Dense demonic qi began gathering around Liang's body, rising like dark smoke and wrapping him completely. In an instant, his entire presence transformed. The calm, mortal-like aura vanished, replaced by something cold, ancient, and oppressive — the unmistakable presence of a demon cultivator.
Without any visible effort, he casually flicked his fingers.
At once, the space around them began to distort and collapse inward, as though reality itself had been squeezed by an invisible hand.
With another simple gesture, dozens of translucent blades materialized in midair. They were not made of metal or spiritual energy, but of something far more terrifying — condensed fragments of void power.
Without warning, the blades shot forward, slicing through space as they rushed toward Ling Tian and the young woman beside him.
For the first time since the confrontation began, Ling Tian's expression changed drastically.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the incoming blades.
"The power of the void… this is impossible!" he exclaimed in shock. "Only Void Transformation cultivators can control such power. How can you possibly possess it?!"
Liang chuckled softly, clearly amused.
"Void Transformation Realm?" he said lightly. "You overestimate me. I am truly flattered."
Ling Tian did not respond further. His expression hardened as he raised his sword, gathering an immense surge of sword energy around his body in preparation.
As the blades closed in, he swung his weapon with full force.
A tremendous wave of sword qi burst outward, colliding head-on with the void blades.
The impact produced a deafening explosion that tore apart the surrounding ground and filled the air with violent shockwaves.
Liang observed the aftermath calmly, his gaze filled with interest.
"That strike should be capable of killing an ordinary late Spirit Severing cultivator," he said with a faint smile. "If he survives, this will become far more entertaining."
Moments later, movement stirred within the wreckage.
A figure slowly emerged.
But Ling Tian no longer looked human.
His eyes now glowed with an azure draconic light. Dense emerald scales covered most of his body, two small black horns protruded from his forehead, and his hands had transformed into clawed talons.
Liang's eyes flickered with realization.
"So this is a dragon transformation," he said thoughtfully. "That explains your obsession with obtaining True Dragon blood essence. Anyone would desire such power, but in your case, it seems necessary to complete your evolution."
Ling Tian's expression turned cold.
"You are indeed a formidable opponent to force me to reveal this form," he said grimly. "But that is all. Your journey ends here."
Before Liang could reply, Ling Tian vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared directly in front of Liang with terrifying speed, launching a devastating attack.
The collision of their bodies produced a violent shockwave.
To Ling Tian's astonishment, Liang was pushed several meters backward.
Shock appeared on Ling Tian's face once again.
"This is impossible," he said in disbelief. "Even Spirit Severing cultivators cannot withstand a direct strike from my dragon form."
Liang looked at him mockingly.
"Your transformation is incomplete," he said calmly. "Even a true dragon body would, at best, only match mine."
With a faint smile, Liang began walking slowly toward him.
"I am growing bored," he added quietly. "It is time to end this."
Then he spoke a single phrase.
"Infernal Void Flame."
The moment the words left his mouth, a dark crimson flame erupted from the void itself.
Its power was so overwhelming that the surrounding space began collapsing under its presence.
The flame quickly expanded, taking the form of a massive black-crimson serpent with blazing, abyssal eyes.
As it roared, everything around it began melting under its unbearable heat.
A chill ran through Ling Tian's entire body.
He instantly understood that this was no ordinary fire.
This flame possessed the terrifying ability to burn even the void itself.
The serpent lunged toward him.
Closing his eyes, Ling Tian gathered every ounce of strength within his body, drawing upon the dragon blood coursing through his veins.
When he opened them again, he unleashed all his power in a single desperate attack.
"Dragon Roar!"
A deafening roar exploded outward, shaking the battlefield.
But the void serpent was completely unaffected.
In the blink of an eye, it engulfed Ling Tian entirely.
His body began dissolving instantly under the unimaginable heat.
Within moments, his physical form vanished.
Only his soul remained.
It appeared as a brilliant, solidified entity — far more powerful than an ordinary Nascent Soul. This was a Nascent Divinity, the evolved form that emerged after breaking through the Spirit Severing Realm.
The void serpent opened its jaws and swallowed it without resistance.
Then it vanished back into the void from which it came.
Liang looked around calmly and chuckled.
"It seems someone rescued the girl while I was occupied," he said casually. "Most likely one of the old relics. That would explain how this boy managed to progress so far despite being hunted by the Heavenly Conqueror Sect."
Moments later, the space around Liang began to distort once more.
His figure faded into the void, leaving behind only destruction and silence.
Inside Lord Wu's private chamber, the air suddenly twisted violently.
Wu Yang's expression darkened instantly as he sensed the disturbance.
Without hesitation, he began forming complex hand seals at incredible speed, ready to unleash a fatal strike at any moment.
Then a figure emerged from the distorted space.
The moment Wu Yang recognized him, his tense posture relaxed, and he exhaled in relief.
"Master… you nearly gave me a heart attack," he said with lingering irritation.
Liang looked at him with a mocking smile.
"For an assassin, you frighten far too easily," he remarked. "You still have much to learn before reaching the level I once possessed."
Three hundred years ago, Wu Yang had been known throughout the world as the Dark Viper, the most feared assassin of his era. It was said he had even successfully assassinated early Spirit Severing cultivators.
The Free Heart Pavilion itself had originally been Liang's plan for Wu Yang's retirement. Before the Devil Invasion, Liang had provided vast resources and ordered him to establish it near Blood Moon City.
Now, it had grown into one of the most renowned cultivation establishments, offering high-concentration cultivation chambers, alchemy facilities, and forging halls.
Wu Yang sighed bitterly before speaking.
"Everything you requested has been prepared," he said.
He then looked at Liang steadily.
"We can begin whenever you are ready."