203: Primordial Yellow Dao Body: Aura of Righteousness!

The others pressed their attack, the Shen Ting Sect warriors falling back, leaving a trail of bodies.

Shi Hao sheathed his sword and stood there, his demeanor proud and defiant.

Li Shanwen, the Purple Robe Evil Venerable, landed beside him, his eyes fixed on him, “You’re Shi Chongyun?!”

Shi Hao wiped his bloodstained sword on his sleeve.

He said calmly, “That’s right. I am Shi Chongyun.”

Li Shanwen stared at him, his expression unreadable, his emotions complex.

“Thank you,” he finally said, his voice low.

“It’s too early for thanks,” Shi Hao’s gaze was sharp, “It’s the hour of the Rooster (5-7 pm). We have to stop Yi Shenzi, now.”

The fifteenth day of the eighth month, the hour of the Rooster, sunset.

They descended to the next level.

Eight white jade buildings, one at each point of the compass, stood in a large, open space.

Eight pillars of light shone down from above, their light scattering into countless sparks that drifted downwards, like a shower of falling stars.

The terrain here was relatively flat but more confined.

“Attack!” Li Shanwen roared, unleashing a powerful palm strike, his iron palm like a wall of force.

The Thunder King leaped forward, meeting his attack head-on.

This time, however, Li Shanwen, learning from his earlier mistake, changed his technique mid-strike, his energy dispersing and then converging again, like a whirling hammer, striking from multiple directions.

The Thunder King blocked several of the attacks, but a few got through, forcing him to retreat.

Li Shanwen, having gained the upper hand, pressed his attack relentlessly, his movements fluid and unpredictable.

Red Scorpion and Black Crowned Crane joined the fight, their attacks flanking the Thunder King.

This was a fierce battle.

Although the tide had turned in Shi Hao and the Poisonous Sunflower Sect’s favor, the Shen Ting Sect warriors, their resolve unwavering, fought back fiercely, defending their positions.

For them, holding out was their only goal.

Once their leader returned, they would be invincible.

Shi Hao glanced at Du Yuejiao, her sword a blur, her sword energy radiating outwards, a chilling aura surrounding her.

Du Yuejiao, originally only seventh-rank, shouldn’t have been able to project her sword energy.

But now, her sword intent was sharp and powerful, her movements precise and deadly, her blade stained with blood. She had indeed reached the sixth rank.

And her swordsmanship had a strange, unsettling quality, her usually cold and aloof demeanor now tinged with a sinister, demonic aura, her killing intent growing with every fallen foe.

She had been cultivating the Illusory Moon Demonic Flame Technique, a Lunar Divinity technique of the Evil Lotus Sect, known for its dreamlike quality, its graceful and elegant movements.

But her current style was different, her footwork swift and unpredictable, her sword strikes sharp and merciless.

Her demonic aura intensified with every kill.

Shi Hao approached her, “Yuejiao…”

Du Yuejiao, startled, as if awakened from a dream, shivered, a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.

Shi Hao said, “Go and rest.”

Du Yuejiao lowered her gaze, her face pale, and silently retreated, the blood on her sword a stark reminder of the carnage.

Shi Hao climbed to a higher vantage point, observing the battle.

His gaze, sharp and focused, seemed to penetrate the chaos, his mind processing the information, analyzing the movements of every combatant, their positions, their strengths and weaknesses.

He had studied military strategy with the Holy Jade Immortal in the Primordial Grotto Heaven, but applying theory to practice was a different matter.

Now, however, he had no choice.

They were running out of time. This was a do-or-die situation.

He suddenly leaped into the air, his sword energy swirling upwards like a tornado, then, inverting his body, he unleashed a thunderous strike.

The Azure Sky Immortal Thunder Sword!

This time, however, his attack, fueled by his enhanced power, was far more devastating.

Since leaving Changbai Mountain, affected by the Demonic Qilin Blood Poison, his Daoist and demonic energies had been in turmoil.

But his amnesia-induced state of mental clarity, a form of “sitting and forgetting,” had inadvertently allowed him to achieve a state of harmony with the Dao, merging the two opposing energies, absorbing the Blood Poison, and creating a new, unique power.

Now, his Azure Sky Immortal Thunder Sword, no longer limited by either Daoist or demonic principles, was even more powerful.

His target was a weak point in the Shen Ting Sect’s defenses, a densely packed group of low-ranking warriors.

They looked up, the young man’s descending figure, his sword like a thunderbolt, carrying the weight of heaven’s judgment, filling them with dread.

The Shen Ting Sect’s techniques, as their name suggested, were known for their raw power, like thunder.

But they had never encountered anything like this, a power that seemed to transcend the mortal realm, a divine punishment for their sins.

What was “sword intent”? Shi Hao had pondered this question for a long time.

He had found the sword by forgetting it, then lost it again, witnessing the ethereal duel between the Sword King and the Sword Demon, two high-rank experts.

Now, “righteousness,” a sense of unwavering justice, was his sword intent.

Heaven and earth possess a righteous qi, pervading all forms.

Below, it shapes the mountains and rivers; above, the sun, moon, and stars.

Within humans, it manifests as unwavering resolve, filling the vast expanse of existence.

His sword strike, like the parting of heaven and earth, its power immense.

The Thunder King, although engaged in his own battle, had been keeping an eye on the young man, whose sudden appearance on the previous level had turned the tide of battle.

When the young man had leaped into the air, his sword transforming into a thunderbolt, he knew he had to stop him.

The young man’s target hadn’t seemed particularly important, a seemingly random spot in their defenses.

But he had instantly realized that if that point was breached, their entire defensive line would collapse.

The young man’s sword had struck at the very heart of their formation, a crucial nexus point.

It was hard to believe he had been able to identify such a point in the chaos of battle.

He had to stop him.

But he was currently facing Qiu Shanqing, the Crimson Rainbow Poison Venerable, one of the Poisonous Sunflower Sect’s two elders.

Although slightly younger than Li Shanwen, the Purple Robe Evil Venerable, his poison techniques were even more insidious and deadly.

The Thunder King roared, a concentrated blast of energy erupting from his mouth, striking the Poison Venerable, who, caught off guard, stumbled back.

The Thunder King then drew his sword, its blade crackling with lightning, and lunged towards the Poison Venerable, a seemingly suicidal attack.

The Poison Venerable, believing he was about to sacrifice himself, hesitated, dodging the attack.

But the Thunder King’s sword twisted mid-strike, its trajectory changing, and he turned, his figure a blur, intercepting Shi Hao’s descending thunderbolt.

The Poison Venerable realized the attack on him had been a feint, the true target Shi Hao.

He hurriedly unleashed a palm strike towards the Thunder King, but it was too late.

Two sword lights, like twin dragons, emerged from the shadows, intercepting the Thunder King.

A clang echoed as their swords clashed, sparks flying.

The three figures separated. The two who had intervened were Plum Blossom Lady and Peach Blossom Lady, their movements swift and graceful.

Their task was to protect the Young Master.

Although weaker than the Thunder King, they had been prepared, their combined attack, fueled by their full power, striking at the moment he was distracted and off balance, his attack on Shi Hao a feint, his true strength only partially unleashed.

Even so, the impact sent them both stumbling backwards, their arms numb, their internal energy disrupted, awed by his power.

The Thunder King, however, was furious… His only chance to intercept Shi Hao had been thwarted by these two women.

Shi Hao’s attack, like a thunderbolt from heaven, struck the Shen Ting Sect’s forces, bodies exploding, blood spraying, a stone peak, stained crimson, collapsing under the force of the blow.

His sword strike, like a ripple in a pond, triggered a chain reaction, shattering the Shen Ting Sect’s defenses, their formation crumbling.

Poison Crow and Lü Shijun, leading their respective units, suddenly found themselves facing a gaping hole in the enemy lines.

They surged forward, exploiting the opening, and soon, the Four Divine Kings, who had been holding their ground, were surrounded.

The situation for the Four Divine Kings was becoming increasingly dire, the bodies of their fallen comrades piling up around them.

With a swift, precise strike, aided by Xiang Gu and Hou Bomin, Little Demonic Mother’s blade pierced the Lightning King’s chest.

He roared, his body convulsing, electricity crackling around him.

Blood spurted from his wound, transforming into sparks that struck the Poisonous Sunflower Sect martial artists, their bodies charred black as they collapsed.

Even Little Demonic Mother, Xiang Gu, and Hou Bomin had to dodge.

With another roar, the Lightning King, gathering his remaining strength, charged towards a stone peak, shattering it, then, his body wrapped in the falling debris, he slammed into Li Shanwen, the Purple Robe Evil Venerable.

Li Shanwen, along with Red Scorpion and Black Crowned Crane, had been pressing their attack on the Thunder King, gaining the upper hand.

