At the same time, Wang Wenqing studied Chao Tianjiao. He noticed how her aura was subdued, and the seven stars were hidden away, having achieved the true essence of xuanwu. She was exceptional, which made him praise her inside.
Impressive aura. She really does walk the emperor’s path! Who knows how many years it’s been since someone refined a Xuanwu Origin Soul, and even more impressively, she hasn’t undergone corpse liberation. She retains her body, so she has a chance of climbing even higher. It’s no wonder the emperor granted me the Sword of Zhenwu so that I could provide assistance. She’s only just become a Human Immortal, but her future prospects are limitless. I cannot underestimate her.
As a result, he smiled. “I’ll be arrogant for one and call you junior sister. This is not a good place, where the demonic flames blaze. We should not remain here.”
“Please give me a moment, senior brother!”
Chao Tianjiao clasped her hands before looking back, glancing past the Faceless Heretic God and the twelve Demon Sovereigns like her gaze was a bolt of lightning. The harshness in her expression was on full display. She pointed at the sky and swore, “I will never forget what happened today. I will slay you all!”
The expressions of the twelve Demon Sovereigns all changed, while the Faceless Heretic God was emotionless.
An oath from a Human Immortal was not just for say. Instead, it would involve a great entanglement of karma.
Wang Wenqing smiled wryly. “Sigh, junior sister. Even after you’ve become a Human Immortal, you’re still so harsh and unforgiving. However, that’s not a flaw in the Desireless Heavenly Palace.”
“I’m done, senior brother.”
“Let’s go!”
Wang Wenqing patted her on the shoulder. The two of them turned into a streak of light and shot off.
The tribulation clouds dispersed in the air, such that the sky became clear as far as the eye could see. Stars speckled across the firmament. A dim moon hung high above.
Cold Blood pass had already been in ruins. Now, it was even more destroyed. Even most of the walls had collapsed.
Tu Wancheng trembled as he cursed under his breath, “Bitch, bitch…” However, he completely lacked his original confidence.
Unless he deserted the battlefield and fled to the depths of the Demon domain right now, who knew when he would receive another slash, and that would be certain death.
Ying Zhe’s face twisted. Not only had the ambush resulted in a great defeat, they had “helped” a Human Immortal spring into existence too.
In the deathly silence, the Faceless Heretic God finally spoke, “Attack the city and take the city, or all of you will die!”
The twelve Demon Gods answered together, “Yes, sir!”
An order flew out of the valley, reaching deep within the Demon domain.
Along with the desolate, shrill sound of a horn, the flames of war rose up!
Armies gathered one by one. Their army qi was so consolidated that it seemed like clouds, and the Demon Generals and Demon Commanders were countless. There were plenty of Demon Kings and Demon Emperors too, riding on colossal demonic beasts as they escorted the cold instruments of war towards Cold Blood pass.
The bright moon illuminated the mountains.
Li Qingshan and Xiao An left Black Cloud city secretly, following the meandering boundary and arriving in a towering, deserted mountain range.
This was the “treasured land” he had chosen after careful consideration. It happened to be located between Black Cloud city and another city. It was a region where their defences were the weakest, so he did not have to worry about being discovered. At the same time, he could also observe the main battlefield of the Demon domain.
Just as Chao Tianjiao had concluded, twelve Demon Sovereigns had gathered in Cold Blood pass, so they must have been up to something big. Even if their attempt at trying to convert her had failed, they probably would not stop there.
And regardless of whether she could retreat safely or not, he did not want to be a deserter. That was a crime punishable by death in the army, and Li Liehuo would definitely use this to make things difficult for him. Everything he had achieved in the Myriad sect would be reduced to nothing as well.
Not only did he have no plans on avoiding the direct battle, but he even wanted to go at it properly, to earn enough contribution to become a direct disciple. By then, he would not be tied down by anything.
If he wanted to advance, he could form his own army and lead it as its captain. If he wanted to retreat, he could return to the Myriad sect rightfully and prepare for the trip to Ruin’s End. He could do both too and maybe even contend against Li Liehuo for the position of first senior brother.
