0p0 Chapter 586
Chapter 586
The valley returned to silence, save for the mountain wind sweeping across the scorched earth, swirling up a few tattered fragments of a Daoist robe. Su Yao caught the slowly descending Azure Phoenix Sword, noticing a faint crack on its blade—a mark left from its earlier overload. Tianjizi gazed at the churning dark clouds in the west, his white hair fluttering in the wind: "This calamity may have been averted, but it is not the end. The lingering resentment of the demon god has not dissipated, and the foundation of the *Summoning Demon Codex* remains..."
Shen Xinghe gripped the hilt of his sword, the light of the Seven Star Sword reflected in his resolute eyes: "No matter how many calamities we cultivators face, we shall protect all living beings." Su Yao gently stroked the sword, and the Azure Phoenix Sword emitted a clear, melodious hum, as if responding to this vow. As the morning sun pierced through the clouds, in its light, a tender green sprout quietly broke through the soil on the ruins of the Xuanxiao Sect.
Three days later, Tianjizi coughed up blood in his makeshift bamboo hut, the winding bloodstains on his yellowed handkerchief resembling unhealed scars. His withered fingers brushed against the yellowed pages of the *Tianji Scroll* on his desk; the fragments of tortoise shells, weathered by time, suddenly glowed with an eerie light, foreshadowing an even greater calamity brewing in the shadows. "Go and summon all the major sects," Tianjizi said, handing Su Yao a jade slip inscribed with runes. "Have them bring their sect's secret treasures and meet at Qingming Gorge in three days."
The perpetual mist of Qingming Gorge was now shattered by dozens of sword lights. The six great sect leaders of the cultivation world arrived together, but their expressions changed the moment they stepped into the gorge—dozens of demon cultivator corpses lay at the bottom, their wounds tinged with an eerie purplish-black, a sign of the *Summoning Demon Codex* eroding their souls. "These demon cultivators came from the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons in the Southern Frontier," the leader of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect said, sweeping his whisk to reveal a crimson mark on the back of each corpse's neck. "They should have been sealed away a thousand years ago."
Su Yao's Azure Phoenix Sword suddenly trembled violently, a wisp of black energy seeping from its cracks. She clutched her chest abruptly, a horrifying scene flashing before her eyes: dark purple demonic patterns spread across the earth, countless cultivators with bloodshot eyes plunged their swords into the chests of their fellow disciples. "Watch out!" Shen Xinghe's Seven Star Sword stood before her, the Big Dipper constellation on its blade suddenly shining brightly, barely deflecting a blood-red blade hurtling through the air.
The blood-stained blade landed and transformed into a black-robed figure, his face obscured by a hood, only the demonic markings on his forehead identical to those in Su Yao's illusion. "Remnants of the Xuanxiao Sect, still hoping to put up a last stand?" The black-robed figure raised his hand, and the mist throughout the canyon condensed into countless sharp blades. "Let me tell you a secret—that newly sprouted bud was merely a seed we sowed."
Before the words were even finished, a surge of demonic energy rose from the direction of the ruins of the Xuanxiao Sect. Looking towards it, everyone saw the tender green sprout grow at a visible speed, transforming in the blink of an eye into a towering demonic tree. Countless blood-red fruits hung from its twisted branches, each fruit sealing the face of a cultivator. Su Yao recognized one of the terrified faces—it was her junior sister from the Xuanxiao Sect, responsible for menial tasks.
"So the true purpose of the 'Summoning Demon Codex' is to refine cultivators into demonic seeds." Tianjizi wiped the blood from his lips and took out half a tortoise shell from his robes. "The seal from a thousand years ago loosened not because its power weakened, but because..." His voice trailed off, and the tortoise shell suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light, projecting an ancient scene into the void: a cultivator dressed in a black robe was infusing his divine soul into the 'Summoning Demon Codex,' a strange smile playing on his lips.
