Chapter 459
Zheng Fa suddenly recalled the words of Wuzhi from back then: the Qingjing Zhu (Quiet Bamboo) is the fruit of enlightenment of a Buddha!
Sure enough, the head of Mingde Sect also mentioned Qingjing Zhu.
“Qingjing Zhu is the ultimate means to restrain the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor. While we may not be able to slay him again, we can at least ensure our own safety.”
His tone was filled with regret.
“Ahem…”
Beside Xie Qingxue, Yan Wushuang coughed lightly, unable to help but glance at Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa quickly lowered his head; he was feeling a bit anxious.
He turned to look at Senior Sister Zhang, and they both understood that if the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor truly came, the people of the Xuanwei Five Sects would still need to be saved.
It wasn’t about righteousness or morality.
If they saved him, they might offend the Leiyin Temple; if they didn’t, how would the other four sects view Jiushan Sect in the future?
“But without Qingjing Zhu, we are not without the power to contend against the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor!”
The voice of the head of Mingde Sect rang out again. Zheng Fa looked up to see him gazing intently at the celestial sword at Xie Qingxue’s waist.
“Fairy Xie, your Tianghe Sect’s techniques are extraordinary, and this Qingping Sword is the personal sword of the Tianghe Patriarch.” As the head of the Taishang Dao, he seemed to know a lot about the Tianghe Sect. “As the master of the Qingping Sword, you must have the power of enlightenment, right?”
Wait, is she really that strong?
But seeing the head of Mingde Sect’s gaze, Zheng Fa understood—Xie Qingxue was powerful, but the real strength lay in the Qingping Sword!
“I need various spiritual herbs.”
As soon as Xie Qingxue said this, everyone’s faces lit up with joy.
This statement was enough to show the confidence of this Tianghe senior sister.
Everyone was happy, but Xie Qingxue frowned and looked at the head of Mingde Sect. “If there are any treasures of enlightenment, I would also like to borrow them.”
“Hmm?” The head of Mingde Sect, upon hearing this somewhat abrupt request, not only didn’t get angry but was rather pleased. “Fairy Xie, do you have hopes of reaching a higher level?”
Xie Qingxue’s eyes were resolute as she nodded.
“Then it’s settled!” Now that they needed Xie Qingxue to exert herself, the head of Mingde Sect clearly wouldn’t be stingy. He said directly, “In the Baixian Alliance’s treasury, all treasures are at your disposal, Fairy Xie. I will not refuse!”
Zheng Fa felt a wave of envy wash over him.
It’s good to be part of a big sect!
With the Qingping Sword, in just three sentences, Xie Qingxue had the head of Mingde Sect open the storage bag for her!
He looked at Xie Qingxue and noticed that Yan Wushuang beside her was acting quite strangely.
First, he stared at the head of Mingde Sect for a long time, then turned back to his own senior sister, frowning as if he found things a bit confusing.
Then, he shifted his gaze to the Qingping Sword, scratched his head, and suddenly looked at Zheng Fa, finally piecing together the relationships involved.
Seeing his expression, Zheng Fa felt equally baffled—
The head of Mingde Sect mentioned Qingjing Zhu, and I can let that slide.
But now he’s talking about the Qingping Sword, and you’re looking at me?
What does this have to do with me?
…
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor felt a surge of anger and determination as he flew toward the sea.
Though the demon race lacked immortals, they had their own heritage. He knew of several ancient great demons, some of whom had lived through several epochs, and they likely had their own means of self-preservation during great calamities:
If all else fails, I can seek refuge with them!
The mighty Seven Great Saints also had their pride!
With his thoughts set, he had just reached the seaside when he abruptly halted his flight.
The sea before him had changed!
He stood frozen in the air, staring blankly at the ocean.
Dong dong dong, dong dong dong.
A muffled sound echoed, as if someone were beating a drum.
At first, the sound was faint, almost imperceptible.
But gradually it grew louder, overpowering the sound of the waves, drowning out all other noises in the world.
It seemed as if only this dull thumping remained.
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor felt an inexplicable heat rising within him, a restless urge to tear open his chest and let the sea breeze blow through his organs.
But his heart grew colder.
The surface of the sea also turned cold.
At some point, the crashing waves slowly transformed into a deep red, thick and viscous, exuding a strangely chilling fragrance.
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor desperately flew backward.
On the crimson sea, the sun suddenly sank, replaced by a moon—a black crescent—cutting across the horizon and leaping into the sky.
The black moonlight illuminated two figures bowing respectfully in the red sea.
Dong dong dong, dong dong dong.
