In the surrounding void, droplets of water rapidly condensed, transforming into waves. These waves intertwined, forming layers of azure ripples, all merging into the black water surging around the demon core.
The surging waves, each heavier than ten thousand catties, suddenly rushed forward toward Jiang Zhiwei and Meng Qi.
Supreme and selfless, the True Man without form, the White Rainbow Through the Sun Sword seemed like a blade from the heavens. Before the black waves could surge forth, it pierced through layers of water curtains and struck the demon core of Benerpa.
After being spat out, the demon core expanded in size, shielding Benerpa’s forehead and throat, intercepting the strike intended for him!
Bang!
The crisp sound of shattering resounded like thunder. From the point where the sword struck, fine cracks swiftly radiated across the demon core.
Yet, it did not shatter. It merely bore numerous injuries, swaying unsteadily!
The surging waves rushed forward, striking Jiang Zhiwei’s sword, sending her flying.
The White Rainbow Through the Sun Sword, honed to its utmost sharpness, developed cracks resembling ice patterns. Jiang Zhiwei’s right arm twisted unnaturally, blood gushed from her mouth like an unstoppable flood, and she collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud. Though she struggled to rise, she found herself momentarily powerless.
Meng Qi drew his saber and turned around, ready to strike, but was struck by the black waves surging forward.
He felt each black wave weighing a thousand jin, wave after wave, seemingly endless. His chest felt constricted, his internal organs churned. The Deathless Seal Method’s ability to transform death into life and redirect force was barely sufficient.
Dark gold surged, and Meng Qi’s entire body resembled a bronze Buddha statue. The sixth stage of the Golden Bell Cover, perfected externally, cracked with popping sounds like frying beans, immediately breaking!
The full-force strike of an external scene was terrifying indeed!
But having gained a moment’s respite, Meng Qi had already lunged aside, dodging the black waves.
The black waves surged forward, scouring rocks and earth, disappearing at the edge of a ten-thousand-foot cliff, leaving behind traces of flood devastation.
After one sword and one saber strike, Meng Qi’s head throbbed painfully. Fortunately, he had shed his mortal shell, greatly enhancing his spirit, preventing spiritual exhaustion, severe headaches, and difficulty concentrating. At this moment, however, his chest ached intensely, and he wished to faint. He had no idea how many ribs were broken!
Clenching his teeth, he activated the Self-Sacrifice Formula. Within him, it felt as though clear springs were surging forth, rapidly restoring his spirit. His true energy, already at its peak, became even more formidable—the hidden danger from using the Self-Sacrifice Formula had vanished after shedding his mortal shell.
As Jiang Zhiwei and Meng Qi were struck by the black waves, Luo Shengyi had already closed in on Benerpa, his right fist striking Benerpa’s skull like a mountain collapsing, exuding mighty and majestic force. Qi Zhengyan approached from the other side, his Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword gleaming with a translucent sheen, forming a thin layer of ice crystals, its coldness restrained.
Benerpa swallowed the demon core, breaking free from the restraints of Feng Ming Jiu Tian. Facing the unavoidable fist and sword, he took a deep breath and roared.
His voice surged like rolling waves, shaking Luo Shengyi’s body and slowing his punch. Qi Zhengyan, enveloped in a crimson glow with white mist swirling around him, appeared divine and unshaken as he swung his sword down onto Benerpa’s neck.
Dang!
The black fish scales shimmered with a dark gleam; the Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword struck as if hitting metal or stone. The scales of an external scene demon inherently served as formidable armor, not easily pierced by ordinary sharp weapons unless empowered by the special techniques of the Law Body.
However, the “Hun Tian Bao Jian” was no ordinary technique. Numerous fish scales cracked, and streams of emerald waves surged forth, forming thick water walls to block the Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword.
The sword’s chill erupted, icy mist instantly swirling as the emerald frost energy seeped into Benerpa’s body.
The waves froze into frost, causing Benerpa to shiver, stiffening momentarily.
Luo Shengyi, shaking off the dizziness, continued his punch without hesitation, striking Benerpa’s cheek.
