Chapter 136: The Outbreak of the Righteous-Demonic War

High in the sky, Lin Feng and Chen Yuxi were rapidly flying toward Daishan within the borders of the Mengliang Kingdom. After reporting to their master, Fairy Furong, the two of them had rushed swiftly to reinforce the righteous faction. Their purposes were twofold: first, to showcase the prestigious reputation of the Hundred Flowers Sect; and second, to test their own cultivation realms and contribute their efforts for the sake of the common people.

Flying past Weihu Pass and Zhennan Pass, the two traveled westward for half an hour before landing at the foot of a mountain range. Stretching for thousands of miles, the towering mountains resembled dormant giant dragons, lush and green with a magnificent aura.

"This is the Daishan mountain range. Since we are unclear about the situation, we had better be careful," Chen Yuxi said, glancing at Lin Feng a few times before taking the lead. "Look at that highest peak shrouded in clouds and mist ahead—that is Chessboard Peak. I suspect our senior uncles and the others are gathered there. The righteous factions have assembled, and the members of the demonic path certainly will not let the matter rest. We must remain highly vigilant."

Lin Feng nodded, following closely behind while observing the surrounding environment. Daishan was abundant with pines, cypresses, and tangled vines. The ground was thick with withered branches and fallen leaves, while venomous snakes, insects, locusts, and ants swarmed back and forth everywhere. Deep within the forest, pale red mists drifted like patches of smoke—this was a lethal poisonous miasma capable of taking a person's life.

However, these ordinary toxic vapors and miasmas could not frighten the two of them. The deadly poisons found within the Qiyun Mountains were no less perilous than those here. When traveling in the wilderness, they knew precisely where the paths of snakes and insects lay. As long as they did not provoke these venomous creatures, generally no accidents would occur. Moreover, they were already at the Golden Core cultivation stage; the slightest anomaly around their bodies could be detected immediately, making it impossible for the poisonous miasma to invade them. From afar, these venomous entities actively steered clear of them.

"I heard from Master that Reverend Zhiyuan of Futuo Temple, Grandmaster Wuyu of Tanmen Pavilion, Divine Nun Jingyuan of Lingwei Pavilion, and representatives from the major sword sects will all be coming this time. They are going to elect an alliance leader to command the heroes and jointly crusade against the Myriad Demons Heaven," Chen Yuxi said.

"Which candidate does Senior Sister think will be chosen?"

"Reverend Zhiyuan is the most likely choice. Although the major sword sects boast a large following, they keep each other in check and view one another with suspicion, refusing to submit to anyone else. Senior Uncle Yan is naturally indifferent by nature and disdains such a position, while the masters of the various pavilions lack sufficient seniority to lead the multitude. In my view, only Futuo Temple is capable of shouldering this responsibility." Chen Yuxi spoke softly while tilting her head to listen to her surroundings.

"Reverend Zhiyuan, one of the Six Great Divine Monks... I wonder how his cultivation compares to Master's," Lin Feng remarked with emotion.

"I have never seen him either. Those divine monks of Futuo Temple are said to possess unfathomable cultivation realms, likely surpassing even our master and senior uncles."

"By the way, with the righteous factions all gathering here, not a single person from Liannian Island is participating. That is utterly inexcusable! They are merely keeping up a false reputation; they are not even as good as a minor sword sect," Lin Feng complained.

"Liannian Island acts peculiarly. To this day, they remain secluded, turning people away and watching the fire from the opposite bank, refusing to partake in the cultivation world's strife. They believe that by doing so they can remain detached from the disaster, but in my opinion, if the righteousness of the world is destroyed overnight, Liannian Island will simply become easy prey in the palm of the Myriad Demons Heaven," Chen Yuxi stated.

"Ah, bad news—someone is here!" Just as Lin Feng nodded, his expression suddenly shifted!

"Haha, the little beauty speaks the truth! Leaving? Where do you think you can go?" Suddenly, a strange laugh echoed from the pine forest ahead, and four figures swept out amidst a flurry of wind, sand, and leaves.

The four individuals separated and stood at a distance atop the pine tree crowns, laughing heartily as they looked down upon Lin Feng and Chen Yuxi, their expressions extremely arrogant. Their magical treasures were not entirely uniform; they wore soft armor and grey robes, surrounded by a layer of black baleful Qi, clearly identifying them as members of the demonic path.

"The demonic path!" Chen Yuxi gave a sharp cry as the Jingluan Sword soared out of its scabbard with a sound like a phoenix's call.

"Hmph! Two in the mid-Core Condensation stage, one in the late Core Condensation stage, and one who has just stepped into the Golden Core stage—just the four of you dare to block our path?" Lin Feng swept his gaze across them and assessed the situation instantly. The three demonic cultivators at the Core Condensation stage were not worth fearing; only the Golden Core cultivator standing in mid-air without having summoned his magical treasure caused him to feel a sense of vigilance. This plain-faced man neither smiled nor spoke, wearing an unfathomable expression. Even after Lin Feng exposed his cultivation realm, he did not show the slightest trace of surprise.

