Chapter 859: Return
The crisis was temporarily averted, but at the cost of the lives of the three Supreme Elders of the Yun Clan. The entire Yun Clan was filled with grief, and even the Tianxia Clan and all the Illusion Demon profound practitioners were teary-eyed... As Supreme Elders of the revered Guardian Clan, not only had they failed to die a natural death, but they had died so miserably, not even leaving behind their remains.
"Xuanyuan... Wentian!!" Yun Qinghong's entire body trembled violently, his face becoming even more ferocious than the enraged Xuanyuan Wentian. He shouted Xuanyuan Wentian's name, just four short words, but carrying a resentment that filled the heavens.
"No need to rush," Xuanyuan Wentian said sinisterly. "You'll all follow them to hell soon enough!"
The Eternal Night Demonic Sword lifted a pitch-black sword light, and amid Xuanyuan Wentian's wild laughter, it slammed into the city defense barrier. A black light shot up into the sky, and dozens of fine cracks instantly exploded across the barrier.
"Brothers... no matter what, we must hold on!! Especially our Yun Clan children... don't let the three Supreme Elders die in vain!!"
Yun Qinghong roared hoarsely, his already heavily depleted body surging with almost maddening power as he desperately struck the barrier. All the Illusion Demon profound practitioners also erupted with power born of grief, using their increasingly drained bodies to release force that resisted the Eternal Night Demonic Sword.
Facing a Xuanyuan Wentian whom even Xiao Yaohou could not defeat, their ability to hold out for so long was already incredibly difficult. But Xuanyuan Wentian, who had manifested the Eternal Night Demonic Sword, was too terrifying. The deaths of the three Yun Clan Supreme Elders had bought them a brief respite, but under a power that far exceeded their profound strength—even their cognitive understanding—they struggled to endure for less than a hundred breaths before the barrier that had weathered countless disasters once again faced the crisis of shattering.
The Eternal Night Demonic Sword struck down again and again. The cracks grew more numerous and longer, and the rate of repair could not keep up with the rate of spread. Xuanyuan Wentian looked at the barrier below, which had already cracked into a web-like pattern, feeling no joy, only intense fury and humiliation.
"Damned minnows!!"
Xuanyuan Wentian soared into the sky. A massive demonic shadow flashed across the air, and a dark sword light dozens of feet long suddenly extended from the Eternal Night Demonic Sword. With an aura like the apocalypse, it thrust toward the city defense barrier on the verge of collapse.
Crack!!
The already scarred city defense barrier burst open with thousands more cracks, but it still did not completely shatter. The sword light was stubbornly blocked. Xuanyuan Wentian's pupils widened, and with a low roar, the black sword light surged again.
Crack!!
The tip of the dark sword light stabbed deeply into the barrier, and a dark storm that seemed to come from hell swept across most of the formation in an instant.
From within the barrier erupted a cacophony of terrified screams. A large number of Illusion Demon profound practitioners were swept into the darkness. Nearly a thousand practitioners were instantly killed, their bodies turning into pitch-black dry bones. Many more fell unconscious amid screams, their fate unknown.
This power, so terrifying it had never been heard of, made all the practitioners who witnessed it tremble all over, as if plunged into an ice cavern.
"Hahahahaha..." Above came Xuanyuan Wentian's wanton laughter. "With you minnows, how could you possibly resist this venerable one, who is already a demon god! All of you... go to hell!!"
Despite their desperate resistance, the city defense barrier had eventually been pierced. Perhaps in just a few more breaths, it would be completely shattered. Yun Qinghong saw the sword light that had pierced the barrier, but there was no panic or terror in him. His face was cold and still, and within his heart, he let out an immensely heavy sigh.
To have been able to block such a terrifying Xuanyuan Wentian up to now was truly a miracle.
At this point, they had also reached their absolute limit.
Every breath was a struggle to defend fully. As a fifth-level Emperor Lord, his profound energy was already consumed by more than seventy percent—let alone the others.
He had originally thought that relying on this mysterious profound formation left by the ancestral Demon Emperor might make it possible to block Xuanyuan Wentian outside Yao Huang City. But Xuanyuan Wentian's power was too terrifying. Even after exhausting all of Yao Huang City's trump cards and strength, they could only hold on until now.
"Clan Head, what do we do?" Yun Waitian shouted, panting heavily.
"...!" Yun Qinghong let out a soft breath and said slowly, "Notify the people in other formation sectors. Prepare for battle."
