292: Liu Lanyan makes her appearance

Xiao Qingxu knelt amidst the ruins, covered in blood, his internal organs displaced, half his body long numb.

He watched as the specks of light from the five Grand Elders drifted away with the wind, and watched as over half of the one hundred thousand Disciples died or were injured.

Suddenly, he laughed.

The laughter, initially low, then grew loud, finally turning into a heart-wrenching, wild roar!

"Hahahaha... Zhao Zheng! Ling Tian! Even if I die—I will never let you succeed!!"

He suddenly looked up, his eyes blood-red, staring intently at Zhao Zheng, each word thundering like a drum:

"I, Xiao Qingxu, have cultivated the Dao for a thousand years, rising from a mere Mortal to Golden Core Peak, enduring three thousand tribulations, and overcoming nine layers of Lightning Tribulation. How could I bow my head at this moment?!"

"Today, I shall sacrifice my life to the Dao—to protect the last shred of dignity for my Taixu Sect with my death!!"

Before his words faded—

He slammed his hands onto his chest, his fingers digging into his flesh, forcefully tearing open his chest!

Blood gushed out, staining the sky, and in his palm, he held a crystal-clear Golden Core, sparkling like glazed glass!

Upon that Golden Core were nine ancient runes, each representing the baptism of a Heavenly Tribulation. Five hundred years ago, he had defied the heavens with the "Nine Deaths Dao Seeking Art" to forcefully condense this indestructible Golden Core!

This core had long surpassed ordinary Golden Cores, almost a nascent Nascent Soul, the culmination of his life's Dao foundation!

"Shatter the Core—Burn the Soul—Nine Tribulations Unified!!"

Xiao Qingxu roared to the sky, and fiercely squeezed!

Boom—!!!

The Golden Core exploded!

A terrifying Spiritual Pressure, far exceeding that of a Nascent Soul, erupted like a volcano!

Heaven and earth changed color, the nine peaks collapsed, and the remaining protective mountain array's light barrier instantly re-condensed, becoming even more solid than before!

His Physical Body rapidly aged and withered, his skin cracked, his white hair turned gray, then black, as if time was wildly reversing on him!

Yet, his Aura continued to climb—

Golden Core Realm... Half-step Nascent Soul... Early Stage Nascent Soul!!!

Using his lifelong cultivation as a guide, burning the Origin of his Golden Core, he temporarily gained battle power comparable to a Nascent Soul!

The price was—Divine Soul annihilation, never to Reincarnate!

At this moment, he was no longer Xiao Qingxu, but the Incarnation of the Taixu Sect's ten-thousand-year Dao lineage!

"Nine Tribulations Return to Origin, Annihilate All Life—Slay!!"

He formed hand seals, invoking the power of heaven and earth, and nine lingering Sword Intents shot up from the ruins!

Qingming, Xuanshuang, Chixiao, Baihong, Moyu, Jinque, Yuheng, Tianshu, Guixu—

Though the nine swords were destroyed, their Sword Intent remained undying!

The nine Sword Intents circled above his head, finally condensing into a hundred-zhang giant sword, with the characters "Taixu" inscribed on its blade. The sword's edge pointed directly at the firmament, drawing forth the Lightning Tribulation of the Nine Heavens, and the heaven and earth resonated!

This sword strike was the ultimate killing move of his lifelong learning!

Not to harm the enemy, but to die for the Dao!

But just as this world-destroying strike was about to descend—

Zhao Zheng merely raised his hand lightly.

His five fingers spread, the phantom of the nine dragons imperial seal appeared in his palm, and the black light of the nine tripods converged to a single point!

There were no incantations, no hand seals, not even his full power was used.

"Retreat."

He pushed out a palm!

Boom—!!!

The "Nine Swords of Annihilation," powerful enough to slay an Early Stage Nascent Soul, was forcefully deflected by an invisible immense power in mid-air!

The sword light grazed Zhao Zheng's shoulder, tearing his robe, but failed to harm him in the slightest!

Xiao Qingxu himself, however, was sent flying a hundred zhang by the recoil, crashing heavily into the mountain, spitting blood, his internal organs almost shattered!

"This... impossible..."

