Chapter 114: The Golden Crow

Golden light shot into the formation, dispersing into countless fine threads stretching to the east, south, west, and north. Gradually, they traced the outline of a gigantic bird with three feet, broad wings, four tails, and a long beak. As the essence of the great sun descended, Yuan Yuzi, master of Fire Island, placed sixteen innate fire seeds within it, nurturing fire with fire. The solar essence, thus nourished, ignited the true solar flame soaring tens of thousands of feet high, its blaze tearing through the heavens and illuminating the darkness with resplendent light. This flame was the primordial true fire, surpassing even the celestial fires of Tianfu. Yet, all sword immortals within the Celestial Gate, regardless of righteousness or evil, and no matter their cultivation, were beset by the six pernicious influences of cold, heat, dryness, dampness, wind, and fire—tormented as if claws raked at their hearts, suffering unspeakably.

The combined efforts of the seven sects’ leaders forged six ancient solar talismans of the Qianyang Sun, which, in the final moment, proved instrumental in turning the tide.

“Quick! Stop them!” croaked the voice of the Ghost Matron as she screamed hoarsely. Though dozens of great demonic beasts from the evil sect had been invited, none dared exert full effort, enabling the four sect leaders to penetrate the formation with such ease. Apart from Empress Lu, leader of the Naked Body Sect, the heads of the other four sects had not appeared. Demonic practitioners were notorious for infighting and scheming, often more so than the Daoists. Among the intermediate demonic sect, only two matched the seven sect leaders in cultivation: Lu Mingzi, who was engaged in a duel with the Bamboo Mountain True Man before the great sun’s arrival, and Master Moluo, who was overseeing the grand formation and unable to leave.

“Empress Lu! Do not forget the kindness your predecessor showed you. Old Ghost of the Azure Lotus, do you still wish to see the Buddha Scroll or not? And Master Tiandu, remember you now have only a hundred years of life left; without the Matron extending your life, you might as well prepare for your final transcendence. Dragon Slayer, you have just joined our sect, yet behave so recklessly—could it be that the restrictions on your primordial spirit are ineffective?” The Ghost Matron launched a torrent of curses. Except for the old demonic beasts who owed a debt of gratitude to the previous Master Moluo, or had some vested interests with the intermediate demonic sect, none of these ancient fiends would fare well if the righteous side prevailed.

“Our Sacred Sect values repaying kindness with kindness and enmity with enmity. Are you here to annihilate the seven sects, to seek enmity with our Sacred Sect, or something else? Think carefully. Do not try to please both sides and lose your own life. Remember well! Sixty years ago, we broke through Mount Emei—yet how did we end in failure?”

With a sudden motion, the Ghost Matron tore off her own face, blood streaming as her flesh ignited with a crimson flame—the infamous Chihé Fire of the demonic path, fueled by the flesh of women and children, burning for a century before maturing. This mere flicker of demonic fire had claimed countless lives.

She chuckled eerily twice, her bloodshot eyes sweeping over the surrounding ancient demons and great beasts. She transformed into a rolling cloud of ash, surging forward. Behind her came more than twenty streams of demonic energy and magical light, suffused with sinister deathly qi—primordial spirit masters who had survived a heavenly tribulation. Hundreds, even thousands, of sword lights and escaping qi hovered nearby, exuding fierce killing intent and bloodlust. Several hundred demonic disciples burst from the Supreme Fierce Formation, attacking from both front and rear.

In terms of sheer strength, the intermediate demonic sect was the strongest branch of the demonic path, able to confront the entire righteous path alone. Their depth was evident, and their arrogance well-founded. The invited ancient beasts and demons were mere embellishments.

The seven sects had laid down hundreds of formations to delay the Supreme Yin-Yang Soul-Seizing Formation. The spirits and demons continuously assaulted it, causing great strain. Fortunately, the six great leaders had finally arrived. Without the demonic formation’s restraint, the warriors surged out, particularly those from Emei.

