103: Chapter 103 Shining with Heavenly Light, Cleansing Aura of Evil

The methods for utilizing the "reincarnation seal" within the Legacy brand flowed naturally. Lin Ye no longer restrained his aura, unleashing the newly acquired 15% control over the "reincarnation seal" Origin without reservation!

"Hum—!"

The phantom of the "reincarnation seal" in his palm suddenly solidified and expanded, transforming into a physical Seal about a foot in diameter. Its entire body swirled with the luster of Chaos, and countless profound runes flickered in and out of existence as it hovered three feet above Lin Ye's head!

The moment the Seal appeared, an indescribable, vast, ancient, and cold supreme pressure—as if representing the ultimate Order of the birth and death of all things in this world and the cycle of Karma—descended with a roar! Centered on Lin Ye, within a radius of a hundred zhang, the originally thick, viscous, and ghost-wailing gray-black mist of Devilish Qi hissed and shrieked like snow melting in boiling soup, frantically retreating and dissolving!

"Reincarnation Domain, open!"

Lin Ye shouted in a low voice, his hands forming an ancient and profound Seal, and he pointed from afar at the "reincarnation seal" above his head.

The "reincarnation seal" shone brilliantly, its chaotic-colored radiance pouring out like quicksilver. It instantly expanded, forming a hazy, chaotic-colored sphere of light about thirty zhang in diameter, enveloping Lin Ye himself, the Soul-Eating Old Monster who was charging at the forefront, the torrent of Devilish Qi spewed by his "ten thousand ghost banner," that Golden Core ghost general, and even the two closest Golden Core Elders!

Inside the Domain, the scene changed drastically! Wherever the chaotic light reached, it seemed to form its own small world. The sounds and scenes from the outside world became blurred. Inside the Domain, the flow of time seemed to have undergone a subtle change, becoming slow and heavy. More importantly, the omnipresent chaotic light produced a terrifying suppression and Purification effect on all sinister, filthy, dead, and chaotic forces!

"Ah—!!" Bearing the brunt of it was the Golden Core ghost general spawned by the "ten thousand ghost banner." As soon as it entered the Chaos Domain, the thick, impenetrable pitch-black Devilish Qi around its body began to evaporate and collapse frantically, like snow thrown under the scorching sun! It let out a terrified and painful roar, brandishing its steel fork in an attempt to attack Lin Ye, but its movements were slowed down by several times over. The vengeful spirits and fierce Qi entwined on the steel fork vanished with a wail the moment they touched the chaotic light! The ghost general's own solidified body also began to quickly become transparent and illusory!

The torrent of Devilish Qi from the "Hundred Ghosts Night Parade," after rushing into the Domain, was like a clay ox entering the sea. Hundreds of Foundation Establishment Stage ghost shadows, without even enough time to let out a wail, were illuminated by the chaotic light and vanished one after another into green smoke, as if they had never existed. The surging Devilish Qi was rapidly purified and neutralized; not only could it not pose a threat to Lin Ye, but in the process of dissipating, it transformed into wisps of pure, upright, and peaceful Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, replenishing the Domain and increasing its power!

"Pfft!" The Soul-Eating Old Monster's face suddenly turned pale. He was mentally connected to the "ten thousand ghost banner," and the Domain's terrifying suppression of ghost creatures instantly backlashed onto him. He felt as if his Divine Soul was being scorched, and his blood and Qi churned. He watched in horror as the army of ghost creatures he had spent countless efforts to refine vanished like dewdrops under the sun beneath the light of the opponent's strange Seal, and his heart churned with stormy waves!

"What kind of Domain is this?! How can it suppress the ghost path so effectively?!" The two Golden Core Elders who had been enveloped were even more terrified. They felt that the operation of their own Golden Cores was extremely sluggish, and the cold Devilish Qi they had worked so hard to Cultivate within their bodies showed signs of going out of control and backlashing under the illumination of this chaotic light! Their protective spiritual light was suppressed to the limit, as if it would shatter at any moment.

"Evil and heretical paths, yet you dare to invade my Sword Tomb Holy Land?" Lin Ye stood in the center of the Domain, bathed in the chaotic light. His face was still pale, and his aura was constantly being consumed to maintain the Domain, but his eyes were as sharp as a drawn divine sword, carrying a coldness that looked down upon ants.

"Under Reincarnation, all evil shall not exist. Disperse!"

He changed his hand Seal again and pressed his hand vaguely towards the "reincarnation seal" above the Domain.