Li Qingshan silently prayed, Let me kill a few extra Demon Sovereigns and steal the position of first senior brother from that fire dude. That’ll basically be getting revenge for you, and your deceased soul will be able to rest easy. Though… Being killed by tribulation lightning was being reduced to dust. That was as dead as a person could be, so he shook his head. You don’t have a deceased soul remaining.
He was rather sentimental about this, but his strength was limited. He was not being heartless. They were not particularly familiar with one another in the first place. They even had a hostile relationship. The only reason they ended up in a situation like that was due to her stubborn decisions. In the end, he even sacrificed his Yin Soul to assist her, so he had basically done everything that he could.
If she can survive, that’s for the best. If she can’t, then blame me?
Beyond the Nine Heavens, Chao Tianjiao felt an impulse, and her expression changed.
Wang Wenqing asked, “What’s wrong, junior sister?”
“Someone seems to be talking ill of me.” Chao Tianjiao clenched her fist and said furiously, “It must be those damned demonfolk!”
Wang Wenqing smiled. “After becoming a Human Immortal, you already have a foot planted in the path of immortality. Your senses have become much sharper. However, unless it’s someone or something that matters to you, you shouldn’t sense anything. If you can sense whenever someone talks ill of you, wouldn’t you be bothered to death?”
“That’s reasonable.” Chao Tianjiao murmured, “Someone or something that matters to me…”
Wang Wenqing suddenly became serious. “Please don’t be distracted by anything else, junior sister. Up ahead is the Desireless Heavenly Palace. That is the most important matter at hand.”
“Understood.”
With an earth-shaking moo, Li Qingshan turned into the ox demon, standing indomitably and punching the mountain in front of him.
Boom!
The mountain rumbled and cracks ran through the entire rock, like a giant that trembled before his divine might.
He did not use the Swelling Earth of the Nine Heavens. He had completely achieved it through his great strength of the ox demon. Even though he had yet to reach the same level as he did in the nine provinces where he could shatter a mountain with a punch, it was still quite impressive.
“The Ox Demon Butts its Horns!”
Then he lowered his head and charged ahead with his horns before abruptly kicking off his hooves.
Boom!
Under the moonlight, Xiao An stood gently, gazing at the ox with a smile as it threw itself at the mountain like it had gone mad. Suddenly, half of the mountain collapsed, crushing him underneath.
“Hehe, how stupid.”
Li Qingshan was crushed under thousands of tonnes of rock. If his physique were a little weaker, he would have been crushed to death, but he felt like he felt as safe and comfortable as returning to his mother’s embrace
The Ox Demon Transformation was the first transformation he had practised, as well as his foundations for the Nine Transformations of the Demonic and Divine. Whether it was its defences, endurance, or destructive power, it was completely flawless. Combined with something like the Swelling Earth of the Nine Heavens, it was basically exceptionally powerful.
The Ox Demon Transformation stressed accumulation. He had already reached the fifth layer many years ago, so he had already accumulated as much as he possibly could.
As for comprehension?
Along the way, he had encountered countless powerful foes and endless setbacks. If it were not for his stubbornness, how could he have forged his way to today?
If the Ape Demon Transformation was extremely compatible with his nature, without any proper bottlenecks, then the Ox Demon Transformation did not need any compatibility at all. He was a raging ox in the first place. He did not care about what difficulties stood before him. If they could not be resolved by a punch, then he would throw his head at it and smash a way out.
He did not believe in the heavens, only treading on the thick earth, leaving behind a footprint with each step.
“Let’s take another step forward!”
The sixth layer of the Ox Demon Transformation broken through!
Endless power surged up from the earth, filling his body.
However, he felt very calm. He had merely taken another step forward in a lengthy journey.
In the small world, the earth became even vaster and sturdier, embracing everything, both glory and pain.
The path ahead of him was long, but the Nine Heavens were not far. He rose up slowly, shaking off the rock and soil before he gazed at the starry sky.
“Brother ox, are you well beyond the Nine Heavens?”
