"Emperor's Armament..."
The Blood Demon's eyes burned with fervor; he had painstakingly lured these people into the city precisely for this Emperor's Armament!
"Slay the Demon!"
Li Taibai roared, veins bulging, his sharp sword energy shattering everything around him and soaring straight into the clouds.
Rumble—
The sword, like a meteor, slashed down fiercely towards the Blood Demon.
"Blood Stains the Eight Desolations, All Souls Forbidden!"
The Blood Demon used his vital essence blood to draw an Eight Desolations Blood Talisman, transforming it into a bloody barrier that ascended against the heavens.
"Blood Transforms into Three Thousand Forms, Corroding All Living Bones!"
As this technique emerged, the sea of blood boiled, condensing into countless winged blood locusts, densely following the Blood Demon as he charged towards the sky.
Dong—
The moment the sword tip touched the bloody barrier, a ripple rapidly spread out.
Fang Yuan and the other three were sent flying by the shockwave, their bodies drenched in blood.
"Cannot retreat! Hold on!"
Fang Yuan's face contorted in a grimace as he endured the shockwave with his physical body.
The others were the same, stubbornly refusing to let go, maintaining the four-sided barrier to trap the Blood Demon.
The blood locusts continuously impacted the sword blade; with each collision, Li Taibai's face grew paler, until he finally couldn't help but spit out a large mouthful of clotted blood.
He suddenly raised his eyes, gazing at the Blood Demon in the void.
"Sword Heart Transcendent Clarity: Sever Delusion!"
As the sword art was cast, snowflakes suddenly fell from the sky, and a mournful cry seemed to echo.
A sword pattern lit up between his eyebrows—that was the "Immaculate Sword Heart."
Li Taibai had, at this moment, achieved another breakthrough in his sword intent.
At this instant, he severed his seven emotions and six desires, with only one sword in his heart.
The white light trembled violently, sensing Li Taibai's state of mind, and instantly unleashed myriad sword qi, each containing the "True Intent of Severance."
In an instant, the dense blood locusts were annihilated by the sword qi, and the red barrier also crumbled inch by inch.
The Blood Demon's pupils dilated in shock, sensing the supreme sword intent contained within the white light; without the slightest hesitation, she transformed into a puddle of blood, attempting to escape.
"Lock her down!!"
Fang Yuan and the other three's eyes were bloodshot, letting the Blood Demon continuously impact the barrier.
Just as the barrier was about to collapse, the white light finally descended.
"No!!!"
The Blood Demon let out a shrill scream, ultimately being annihilated within the sword qi, leaving no bones behind.
The five fell from the void, crashing into the ground.
Li Taibai lay in the ruins, his eyes fixed on where the Blood Demon had vanished, and he instinctively reached out to touch his cheek.
"Rest in peace."
He uttered a soft murmur, as if silently bidding farewell to that innocent girl.
Zhao Mubai and his group swiftly rushed over, and upon seeing the miserable state of the five, they couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Senior Brother, Senior Sister, are you alright?"
The Hua Xia Sect's female disciples hurried to their side, carefully helping them up.
"Oh, my head is so dizzy." Fang Yuan, with blood at the corner of his mouth, buried his head into Shang Lianxue's embrace, muttering, "Mmm, so fragrant, so soft..."
Shang Lianxue's body stiffened, her face flushed, as she tried to push Fang Yuan's head away.
"Junior Sister, can you bear to see Senior Brother lying in the cold ruins? Have you forgotten the Sect Master's teachings? Have you forgotten the sect's creed of mutual help and love among fellow disciples?"
Fang Yuan chattered endlessly, showing no sign of being severely injured.
Shang Lianxue felt a bit helpless and could only continue to let Fang Yuan cling to her, her face red.
"Senior Brother, wake up quickly." A younger female disciple, tears welling up, kept shaking Qin Hao's body.
"Senior Sister Huo, Senior Brother Qin Hao is dead..." She wiped her tears, looking helplessly at Huo Sichun nearby.
"Hey, wake up, stop faking it."
Huo Sichun kicked Qin Hao with her foot; the latter slowly opened his eyes and sat up, trembling.
Qin Hao's injuries were more severe; it took several pills for him to gradually improve.
Everyone rested for over half an hour, and the surviving commoners then came over, kneeling in unison before them, bowing deeply: "Thank you, Immortals, for saving our lives."
Li Taibai, supported by Zhao Mubai, slowly stood up and gently said, "Everyone, please rise."
Qing Shi Town had been reduced to ruins, and tens of thousands of commoners, their faces filled with sorrow, knelt before the devastation, mourning the deceased.
"What about these people?" Huo Sichun looked at the crowd and whispered.
The four Bi You Sect disciples exchanged glances and bowed to the others with cupped hands: "We have decided to stay and help them rebuild their homes."
"That's good too."
Li Taibai said, taking a bottle of pills from his pocket and handing it to the four. "These are healing pills; I hope they can help you."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Li." The four bowed respectfully, then added, "Where do you all plan to go next?"
"Zhao Country," Li Taibai replied.
"This place is far from Zhao Country. If you are in a hurry, you can go to the capital of Yan Country first; there is an airship there that goes to Zhao Country."
