40: A life-or-death battle, a reversal of fortunes.

Inside the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, Qiao Feng's battle with the Blood Demon entered a fierce stage. The Blood Demon unleashed the eerie Blood Demon Cultivation Technique; crimson Spiritual Power surged around him like a tide. Every attack carried a sinister Aura, attempting to devour Qiao Feng. Qiao Feng countered with the unparalleled fierce might of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. Golden Palm Prints clashed with the crimson Spiritual Power, erupting in deafening roars that shook the entire valley.

"Qiao Feng, you cannot escape today even if you grow wings!" the Blood Demon roared. A blood-red longsword suddenly appeared in his hand, its blade wrapped in twisted Blood Patterns, emitting a chilling Aura. He flashed forward like a crimson bolt of lightning toward Qiao Feng. With a swing of the longsword, a blood-red Sword Glow shot toward Qiao Feng's throat.

Qiao Feng's expression was solemn, knowing the power of this strike. He rapidly circulated his Internal Energy and unleashed the "Soaring Dragon in the Sky" move of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. A massive golden Dragon Shadow roared out from his palm, meeting the blood-red Sword Glow. "Boom!" A loud sound erupted as the golden Dragon Shadow and the blood-red Sword Glow collided, causing a violent explosion. Powerful Air Currents swept out, flinging away the surrounding trees and strange rocks.

Qiao Feng and the Blood Demon each retreated several steps. Qiao Feng's clothes were ripped by the Air Current, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained resolute and fearless. The Blood Demon was secretly astonished, having not expected Qiao Feng to withstand such a powerful blow after continuous fighting.

"Hmph, you have some skill, but it's not enough!" The Blood Demon attacked again, circulating the Blood Demon Cultivation Technique to its peak, transforming his entire being into a crimson Devil. He swung his longsword, and countless blood-red Sword Glows shot toward Qiao Feng like a torrential downpour.

Qiao Feng took a deep breath, condensing all his Internal Energy between his palms. He unleashed the strongest stance of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms—"Divine Dragon Swings Tail." A golden Dragon Shadow, even larger and more magnificent in Aura, blasted out from his palm, carrying the momentum of overturning mountains and seas, meeting the rain of blood-red Sword Glows.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Consecutive explosions rang out. The golden Dragon Shadow and the blood-red Sword Glows clashed, shining brightly and stinging the eyes. Ultimately, the golden Dragon Shadow, relying on its mighty power, shattered the blood-red Sword Glows one by one and, with undiminished momentum, charged toward the Blood Demon.

The Blood Demon's expression drastically changed. He hurriedly condensed a thick layer of crimson Spiritual Power Shield in front of him. However, the power of the "Divine Dragon Swings Tail" was too great; the golden Dragon Shadow directly pierced the Blood Demon's Spiritual Power Shield and struck the Blood Demon. The Blood Demon spat out fresh blood, his body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the ground.

"Blood Demon!" The Experts of the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect were greatly alarmed upon seeing the Blood Demon injured. Their morale was severely affected, and their previously tight defense line began to loosen.

Fu Hongxue, West Gate Blows Snow, and Ye Gucheng seized the opportunity to launch an even fiercer assault. Fu Hongxue's Saber Intent from the Bright Moon Blade of the Horizon grew sharper; Saber Qi crisscrossed the battlefield, and wherever it passed, the Experts of the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect fell. West Gate Blows Snow and Ye Gucheng's Swordsmanship was even more coordinated; the two acted as one, with Sword Qi flying everywhere, making it impossible for the enemy to guard against.

"Kill! Avenge our fallen brothers!" The Elite Disciples of Beyond Heaven were also greatly encouraged. They fought bravely, engaging in a desperate struggle against the Experts of the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect.

Under the combined assault of the Beyond Heaven forces, the Experts of the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect gradually found it difficult to hold on. Some cowardly Disciples started trying to flee, but they were intercepted by The Unruly. The Unruly moved through the battlefield like Phantoms, specializing in cutting down those attempting to escape.

"Want to run? It won't be that easy!" Marshal of the Unruly held a black Long Halberd and personally pursued an Elder of the Nether Ghost Sect. That Elder was terrified and fled with all his might, but the Marshal of the Unruly was faster. In a few steps, he caught up to the Elder, swung his Long Halberd, and directly cut the Elder down with the weapon.

