“This is a scheme laid over thousands of years,” Mr. Zhao spun midair, unfurling the Zhanmadao once more. “Do you truly think you can unravel it?”
“I don’t know.” Xiang Xian was bathed in fire, the Wisdom Sword’s light-fire manifesting solidly, coiling like a flood dragon around him. “But I believe that once, in your heart, you too wished to protect the Shenzhou Great Land.”
Mr. Zhao raised his blade overhead in a high guard: “This world is no longer worth protecting by anyone.”
“Is that truly so?” Xiang Xian said gravely. “Because of your estranged brother?”
The two clashed again. Xiang Xian trailed the Phoenix’s Blazing Flame, vast wings unfurled, striking Mr. Zhao like a meteor!
“Because of your unworthy descendants who wrought havoc for centuries?!” Xiang Xian pressed against Mr. Zhao, smashing through cliffs and peaks. Rocks flew wildly, exploding under True Fire and Acalanatha’s mighty power!
White waves churned on the sea surface into myriad crystalline droplets, scattering gently along their white trail like a bursting galaxy, dazzling.
Mr. Zhao wheeled midair, sweeping the Zhanmadao horizontally. He gathered his cultivation base; purple radiance faintly bloomed on the black blade. After several clashes, blades met. The Zhanmadao gained a tiny notch from the Wisdom Sword. Xiang Xian struck again!
Three consecutive swords boomed like tolling bells, the final one shattering with a sonic crack!
“Or because you went back on your word, and that king who once fully trusted you was slain?!” Xiang Xian thundered.
In that instant, Mr. Zhao’s eyes flew wide. With Xiang Xian’s all-out strike, the Zhanmadao snapped! Mr. Zhao plummeted into the reefs, churning towering waves.
Xiang Xian discarded the Wisdom Sword and charged barehanded. Mr. Zhao rose slowly. The two assumed Taizu Long Fist stances.
“Who taught you?” Mr. Zhao asked gravely.
Xiang Xian’s body shed the Divine Descent’s golden light, leaving only the Phoenix’s lingering fire. He set his stance, eyes locking onto Mr. Zhao’s entire form.
“The Great Song,” Xiang Xian said gravely.
Fists and feet whipped like wind. Mr. Zhao and Xiang Xian collided, parrying and blocking with long fist techniques. Mr. Zhao’s style surged like an enraged sea whale; Xiang Xian soared like a vast-sky peng. As they dismantled moves, demonic flames clashed with radiant fire, dyeing heaven and earth crimson. The sky transformed into rosy clouds, the sea pitch-black as ink.
“For whom do you fight, Phoenix child?!” Mr. Zhao’s voice echoed through heaven and earth. “The living suffer endlessly day and night; after death, they enter reincarnation, finding no release even in the next life—”
“Life is indeed short and bitter,” Xiang Xian withdrew his hand, retracting his technique before streaking as a beam of rosy light. “But I’ve never thought to give up.”
Mr. Zhao matched Xiang Xian’s final technique. Mr. Zhao punched; Xiang Xian palmed. Fist met palm; both cultivated rigidly domineering martial arts. The instant qi erupted, True Fire and demonic flames compressed to the point of impact.
“You betrayed yourself.” Xiang Xian’s eyes were clear, reflecting Mr. Zhao bathed in black fire. “Let me take your place and carry on this mission.”
Mr. Zhao smiled and withdrew his fist. The palm strike that had gathered their lifelong Cultivation Bases surged entirely toward him. Blazing flames erupted with a boom, transforming into a circular disk that expanded before contracting into an orange-red beam of light.
Mr. Zhao disintegrated in midair, morphing into countless specks of light that scattered. Once the Demonic Qi dispersed, his towering mortal form emerged, his armor shattering and his flesh scattering into the wind.
“Use it to open the entrance to the Heavenly Demon Palace,” Mr. Zhao said. “I look forward to your battle with King Mu. Since each of you harbors ambitions, leave the fate of the land to you both to decide…”
Xiang Xian stared in disbelief and looked down at the back of his hand. Suddenly, Talismanic Runes glowed there—the mark Mr. Zhao had pressed onto his wrist during their clash of fists.
With a massive rumble, the Demon Seed appeared. A force transmitted from some unknown place millions of miles away pulled the Demon Seed away like a shooting star, but Xiang Xian gave the Demon King no further chance. He raised his hand and beckoned in the air. The Wisdom Sword reappeared, its runes igniting.
Xiang Xian stood amid the reefs and crashing waves, gripping the Wisdom Sword with both hands as it radiated beams of light.
“Exorcism!”
Xiang Xian shot up from the ground, pursuing the fleeing Demon Seed. A ring of light bloomed in the sky, and the Demon Seed shattered.
The sea surface grew calm. A black Phoenix rose from the waters.
“A Huang?” Xiang Xian whipped his head around, still clutching the Wisdom Sword tightly.
“Kill me. This is your last chance, while I still have my senses,” the Demonic Phoenix’s voice urged. “Xiang Xian, use the sword to destroy the part of my mind corrupted by Demonic Qi.”
“No,” Xiang Xian said gravely. “A Huang! Come back!”
The Demonic Phoenix’s body had been fully invaded by Demonic Qi, save for its eyes, which still flickered with yellow light. The golden hue faded slowly. Xiang Xian roared, “A Huang! Come back—!”
Xiang Xian burst forth with golden light and soared into the air, charging toward the Demonic Phoenix. The Demonic Phoenix tried to take flight, but Xiang Xian seized it fiercely, pressing his heart against the Phoenix’s back where Demonic Fire erupted. He gritted his teeth and said, “No, you can’t just submit like this! Take my soul with you!
“A Huang—!”
Inside the Qingyu Golden Chalice, the space began to disintegrate. The platform where Chaosheng, Mu Qingshan, and Zhen Yue stood crumbled away. Zhen Yue roared, “We need to find an exit right now!”
“No!” Chaosheng said. “Big Brother is still inside. I’ll help you!”
Zhen Yue cast Spells to desperately stabilize the world within the Qingyu Golden Chalice. Chaosheng unleashed his Magical Power; his robes billowed as green light bloomed around him. He drew his hands together, and in an instant, countless vines and leaves erupted from his body. His long hair whipped wildly, transforming into tendrils. He pressed his hands against Zhen Yue’s back.