"That was... the first Xuanxiao Sect Master?" Shen Xinghe's voice was filled with disbelief. The moment the image vanished, the black-robed man let out a sinister laugh: "Finally, someone has remembered this secret. Let me tell you something even more interesting—the Azure Phoenix Sword in Su Yao's hand was one of the three divine swords that suppressed the Demonic Codex. And now..." He pointed at Su Yao, "its sword spirit has been corrupted by demonic thoughts."
The Azure Phoenix Sword suddenly slipped from Su Yao's control, and the black energy surging from the cracks condensed into a ferocious sword shadow in the air. Su Yao felt countless sharp spikes churning in her mind, and past memories, like shattered mirrors, pieced together scenes she had never seen before: she was locked in a pitch-black dungeon, the sinister laughter of the first sect leader echoing in her ears, and the Azure Phoenix Sword in her hand drinking the blood of her fellow disciples.
"No!" Su Yao bit her tongue, using her blood as a catalyst to forcibly recall the Azure Phoenix Sword. The cracks on the sword became more pronounced, but the moment she infused it with spiritual power, a dazzling azure light burst forth. Seeing this, the black-robed man finally showed a hint of seriousness: "I didn't expect you could awaken the remnant consciousness of the sword spirit. But it doesn't matter; when all the fruits of the Demon Tree ripen, the entire cultivation world will become our sacrifice."
Shen Xinghe gripped the Seven Star Sword tightly, the Big Dipper constellation on its blade echoing the azure light of the Azure Phoenix Sword: "Su Yao, do you still remember the oath we swore when we entered the sect?" His voice pierced through the demonic energy, carrying a reassuring power, "To eradicate injustice in the world and protect all living beings." Su Yao wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and channeled her spiritual power into the Azure Phoenix Sword; the black energy seeping from the cracks began to slowly dissipate.
At this moment, the tortoise shell in Tianjizi's hand suddenly transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the roots of the demonic tree. The demonic tree let out a deafening wail, and its blood-red fruits exploded one after another. Although the cultivators who broke free showed fear on their faces, none of them were corrupted by the demonic intent. "The tortoise shell sealed away the last bit of goodness of the first sect leader," Tianjizi explained weakly. "He willingly fell into the demonic path back then, so that one day..."
Seeing the situation was dire, the man in black robes transformed into a blood mist and fled. Shen Xinghe swung his sword, unleashing a beam of starlight that dispersed most of the blood mist: "Trying to run?" He flicked his wrist, and the Seven Star Sword drew the Big Dipper Formation. "Since the 'Summoning Demon Codex' is your foundation, then we will destroy it from the source!" Su Yao understood, and the Azure Phoenix Sword and the Seven Star Sword simultaneously emitted a clear sound. The combined light of the two swords shot straight into the sky, tearing a rift in the surging dark clouds in the west.
As dawn broke, the demonic tree withered in the light, transforming into nourishment for the earth. Looking at the Azure Phoenix Sword in her hand, now cracked yet clear again, Su Yao finally understood the First Sect Master's profound intentions. That new sprout was not a demonic seed, but a symbol of hope—just as the Xuanxiao Sect, though reduced to ruins, would always have a new lineage emerging as long as the cultivators' belief in protecting all living beings remained undiminished.
“Next, we should rebuild our sect.” Shen Xinghe picked up a half-piece of blue brick engraved with the Xuanxiao Sect emblem from the ground. “We also need to go to the Southern Frontier to completely eliminate the hidden dangers of the ‘Summoning Demon Codex’.” Su Yao nodded, and the Azure Phoenix Sword emitted a cheerful hum. In the distance, the various sect leaders had already begun clearing the battlefield, their sword light weaving into a net under the rising sun, protecting this land that had suffered so much.