The sudden impact forced Li Shanwen and Red Scorpion to jump clear, but Black Crowned Crane, a step too slow, was caught in the explosion, her body torn apart.

“Retreat!” the Lightning King, his voice hoarse, shouted to the Thunder King.

The Thunder King grabbed his arm, and they turned to flee.

A sword, its blade whistling, pierced through the air, striking the Lightning King’s back.

Li Shanwen, the Purple Robe Evil Venerable, even while retreating, had been gathering his energy.

His sword strike, swift and precise, killed the already weakened Lightning King instantly.

Chapter 202: Mid-Autumn Massacre: Turning the Tide!

Clang! Crash! Boom!

Li Shanwen, the Purple Robe Evil Venerable, and Li Zhen, the Thunder King, clashed, their energies exploding outwards, shattering the surrounding stone pillars and cracking the cavern floor.

The eight pillars of light descended to the next level.

The Purple Robe Venerable’s heart sank… They were still stuck on the seventh level.

“The cleverest schemes often backfire”… Although he didn’t know this saying, it perfectly described his current predicament.

The Shen Ting Sect, having infiltrated the Poisonous Sunflower Sect, had used their resources to cultivate the Primordial Yellow Dao Body.

While investigating this betrayal, he had contacted Li Lian, General Shui Lei, learning about the Shen Ting Sect’s plan.

Greed had taken root in his heart, and he and the Crimson Rainbow Poison Venerable had plotted to steal both the Dao Body and the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl.

The pearl, once a treasure of the Poisonous Sunflower Sect, had been taken by the Demon Empress three hundred years ago and hadn’t been seen since.

Reclaiming it was a matter of honor.

His plan had been perfect, but Tu Baoquan and “Huang Facai,” sent to kill Shi Chongyun, hadn’t returned… Everything had gone wrong.

Although he had tried to salvage the situation with the Crimson Rainbow Poison Miasma, its effectiveness in the confined spaces of the cavern was limited.

He wanted the Dao Body and the pearl, but he also couldn’t allow Wu Gorge to be destroyed.

Even for him, a demonic cultivator who valued profit above all else, the collapse of Wu Gorge would be a devastating loss.

It would disrupt the Long River, causing floods in the Hanyang River region, crippling the Danyang Society, which they secretly controlled.

The Poisonous Sunflower Sect was ambitious, seeking power and influence in the new world order, but the destruction of Wu Gorge, potentially plunging China into further chaos, wasn’t in their best interest.

Despite his selfishness, he couldn’t allow that to happen.

He now regretted his earlier decision to let the Shen Ting Sect proceed with their plan, his greed for the Dao Body and the pearl blinding him to the potential consequences. It might have been his greatest mistake.

He couldn’t obtain either, and Wu Gorge was about to be destroyed…

“Move aside!” he roared, lunging forward, his iron palm striking like a tidal wave.

Li Zhen, the Thunder King, sneered, his true energy crackling like lightning as he unleashed a counterattack.

A resounding boom, and Li Shanwen stumbled back.

The Shen Ting Sect’s techniques, known for their raw power, although suppressed since the Sheng Dynasty, were still formidable, a legacy of a thousand years, a sect that had once led the Daoist world.

In a direct confrontation of pure power, the Shen Ting Sect feared no one.

Li Shanwen, his initial attack having failed, was now on the defensive, the Thunder King’s relentless assault pushing him back.

On the other side, the Crimson Rainbow Poison Venerable was facing the “Lightning King,” another of the Four Divine Kings.

Their fight was a blur of motion, their figures flickering, neither able to gain an advantage.

But the Shen Ting Sect had four Divine Kings.

The “Thunderclap King,” descending from the level above, quickly assessed the situation and, like a flash of lightning, joined the fight against Li Shanwen.

With Li Shanwen already at a disadvantage, the combined attack of the Thunderclap King and the Thunder King would quickly overwhelm him.

Suddenly, a small figure intercepted the Thunderclap King.

It was the young girl, her movements swift and deadly, her short sword a blur of crimson light, forcing him back.

It was Little Demonic Mother.

Although her plan had been to let the Shen Ting Sect and the Poisonous Sunflower Sect weaken each other, she couldn’t stand idly by and watch the Poisonous Sunflower Sect be defeated.

Without them, she would be alone.

Now, the four Divine Kings – Thunder, Thunderclap, Lightning, and Sky – were facing Little Demonic Mother, the Purple Robe Evil Venerable, the Crimson Rainbow Poison Venerable, and Sha Lingshan.

And the Shen Ting Sect’s Five Thunder Generals – Gold, Wood, Earth, and Fire – were facing Red Scorpion, Black Crowned Crane, Poison Crow, and Lü Shijun of the Poisonous Sunflower Sect.

However, among the lower-ranking martial artists, the Shen Ting Sect still had the advantage.

Although there was a significant difference in skill between the lower and mid-ranks, numbers could still overwhelm even powerful experts.

As more and more Shen Ting Sect warriors joined the fight, Red Scorpion, Black Crowned Crane, Poison Crow, and Lü Shijun began to feel the pressure.

Suddenly, a swarm of buzzing insects descended upon the Shen Ting Sect warriors, many collapsing, screaming.

A woman with wild, disheveled hair darted through the swarm, her iron hook flashing, severing limbs and heads.

The hook was a strange and terrifying weapon, its touch not just cutting but separating limbs cleanly from their bodies.

And then, the Gold Thunder General found himself bound by an invisible force, unable to move.

Looking down, he saw an iron chain wrapped around him.

Red Scorpion seized the opportunity, her poisoned blade piercing his chest. He gasped, his voice hoarse, and collapsed.

Red Scorpion looked back and saw a hunched, elderly man retract the chain.

And beside him stood a beautiful young woman, her skin fair, her features delicate, wielding a sword, its light like the moon.

Her every strike unleashed invisible sword energy, like night-blooming cereus flowers, beautiful yet deadly.

The arrival of Du Yuejiao, Hou Bomin, and Xiang Gu had shifted the balance of power.

Especially the death of the Gold Thunder General, caught by Hou Bomin’s Constraining Rope, had given them a significant advantage.

However, it wasn’t enough to break the Shen Ting Sect’s defenses.

Shi Hao, standing on a high rocky outcrop, hadn’t joined the fight yet.

He stood there, his sword in hand, his expression grim.

As the eight pillars of light descended to the next level, the cavern grew darker.

The only light came from the flashes of weapons and energy, the air thick with the scent of blood, a testament to the battle’s ferocity.

The electrical energy, carrying the mountain’s spiritual essence, converged on the sixth level, the penultimate layer of the Thunder Sound Universal Transformation Array.

Below was the final layer… They were running out of time.

Both sides were fully committed, only he remaining on the sidelines.

In this chaotic battle, a single warrior, no matter how skilled, wouldn’t make much of a difference.

So he waited, observing the battlefield from above, his Primordial Energy extended, sensing every movement, every shift in the flow of battle.

Then, he moved.

He leaped from the outcrop, his body falling, his feet pushing off the rock face, his sword pointed downwards.

Like a legendary swordsman, his body and sword one, he descended, his feet not touching the ground, landing in the heart of the enemy formation.

Four warriors exploded under his sword energy. The Wood Thunder General, feeling the chilling sword intent lock onto him, was filled with dread.

He was currently fighting Poison Crow of the Poisonous Sunflower Sect.

Poison Crow’s short blade darted and weaved, its movements like a bird’s, its aura poisonous.

The Wood Thunder General, wary of his poisonous attacks, dared not be careless.

Although reinforcements were approaching, with the death of the Gold Thunder General, Hou Bomin and Red Scorpion had freed themselves and were now blocking their path.

As Shi Hao’s sword struck, the Wood Thunder General, having just exchanged blows with Poison Crow, his energy momentarily depleted, was vulnerable.

The sword pierced his chest, a resounding boom, and his body, thrown backwards, blood spraying, landed among his men.

Poison Crow, stunned by this sudden intervention, looked over and saw the young man cutting through their ranks, his presence shifting the tide of battle, the pressure on Hou Bomin and Red Scorpion easing as they surged forward.

Poison Crow, elated, joined the attack, and the Shen Ting Sect’s forces, their formation broken, began to retreat.

The Thunder King, the leader of the Four Divine Kings, stood on higher ground, observing the battle.

The terrain within the cavern was uneven, and his position offered a good view of the battlefield.

He sensed the shift in momentum, his eyes scanning the cavern, and saw a young man in blue, his movements like lightning, his sword a blur, exploiting every weakness in their defenses.

This single warrior was tearing through their lines, his presence inspiring the enemy, uniting their forces.

The Shen Ting Sect warriors, leaving a trail of corpses, retreated.

