MTLNOVEL Chapter 321: Retreat to Sword Mound
With an earth-shattering explosion, the Demon Subduing Pagoda was instantly destroyed, scattering into countless fragments.
Mount Shushan's Demon Subduing Pagoda had existed for countless years, predating even the establishment of Mount Shushan itself. Yet in this moment, this symbol of Mount Shushan's majesty and power was reduced to ruins in the blink of an eye.
As the pagoda collapsed, a powerful energy wave surged forth like a tidal wave. Black fissures appeared where the pagoda once stood, and demons sealed away for countless years began breaking free from their restraints, returning to the light of day.
"The Demon Subduing Pagoda has fallen!!" a Mount Shushan disciple screamed in terror.
Before the words faded, the black fissures suddenly expanded violently. In the next instant, countless horrifying demons that had been imprisoned for so long came pouring out, roaring madly as they brandished their claws and charged in all directions. Without exception, they radiated bone-chilling evil energy.
"Slaughter Mount Shushan!!"
Bearing endless resentment, they pounced on the surrounding Mount Shushan disciples.
At Silver Sword Peak, Li Xuanxiao looked toward the direction of the fallen pagoda. The Demon Subduing Pagoda that Mount Shushan had protected for millennia had collapsed. Black energy surged violently, spreading across Mount Shushan's skies. What fell wasn't just Mount Shushan - it seemed even Li Xuanxiao's faith was crumbling.
At this moment, Li Xuanxiao could no longer care about his wounds.
Deputy Sect Leader Wushangzi paled as he witnessed this scene.
The Demon Subduing Pagoda!?
"Boom!"
"Daring to be distracted while battling this emperor!"
Ascension Emperor waved his hand, pressing his advantage. Wushangzi coughed up blood as he was sent flying hundreds of feet outside the small realm.
The slaughter continued. Mount Shushan had truly lost all momentum.
Now, with the pagoda's collapse, countless demons scattered in all directions. They chased the auras of Mount Shushan disciples, seemingly intent on painting the land with blood. Ancient heretic cultivators and demonic beasts that had been sealed away came pouring through the fissures.
With a resounding dragon roar, a crimson-scaled flood dragon emerged first from the pagoda's ruins.
ROAR——!!!
The flood dragon's back bore magma-like vein patterns. Five thousand years ago, it had ravaged the land with fire until a Mount Shushan sect leader fought it for five days and nights before sealing it beneath the pagoda. Now it returned with flames of vengeance.
Black energy condensed into a humanoid form that shook a Soul Mourning Bell. Wherever the bell's sound reached, Mount Shushan disciples turned their swords against each other. A hundred-foot bloody hand descended from the sky, crushing disciples below with a single grasp. Will-o'-the-wisps scattered everywhere, instantly turning anyone they touched to ash.
"..........."
Mount Shushan's treasure vault was destroyed as countless people swarmed in. Silver Sword Peak's vault had long been ransacked and emptied. The Scripture Pavilion collapsed in a thunderous crash - some ancient texts burned to ashes while most were fought over and stolen. The medicinal herb garden became an unbearable sight.
They had truly lost.
Watching this, Deputy Sect Leader Wushangzi couldn't help but vomit blood.
Just then, a voice resonated in everyone's mind:
"All remaining disciples retreat to Sword Mound! Stop defending Mount Shushan - it cannot be held any longer!!"
Mount Shushan's Sword Mound!? This was undoubtedly the best remaining option. Though Wushangzi didn't want to admit it, Mount Shushan had truly been defeated. Against this siege, they had no means to fight back.
Retreat to Sword Mound!!!
Before Wushangzi could issue the order, Ascension Emperor struck his temple, sending him flying hundreds of feet.
Ascension Emperor's ancient coins swirled around him as he emanated an extremely primitive fist intent. He chuckled, "I told you not to get distracted while fighting this emperor!"
