Chapter 329

The remaining demon cultivators were few, but as the demonic energy intensified, the demonic energy within them surged, enhancing their power by nearly two levels compared to before.

“Are those two your masters? It’s too late. Even if they rush there now, the outcome won’t change.”

Qing Heng, unable to match Pei Ji, was wounded all over by his sword, forced back several steps by a blast of sword energy.

He seemed indifferent to the pain, as if numb, pressing forward again alongside the other demon cultivators.

This group from the demon realm was prepared for death the moment they clashed with the righteous cultivators.

In this relentless battle, only one side was destined to survive.

It was a sacrifice they had to make for the freedom of their kin.

“That being said… our Lord left a message for you before he departed.”

Qing Heng paused, a faint smile breaking through his blood-stained face.

His gaze shifted past Pei Ji to land on Ning Ning.

“He noticed something odd about the curse on you. The Lord considers you worthy opponents; if you win this fight, his method might prove useful to you.”

Ning Ning froze.

“A curse?”

He Zhizhou was perplexed.

“What curse?”

Qing Heng ignored him.

“The curse seems to be the long-lost ‘life-for-life’ spell. Evil causes yield evil effects; since you bear other’s evil cause, to alter the inevitable deadly effect, you must accumulate sufficient merits to counterbalance the karma.”

As demon cultivators continued to attack, Ning Ning wielded her Xinghen sword, listening closely.

“Only when merits counteract the curse can you escape this fate.”

Balance between merits and curses.

But with her death looming, where would she find so many merits?

Ning Ning nodded and continued her strikes without pause.

“Thank you.”

“Thank me? I don’t want anything to do with you.”

The man chuckled, his tone unexpectedly derisive.

“Thank our Lord instead. He’s an odd one, always lost in his thoughts, a naive fool who has never known war. Always a worry.”

He paused, lifting his long blade to clash with He Zhizhou’s sword, his expression turning slightly fierce.

“But do you think you can survive? Once the formation is broken, the Demon God will awaken, and this world will belong to the demon clan.”

He Zhizhou felt as if he were going mad.

“What inevitable fate? Ning Ning, explain this to me!”

=====

The further they went, the dimmer the moonlight became.

By the time they neared the barrier of the formation, the darkness was absolute, rendering everything pitch black.

Lin Xun smelled a potent stench of blood.

Using his heightened senses as a cultivator and the gleaming light of Tian Xianzi’s sword, he caught sight of a dark, blood-soaked mass.

Tian Xianzi raised his hand to cover Lin Xun’s eyes.

“Don’t look.”

As he said this, they heard a low exclamation from Wen Hemian.

“Hold your breath; watch the northwest.”

Lin Xun looked up.

By the light of the sword, the barrier of the Two Elements Dust Formation glowed in soft white, like an arched bridge rising from the earth.

A crack, visible to the naked eye, splintered across it like a shattered mirror, spreading outward.

Emerging from that fissure—

Lin Xun held his breath, eyes widening in terror.

A massive hand of molten rock and stone reached out.

Following the arm backward, they could see the colossal, mountainous body of the creature beyond the formation.

Its mere outstretched arm radiated a demonic energy so intense it was suffocating, the surrounding air scalding as if ablaze.

This was a power far beyond his imagination.

Lin Xun couldn’t help but tremble.

“This place is steeped in demonic energy. The Demon God awakening here is likely not alone.”

Tian Xianzi conveyed a message directly to Lin Xun’s mind.

“We have to deal with it before it breaks free of the formation and then re-seal the Two Elements Dust Formation. Otherwise, if that crack widens and the others follow it out… all will be lost.”

Lin Xun looked at him, disbelieving.

There were only three of them.

Himself—a Golden Core novice, an inconspicuous junior disciple barely holding it together just looking at a Demon God.

Elder Wen, whose spiritual sea of consciousness was damaged.

Though he’d regained some spiritual energy through rest, his strength was likely even lower than Lin Xun’s Golden Core level.

And the only capable one—Tian Xianzi.

“But you, I…”

Lin Xun stammered as Tian Xianzi laughed heartily, patting his shoulder.

“See that crack? Soon I’ll give you some supreme spiritual pills. When I defeat that ugly thing, you’ll pour all your spiritual energy into sealing that gap.”

Lin Xun was stunned.

“Master, you… you’re going to fight it?”

He couldn’t forget what had happened to Elder Jueming.

That elder, whose cultivation was on par with Tian Xianzi, had faced a Demon God in a life-for-life fight and, when found, was but a pile of bones.

To face such terrifying power was certain death.

“Who am I? The world’s greatest sword cultivator, not just a boast.”

Seeing more of the creature’s body emerge, Tian Xianzi blocked a fiery attack with his sword, passing the spiritual pills to Lin Xun with a grin.

“Haven’t you always wanted to see how I, your Master, slay demon?”

His usual roguish demeanor softened, his tone almost… gentle.

Tian Xianzi had never shown such warmth.

“Lin Xun.”

He spoke softly, his tone unusually tender.

“No matter what happens… you’re brave enough, aren’t you?”