The setting sun, like blood, dyed the broken walls and ruins of the Xuanxiao Sect a dark red. Shen Xinghe had just put the jade slip inscribed with the sect's forbidden techniques into his robes when he suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold creep up his spine and up to the back of his neck. From the depths of the distant valley came the crisp sound of shattering rocks, and a black shadow carrying a foul wind shot through the air like an arrow, withering all vegetation in its path and even tearing the air itself into twisted black lines.
"Watch out!" Tianjizi's withered fingers tightened abruptly, and the Tianji Bell at his waist emitted a piercing buzz. In the blink of an eye, a black shadow swept over everyone's heads, its black robes fluttering, revealing the dark purple demonic patterns on its chest pulsating eerily. It was the black-robed man who should have fled; now, he was surrounded by three-zhang-high jet-black demonic flames, each pulse emitting a shriek like fingernails scraping metal. The demonic sword in his hand had golden runes floating on its surface, and the edge of the blade was constantly emitting black mist.
"Remnants of Xuanxiao, still dreaming of rebuilding your sect?" The black-robed man's voice was hoarse, like metal scraping, as his demonic blade pointed directly at Su Yao's brow. "Even your old sect leader couldn't escape being devoured back then, how long can you hold out?" Before he finished speaking, the blade flashed like a black lightning bolt, instantly filling the air with the stench of burnt flesh. Shen Xinghe reacted swiftly, his Seven Star Sword instantly appearing before him, the Big Dipper runes on the blade bursting forth with dazzling starlight.
The moment the Demon Blade clashed with the Seven Star Sword, the world seemed to freeze for a split second. A deafening roar followed, countless sparks flew like meteors, and the ground cracked open in a spiderweb pattern. Shen Xinghe's hand split open, blood dripping from the hilt of his sword. The impact sent him flying backward, carving a ten-zhang-long furrow in the ground. The black-robed man also staggered back three steps, the runes on the Demon Blade flickering erratically.
Seeing this, Tianjizi's white hair moved without wind, his wrinkled hands rapidly forming hand seals in the air, and he chanted an ancient exorcism incantation. A burst of golden light erupted in the void, and a golden rune inscribed with ancient seal script condensed, carrying immense power as it flew towards the black-robed man. The black-robed man's pupils constricted, his body transforming into a cloud of black mist as he retreated rapidly. The rune grazed his shoulder, blasting a bottomless crater into the ground, instantly melting the rocks at its edges into crimson magma.
Taking advantage of the moment, Su Yao leaped into the air, the Azure Phoenix Sword flashing a blue light in her hand, its cry like a phoenix's cry echoing through the heavens. Wherever the sword pointed, ripples spread through the air as it aimed towards the black-robed man's throat. The black-robed man, however, remained calm. His demonic blade traced an eerie arc, the black mist emanating from its blade transforming into countless hideous ghostly faces, completely engulfing the Azure Phoenix Sword's attack. Su Yao felt a chilling aura travel along the sword, and her entire arm instantly went numb.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, the silent remains of the demonic tree suddenly emitted a chilling sound. The long-withered roots burst forth from the earth, their surfaces covered with dense patterns of human faces, and twisted vines shot out like living snakes, instantly binding everyone's hands and feet. Shen Xinghe swung his sword with all his might, only to find that the vines regenerated immediately after being severed, and the black blood seeping from the wounds corroded the blade; Su Yao's Azure Phoenix Sword's light dimmed, and black energy seeped from its cracks once more.
"Hahahaha!" The black-robed man laughed wildly, raising his demonic blade high above his head, the incantations on the blade forming a continuous chain. "Die! I'll let you all watch as the Xuanxiao Sect is completely wiped out of the world!" The demonic flames behind him condensed into a gigantic phantom of a demon god, which opened its blood-red maw and lunged at the crowd, its putrid stench making everyone want to vomit. Tianjizi bit his tongue, spitting out blood, trying to activate his secret technique, but his neck was entangled by vines, and he coughed up blood incessantly; Shen Xinghe struggled to maintain his protective aura, but it crumbled inch by inch under the pressure of the demon god.
