The heavy stench of blood enveloped the Azure Ethereal Vapors’ peak, even the usually lethargic guardian spirit, the Water Kirin, seemed agitated and restless. It swam back and forth in the icy pond, emitting low growls. The high-ranking cultivators on the Jade Purity Hall, each with a stern expression, gazed down at the mountain below. Beyond the Rainbow Bridge lay the vast Cloud Sea Square, where a fierce and brutal battle had been raging for a full day and night.
Despite anticipating the horror and savagery of the beast-demon war, the gruesome reality still sent chills down the spines of many righteous cultivators. The beast-demons stormed up the mountain like a storm, sweeping through everything in their path. Although the righteous cultivators attacked from the sides, the massive flood of beast-demons paid no heed to the few foes harassing them. Like a thunderous tidal wave, they surged forward, overwhelming all in their way. The defenders felt helpless against the black mass, and killing one or even ten beast-demons seemed futile.
Thus, the righteous cultivators’ plan to use the terrain to slow the beast-demons’ advance was quickly shattered by these seemingly mindless beasts. They were forced to retreat to the peak of the Azure Ethereal Conclave. When the beast-demons reached the Cloud Sea Square, Dao Xuan and others made a decisive move, gathering most of the righteous forces to face the enemy head-on. In a dazzling display of magical lights, the Cloud Sea Square turned into a battlefield of flying flesh and wailing cries.
Wave after wave of dark tides surged crazily, and in front of them, hundreds of righteous cultivators stood—half on the ground and half in the air. A colorful, cold wall of light rose before them, radiating a chilling brilliance.
The beast-demons, seemingly oblivious to pain and fear, crashed into the wall of light, their bodies shattering instantly. The thick, bloody mist roared past their ears, and a shower of blood rained down, splattering onto the faces and hands of the righteous cultivators, making them feel sick.
Before anyone could recover, more beast-demons surged forward, and the once smooth wall of light buckled under the pressure, forming irregular curves. At several points, weaker disciples, unable to withstand the force, were overrun by the beasts, and their screams echoed as they disappeared.
Outside the Jade Purity Hall, Dao Xuan, Pu Hong, and Yun Yi Lan looked grim. Dao Xuan glanced at the two, who nodded in agreement. Yun Yi Lan said, “Let the elder make the decision.”
Dao Xuan turned expressionlessly towards the mountain, seeing the light wall being pressed down by a black tide, with several weak spots teetering on the brink. Sudden screams rang out, and the air filled with an even stronger stench of blood.
His brows furrowed, and he suddenly looked up, seeing dark clouds above, and a mysterious figure in the sky. After a moment, he turned to Xiao Yicai, who followed him. Dao Xuan said coolly, “Go.”
Xiao Yicai responded, turning around and leading nearly a hundred elite disciples, their magical lights far brighter than those of the ones below. These were the elite disciples and some scattered immortals. Under Xiao Yicai’s lead, they flew towards the strained Cloud Sea.
***
Thunder rumbled, lightning streaked across the sky, reminiscent of the rain years ago. But, strangely, there was a bright, white moon in the sky, despite the rain. The rain felt so cold…
Zhang Xiaofan looked back, the small village vanishing in the distance. He reached out, but there was nothing. Behind him, Pu Zhi’s eyes watched him silently.
He found himself in a familiar room, the unique aura of the Bamboo Peak permeating the air. Distant laughter of his fellow disciples, the playful sounds of Da Huang and Xiao Hui, and a familiar voice, a girl’s smile, filled the room. “Lazybones, get up, it’s time to go up the mountain and chop bamboo…”
He trembled, decades of mental defenses shattered, and he wept.
A withered hand patted his shoulder, a kind voice asking, “What is it, child? Why are you crying?”
Zhang Xiaofan turned, staring deeply into the compassionate eyes, trying to see through the old monk’s heart. But Pu Zhi’s gaze remained calm and unfathomable.
“Why, why did you choose me, why did you do this?” he demanded, his words almost a roar.
Pu Zhi did not answer, his gaze still filled with compassion. The world around them vanished, leaving only the two of them. Zhang Xiaofan, now transformed into a demonic figure, his eyes filled with a murderous intent, and his shirt tore open, revealing the dark red glow of the Soul Eater staff.
Pu Zhi’s eyes finally showed a flicker of disturbance, and he looked at the staff, the Blood-Sucking Pearl gleaming with a mocking light.
An overwhelming stench of blood emanated from Ghost Li, and the red glow pierced through Pu Zhi, leaving him behind. The old monk slowly looked down, then fell to the side. Behind him, Ghost Li turned, his face contorting with emotions, and let out a soul-shattering scream.
“Ah!”
The dark staff fell to the ground, and he collapsed, drained of all strength. Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed, and the rain fell. He staggered to Pu Zhi, the earth beneath him seeming to turn to mud. Each step exhausted him, but he persisted, crawling to the old monk’s side.
He clutched Pu Zhi’s withered hand, tears streaming down his face. “Master… Master… Why, why, why did you do this?”
Pu Zhi struggled to turn, looking at the young man, but said nothing. His hand trembled, reaching out to the young man’s face, then fell silent.
Life seemed to leave him.
The young man froze, his body stiffening, then looked down at his hands. “I killed him, I killed him…”
Around him, strange changes occurred. He alternated between a ferocious demon and a tormented disciple, struggling beside Pu Zhi’s body.
***
When Xiao Yicai and the elite disciples joined the battle, the situation stabilized. These disciples, having a deep understanding, moved to the most critical points, reinforcing the breached areas. The beast-demons were swiftly eliminated, and the light wall became even more robust.
In the center of the light wall, Lu Xueqi, holding the Celestial Sword, stood like a celestial maiden, her weapon slicing through the beast-demons, leaving a trail of blood and bones. Her face was expressionless, even as the beast-demons’ blood stained her clothes.
Time passed, and the black tide continued to press, but did not break through. The Cloud Sea Square, once a place of beauty, was now a battlefield of corpses and blood. Suddenly, a strange sound emerged from the depths of the beast-demons, causing them to pause and retreat, creating a gap.
On the other side, the light wall dimmed, and heavy breathing filled the air. The ground was stained with blood, and the sky was dark with brooding clouds.
Suddenly, another howl echoed, and the black tide surged forward, led by giant beasts. The righteous cultivators, though battered, rose to meet the challenge. The light wall, though weakened, held firm.
Above, the faces of Yun Yi Lan and Pu Hong Master grew tense. Dao Xuan, with a solemn expression, watched the battle, his face unreadable. The righteous cultivators fought with all their might, but the difference between them and the beast-demons seemed to blur in the face of death.
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