Chapter 66: The Cursed Soul Butterfly II

Lothe twisted his torso sharply, the curved scythe blade missing his cheek by a hairsbreadth and slicing a stray lock of hair that floated silently to the ground.

He’s reading my movement! Lothe gritted his teeth, launching a violent counter-thrust.

The figure casually parried the point with the shaft of his scythe. Lothe immediately rotated his wrists, sweeping the butt of the spear toward his opponent’s throat.

The figure ducked smoothly, sweeping his scythe low toward Lothe’s ribs.

Lothe leaped into the air, the crescent blade whistling beneath his boots, and kicked off the far wall!

BOOM!

Propelled forward like a cannonball, Lothe transformed his spear into a blinding blur of purple light.

One thrust! Two! Five! Ten!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The pale young man parried every single thrust with fluid, effortless precision. A dark, patronizing smile touched his lips.

"Interesting Qi."

SWISH!

The figure vanished into thin air.

[Spatial Perception] screamed a warning! "Above!"

Lothe raised his spear crosswise above his head.

BOOOOOOM!!

The descending scythe strike crushed Lothe straight into the bedrock! Deep spiderweb cracks shattered the stone beneath his boots, and blood sprayed from his lips.

Before the being could drive his blade home—

"Crimson Call!" Seana’s sharp voice echoed across the chamber.

BOOM!

A radiant wave of Crimson Qi erupted from her body as thousands of razor-sharp blood blades condensed in the air around her.

"First Form—" Her dark eyes locked onto the attacker with lethal intent. "—Blood Call!"

SHOOOOOM!!

A storm of crimson swords streaked toward the figure from every angle, cutting off all paths of retreat!

The pale young man finally turned his gaze toward her. He casually raised his scythe, tracing a single, circular arc in the air. A pitch-black energy barrier manifested around his frame.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The crimson swords shattered against the dark barrier like glass.

Seana didn’t hesitate. With a sweep of her hand, she manipulated the remaining blood blades, forcing them to alter their trajectory in mid-air and strike from behind!

The figure’s eyes narrowed slightly. He spun, swinging his scythe outward in a full circle.

BOOOOOOM!!

A massive, pitch-black crescent of energy erupted from the blade, completely disintegrating the entire volley of blood swords!

Before the smoke could clear

SWISH! the figure materialized directly in front of Seana.

"Too weak," he murmured coldly.

BANG!

His open palm struck her abdomen with terrifying force!

Seana’s eyes widened. She felt as though a battering ram had impacted her internal organs. Her slender frame flew backward like a broken doll.

BOOM!

She smashed violently into the stone wall fifty feet away, cracking the bedrock behind her before crashing heavily onto the floor, blood spraying from her lips.

"SEANA!" Lothe roared.

Void Qi erupted from Lothe’s body in a berserk surge. Spatial distortion wrapped violently around his black spear as he stepped through space!

Ignoring the immediate notification pinging in his mind

"Rift Thrust!!"

SHING!

The spear tore through space, aiming straight for the intruder’s heart.

This time, the figure didn’t dodge.

He raised his right hand, catching the razor-sharp, spatial-infused spearhead cleanly between two bare fingers!

Lothe’s pupils shrank to pinpricks. Impossible!

The figure looked at the trapped spear, a cold smirk on his pale face. "Interesting Technique... but poorly cultivated."

BOOM!

A violent blast of dark Qi exploded from his fingertips!

Lothe was launched backward, twisting mid-air to land heavily on his boots.

Before he could reset his stance—SWISH!—the intruder was already standing before him.

The black scythe swept across his chest.

CLANG!

Lothe parried, but the force sent him skidding across the stone.

BANG! A heavy kick slammed into his ribs!

CRACK!

Lothe felt several ribs fracture instantly. He slammed onto the hard stone, blood pouring from his mouth.

Yet the being granted him zero respite. The scythe came down to execute him.

Lothe rolled desperately to the side.

BOOM!

The blade carved a massive trench into the bedrock.

Lothe thrust his spear upward from the ground!

CLANG!

The spear collided with the scythe shaft. The being rotated his wrist, sliding the curved blade down the length of Lothe’s spear.

PFFT!

The razor edge sliced across Lothe’s right shoulder, spraying blood across his purple robes!

Lothe gritted his teeth through the pain, driving his spear forward in a desperate counter. The being twisted his torso, the spearhead tearing through his dark sleeve and leaving a tiny, shallow scratch on his arm.

The figure paused, looking down at the small tear in his robe, then back at Lothe. A faint, dark smile touched his lips.

"You are surprisingly persistent."

