Chapter 695

“How else could it be? Unless you can shatter this formation, do you think you can withstand that massive palm from earlier?”

The enchantingly handsome man sneered in reply.

The other three demons fell silent.

They recalled the terrifying might of that enormous hand. To be fair, even if the four of them joined forces, they might not be able to withstand it.

Not to mention that down below, Lu Xiaoyan’s cold gaze was locked on them like a predator waiting to strike.

If battle truly broke out, no one could say how it might end.

What’s more…

The four demons exchanged covert glances.

Their alliance was nothing but a union of convenience.

As for trust or brotherhood—such a thing was impossible.

On the contrary, if an opportunity presented itself, none of them would hesitate to devour the others.

In other words, should anyone be gravely wounded in battle, the other three would not hesitate to tear him apart and swallow him whole.

With that in mind, their hearts grew hesitant.

The reason they had gathered here in the first place was because they had been certain Sacred Mountain would not withstand their assault.

Now that the situation had changed, they had to reconsider the risk.

After all, what if they gained nothing, only to be betrayed and killed by their own companions?

“Are you saying… we should retreat?” asked the Eagle Demon.

“Retreat. Staying here is meaningless now, and we must still guard against these so-called righteous cultivators scheming against us.

In any case, time is on our side. Now that we’ve all recovered to the late-stage Golden Core, there’s no one in this world who can stop us.”

Another shadowy demonic figure agreed.

“But without obtaining the soul of Sacred Mountain, reaching the Nascent Soul Realm again will be near impossible. We would have to wait until the Heavenly Dao Sounds echo one final time, when spiritual energy transforms once more. Who knows how many years that would take?” the fourth demon grumbled.

“I have a solution,” said the handsome man, his lips curving into a sly smile.

“What solution, Xiefeng?” the others asked at once.

“This mountain relies only on its grand formation. If we can destroy it, then what’s left? Just that Fairy Lu and a few nobodies—nothing that could stop us.”

“Destroy the formation? This is no ordinary array. Breaking it won’t be so easy,” the Eagle Demon said doubtfully.

“Ordinary means won’t work. But what if we had the Blood Fiend Soul Banner?” Xiefeng’s eyes glittered.

“The Blood Fiend Soul Banner! You mean…” The Eagle Demon’s face paled.

The other two also stared in shock.

“Indeed. The Blood Fiend Soul Banner can corrupt and defile any great array. If we refine it, shattering the Sacred Mountain formation will be child’s play.”

“But to refine such a banner… it requires an unimaginable number of living beings. You wouldn’t mean—”

“Exactly. Now that we’ve regained our late-stage Golden Core strength, no one can stand in our way.

We’ll refine the banner, crush the formation, seize the mountain’s soul, and return to the Nascent Soul Realm.

When that happens, this world will belong to the demonic path. Righteousness will be nothing but a memory.”

Though they were fellow demons, the other three felt a chill at his words.

The Blood Fiend Soul Banner was infamous even in the previous cultivation era. Few dared attempt its refinement, for the lives required were beyond horrific.

“Has devouring the souls of countless demonic cultivators warped Xiefeng’s very nature?” the Eagle Demon thought grimly.

“Surely you’re not thinking of backing down now? If we can’t seize the mountain’s soul, we won’t regain the Nascent Soul Realm anytime soon. And don’t forget, the Heavenly Dao rejects us.

While we linger, who knows what heaven-blessed geniuses might rise to slay us? It happened often enough in the last era.

Do you want to end up as stepping stones beneath some Child of Destiny’s feet?

No—we must strike with thunderous force, seize the soul, and ascend again.

Once we reshape the world into one of demons, even Heaven’s will must yield to our corruption!

At that time, the demonic path will be righteousness itself. Perhaps we will even surpass what none in the last era could achieve—breaking through to an unprecedented, supreme realm!”

Xiefeng’s wild ambition left the three demons stunned.

They had never imagined he harbored such dreams—dreams of twisting Heaven itself, of forging a new path where demon was right and right was demon.

Yet they couldn’t deny his words stirred their hearts.

If such a future was possible, they might indeed reach heights unseen in all history.

“Haha! Xiefeng, I underestimated you. To think you possess such vision! Very well, I’ll join you!” The Eagle Demon roared with laughter.