At present, seven magnificent sword lights from Mount Emei blazed brilliantly, each tens of feet long, wielded by the famed Seven Disciples: Cui Chanzi, Daoist Taibai, Immortal Lady Chu, Dongyangzi, Elder Chasing the Moon, the Divine Nun Yinru, and True Man Erji, each flying on their treasured swords, celestial radiance soaring as they clashed fiercely with demonic practitioners.

Close behind them were the Fire Daoist of Qingcheng, the Six-Spirit Immortal Couple, the Heavenly Dragon Daoist, the Moon Lady of the Heavenly Dao Sect, True Lord of Mount Tai, the Plague Daoist, the Fairy of Azure Mist, Immortal Miaoyu, the Four True Lords of Maoshan, the Crescent Sickle of Lianshan, True Man Sanshi, Immortal Qingmu, the Rootless Immortal, the Six Divine Monks of Little Thunder Sound Temple, and many other primordial spirit masters from various factions, too numerous to recount here.

The righteous and evil clashed at the boundary of the two realms. Within the Celestial Gate, clouds and qi surged endlessly over a radius of ten thousand miles, reversing the stars, tearing formations apart. Red clouds, sword lights, thunder, yin malevolence, demonic mists, celestial fiends—chaos swirled, disturbing heaven and earth. This much-anticipated duel between good and evil sword cultivators was now at its peak.

The intermediate demonic sect, facing seven opponents, barely held their ground. Demonic artifacts and treasures emerged one after another, many rare demonic relics long unseen in the world. The Fallen Pearl in the Ghost Matron’s hand emitted beams that summoned souls; any without a primordial spirit who touched it would perish instantly. The Heavenly Demon’s Plow Banner wielded by the little demon child shifted invisibly through the void, its twin claws and sharp teeth as deadly as flying swords, killing unseen. There was the Ghost Pearl, a treasure for primordial spirit possession. The Old Demon of Bashan summoned a hundred-foot-tall demonic skull, exhaling bluish smoke and fire, roaring fiercely. Even fireballs from Thunder Maru barely scorched it.

In addition, there were the Asura Blood Sword, Ghost-Transforming Garment, Demonic Spring Banner, Seven Annihilation Flying Swords, White Bone Demon, Mysterious Yin Pearl, Death Gate Sword, and over a hundred other treasures, each a sentient relic. Under the control of the demonic masters, their treasure auras soared to the heavens, their power overwhelming the land, their murderous qi surging like tides.

Even demonic disciples of lower cultivation set up various formations: the Six Desires Formation, the Celestial Cycle Spirit Killing Formation, the Five Ghost Soul-Capturing Net, the Vina Demon Formation, and the Hundred Thousand Red Spider Formation. These formations, more vicious and cruel than those of the seven sects, were forged from the suffering of living beings, heedless of karmic retribution, killing to stop killing. Within these, even sword immortals fell in droves, their flesh and blood nourishing the arrays; all formations brimmed with demonic qi.

“What say you?” The old demons and fiends watched from a hundred miles away, cautious. This battle could decide the fate of the Dao-Demon struggle for a century. Even with their cultivation, they risked falling. The strength of the intermediate sect had raised their estimation somewhat.

“Quack, deal done and sealed, deal done and sealed, this old immortal departs!” A dazzling green and red demonic aura shot into the formation—a thousand-year-old great Peng bird from Purple Cloud Cave on Green Cliff Mountain, known for cunning, yet this time acting unexpectedly.

“The ancestor is determined to seize the Buddha Scroll! Moreover, my disciple Lumingzi was slain by the Qingcheng sect. This battle shall settle all debts!” sneered the Old Ancestor of the Azure Lotus. Around him, azure lotuses transformed into surging sword energy, charging the battlefield. Whether his words were true or not remained to be seen.

These ancient demons each had their own schemes, but at such a critical moment most plunged into the fray. Only a few beams of light tore through the starry primordial light, retreating to the lower realms; these escapes were noted by the watchful.