The young man’s swordsmanship was extraordinary, his strikes sometimes like the blazing sun, sometimes like a falling meteor, his power seemingly limitless.

He was not only a skilled swordsman, but also a brilliant strategist.

Skilled martial artists were common, but those who also understood strategy and tactics were rare.

As their defenses crumbled, two more of the Five Thunder Generals, Fire and Earth, were killed.

Besides the traitor, Shui Lei, all five generals were dead.

The Thunder King, enraged, wanted to intervene, to stop this young man who was single-handedly turning the tide of battle.

But the young woman he was facing, her techniques bizarre and unpredictable, her demonic power strong, kept him occupied.

With the death of the Five Thunder Generals, the slightly weaker mid-rank experts of the Poisonous Sunflower Sect, Red Scorpion, Black Crowned Crane, Poison Crow, and Lü Shijun, joined the fight against the Four Divine Kings.

The situation for the Four Divine Kings was becoming dire.

“Retreat!” the Thunder King roared.

If they didn’t leave now, they would be surrounded.

The Four Divine Kings retreated, their forces in disarray. The Shen Ting Sect was losing.

Chapter 201: Mid-Autumn Massacre: Betrayal?

The fifteenth day of the eighth month, the hour of the Monkey (3-5 pm), the sun setting.

Led by Little Demonic Mother, Shi Hao and the others entered a narrow passage, descending deep into the earth.

Eight pillars of light, arranged according to the eight trigrams, their brightness intensifying as they descended, converged towards a central point.

Following the light, they discovered the underground space was divided into eight levels, each marked by a ring of converging light.

Along the way, they encountered numerous corpses.

Purple-clad warriors lay everywhere, their bodies stiff, their faces contorted, some clutching their throats, as if trying to claw something out.

The Crimson Rainbow Poison Miasma, released by the Poison Venerable, could kill with a single breath.

The victims’ eyes were wide open, their expressions frozen in terror, the horrors of their final moments etched on their faces.

As they descended further, the number of corpses increased, not just Shen Ting Sect warriors.

Although powerful, the poison miasma wasn’t as effective as a plague. While it had initially caught the Shen Ting Sect off guard, its effects were limited.

The deeper they went, the more confined the space became, the miasma, unable to disperse effectively, becoming less potent.

“This is bad,” Little Demonic Mother said, “The Poisonous Sunflower Sect’s attack wasn’t strong enough.”

They reached the sixth level.

Electrical sparks danced across the walls, the spiritual energy of the mountain converging towards the eight points of the Bagua formation.

The Thunder Sound Universal Transformation Array.

The rumbling of thunder echoed around them, the earth trembling, their own insignificance amplified by the vastness of the cavern.

On this level, they saw over two hundred Poisonous Sunflower Sect martial artists attacking the Shen Ting Sect’s forces.

However, the Shen Ting Sect still had superior numbers.

This underground cavern had once been a hidden base of the Melting Sun Demon Lord.

After his defeat by Immortal Bi Yingtong of the Taisu Immortal Pavilion, the mountain ghosts had taken over, expanding the network of tunnels and caverns.

Later, the Shen Ting Sect had driven out the mountain ghosts, claiming the caverns for themselves, further expanding and modifying them, creating a vast and intricate network.

But even so, navigating this underground labyrinth was difficult, the interconnected caverns and passages, the uneven terrain, disorienting.

The battle raged, chaotic and unpredictable.

Both sides, however, had planned for this, and neither could afford to fail.

The Shen Ting Sect had endured centuries of humiliation, forced into hiding during the Sheng Dynasty’s reign, when Daoism flourished, persecuted by both the court and the other Daoist sects.

And even after the Sheng Dynasty’s fall, with the Chongxian Sect’s rise to power, they had remained hidden in Wu Gorge, waiting for their chance to return, to reclaim their former glory.

Tonight, their leader would be reborn, empowered by the Thunder Venerable divine crystal, a high-rank expert capable of commanding the world. And they would rise with him.

They would fight to the death.

The Poisonous Sunflower Sect was also ambitious. The Black Phoenix Poison Pearl and the Primordial Yellow Dao Body were essential for their plans. With those two, they could also create a high-rank expert.

But the failure of their plague attack had forced them to change their tactics, launching a direct assault, despite the risks.

Two fourth-rank experts led the Poisonous Sunflower Sect’s forces.

One, a tall, imposing figure in purple robes, his movements powerful and unrestrained, was Li Shanwen, the Purple Robe Evil Venerable.

The other, a tall, thin man in his forties, dressed in crimson robes, his demeanor strangely effeminate, was Qiu Shanqing, the Crimson Rainbow Poison Venerable.

Besides them, there were several other mid-rank experts: Red Scorpion, Black Crowned Crane, Poison Crow, and Lü Shijun, all from the Poisonous Sunflower Sect, and Li Lian, the former “General Shui Lei” of the Shen Ting Sect, who had defected.

Li Lian was a twenty-three-year-old woman, a fifth-rank expert.

Having reached the fifth rank at such a young age, becoming one of the Shen Ting Sect’s Five Thunder Generals, was a remarkable achievement.

But she was a traitor, and the moment she appeared, the Shen Ting Sect disciples, their eyes filled with rage, attacked her, wanting to tear her apart.

Li Lian, her own eyes bloodshot, her jaw clenched, wielding her twin willow leaf sabers, fought her way forward, her path marked by the bodies of her former comrades.

She was a traitor, having joined the enemy, the demonic sects.

But she hadn’t asked for anything in return, no reward, no promises, only the hatred and contempt of her former sect.

Because she was too kind, too compassionate, too… good.

After becoming one of the Five Thunder Generals, she had gradually learned about the sect’s true plans, their ultimate goal.

She had been horrified, unable to believe they would sacrifice the entire Wu Gorge region for their own ambitions.

Of the Five Thunder Generals, she had been the only one to try and stop the senseless slaughter of the mountain ghosts.

Although they looked strange and monstrous, she knew they were kind and gentle, simply wanting to live in peace in their mountain home.

And she had been the only one, while the others celebrated their sect’s imminent rise to power, to feel a growing sense of dread.

Once their leader returned, the mountain ghosts would all die.

The Twelve Peaks of Wu Gorge would collapse, destroying everything within a hundred-mile radius.

And the Long River, one of China’s two great lifelines, would be forever changed, its course altered, floods devastating the land.

Was the Shen Ting Sect’s ambition worth such a price?

This question had haunted her, shaking her faith.

She had tried to reason with the others, but it was useless. For the Shen Ting Sect, after centuries of hiding and waiting, “revival” had become an obsession, a burning flame consuming everything in its path.

She had been forced to make a choice… betrayal.

Now, branded a traitor, tears of blood streaming down her face, she fought her way forward, her blades stained with the blood of her former friends, her former family.

Every strike was like a knife twisting in her own heart.

But she couldn’t stop.

“Traitor!” a voice boomed from above. A figure in a dark gold yin-yang robe and a golden crown descended.

It was Fu Lie, the “Sky King,” one of the Shen Ting Sect’s Four Divine Kings.

Seeing the traitor, his eyes blazed with fury, and he unleashed a wave of energy, like a collapsing mountain, towards her.

In any sect or organization, traitors were worse than enemies.

Seeing her here, daring to face them, his rage intensified, his attack like a thunderbolt, intending to obliterate her.

Li Lian, with a cry, charged towards him, her twin sabers flashing.

She was covered in blood, her energy depleted, having fought her way through countless enemies.

Even under normal circumstances, a fifth-rank martial artist, facing a full-powered attack from a fourth-rank expert, would retreat.

And she was injured, both physically and emotionally.

But she didn’t dodge or hesitate, rushing forward… She wanted to die.

Whether she won or lost, she didn’t want to live.

If she lost, Wu Gorge would be destroyed, countless lives lost, her betrayal meaningless, her former sect, her friends, her family… all gone.

She couldn’t live with that.

And if she won, her former comrades, those she had grown up with, trained with, would be dead by her hand, her betrayal destroying her sect, her home.

She couldn’t live with that either.

Either way, she was doomed.

Then she might as well die here, on this path of betrayal, a path she was ashamed of, yet also wouldn’t regret.

The Sky King’s attack, its power overwhelming, shattered her sabers, the force like a collapsing mountain, crushing her.

She closed her eyes, a sad smile on her face, as death approached.

Suddenly, a gust of wind, a surge of flames, and she saw a fan spinning before her, blocking the attack.

It was a round, silk fan, embroidered with a beautiful woman in flowing robes.

And the woman in the embroidery also held a fan.

It was an exquisite fan.

Flames and lightning exploded, the force of the impact shaking the cavern.

The lightning, like a thunderbolt from heaven, its power immense.

