Crimson fire illuminated the heavens. Cultivators outside the mountain clearly saw red light erupting from the fissure in the clouds and mist that had nearly closed. The golden clouds instantly turned into fiery sunset clouds, and an exceptionally terrifying power burst forth alongside the red light, forcing the layers of luminous mist to part rapidly to either side.
Azure Fox Saint King's three illusory bodies stood in a triangular formation—one in front, two behind. Their oppressive aura was as formidable as ever, yet at this moment, they were illuminated inside and out by the red light, giving the eerie sensation that they were about to melt.
Before them was a fireball. The fireball itself was likely not very large, but its brilliance was far too dazzling and its aura far too savage, stinging the eyes of the onlookers. Cultivators versed in spiritual eye arts hurriedly circulated their mental arts in an attempt to see the fireball's true nature.
Yet all anyone could see was raging flames. Even from a great distance, they could sense the sheer brutality of the energy locked within the fireball from the mountain's anomalies. Involuntarily, images of the morning sun rising in the east came to mind, shaking their spirits.
Behind the fireball, the Sun God Tree rotated gently. No one could have imagined that such terrifying power originated from this little tree.
Bathed in the fiery glow, both Qin Sang's true self and his incarnation were flushed crimson from head to toe, their bodies appearing as though they, too, had been ignited by the Nanming Primordial Fire and were burning.
With a flash, the incarnation caught the true self. Qin Sang was drenched in blood, his face contorted in agony, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
The piercing agony stemmed from within. Having suffered two successive surges, the violent torrent had scoured every inch of his flesh, blood, and meridians, leaving nowhere uninjured. This time, he truly had harmed himself before harming the enemy.
Qin Sang suspected that had he not cultivated demon secret arts and achieved some mastery in body refinement, he would have exploded and died even without Azure Fox Saint King lifting a finger.
His eyes were bloodshot. Gazing past the Sun God Tree into the depths of the Nanming Primordial Fire, Qin Sang wondered just how much damage this strike could inflict upon Azure Fox Saint King.
He knew full well that hoping to slay a Sacred King so easily was nothing short of wishful thinking. However, as long as he could injure Azure Fox Saint King enough to prevent her from stirring up further trouble, it would be enough.
As for whether this might cause the Suspended Lake to collapse, disrupt the battle above, and release the ancient demon, that was beyond Qin Sang's concern. If anyone was to blame, it was the instigators; surely no one could expect him to submit without resistance and let himself be slaughtered.
*Whoosh!*
As the raging flames swept through, the sword formation wavered. The scene from moments ago repeated itself: a larger tear was ripped into the Seven Mansions Sector Sword Formation, nearly bisecting the entire expanse of golden clouds.
Blazing flames surged forth. The robes of the three illusory bodies whipped violently as their aura was suppressed by the fire. Feeling the sheer, uncontrollable savagery of the power, Azure Fox Saint King's deep eyes flickered with shock. Earlier, the Nanming Primordial Fire had first erupted within the sword formation, and what broke through had only been a portion, so its full impact had not been felt. Facing the Nanming Primordial Fire head-on now, she realized this fire was far stronger than she had anticipated.
She had never expected that with his true essence nearly spent, Qin Sang still possessed the ability to unleash such blazing fire—and that he could turn her charm art into a trap against her.
*Crack!*
The conjured fox claws were the first to make contact with the Nanming Primordial Fire. Under the impact of the spiritual fire, azure light exploded violently. Cracks abruptly webbed the fox claws before shattering on the spot, the fragments scattering like petals and instantly swept away by the raging flames, meeting the same fate as Su Zinan's giant demonic soul.
In a flash, the Nanming Primordial Fire was right before them. In this critical moment, Azure Fox Saint King did not attempt to retreat or evade, nor did her posture change in the slightest. Her body froze in place as the brilliance in her eyes receded like an ebbing tide.
*Whoosh!*
The blazing fire rolled over the illusory bodies. Not just one, but all three at once.