The long-haired man in the center of the three laughed wildly with utter disdain: "How arrogant, brat! Since you delivered yourselves to our doorstep, Grandpa will naturally accept you. Haha, beauties match precious treasures—I, Cheng Hanfeng, love this kind! Brothers, charge, and let's snatch her back—"

"Screee!" A crisp chime of a sword interrupted the man's words. Chen Yuxi flicked her slender hand, and the enormous, rainbow-like sword Qi of the Jingluan Sword struck outward, shooting straight toward Cheng Hanfeng's head.

Simultaneously, Chen Yuxi's voice echoed in Lin Feng's mind: "You handle that one; leave these three to me."

"Hehe, please go ahead, Senior Sister." Lin Feng smiled faintly, fixing his gaze upon his opponent.

***

"The Golden Core stage? Regardless of which of us dies, a single Golden Core will remain. Well, let's consider that the best stake for this battle. I am Yue Dongming of the Myriad Demons Heaven's Hidden Kill Hall."

"I am... just a nobody from the Hundred Flowers Sect, Lin Feng," Lin Feng shook his head and chuckled. "The Golden Core stage? Then I shall let you witness the true strength of the 'Golden Core stage'."

While the two were speaking, Chen Yuxi soared into the air, and the Jingluan Sword in her hand chanted high and clear once more. Like flowing water, it swept away countless pine needles, covering the three demonic cultivators in a sky-full of sword shadows.

A distance of several dozen steps was crossed in the span of a breath. With lightning speed, her footwork and sword light instantly closed in for the kill. Cheng Hanfeng, who had just narrowly avoided the initial strike, let out a ghastly laugh and instinctively summoned his saber, attempting to counter the sword light. Saber light flared everywhere, filling the air with both sword and saber Qi, while pine needles within the forest fell in a torrential, rattling downpour.

Among these four disciples of the Myriad Demons Heaven, Cheng Hanfeng and two others belonged to the lineage of the Demonic Blade God, Duanmu, under the Blood Blade Hall. Naturally, their magical treasures were all renowned sabers, but their personal cultivation was ordinary; the truly formidable experts had already followed the Myriad Demons Heaven's protectors to assault Chessboard Peak and obstruct the righteous assembly. Both the Blood Blade Hall and the Hidden Kill Hall belonged to powerful factions within the Myriad Demons Heaven, brimming with talented individuals and ruthless methods.

Just as the trumpet-shaped saber in Cheng Hanfeng's hand erupted with brilliant vigor, the Jingluan Sword let out an even sharper screech. The saber light was instantly overwhelmed and beaten back by the sword Qi, much like water just splashed out being heavily doused by a basin of earth hurled straight at it, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Crack! A crisp snap echoed from within the sword Qi, and the trumpet-shaped saber broke in half. The expressions of Cheng Hanfeng and his companions altered drastically as they instantly unleashed their strongest techniques to counterattack!

On the other side, Lin Feng and Yue Dongming had yet to strike, but their presences were continuously escalating. Their senses of hearing, vision, touch, and intent surged toward each other like a tide. The moment they attacked, it would inevitably be earth-shattering and draw blood on the first strike. The Moyan Sword trembled and wailed before Lin Feng, seemingly thrilled by the impending clash.

A gale arose without warning. In front of both men, faint Qi vortices seemed to condense—one white, one black, surging incessantly. The white came from Yue Dongming, while the black was the aura emitted by Lin Feng: sword Qi and fist intent!

The two Qi vortices crashed fiercely together with a boom! Amidst an explosive surge of shockwaves, both men launched their attacks simultaneously!

Clang, clang, clang, clang! Blade and sword intersected, and the surrounding pine forest suffered completely. Broken branches and flying leaves scattered everywhere. Within a single exchange, the ground beneath their feet had already become a chaotic mess with large patches of trees knocked down.

Hum! The Moyan Sword stood sideways to form an array before him. Within the hazy curtain of light, Lin Feng caught sight of his opponent's weapon. It was a bizarre, crescent-shaped blade with blinding sharpness, one half black and one half white, falling into the category of a short dagger.

"This blade is named the Yin-Yang Impermanence Shovel. Everyone who has laid eyes upon it has left behind their soul's essence and blood, and you shall be no exception," Yue Dongming said, noticing Lin Feng staring at his magical treasure, and casually introduced it.

"Did you not know that impermanence implies an end, and Yin-Yang also runs in cycles?" Lin Feng sneered, abruptly unleashing a hundred-zhang sword beam that slashed straight toward Yue Dongming. Boom! A loud crash erupted from the forest below. Everything in the path of the sword Qi was cleaved apart, leaving a long trench stretching all the way to the mountain ridge.

Swish, swish! The Yin-Yang Impermanence Shovel dodged this stream of sword Qi and mysteriously appeared by Lin Feng's side, thrusting directly at his neck with the intent to take his life in a single blow.

