Yellow Court Daoist

Nine Heavens Gang Wind Layer.

Chao Jue and the Three-eyed Divine Dog were flying at high speed, rushing towards the North Sea in a whirlwind of activity. Suddenly,

"Woof!"

"Woof woof woof!"

The Three-eyed Divine Dog abruptly stopped, barking loudly at something ahead.

"Hmm?"

"Three-eyed Brother?"

Chao Jue became instantly alert, holding the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Mirror, his eyes scanning the area ahead.

The next moment,

He saw twelve beams of light shooting skyward, and upon closer inspection, they were twelve fierce Demon Gods, each with a unique appearance.

"Twelve Demon Gods."

"It's Dutian Daoist."

Chao Jue slightly narrowed his eyes, recalling what Mr. Xun had told him on his way to the Mountain and Water Realm about Dutian Daoist, "Dutian Daoist has refined twelve Demon Gods, each with its own divine peculiarities. He himself wields the 'Five-Colored Divine Light', capable of seizing others' Magic Artifacts."

The latter point did not concern Chao Jue.

His 'Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Mirror' was cryptic; it did not derive its power from himself, but rather, it nurtured 'Eight Desolate Fire Crows' within, capable of assembling the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Formation, which possessed immense might.

Releasing the Fire Crows.

By concealing the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Mirror, there was no fear of the Magic Artifact being seized.

Once Dutian Daoist's supernatural prowess was broken, with his Twelve Demon Gods, cultivated as Lower Realm mortal cultivators, they naturally stood no chance against Chao Jue.

"This must be those Twelve Demon Gods."

Chao Jue's mouth curved into a small smile, "Coming right to me, saves me the trouble."

He scanned his surroundings, seeking the figure of Dutian Daoist but to no avail. He shook his head inwardly, "Let's destroy these twelve Demon Gods first, then go and cut down their master!"

Chao Jue was not willing to delay in the Lower Realm.

He tightened his grip on the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Mirror, mana surging, muttering incantations. The Quasi-Immortal Device was enveloped in waves of flames—among the flames—

"Wow!"

"Wow wow wow!"

The calls of the Fire Crows were loud and piercing, flapping vigorously within the flames. In an instant, the flames filled the sky, thousands of Fire Crows flew out, positioning themselves around Chao Jue, directly setting up the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Formation.

Boom!

The flames roared.

Enveloping the Demon Gods!

"Roar!"

Facing the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Formation, Zhu Rong Demon God took the lead, bellowing angrily, his arms flailing as he stirred up huge Demon Flames. Zhu Rong, master of all fires on earth, wielded the top-tier Zhu Rong Divine Flame, which in terms of rank and power significantly surpassed the Eight Desolate Fire.

As the two forces collided—

Boom!

A loud explosion, the Gang Wind scattered, the void was scorched and cracked, revealing numerous chaotic streams of emptiness.

However, the Twelve Demon Gods, refined by Lu Qingfeng, had cultivation and abilities equivalent to Lu Qingfeng's own body, all at the initial stage of the Primordial Spirit Nourishing Spirit Realm. Although their mana was as thick as that of a Peak of Primordial Spirit, Chao Jue, who practiced the 'Fire God Thirteen Transformations' from the Fire God Palace, specifically the 'Fire Crow Transformation', had much thicker mana than typical Peak of Primordial Spirit cultivators.

And he held the Quasi-Immortal Device, Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Mirror.

In comparison,

Zhu Rong Demon God was much inferior.

This collision seemed evenly matched at first glance, but Zhu Rong Demon God was actually at a disadvantage.

Yet even so.

Even though Chao Jue had the upper hand, his expression changed slightly, a heaviness in his heart, "A single Flame Demon God can withstand the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Formation!?"

This realization was no small matter.

You should know.

Beside this Flame Demon God, eleven other Demon Gods had yet to make a move.

If they all struck at once, wouldn't it be—

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

Just as Chao Jue was pondering, he heard furious roars resounding from ahead. White light, golden light, and electric light flashed together, dazzling and sending chills down his spine.

Controlling the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Formation.

Fire Crows danced wildly.

At this moment—

"Woof woof woof woof woof woof~"

Suddenly, a frantic barking came from beside him.

"Not good!"