At this moment, Azure Fox Saint King could only focus on preserving herself, unable to tend to the illusory bodies at all. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the three avatars offered virtually no resistance, instantly swallowed by the sea of fire. Only at the final instant did the faint silhouette of fox tails flash and vanish.
Utter annihilation, not a trace left behind!
An uproar broke out across the immortal abode. People gaped with open mouths, staring blankly, struck dumb with shock.
They did not know Azure Fox Saint King had projected her consciousness into the illusory body, but the aura of the three avatars had certainly been real, and everyone had believed the man's death was certain.
Contrary to all expectations, not only had the three avatars failed to capture their target, they had been burned to ash by the raging fire without even a chance to flee.
"What spiritual fire is that?"
"Is it a spirit treasure or a divine ability?"
"Where on earth did such a ruthless figure come from, wiping out all three illusory bodies of a demon Sacred King in one fell swoop?!"
"No wonder he dared to kill the Sacred King's disciple!"
"Dammit! Those old bastards only know how to scheme against one another. If they worked together and wielded such formidable methods, would that demon ever be allowed to run rampant?" ...
Exclamations of astonishment echoed across the immortal abode, and chatter broke out everywhere.
Unable to tear their eyes away from Dishou Mountain, they watched the mass of raging fire burst out of the golden clouds. With unabated momentum, it surged wildly toward the outside of the mountain, sweeping across the firmament with unstoppable might before finally exploding midair with a deafening roar.
*Boom!*
The blast shook the surroundings. From every corner of the immortal abode, the fireball exploding in the sky was visible. Crimson fire divided into tens of thousands of streaks, bursting like fireworks and dyeing the heavens scarlet, forming a strangely magnificent spectacle.
Yet no one was truly entranced by the spectacle; all felt a chill run down their spines. Following the fiery detonation, not a trace of the Sacred King's avatars remained—not even ashes.
As if echoing the blast, an even louder boom resonated from Dishou Mountain. The peak, which had been leaning gradually, suddenly accelerated in its tilt.
*Rumble...*
The entire immortal abode trembled. The imperial mountain collapsed, shattering heaven and earth! It looked as though it had been blasted apart by the Nanming Primordial Fire.
In truth, the fact that Dishou Mountain toppled so quickly was indeed closely tied to the Nanming Primordial Fire. As the Five Elements Divine Restrictions ground against each other, the Seven Mansions Sector Sword Formation's foundation had been shaken twice in succession, throwing the formation into utter disarray. It had become the weakest point of breach, indirectly accelerating the destruction of the Five Elements Divine Restriction.
The collapsing peak smashed into the Five Elements Divine Restriction, churning up clouds of mist that blanketed the horizon. Within the mist, strange lights of varied hues flared erratically in a chaotic struggle—the mountain's protective formations and restrictions putting up their final resistance. Predictably, most would not be able to withstand the Five Elements Divine Restriction.
Seeing this, cultivators could not help but feel profound heartache at the countless secret chambers, rare treasures, prized artifacts amassed by the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, and manuals left behind by ancient predecessors that would be buried here forever.
At this moment, those who were astute had already sensed what was coming. Deducing the most dreadful consequence, their faces paled, and they hurriedly looked toward the Suspended Lake.
The lake water was black as ink. Moonlight converged with the beams of light cast by the array formation, striking heavily toward the demonic physique.
Azure Fox Saint King's gaze stiffened for a split second before quickly regaining its vitality—a change so subtle that ordinary people would hardly notice.
According to her plan, when everyone joined forces to deliver a heavy blow to the demonic physique, even if they failed to harm it, they would trigger its defensive instincts, keeping it from causing trouble for the moment. She could then take advantage of this opening to project her consciousness into the illusory body, capture Qin Sang, and immediately return to calmly oversee the battle.
As long as everything went smoothly, nothing could go wrong. Yet an unexpected mishap had occurred. Upon returning to her true body, Azure Fox Saint King's delicate frame suddenly shuddered.
Having witnessed the power of the demonic fire, she had retained a shred of caution even when victory seemed certain. Sensing danger, she had chosen to return without hesitation.