"Thank you."
Li Taibai bid farewell to the four and led the rest away from Qing Shi Town.
With their cultivation levels, it would only take them one day to reach Yan Country.
However, Zhao Mubai and the others were only in the Qi Condensation Stage and could not fly with swords, so they could only travel on foot.
But Fang Yuan and the others were not in a hurry, and their injuries were somewhat severe, so after traveling a few hundred miles, they finally stopped in a canyon.
Here, they discovered a natural hot spring, which delighted Fang Yuan and the others, and they immediately jumped into the lake without a second thought.
"Fang Yuan, Qin Hao, if you two dare to peek upstream, I'll dig out your eyes!"
Sun Yiyi laid down a harsh threat, then led the others upstream.
"Tch, what's so good about small A's?"
Fang Yuan showed a disdainful expression, threw all his tattered clothes onto the bank, and leisurely swam around in the lake.
Li Taibai and Qin Hao, naked, leaned back against the rocks, washing away the dirt from their bodies.
In the quiet canyon, the joyful sounds of the women occasionally echoed.
Fang Yuan's eyes darted around, and he stealthily swam upstream.
"Fang Yuan, don't go." A light voice drifted into Fang Yuan's ears.
Fang Yuan pouted and submerged himself in the lake again.
There was nothing he could do; Li Taibai was the captain personally appointed by Chu Huaian, and if he went back and tattled, Fang Yuan would undoubtedly face another beating.
...
Limitless Sect, within the main hall.
Mo Li sat in the main seat, and below him, there was a Black-Robed Man.
"You mean that Li Taibai of the Hua Xia Sect has come out of seclusion?"
"Precisely, and he carries the Emperor's Armament. We just received news that the Blood Demon died by the Emperor's Armament."
The Black-Robed Man's voice was muffled, making it impossible to tell if he was male or female, and he showed no deference towards Mo Li.
Mo Li's fingers rested on the armrest, tapping lightly, lost in thought.
"Sect Master Mo, what are you still hesitating about? As long as you possess the Emperor's Armament, you can rule the entire Jizhou. The opportunity to achieve eternal glory is right before your eyes. Don't you want to lead the Limitless Sect out of this barren land of Jizhou?"
"Hmph, don't think this venerable one doesn't know what your Demon God Sect is planning. To try and incite another war in Jizhou is wishful thinking!"
Hearing this, the Black-Robed Man chuckled lightly: "Sect Master Mo seems to have a great prejudice against the Demon God Sect. I came here with sincerity to cooperate with your esteemed sect. If Sect Master Mo does not agree, I will not force it."
The Black-Robed Man paused for a few seconds after saying this, then spoke again: "Sect Master Mo, don't forget, the Limitless Sect and the Hua Xia Sect are sworn enemies.
From what I understand, the disciples of the Hua Xia Sect are all exceptionally talented. If they are allowed to develop, will the Limitless Sect still have a chance to survive?"
These words seemed to hit Mo Li where it hurt, his face instantly darkened, and murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
The Black-Robed Man seemed not to notice Mo Li's murderous gaze and continued: "The Demon God Sect is not lacking in Emperor's Armaments and divine-grade cultivation techniques, so Sect Master Mo can rest assured."
Mo Li's gaze fixed on the Black-Robed Man, and after a while, he reined in his murderous intent, saying in a deep voice, "What does your Demon God Sect want to do?"
"Support a sect to rise, control the entire Jizhou, and become a puppet of the Demon God Sect." The Black-Robed Man showed no hint of subtlety, directly stating the Demon God Sect's intentions.
"Ridiculous! We, the Limitless Sect, as a top sect in Jizhou, will become your Demon God Sect's puppet? You are far too fanciful." Mo Li scoffed.
"Sect Master Mo, don't forget, Jizhou is just a barren land with incomplete laws and scarce spiritual veins. In such a place, being called a first-grade sect, don't you feel ashamed?"
"Or are you deceiving yourself, Sect Master Mo, believing that the Limitless Sect can rival the first-grade sects of other continents?"
Upon hearing this, Mo Li immediately fell silent, evidently acknowledging what the Black-Robed Man had said.
The two stopped speaking, and the main hall was eerily quiet.
After a long while, Mo Li exhaled a turbid breath, saying in a compromising tone, "If you can help this venerable one retrieve the Emperor's Armament, the Limitless Sect is willing to enter into this cooperation."
Upon hearing this, the Black-Robed Man seemed unsurprised; instead, he said, "I have already set up an ambush in Zhao Country, just waiting for Li Taibai to fall into the trap. However, I will need the strength of your esteemed sect to prevent any unforeseen circumstances."
"Very well, later this venerable one will dispatch fifty Golden Core cultivators and two Yuan Ying Stage cultivators to accompany you."
"Aren't you afraid of exposing your identity?" The Black-Robed Man showed a playful expression.
"They are all guest elders of the Limitless Sect; they have not cultivated this sect's techniques, so they will not be exposed."
"Sect Master Mo has indeed considered everything thoroughly."
A hint of disdain flashed in the Black-Robed Man's eyes, then he transformed into a wisp of black smoke and vanished.
The main hall was silent, with only Mo Li's heavy breathing echoing.