The four words "prepare for battle" were spoken with unusual calm and indifference, but everyone heard the determination to face death.
Crack!!
Another ear-splitting cracking sound. The largest crack yet appeared on the barrier. The black sword light suddenly thrust in another inch, and the city defense barrier trembled... it was on the very edge of collapse.
It was at this moment that Yun Qinghong withdrew his power. His right hand grabbed the Thunderclap Sword, and a faintly reddish thunder light coiled around the blade.
Just then, a bright light shone down from the dark sky. Everyone instinctively looked up... From the north, a golden light, like a meteor from beyond the heavens, sliced through the rolling dark clouds above Yao Huang City, and with a long cry that tore through the sky, it crashed down.
"That's... Golden Crow Flame!!" Tianxia Diyi shouted in surprise.
Boom!!!!
Like a meteor falling, the golden flame light struck Xuanyuan Wentian's black sword light amid a shock that shook heaven and earth. The black sword light that had pierced the city defense barrier was instantly incinerated and shattered. Xuanyuan Wentian was forced far back. He let out a great roar and screamed, "Ah!! Xiao Yaohou, you finally have the guts to show yourself!!"
At the last moment, the city defense barrier escaped the fate of collapse. With the vast profound energy from the Illusion Demon practitioners, it began to rapidly repair the myriad of crisscrossing cracks.
The dark clouds above quickly dispersed, revealing a slender figure in colorful robes. Her eyes were like cold stars as she stared at Xuanyuan Wentian. In her hand, a cluster of golden flame burned fiercely.
"Xiao Yaohou... it's Xiao Yaohou!!" Seeing this figure suddenly appear high above, Yao Huang City erupted in heaven-shaking cries of surprise. Because this person was none other than Xiao Yaohou, who had been missing without a trace for three whole months.
"It's Xiao Yaohou... Xiao Yaohou is back!" Xiao Yun shouted excitedly.
At this moment on the verge of despair, Xiao Yaohou's sudden return undoubtedly brought immense joy and hope to everyone in Yao Huang City. The tense, oppressive atmosphere was drowned out by cheers that filled the sky and earth, even in the northern formation sector facing Xuanyuan Wentian directly. But Yun Qinghong's expression remained heavy.
Because against such a terrifying Xuanyuan Wentian, Xiao Yaohou was no match at all. Moreover, she had appeared outside the city defense barrier—she couldn't even rely on the barrier's protection!
"Hahahaha," Xuanyuan Wentian laughed loudly as he watched Xiao Yaohou appear. "This venerable one thought you had already tucked your tail and run away. It seems you still have a shred of backbone. Are you ready to obediently offer up the Lunhui Jing and end yourself, or do you want this venerable one to personally turn you into black ashes!"
"Tch, a piece of trash who has even thrown away his own face and skin, shamelessly stealing others' power, dares to be so arrogant and reckless. It's truly laughable!"
Amid the disdainful sneers, a patch of dark clouds behind Xiao Yaohou also rapidly scattered under the blazing firelight. Yun Che and Feng Xue'er walked out side by side, coming to stand at Xiao Yaohou's side.
"Big... Big Brother!!" Xiao Yun was so excited he jumped straight up.
"Che'er... Che'er!" Mu Yurou called out twice, nearly fainting from excitement.
"Palace Master!" The women of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace were even more excited beyond control.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Yaohou and Feng Xue'er, Yun Che bore the faint smile they were all so familiar with. His eyes were as deep as an abyss, and from head to toe, there was no sign of injury or weakness.
"Brother Yun... he looks completely recovered!" Tianxia Diyi shouted.
"Of course! I said... with the divine power of the Golden Crow Sacred God, Big Brother will definitely get completely better." Xiao Yun said, his nose stinging uncontrollably, tears almost falling. During those three months without any news, he had spent every day in anxiety and fear.
"Yun Che?" Xuanyuan Wentian's eyes flashed with black light. "You're still not dead!?"
Yun Che let out a cold laugh. "With someone as shameless as you still living so thick-skinned, how could I have the face to die!"
"Heh... still alive," Xuanyuan Wentian's face twisted into an extremely terrifying grimace. "That's really wonderful! The humiliation this venerable one suffered under that red-clothed demoness can now be repaid to you a million times over!"
Although he already knew about Xuanyuan Wentian's transformation, looking at the "Fen Juechen" before him, Yun Che still felt a pang of emotion.
"Although I don't really like Fen Juechen," Yun Che said calmly, "your filthy soul doesn't deserve his body! This face is the greatest shame of Fen Juechen's life!"
