Chapter 1144: The Righteous and Demonic Clash

Every City God across the Mortal World sensed that something was amiss.

The turmoil stirring within the Yellow Springs weighed on them. Yet with the celestial timing aligning for the Human Sovereign's ascension, they had no way to investigate.

Hong Sancai watched the incense smoke rise within the City God Temple. Rather than ascending straight toward the heavens as usual, the smoke drifted in erratic, meandering wisps.

"Something terrible has happened..."

Hong Sancai frowned, sensing the shift.

He foresaw a massive upheaval on the horizon.

At the same time, he keenly felt his connection to the worldly Dao waning. Or rather, it wasn't the Daoist resonance of heaven and earth slipping away—the distinct laws governing the City Gods were gradually spiraling out of control.

Just what exactly was happening on the day of the Human Sovereign's ascension?

...

Jian Shenghua raised two fingers, directing his sword toward the thousands of cultivators flying in on their blades.

High in the sky above, the cultivators wore varying robes, their Dharma Instruments floating beside them amid halos of golden light.

Even the sealed-off Sword Mountain had dispatched its people. Faced with such a massive upheaval, they refused to use the laws Chen Changsheng had established long ago as an excuse to stand idle.

The once world-renowned Dongqing Sword Immortal and Xu Chenghuang were among their ranks, flanked by their sect's most talented disciples.

The prodigies of Sword Mountain stood tall among them, Immortal Swords in hand as they peered down. The forests below were shrouded in a bloody haze, brimming with overwhelming malice and surging demonic energy.

The demonic cultivators stood their ground, looking up at the sky.

A massive battle was about to erupt.

Dongqing Sword Immortal lightly patted Jiang Chengxiu's shoulder. "Sword Mountain hasn't bared its fangs in decades. Chengxiu, use this chance to show the world the might of our disciples."

Jiang Chengxiu nodded, though a knot of apprehension twisted in his stomach.

The countless demonic cultivators radiating such intense auras would not be easy to deal with.

Fortunately, the righteous forces had strength in numbers. Even so, the battlefield would shift in the blink of an eye once the fighting started; he needed to stay vigilant.

"Disciples of Sword Mountain, hear my command!" Xu Chenghuang raised his blade. "Draw your swords! Eradicate the demons!"

His words triggered a maelstrom of crisscrossing Sword Qi. Overwhelming Sword Intent rippled outward, crashing directly into the demonic energy infesting the mountain.

On another front, Elder He of Lingyue Immortal Island stroked his white beard. "Disciples of Lingyue Immortal Island, hear my command! Unleash your Dharma Instruments! Manifest your Divine Abilities! Destroy these vile fiends!"

"Disciples of Guangchang Immortal Mountain, hear my command!"

"Disciples of Tianji Mountain, heed my orders!"

Xiao Dongxu drew his sword and strode forward. "Fellow Daoists and seniors, follow me! Slay the wicked and execute the demons!"

Divine Abilities blazed, and Immortal Arts manifested in full force.

Jian Shenghua raised his sword, his focus absolute as he called out, "Fellow Daoists, ride with me to slaughter these self-proclaimed paragons of the Righteous Path! Let us remake the world!"

In an instant, demonic energy erupted across the entire forest.

The demonic cultivators launched themselves upward to meet the righteous forces. Standing at the forefront of the demonic vanguard, Jian Shenghua raised his hand and unleashed a slash of Sword Qi. It carried a chilling, ghastly aura—like a wind blowing straight from the Netherworld, thick with the stench of rot.

The thousands of cultivators paled in shock. They immediately summoned their Dharma Instruments and raised their Immortal Swords to block.

Stepping to the front, Jiang Chengxiu delivered a one-handed slash.

"Guanyin's Sigh!"

This single strike shone with brilliant splendor among the masses. The Sword Qi tore forward like a startled swan. An ancient, tolling bell seemed to ring in everyone's ears, accompanied by a soft, tender sigh that left the demonic cultivators momentarily dazed.

Arriving in the blink of an eye, the radiant sword light shattered Jian Shenghua's Sword Qi.

Jian Shenghua furrowed his brow, locking eyes with Jiang Chengxiu.

"Who taught you that sword technique?!"

Jiang Chengxiu froze. Before he could answer, Dongqing Sword Immortal stepped forward, shielding the young man behind him.

"Enough of your babbling!"

With that, he sent his Immortal Sword hurtling straight at Jian Shenghua.

Jian Shenghua brought up his blade to block, neutralizing the Sword Qi raining down from Dongqing. In a flash, the conflict escalated.