The other two exchanged glances, then nodded.

“Count us in. Refining some lives is nothing if it lets us break this array.”

With all three in agreement, Xiefeng’s smile grew eerie. “Then let us waste no time. Our first sacrifice shall be the Sacred City at the mountain’s foot!”

“Excellent! Sacred Mountain claims to be the seat of righteousness. Let us slaughter their people before their eyes. Let’s see if they dare come out and fight us!”

The Eagle Demon’s eyes shone with malice as he dove toward the city.

The other three followed.

Because their earlier discussion had been veiled from prying senses, the First Holy Lord and others atop the mountain had heard nothing.

When the four demons suddenly withdrew, they were left bewildered.

“Why would they retreat so easily?”

But as the First Holy Lord glimpsed the direction they had taken, his heart dropped.

“No—they’re headed for the Sacred City!”

Late-stage Golden Core experts moved like lightning. In the blink of an eye, the four demons hovered above the city.

“Wait—let me strike first!”

The Eagle Demon spread his claws. A swirling vortex of demonic qi formed above the city, descending with a dreadful suction meant to tear its people skyward.

“Go ahead. We’ll stand guard,” said the others, content to watch while keeping their attention on Sacred Mountain in case the lords intervened.

The vortex fell swiftly.

But just as it neared the city, a luminous barrier rose to meet it, holding the demonic qi at bay.

“What? The city’s array still functions?”

The Eagle Demon’s eyes narrowed.

He knew this city had been protected by arrays since the last cultivation era—else it could not have endured for so long. But after ages had passed, he had not expected them to still awaken.

“Could this too be the handiwork of that so-called number one under Heaven?” His heart tightened.

Until now, he had dismissed that youth’s fame, thinking it born of their own absence.

Yet twice now, remnants of that youth’s arrangements had foiled him. For the first time, he regarded the absent Lu Qing as a true threat.

“Fortunately, he has left this world. If not, he would be an enemy most dire.”

He sneered coldly. “But even so, this city has no true experts. Your array cannot hold!”

With the others watching, he would not allow himself to falter.

Power surged through him. The vortex doubled in size, bearing down once more.

“Hold! Hold, or we all perish!”

Inside the city, the Tower Master of Tianji no longer carried his usual air of immortal calm. His face flushed red as he stood at the heart of the array, pouring out his late-stage Golden Core strength.

Behind him stood Lin Zhirui and all of Tianji Tower’s disciples, along with the city’s strongest cultivators, all lending their strength to sustain the formation.

Though the vortex pressed heavily, the barrier refused to shatter.

“We held it back!”

Cries of relief broke out. Even the Tower Master exhaled in gratitude.

“Thanks to Lord Lu Qing for repairing this array, or today would have been ruin.”

Still, he knew this was only the beginning. Three other demons had yet to act.

“May the Holy Lords find a way,” he prayed silently.

“Eagle Demon, are you faltering? Shall we help?” one demon mocked.

“Fools! Watch how I crush it!” The Eagle Demon roared, spitting demonic qi into the vortex. It swelled again, pressing so hard the barrier cracked audibly.

“It’s breaking!”

Despair washed over the defenders.

“Evil fiend, perish!”

A cold, ringing voice split the skies.

A radiant sword light swept down from Sacred Mountain like a blade cleaving Heaven itself, striking straight at the Eagle Demon.

“No—this sword…”

The other three demons, who had only moments before boasted of guarding him, scattered like startled rabbits, abandoning their ally without hesitation.

The Eagle Demon cursed them bitterly, but too late. The sword descended with unstoppable force.

This time, Xiao Yan’s strike carried tenfold the power of her earlier blows.

Even the Eagle Demon’s formidable demonic body could not endure. The light split him clean in half, scattering his qi in a storm of black mist.

“Argh!” His scream echoed as his sundered halves fled in opposite directions, desperate to escape before his companions devoured him.

Indeed, greed gleamed in the others’ eyes. But before they could pursue, the sword light curved midair, wheeling back toward them.

The three demons paled.

They had just seen what happened to the Eagle Demon.

Terrified, they dodged frantically. Yet even so, the sword struck them hard, leaving grievous wounds before they finally escaped, fleeing far into the distance.

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