Chapter 648

Chapter 648

I Can See Through Everything

Cang Jue possibly possessing a superior-grade demonic artifact was something none of the shadowy figures had anticipated.

Everyone knew that demonic artifacts of the Demon Clan were equivalent to spiritual artifacts of cultivators. A superior-grade demonic artifact was no different from a superior-grade spiritual artifact—a mighty treasure of immense power.

Such a treasure was incomparably precious. Even those Nascent Soul cultivators who had survived five tribulations and beyond would be tempted by it.

That was why these shadowy figures were shocked to see Cang Jue wielding what seemed to be a superior-grade demonic artifact.

After all, he was only at Demon Core Perfection. He had no way to truly unleash the full might of such an artifact.

Even a mid-grade demonic artifact would be difficult for someone at his cultivation to fully wield.

For a mere Demon Core cultivator to hold a superior-grade demonic artifact was no different from a child carrying gold through a bustling market—he lacked the strength to protect it.

“If the Demon Lord of Annihilation finds out that his youngest son is no longer in the Demon Domain, he’ll probably go mad with rage,” one figure said with schadenfreude.

“So what if he goes mad? Does he dare come and wreak havoc in our Netherworld Palace?”

“Indeed. The Demon Lord of Annihilation may be a Seven-Tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator, but in the face of our Netherworld Palace, he is nothing.”

“Look, Cang Jue is about to catch up to those two!”

The figures muttered as they watched the scene in the glowing screen.

Using the might of his artifact, Cang Jue had nearly closed the distance to the Dao Heir of Dao Xu Temple and the Holy Maiden of Bilu Palace.

At once, their gazes sharpened.

They knew if Cang Jue actually killed the two, it would certainly stir no small commotion in the Tianyuan Great World.

Not that the Netherworld Palace feared such a thing. For now, they merely watched for amusement, eager to see how the confrontation would unfold.

“Fairy Luo, it’s no good. That fiend has caught up!”

Within the Trial Space, the Dao Heir of Dao Xu Temple’s face darkened.

The Holy Maiden of Bilu Palace’s expression was equally grim. She could feel a dreadful aura of evil rapidly closing in behind them.

“Prepare for battle. His speed is greater than ours—there’s no escaping.”

She sighed softly.

“I never imagined we would encounter such a formidable demon. Fairy Luo, it seems this time we’ll truly have to fight side by side.”

The Dao Heir of Dao Xu Temple’s easy confidence had vanished, replaced with grim determination.

“Very well.”

The Holy Maiden of Bilu Palace nodded without hesitation. She knew this was no time for obstinacy.

The fiend pursuing them was terrifying. Though his realm was no higher than theirs, his demonic techniques were immensely powerful—and he even commanded a formidable demonic artifact.

Even with the two of them together, defending against him would be arduous.

Originally, they had planned to avoid direct confrontation. But now it was clear this battle was unavoidable.

So be it—let the fight come!

The Holy Maiden’s eyes hardened as the malignant aura drew ever closer.

The Dao Heir mirrored her resolve.

Neither considered negotiation.

Between the Human and Demon Clans, the enmity was deep as the sea, irreconcilable. Their blood feud could never be washed away.

Moreover, that fiend had already made clear his intent to kill them.

There was no point in words—only battle remained.

“Oh? So you’ve stopped running?”

Cang Jue sensed the two auras ahead had halted.

“Recognized reality, have you? Knowing you cannot flee and choosing instead to struggle desperately? Hah, now things might get interesting.”

A cruel smile twisted his lips.

It wasn’t often he encountered humans worthy of being called opponents. He didn’t want them to die too easily.

No—he wanted to torment them. To let them go from self-assured arrogance to despairing screams.

Just imagining it sent shivers of excitement through his body.

He surged forward even faster.

“Hm? Three more experts converging?”

At that moment, Lu Qing also noticed the stir through his Trial Jade Token.

Several hundred li away, three cultivators who had already gathered dozens of points each were about to clash.

“Are they humans, or perhaps from the other two races? Or a mix of both?” Lu Qing wondered.

He considered going over to reap all three sets of Trial Jade Tokens for himself.

But then his gaze sharpened.

A cluster of white dots, more than two hundred in number, was suddenly racing toward him.

Clearly, this was an expert who had already defeated many others—a formidable opponent indeed.

“Coming for me? Is it because I defeated that white-robed youth, and my tokens drew his notice?”

Lu Qing speculated, then grinned.

“So fortunate. Coming straight to my door.”

He abandoned his earlier plan to intercept the three cultivators, instead standing still, calmly awaiting the arrival of this expert bearing more than two hundred tokens.

“Eh? A Golden Core Realm cultivator at Ninth Transformation Perfection heading toward the boy with the Heaven-Shattering Sword Intent.”

“I recall he’s the Dao Heir of the Shangguan Clan, one of the Thirty-Six High Clans—Shangguan Menghe, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Among the younger generation of the Shangguan Clan, his talent at the Golden Core Realm is unparalleled.”

“Now this is intriguing. The Shangguan Clan excels in soul techniques, especially illusions. Their clan’s core scripture, the Dream Illusion Heart Sutra, is so exquisite even some of our Netherworld Palace elders praise it. I wonder how much this Shangguan Menghe has mastered.”

