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Chapter 63: A Life for A Life, Part 1
When the old palace master seized the Heart of the Nether, the demon king's core, he knew it was a pivotal element in his grand scheme. However, as he summoned all the high-tier underworld gates scattered across the globe, he realized the magnitude of his task. There were far more gates than anticipated, and the immense energy from the demon king's core proved too much to contain, resulting in a catastrophic explosion.
In the aftermath, the old palace master, undeterred by the setback, enlisted the aid of a renowned craftsman to fashion a convincing replica of the Heart of the Nether. Concealing the fake deep within Shen Jing Mountain, he aimed to maintain the illusion of possessing the core.
Over countless years, the old palace master orchestrated the meticulous gathering of the high-tier underworld gates, hidden in the most obscure and treacherous locations imaginable. From ancient pyramids to labyrinthine dungeons, each gate presented its own unique challenge.
With the former Mount Hua Peak Master's blood, the old palace master planned to harness the combined power of the gates. However, when the former master beheld the contents of the crystallized heart, a surge of fury coursed through him like a raging inferno.
"YOU!!!" he roared, veins bulging in his temple as he struggled to contain his wrath. "GET WU QINGGE OUT OF HERE NOW!"
But before any action could be taken, the old palace master, with a chillingly emotionless expression, destroyed the heart housing the small black Lotus flower. A tremor shook the palace, and a wave of paralysis swept over all within. The protective chrysanthemum barriers surrounding the cultivators, Liu Xiao, and his comrades vanished in an instant, leaving them vulnerable and exposed.
Liu Xiao's grandpa let out a roar. "GET OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW! ALL OF YOU!"
As chaos erupted and demons surged forward, Liu Xiao and his companions found themselves hurled violently by an unseen force. Before they could regain their bearings, the onslaught began. Mo Xian, bloodied and battered, struggled to his feet, coughing up crimson droplets, yet resolute as he raised his harp to defend against the demonic horde.
Each strum of the harp elicited fresh waves of agony from Mo Xian's injured fingers, yet he pressed on, refusing to yield. Despite the pain and the oppressive weight on his chest, he played on with unwavering determination.
"MO XIAN!"
Tian Lang's voice rang out with desperation as he sprinted towards his friend. With a swift motion, he hurled his fan into the air, enveloping it in a shimmering silver aura. The fan became a lethal weapon, slicing through the approaching demons with deadly precision, clearing a path toward Mo Xian.
"STOP PLAYING, MO XIAN!"
Tian Lang's plea was laced with urgency and fear. He reached Mo Xian's side, his heart pounding with dread as he beheld his friend's bloodied form.
Mo Xian managed a weak smile, blood trickling from his lips as he struggled to speak. "But... the kids..."
Tian Lang's eyes brimmed with tears as he pleaded once more. "Mo Xian, please... stop!"
As Mo Xian's fingers slipped weakly from his grasp, a fresh gush of blood erupted from his lips, staining his once pristine robe a deep crimson. His chest heaved with ragged breaths, the weight pressing down on him with unbearable intensity.
"MO XIAN!"
Tian Lang rushed to his side, channeling his spiritual energy into his friend in a desperate attempt to stave off the encroaching darkness. The silver light cascaded from Tian Lang's fingertips, enveloping Mo Xian's body as he fought to push back against the crushing force within.
Meanwhile, Shan Ling, her voice trembling with fear and concern, struggled to her feet, clutching her whip tightly in her trembling hand. "What... what's happening?"
Chen Yi lay sprawled on the ground, her strength sapped by the explosion of the yellow chrysanthemum flowers. Shan Ling's heart clenched with panic at the sight of her sister's prone form, tears welling in her eyes as she called out to her with anguished cries.
The aftermath of the blast left a scene of devastation in its wake. Some cultivators continued to battle valiantly, while others lay motionless, victims of the relentless onslaught. Zhan Baiwon, though still standing, bore the marks of an internal injury, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he fought to maintain his composure.
As for Su Luxia, her once melodious voice silenced by the blast, she knelt on the ground, her form trembling with weakness. With great effort, she reached for her whip, her damaged throat unable to utter even a single sound without provoking a violent fit of coughing.
Zhan Baiwon's sabers glided with practiced precision, their once-potent black spiritual qi now waning. While his strikes managed to penetrate the demons' skin and flesh, they lacked the fatal impact they once held. It was akin to scratching the surface of an impenetrable fortress—superficial wounds that failed to deter the relentless advance of their foes.
As the tables turned, the demons now held the upper hand, mercilessly slaughtering the outnumbered cultivators. The other Peak Masters, twisted into mindless pawns by the old palace master, added to the onslaught, their once-noble spirits now enslaved to darkness. Mo Xian and his companions were left to fend for themselves, with no hope of reinforcements, as their allies fell one by one.
Despite their valiant efforts, the cultivators found themselves overwhelmed by the sheer ferocity of their demonic adversaries. The demons, bolstered by their internal injuries, fought with renewed vigor, exploiting every weakness and seizing every opportunity to strike down their foes.
With only a fraction of their original numbers remaining, the cultivators faced a grim reality: defeat seemed inevitable. Against the overwhelming might of the high-tier demons, they stood little chance of survival, their hopes of victory dwindling with each passing moment.
Bai Lan and Lan Yang fought with a grim determination, their swords clashing with the demons in a desperate bid for survival. Without their spiritual qi to bolster their attacks, they relied solely on their skill and coordination. For the first time, the two warriors complemented each other perfectly, covering each other's weaknesses and striking as one against their relentless foes.