A hundred-foot sword light cleaved down cultists, unstoppable. Yet a shimmering azure-white divine light arose, like thousands of layers of clouds and mist forming a great bowl above it, causing the sword light to falter slightly. Taking advantage, countless white lotuses sprouted from both sides of the sword, from which sword qi shot forth like silk threads, attacking the sword wielder. Fortunately, the man was formidable, throwing forth a treasure that transformed into a luminous banner enveloping him entirely, repelling the delicate sword qi as rain repels banana leaves. The refined sword silk technique could not penetrate his defenses.

“So it truly is you, Azure Lotus Old Monster!” the sword wielder said coldly.

“Daoist Taibai, greetings. This jade banner is not the personal treasure of that sect leader. How does it come to be in your hands?” The Old Ancestor of the Azure Lotus chuckled.

“Of course, to slay you, demon!” Among the Mount Emei Seven Disciples, Daoist Taibai was the most ruthless. Channeling the Mount Emei Demon-Subduing Heart Method, golden light blazed spectacularly, slicing through the Azure Lotus’s free-form divine light like torn silk. A sword beam soared into the sky, reversing to strike the old demon.

“Red Dawn!” The Azure Lotus Old Demon’s expression darkened slightly. The Red Dawn Sword was the foremost of Mount Emei’s sword techniques, heart methods, and flying swords. Since the sect’s founding, its five pure yang celestial swords had drunk the blood of countless demons and ghosts. Even he dared not lightly engage its sharpness. He hastily summoned his free-form divine light to envelop Daoist Taibai, while unleashing six treasures, all at least of the Spirit Penetrating grade, plus two sentient demonic beasts known as the Helpless Pearl and the Six Demons of Gold and Silver. Simultaneously, he unleashed countless Azure Lotus sword fiends, infinite sword energy appearing in the void, all assailing Daoist Taibai.

This pure yang sword’s greatest power lay in its ability to sever primordial spirits, whereas ordinary celestial methods could only wound but not destroy. Hence, the Azure Lotus Old Demon had to restrain himself in this duel, many spirit-transforming techniques forbidden.

Despite this, the two battled fiercely, sword qi, golden light, and demonic energy alternating without cease. The jade banner was impervious to all methods; the Red Dawn Sword cut through all. Daoist Taibai fought without hesitation, fully unleashing the Mount Emei sword art’s power. Sword lights shimmered, tearing the void and stirring earth, fire, wind, and water within a hundred-mile radius. Even fellow cultivators dared not provoke him now. The Azure Lotus Old Ancestor countered with myriad demonic sorceries and forbidden arts; his Azure Lotus sword qi was formidable. As a master of both Dao and Demon paths, his cultivation was unfathomable, surpassed by only a few present. Now he revealed his true power; the demonic fire and sword light subtly fused as if forging a path to transcendence through Dao-Demon unity.

At that moment, two sword lights suddenly pierced the battlefield, embodying boundless life force and annihilating might. They split left and right like twin dragons vying for a pearl, aiming straight at the Azure Lotus Old Demon. These were the young disciples Situ Ming and Li Qing’er, wielding the Azure Sky Sword and the Male-Female Sword. Bold and fearless, they sought to slay the thousand-year-old demon.

“More pure yang swords?” The Azure Lotus Old Demon frowned slightly. Mount Emei was mighty indeed to entrust such treasures to juniors. Yet these two were no ordinary youths; their magic had reached the realm of primordial energy transforming into infant spirit. The Mount Emei heart method was unique, perhaps already nurturing their sword cores.

With a flick of his hands, boundless azure flames scattered, known as the Western Lotus Fire. This fire was the Old Demon’s insight into the magical teachings of the Western Demonic Sect combined with Buddhist enlightenment through the Lotus Dharma. Though an acquired true fire, it could ensnare the five emotions and seven desires, preying on these two young cultivators who, despite their prowess, lacked firm resolve and suffered greatly.

Yet the two sword lights flashed and vanished, then returned, the Male-Female Sword and Azure Sky Sword now at the Old Demon’s back. He laughed heartily, “A mere technique of external transformation—do you think this Old Ancestor does not know it?”