The "reincarnation seal" shook violently. At the bottom of the Seal, those profound and unfathomable Seal scripts, which seemed to be composed of the trajectories of the birth and death of countless worlds, suddenly shone brightly, projecting an extremely condensed beam of chaotic light. Like a sword of heavenly punishment, it first shone upon the Golden Core ghost general that had already become semi-transparent!

"No—!!" The ghost general let out a final, desperate roar. Under the illumination of this beam of light, which contained the Origin power of "Reincarnation" Purification, its remaining ghost body could no longer hold up. It exploded, turning into the purest Spiritual Qi and a faint trace of purified Soul Origin, which merged into the Domain and fed back into the world.

Once the ghost general was destroyed, the "ten thousand ghost banner," which was mentally connected to it, immediately let out a wail. Countless painful faces on the banner twisted and dimmed at the same time, the light of the banner body dimmed by more than half in an instant, and even a tiny crack appeared!

"My Magic Treasure!" The Soul-Eating Old Monster felt as if his heart was bleeding, filled with shock and anger, but more than that, a fear originating from the depths of his Soul. He had been Cultivating the ghost path for hundreds of years and had never seen such a strange, domineering power that suppressed ghost creatures so effectively! This was no longer a simple mutual restraint of Cultivation Techniques, but a crushing of "Dao"!

"Attack together! Destroy that Seal! He can't hold on for long!" The Soul-Eating Old Monster roared sharply, suppressing the fear in his heart. He recalled the damaged "ten thousand ghost banner" to protect his body, and at the same time, opened his mouth to spit out a pitch-black natal ghost core that exuded a strong stench and evil Devilish Qi. The ghost core spun rapidly, turning into a black light that shot straight at the center of Lin Ye's eyebrows! At the same time, his figure retreated rapidly, wanting to exit the range of this damned Domain.

The other two Golden Core Elders within the Domain also knew that it was a moment of life and death. Gritting their teeth, they mobilized all their power. One sacrificed a white bone mourning staff, conjuring layers of bone shadows to smash down; the other shook a Soul-summoning bell, emitting a harsh demonic sound that attacked the Divine Soul directly, while simultaneously releasing several copper-armored corpses that roared and pounced on Lin Ye.

Outside the Domain, the other two Golden Core Elders and more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Stage Disciples also unleashed their strongest attacks, bombarding the edge of the Domain in an attempt to break this chaotic sphere of light from the outside.

"A grain of rice attempting to shine with the brilliance of a pearl?" Facing the attacks from inside and outside, Lin Ye's expression remained unchanged. With a slight movement of his mind, the chaotic light at the edge of the Domain swirled, weakening and blocking most of the external attacks. At the same time, his right hand formed a sword finger. At his fingertip, a wisp of strange Sword Intent—extremely condensed, containing the destruction of stars, the interweaving of ice and fire, and even a trace of the undying Dao charm of "Reincarnation"—suddenly appeared!

This was the unique Sword Intent he had initially formed during the Reincarnation trial by integrating all his insights! Although its power had not reached its Peak due to the limitations of his spiritual power, its essence was extremely high, and it was further enhanced by the "reincarnation seal" Domain!

"Sword Intent, Return to Ruins · Calamity!"

Hiss! With a light tap of his sword finger, that strange Sword Intent arrived first despite being launched later. It did not attack the physical attacks such as the ghost core, bone staff, or copper-armored corpses, but seemed to traverse the Void Realm, instantly appearing at the "core node" of the attacks from the Soul-Eating Old Monster and the two Golden Core Elders—the "point" that contained their strongest magic power and Divine Sense connection!

The next moment, the Sword Intent erupted silently! There was no earth-shattering loud noise, only a strange fluctuation that seemed to make all things return to silence and denied the meaning of all existence. It instantly disrupted the lock of the ghost core, collapsed the coherence of the bone shadows, delayed the pounce of the copper-armored corpses, and even caused a brief disorder in the Soul-summoning demonic sound!

Just at the moment when the three people's offensive was frustrated and their minds were slightly disordered—the "reincarnation seal" above Lin Ye's head shook again!

This time, it was not a range attack, but three strands of chaotic light as thin as hair, yet condensed to the extreme. As if they possessed life, they shot out from the Seal scripts, ignoring the distance of space, and instantly penetrated the Soul-Eating Old Monster's protective Devilish Qi and the defenses hastily propped up by the two Golden Core Elders, accurately sinking into their Dantian Qi Sea—the place where the Golden Core was located!