Yet even though she had reacted swiftly to escape destruction, her three illusory bodies were completely obliterated. The illusory bodies were formed from her fox tails, so their loss did not harm her foundation; however, the split sense of consciousness left inside them had not dissipated in time and was burned alongside them.
Particularly for the illusory body she had occupied, her consciousness had just linked with her true body, making it difficult to sever completely.
A flush rose on Azure Fox Saint King's cheeks, and she let out a delicate moan of pain. Even so, her voice carried an indescribable allure, and her slightly furrowed brows looked piteously lovely, inadvertently exuding endless charm.
Azure Fox Saint King's disruption directly affected the battlefield. Amid her soft groan, the bright moon in the sky seemed draped in a veil of gauze, its light dimming. At the same time, waves churned across the Suspended Lake and the entire body of water shook—not from an assault by the demonic physique, but from turbulence within the water itself.
The Suspended Lake and the bright moon formed the foundation for trapping the demonic physique; Old Devil Fan and the others relied on these powers to contend with it.
In an instant, everyone sensed something was amiss. Feeling the pressure upon it lessen, the demonic physique's combat instincts allowed it to seize the opening accurately. Emitting a heaven-shaking roar, endless demonic qi gushed from its body, coalescing once more into demonic claws.
This time, there were fewer claws, but they were far more terrifying. At the same time, the Five Elements Crown atop the demonic physique's head erupted with ferocious might. Five-colored radiance intertwined indistinguishably with the demonic claws, carrying a chilling baleful aura as they clawed toward everyone.
By now, the demon soul's consciousness was thoroughly steeped in madness, acting entirely on instinct. Poison King's gray cocoon was like a tortoise shell, so the demonic physique no longer fixated on him, allowing Poison King to gradually pull away from the center of the vortex.
Old Devil Fan and the others presented far more tempting targets.
*Whoosh!*
Demonic claws ripped through the air with hooked talons. Old Devil Fan's scalp went numb. Seeing that the Suspended Lake and the bright moon had failed to suppress the demonic physique in time, how could he not realize that something had gone wrong with Azure Fox Saint King? In his heart, he cursed her to high heaven.
A nether lotus manifested beneath him, and he prepared to take action. The others were equally hard-pressed, preparing to resort to their trump cards to save their lives.
Their priority was naturally to flee for their lives, making it impossible to maintain the Meditation Arhat Array. Once that happened, the combined offensive would collapse, leaving the ensuing situation utterly unpredictable.
Just then, the halo behind Saint Huiguang's head shone with dazzling brilliance, showering boundless light across the entire Suspended Lake. The phantom within the halo pressed its palms together, and faint chanting seemed to resonate by everyone's ears.
In the next moment, the phantom stepped out of the halo and pointed a finger at the demonic physique. Golden light shot forth, ultimately condensing into a golden hoop that ensnared the demonic physique.
Having released the golden light, the phantom dissolved into nothingness. Before vanishing, it turned to glare wrathfully at Azure Fox Saint King like a wrathful Wisdom King.
"Azure Fox!"
The shout rolled like thunder, deep and resonant, laced with anger and warning.
*Crack, crack, crack...*
The demonic physique's flesh bulged as the golden hoop vibrated wildly, clearly unable to hold for long. Fortunately, when the phantom struck, Old Devil Fan and the others had sensed it and made the optimal responses.
Knowing herself to be in the wrong, Azure Fox Saint King said nothing. Her jade hands crossed as she executed an incantation to forcefully suppress her injuries and steady herself. Then, eyes half-closed, she chanted under her breath.
The lake smoothed, and the bright moon shone clear once more. Just as the golden hoop shattered, before the demonic physique could launch a counterattack, the surrounding pressure swept back in.
Through their combined efforts, they finally pulled the precarious situation back from the brink. Saint Huiguang deserved the greatest credit; knowing that once the heart fire blood refinement began it would be difficult to divert his attention, he had left behind a contingency measure just in case, averting unimaginable consequences.
