108: Chapter 108 Using Oneself as Bait, A Deadly Strike

"Elder Han!" Lin Ye turned his head abruptly, speaking sharply to Elder Han, who stood beside him, equally stunned by the Sect Master's awakening Aura and wearing an expression of wild ecstasy.

"Immediately lead all Disciples who can still move and retreat at maximum speed toward the 'Ten Thousand Sword Forest' to rendezvous with the Sect Master! Remember, at all costs, assist the Sect Master in stabilizing his breath. Tell him—the passage is fixed, the 'soul-stabilizing bead' is here, and the key to the Demonic Lord's true body descending lies in the Death Qi vortex above the Black Water Swamp!"

He took out the 'soul-stabilizing bead' from his bosom and shoved it into Elder Han's hands. This bead had a restraining effect on demonic intent and might help the Sect Master stabilize his mind; its unique Aura might also have other uses at a critical moment.

"Then what about you?!" Elder Han asked urgently.

"I am going to meet that Demonic Lord." Lin Ye cast his gaze toward the Black Water Swamp, the corners of his mouth curling into an icy arc. "If he wants the 'reincarnation seal' and wants to destroy our Sect, he will have to... come and test the weight of it himself."

"You cannot! Acting Sect Master, you are currently..." Elder Han was shocked.

"This is an Order!" Lin Ye interrupted him, his voice not loud but carrying an unquestionable resolution. "Go! For every breath you delay, one more fellow Disciple dies! Remember, your mission is to assist the Sect Master and survive!"

Elder Han's tiger-like eyes filled with tears as he looked at Lin Ye's back—pale as paper yet straight as a pine, appearing as if he might collapse at any moment, yet simultaneously harboring a sharpness capable of piercing the firmament. He nodded heavily and rasped, "Han will obey! Acting Sect Master... take care!"

He turned abruptly and roared to the remaining Disciples, who were equally moved by Lin Ye's resolute Aura: "Everyone who can still move, follow me! Retreat to the 'Ten Thousand Sword Forest' and rendezvous with the Sect Master!"

The crowd surged, and under Elder Han's command, they began to fight and retreat, struggling to move toward the 'Ten Thousand Sword Forest'. The two Demonic Commanders were suspicious; on one hand, they were awed by the Sect Master's terrifying Sword Intent upon awakening, and on the other, seeing Lin Ye remain alone, they did not dare to pursue with full force for a moment.

Watching his fellow Sect members retreat, Lin Ye felt slightly relieved. He slowly turned around, facing the demonic army that was slowly pressing forward like a black tide, and further away, above the Black Water Swamp, the terrifying demonic shadow that was becoming clearer, as if struggling to break free from the shackles of the Death Qi vortex.

He took a deep breath, which seemed to carry the scent of gunpowder, blood, and something called "death-defying."

Then, he raised his right hand. Above his palm, the 'reincarnation seal', 'yan jun token', and 'command token of ten thousand ghosts'—the three tokens—appeared once more, their brilliance flowing. He no longer concealed them; instead, he actively channeled them, allowing the Aura of the three keys to be released without reservation. Especially the chaotic-colored, supreme fluctuation of the 'reincarnation seal', representing the authority of "Reincarnation" in this world, acted like a lighthouse in the dark night, clearly transmitting toward the Black Water Swamp!

"Demon Lord Yinming!"

Lin Ye stirred his remaining spiritual power. His voice was not loud but carried a strange penetrating power, echoing across this battlefield of corpses and blood like a provocative declaration of war.

"Don't you want the 'reincarnation seal'? Don't you want to completely control the passage of this world and enslave the common people?"

"The seal is right here!"

He held up the three keys and took a step forward. His stride was unsteady but exceptionally firm.

"And I am here, too."

"If you have the ability, come and take it yourself!"

"Let's see if the methods of you, a Devil Head from the Nether Realm, are harder, or if this 'Gatekeeper' seal in my hand is sharper!"