Internal and external forces converged, external scenes manifesting internally, waves gathering at Benerpa’s cheek, attempting to weaken and slow the punch.
The punch landed, waves scattering, black fish scales on Benerpa’s face developing cracks.
As the right fist fell, Luo Shengyi’s left fist followed, serene like a mountain, empty and hazy, carrying a transcendent Daoist aura, seemingly ethereal but concealing immense power, striking beside the right fist with a crisp crack.
Benerpa screamed in pain, black scales exploding, half its face caved in, sharp teeth flying, blood gushing like waves.
Enraged, it spun its steel fork, unleashing waves around its body, rushing toward Luo Shengyi and Qi Zhengyan.
If not for the demon’s tough body and the protective barrier of water waves and scales, this punch would have shattered its skull, killing it instantly. Even so, it was now dazed, acting purely on instinct, its mind severely stunned.
After two external scene punches, Luo Shengyi was already at his limit. Had he not shed his mortal shell, he would have collapsed from exhaustion. Facing Benerpa’s steel fork, he barely dodged the tip, struck by the water waves, flying sideways, falling to the ground, protective qi dissipating, bones breaking.
Qi Zhengyan, enveloped in swirling crimson clouds, resembled a dancing lotus—graceful and multifaceted, effortlessly deflecting waves and dodging assaults.
Yet, the might of external forces was overwhelming. Even with Meixia’s swirling technique redirecting the impact, complete dissipation was unattainable—only vital areas could be spared. The Dragon-Patterned Red Gold Sword crossed his chest as he employed the Earth Kunlun technique to shatter rocks and earth, maintaining a vigilant defense.
The water waves surged, and the Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword let out a dragon-like roar, splitting open with a deep crack. Qi Zhengyan staggered back several steps, coughing up blood with each retreat. Finally, the crimson glow around him dissipated, and he collapsed, his face deathly pale.
Dazed and confused, Benerpa wildly brandished its steel fork. Supported by the Self-Sacrifice Formula, Meng Qi’s true energy surged as his spirit merged with Zi Shang, his senses expanding outward. The wind howled, fissures oozed terror, while thunder and lotus blossoms lingered distantly upon the unreachable Spirit Mountain. The earth bore all things beneath the darkened sky, everything moving in accordance with some unfathomable law.
At this moment, Meng Qi seemed to merge with heaven and earth, yet his heart was filled with despair—unable to forget victory or defeat, unable to truly unite with the universe. Barely maintaining this state, he swung his blade toward Benerpa.
After this strike, their group would be severely injured, exhausted, unable to fight further.
If they could not win, they would be meat on the chopping block, at the mercy of the butcher!
Kill!
The purple-red sword energy surged forth, resonating with the wind and thunder, as the surrounding heavens and earth turned solemn, its razor-sharp edge fully revealed.
Benerpa wildly brandished its steel fork, its movements riddled with openings. How could Meng Qi possibly miss such an opportunity? The sword energy pierced through the weak points in the waves, evading the steel fork, and slashed across the half of Benerpa’s face that Luo Shengyi had previously crushed.
Benerpa must die!
Otherwise, it would be our end!
Facing a life-and-death crisis, Benerpa instinctively regained a trace of clarity. With bloodshot eyes and no hesitation, it once again protruded its demon core.
The demon core dimmed, its waves diminishing as a purplish-red sword aura cleaved through the sea and struck its form.
Bang!
With a crisp sound, Benerpa spat out his essence blood. The demon core shattered, enveloped in the essence blood, and was swallowed back in.
Its strength plummeted, estimated at only half-step external scene level. Eight or nine hundred years of cultivation, this incident costing most of it. Benerpa hated these people bitterly!
Still alive? Meng Qi tried to summon his last ounce of courage, but after the Purple Wound (Zi Shang) attack, his mind went blank—utterly drained of spirit. Though his true energy and physical strength remained, his steps faltered. He staggered forward unsteadily, then collapsed against his will.