And the swirling flames, drawing everything inwards, seemed to compress the very space around them.

“Who?!” the Sky King roared, his fury intensified by this interruption.

A slender hand, holding the fan, its movements graceful and elegant, appeared before Li Lian, the woman’s voice soft amidst the swirling energy, “Just a passerby.”

---

Li Shanwen, the Purple Robe Evil Venerable, his iron palms flashing, sent bodies flying.

Although a demonic cultivator, his demonic energy powerful, he also practiced external martial arts.

He had trained in the Iron Sand Palm since childhood, a relatively simple technique that required mostly perseverance and dedication, not innate talent.

Although considered a basic technique, mastering it required years of practice.

Demonic cultivators, their power derived from demonic essence, rarely bothered with such mundane external techniques.

But he was different.

A blade flashed before him, and he struck out with his palm, the blade shattering like glass against his iron hand.

His palm struck the attacker’s chest, crushing his ribs, sending him flying.

“Li Shanwen!” a voice roared, and another imposing figure, matching his own in size and power, charged towards him. It was Li Zhen, the Thunder King.

Chapter 200: Mid-Autumn Massacre: A Trial!

Little Emerald said, “There might be a way to test her.”

Shi Hao looked at her expectantly.

Little Emerald said, “If that old woman has possessed her, no matter how well she disguises herself, she’ll be wary of you, Young Master. And her subconscious will still be her own, while Du Yuejiao’s memories will only be on the surface.

“On the other hand, if she’s still Du Yuejiao, she’ll trust you completely, without reservation. And even in a moment of passion, her subconscious habits won’t change.”

Shi Hao nodded, “I understand.”

He returned to the valley and found Du Yuejiao, her sword at her waist, looking around.

“Yuejiao,” he said, taking her hand, feigning relief, “I’ve been so worried about you these past few days. I’m glad you’re safe.”

Du Yuejiao, dressed in a beautiful robe, her figure graceful, her sash tied tightly around her slender waist, the pleated skirt falling to her ankles, looked down and whispered, “I’m glad you’re safe too, Brother Shi.”

“Let’s talk somewhere more private,” Shi Hao said, leading her away from the others.

They entered a small cave among the trees and rocks, and Shi Hao gently pushed her down.

“Brother Shi!” she said, her hands on his chest, turning her face away, “Why did you… run away like that…?”

“You mean when that old woman captured you?” Shi Hao, his arm around her waist, said softly, “She wanted the Blood Poison in my body. If I had stayed, she might have killed you. By running away, I forced her to keep you alive, to use you as a hostage.”

Although she had already figured this out, hearing him say it brought her a sense of relief, the lingering resentment fading away.

Shi Hao gently moved her hands aside, untied her sash, and his hands, exploring the curves of her body beneath her robe, made her blush.

“You’re always bullying me,” she whispered, her voice a mixture of playful complaint and pleasure, as she surrendered to his embrace, her cries echoing in the small cave.

He turned her over, his hands exploring, his touch leaving no part untouched.

Afterwards, exhausted but content, she nestled in his arms, drifting off to sleep.

Shi Hao was now certain she was still Yuejiao… No one else would tolerate such treatment.

And those subtle nuances, those involuntary reactions, those small signs of affection and trust… they couldn’t be faked.

As she slept, he gently took her wrist and checked her pulse, examining her energy flow.

Her Daoist internal elixir was indeed gone, replaced by a stronger demonic foundation.

And a chaotic demonic energy pulsed within her middle dantian.

“Little Emerald,” he whispered, “are you there?”

Little Emerald materialized beside him, “Y-yes, Young Master.” She had been watching, her eyes wide, a blush on her face.

She had never imagined such… variety.

And the way he had held the girl’s head, forcing her… and then, ignoring her protests, taken her from behind… was that even allowed?

She was now certain that Du Yuejiao was truly, deeply in love with him.

Anyone else, possessed or not, would have slapped him.

He was treating her like a toy!

She had watched, initially embarrassed, then increasingly… disturbed.

She wanted to hit him.

But she was now certain Du Yuejiao hadn’t been possessed.

Who else would tolerate such treatment?

Little Emerald extended her hands towards the sleeping girl, probing her memories, entering her dreams.

The girl, even in her sleep, was still being… tormented by her lover.

Little Emerald, stirring the girl’s dreams, exploring her subconscious, said, “It’s her. There’s no doubt.”

Shi Hao said, “But there’s a chaotic demonic energy in her middle dantian, replacing her Daoist internal elixir. And it’s incredibly powerful, perhaps even stronger than sixth-rank.”

Little Emerald whispered, “Two souls can’t occupy the same body for long. Since her own soul is still here, that old woman’s soul must have dissipated.

“But Yin Demons are different. They’re not human. We don’t know how much of her soul has been corrupted, but she’s definitely afflicted by demonic influence. The Yin Demon is lurking within her, waiting for an opportunity to take control.”

“It will offer her power, making her stronger, but also more susceptible to its influence. It’s a one-way path. Once her soul is completely consumed, she’ll be gone.”

Shi Hao asked, “What can we do?”

Little Emerald shook her head, “Not much. We can only try to prevent her from using that power. The power granted by Yin Demons is tempting, easy to access, and their whispers are seductive. She has to resist it herself. We can’t help her.”

Shi Hao, holding Yuejiao, stroking her smooth skin, felt a pang of guilt.

Although he had had no choice at the time, it was his decision to flee that had led to this.

He wondered if Su Mei could help.

The next full moon was tomorrow night.

---

Du Yuejiao woke up just before dawn.

Shi Hao talked to her about what had happened, warning her to be careful, to resist the Yin Demon’s influence.

He told her about the hidden power within her, a power that, if unleashed, would further corrupt her.

The Hun was life, the Po was consciousness.

In the early stages of demonic affliction, only the Po was affected.

The Yin Demon would whisper in her mind, amplifying her desires, twisting her thoughts, tempting her to use its power.

But when the Hun was also corrupted, her actions would no longer be her own.

Little Emerald believed that only one or two of Du Yuejiao’s seven Po had been affected so far.

It was still manageable.

But if her three Hun were also corrupted, it would be too late.

Du Yuejiao herself felt… different.

Shi Hao’s words frightened her, strengthening her resolve to be cautious.

As dawn broke, sunlight streamed into the cavern.

The electrical energy on the surface, having sunk into the earth, mingled with the spiritual energy within the mountains.

The world was quiet, the trees withered and dead, the animals either gone or their bodies scattered across the desolate landscape.

It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day of celebration in the outside world.

But here, a heavy silence hung in the air, a sense of impending doom.

Little Emerald left to meet with Sha Lingshan, informing her of their agreement with Little Demonic Mother.

Shi Hao rejoined the others, and Xiang Gu gave him the Azure Sky Vermilion Fruit.

It was in a square, green jade box.

Inside, the fruit, pink and translucent, like a fairy peach, radiated a faint, cool light.

Of the four main ingredients Shi Hao needed for his next breakthrough, three were now in his possession: the Illusory Sea Spirit Fruit, the Molting Snake Reverse Scale, and now, the Azure Sky Vermilion Fruit.

The Azure Sky Vermilion Fruit had been the most difficult to obtain, since the Immortal Qilin’s Blessed Land, where it grew, had been destroyed by Su Mei three hundred years ago, transformed into the Demonic Qilin’s Lair.

Now, he had it.

The Illusory Sea Lingzhi shouldn’t be a problem; Yuejiao could likely obtain it for him.

The remaining ingredient, the Dream Grass, only grew in the East Sea Dragon Palace. He would have to go there eventually.

He carefully put away the Azure Sky Vermilion Fruit.

At noon, the sunlight, streaming down into Wu Gorge, made the air unnaturally hot and oppressive.

A series of tremors echoed from below, and a red miasma seeped through the cracks in the earth.

The Poisonous Sunflower Sect had begun their attack.

Their initial plan to use the Plague Stars to weaken the Shen Ting Sect, thwarted by Shi Hao, they had resorted to using poison and a direct assault.

Even on the surface, the tremors and rumbles from below indicated the intensity of the battle.

They didn’t rush in but waited.

As the sun began to set, beams of light erupted from the ground.

Looking down from a high vantage point, Shi Hao saw eight pillars of light, arranged according to the eight trigrams, their runes glowing faintly, rising from the cracked earth.

It was a Bagua formation.

As the formation activated, the electrical energy on the surface sank into the earth, revealing the scarred and desolate landscape, the charred and broken trees like the skeletal remains of a once-beautiful woman, a disturbing sight.

Once you have seen the vast ocean, all other waters seem mundane; once you have seen the clouds of Wu Mountain, all other clouds are profane.

If they couldn’t protect the spiritual energy here, this ancient poem would become a lament.