As he finished speaking, he did not stop, but actively walked step by step toward the direction where the demonic army was thickest, the Devilish Qi was densest, and which was closest to the Black Water Swamp!

One man, three seals, facing thousands of troops and horses, facing the impending world-destroying demonic shadow!

Such courage and spirit caused the slowly pressing demonic army to involuntarily feel a palpitation, their pace faltering. Even the two Demonic Commanders flashed looks of suspicion and gravity in their eyes. The dignity of "Reincarnation" and the death-defying resolve of the "Gatekeeper" radiating from this seemingly exhausted Human Race youth made them feel an inexplicable pressure.

"Arrogant ant! Are you worthy of disturbing the Demonic Lord? I will tear you apart first!" A hot-tempered Demonic Commander could not restrain himself and roared, transforming into a black rainbow and pouncing toward Lin Ye first! The giant blade in his hand stirred up a bloody wind, aiming straight for Lin Ye's head!

Lin Ye did not dodge or evade, not even glancing at the Demonic Commander. His gaze remained locked on the direction of the Black Water Swamp, locked on the demonic shadow that was becoming clearer within the vortex. He simply pushed the 'reincarnation seal' in his hand slightly forward.

Hum!

The 'reincarnation seal' glowed, and a faint chaotic-colored light curtain emerged in front of Lin Ye on its own.

Clang—!!!

The Demonic Commander's giant blade slashed fiercely against the light curtain, erupting with a deafening sound of metal clashing! The light curtain rippled violently, and Lin Ye's body shook intensely. He spat out another mouthful of blood, his face turning another shade paler, but his footsteps did not retreat, and his eyes remained icy.

The Demonic Commander, however, was shaken back several steps by the recoil, his face revealing shock. His full-strength strike was actually blocked by this seemingly fragile light curtain?!

"Attack together! He cannot last long!" Another Demonic Commander also shouted and pounced, with blade lights and sword shadows, Devilish Qi rampaging, crazily pouring toward Lin Ye!

Lin Ye still did not fight back, only using the light curtain of the 'reincarnation seal' to resist head-on. Every attack caused his body to shake violently, blood seeped continuously from his mouth, nose, and corners of his eyes, and his Aura weakened at a speed visible to the naked eye. But he gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on the Black Water Swamp, as if waiting for something.

He was gambling! Gambling on how much the Demonic Lord valued the 'reincarnation seal' and his identity as a "Gatekeeper"! Gambling that the Demonic Lord would not allow his subordinates to easily destroy the 'reincarnation seal', and even less would he tolerate such "provocation" from a "Gatekeeper" candidate like him!

He was using his own remaining life and the Aura of the "three keys" as the most dangerous bait!

Indeed!

Just as Lin Ye was about to be completely submerged by the frantic attacks of the two Demonic Commanders, and the protective light curtain was flickering, on the verge of shattering—

"Trash! Back down!"

An icy, magnificent voice, seemingly containing endless death and destruction, suddenly came from the direction of the Black Water Swamp!

This voice was not very loud, yet it sounded directly in the depths of every living being's Soul, carrying an unquestionable, supreme majesty and indifference!

The two frenziedly attacking Demonic Commanders were struck as if by an invisible heavy hammer; their bodies shook violently, they both groaned, and involuntarily stopped their attacks. With expressions of extreme respect and fear, they quickly retreated to the side and lowered their heads.

On the battlefield, all the demonic armies, whether they were pursuing Lingyun Disciples or surrounding Lin Ye, stopped their movements simultaneously, knelt down toward the Black Water Swamp, and shivered.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Only Lin Ye remained standing, despite swaying. He slowly raised his head, wiped away the blood continuously overflowing from his mouth, and looked toward the Black Water Swamp.

The massive Death Qi vortex accelerated its rotation, and in the center of the vortex, that blurry demonic shadow rapidly solidified and became clear!

