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Chapter 35: Annihilating the Jinwu

Beneath the Heavenly Punishment, the towering peak and the thousand-li plain alike fell into the silence of extinguished life!

The sky and earth were entirely filled with a sea of silver-white thunder. Cang Shun stood safe and unharmed high in the air, his eyes reflecting deeply that sword-sharp figure.

Chen Moqing pointed a finger toward the sky, as though drawing a sword from its sheath; the Withered Wood Spring Revival Decree, which had once withstood nine layers of heavenly thunder, hung high in the air, unfurling a grand canopy of ten thousand springs, colliding head-on with the Heavenly Punishment!

An immortal's token, serving as his shield!

The snow-white fur radiated a sacred moon-frost, demonic power surging forth in sweeping waves. Cang Shun stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Chen Moqing; they exchanged a glance, needing no words, bearing the Heavenly Punishment together.

Across the ruined earth, whether it was the ten Elders of the Jinwu Sect or the various Demon Kings, all were forced to retreat from the range of the Heavenly Punishment, shifting to another battlefield.

"Heavenly Punishment… heh, it seems the Heavenly Dao favors the human race, favors my Jinwu."

The Third Elder of the Jinwu Sect spread both hands, looking down upon the Vermillion Bird, who was besieged by the surrounding Demon Kings: "Demon King, accept your fate."

The moment these words fell, another upheaval stirred between heaven and earth.

A wolf's howl tore through a thousand mountains, the Black Tortoise's heavy steps shook the ground again and again; the two great Demon Kings, the Azure Wolf and the Black Tortoise, radiated the powerful aura of the Body Integration stage, joining the battlefield. Flower petals swept up in a rich fragrance, whirling and transforming into nine fox tails, landing lightly on the ground—peak of the Body Integration stage, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox.

Another group of Demon Kings, led by these three great demons, landed and in an instant forced the other Demon Kings back.

"Vermillion Bird, I've come to aid you— how will you thank me?"

The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, Xuanji, laughed like ringing bells, circling around the Vermillion Bird, the nine jade-white tails behind her spreading out like flower petals.

The Azure Wolf Demon King, Zuo Mo, said nothing, throwing a single punch to drive Qing Fen back; the Black Tortoise gazed at that massive demonic beast beneath the terrifying Heavenly Punishment, his voice deep as an ancient bell: "When did the demon realm gain another powerhouse at the Body Integration stage?"

The Vermillion Bird's gaze swept over them, giving a light "heh": "It's someone from that reclusive demon clan."

"The reclusive demon clan hasn't emerged in a thousand years. Whenever chaos arises, they're sure to appear," Xuanji tilted her face up slightly, her fox tails swaying, "Tsk tsk, such a heroic, dominant bearing—it rather reminds me of His Majesty the Demon Emperor of days past."

The Crimson Flood Dragon was swept back a hundred zhang by a sudden strike from a fox tail, shouting in anger: "Xuanji! You too suffer from the Demon Abyss's corrosion, you should understand our pain!"

Xuanji's smile remained enchanting, her eyes sharp: "Hehe… even with corrosion upon my body, I am still a sovereign of the demon realm, mistress of ten thousand foxes, how could I ever serve as a lackey to the human race, how could I ever trample upon the flesh and blood of my own kind? As for you, dear sister here happens to have just brewed a jar of thousand-year jade wine, I'll pluck your head off to make myself a wine cup."

Gongsun Qing looked down indifferently upon the chaotic melee of the demon race below, watching heaven crack and earth split, the towering peak crumbling away piece by piece.

He turned his gaze once more; to the other side, the Heavenly Dao blazed with wrath, the Heavenly Punishment unceasing.

The voice of the Third Elder of the Jinwu Sect rang through the vast sky: "All of you, join me— Suppress the Vile Demons!"

The Golden Crow Sun-Concealing Array formed once more, ten wheels of great suns, their assault falling like rain, piercing through the curtain of Heavenly Punishment, smashing down upon the two figures bearing the brunt of it.

Cang Shun turned his head indifferently, his demonic pupils a churning sea of scarlet.