"Urgh ah—!!" The three of them let out a scream of extreme misery at the same time, as if their backbones had been pulled out, instantly collapsing to the ground. The aura around their bodies fell rapidly like a deflated balloon! They could feel that the wisp of chaotic light that had entered their bodies was like the most vicious seed, taking root on their Golden Cores, frantically absorbing, devouring, and purifying the ghost path Origin they had worked so hard to Cultivate for hundreds of years! The Golden Cores quickly dimmed, shriveled, and even developed cracks!

This was not directly destroying the Golden Core, but a more cruel "crippling of cultivation" and "Purification" from the root! For a ghost path Cultivator, this was no less than the most terrifying torture!

"No! My cultivation! Demonic Lord, save me!" One Golden Core Elder roared in horror, trying to activate a secret technique to force out the chaotic light, but it only caused the cracks in his Golden Core to widen, and he spat out another mouthful of black blood, his breath fading.

The Soul-Eating Old Monster's face was ashen. He could feel that his connection with the "ten thousand ghost banner" was being quickly severed and purified by that light, and his natal ghost core was firmly locked, his cultivation flowing away like a breached flood. The look in his eyes when he looked at Lin Ye was already filled with boundless fear and resentment, but more than that, it was despair.

Outside the Domain, the two Golden Core Elders and more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Stage Disciples had long been stunned by this strange and terrifying scene before them. The incredibly powerful Demonic Commander and two Elders in their minds were actually so vulnerable under the Domain of the opponent's strange Seal, and were instantly crippled?!

I don't know who let out a shout, but the remaining people had no more will to fight. They turned and fled in extreme terror, hating that their parents hadn't given them two more legs, not even daring to look back.

Lin Ye did not pursue. Maintaining the "Reincarnation Domain," especially the final precise "Origin Purification" strike, was a huge burden on his already weak state. He felt a wave of intense dizziness hit him, his spiritual power was almost bottoming out, and his Divine Soul also sent a stinging pain. The Domain began to slowly shrink and dissipate, and the phantom of the "reincarnation seal" above his head also dimmed, flying back to his palm and becoming restrained again.

Yet he still stood steadily, his gaze sweeping over the three members of the Soul-Eating Old Monster group, who lay on the ground limp as mud, their cultivation completely crippled, eyes hollow. He then looked toward the backs of those fleeing in panic, and finally, his gaze landed on the faces at the entrance of the Sword Tomb behind him—faces filled with shock, excitement, disbelief, and even a trace of awe.

Supreme Elder Tianxuan, Elder Liu, Elder Li... everyone stared at him blankly, as if they were meeting this young "Acting Sect Master" for the first time.

In the snap of a finger, he had crippled a Demonic Commander, defeated four Golden Core Cultivators, and scared off the remaining enemies!

Such might could no longer be described as merely "Genius." This was the power that could only be displayed by an existence that had truly grasped the authority of some "Heavenly Mandate"!

"Cough, cough..." Lin Ye coughed lightly twice, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, his face turning even paler. Forcibly invoking power beyond his limits had, in the end, damaged his foundation.

"Acting Sect Master!" Supreme Elder Tianxuan was the first to react. He hurriedly stepped forward, wanting to support him, but was stopped by Lin Ye raising his hand.

"I am fine. Let's deal with this first and go into the Sword Tomb." Lin Ye's voice was a bit hoarse, but still steady. He glanced at the Soul-Eating Old Monster, who lay on the ground like a dead dog. "This person might know the Demonic Army's deployment. Take him inside and see if we can get anything out of him."

"Yes!" Elder Liu and the others quickly replied. They stepped forward to restrain the three members of the Soul-Eating Old Monster group (who no longer had the strength to resist) and quickly cleaned up the battlefield.

The crowd surrounded Lin Ye and quickly retreated behind the ancient, heavy stone door of the Sword Tomb, which was covered in sword marks.

The stone door slowly closed, temporarily shutting out the bloodshed, Devilish Qi, and Chaos of the outside world.

Inside the Sword Tomb, thousands of swords still stood, solemn and majestic. However, the air was filled with a bit more tension and gravity. Along the way, many Disciples could be seen busy moving supplies, repairing Formations, and treating the wounded. Everyone's face bore exhaustion and grief, but when they saw Supreme Elder Tianxuan and the others return, especially when they saw Lin Ye being supported, their eyes burst with light of surprise and hope.

"The Acting Sect Master has returned!"

"It's the Acting Sect Master! And Supreme Elder Tianxuan!"