The collapse of Wu Gorge, the shifting of the Long River… it would be a catastrophe.

Chapter 199: The Thunder Sound Universal Transformation: Yang Poison, Yin Poison!

Wu Gorge was one of the Three Gorges of the Long River.

Its collapse would not only devastate the surrounding area but also disrupt the river’s flow, causing widespread flooding.

Shi Hao looked at Little Demonic Mother, “You’re clearly not trying to stop him. What do you want?”

Little Demonic Mother said, “I’ve already told you. I only want the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl. Nothing else.”

Shi Hao asked, “And the Poisonous Sunflower Sect?”

Little Demonic Mother said, “They’re more ambitious. They want not only the pearl, but also the Primordial Yellow Dao Body and the Thunder Venerable divine crystal.”

“The Primordial Yellow Dao Body was cultivated by the Poisonous Sunflower Sect. Although called a ‘Dao Body,’ it’s actually a demonic body, a vessel of pure yang poison. Tomorrow at dusk, Yi Shenzi will transfer his soul, infused with the Yin poison of the underworld, into this body, achieving a fusion of yin and yang. The Shen Ting Sect has been preparing for this for a long time. It’s irreversible, even for Yi Shenzi himself.”

“But the Poisonous Sunflower Sect has infiltrated the Shen Ting Sect. ‘General Shui Lei,’ one of the Five Thunder Generals, is secretly working for them. That’s how they learned about the plan.”

“The Black Phoenix Poison Pearl is currently with Yi Shenzi in the Melting Sun Demonic Abyss. No one else can enter. Therefore, the Poisonous Sunflower Sect can only wait for Yi Shenzi to emerge, carrying the pearl, to fuse with the Primordial Yellow Dao Body.

“And that fusion process… that’s our opportunity.”

Hou Bomin, the Monkey Thief, sighed, “But that will also be when the Shen Ting Sect’s defenses are at their strongest.”

Little Demonic Mother snorted, “The Poisonous Sunflower Sect had originally planned to use the Eastern and Western Plague Stars to weaken the Shen Ting Sect, but someone interfered with their plan.”

Shi Hao smiled, “Don’t blame me. Tu Baoquan tried to kill me. He happened to be carrying the Plague Dispelling Talisman, and I happened to be near those mountain ghosts when they were attacked by the plague. Their plague also affected the mountain ghosts.

“I couldn’t just stand by and watch, could I?”

Little Demonic Mother snorted.

Shi Hao said, “But this might actually be beneficial.

“With their plan foiled, the Poisonous Sunflower Sect will have to improvise. They were hoping to cripple the Shen Ting Sect and then launch a surprise attack. Now, with the Shen Ting Sect still relatively strong, it will be a more even fight, and we can take advantage of the chaos.

“Speaking of which, what was your original plan?”

Little Demonic Mother said, “The Sui Marquis Pearl… The Primordial Yellow Dao Body is a vessel of pure yang poison, while Yi Shenzi’s soul carries yin poison. During the fusion process, I need someone to touch the Dao Body with the Sui Marquis Pearl. This will disrupt the fusion, separating the two and releasing the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl.”

Shi Hao nodded, “I understand. We can help you obtain the pearl. The question is, what’s in it for us?”

Little Demonic Mother stared at him, “What do you want?”

Shi Hao said, “Seven thousand taels.”

Little Demonic Mother said, surprised, “Seven thousand taels?” She hadn’t expected him to be so direct, so mercenary.

Shi Hao said, “That’s right. There are four of us, plus three others with the mountain ghosts, seven in total. One thousand taels each. We’ll be working for you.

“If we simply cooperate without any… binding agreement, neither of us will trust the other. It’s better to be clear about the terms. Seven thousand taels is a lot of money, but for you, it’s a small price to pay.

“The Black Phoenix Poison Pearl is useless to us, but the silver is very real. And for you, if you can achieve your goal with just seven thousand taels, there’s no need to risk killing us or betraying us later.”

He smiled, “I’m guessing the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl is essential for your advancement to the high ranks. That’s why you’re so determined to obtain it. And for us, preventing this catastrophe, protecting the mountain ghosts, and striking a blow against the Poisonous Sunflower Sect, our enemies, while also earning a substantial reward… it’s a win-win situation.”

“And a successful transaction can lead to future collaborations. Once you reach the high ranks, we’ll have a powerful ally. I’m being so frank because cooperation is our only option.

“Both the Shen Ting Sect and the Poisonous Sunflower Sect are stronger than us. If we don’t work together, we’ll all fail.”

He looked at her intently, waiting for her answer.

Little Demonic Mother, after a moment of thought, nodded.

As he had said, the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl was essential for her advancement.

Reaching the high ranks was the dream of every martial artist.

She had been famous fifty years ago, but her cultivation had been stuck at the fourth rank, forcing her to undergo the Blood Bath ritual, to be reborn.

The phoenix blood within the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl was crucial for her breakthrough. She couldn’t afford to fail.

As for seven thousand taels… it was a large sum.

But money could be earned; the phoenix blood couldn’t.

“Agreed,” she said.

---

Shi Hao and Hou Bomin left the valley.

He had wanted to speak with Yuejiao, but Hou Bomin pulled him aside.

The bright moonlight illuminated the landscape, a beautiful night, the fourteenth day of the eighth month.

But for Wu Gorge, usually shrouded in mist and clouds, this was unusual.

The ground below, scarred and cracked, crisscrossed by lines of white, electrical energy, was a desolate sight.

Hou Bomin lowered his voice, “Something’s wrong with Yuejiao.”

Shi Hao’s heart sank, “What happened?”

Hou Bomin recounted how, after he and Xiang Gu had obtained the immortal ingredients and descended from Changbai Mountain, they had seen Du Yuejiao leaving with the old woman. They had followed and rescued her.

He said, “Her strength had increased significantly. She could project her sword energy. She’s reached the sixth rank. And her demonic aura is much stronger. She’s become colder, more distant.”

Shi Hao asked, surprised, “She advanced? How is that possible?”

Du Yuejiao, like him, was a dual cultivator. Logically, she should advance in both Daoist and demonic cultivation simultaneously.

Daoist advancement required refining an external elixir, while demonic advancement required a ritual.

And they had still been at the foot of Changbai Mountain at the time.

Hou Bomin said, “I don’t know what happened, but she was clearly worried about you. When that Little Demonic Mother tricked her, saying you had been captured by the Poisonous Sunflower Sect, she was frantic.

“Xiang Gu and I don’t know the details. You’ll have to ask her yourself.”

Hou Bomin then left.

Shi Hao stood alone under the moonlight, lost in thought, then called out, “Little Emerald.”

Little Emerald materialized beside him, “Young Master.”

Shi Hao asked, “What do you think happened?”

Little Emerald said, “For Du Yuejiao to suddenly advance from the seventh rank to the sixth, either that old woman possessed her body, or she succumbed to demonic influence.”

Shi Hao’s heart sank, “There’s no other explanation?”

Little Emerald shook her head, “That old woman was trying to use a demonic ritual to sacrifice Du Yuejiao’s Daoist foundation and possess her body.

Shi Hao asked, “Is there such a ritual?”

Little Emerald said, “Not exactly. There’s never been a dual cultivator before. But there’s a soul transference technique that involves sacrificing a Daoist cultivator’s internal elixir to temporarily possess another body. That old woman must have modified the ritual, using Du Yuejiao’s Daoist foundation to transfer her soul into her body.

“Normally, you can’t just alter demonic rituals. But from what I saw, that old woman was desperate. She didn’t have time for a proper ritual, so she risked demonic affliction.”

“I don’t know if that old woman completely devoured her soul or if she was corrupted by Yin Demons due to the flawed ritual. But such a sudden and unexplained advancement always has consequences.”

Shi Hao said, “Is there any way to check?”

Little Emerald said, “You can check her energy flow, see if she’s still a dual cultivator. If her Daoist foundation is gone, it means it was sacrificed. And there should be a chaotic demonic energy within her, a sign of demonic affliction.

“But we can’t know the extent of the corruption.”

Shi Hao said, “She still remembers me. She even tried to save me…”

Little Emerald shook her head, “That doesn’t mean she hasn’t been possessed. The old woman could have absorbed her memories, maintaining the facade.”

Shi Hao’s frown deepened.

Chapter 198: Thundersound Pervasion: Melting Sun Demonic Abyss!

Little Demonic Mother’s gaze fell upon him, “Mutual benefit?”

Shi Hao said, “I’m guessing you’re not working with the Poisonous Sunflower Sect. In fact, you might even be trying to undermine them. And I also have a grudge against them. We have a common enemy. Isn’t that mutual benefit?”