Lothe wiped the blood from his chin, his breathing heavy and ragged.

Across the hall, Seana slowly pushed herself up against the wall. Her elegant crimson robes were soaked in her own blood, wounds covering her arms, shoulders, and torso.

Lothe was in no better shape. One arm hung slightly lower from muscle damage, blood stained his face, and every breath burned his fractured ribs.

Yet the pale young man stood between them, his black robes pristine, without a single drop of their blood touching his clothes.

The gap in their strength was absolute.

The figure chuckled softly, tightening his grip on his scythe. "It has been a very long time since I witnessed mortals with this much useless tenacity."

His smile widened into something cruel. "Well... it makes execution far more entertaining."

FWOOSH!

Without warning, a pitch-black energy spike erupted from the stone floor directly beneath Lothe!

Lothe’s [Spatial Perception] registered the attack, but his battered body was simply too slow to react!

PFFT!

The black spike pierced straight through his left shoulder, driving deep into his flesh!

"ARGH!" Lothe spat a mouthful of blood, his body staggering under the shock.

The instant the dark spike embedded itself into his frame, an icy, corrosive sensation spread through his meridians and soul!

PING!

[WARNING: CRITICAL STATUS CONDITION!]

• Afflicted by: [Soul-Ripping Curse]

• Effect: Life force, vitality, and soul essence are being continuously drained!

Lothe’s pupils contracted. Soul-Ripping Curse...?

The pale intruder watched him stumble, clearly believing the battle was concluded.

Yet, Lothe slammed his right palm onto the stone floor. His fingers trembled, his breathing was a ragged rasp, but inch by agonizing inch... he forced his body back up!

He stood tall once more, wiping the blood from his mouth.

The intruder’s smile vanished, his brow furrowing in genuine surprise. "You can still stand?"

Lothe spat a glob of blood onto the floor, his dark eyes burning with unyielding fire. "I’ve survived far worse than this."

The intruder’s gaze turned cold. He flicked his left hand, materializing a second, larger dark spike that shot straight for Lothe’s heart!

FWOOSH!

CLANG!!

A dark steel sword intercepted the spike mid-air, deflecting it into the stone floor!

Seana stood firmly beside Lothe, her bloodied Crimson robes fluttering, her dark eyes fixed on the attacker.

"Are you okay?" Seana asked softly, her blade buzzing with energy.

Lothe offered a faint, tired smirk. "Still breathing."

"Good," Seana’s lips curved slightly. "Then we’re fine."

The pale intruder stared at the two battered cultivators standing side by side.

"What is the point of this pathetic struggle?" his voice dropped into an icy, echoing resonance. "You will die from my Soul-Ripping Curse regardless. No body has ever survived it..."

His eyes turned distant for a fraction of a second. "...except my master."

Lothe narrowed his eyes, his voice steady despite the blood in his throat. "And why should we care about what you or your master think?"

The intruder’s expression darkened into pure, cold fury.

Lothe straightened his posture, holding his spear firmly. "What gives you the right to decide whether we live or die? Just because we entered this tomb"

Silence descended over the grand tomb.

Then—

"Ha..."

The intruder burst into a dry, echoing laugh. "What am I?"

He looked down at the blood-soaked couple, his dark eyes turning pitch-black as the pupils vanished entirely.

"You ask what gives me the right?!"

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!

An apocalyptic wave of dark Qi erupted from his body, shaking the entire subterranean structure! Dust and stone fragments rained down from the high ceiling as the space around him fractured under sheer pressure!

"...Then open your eyes and look carefully before you perish!"

Dark energy surged into his limbs, fluttering his black robes violently.

On his forehead, a sinister black mark flared into existence—shaped like an intricate, multi-winged butterfly.

FWOOOOOOSH!!

Two colossal, dark-red butterfly wings unfolded from his back, spanning over forty feet across the chamber!

Yet these were not ordinary wings. Across their blood-red surface, thousands of tiny, realistic eyes opened simultaneously, every single eye staring down at Lothe and Seana!

The ambient pressure spiked to a suffocating, soul-crushing intensity.

Seana’s face paled under the horrific aura, and Lothe’s breath caught in his throat.

The pale young man raised his scythe, looking down at them like an ancient god of death.

"I am the sole disciple of the Demon Lord of the Southern Demon Realm..."

His massive, multi-eyed wings spread wide, blocking out the light of the chamber.

"...I am the Cursed Soul Butterfly Demon."

He locked his pitch-black gaze onto the two wounded cultivators, his scythe gleaming with lethal energy.

"Now... prepare for your execution."​