The news spread like wildfire among the remaining Disciples in the Sword Tomb, and the low morale was instantly lifted.

Soon, everyone arrived deep within the Sword Tomb, at an Immortal Cave that had been temporarily cleared out to serve as the command center. The interior of the Immortal Cave was quite simple, with only a few stone stools and a stone table, upon which a crude map marked with red and black arrows was spread out.

Dismissing everyone else, only core personnel remained: Supreme Elder Tianxuan, Elder Liu, Elder Li, as well as Chu Yun, Ye Xiao, and Gui Li. As for the three members of the Soul-Eating Old Monster group, they were taken away by Ye Xiao to be strictly guarded and prepared for interrogation.

"Supreme Elder Tianxuan, how is the situation in the Sect? How is the preparation for the 'three keys' ceremony going?" Lin Ye asked immediately after sitting down; this was the question he cared about most.

The joy on Supreme Elder Tianxuan's face faded slightly, replaced by gravity. He pointed to the map and said, "The situation is very bad. Three days ago, the four great Demonic Commanders under the Demonic Lord all appeared, leading the Nether Realm vanguard army to forcibly descend from the Black Water Swamp. There were no fewer than five thousand of them, including over twenty with Golden Core combat power, over a hundred at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the rest were all elite Demonic creatures above the late Qi Refining Stage. Furthermore, the Yinkui Sect came out in full force to assist them."

"Our Sect's Mountain Protection Formation, under the Demonic Army's relentless, cost-no-object assault and the erosion of the Nether Realm's Death Qi, had its first and second lines of defense broken within two days. Casualties among the Disciples... are over half. Now, we have retreated to this Sword Tomb area, relying on the ancient Formations of the Sword Tomb itself, the Restrictions left by past Ancestral Masters, and several strategic points like 'Reflection Cliff' and 'Sword Enlightenment Terrace' to construct the final three lines of defense. But the Demonic Army's offensive is like a tide, and the Death Qi's erosion is pervasive. The defensive lines are under immense pressure every single moment; falling... is only a matter of time."

Supreme Elder Tianxuan's voice was hoarse, filled with deep exhaustion and heartache. The Lingyun Sword Sect had been passed down for thousands of years; when had it ever faced such a catastrophe?

"As for the 'three keys' ceremony..." Supreme Elder Tianxuan looked at Lin Ye with expectation and inquiry in his eyes. "Before the Sect Master went into seclusion, he only left behind a few words, mentioning that it must be done at the 'Nine Nether Demon-Suppressing Platform' using the power of the 'three keys' combined with a special Formation to stabilize the passageway, and perhaps even awaken the Sect Master. But we have no idea how to operate it specifically or how to set up the Formation. Moreover, the specific location of the 'Nine Nether Demon-Suppressing Platform' has only been passed down orally by past Sect Masters and Grand Elders. I fear that the only one who knows the exact location now is the Sect Master himself, who is in seclusion. We... cannot get in."

Lin Ye's heart stirred. Just as expected. Sect Master Master Lingxiao was in seclusion at the "Nine Nether Demon-Suppressing Platform"; that was the core of the passageway and the only place to hold the ceremony. And the method to enter likely had to do with the "Gatekeeper" Legacy and the "three keys" themselves.

"I know how to enter the 'Nine Nether Demon-Suppressing Platform'." Lin Ye said slowly. Amidst the surprised gazes of everyone, he took out the "reincarnation seal", the "yan jun token", the "command token of ten thousand ghosts", and the "soul-stabilizing bead".

"The 'three keys' are all gathered. The Demonic Lord's true form may descend at any moment. We must hold the ceremony as soon as possible, at least to stabilize the passageway first, weaken the erosion of the Nether Realm's Death Qi on the world, and buy a glimmer of hope for our Sect..."

"But the 'Nine Nether Demon-Suppressing Platform' is located deep underground and has powerful Restrictions. Now that the Demonic Army is besieging us from outside, how do we get in? Even if we get in, the Formation, Spiritual Qi, and Protectors required for the ceremony..." Elder Liu frowned deeply.

"I have my own plans for how to enter." Lin Ye said. The Legacy indeed contained a secret technique to teleport short distances to the vicinity of the "Nine Nether Demon-Suppressing Platform" by using the "three keys" and specific nodes in the Sword Tomb. "As for the ceremony..."

He swept his gaze over everyone, finally landing on Supreme Elder Tianxuan.