He smiled, his smile bright and disarming, “You tricked those three into coming here because you needed help. We’re also outnumbered in Wu Gorge. Perhaps we can cooperate.”

Little Demonic Mother Leng Yue’s eyes flickered. His words were tempting.

Shi Hao continued, “There’s no real animosity between us. You wanted to kill me because you were afraid I would expose you. But now that your deception has been revealed, killing me won’t achieve anything. It will only create another enemy. Little Emerald!”

The Emerald Beauty materialized on his shoulder.

Shi Hao said, “If she attacks, leave us and tell Sister Sha what happened.”

“Yes, Young Master,” Little Emerald said.

Xiang Gu stared at Little Emerald, as if wanting to grab it.

Little Demonic Mother snorted. She had indeed intended to kill him to protect her secret.

But now that he had offered an alliance, she couldn’t easily refuse.

She needed help.

She landed on the ground, “Follow me,” and flew away.

“Yuejiao!” Shi Hao called out, taking Du Yuejiao’s hand and following Little Demonic Mother.

Under the bright moonlight, Du Yuejiao seemed to radiate a mystical aura, the moonlight clinging to her, enhancing her beauty.

Behind them, Xiang Gu reached out to grab Little Emerald, who flickered and vanished.

Xiang Gu looked around, trying to find her.

They followed Little Demonic Mother to a secluded valley, its entrance hidden by a rocky overhang that blocked the moonlight, steep cliffs rising on either side.

Little Demonic Mother landed on a rock and looked at them, “I’ll be frank. What I seek is the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl.”

Little Emerald materialized, her voice filled with surprise, “The Black Phoenix Poison Pearl? So Master… the Demon Empress really was here?”

A gust of wind, and Xiang Gu lunged at her.

Little Emerald quickly flew out of reach.

Little Demonic Mother glanced at Shi Hao. She knew he was connected to the Evil Lotus Sect, their chosen inheritor.

But why a man? She couldn’t understand. However, it was an internal matter of the Evil Lotus Sect, not her concern.

She knew the Monkey Thief and Xiang Gu were unaware of his true identity, so she didn’t reveal it.

She said, “Yes, three hundred years ago, the legendary Demon Empress came here. And not just her, but also Ye Zi Yin, the Holy Jade Immortal, of the Taisu Immortal Pavilion.”

Shi Hao, to prevent Xiang Gu from trying to grab her again, picked up Little Emerald.

Little Demonic Mother continued, “It all started at the end of the Yang Dynasty. A powerful demonic cultivator from the Poisonous Sunflower Sect, known as the ‘Melting Sun Poison Venerable,’ created a powerful formation here, channeling World Melting Demonic Qi, hoping to connect the mortal world with the underworld and unleash a deadly poison.

“But an immortal of the Taisu Immortal Pavilion, Bi Yingtong, discovered his plot and defeated him. However, Wu Gorge was filled with demonic energy, so she summoned sacred energy from a place called the ‘Celestial Realm’ to purify the land.”

Hou Bomin asked in surprise, “The Celestial Realm? Such a place truly exists?”

Little Demonic Mother said calmly, “Just as the demonic sects can interact with the Demonic Realm, the Taisu Immortal Pavilion, a secretive and powerful Daoist sect, has ways of accessing the Celestial Realm. But the Celestial Realm is different from the Demonic Realm. We’ll discuss that later.

“About three hundred years ago, the Shen Ting Sect discovered the rich spiritual energy hidden beneath these mountains, the purified energy from the Celestial Realm. And deep underground, there’s a chasm called the Melting Sun Demonic Abyss, filled with residual demonic energy, suppressed by the spiritual energy above.

“This demonic energy is the World Melting Demonic Qi. The chasm connects the mortal world with the underworld, a poisonous forest in the realm of the dead.

“Yi Shenzi, the Divine Son of the Shen Ting Sect, coveting this spiritual energy, tried to create a formation to gather and harness it. If he had succeeded, these mountains would have collapsed, killing all the mountain ghosts who lived here. And the poison from the underworld would have been unleashed, devastating the land for hundreds of miles.

“So, the Holy Jade Immortal of the Taisu Immortal Pavilion came here, destroyed the Shen Ting Sect, and killed Yi Shenzi, whose body, cut in half, fell into the Melting Sun Demonic Abyss.”

Shi Hao nodded. So far, her story matched the information he had received from the mountain ghosts.

But there was clearly more to it.

Little Demonic Mother continued, “After the Holy Jade Immortal left, the Demon Empress secretly came here. Although powerful, the Holy Jade Immortal didn’t dare approach the Melting Sun Demonic Abyss, its demonic energy too strong. But the Demon Empress, a rare genius, entered its depths and found Yi Shenzi, still clinging to life.

“Although cut in half, he wasn’t dead yet. So the Demon Empress gave him the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl to preserve his life.”

Little Emerald said, “The Demon Empress stole that pearl from the Poisonous Sunflower Sect. It’s a drop of blood from a legendary phoenix, their most treasured artifact. When the Demon Empress united the demonic sects, the Poisonous Sunflower Sect resisted, their leader killed, the remaining members surrendering. That’s when she took the pearl.

“Formed from the blood of a phoenix, it’s both a deadly poison and a powerful medicine, capable of… keeping the living alive, and the dead undead.”

Hou Bomin, his back hunched, said, “Keeping the living alive, and the dead undead? A fate worse than death.”

Little Demonic Mother said, “Yi Shenzi, clinging to life with the help of the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl, has survived in the Melting Sun Demonic Abyss for three hundred years, neither living nor dead. And the Demon Empress, who had promised to help him obtain a new body, disappeared after her battle with the Holy Jade Immortal.

“But Yi Shenzi had a disciple who wasn’t in Wu Gorge at the time and survived. He later returned, contacted his master, and, following his instructions, secretly rebuilt the Shen Ting Sect.

“Those purple-clad warriors you saw… they are the new Shen Ting Sect.”

Shi Hao said thoughtfully, “I overheard them talking about a Divine Venerable and Four Divine Kings.”

Little Demonic Mother said, “The Divine Venerable is Yi Shenzi. And the Four Divine Kings are the Thunder King, Lightning King, Thunderclap King, and Sky King, all fourth-rank experts. They also have Five Thunder Generals, slightly weaker, but still mid-rank.”

“The Shen Ting Sect is ambitious. Yi Shenzi, after three hundred years of hiding, wants to restore his sect’s former glory. They want to establish a new nation with the Shen Ting Sect as its state religion. After all, they were persecuted by the Sheng Dynasty for supporting the Xiao family of the Great Liang Dynasty.

“While the Sheng Dynasty promoted Daoism, the Shen Ting Sect was forced into hiding. They haven’t forgotten that.”

Shi Hao asked, “And what is this ‘Thunder Sound Universal Transformation’ they mentioned?”

Having come this far, Little Demonic Mother no longer hid anything.

She said, “Yi Shenzi’s physical body was destroyed. He’s only alive because of the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl, which originally belonged to the Poisonous Sunflower Sect. The Melting Sun Poison Venerable, who created the Melting Sun Demonic Abyss four hundred years ago, was their leader.

“To return to the world, Yi Shenzi needed a new body. So he secretly sent his disciples to infiltrate the Poisonous Sunflower Sect and learn their techniques. Using their secret methods and rituals, he created a new body for himself, the ‘Primordial Yellow Dao Body.’

“Although called a ‘Dao Body,’ it’s actually a demonic fetus, refined with powerful poisons. And the Shen Ting Sect also found the ‘Thunder Venerable,’ a supreme-grade divine crystal.”

Shi Hao and the others exchanged glances… A supreme-grade divine crystal?

They knew such treasures were incredibly rare.

Little Demonic Mother continued, “Using this Primordial Yellow Dao Body and the Thunder Venerable divine crystal, combined with an ancient Shen Ting Sect formation, they created the ‘Thunder Sound Manifestation’ array. The Thunder Venerable and the array are disrupting the weather in Wu Gorge, creating those thunderclouds you saw.

“Now, they’ve activated the Thunder Sound Universal Transformation Array, drawing the lightning downwards, merging it with the spiritual energy within these mountains. Once the array is complete, this energy will be absorbed by the Primordial Yellow Dao Body.

“Yi Shenzi will then transfer his soul from the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl into this new body, obtaining the power of the Thunder Venerable and the vast spiritual energy, becoming an incredibly powerful, high-rank expert, practically unstoppable.”

Shi Hao said thoughtfully, “But without the spiritual energy, the mountain ghosts will die.”

Little Demonic Mother sneered, “Not just them. When the Melting Sun Poison Venerable corrupted this land with demonic energy, Immortal Bi Yingtong of the Taisu Immortal Pavilion brought celestial energy to restore it. And three hundred years ago, the Holy Jade Immortal prevented the Shen Ting Sect from stealing this energy for the same reason.