The muffled drumbeat grew louder, and the black moonlight seemed to contract.
The seawater, like blood, slowly surged toward the black moon.
A heart!
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor finally realized that this moon was, in fact, a heart!
As the seawater gradually flowed in, the black crescent slowly rounded out, and once it became a full moon, it suddenly contracted and exploded.
A figure appeared in the void, one that he dared not look directly at.
The sky brightened again, the sea turned blue, and all the bizarre sights vanished, but the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor felt even more fear. He turned his flight toward Tongming Mountain.
Mingde Sect, save me!
…
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor glanced at the escaping light a thousand miles away, unconcerned. He stepped down from the void, looking at the two kneeling figures.
“Where are the others?”
“Saint Ancestor, they have returned to the Blood Sea.”
Yinming Xian answered cautiously.
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor froze for a moment, gently closed his eyes as if contemplating something, and after a long pause, spoke, “They’re all dead?”
“Yes!”
Yinming Xian still didn’t dare to raise his head, and Chen Ting buried his face in the ground as well.
“Is it just you two left of my Great Freedom’s millions of bloodline descendants?” The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor fixed his gaze on the two, and upon seeing Yinming Xian, frowned again. “You’re not of my bloodline?”
“I’m not!”
Yinming Xian trembled, seemingly anxious, and explained, “I admire the Saint Ancestor’s great law and have converted to the Holy Teachings.”
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor scrutinized Yinming Xian for a moment, as if finally waking fully from his slumber. He slowly nodded. “I remember you, from the Taishang Dao…”
He then turned to Chen Ting.
He didn’t seem to recognize this person.
Chen Ting’s face was filled with tension; after all, he had rebelled in front of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor. If it weren’t for necessity, who would dare to appear before him?
Seeing Chen Ting’s demeanor, the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor seemed somewhat suspicious but couldn’t recall anything. Suddenly, a ghostly light shot from his eyes, enveloping Chen Ting.
Chen Ting felt as if his soul was being torn apart, his mind in turmoil, with only a black talisman slowly floating at the bottom of his consciousness.
After a while, the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor slowly nodded. “Pure bloodline, untainted origins.”
Having said that, he no longer cared about the panting Chen Ting on the ground. This person was merely at the Golden Core level; if it weren’t for the fact that there were only two people here, he wouldn’t have given him a second glance.
…
“How is the situation in Xuanwei now?”
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor asked Yinming Xian.
“During this attempt to summon the Saint Ancestor, we not only encountered the obstruction of the Xuanwei Five Sects, but even the demon race has betrayed the Holy Teachings. Now, the Great Freedom Heaven has been lost…”
“The loss of Great Freedom Heaven is of no concern.” The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor nodded lightly, seemingly unconcerned about losing his stronghold.
“Tell me about the Xuanwei Five Sects.”
Yinming Xian began to recount the various transformations of the Xuanwei Five Sects.
“Qingping Sword?”
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor’s expression, which had been calm, changed upon hearing the words “Qingping Sword.” He interrupted Yinming Xian and asked again, “The Qingping Sword of Tianghe?”
Yinming Xian nodded.
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor raised his head and looked toward the direction of Tongming Mountain, a hint of wariness in his gaze.
“Demon Ancestor?”
“Are there any other formidable figures?”
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor asked again.
“There’s… there’s another force. Though it’s not part of the Xuanwei Five Sects, it’s rather peculiar.” Yinming Xian fell silent for a moment, seemingly unsure how to begin, before slowly speaking.
“Hmm?”
“Saint Ancestor, do you remember Zheng Fa of Jiushan Sect?”
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor thought for a moment before nodding. “The Three Sons Talisman theory, quite interesting.”
“Well, Jiushan Sect now has a world of its own, called Jiushan Realm.”
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor’s expression grew slightly more serious.
“The demon race you cultivated seems to have been blocked by that Jiushan Realm, and even… two transformation stage demons have died. Moreover, during the first summoning of the Demon Ancestor, Zheng Fa used some mysterious means to seize the Blood Slaughter Flag.”
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor slowly closed his eyes, and after a long pause, opened them to say, “The Blood River is still alive, and Jiao Wuji seems to be there as well.”
He seemed to have a good understanding of his transformation stage subordinates.
“Have they betrayed the Saint Ancestor?”
Yinming Xian gasped.
“Ha…” The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor waved his sleeve, taking the two with him as they flew toward Tongming Mountain, seemingly unconcerned about the Qingping Sword.
“Saint Ancestor? What about the Qingping Sword?”
Table of Contents