"Such cunning!" Lin Feng felt a jolt in his heart, yet his outward expression remained exceptionally calm. The Great Majesty and Virtue Universal Dharma Vajra suddenly appeared, its pronged fork coiling around the Impermanence Shovel, while the Subduing Demon Glazed Pagoda pressed down simultaneously, trapping the magical treasure instantly.

Trapped by the prongs, the Yin-Yang Impermanence Shovel vibrated intensely, struggling to break free. Thick, bloody baleful Qi radiated from amidst its white and dark glows, and Lin Feng felt his divine consciousness burn as if scorched by fire, instantly generating a powerful urge to throw this demonic blade away.

The will of the Great Majesty and Virtue Universal Dharma Vajra was controlled by his own divine consciousness. The intense killing intent and bloody aura contained within the Yin-Yang Impermanence Shovel inflicted severe damage on the spirit and soul, sufficient to shatter a person's will and dismantle their state of mind.

This supreme lethal weapon had no idea how many living beings it had destroyed or how much blood it had stained; its lethality was incomparably astonishing, which explained why it deserved the moniker of Yin-Yang Impermanence.

Having captured this malevolent weapon, Lin Feng forcefully endured its fierce and baleful aura, then suddenly opened his mouth and spewed a cluster of Red Lotus Karmic Fire directly onto the Impermanence Shovel, burning it with intense heat.

Hiss, hiss! Countless wisps of black smoke rose from the bizarre blade, and the resentment and grievances of trapped souls emitted piercing shrieks, bursting with intense sparks resembling the sights and sounds of steel being quenched.

The Red Lotus Karmic Fire was precisely the supreme magical treasure for purging demons and eliminating evil spirits!

"Brother Impermanence, now that you have been cleansed of your impurities, it is time for your master to repay the blood debts you incurred."

A rainbow-colored sword beam pierced through the air, killing toward Yue Dongming. It was precisely the "Vertical Slash of Heaven and Earth" from the Slaying Immortals Sword Technique!

Hundreds of streams of sword Qi cascaded downward with boundless might, piercing through the void and producing a deafening, sharp screech as if hundreds or thousands of crossbows were being discharged together.

Standing motionless in the void, Yue Dongming displayed a hint of a contemptuous smile on his lips. With a flicker of his body, he vanished without a trace.

"The Hiding Shadow Technique!" Lin Feng felt a jolt in his heart.

This was the true skill upon which Yue Dongming relied! It was a unique technique practiced exclusively by the experts of the Hidden Kill Hall! Taking an enemy's life silently and without a trace was as easy as reaching into one's pocket. For an expert in the Golden Core stage to use this trick for evil and assassinations was the utmost perfection. Lin Feng now slightly regretted not unleashing both techniques simultaneously to strike Yue Dongming down. Leaving an enemy a way out was simply inviting trouble for oneself.

With a swift shift of his thoughts, he quickly drew the Yin-Yang Impermanence Shovel into the Xuanheng Jade Bi, shook his hand, and whipped up billowing clusters of fiery hurricane.

The Prison-Burning Wind-Chasing Fan!

Waving it three times in succession, this patch of pine forest immediately burst into fierce flames. The fragrant resin of the pines drifted everywhere with the wind, yet there was still no sign of Yue Dongming's shadow.

"Let's see where else you can hide!" A profound smile appeared at the corners of Lin Feng's mouth, and he instantly vanished from his spot, donning the Separation Robe! The Vajra Dharma Form entered his body, retracting his aura entirely.

Bang! On the other side, the Jingluan Sword cleaved Cheng Hanfeng in two. With this, all three members of the Blood Blade Hall perished. When realms differed by two grades and without special divine abilities, surviving was an absolute impossibility.

Chen Yuxi turned her head to look toward the left; it was completely empty, without a single soul. The wildfire in the mountain forest was rapidly spreading, billowing with black smoke, and the birds, beasts, insects, and snakes within the woods fled in panic, plunging into utter chaos.

Right at that moment, a sense of lingering palpitations arose abruptly. Chen Yuxi was instantly alarmed, her body retreating backward by several丈 just as a string of firecracker-like explosions burst forth from the spot where she had previously stood, vaguely revealing distorted currents of air rising upward.

Whoosh! Karmic Fire Red Lotuses rolled outward. Hiding in the dark, Lin Feng did not hesitate to unleash a fatal strike. With a single wave of his fan, a sharp howl pierced the void as flames rolled and fled into the distance.

"Want to run?" Two streaks of sword light crossed each other in mid-air, chasing after Yue Dongming like a shooting star. Amidst a single miserable scream, this demonic assassin shattered into fragments like a burnt piece of charcoal in mid-air and breathed his last.

"Senior Sister, time is of the essence. You and I must hurry to Chessboard Peak; I fear our master and the others may have already met with misfortune," Lin Feng's voice transmitted from the void.

Chen Yuxi's gaze flashed as she nodded and said, "True. Junior Brother, do not reveal yourself. There are likely demonic experts lying in ambush along this road; if the two of us join forces, we can catch them off guard."