“If this energy is taken, the Twelve Peaks of Wu Gorge will collapse, and everything within a hundred-mile radius will be destroyed.”

Shi Hao sighed, A catastrophe is imminent.

Chapter 197: Thunder Sound Universal Transformation: Cold Moon Demonic Mother!

Shi Hao, steadying himself, asked, “Blood Bath?”

Little Emerald explained, “It’s a brutal demonic ritual. The user transfers their soul and a drop of their blood into a young woman’s body. When the woman becomes pregnant, the soul takes over the fetus, slowly growing and absorbing the woman’s life force until it’s born.

“The child regains one-tenth of its original power every year, reaching full strength at the age of ten. But it’s a dangerous ritual, the requirements for the host body strict, and the ‘demon fetus’ vulnerable during its development, so it’s rarely used.”

“She infiltrated Dragon Head Mountain once before, so I recognize her demonic energy.”

The girl looked at Little Emerald and snorted, “So you were the one who used demonic fire to block me at Dragon Head Mountain. But I’m no longer the Cold Moon Demonic Mother. I’ve been reborn. The Cold Moon Demonic Mother is dead. I am now… Little Demonic Mother Leng Yue.”

Shi Hao wiped the blood from his mouth and glared at her, “What do you want?”

If not for Little Emerald’s warning, he would have been fooled.

A thirteen-year-old girl, walking on air, calling herself the Divine Infant… it was a convincing disguise.

Now, although he knew she wasn’t a high-rank expert, and her levitation was just a supernatural ability, she was still a fourth-rank martial artist, and a supernatural ability user at that. He was still in danger.

And now, her disguise revealed, she was even more dangerous.

Little Demonic Mother shook her head, “I don’t want to kill you, but you’ve appeared at a bad time. If you reach them, you’ll expose me, so you have to die.”

A wave of demonic energy surged towards Shi Hao.

Shi Hao raised his sword and smiled, “So you tricked Yuejiao and the others, telling them I had been captured by the Poisonous Sunflower Sect? You wanted to use them, but I would have exposed your charade, so you have to kill me here?”

He finally understood why Yuejiao, Hou Bomin, and Xiang Gu had come to Wu Gorge.

The Divine Infant herself had told them he had been captured.

How could they have doubted her?

“You’re clever,” Little Demonic Mother said, her figure flickering, “Which is why you have to die now.”

She struck out with her palm, a flurry of palm strikes, each carrying immense force, descending upon him.

The sky seemed to darken as her attacks filled his vision, obscuring the moon and stars, a wave of oppressive power threatening to crush him.

Although both fourth and sixth-rank were considered mid-level, the difference in their cultivation was still significant.

It was like a burly man fighting a frail child. Even with the same techniques, the man would easily overpower the child.

And higher cultivation levels usually meant access to more powerful techniques.

Facing the barrage of palm strikes, Shi Hao drew his sword.

He thrust it forward, a simple, direct attack.

But it seemed to warp space itself, drawing all her attacks towards a single point.

A resounding crash, and Shi Hao was thrown backwards.

Little Demonic Mother, her attack deflected, was surprised… What kind of swordsmanship is that?

His simple, unassuming strike had somehow neutralized her complex and powerful attack, as if her dispersed energy had been drawn back to a single point, like the setting sun.

His swordsmanship was truly extraordinary.

Shi Hao, thrown backwards, his internal energy disrupted, struggled to suppress his injuries.

He landed, rolled on the ground, then jumped to his feet and fled down the mountain.

Little Demonic Mother snorted, her small figure flickering and disappearing.

She reappeared behind him, her hand slashing downwards, a streak of crimson light aiming for the back of his neck.

Shi Hao, sensing her attack, leaped forward and rolled on the ground, narrowly avoiding the blow.

Little Demonic Mother was inwardly surprised… How is that possible?

Did he have eyes in the back of his head?

She had used the Perilous Moon Swallow’s power, a silent, instantaneous movement across space.

There had been no warning, no sound.

Yet, he had dodged her attack, by a hair’s breadth.

It defied logic.

Shi Hao, although fleeing, had been constantly scanning his surroundings with his Primordial Energy, sensing her movement the moment she appeared.

This Primordial Energy, normally only attainable by high-rank experts, was beyond Little Demonic Mother’s comprehension. She wouldn’t have expected a mere sixth-rank martial artist to possess such power.

Seeing him running with his back to her, knowing she possessed the Perilous Moon Swallow’s ability, she had thought he was a fool.

But he had dodged her attack.

This only strengthened her resolve to kill him.

In the demonic sects, enemies were eliminated permanently.

She flickered, like a swallow diving into the forest, her demonic energy surging, and lunged towards him.

Seeing his exceptional swordsmanship, she decided to rely on her superior strength, overwhelming him with brute force.

Shi Hao, rolling down the slope, his feet hitting the ground, used his momentum to accelerate, his sword flashing behind him.

A hundred sword flowers bloomed, each one a swirling vortex of energy, deflecting and dissipating her attack.

Little Emerald appeared above, facing Little Demonic Mother, her small hands outstretched.

Little Demonic Mother felt a strange force invading her mind.

She snorted, forced to change her attack, and struck at Little Emerald.

A burst of demonic energy, a flash of crimson light.

But Little Emerald had already disappeared.

With Little Demonic Mother momentarily distracted, Shi Hao increased his speed, putting more distance between them, and entered the forest ahead.

Little Demonic Mother followed, her anger rising as he pulled away. She flickered.

A flash of light, and she appeared above him, her figure multiplying, surrounding him from all sides.

Shi Hao knew most of them were illusions, but he couldn’t distinguish the real one from the fakes.

After all, she was a demonic cultivator, her methods cunning and unpredictable.

He spun his sword, creating a whirlwind of energy.

Several of the illusions shattered, but four figures remained, attacking him.

He turned and struck, his sword clashing with one of the figures, a burst of light and a resounding boom.

Before he could celebrate, the other three attacked, their demonic energy surging.

He was surrounded again.

Suddenly, a sword light pierced the darkness, shattering one of the figures.

An iron chain appeared out of nowhere, binding another.

And a hook, wielded by a small, shadowy figure rolling on the ground, snagged the third.

Little Demonic Mother snorted, unleashing another surge of demonic energy, and with a crash, Shi Hao, his sword flying from his hand, was thrown backwards. A figure rushed forward, catching him.

“Brother Shi?!” It was Du Yuejiao.

Hou Bomin, the Monkey Thief, and Xiang Gu also arrived.

Little Demonic Mother, rising into the air, her hands behind her back, snorted coldly, “So you were suspicious of me. That’s why you followed me.”

Hou Bomin, his back hunched, his pipe in his hand, sighed, “Not initially. But you were moving too fast, clearly hiding something. And although we didn’t doubt you at first, you avoided the Shen Ting Sect warriors along the way.

“If you were truly the Divine Infant, they would be no match for you. Why be so cautious? You clearly didn’t want us to see you fight, to see your demonic techniques. And your sudden departure was also suspicious. We had to follow you.

“Although we only intended to observe.”

Du Yuejiao glared at her, “Who are you?”

Shi Hao, holding his sword, sighed, “She’s from the Flower Butterfly Sect, a demonic sect. She was famous fifty years ago, known as the Cold Moon Demonic Mother. She used a demonic ritual to… transform herself into this.”

Famous fifty years ago? Du Yuejiao, Hou Bomin, and Xiang Gu stared at Little Demonic Mother, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief.

This girl, who looked barely thirteen, was actually an old woman?

Even if she had been twenty fifty years ago, she would be seventy now. How could she still look like this?

Demonic techniques were truly bizarre!

“I was going to spare you,” Little Demonic Mother said, her demonic aura surging, her killing intent palpable, “But you brought this upon yourselves.”

A wave of demonic energy, like a tidal wave, crashed down on them.

Shi Hao suddenly said, “Wait!”

Little Demonic Mother stopped her attack, her voice cold, “It’s too late to beg for mercy.”

Shi Hao smiled, “I’m not begging. Demonic cultivators are ruthless. Begging is pointless. Why don’t we discuss… mutual benefits? Perhaps there’s a way we can… cooperate?”

Chapter 196: The Demonic Mother and the Perilous Moon Swallow

“Poison Venerable!” Red Scorpion reported, “It’s Sha Lingshan of the Evil Lotus Sect and that ‘Hidden Dragon’ Shi Chongyun. I don’t know what their relationship is…”

“Silence!” the man called Poison Venerable suddenly said.

Red Scorpion quickly obeyed.

Poison Venerable sneered, “Come out. You can’t hide.”

Shi Hao’s heart sank. He’s discovered me?

