When the Extraterrestrial Demon's figure was completely revealed, everyone froze—both Lu Yuan and Jiang Ningxian and the others below.
Disbelief and shock filled their eyes. Jiang Haokong's face was especially full of confusion, as though he believed his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Yet in the end, he confirmed beyond doubt that this was indeed the true body of the Extraterrestrial Demon. It was simply far too staggering.
Even though they were merely gazing up at the starry sky from the planet below, they were beings of the Immortal Realm and above, after all, and naturally saw everything with utter clarity.
Still, once he recovered his senses, Jiang Haokong could not help but turn his head. "Sister, do you think... that's real?"
"It should be?" Jiang Ningxian replied, hesitation unexpectedly coloring her voice. The reason for their reaction was the Extraterrestrial Demon's appearance.
It defied all expectations. It was a man. What was more, he looked like an entirely normal human man.
Apart from the aura radiating from him, which was distinct from that of humanity, he was virtually identical to a human in every other respect.
Ignoring that aura, anyone would think that a human was standing before them. Almost no one would ever associate him with an Extraterrestrial Demon.
How could they not be shocked? An entity regarded by ancient sages as a mortal enemy, radiating that bizarre, unfathomable aura, was actually a human?
No wonder everyone was so shaken and found it so inconceivable. Who could have imagined that an Extraterrestrial Demon would look like this?
Lu Yuan was stunned for a moment as well, but quickly regained his composure.
"A bit surprised?" As if seeing through the thoughts in everyone's minds, a smile appeared on the Extraterrestrial Demon's face. He then continued, "You have thoroughly enraged me. Today, only one of us leaves alive!"
When he spoke, he was no longer as arrogant as before, though his words remained laden with killing intent.
Deep down, he knew full well that the man before him was exceedingly difficult to handle. Yet fleeing was not his style.
Thus, the Extraterrestrial Demon had made up his mind. He would either cut down the man before him, or fight to the death and drag him down as well.
Therefore, the moment he finished speaking, he took a step forward, and black light surged across his body. In a mere instant, he appeared right before Lu Yuan and threw a punch with lightning speed.
Lu Yuan had long been on guard and chose to strike back. Just as before, both sides unleashed punch after punch in a clash of pure physical might, stripped of all superfluous movements, landing blow upon brutal blow.
*Thud, thud, thud!* The starry sky trembled continuously, seemingly unable to bear such crushing pressure. And because he no longer needed to maintain the shroud of black mist, the Extraterrestrial Demon displayed even greater might than before.
Every punch made Lu Yuan frown. This was indeed the strongest peer-realm opponent he had encountered to date.
Indeed, he could sense that his foe had not yet reached the Heavenly Position Immortal realm. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for Lu Yuan to have gained the upper hand earlier.
This also gave Lu Yuan a keen sense of just how formidable the Extraterrestrial Demons truly were. Even so, he did not dwell on it. It was simply an opportunity to fight to his heart's content.
Casting aside all stray thoughts, he channeled the supreme aura within his body. Incomparably dense golden vital energy radiated around him as he threw a punch.
Eternal radiance gathered and surged forth incessantly with blazing intensity, completely illuminating the dark, barren cosmos.
The Extraterrestrial Demon showed no fear either. Black light and that peculiar power swirled over his fist as he sought to neutralize the strike.
Yet Lu Yuan had brought out his strongest methods; this punch seemed capable of shattering the river of stars.
At last, unable to hold his ground, the Extraterrestrial Demon began to fall back. This time, he was decisively forced into a disadvantage.
What the two were pitting against each other at this moment was their foundation. Evidently, the immense accumulation Lu Yuan had built through his various ploys in the old era had already reached a heaven-defying degree. In this great battle, it once again played a decisive role.
*Spurt!* Another punch landed. The Extraterrestrial Demon could finally hold out no longer and coughed up blood.
Yet that blood was black and carried a strange power. As though capable of corroding all things, it caused space itself to twist and warp.
Soon, however, Lu Yuan's golden vital energy surged forth, directly obliterating the black blood. He then gathered his strength for another punch. At that moment, the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token within his mind was stirred, and threads of purple qi wove through his flesh and blood.
An even mightier power welled up, and beneath this strike, half of the Extraterrestrial Demon's body was punched clean through.
Although he recovered swiftly and reformed his physical form, his aura grew noticeably weaker.
"Good. Very good. You are strong—far beyond my expectations."
"In that case, you can die alongside me." It seemed the Extraterrestrial Demon had already considered this outcome. Far from panicking, he grew increasingly excited instead.
He seemed to feel that the opponent before him was worthy of such a measure. The moment the words left his mouth, he opened his jaw and inhaled deeply.
Instantly, the sacrificed life essence from below surged into his body once more, causing the aura radiating from him to grow even stronger than before.
Immense power rushed continuously like a roaring river. Black mist actually manifested around the Extraterrestrial Demon once again, and his strength seemed to climb steadily higher.
Clearly, he realized that relying solely on his own power was not enough to kill Lu Yuan, so he drew upon external power, intending to drag his foe down with him.
"I'm sorry, but I won't give you that chance." Looking at the life essence, Lu Yuan no longer intended to hold back.
He knew very well that as long as this life essence remained, new life would one day be born on this planet.
If it were completely absorbed, however, all hope would be lost, condemning the entire planet to death. In the next instant, the Daluo sword core appeared in his hand.
A chilling sword intent surged forth. Instantly, the stars began to tremble. Under the influence of that formidable sword intent, the streams of life essence began to flow in reverse.
This was naturally Lu Yuan's technique to interrupt the Extraterrestrial Demon's absorption. Facing the demon before him, he directly slashed out with his sword.
A brilliant, dazzling beam of light burst forth, making the entire universe appear to freeze in place. The terrifying sword intent seemed to pierce through eternity itself.
The Extraterrestrial Demon froze. In the very next instant, his body was run through.
Yet he did not die.
He simply stood where he was, his eyes still brimming with disbelief as he said slowly, "You... actually held something in reserve? So it's true... Was I never a match for you right from the start?"
He appeared unharmed and was even able to speak, but upon closer inspection, one would find that his very origin had been severed and his life force extinguished. Anyone else would have long perished.
Lu Yuan knew that this was precisely where the terrifying resilience of the Extraterrestrial Demons lay. He was also somewhat astonished—how could this creature still be alive after taking such a devastating sword strike?
Moreover, if given time, would he even be able to recover? With this thought, Lu Yuan took another step forward and said slowly, "Allow me to see you off!"
Chapter 477