At the critical moment, Su Yao suddenly felt a warm power awaken within her. She recalled the scene seen in the remnants of the First Sect Master's consciousness, bit her finger, and drew an ancient sealing talisman on the Azure Phoenix Sword. Black energy surged within the cracks in the sword, but emitted a sharp scream the instant it touched the talisman. Su Yao poured all her spiritual power into the sword, and the Azure Phoenix Sword erupted with a blinding blue light; wherever the light touched, the entwined vines turned to ashes.
The Azure Phoenix Sword unleashed a blue light that resembled a reversed celestial river, shattering the air with a crisp, glass-like sound wherever it passed. Bloodstains snaked along Su Yao's wrist as her spiritual energy surged into the sword like a burst dam. The remnants of the First Sect Master's consciousness, sealed within the sword, transformed into countless blue rays, forming an ancient sword array within the surge of light. The black-robed man's pupils constricted sharply, the incantations on his demonic blade suddenly reversed, and the rising black mist condensed into a three-headed, six-armed demonic figure, wielding a bone whip, chains, and a giant axe to meet the attack.
However, the instant the azure light touched the golem, all the black mist trembled with a buzzing sound like a swarm of bees. The golem's arm disintegrated inch by inch, transforming into thousands of black beetles that scattered and fled, only to burn to ashes upon contact with the azure light. The black-robed man staggered backward, the runes on the surface of his demonic blade peeling away like sand paintings washed by a tide, revealing dark red cracks beneath. The fangs of the demonic phantom behind him crumbled, its left eye turning into a rain of blood that splattered onto the earth, its roar causing the snow on the distant mountains to fall in a cascade.
Taking advantage of the moment, Shen Xinghe bit his tongue, spitting his life essence onto the Seven Star Sword. The Big Dipper runes on the sword simultaneously lit up, intertwining with the azure light of the Azure Phoenix to form a dazzling star map in the air. He leaped into the air, stepping on the star trails; where the sword's edge pointed, the air condensed into ice crystals and instantly vaporized. The sword's momentum carried the oppressive force of an inverted Milky Way, forming a spiraling energy vortex with the azure light. The black-robed demon's blood-red blade, barely touching the edge of the star map, was shredded into dust.
Tianjizi's white hair moved without wind, and his withered hands traced mysterious trajectories in the air. Nine floating golden altars appeared in the void, each inscribed with flowing Sanskrit. With a clear shout, the altars exploded, and thousands of runes rained down like meteors. Wherever the runes passed, the vines of the demonic tree's remains twisted wildly, and the human face patterns on their surfaces emitted shrill screams. One rune struck the black-robed man precisely on the shoulder, and the golden light that bloomed was like a white lotus, burning a charred hole in his black robe.
The man in black robes finally showed fear. His demonic blade suddenly slipped from his grasp, transforming into black mist that attempted to coalesce into an escape route. But Su Yao wouldn't give him the chance. The Azure Phoenix Sword's azure light surged three zhang, transforming into a hundred-zhang azure beam amidst a sword's cry, slashing down like a colossal blade capable of splitting the heavens and earth. The demonic blade crumbled inch by inch within the azure light, the flying fragments condensing into countless "death" characters in the air before being pulverized by the subsequent sword energy. The man in black robes let out a heart-wrenching scream, his body twisting and deforming under the combined attack of golden and azure light, the demonic patterns surging beneath his skin like boiling magma.
"I'm not reconciled!" The black-robed man's final curse was accompanied by the shrieks of countless vengeful spirits. His body began to turn transparent, transforming into thousands of black butterflies that scattered and danced, only to be trapped by the Bagua formation hastily set up by Tianjizi, struggling and annihilating within the golden runes. As he dissipated, the remains of the demonic tree emitted a dying wail, the human face patterns on the trunk twisted into expressions of terror, and the entire tree exploded with a deafening roar, turning into ashes that drifted away in the wind.