Demonic power that overwhelmed heaven and earth swept across the vast sky, churning up the great suns. The Golden Crow Sun-Concealing Array shook violently, nearly scattered by a single blow!

The Emperor of the demon realm, unrivaled among those of the same cultivation level!

The Third Elder of the Jinwu Sect retreated three steps in succession, his pupils suddenly contracting: "We're both at the same Body Integration stage, how could he possibly—"

A great palm parted the layered clouds, the boundless sky transforming into a chessboard, all heaven and earth, grass and trees, becoming chess pieces upon it.

Upon that magnificent, sweeping chessboard, a figure descended unhurriedly, his aura utterly ordinary, as if he were but a mortal—yet everyone present recognized that face.

The Second Elder of the Jinwu Sect— Early Mahayana stage!

"Oh my, what a grand display." Xuanji laughed lightly, flicking her fox tails, slapping the approaching Crimson Flood Dragon into the ground, sinking him into a crater a hundred meters deep, "The human race brings out one at Body Integration here, one at Mahayana there, how strange that in the last battle at the Demon Abyss, you all turned into cowering tortoises, letting some young whelk barely a hundred years old shield you pack of old fogeys?"

The Second Elder of the Jinwu Sect at the Early Mahayana stage merely smiled faintly: "Noisy beast."

He flipped his hand, and the chessboard of heaven and earth overturned, bearing down together with the Heavenly Punishment!

Gongsun Qing stepped forward, teleporting instantly to the side of the Heavenly Punishment, exchanging a smiling glance with that Second Elder: "Old friend, I've come to aid you."

One at the Early Mahayana stage, two at the peak of Body Integration, two at the early Body Integration stage, and four at the peak of Void Refinement, all striking at once! A terrifying force capable of destroying who knows how many middle-and-lower prefectures bore down together with the Heavenly Punishment!

Cang Shun's form plummeted rapidly; in the corner of his eye, the young human beside him closed his eyes, a thread of crimson staining the corner of his pale lips.

In an instant, ice seized the Demon Emperor's heart, chilling him through to the bone, as though he had fallen into a frozen abyss.

He must not be allowed to stay here.

Sever the contract, let him go.

Faster than conscious thought, Cang Shun's hand had already risen—

A slender hand reached out gently, gently but firmly pressing down the Demon Emperor's claw.

Chen Moqing turned his head, meeting his eyes.

If I leave, what will become of you?

He said nothing aloud, but Cang Shun had already understood the words hidden at the bottom of those clear, deep eyes.

"It seems that, because of me, you too have earned the Heavenly Dao's displeasure."

Amid the overwhelming lightning, the young human spoke to him with a smile.

"It seems we can only share in this hardship together, Your Majesty the Demon Emperor."

A single drop of crimson blood condensed and formed between his brows. Chen Moqing closed his eyes, the blood of his heart rising like a shrunken, blazing sun, fusing into the Withered Wood Spring Revival Decree held high above.

Burning his life's essence—driving this immortal's token with everything he had!

In an instant, the young human's raven-black hair turned to frost-white once more, and the Withered Wood Spring Revival Decree blazed forth with brilliant light; across a thousand li of heaven and earth, ten thousand leaves burst into new life, a scene of spring descending upon the world!

Cang Shun's pupils trembled for an instant, his cultivation surging violently throughout his body, demonic power pouring forth without restraint, colliding with the Heavenly Punishment bearing down from above!

The Demon Emperor's furious roar rang through heaven and earth, his surging demonic power, together with the unfurled canopy of ten thousand springs, condensing into a colossal sword connecting heaven and earth, splitting the myriad bolts of the Heavenly Punishment's lightning—clean in two!

The Heavenly Punishment shattered!

"It worked!" the Vermillion Bird exclaimed in shock, "By the laws of this world, the Heavenly Dao can never send down Heavenly Punishment twice in succession, they've won!"

Heaven and earth fell silent for several breaths, then suddenly the earth rumbled with a startling roar, as if the great path of heaven and earth had been provoked into unending fury—a Heavenly Punishment several times more terrifying than before descended once more, tearing apart heaven, earth, and the mortal world!