Amidst the chaos of battle, most of the cultivators were already on the brink of death, their bodies torn and ravaged by the relentless assault of the demons. Despite their valiant efforts, the odds were stacked against them, and victory seemed increasingly out of reach.
Amid this carnage, unnoticed by all, Liu Xiao remained standing at the center of the floating palace, untouched by the wave that had incapacitated his comrades. As he slowly opened his eyes, he was met with the sight of a tall figure dressed in white and gold before him.
"Wu... Shidi?" Liu Xiao's voice trembled with uncertainty as he addressed the enigmatic figure.
However, Wu Qingge remained silent, his expression obscured from view. Before Liu Xiao could utter another word, the former Mount Hua Peak Master intervened once more, his voice echoing through the chaos of battle.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?! HOW DID YOU MAKE THAT THING?!" he roared angrily, but the old palace master didn't answer.
Centuries ago, the old palace master roamed the world disguised as a wandering traveler, his true identity hidden behind a facade of youth. In one fateful encounter, he brought both protection and devastation to a small town, sparing a lone woman and her daughter from his wrath. Yet, even their survival did not guarantee salvation, as the old palace master, wielding the sinister power of the Shengsi Shuijing, forced the mother to become an instrument of her child's demise.
Driven by his lust for power and control, the old palace master embarked on a quest of dark experimentation, combining the ancient magic of the Shengsi Shuijing with the blood of the former Mount Hua Peak Master to forge a new artifact—a twisted imitation of the Heart of the Nether, designed to enslave a single individual. That chosen pawn was none other than Wu Qingge.
With cunning foresight, the old palace master anticipated the rise of a worthy adversary, knowing that the former Mount Hua Peak Master had sealed his essence within a sacred tome, destined to be rediscovered by a descendant. When Wu Qingge emerged as a prodigy in the Rising Star Cultivation Battle, wielding the potent Black Lotus Cultivation, the old palace master recognized the opportunity to set his machinations into motion.
Unlocking the ancient seals that bound the demon king's soul, the old palace master orchestrated a clandestine plot, eliminating those who stood in his way, including Dao Ling, the revered leader of the cultivation world. Behind the scenes, he manipulated the three elders, exploiting their grievances against the former Mount Hua Peak Master, to ensnare Wu Qingge and seize control of his formidable abilities. Yet, in his hubris, the old palace master underestimated the forces he had set in motion, unwittingly igniting a conflict that would ultimately consume him.
His schemes had unfolded with meticulous precision, yet the unforeseen intervention of Mo Xian and his comrades threatened to unravel the old palace master's intricate plans. In a desperate bid to salvage his machinations, he dispatched them on a perilous mission to his clandestine stronghold in the ghost town, intending to sacrifice Wen Yong as a mere pawn in his deadly game.
However, the resilience of Mo Xian and his allies proved to be a formidable obstacle. Unbeknownst to the old palace master, the four peak masters had entrusted their disciples with a covert directive to eradicate the remaining leaders of the demon cult, disrupting his carefully laid groundwork and leaving him with dwindling options.
Faced with mounting defiance and imminent failure, the old palace master's facade of composure began to crack under the weight of his fury. Enraged by the former Mount Hua Peak Master's relentless accusations, he remained stoic, his gaze shifting toward Wu Qingge, the enigmatic figure at the heart of his grand design.
Wu Qingge stood impassive amidst the chaos, his countenance an inscrutable mask devoid of emotion. As his once-calm eyes flared with an ominous purple hue, the old palace master issued a chilling command that reverberated through the chamber with deadly intent.
"Kill them all."
With those three chilling words, the former Mount Hua Peak Master was ensnared by an unseen force, his essence forcibly bound within the very weapon that had once served as his instrument of power. Transformed into a demonic sword pulsating with dark energy, he became a harbinger of destruction, poised to unleash untold devastation upon the old palace master's enemies.
As Liu Xiao's desperate plea echoed through the chaotic battleground, his senses reeled with disbelief and anguish. Wu Qingge, his esteemed martial brother, once a beacon of righteousness, now stood before him with an eerie calmness, wielding the demonic sword that had transformed him into an instrument of destruction.
With a fierce determination etched upon his features, Liu Xiao's grandfather engaged in a fierce duel with the old palace master, his aura ablaze with crimson fury. Alongside him, the majestic Huangtian lent its formidable strength to the fray, the air crackling with the intensity of their battle.
Meanwhile, Liu Xiao raced towards Wu Qingge, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and desperation. He reached out, grasping desperately at his martial brother's robes, pleading for him to halt his deadly advance.
"Wu Shidi, STOP IT!"
But Wu Qingge remained resolute, his pace unyielding as he closed in on Chen Yi and Shan Ling, their forms lying prone and defenseless amidst the carnage. With a chilling inevitability, he raised his sword, its crimson blade gleaming ominously in the dim light.
Shan Ling's eyes widened in horror as the blade descended, piercing through the air with a sickening sound. A strangled cry escaped her lips as she watched Liu Xiao, her beloved brother, valiantly interpose himself between them, the lethal blade biting deep into his flesh.
"B-Brother Liu...!"
With every ounce of strength he could muster, Liu Xiao fought against the searing pain coursing through his body, his grip on Wu Qingge's robes tightening with a desperate resolve.
"Wake... up..." he choked out, his voice barely a whisper amidst the chaos.
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Hello everyone! Thank you for all of your support and also for continuing to read this hohoho. Actually, I feel bad about writing this, and I'm afraid to write more because, just fucking look at what's happening right now, like... bye-bye! I love you all!
R u n n o x
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