Xiao Qingxu struggled to look up, his eyes filled with shock.

"My sword strike... even a true Nascent Soul True Lord would need to resist with full power... but you... you only used one palm?!"

"Your strength... has reached such a level?!"

Zhao Zheng stood with his hands behind his back, his robes flapping, his gaze like one looking down on ants:

"Heh, how could you comprehend my strength? You are but a mere Golden Core, foolishly attempting to defy the heavens with a secret art, ridiculous!"

"Don't struggle anymore. Release your Old Ancestor's Divine Soul, and I might still leave you a complete corpse."

Xiao Qingxu coughed up blood, but suddenly laughed.

A desolate, yet serene laugh.

He slowly stood up, even with broken legs, propping himself with his sword, his voice firm as iron:

"Hahahaha... what does death matter? Cultivators inherently defy the heavens, what fear do they have of life and death?!"

"My life, Xiao Qingxu, has been pure; I have guarded the Dao and protected the sect. Today, to die for the Dao, I die in my rightful place!"

He looked up at the sky, as if kowtowing to his Ancestral Masters:

"Revered Master... Disciple... has no regrets!"

Zhao Zheng snorted coldly, his killing intent surging:

"You think that by dying, you can protect the Nascent Soul Ancestor? Dream on!"

"Kill you, and I can still force him out!"

Before his words finished, he clenched his right hand, the phantom of the nine dragons imperial seal expanded, transforming into a giant black flame palm, carrying the Soul Power of the nine tripods, and slammed it towards Xiao Qingxu's head!

This strike was not only to kill him, but to forcibly extract his Divine Soul and refine it into a Soul Pill!

Xiao Qingxu closed his eyes, a smile on his lips, calmly accepting death.

He had no regrets.

But at this critical moment—

"Caw—!!!"

A clear Phoenix cry, piercing the Nine Heavens, echoed through heaven and earth!

The sound was like a goddess singing, like heavenly fire burning the sky, carrying an ancient, primordial pressure, instantly tearing through the black mist of the nine tripods and the bloodiness of the battlefield!

Everyone looked up—

Only to see a crimson fire light soaring from the peak of the main mountain!

That flame was no ordinary fire, but a Divine Flame purely condensed from Southern Bright Departing Fire, so scorching that even space twisted and fractured!

Immediately after—

A colossal flaming Phoenix descended from the sky!

Its wings spread, covering the sky and sun, each feather composed of pure fire spirit power, its tail feathers like nine heavenly fire whips. Wherever they swept, the air burned, and the earth melted!

Its Phoenix eyes were like the sun, its Phoenix beak like a blade, ancient runes coiled around its body, as if a Divine Beast resurrected from ancient mythology!

That Phoenix, carrying the might to destroy heaven and earth, charged directly at Zhao Zheng!

Boom—!!!

The Phoenix's wings, like giant divine iron shields, slammed fiercely into Zhao Zheng's giant black flame palm, condensed by the nine dragons imperial seal!

The two forces collided with a roar, erupting in dazzling fire light!

The shockwave swept for a hundred li, rocks crumbled, and shattered walls flew like paper!

Even more astonishing was—

Zhao Zheng was actually forced back half a step by this collision!

His giant black flame palm cracked inch by inch, the phantom of the nine dragons imperial seal violently vibrated, and the black light of the nine tripods actually retreated three feet!

"Hmm?!"

Zhao Zheng's pupils contracted, revealing a look of shock for the first time!

"Impossible! My palm strike, even a Nascent Soul True Lord would need to avoid, yet it was forcefully pushed back by a Phoenix?!"

He stared intently at the flaming Phoenix, sensing the vast Divine Soul power emanating from within—

That was not an ordinary Phoenix Bloodline, but an ancient, pure, supreme will!

As if an empress from the Nine Heavens, looking down on all beings, not to be desecrated!

The flames dissipated, the Phoenix retracted its wings, transforming into a human figure that slowly landed.

She wore a crimson long dress, its hem burning like fire, her black hair like a waterfall, her eyes like molten gold, her skin fair as jade, yet exuding a scorching Aura.

She stood upon the ruins, flames coiling around her body. With every step, the ground melted into glazed glass!

It was Liu Lanyan!