The long years had granted Ascension Emperor far more cultivation time than ordinary people. He still remembered that era when countless races flourished. He had stepped out from his tribe and plunged into this world. Killing, tempering, cultivating - all for survival. He met like-minded companions and eventually reached the supreme realm.
Then everything stagnated. At first, he too wanted to enter the legendary Great Ascension realm. But as time passed, Ascension Emperor gradually understood - reaching Great Ascension through cultivation alone would be impossible in this lifetime.
Faced with this, Ascension Emperor didn't remain stagnant. He sought enlightenment through talismans, through formations, through martial arts, through swordsmanship... Due to his special constitution, he could attempt many paths to enlightenment.
As his closest friends and lovers died one after another, Ascension Emperor went from heartbroken to gradually indifferent - life was so fragile. Only enlightenment mattered!!!
So he tried every cultivation method - the trodden paths and the untrodden alike.
Now, though nominally at the Tribulation Transcension stage, Ascension Emperor had mastered multiple paths. He manifested that primitive fist intent, killing two Mount Shushan Fusion Transcension elders before striking at Wushangzi again. To him, fighting Wushangzi seemed more like toying with his prey.
"........"
Meanwhile, Goushengzi landed at Mount Shushan's spirit vein, absorbing its energy to refine and replenish himself.
"Junior brother, your final scheme truly troubles this senior brother. I'll borrow Mount Shushan's spirit vein for my use."
"All Mount Shushan disciples retreat to Sword Mound immediately!!!!"
At this moment, an authoritative voice resounded in every Mount Shushan disciple's mind.
Hmm?
At Ascension Emperor's sword tip hung Wushangzi's body, now reduced to just one-quarter of its original form. Tracing the voice's origin, Ascension Emperor couldn't help but smile.
"Good kid!"
As he spoke, the transmission stones Li Xuanxiao had planted beneath Silver Sword Peak exploded one after another. His doppelganger was also crushed. In an instant, Ascension Emperor had tracked down Li Xuanxiao's true body, leaving him no time to react.
"Some mere doppelganger technique dares play tricks before this emperor?"
Li Xuanxiao's chest caved in three inches as he was smashed into the ground, vomiting blood. His consciousness blurred momentarily, his vision swimming until he could see nothing. His ears rang, yet he seemed to hear screams.
Mount Shushan disciples received the order and were retreating toward Sword Mound. Underground mechanized puppets rapidly carried Silver Sword Peak's remaining disciples toward the sacred burial ground.
The crimson flood dragon's breath poured forth like a molten lava waterfall, instantly vaporizing some disciples without leaving even bone fragments behind.
"Mount Shushan has fallen!"
"Charge in!"
"Kill!!"
"............"
Ascension Emperor's figure flashed to Mount Shushan's midair. His gaze fell upon Goushengzi absorbing the spirit vein, keenly noticing the changes in the other's aura.
Oh?
"Heh, somewhat interesting."
But he paid no further attention, instead looking down at the hand clutching his foot. Ascension Emperor frowned coldly in disgust.
"Disgusting!"
Wushangzi's severed hand still clung stubbornly to his leg. At that moment, Wang Yushu suddenly thrust her sword from behind. Yet to Ascension Emperor, their desperate attacks seemed utterly laughable.
"Insects!!"
He glanced at Wang Yushu's half-destroyed face, now completely devoid of beauty.
"What a pity... now die......."
Suddenly, Ascension Emperor stiffened as if sensing something. His body instinctively shuddered - a primal reaction. Then he slowly raised his head, his expression freezing instantly.
A figure appeared above him.
Lingxu's body looked horrifying - half his form had become hollow, his entire body a mangled mess of flesh and exposed bone. Only clumps of dark red meat and white bone remained, blood still seeping from wounds to drip onto Ascension Emperor's head.
Ascension Emperor: (￣△￣;
)
"..........."
Cangzhou.
Burial Armament City now stood half-destroyed.
The battlefield lay deathly silent. Even the wind seemed frozen, as if bearing witness to the war's cruelty.
Half of Cangzhou's realm had fallen from the sky.