The Vermillion Bird looked up in shock, only to see, beneath that world-swallowing, sun-devouring Heavenly Punishment, those two figures, like birds with broken wings, plummeting rapidly downward!

The terrifying lightning submerged the entire world; several Elders of the Jinwu Sect had already retreated at full speed, their faces etched with terror, and no one dared draw near the place where the Heavenly Punishment had descended, even the Vermillion Bird halted his steps, instinct telling him—should he draw near, even a cultivator who had survived tribulation would have his soul scattered and destroyed on the spot!

This was the might of the Heavenly Dao, capable of annihilating all living beings with a single motion!

Gongsun Qing raised his neck, uncertain and alarmed, retreating one step, two steps, three steps—soundlessly, without a trace, he had already withdrawn behind everyone else, his figure flickering out of sight.

The Heavenly Punishment lit heaven and earth into a blazing white expanse, stabbing at the eyes; the Vermillion Bird's brow furrowed deeply.

Something was wrong, something was wrong! Heavenly Punishment harmed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and so by the laws of this world, the Heavenly Dao could not send it down at will—only those burdened with heinous, accumulated sins, villains who shook the great path of the world, would suffer the punishment of Heavenly Punishment!

Why would the Heavenly Dao… strike with such madness, only to annihilate these two?!

Amid the pouring sea of thunder, Chen Moqing was drenched in blood from head to toe, yet his eyes remained utterly clear; he burned his life's essence, using the Withered Wood Spring Revival Decree to hold up the last of the canopy.

Cang Shun pressed down firmly on his shoulder, his own surging life's essence likewise igniting like a torch, ceaselessly transferring spiritual power to him. In this moment, the one human and one demon were like a small boat amid a raging storm; though wind and waves came fierce and sudden, sail and bamboo boat remained forever inseparable.

【You will be fine】

Cang Shun's voice was light yet steady, and he raised his hand, nearly gathering the young human into his embrace.

He had words left unsaid—in that moment when they were about to fall, at the point farthest from the Heavenly Dao, he would sever the contract between them with his own hands, using all his strength to tear open the void and send this person out of the demon realm.

He would bear the Heavenly Punishment himself; all he wanted was for this person to escape far away, safe.

Chen Moqing turned his head, meeting that pair of crimson eyes that seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words, yet now held only calm.

In this moment, heaven and earth fell utterly silent, not even the sound of thunder could be heard.

Chen Moqing's gaze lingered in Cang Shun's eyes for only a second.

——Without the slightest hesitation, he raised his hand and touched a point between his own brows!

In an instant, his eyes were dyed with blazing golden light, the spiritual energy around his entire body exploding forth violently!

Burning away his cultivation entirely, sacrificing his very soul!

Paying no heed to the Demon Emperor's furious roar that erupted beside him in that same instant, Chen Moqing reached out his hand once more, seizing hold of the bright red token hanging high above!

He would—at any cost, utterly and completely refine the Withered Wood Spring Revival Decree!

His blood-stained fingers dug deep into the crimson token, the last of his life's essence pouring in without any resistance, his very soul fusing with it as well. Chen Moqing gazed calmly upon the immortal's token, wagering everything he had, making one all-or-nothing, desperate gamble!

He would gamble—that the Withered Wood's Spring Revival could reverse life and death, and could reverse the Heavenly Dao itself!

The young human's dark, sunken eyes held a blazing flame, letting his soul burn, consuming himself entirely, until time drifted on, one breath, two breaths, three breaths…

A long, drawn-out sigh drifted across the vastness of the years.

"To defy heaven is to invite an end without grace."

"What good will it do you, to burn through several lifetimes?"

An ancient murmur, silent for so long, echoed once more through the spiritual sea.

Chen Moqing smiled faintly.

Within the Spiritual Sea, his spiritual sense lifted its head, his eyes clear and deep as a mirror, reflecting an insurmountable chasm.

"When the Heavenly Dao collapses into ruin, only by making oneself a sword— can one cut away the decay!"