At that instant, Meng Qi felt a surge of despair and discouragement. The external scene was too powerful—despite the team’s cooperation, they had only managed to severely injure it, making it nearly impossible to kill. Could this truly be the end of the death mission?
Collapsing to the ground, his face pressed against the cold ground, the long-term training allowed Meng Qi to regain a bit of calmness.
Never give up! As long as you’re still alive, there’s always hope!
Benerpa was somewhat terrified by the desperate fighting style of the five people before him. Blocking Zi Shang, he directly flew into midair. Only after seeing Meng Qi fall, Jiang Zhiwei, Luo Shengyi, and Qi Zhengyi collapse weakly, and Ruan Yushu’s guqin drop in front of her before she too collapsed powerless, did he finally relax—they had won at last!
As the Blue Waves King, has it ever been forced into such a situation by an opponent inferior to itself?
“Haha, haha.” It laughed loudly, descending, addressing Meng Qi and others, “Since you dare to resist and harm this King, are you tired of living?”
It approached Ruan Yushu, lifted her up, twisted her right arm, and forcefully tore it off. Blood gushed out, staining her white dress crimson. Unable to endure the pain, Ruan Yushu let out a muffled groan before biting her lip so hard that a trickle of blood seeped out—yet she refused to adopt a pleading posture.
Damn it! Meng Qi witnessed this gruesome scene, his heart filled with immense hatred!
The reason Benerpa targeted Ruan Yushu first was that the Langhuan Divine Melody and Demon-Sundering Arrow had alarmed it. It needed to incapacitate her first to peacefully let them lead the way—it couldn’t use pressure points and required their guidance. Killing one person would mean losing one guide.
It stuffed Ruan Yushu’s right arm into its mouth, using its remaining half-step teeth to crunch, swallowing it raw, a sound that chilled the blood!
Ben Erpa abandoned Ruan Yushu and headed toward Jiang Zhiwei and Meng Qi. Seizing the opportunity, Ruan Yushu barely managed to apply pressure points to stop the bleeding, then took out her personal healing pills and swallowed them.
Hmm, this woman is strong, her sword technique formidable, must be disabled too… Benerpa lifted the severely injured Jiang Zhiwei, tore hard, ripping off her right arm again, chewing and swallowing it whole. As for the White Rainbow Through the Sun Sword, cracked everywhere, it didn’t care, tossing it onto Jiang Zhiwei.
Bastard! Meng Qi’s eyes turned red watching this.
Jiang Zhiwei was thrown to Ruan Yushu’s side, stopping her own bleeding and swallowing the remaining healing pills.
This kid’s strength is average, mainly relying on that sword… Benerpa glanced at Meng Qi, whirling water waves, taking away Zi Shang, and hanging it at his waist.
As for Luo Shengyi and Qi Zhengyan, Benerpa considered even if they were fully recovered, without the other three’s cooperation, they couldn’t harm him now, so he ignored them, especially since they were already severely injured.
He looked at Meng Qi, grinning and said, “Kid, turns out you’re A’nan’s disciple, no wonder you could enter Spirit Mountain. Well, although the Demon Sage left orders, rescuing the Great Sages is more important. If you want to live, if you want them to survive, obediently guide this King!”
Meng Qi gritted his teeth: “Fine!”
Whether buying time or seeking another chance, he could only pretend to comply for now.
“Hand over all your healing pills!” Benerpa commanded everyone, with the clear implication that anyone who refused would be killed on the spot.
Meng Qi and the others had no choice but to hand over their healing medicines. However, Ruan Yushu simply passed over her medicine without even glancing sideways, treating the Jade Ring as nothing out of the ordinary.
Benerpa had never used advanced items like the Jade Ring and didn’t notice anything unusual. After obtaining the healing pills, he swallowed most of them himself, then gave each person a few pills and had them take them to recover—since they needed to scout, inevitably attracting danger, how could they afford to be weak?
After a while, it placed the most severely injured Ruan Yushu and Jiang Zhiwei beside it as hostages, while Meng Qi, Luo Shengyi, and Qi Zhengyan led the way ahead, entering a nearby area where fierce winds howled.
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