It was a magnificent figure, a hundred zhang tall, seemingly condensed from the purest darkness and death. He wore ancient, ferocious black demonic armor and a crown, his face shrouded in a layer of churning Devilish Qi. Only a pair of scarlet eyes, as red as blood and seemingly capable of devouring all light, were incomparably clear, like two burning stars representing the end. The pressure radiating from his whole body was like the collapsing firmament, causing the entire Lingyun Mountain Range to tremble; space distorted, light dimmed, and even the air was filled with suffocating silence and despair.

Demon Lord Yinming! Although not his full true body, the power contained in this projection already exceeded the limits of what living beings in this world could imagine! Mere existence caused all things to wither and Laws to retreat!

The scarlet eyes, like two swords piercing the Void Realm, instantly crossed the vast distance and locked onto Lin Ye—or more accurately, locked onto the three tokens in his hand that were emitting alluring light.

"Ant, your courage is commendable." The Demonic Lord's voice sounded again, carrying a cruelty and indifference like a cat playing with a mouse. "Using yourself as bait to lure this Lord to descend? Very good, you have succeeded."

"Hand over the 'reincarnation seal', offer up your Divine Soul, and this Lord can grant you... a less painful way to die."

The Demonic Lord's words were like a Law decree, carrying a demonic power that twisted hearts and disintegrated will. Ordinary Cultivators would likely have had their minds collapse and knelt to beg for mercy in front of such an existence.

But Lin Ye smiled. The smile was faint, stained with blood, yet incomparably cold and mocking.

"Demonic Lord, your nonsense is as much as your demonic lackeys."

He slowly raised the 'reincarnation seal' in his hand, its luster somewhat dimmed, as if admiring a piece of art.

"The seal is right here. If you have the guts, come and take it yourself."

"Let's see if the claws of you, a Devil Head from the Nether Realm, are hard, or if the 'Reincarnation' of this world will recognize you, an outsider... thief!"

Lin Ye emphasized the word "thief" heavily, like the most venomous sarcasm.

"You seek death!"

A flash of rage at being provoked by an ant crossed the Demonic Lord's scarlet eyes. He slowly raised his demonic claw, which seemed capable of blotting out the sun, and pressed it remotely toward Lin Ye's direction!

There was no earth-shattering momentum, no brilliant Spell light.

There was only a force of Law, pure to the extreme, representing "Death," "End," and "Void," which transformed into a gray ripple that was invisible and intangible, yet capable of erasing the meaning of existence of any living being, instantly piercing through space and descending upon Lin Ye's head!

This was a level beyond the confrontation of spiritual power or the comparison of Spells; it was the crushing of "Dao" and "Law"! It was the most fundamental attack launched by the Demonic Lord with his terrifying understanding of the "Death" Law!

Lin Ye felt his Soul, his body, and even the "concept" of his existence in this world beginning to rapidly disintegrate and dissipate under this press! The 'reincarnation seal' in his hand dimmed rapidly, and even the 'yan jun token' and 'command token of ten thousand ghosts' let out mournful cries!

This was the Demonic Lord's true power! Irresistible, inescapable, only... annihilation!

However, at this very moment of life and death!

Lin Ye's eyes, which were about to completely disperse, suddenly erupted with the last, most intense gleam—a mixture of madness, resolution, and a hint of... a plan succeeding!

"This is... now!"

He used his last bit of strength to hurl the three tokens in his hand, which were almost slipping from his grasp, toward three different directions!

The 'reincarnation seal' shot into the high sky!

The 'yan jun token' shot toward a seemingly ordinary patch of scorched earth on the left!

The 'command token of ten thousand ghosts' shot toward the corpse of a Demonic General on the right, which was emitting a not-weak fluctuation!

As for himself, he did not retreat but advanced, stirring up everything he had left—spiritual power, Divine Soul, life force, and even the trace of extreme attachment to "Life" and obsession with "Guardianship" that had just been sparked by facing the "Death" Law—transforming into a weak yet resolute Sword Intent. Mixed with the final fluctuation of the "Gatekeeper" Legacy, he actively... collided with the descending gray ripple representing "Death"!