"What fine resolve!" the immortal laughed aloud. "Since that is so, why not grant you a spring of your own?"

The spiritual sea shook violently, waves rising a thousand zhang high; beneath the myriad bolts of lightning piercing through heaven and earth, Chen Moqing's eyes pierced through the Heavenly Punishment, gazing upon the distant heights above, where the shadowy figure of an immortal turned back—meeting his gaze!

Spring returns to the mortal world!

Cang Shun's eyes fixed in place, watching a great silver-white formation rise fiercely from beneath Chen Moqing's feet, extending who knew how many tens of thousands of li, enveloping this entire stretch of heaven and earth!

Heaven and earth fell utterly silent, not a single sound stirred!

Demon Kings, the Jinwu Sect, the Tianshu Sect— the gazes of dozens of great powers spanning the Nine Thousand Prefectures converged upon a single point, where a tall figure in dark robes stood floating high in the sky, letting the Heavenly Punishment fall upon him as though bathed in nothing more than a gentle drizzle.

His long hair had turned entirely white, his eyes flowing with brilliant golden light, a mark of crimson upon his brow, like a burning flame of the heart, illuminating the dimness of heaven and earth.

Before the eyes of all present, the young cultivator ascended step by step toward the height of the heavens, as if, hundreds of thousands of years ago, the first immortal had ascended to the heavens.

His wide sleeves drifting, his black hair turned to snow, without sorrow or joy, without wrath or anger, he looked down upon the mortal world below.

The Heavenly Punishment descended once more, and he merely raised his hand slightly—

Ten thousand bolts of heavenly thunder, the punishment of the Heavenly Dao, all grasped within his palm!

The immortal ascends to heaven, plucking the stars from the sky!

"He's merely a Golden Core cultivator— how could he possibly carry the aura of an immortal…" The Second Elder of the Jinwu Sect's voice trembled, forcibly clenching his fist, suppressing the fear urging him to bow down and kneel, "No, you are nothing more than a false immortal! Borrowing a body of immortal power from heaven and earth!"

"Let us see just how long you can hold out until now—form the array!"

The Golden Crow Sun-Concealing Array rose once more, with the Early Mahayana stage cultivator as its formation-eye, eleven wheels of great suns, vast and towering in the sky!

Chen Moqing lowered his golden eyes, calm and without the slightest ripple, and raised his hand once more; amid the drifting of his wide sleeves, he had already plucked one wheel of the sun from the sky, as easily as picking up a grain of dust.

...

For as long as he lived, the Vermillion Bird would never forget this scene before him today.

——In ancient times, ten suns had scorched the mortal world.

And now, eleven wheels of great suns fell from the sky and crashed to earth, with nothing more than the sweep of an immortal's sleeve!

The eleven Elders of the Jinwu Sect, their bodies destroyed and their Dao dissolved, their very souls left with nothing remaining!

That Second Elder at the Early Mahayana stage, until his very last moment before death, was still wailing in shrill anguish, even kneeling upon the ground to beg for mercy—in the end, under the immortal's light, indifferent glance, he scattered into ash and smoke, gone without a trace.

The remaining Demon Kings all bowed their heads low, none daring to look directly at the immortal, none daring to steal a glimpse of the immortal's countenance.

Among the bowed multitude, only one gaze remained fixed, unwavering, locked upon that lofty, distant figure of the immortal.

Cang Shun gazed quietly upward, watching a cold, dazzling, frost-white moon.

His spiritual sense sank into the spiritual sea, where all was utterly silent.

Above the spiritual sea, the inner demon lifted his head, gazing into the distance: "You are determined to walk this path?"

Chen Moqing hung suspended high in the air, his eyes reflecting no trace of turmoil: "Even if my body is shattered to dust, I will still climb every step of the heavenly stair."

The inner demon spoke again: "Without severing the seven emotions and six desires, one cannot attain the great path."

Chen Moqing spoke word by word, resounding and firm: "Without feeling, I would not be myself."

The inner demon smiled, standing tall and unmoving like a pine, spreading both hands, tilting his chin slightly: "Come, then."