Since his failure to track Jiao Han at the Leopard Palace, he had refined his tracking skills.

He had suppressed his energy flow, relying solely on his Primordial Energy and the Soul Chasing Locking Steps, moving stealthily, even using the Nine Yin Demonic Transformations for added concealment.

Yet, he had still been discovered?

This man was clearly the Crimson Rainbow Poison Venerable, one of the two elders of the Poisonous Sunflower Sect.

The man sneered again, “It’s useless to hide. I know you’re there.”

The sound of approaching footsteps.

Shi Hao, resisting the urge to flee, used the Nine Yin Demonic Transformations to shrink his body and hide in a small, concealed space within a collapsed stone hut, holding his breath, forcing himself to remain perfectly still.

The footsteps grew louder, then stopped, and then retreated.

Red Scorpion asked, “Poison Venerable?”

Poison Venerable’s voice was low and serious, “You mentioned the Evil Lotus Sect. They have a secret technique that allows them to track people from a distance by sensing their energy flow. I was testing to see if Sha Lingshan was following you. It seems I was mistaken.”

Red Scorpion said, “You’re always so cautious, Poison Venerable.”

“Continue,” Poison Venerable said.

Red Scorpion said, “I led Li Zhen, the Thunder King, one of the Shen Ting Sect’s Four Divine Kings, to them. He believes they’re the ones responsible for the plague. But although the Shen Ting Sect has many men, that place is difficult to attack directly.

“And Sha Lingshan only recently reached the fourth rank. Li Zhen is stronger than her. She’s at a disadvantage.”

Poison Venerable said, “Not necessarily. Li Zhen cultivates Shen Ting Sect techniques; his strength is natural. But with the Evil Lotus Sect reunited, and their scriptures restored, the outcome is uncertain. The Night Charm Demonic scriptures are incredibly powerful, containing many strange and unpredictable techniques.

“And being underground, they won’t be able to use their full power, for fear of collapsing the cavern. In that situation, Sha Lingshan, with her demonic techniques, might have an advantage.”

Red Scorpion said, “You’re right, Poison Venerable. It would be best if they both suffered heavy losses.”

Poison Venerable said thoughtfully, “It’s strange. Why is Sha Lingshan here? Does the Evil Lotus Sect know about what the Demon Empress did here three hundred years ago?”

Red Scorpion said, “Poison Venerable, that Shi Chongyun clearly has the Plague Dispelling Talisman. He’s been interfering with our plans. What should we do?”

Poison Venerable snorted, “The Evil Venerable and I have already discussed this. We’ll use the Crimson Rainbow Poison Miasma I developed earlier. It was our backup plan.”

Red Scorpion said, “But they might still have the Sui Marquis Pearl. We didn’t get it, or the Demonic Qilin Blood Poison, at Lifting Heaven Peak. And we lost the Plague Dispelling Talisman.”

Poison Venerable said calmly, “It doesn’t matter. The Plague Harmonia Envoy’s power is specifically designed to counter the Plague Stars, and its range is greater than theirs. And the Sui Marquis Pearl can only neutralize poison through direct contact.

“I doubt they’ll help the Shen Ting Sect. The Crimson Rainbow Poison Miasma, however, is not as subtle as the Southern and Northern Plague Stars. Although our inside man can use it to cause chaos within the Shen Ting Sect, its effectiveness is uncertain.”

“Go and meet with the Evil Venerable. I’ll make the necessary preparations.”

Red Scorpion said, “Yes, Poison Venerable.”

Shi Hao, hidden in the shadows, sensed Red Scorpion leaving, while Poison Venerable waited, not moving until she was far away, then he also left, heading in a different direction.

Shi Hao emerged from his hiding place, went to the spot where they had been talking, and looked around.

This Poison Venerable was incredibly cautious. Although he had checked for tails, he had still waited to be certain before leaving.

He was a fourth-rank expert, and his vigilance made him a difficult target to follow.

Shi Hao decided to follow Red Scorpion instead.

However, the tunnels here were a labyrinth, connecting various caverns. He didn’t know which way she had gone.

“Little Emerald?” he whispered.

Little Emerald materialized on his shoulder, “Young Master!” She hadn’t dared to follow Poison Venerable either, his senses too sharp.

Shi Hao asked, “That Poison Venerable mentioned ‘what the Demon Empress did here three hundred years ago.’ Has Master been here before?”

Little Emerald said, “Young Master, I am just the Keeper of the Canon. My duty is to preserve the sect’s legacy, remaining hidden. I don’t know much about Master’s past or her… activities in the mortal world.”

Shi Hao sighed… Why is she always bringing up Master/Wife?

It seemed that although his two “wives” from the Primordial Grotto Heaven remained hidden, their legends were everywhere in the jianghu.

Having lost track of Red Scorpion, he could only search blindly.

Fortunately, this area was relatively secluded. The Shen Ting Sect warriors hadn’t reached it yet.

As he passed through a cavern, he saw a faint light from above.

He looked up and saw a beam of moonlight filtering through a crack in the ceiling.

It was a passage leading to the surface.

He leaped upwards, channeling his energy, his body rising, and floated through the opening.

Along the way, he touched the side of the passage, and loose earth and rocks crumbled. The passage had clearly been created recently.

He emerged onto the mountainside.

To his left was the shattered Scripture Bestowal Platform, and beyond it, the towering peak of Flying Phoenix Peak.

He was on a relatively low hill.

Looking north, he saw the river and, on the opposite bank, high above, the silhouette of Goddess Peak, bathed in moonlight.

The moon in the night sky was full and bright.

Tomorrow night was the full moon.

It should be the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for family reunions, but he was here, in the jianghu, surrounded by danger.

Since entering the martial world, he hadn’t had a moment’s peace.

He looked down at the ground below, crisscrossed by a network of white, electrical sparks, the trees charred black, the grass burned away, a desolate, otherworldly landscape.

He suddenly sensed something and turned around.

A young girl, her feet seemingly touching the air itself, descended gracefully, landing before him.

Her skin was fair, her features delicate, her appearance pristine. She wore a light blue robe under a yellow pleated skirt, her feet clad in embroidered shoes, a small, yellow mark on her forehead.

Bathed in moonlight, she seemed to be walking on air, her movements ethereal and otherworldly.

She stopped a few feet above the ground, her pink embroidered shoes hovering, her gaze fixed on him.

Shi Hao was stunned. Even Sha Lingshan, a fourth-rank expert, couldn’t achieve such effortless levitation.

“May I ask your name, Miss?” he asked respectfully, bowing.

“I am Ming Yueshu,” she said, her voice cold and aloof.

Shi Hao’s mind went blank… Ming Yueshu?

The “Divine Infant,” number three on the Blacklist?

He hadn’t expected to encounter such a powerful figure here.

And he finally understood why Yuejiao, Hou Bomin, and Xiang Gu were following her.

Those on the Blacklist were all renowned and formidable figures.

The name “Divine Infant” alone was enough.

Shi Hao bowed deeply, “Shi Chongyun greets Senior.”

The girl, looking down at him, nodded slightly, “I’ve heard of you.”

Shi Hao asked, “From Yuejiao and the others? Where are they?”

The girl said, “I’ll take you to them…”

“Young Master, she’s not the Divine Infant!” Little Emerald, appearing on his shoulder, suddenly shouted.

A slender hand, like a flash of lightning, struck Shi Hao’s forehead.

He didn’t even have time to react, his body thrown backwards, crashing into a charred tree, which exploded.

He rolled on the ground, coughing up blood, marveling at her strength, yet also relieved… she wasn’t Ming Yueshu.

That palm strike had been incredibly powerful, at least fourth-rank… but not high-rank.

The girl, hovering in mid-air, was slightly surprised… Although her disguise had been exposed, she had been channeling her energy, and that attack, so swift and powerful, should have been enough to break his arms, even shatter his skull.

But he seemed to possess two opposing internal energies, their combined defense, although broken by her palm strike, had protected him from serious injury.

“Young Master!” Little Emerald flew to his side.

The girl landed gracefully, her demonic aura swirling around her, her eyes gleaming, and she snorted.

She looked at the doll hovering beside him, “The Emerald Beauty, the Keeper of the Canon, with you… it seems the rumors are true. The Evil Lotus Sect has been reunited… and you’re their chosen inheritor.”

Shi Hao, leaning on his sword, struggled to his feet, “Who… who are you?”

“Be careful, Young Master!” Little Emerald whispered, “That’s Yan Lengyue, the ‘Cold Moon Demonic Mother’ of the Flower Butterfly Sect. She was quite famous fifty years ago, then disappeared. She must have used the ‘Blood Bath’ ritual. And that levitation technique… it’s clearly the Perilous Moon Swallow divine crystal.”