What he wanted was never to resist head-on, nor to run away!

What he wanted was to use himself as the lead, the three keys as bait, and his own "demise" as a "Gatekeeper" candidate as the price, to trigger this place—this Lingyun Sword Sect mountain gate, this place that the "Gatekeeper" had guarded for generations, this place that had just been completely stabilized by the "three keys returning to their positions" ritual, and whose Sword Intent was boiling due to the Sect Master's awakening—to launch its final, and most instinctive, counterattack!

"Gatekeeper Lin Han, sacrificing the body to the formation, using the Soul as the lead, summoning—"

"Lingyun Sword Sect, Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect! Ancestral Masters of all generations, spirits assist me!"

"Reincarnation of this world, obey my command! Suppress—Kill—The—Outer—Demon—!!!"

The final roar, mixed with the wails of flesh disintegrating and the Soul burning, resounded through the world!

Hum—!!!

At the moment his body was about to be completely swallowed by the gray ripple and the three keys flew in different directions!

The entire Lingyun Mountain Range shook violently!

In the direction of the 'Ten Thousand Sword Forest', Sect Master Master Lingxiao let out a roar of extreme grief, and an unprecedented, magnificent Sword Intent, mixed with the power of the newly stabilized passage, soared into the sky!

Throughout the Sword Tomb, countless broken, ownerless, or even ancient swords deeply buried underground emitted shrill sword hums simultaneously, as if mourning for their master! Streaks of Sword Intent remnants, some strong and some weak, some clear and some blurry, were pulled by Lin Ye's resolute will of sacrificing himself to the formation and the fluctuation of the "Gatekeeper" Legacy. Like rivers returning to the sea, they frantically surged from all directions toward Lin Ye's position, and even more so toward the three flying tokens!

At the same time, the "Nine Nether Passage", which had just been completely stabilized by the "three keys returning to their positions" ritual, seemed to also have a certain resonance and... anger due to the "sacrifice" and final call of Lin Ye, this "Gatekeeper" candidate! A pure and vast feedback, containing the power of "Reincarnation" Order, erupted from the depths of the earth, following some mysterious connection, and also surged toward the battlefield!

The three flying tokens, under the frantic infusion of this sky-filling Sword Intent and Reincarnation power, suddenly erupted with unprecedented brilliance!

The 'reincarnation seal' released chaotic light, transforming into a pillar of light that reached the sky, faintly echoing with the 'Nine Nether Demon-Suppressing Platform'!

The 'yan jun token' burned with crimson flames, purifying all Death Qi and demonic atmosphere!

The 'command token of ten thousand ghosts' swept out with black light, actually temporarily commanding some of the scattered, weak Soul fragments and Yin Qi on the battlefield, turning them back to strike at the demonic army!

And Lin Ye's body and Soul, which were about to completely dissipate, under the wrapping, infusion, and even... some kind of "substitution" and "conversion" by this endless Sword Intent and Reincarnation power, did not annihilate immediately. Instead, they transformed into a blurry, towering giant phantom composed of brilliant Sword Intent, chaotic Reincarnation light, and an unyielding battle Soul!

This phantom, holding a giant sword condensed from endless Sword Intent that seemed capable of splitting the heavens and the earth, stepping on the light of Reincarnation, carrying the grief and anger of the entire Lingyun Sword Sect and the exclusionary will of this world's "Reincarnation" Law, toward the Demonic Lord projection above the Black Water Swamp—who had just launched a fatal strike and seemed slightly stunned by this sudden, far-beyond-expectation backlash from the world—

Struck out, the final sword!

It was also the sword that condensed ten thousand years of Sword Dao Luck of the Lingyun Sword Sect, the duty of "Gatekeeper" of this world, and the entire life and will of a "Gatekeeper" candidate—

The sword of death, vengeance, and protection!