Chapter 988

After seeing Ye Yu’s true face, Ling Qiansha showed not the slightest surprise; instead, he drew in a deep breath.

“Immortal Qi still smells that foul,” he said. “I don’t care how you persuaded Bai Qingsong to bring you here. I only want to know: for the

Zhuxie Immortal Sword

, what price do you intend to offer?”

Ye Yu replied calmly, “How about the

Yehuo Fenshiji

(Ancient Demonic Halberd)?”

At once, both Ling Qiansha and Bai Qingsong’s expressions shifted. The

Yehuo Fenshiji

was a legendary demonic relic from antiquity. As Powerhouses, they had both heard its tales. If they could secure it, their forthcoming Ascension Battle would go much more smoothly.

Suppressing his excitement, Ling Qiansha said coldly, “If you truly possess the

Yehuo Fenshiji

, then yes—it will do. But do you?”

“Master Ling, are you stupid?” Ye Yu retorted indifferently. “If I didn’t, do you think I’d waste time standing here with you?”

The insult sparked fury in Ling Qiansha. As a Demon Emperor–realm powerhouse, he could not allow an Immortal to mock him. He was about to strike back when suddenly a great halberd wreathed in flames appeared before him. The power of burning karma sent a chill through everyone present.

Bai Qingsong’s eyes widened. So this was the famed relic of old? Its infernal fire could not be mimicked by any other demonic weapon.

“Big brother, you really have it?” Bai Qingsong whispered.

Ling Qiansha’s breath came heavy. As unbidden thoughts of triumph flooded him, he reached out—but his hand passed through empty air. Ye Yu had placed the

Yehuo Fenshiji

behind his back.

“Why the rush? You haven’t given me the Zhuxie Immortal Sword yet!” Ye Yu said lightly.

Ling Qiansha burst into mocking laughter. “A mere Immortal dares to haggle with me? From the start, I never intended to hand over the Zhuxie Immortal Sword!”

No sooner had he spoken than a black demonic claw erupted from the ground, dragging the

Yehuo Fenshiji

into the earth. Moments later, it reemerged in Ling Qiansha’s grasp. Trembling with excitement, he held the ancient halberd aloft.

Then, without warning, the blade melted into black ichor before it struck Ye Yu. Panic shot through Ling Qiansha. Why had the

Yehuo Fenshiji

taken this form?

Before he could react, a sharp pain blossomed in his chest. He looked down to see the halberd—now engulfed in roaring flames—piercing him from behind. Around him, reality shattered. Only then did Ling Qiansha realize he had fallen into an

illusion

.

When had it started? Of course—at the instant Ye Yu had locked eyes with him and concealed the halberd. His own greed and neglect had blinded him.

But killing a Demon Emperor–realm powerhouse would not be so simple! In a flash, Ling Qiansha’s form blurred and vanished, reappearing at the far side of the Demon Lord’s Hall. Blood gushed from his wound, yet his face remained calm.

“To be driven nearly to death by an Immortal King–realm cultivator... Impressive,” he murmured.

At that moment, another figure appeared before him and delivered a sudden punch. Ling Qiansha sneered and raised his arm to block. A mortal blow from a mere human body—what lunacy!

In the next instant, regret exploded across his face. Unmatched force shattered his arm and crashed into his wound. He coughed up a mouthful of old blood. Impossible—the frail body of an Immortal was never meant to wield such power. Even ancient demons might pale in comparison.

Ling Qiansha tried to flee using magic, but Ye Yu pressed him down and unleashed a storm of blows. Each strike hit precisely at his injury; within moments, over a thousand punches had pulverized the Demon Emperor’s body.

Ling Qiansha could never have imagined such an end. His spirit sought escape, but Ye Yu bound it with an array of

spirit–sealing formations

and cast it into the

Summoning Banner

.

With fluid grace, Ye Yu completed the sequence in a single breath. Bai Qingsong, untouched by the illusion, witnessed the entire battle: Ye Yu had impaled Ling Qiansha with the

Yehuo Fenshiji

and then crushed him with his fists. An Immortal exploding a demon’s body—such a sight was unheard of in history.

He had long known Ye Yu was strong, but never imagined such power. “Big brother, you truly are...”

Overwhelmed, the Demon Lord of Dongyao Prefecture sank to his knees, tears streaming down his face. “I feel so safe seeing you from this angle... I just want to kneel!”

Ye Yu exhaled slowly. In truth, he had used a clever trick: without his stratagem, even at peak Immortal King–realm cultivation, he could not have defeated a Demon Emperor. Fortunately, everything had gone smoothly. The

Yehuo Fenshiji

had grievously wounded Ling Qiansha, allowing Ye Yu to finish him.

Ye Yu retrieved Ling Qiansha’s storage ring and found within the

Zhuxie Immortal Sword

, its blade inscribed with the characters “Zhuxie.” No doubt it was the very sword he sought.

He and Bai Qingsong then returned to the Demon Palace. When # Nоvеlight # Zheng Nanxiu saw the

Zhuxie Immortal Sword

, she wept for joy and thanked Ye Yu repeatedly. He only smiled in response.

They did not linger in the Demon Realm—they both had matters to attend to. After bidding Bai Qingsong farewell, Ye Yu headed toward the passage from the Demon Realm to the Celestial Realm. Watching his departing figures, Bai Qingsong wept tears of relief. Finally, he had survived! Life among demons was perilous; one must cherish every step.

Meanwhile, eight hundred li from the Wuwei Pagoda, Jiang Yumo, Shangguan Jiujin, and Zhuo Lanqing were intercepted by unknown assailants.