Looking at Saint Huiguang's true self, his current state was by no means easy, having also been affected. When the phantom acted, the Demon Sealing Stake groaned, and the bloody light around it abruptly intensified. Saint Huiguang's arms trembled, veins bulging.
"Roar!"
The demonic physique roared as another counterattack arrived. By now, the Suspended Lake and the bright moon had stabilized. Furthermore, having just suffered a setback, Azure Fox Saint King did not spare another glance below, focusing entirely on dealing with the demonic physique to gradually steady their footing.
Yet Azure Fox Saint King had by no means given up on her designs regarding Qin Sang.
Outside the mountain, Bai Xiao led the demons forward in stops and starts. Seeing the situation stabilize and judging the danger minimal, he had accelerated to rush over and assist the Sacred King, only for unexpected complications to arise.
Seeing the Sacred King's avatars destroyed and unsure of her true form's state, he was hesitating when Azure Fox Saint King's icy voice rang out: "He is at the end of his rope! You must not let him escape, or I will hold you accountable!"
Bai Xiao's heart skipped a beat.
The Sacred King's tone was entirely different from her previous orders, bearing severe harshness. Earlier, he had dared to drag his feet, but now he didn't dare hesitate for a moment. He had no doubt that if he failed, upon returning, the Sacred King would skin him alive and tear his lair apart.
"Quick! Seize that kid! If anyone drags their feet, I'll skin you alive!" Bai Xiao delivered a fierce kick to the bird demon in front of him, turning into a streak of white light as his speed skyrocketed.
Seeing this, the demons manifested their beast forms one after another, unleashing a frenzied dance of monsters...
When the Nanming Primordial Fire surged outside the mountain, even more people were cowed by the spiritual fire's might, unable to collect their thoughts, until someone suddenly pointed toward Dishou Mountain and yelled:
"Over there!"
Behind the raging flames, through the rift in the golden clouds, an escape light was actually rushing out alongside the fire!
"It's him!"
Having destroyed the Sacred King's three illusory bodies, the man was still alive and had escaped!
Where was he heading? The question sprang to everyone's mind.
To everyone's surprise, the escape light paused briefly, yet instead of fleeing toward the entrance of the immortal abode, it darted straight toward an area of jagged peaks east of Dishou Mountain.
There, peculiar peaks rose like swords, their terrain integrated into a seamless whole with tight, defensive spiritual energy—clearly indicating the presence of a grand formation.
"That's the Metal Phase Palace..." someone recognized.
It was not that Qin Sang did not wish to flee directly or hide inside Dishou Mountain to recuperate first.
The reality was that the escape route was thick with soaring demonic qi; Azure Fox Saint King actually had followers here, including quite a few demon kings, among whose auras Qin Sang sensed threats he could not contend with in his present state.
Furthermore, the Five Elements Divine Restriction was on the verge of destruction; he would likely be buried within it before the enemy even arrived in pursuit.
Looking across the entire immortal abode, the Metal Phase Palace was perhaps his best option. Contained within the golden sword he had obtained was the sword formation heritage of the Metal Phase Palace, and the palace's mountain-protecting grand array incorporated part of that sword formation. Fleeing into the Metal Phase Palace would allow him to hold out using the formation, even if he could not use it to slay the enemy.
Qin Sang charged straight toward the Metal Phase Palace, unopposed along the way. In truth, hardly anyone dared approach Dishou Mountain at this moment; even if someone contemplated it, they had to weigh whether they could withstand the Nanming Primordial Fire, as none knew Qin Sang's true condition.
*Whoosh!*
The escape light flashed like lightning. Qin Sang flew to the perimeter of the Metal Phase Palace, only to see sword peaks standing in great numbers below. Each peak seemed to emanate sword intent, linked with the mountain-protecting grand array into a sharp, seamless formation that felt naturally formed.
The horde of demons was fast approaching. Aided by the Heavenly Eye divine ability, Qin Sang quickly identified several familiar formation patterns. Without hesitation, he chose one and plunged downward, his figure stirring a faint azure light as he vanished among the peaks in the blink of an eye.
Chapter 1688