"No, this is the greatest glory of his life!" Xuanyuan Wentian said, his face twisted, as the Eternal Night Demonic Sword slowly lifted. "Yun Che, you never dreamed that this venerable one has become so powerful! Even I myself can't believe I have reached such heights!"
"Because this is the body of a demon god, the power of a demon god! You mortals can never understand such power, but you are fortunate enough to taste the fear and death it brings!"
"Especially you, Yun Che!! This venerable one will grant you a death that will leave you steeped in endless fear even through a thousand reincarnations!"
"Brother Yun, he... has become so terrifying." Feng Xue'er clutched Yun Che's sleeve tightly.
"His aura intensity has nearly doubled compared to our last encounter," Xiao Yaohou said, her eyes filled with bone-deep hatred, but her small, milk-white face was calm. "However, he expended considerable energy earlier while attacking the city defense barrier. With the three of us working together, we may not be without a chance. Xue'er, I need to borrow your power."
"Mn!" Feng Xue'er nodded firmly.
"Words are useless," Xiao Yaohou said, raising her hand. A golden shadow of Golden Crow flame appeared around her, instantly elevating her Golden Crow flame power to its peak. "Xuanyuan Wentian... accept death!!"
Xiao Yaohou pushed out her small hand, and the surrounding hundred-mile region instantly turned crimson gold. Despite the very strong barrier in between, the Illusion Demon practitioners below still felt a wave of scorching heat hitting their faces, forcing them to hastily gather their power to resist.
"What do we do! Che'er... Che'er is still outside!" Mu Yurou grabbed Yun Qinghong's arm tightly, panicked and at a loss.
The bitter defense just now had shown them the terrifying power of Xuanyuan Wentian, who was like a legendary demon god. And now, not only were Yun Che and Xiao Yaohou outside the barrier, but they were also directly facing Xuanyuan Wentian. She felt as if her entire heart was hanging over a mountain of blades.
"...!" Yun Qinghong said nothing, his hands clenched tightly.
"Brother Yun's aura..." Tianxia Diyi looked at Yun Che in the sky with confusion, then suddenly his expression changed as he exclaimed in shock, "Overlord Xuan Realm... Level Six!?"
"What?" Xiao Yun was startled. "You mean... Big Brother?"
"That's right. His profound energy aura is indeed already at Overlord Xuan Realm, Level Six." Tianxia Xiongtu gave a sigh of admiration. "Truly astonishing talent. I didn't expect that in less than a year, he could have improved so greatly."
"No," Tianxia Diyi shook his head. "Three months ago, when Brother Yun was severely injured, his profound strength was only at the mid stage of King Xuan Realm. This time... not only has he recovered from his injuries, but his profound strength has actually... directly jumped an entire major realm!!"
"Could it be that during these three months of staying in Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley, he was cultivating under the guidance of the Golden Crow Sacred God's divine power?"
Tianxia Diyi couldn't help but be excited. As a Level 8 Overlord Emperor, Level 6 Overlord Xuan was still beneath him. But he knew very well that Yun Che's strength could not be measured by conventional profound strength levels. When his profound strength was at the mid stage of King Xuan Realm, he could already defeat Fen Juechen, who was at the middle stage of Lord Xuan Realm!
Now that they met again, his profound strength had miraculously soared to Level 6 of Overlord Xuan Realm... just what realm was his true combat strength!?
Boom!!
The explosive sound of flames caused the hundred-mile space to tremble violently. In particular, in front of Xuanyuan Wentian, the space was burned into an irregular vortex by the Golden Crow flame. Although this was her first strike, it was already at her maximum power, with no reservation.
Because the opponent was Xuanyuan Wentian!
This was not only Xiao Yaohou's strongest flame, but also the peak flame of this plane. Faced with such a flame, Xuanyuan Wentian showed no sign of retreating. Instead, with a low laugh, he swung his sword to meet it head-on.
Amid the muffled roar came a low growl, like the wailing of a malicious ghost. The Golden Crow flame, capable of burning the heavens, was blasted apart, splattering in all directions. Some residual flames landed on him, but were immediately dissipated by the black aura. Xuanyuan Wentian laughed loudly: "Xiao Yaohou, three months ago, if not for relying on the power of the demon sword, this venerable one would indeed have been no match for you. But now, killing you is as easy as turning my hand!!"