Just as the forces of the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect were about to suffer a complete defeat, a black figure suddenly rushed from the depths of the valley. This person was completely shrouded in black Mist, making their face impossible to discern, but the powerful Aura emanating from them indicated that their strength was extremely terrifying, having reached at least the Late Stage Land Immortal Realm.

"How dare you run wild in my Ten Thousand Demon Valley!" the black figure roared. His voice was like rolling thunder, causing everyone's ears to buzz. A black Magic Staff appeared in his hand, flickering with eerie Black Flame. He swung the Magic Staff, and a black Pillar of Flame shot toward the Beyond Heaven forces. Wherever the Pillar of Flame passed, the air was ignited, making a sizzling sound.

"Be careful!" Qiao Feng shouted. He quickly unleashed the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, sending a golden Dragon-shaped Palm Print toward the black Pillar of Flame. However, the power of this black Pillar of Flame far exceeded expectations; the golden Dragon-shaped Palm Print was instantly swallowed upon collision. The black Pillar of Flame continued charging toward the crowd.

Everyone quickly unleashed their respective Cultivation Techniques to defend. Fu Hongxue unleashed the ultimate Saber Qi of the Bright Moon Blade of the Horizon, West Gate Blows Snow and Ye Gucheng used their strongest Sword Moves, and the Elite Disciples of Beyond Heaven also released Spiritual Power Shields. But the power of the black Pillar of Flame was simply too immense, making everyone's resistance difficult.

Just as everyone fell into crisis, Jun Xiaoyao sensed the anomaly in the Ten Thousand Demon Valley through special means. Knowing the urgency of the situation, he immediately executed a mysterious Cultivation Technique and instantly appeared inside the Ten Thousand Demon Valley. Jun Xiaoyao wore a white Robe, possessing an extraordinary and refined temperament, and held a longsword that radiated a soft glow.

"Cease your arrogance!" Jun Xiaoyao shouted clearly. He injected his powerful Spiritual Power into the longsword. The longsword immediately shone brightly, and a dazzling white Sword Qi soared into the sky, meeting the black Pillar of Flame head-on. "Boom!" A loud crash occurred as the white Sword Qi and the black Pillar of Flame collided, generating a powerful Shockwave. The black Pillar of Flame was forcefully blocked and pushed back by the white Sword Qi, and the black figure was also staggered back several steps by the Shockwave.

"Who are you? How dare you ruin my plans!" The black figure looked at Jun Xiaoyao, his eyes filled with anger and confusion.

Jun Xiaoyao maintained a calm demeanor and said coldly, "I am the Young Master of Tianwaitian, and I am here today to eradicate you Remnants of the Demonic Path!"

After speaking, Jun Xiaoyao executed a set of exquisite Swordsmanship. His Swordsmanship flowed like clouds and running water, yet contained immense power. Every sword strike carried a gentle yet powerful glow, attacking the black figure. The black figure dared not underestimate Jun Xiaoyao either. He wielded his Magic Staff, unleashing various bizarre black Cultivation Techniques, engaging in a fierce fight with Jun Xiaoyao.

With Jun Xiaoyao's arrival, the battlefield situation changed once again. Seeing Jun Xiaoyao personally take action, the morale of the Beyond Heaven forces soared, and they attacked the remaining forces of the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect even more fiercely. Caught in a pincer attack, the Experts of the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect finally suffered a complete rout. The Blood Demon and the black figure saw that the tide had turned against them, dared not fight further, and quickly used a Secret Technique to flee the Ten Thousand Demon Valley with their remaining forces.

"Want to leave? Not so easy!" Qiao Feng and the others wanted to pursue, but Jun Xiaoyao stopped them. "Do not pursue cornered foes. Although the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect managed to escape with some forces this time, they have suffered heavy losses and cannot pose a threat to the Jianghu in the short term. Let us first clear the battlefield and treat the Injured." Jun Xiaoyao said.

After this fierce life-and-death decisive battle, Beyond Heaven successfully thwarted the conspiracy between the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect. Although they failed to eradicate them completely, they severely damaged their Origin Qi. However, Jun Xiaoyao knew that the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect would certainly not give up, and greater crises awaited Beyond Heaven in the future. Following this incident, the situation in the Jianghu became more complicated, and the major Schools realized that the threat from Demonic Path forces was growing daily. How will Beyond Heaven respond to future challenges? What kind of schemes will the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect plot in the shadows? Everything remains unknown, waiting for Jun Xiaoyao and his Beyond Heaven to explore and face...