“The path of illusion is most treacherous—difficult to guard against. That Ghost-Face Mask boy may have high swordsmanship, but if his soul power isn’t strong enough, if his Dao Heart isn’t firm, he may not withstand it.”

“Yes, this fight will be worth watching!”

The shadowy figures in the mysterious space all grew more animated.

Whether Cang Jue against the Dao Heir of Dao Xu Temple and the Holy Maiden of Bilu Palace, or Shangguan Menghe against the Ghost-Face Mask youth—both promised thrilling clashes of strength.

“Look, Cang Jue has caught up to them,” someone remarked.

On the glowing screen, Cang Jue’s streak of black light finally overtook the Dao Heir and the Holy Maiden.

“Hahaha! Two little mice. Why have you stopped running?”

“Did you realize you can’t escape my grasp no matter what?”

Cang Jue appeared in his true form, laughing wildly.

He cared nothing for their wary, battle-ready stances.

“Fiend, don’t be so arrogant! You’re only relying on your artifact to act so brashly. If you dare, let’s fight without artifacts and see whose Dao techniques are superior!”

The Dao Heir of Dao Xu Temple shouted coldly.

“Oh? A provocation? They do say human cultivators are cunning and sly. Seems true enough.”

Cang Jue sneered.

“But didn’t your masters ever tell you? The power of an artifact is part of one’s strength. Blame only your elders—too stingy, too selfish to grant you a true protective treasure.”

The Dao Heir’s face stiffened.

The fiend’s demonic artifact was terrifying.

Though both he and the Holy Maiden had decent lower-grade spiritual artifacts, their might was far beneath his.

Clearly, the fiend’s artifact was of a higher tier altogether.

He had hoped to bait Cang Jue into discarding it. But the fiend wasn’t so foolish.

“However…”

Just as his heart sank, the fiend’s tone shifted.

“You seem quite confident in your Dao techniques. Very well. I’ll grant you this chance.”

“No artifacts. Just our own strength. Let’s see if you can last ten moves against me.”

“Little mouse, I rarely show such mercy. Treasure it—don’t disappoint me.”

The Dao Heir’s heart leapt with joy. “Agreed!”

He turned to the Holy Maiden. “Fairy Luo, hold back and support me. I’ll face him first.”

She frowned, then nodded, sending a soul-voice transmission: “This fiend is cunning. Beware his treachery.”

“Don’t worry. I know his strength lies only in his artifact. In pure Dao techniques, I may not lose.”

His confidence burned.

“Finished your farewells, little mouse? Then come die. I’ll show you what despair truly is.”

Cang Jue’s arrogance overflowed.

“Fiend, your boasting ends here. Taste my Dao!”

The Dao Heir unleashed his aura. At once, the power of a Golden Core Ninth Transformation Perfection cultivator burst forth, sending the surrounding spiritual energy into chaos.

Cang Jue’s black demonic qi surged skyward to meet it, even pressing down with greater might.

At that moment, the pursuing demons finally caught up.

But faced with the terrifying clash of two elites, they dared not step closer, halting at a distance for fear of being swept into the storm.

“Little mouse, make your move. To make your defeat more satisfying, I’ll even give you three strikes first.”

Cang Jue floated in midair, arms crossed, shrouded in demonic qi.

“Arrogant demon!”

The Dao Heir could no longer endure the insult. His hands traced complex seals.

Power rippled outward. Stars shimmered into existence around Cang Jue, weaving into a celestial map that sought to entrap and refine him.

This was his proudest technique: Starry Net Array. By refining stellar light gathered over years, he had forged a Dao technique of formidable might.

Once trapped within, even peak Golden Core cultivators would struggle to break free, eventually refined into nothing.

It was a dreadful Dao technique indeed.

Yet Cang Jue remained calm, arms still folded, as though truly intending to take the strike head-on.

The Dao Heir’s eyes gleamed with hope.

If Cang Jue was so arrogant as to underestimate him, then he would make the fiend his prey.

If trapped in the Starry Net Array, even this demon would be bound for death.

Perhaps…

His spirit surged. The Eight Trigrams Artifact within him stirred restlessly.

If he struck with it now, he might even slay the fiend outright!

But before he could act, a chill of mortal danger seized him.

From Cang Jue’s chest, a black skeletal claw erupted, tearing through the starry array as though it were paper.

The claw did not slow—it continued its crushing descent.

Horror-stricken, the Dao Heir desperately summoned his artifact.

The Eight Trigrams Diagram appeared before him, its power warping space itself, even slightly slowing the claw’s advance.

But only slightly.

His artifact was inferior in grade, and hastily activated. How could it compare to the fiend’s long-prepared strike?

The skeletal claw slammed into it, rending cracks across its surface, then smashed through to strike his body.

Boom!

With a sickening crunch, half his body was pulverized. Blood sprayed as he tumbled backward.

Only the quick intervention of the Holy Maiden of Bilu Palace spared him from plummeting.

But when she saw his condition, her face turned ashen.

His flesh, bones, and meridians were shattered, leaving him barely human.

His breath was faint, only a thread away from death. Worse, tendrils of demonic qi coiled around him, devouring him from within.

“Don’t move!”

She pressed an Ice Soul Talisman to his chest, momentarily suppressing the invasive qi.

“Ha ha ha ha ha…”

Cang Jue’s savage laughter rang out, pointing at the two of them like a predator savoring his kill.