Chen Moqing looked down calmly upon himself, raised his hand, and struck down with a single sword strike.

The spiritual sea rippled, then returned once more to stillness.

Above his palm, the immortal's token hovered quietly, its radiance brilliant. He raised his eyes once more, and a towering heavenly chasm rose up from within the Spiritual Sea,

Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core— in the past, every time he crossed a stage, he had to cross this heavenly chasm as well.

Once, he had thought it was the immortal's obstruction; only now did he understand—it had had been a trial the immortal had set for him.

And so too, only in this moment did he truly comprehend the meaning of the Withered Wood Spring Revival Decree.

Withered Wood Spring Revival was, in its very essence, a reversal of destiny itself, the accomplishment of the impossible—it was, in essence—a seizing of the Heavenly Dao's own creative power!

From the very moment he had refined this immortal's token, it had already been fated that he would walk this path!

The Heavenly Dao was unworthy, he would seize the fortune of heaven for himself!

Chen Moqing took a single step forward, and within the Spiritual Sea, shattered the towering heavenly chasm outright!

Heaven and earth trembled, countless spiritual energies rising up from between heaven and earth, converging into a vast ocean, gathering endlessly toward the young cultivator standing high in the sky, fusing into his body without cease!

Cang Shun began to laugh.

Having shattered the Heavenly Punishment, he was now seizing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth as well, it was practically enough to enrage the Heavenly Dao to death.

The purest, most refined, boundless spiritual power poured into the spiritual sea, drawn into the brilliant Golden Core. Chen Moqing closed his eyes in calm stillness, his spiritual sense sweeping across mountains, rivers, and all the land, his wide sleeves billowing, the aura about him climbing steadily higher, tier by tier—

Peak of Golden Core, breaking through in a single step to Nascent Soul!

Early Nascent Soul! Mid Nascent Soul! Peak Nascent Soul!

Crossing three minor realms in succession, all the way to— peak of Nascent Soul, at full completion!

Within the spiritual sea, Chen Moqing slowly opened his eyes, raised his hand, and the Withered Wood Spring Revival Decree fell into his palm, its luster dimmed, sinking into slumber.

The immortal's token had been utterly and completely refined by him.

Having seized the fortune of heaven, he now stood but half a step from Spirit Severing!

High above in the vast sky, the brilliant gold in the young cultivator's eyes slowly faded, his dark, sunken eyes lowering.

Across a distance of less than a hundred feet, he and Cang Shun gazed at one another, the corner of his mouth curving up slightly.

Catch me.

Cang Shun leapt up into the high heavens in a single bound, reaching out his hand, watching the bright moon come falling toward him—landing into his embrace.

Thump.

The Demon Emperor tackled the man down.

Pressing him beneath his own belly, wrapping him in countless layers of fur, as if trying to secretly hide his moon away, unwilling to let anyone else see him.

Chen Moqing, his face smeared entirely with fur: "……"

He had forgotten the Demon Emperor didn't have hands, only paws.

Well. That worked too.

He raised his hand slightly, brushing over that great, fluffy bundle of fur, about to say something—when Cang Shun lifted his head, gazing coldly up at the sky.

Dark clouds rolled and churned, thunder rumbled low and heavy, another bolt gathering its strength, about to descend!

Cang Shun sneered coldly, and with a single strike of his paw, surging demonic power shot up into the sky, transforming into a boundless barrier that unfurled and spread, covering the entire primordial ley lines beneath—sealing off this entire realm!

He gave his tail another flick, silver light tearing through the air, and a jet-black rift suddenly appeared, revealing the deep, star-strewn cosmos beyond— the Void!

The Demon Emperor caught his human up in his mouth, and leapt straight into the Void, vanishing from sight.

Boom!

A bolt of lightning crashed down, striking nothing but empty air.

A few more scattered, sparse bolts of thunder fell after that, their force utterly spent compared to the initial Heavenly Punishment, until at last only a low, muffled rumble of thunder echoed back and forth among the clouds—

As if it had been grumbling in complaint for quite a while.

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