From the corner of Chao Jue's eye, he saw a flash of white light coalescing into Sword Qi. The Sword Qi soared through the air, precisely navigating through gaps in the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Formation, directly slashing towards the Three-eyed Divine Dog.

This was Black Dragon True Monarch's beloved dog. If it were to be harmed under his watch, that would spell trouble.

While altering the formation to protect the Three-eyed Divine Dog, Chao Jue shouted angrily at the twelve Demon Gods, "This is the divine dog under the wing of Chi Lianshan's Black Dragon True Monarch, cease your attacks at once!"

With a roar.

Before the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Formation could react.

Dog blood sprayed as, to Chao Jue's horror, the Sword Qi precisely struck the Three-eyed Divine Dog's neck. One slice, and the dog's head flew dozens of yards, falling into the Xuanhuo Array nearly to be refined by the pervasive flames. Fortunately, a clashing golden light enveloped both the severed head and the falling divine dog, sweeping them out of the array out of sight.

"How dare they!"

Chao Jue had not anticipated such lethality in their targets, invoking the Black Dragon True Monarch yet not ceasing, directly slaying the unique Three-eyed Divine Dog of the entire Nine Netherworld Domain.

This time.

It had effectively turned Chi Lianshan's Black Dragon True Monarch fully against him. Even as his co-traveler, he was likely marked as well.

"Brute!"

Chao Jue's heart raced, "I can only slay the culprit first, then go and apologize to Black Dragon True Monarch."

Chao Jue inwardly lamented, his rage and killing intent soaring.

"Great Sun Demon-breaking Immortal Pill!"

He saw his mana flow as he ingested the Immortal Pill – not yet fully refined – which now completely dissolved. The power of the medication spread, Immortal Energy overflowed, and his vital force climbed incessantly.

Advancing from the Peak of Primordial Spirit directly towards the realm of Mahayana True Immortal.

"I am a True Immortal."

"Invincible in the Mortal realm!"

Chao Jue felt the wildly growing mana and the rapidly advancing cultivation, and in an instant, a sense of invincibility arose in his heart, as if he were revered above all in the heaven and earth, unmatched by anyone.

His extensive cultivation experience told him that this was only an illusion caused by the sudden progress in his cultivation.

Maintain one's true heart.

Make the final sprint.

However—

"Why suffer such an ordeal when I could ascend to True Immortal at any moment?"

A loud voice rang out in his ear. Chao Jue's brows furrowed tightly, and with a thought, he retracted the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Formation to only protect his surroundings. As his eyes searched in all directions, he saw a green bamboo staff swing towards the back of his head just as the voice faded.

A sudden and violent ambush.

Inescapably.

With the Twelve Demon Gods supporting the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Formation, it was even harder to change the formation.

"Disaster!"

Chao Jue was deeply shocked, his usually composed mind lost amidst this life-and-death moment. In the middle of a breakthrough, controlling a great array while being ambushed—

This was a death trap!

Bang!

Before the thought settled.

The green bamboo staff struck right on his forehead.

Instantly, Chao Jue felt his Primordial Spirit leaving his body, and his ascension to True Immortal was abruptly interrupted. In such a critical moment, such a mishap occurred, sinking his heart to rock bottom, filling him with both shock and fury.

"How dare you obstruct my path to ascension?!"

Rage and murderous intent flooded Chao Jue's mind.

Yet his Primordial Spirit was dislodged.

He felt the pull of the Netherworld, dragging him into endless darkness, into the cycle of reincarnation.

"Fellow Daoist, hold on!"

"There's been a misunderstanding!"

Chao Jue struggled but in vain; he could only suppress the rage and murderous intent in his heart, shouting to negotiate, striving to stabilize the situation.

But then—

Boom!

The Five-Colored Divine Light fell like the Ancient Divine Mountain, leaving him dizzy and disoriented, vanishing without a trace. Within his Primordial Spirit, the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Mirror fell out, separating from the Primordial Spirit.

The next instant.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Flames covered the sky, completely enveloping his Primordial Spirit. Although Chao Jue was a genius in practicing the Fire Technique, facing these omnipresent flames, a deep-rooted fear surged from within.

Fear spread through his heart.

Immediately after.

Boundless pain followed, then consciousness faded.

Externally.

The Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Formation dissipated, revealing the scene inside—

The Twelve Demon Gods were arranged around.

In front of the Ru Shou Demon God lay the bisected corpse of the Three-eyed Divine Dog.

In front of the Ju Mang Demon God lay Chao Jue's corpse, dressed in a red Daoist robe.

Among the Demon Gods.

Lu Qingfeng, dressed in a green Daoist robe, held a green bamboo staff in his left hand, with strange patterns and shadows of thunder serpents flickering on it. In his right hand, he held an old treasure.

The Gang Wind was fierce.

He looked up towards the vault of the sky, peering through endless Gang Winds and clouds, catching sight of a Black-faced Daoist looking down in shock and anger, his face as dark as a pot. Beside the Black-faced Daoist was a woman with slightly widened beautiful eyes and a slightly open mouth, seemingly astonished.

Lu Qingfeng glanced at them, then looked down at the 'Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Mirror' in his hand, his face showing a hint of a smile.

Black clouds rose overhead, and the Twelve Demon Gods swept up the corpses of Chao Jue and the Three-eyed Divine Dog, disappearing out of sight.

Then.

Lu Qingfeng transformed into Xuan Light, disappearing into the layers of Gang Wind.

Vanished without a trace.

…

Outside the void.

By the ancient road.

Han Ling'er and Xun Zhenbei looked down as Lu Qingfeng departed, exchanging a glance, both silent for a long while.

After a long silence.

Xun Zhenbei's expression was icy cold as he spoke first, "This act of slaying the Three-eyed Divine Dog and killing the Fire Crow Divine Son Chao Jue is unforgivable. Han Immortal is currently guarding the Mountain and Water Realm, and leaving such a demon loose could lead to great trouble. The Fire God Palace and the Black Dragon True Monarch will also be difficult to explain to."

Even Xun Zhenbei had not anticipated that Chao Jue, the Fire Crow Divine Son from the Fire God Palace, who was claimed to have an unbeatable Primordial Spirit and on par with a True Immortal, would be defeated so hastily.

Not only was the Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Mirror taken by that demon, but even the Three-eyed Divine Dog was slain.

Although this was not his doing, it arose because of him. Once the Fire God Palace and Chi Lianshan learn of this, especially the volatile Black Dragon True Monarch from Chi Lianshan, even he feared that he would be somewhat implicated.

Xun Zhenbei, anxious and fearful, now only thought of redressing the wrong—

Before the Fire God Palace and the Black Dragon True Monarch demanded accountability, capturing Lu Qingfeng could perhaps appease both sides.

"He who kills must be killed in turn!"

Han Ling'er was also shocked, but hearing Xun Zhenbei's words, she scoffed coldly, "Mr. Xun called upon Chao Jue and the Three-eyed Divine Dog to take the life of Dutian Daoist, yet you deny him the right to resist?!"

Her face displayed sarcasm.

She swirled her sleeves, pointing at Xun Zhenbei, "If not for Mr. Xun being cunning, keeping Han out of the loop, secretly sending Chao Jue and the Three-eyed Divine Dog into the Mountain and Water Realm while entangling Han outside the realm, how could such a thing have occurred?!"

Han Ling'er guarded the Mountain and Water Realm, simply wanting to conduct business properly, earn Immortal Crystals to strengthen Han Ling City, and ultimately defeat the Lord of Star Absorption.

Yet, Xun Zhenbei had to provoke trouble, leading to the current situation, how could Han Ling'er not be angry?

Unable to contain her anger.

Han Ling'er rebuked Xun Zhenbei without regard for his dignity and, ignoring him, turned to head towards Han Ling City.

"Han Immortal—"

Xun Zhenbei, having achieved True Immortal, had never been scolded like this before, his expression changing continuously on his blackened face. Finally, gritting his teeth, he turned to leave resentfully, "Mr. Xun will report this truthfully to the Fire God Palace and the Black Dragon True Monarch, hoping Han Immortal will not regret it later."

His voice resonated.

Entering Han Ling City.

"Hmph!"

"Let them come if they dare!"

Han Ling'er's anger flared again, her face flushed red. Pacing back and forth in the city, she immediately dispatched a Dharma Body, heading straight for the Three Mountains and Nine Waters of the North Sea.

…