"Senior Brother Zhao's Black Sun Tempest struck without warning, yet it still failed to kill that disciple named Fang Han. He must truly have some skill—what kind of divine ability is he cultivating?"
"For Zhao Xuanyi to attack first—someone of his stature!—and even unleash a Black Sun Tempest, yet still be unable to finish Fang Han… The disciples of Yuhua Sect are frighteningly strong. I must report this to the sect."
"That Fang Han… he killed Seven-Leaf Demon Lord, obtained the demonic saber Blood Skysunder, somehow acquired the Five Prison King Cauldron, and his qi is unbelievably deep. If he keeps cultivating, he might become another heaven-favored prodigy."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Fang Han's performance today—if word spread—would shake the entire cultivation world. Zhao Xuanyi had failed to kill him; hearing the whispers only made Zhao's expression grow darker. Cold waves of killing intent radiated from him. He glanced at Demon Marshal, then at Fang Qingxue and Fang Han.
"Fang Qingxue, you think you're fit to challenge me? Not enough. All of you come at once. I want to see if the combined strength of Demon Marshal and Yuhua Sect can withstand the Three Disasters and Nine Tribulations, the supreme Twelve Mystical Gates of the Taiyi Sect."
"You?" Demon Marshal laughed wildly. "If you'd mastered all Three Disasters and Nine Tribulations, you'd already have defied Heaven itself, reached the Tenth Layer of Divinity, and stepped into the Longevity Realm. Yet you're still stuck at Golden Core. Don't boast."
He floated forward, robes fluttering.
"Zhao Xuanyi, if you want to fight, your opponent is me. Leave Yuhua out of it. If you have real ability, face me alone. Or—we can enter the Taiyuan Immortal Mansion together. Whoever reaches deeper wins. The loser kills himself. How about that?"
Zhao Xuanyi's face tightened. He looked toward the vast, mist-shrouded Immortal Mansion behind him. He knew he couldn't win that gamble. Legends spoke of countless experts who entered its depths seeking fortune and never returned—some even in the Longevity Realm.
He remained silent.
Fang Han's voice suddenly became ice-cold.
"You tried to kill me, Zhao Xuanyi. Don't blame me for wanting your head. Senior Sister Qingxue, let's kill him first. Let's see what the Taiyi Sect can do about it."
"Well said," Demon Marshal clapped, laughing. "Zhao Xuanyi tried to humiliate you with tricks—no need for courtesy. Qingxue, will you join me? Back then, even the Water Gu Heavenly Demon—also a Daoist Golden Core—had its core shattered by the two of us working together. Today, against Zhao Xuanyi? Alone I can defeat him but not kill him. With your Immortal Lightning Talisman, even he won't escape."
"You dare!"
The six True Persons of Taiyi Sect—Fushou, Kanli, Changchun, Dafang, Kunyuan, and Luming—flew to Zhao Xuanyi's side and formed a defensive ring.
Taiyi Sect had lost most of its disciples—barely a handful remained. They were too few to form their sword formation. The massacre had begun when Fang Han distracted them and Demon Marshal exploited the moment, slaughtering dozens. No wonder all six True Persons now glared at Fang Han with murderous hatred.
A Dao Artifact was no small thing. Even a scion of a demonic emperor like Demon Marshal didn't have one.
Zhao Xuanyi held several supreme treasures, but not a single Dao Artifact.
To forge one required unimaginable effort—pure yang celestial qi, mountains of spiritual materials, centuries of refinement even under the hands of a Longevity Realm master.
But a Dao Artifact, once born… even immortals contended for it.
Fang Qingxue possessing one—and joining with Demon Marshal—gave them an eighty percent chance of wiping out Zhao Xuanyi and every Taiyi disciple here.
Zhao Xuanyi's earlier invitation for the three to fight him was mere provocation. He didn't expect Demon Marshal to accept so readily.
Luming True Person shouted sharply,
"If the two of you—immortal and demon—join hands, all the world will condemn Yuhua Sect!"
"That's easy to solve." Demon Marshal's voice turned cold. "Seal this spatial channel. Kill every witness. No one will ever know what happened. We'll simply say everyone died exploring Taiyuan Immortal Mansion."
Before anyone could react, Demon Marshal acted.
Boom!
Black talisman-light burst out in a storm. The spatial passage was instantly locked down with countless layers of seals. Shadows flickered—this part of the Void became a sealed bubble in the ocean of infinite space. No one could escape.
Beyond the Immortal Mansion lay chaotic spatial storms capable of shredding anyone short of a true Longevity expert.
"Fang Qingxue," Demon Marshal said softly, eyes glinting, "what say you?"
One word from her, and they would begin the slaughter.
He had endured years of pursuit. Today, he was ready to spill rivers of blood.
Fang Qingxue shook her head lightly.
"Ying Tianqing, you and I walk different paths. I cannot assist you in killing immortal sect disciples. But Taiyi Sect tried to execute a member of my Fang family. I cannot ignore that. Handling Taiyi Sect has nothing to do with you."
"…Very well."
Demon Marshal exhaled. His figure blurred, turning into a streak of shadow, preparing to leave.
"Demon Marshal, you think you can leave?"
BOOM!!!
A blazing voice thundered through the sealed passage.
The space Demon Marshal had locked suddenly shuddered and cracked. A flood of blazing light—like a descending sun—burst through, revealing a figure wrapped in radiant fire.
A daoist silhouette emerged, standing like a descending deity.
"Great Sun Catastrophe… Song Weiyi."
Demon Marshal frowned.
"Senior Brother Song!"
"Senior Brother is here!"
Taiyi disciples erupted in cheers. The six True Persons and Zhao Xuanyi all loosened in relief. Reinforcements had arrived—now the outcome was uncertain again.
Fang Han felt unease like a stone dropping into his heart.
Fang Qingxue remained expressionless.
"Song Weiyi, do you wish to fight me?"
Song Weiyi cupped his hands politely.
"Fang Qingxue, you have acted with restraint. Since you will not cooperate with Demon Marshal, Taiyi Sect will not oppose Yuhua Sect today. What remains… should be judged by a representative of your sect."
He smiled faintly.
"Senior Brother Hua, please step forward."
BOOM—
A majestic force surged from beyond the passage. Even the distant Taiyuan Immortal Mansion trembled.
A figure stepped out—quiet, dressed in plain scholar's robes. He looked ordinary. But the pressure around him was like the rising of heaven's mandate.
It was Hua Tiandu, Yuhua Sect's First True Disciple.
Master of the Tenth Layer of Divinity.
A genius who had reversed fate itself.
A man only a single step from the Longevity Realm—destined for ten thousand years of life.
Even Song Weiyi, who traveled in carriages pulled by golden jiao dragons and with ministers attending him, could not compare in true might.
Hua Tiandu had arrived.