Xuanyuan Wentian instantly crossed a thousand zhang, thrusting his sword at Xiao Yaohou. The sound of the blade cutting through the air should have been sharp and piercing, but Xuanyuan Wentian's demon sword produced an extremely low airburst sound that made one's scalp tingle. At the same time, the black aura around the space surged violently, quickly overwhelming the Golden Crow firelight.
Chirp!!
With a long cry, a Golden Crow flame shadow flew out of the air, meeting Xuanyuan Wentian head-on and colliding with the black demon sword in an instant.
The space tore violently, and the cry of the Golden Crow flame shadow twisted. The stalemate between flame and demon sword lasted only a brief moment before the Golden Crow flame shadow let out a miserable shriek. It struggled violently, but was soon half-drowned by the black mist.
"See that? This is the power this venerable one now possesses!" Xuanyuan Wentian laughed maniacally, his face vaguely covered with black-red blood lines, making his features look extremely ferocious and terrifying.
"Perish!!" Xuanyuan Wentian roared, suppressing the Golden Crow flame shadow even more fiercely, on the verge of breaking it at any moment. At that moment, a red flame light blasted toward him from his right front.
Xuanyuan Wentian looked dismissive, not even glancing at it. But as the flame approached his body, he suddenly felt alarmed. The Eternal Night Demonic Sword quickly withdrew, then swept out amid a thunderous roar to meet the two divine flames.
Rumble!!
Like a meteor striking the ground, the earth sank, smoke and dust filled the air. Amid the sky-covering firelight, Xuanyuan Wentian was forced back a thousand zhang in an instant. He gripped the demon sword, his eyes filled with shock and viciousness, staring fixedly at Feng Xue'er.
"That red-clothed girl... is the Feng Xue'er you mentioned?" Yun Qinghong asked in a daze.
"Yes! She is Sister Xue'er," Xiao Yun nodded.
"She actually..." Yun Qinghong took a deep breath. "Her aura is actually not inferior to Xiao Yaohou at all!!"
"............Ha!?" Xiao Yun was stunned at first, then his jaw nearly dropped to the ground.
"This... is simply incredible." Tianxia Diyi, who knew Feng Xue'er's previous strength, was also dumbfounded. Feng Xue'er was absolutely the most terrifyingly talented person he had ever seen in his life. Having just reached the age of twenty, she was already a Level 8 Emperor Lord, unprecedented in both the Tian Xuan Continent and the Illusion Demon Realm.
But the gap between a Level 8 Emperor Lord and Xiao Yaohou's near-divine path strength was still immensely huge.
Yet, in just three months of not seeing her, not only had Yun Che's strength skyrocketed, but Feng Xue'er's strength had actually reached a level comparable to Xiao Yaohou!?
He couldn't imagine what had happened to them during those three months in Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley!
"Feng Xue'er, you have given this venerable one quite a surprise," Xuanyuan Wentian said in a sinister voice. "Three months ago, this little phoenix of yours could be crushed effortlessly. Now you've grown to this level—but unfortunately, you're still too tender!"
Three months ago, Xuanyuan Wentian could easily overpower Feng Xue'er.
But now, the Phoenix Flame that Feng Xue'er had just blasted at him posed a threat no less than Xiao Yaohou's Golden Crow Flame!
In just three months!
Feng Xue'er's transformation shocked him greatly, and at the same time, he developed a murderous intent toward her many times stronger.
Feng Xue'er stood quietly at Xiao Yaohou's side, a thin layer of crimson flame covering her body. Her dreamlike, beautiful face had lost some of its innocence and hazy softness, gaining instead a transcendent, noble air like a celestial maiden... and a faint but soul-shaking majesty.
"The Phoenix Flame is a sacred divine flame. I bear the blessing of the Phoenix God, yet I have never used it to incinerate a single living being," Feng Xue'er said softly. "But toward you alone, I will show no mercy!"
Feng Xue'er gently turned her hand, conjuring a sky full of Phoenix Flame. Xiao Yaohou's arm also ignited with sky-sweeping Golden Crow Flame. Both divine flames blasted out simultaneously. When they met, they did not burn each other out, but merged without any rejection, forming a massive fire serpent dozens of feet thick that swept toward Xuanyuan Wentian. Wherever it passed, the void was burned through layer by layer.
Three months ago, the two were strangers. But during these three months, they had been in the same place, never separated for a moment. Unconsciously, their powers had become easily compatible—although the Phoenix and the Golden Crow repelled each other, the Phoenix Flame and the Golden Crow Flame were divine flames of the same attribute and the same level!