Thousands of seniors and disciples from the Immortal Sects swarmed forward, colliding with the demonic cultivators.

The battlefield dissolved into absolute chaos. Strange lights flared from all directions as myriad Divine Abilities were unleashed, swords clashing against magic.

Suddenly, a figure stepped forward from the demonic ranks. With a flick of his hand, four demonic puppets marched out from behind him. Radiating vicious brutality and billowing demonic energy, they swung massive axes and bronze hammers, smashing toward the righteous cultivators before them.

"Puppets?"

"Demonic puppets!"

Xiao Dongxu fell back two steps. Tightening his grip on his sword, he tapped the blade and spoke.

"Infinite Sword Birth!"

His sword fragmented into thousands of phantom blades, stirring the resonance of heaven and earth. It clung to the blades as they shot forward to kill.

The countless manifested swords darted through the air like swimming dragons, threatening to shred the demonic puppets to pieces. Though the barrage of Sword Qi halted the puppets' advance, the thousands of blades failed to leave a single scratch on them.

Yet in an unexpected turn, the momentum of the Sword Qi only grew more ferocious. Suddenly, a crisp cracking sound rang out.

"Crack."

A fissure split the top of one puppet's head.

Wang He frowned. He tugged his hand back, pulling the four demonic puppets away to avoid the brunt of the attack.

"What an excellent Divine Ability!" Wang He praised. "Fellow Daoist Xiao truly lives up to his reputation as the greatest prodigy of our time."

"Who are you calling a Fellow Daoist?" Xiao Dongxu sneered coldly. With a wave of his hand, he summoned his Yin-Yang Qi, forming the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams at his feet to shield his body.

A smile tugged at the corner of Wang He's mouth. "Why so hostile, Fellow Daoist Xiao? I used to be a righteous cultivator in my early years, too."

Xiao Dongxu merely scoffed, refusing to entertain the banter as he raised his hand to invoke another Divine Ability.

"Yin and Yang manifest, eight methods over the four directions! Rise with force, rise with power!"

The Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams beneath his feet spun rapidly, projecting various ancient characters. In an instant, the characters coalesced into an auspicious draconic beast that let out a piercing roar before charging forward.

Wang He took a half-step back and immediately formed a series of hand seals.

Biting his fingertip, he smeared his blood across a slip of yellow paper, transforming it into a glowing Talisman.

"I am the one, I am the supreme! I invoke the Ancestor's Dharma Manifestation!" he chanted, his focus absolute.

A towering figure materialized behind Wang He, accompanied by an explosive surge of demonic energy. The massive phantom strode forward, grasping a Demon Sword, and cleaved the charging Yin-Yang beast into nothingness with a single stroke.

Xiao Dongxu's expression shifted. Staring at Wang He, he realized just how versatile and disturbingly bizarre this man's Divine Abilities were.

He flicked his sleeve, dropping a slip of paper.

With a raise of his hand, several ancient characters cascaded down.

"Condense the seal! Deity Transformation!"

The majestic power of the ancient characters unfurled, their momentum piercing the very clouds in the blink of an eye.

A suffocating pressure swept outward. Wind sharp as blades, laced with deadly Yin-Yang Qi, hurtled straight toward the Dharma Manifestation.

"Ancient characters?"

Wang He's eyes lit up, his interest suddenly piqued.

"Good, very good!"

Demonic energy swirled in Wang He's eyes, solidifying into a deep purple hue. A manic grin stretched across his face, and the sword in his hand thrummed with restless anticipation.

This Xiao Dongxu certainly lives up to his legendary reputation, he thought.

He had been itching to test his skills against him for a long time.

Wang He flipped into the air. Drawing upon the dew from the mountain streams, he cast a spell with his fingers. "I beseech the Ancestor for power! Form the three thousand weak waters!"

As he finished speaking, the suspended water darkened into a heavy black, resembling thick ink.

"Go!"

The heavy, ink-like water transformed into razor-sharp cones that blasted toward Xiao Dongxu.

Xiao Dongxu threw his hands up. "Yin-Yang duality, transform into the Five Elements, shield my body!"

The Eight Trigrams shifted across the eight directions as his Divine Ability morphed.

Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—the Five Elements gave birth to one another, manifesting as towering walls, curtains of water, erupting volcanoes, and solid metal.

But in an instant, his Yin-Yang defenses were utterly obliterated.

Xiao Dongxu's expression dropped, and he desperately threw himself backward.

Spurt...

The heavy water tore through his shoulder, leaving him dripping with blood.

Seeing this, Wang He let out a bark of laughter. "It looks like I'm still the superior one after all."