"It requires at least three Peak Golden Core Cultivators, or one Nascent Soul Cultivator, to stand at the triangle of the 'Demon-Suppressing Platform', holding the 'guide' of the 'three keys', and, combined with special incantations and Mind-Cultivation Techniques, draw forth the Origin power of the 'Demon-Suppressing Platform' to pour into the 'reincarnation seal'. Then, I will use this Seal as a hub to attempt to communicate with the passageway's Seal and reinforce it. This process cannot be interrupted, and it will cause a great disturbance, which will certainly alert the Demonic Army outside."

Three Peak Golden Core Cultivators? Or one Nascent Soul?

Everyone's heart sank. Within the Sect now, Supreme Elder Tianxuan was the only Nascent Soul Cultivator, but he was already heavily injured. Peak Golden Core... Elder Xing had been heavily injured on the front lines, and his life or death was unknown. Among the remaining Golden Core Elders, the highest cultivation was only at the Middle Stage of the Golden Core.

"I will go." Supreme Elder Tianxuan said without hesitation. "Even if I have to risk this old life, I must complete the ceremony!"

"And me!" Elder Li gritted his teeth and said. "Although I am only at the Middle Stage of the Golden Core, I can burn my blood essence and Origin to boost my magic power to the Peak for a short time!"

"Count me in!" Another Golden Core Middle Stage Elder, whom they had not seen before, with a withered face but eyes as sharp as a hawk, also said in a deep voice. This person's name was "Kumu," one of the Sect's hidden Cultivators, who had only come out of seclusion for this Demonic catastrophe.

Three Middle Stage Golden Core Cultivators, among whom Supreme Elder Tianxuan was a Nascent Soul, but in poor condition. This was already the strongest lineup they could muster at the moment.

"Good." Lin Ye nodded, there was no time to hesitate. "There is no time to lose, we will prepare immediately. In one hour, we will attempt to enter the 'Nine Nether Demon-Suppressing Platform'!"

"What about the Demonic Army outside..." Chu Yun said worriedly. Once the ceremony starts, it will surely be earth-shattering; how could the Demonic Army just sit by and watch?

"Someone must stay behind to delay the Demonic Army as much as possible and buy time for the ceremony!" Supreme Elder Tianxuan said decisively. "Elder Liu, you and the remaining Elders and deacons, lead all the Disciples who can still fight, rely on the final defensive line of the Sword Tomb, and hold the line to the death! You must buy at least... three hours!"

Three hours! Facing a Demonic Army several times their size and fierce beyond compare, this was an almost impossible task! But in the eyes of Elder Liu and the others, there was only determination.

"We will not fail the mission! Even if we fight until the last person, we will never let the demonic brats step half a step into the core of the Sword Tomb!"

A tragic and solemn atmosphere permeated the Immortal Cave. Everyone knew that this might be the final struggle for the survival of the Lingyun Sword Sect.

Just then, Ye Xiao walked in hurriedly, his expression strange. In his hand, he held a uniquely shaped transmission talisman that had just been searched from the Soul-Eating Old Monster, seemingly carved from some kind of black bone.

"Acting Sect Master, Grand Elder, we found this on the Soul-Eating Old Monster. Inside... there seems to be an extremely secret transmission from the outside world that just arrived."

"Oh?" Lin Ye took the bone talisman and probed it with his Divine Sense.

A cold, hoarse thought, like a poisonous snake flicking its tongue, entered his mind:

"Soul-Eating, the time has come. The Demonic Lord's decree: In one hour, the 'inside man' will seize the opportunity to destroy the 'Geng Metal Sharp Sha' Formation eye of the Sword Tomb. When you see black smoke rise from the Formation eye, launch a full-scale assault on the 'Kan' position. After opening a breach, head straight for the core of the Sword Tomb, seize the 'reincarnation seal', and welcome a strand of the Demonic Lord's true form's Divided Soul to descend! Remember, strike fast and win fast!"

Inside man? Destroy the Formation eye? In one hour?!

Lin Ye's pupils shrank!

The Demonic Lord had actually planted such a deep inside man within the Lingyun Sword Sect? And it had reached the point where they could destroy the core defensive Formation eye of the Sword Tomb?!

In one hour... that was exactly the time they planned to enter the "Nine Nether Demon-Suppressing Platform"!

Was this a coincidence, or... had the Demonic Lord already calculated everything?!

The Immortal Cave instantly fell into a dead silence. Everyone's heart sank.

With the Demonic Army pressing on the border in front and an inside man lurking behind, the ceremony was imminent, and every second counted...

The true kill-all trap, at this moment, finally slowly revealed its most hideous corner!