Refuse to trample on the pride of heaven

Just as the immortals and demons were locked in fierce battle and the world lost its color, a clear and melodious voice, like jade flowing in a mountain stream, suddenly pierced through the clamor and roars of the battlefield, echoing clearly in every corner.

"Time has passed, and white has appeared!"

That extremely familiar voice was like a drop of cold water splashed into a boiling pot of oil, instantly attracting the attention of the Demon Lord, who was high in the sky, locked in battle with the Supreme Elder and the Demon Lord Wuzhi.

Shi Yubai's blood-red, diamond-like demonic eyes suddenly contracted, and he abruptly twisted his ferocious head, piercing through layers of demonic aura and flashes of spiritual light, locking onto an inconspicuous hillside in the distance.

A figure stood tall and imposing, his robes stained with dust and slightly torn, looking somewhat disheveled, yet still as upright as a bamboo stalk.

The dust failed to obscure his handsome features; instead, it accentuated the brilliance of his deep brown eyes, which shone like stars, seemingly radiating a fiery light—a steadfastness unbroken by countless trials, a clarity and serenity born from dispelling the fog of delusion.

It was Lu Wensheng!

"I have obtained the divine sword 'Huangji' and it is now dawn. Why don't you surrender immediately?!" The young man's voice was clear and resonant, each word distinct, carrying an undeniable declaration, like a thunderclap in the chaotic battlefield.

"Wen Sheng?!"

"The leader?!"

"They...they've come out of the Abyss?!"

This sound, like a beacon suddenly ignited in the dark night, instantly rekindled the almost extinguished hope in the eyes of all the immortal cultivators!

Ye Yingzhou, who was struggling to maintain the crumbling Demon-Sealing Array, suddenly looked up. His pale face, which was pale from excessive consumption of spiritual energy, was filled with unbelievable joy. His fingertips trembled slightly due to the excitement of his emotions, and the array light that was on the verge of collapse actually stabilized a bit.

High above, the Supreme Elder, who was being held back by Shi Yubai's unpredictable demonic arts, had a faint, almost imperceptible ripple in his usually calm eyes. As he waved his whisk, the Daoist aura seemed to solidify for a moment.

Jun Ningdao's sword strike was like a cascading glacier. Upon hearing this, the ice and snow between his cold brows melted slightly, as if a spring breeze were blowing across the frozen earth.

The silver dragon that Wu Zhi had transformed into let out a deafening roar, its fighting spirit growing ever stronger: "Good lad! I knew you wouldn't be so easy to defeat!"

The sect leaders, elders, and even every disciple still fighting fiercely below felt their spirits lifted. An indescribable surge of heat rose from the depths of their hearts, dispelling the fatigue and gloom of the long battle—their leader, their fellow disciples, had returned! Moreover, they brought back the legendary hope of slaying the Demon Lord!

However, this spark of hope was met with a devastating blow as soon as it was ignited!

Almost the instant Shi Yubai saw Lu Wensheng's figure and heard his words, he launched a fierce attack! He didn't even bother to discern the truth in Lu Wensheng's words or to investigate whether the other party was truly wielding a divine sword.

A mixture of extreme jealousy, rage, and an indescribable panic drove him to completely erase this figure, along with any possibility it might have brought, from this world!

"How dare you, you ants, speak so arrogantly!" Shi Yubai let out a low, destructive roar. His demonic claws, covered in black scales, suddenly shot out. In his palm, a terrifying demonic flame, condensed to its extreme, dark in color like congealed blood, with twisted runes leaping around its edges, instantly condensed!

Without any warning, the demonic flames transformed into a dark red torrent that tore through the void, carrying the terrifying power to burn everything and annihilate souls. Like a world-destroying fire descending from the heavens, it ruthlessly crashed towards the hillside where Lu Wensheng was!

Wherever it passed, the space groaned in agony, leaving a shocking charred mark as it plowed through the air. The escaping shockwaves instantly vaporized several low-level demons that couldn't dodge in time!

"not good!"

"Protect the leader!"

Jun Ning Daojun, the Sect Master of Lingxiao Sect, and several other powerful figures who were relatively close and still able to extricate themselves changed their expressions drastically and almost simultaneously made their moves to intercept!

A chilling sword aura that seemed to freeze everything in its path, a majestic sword energy as bright as the sun, and several other powerful spiritual lights of different colors, like shooting stars chasing the moon, attempted to block the destructive demonic flames.

However, Shi Yubai's power at this moment can be described as the pinnacle of this world, and his angry strike is as fast as lightning and has tremendous power!

Although the interception by several powerful figures slightly slowed down the speed of the demonic flames and weakened their power, they ultimately failed to completely stop them!

"boom--!!!"

A deafening roar echoed across the surrounding area!

The crowd stared in horror at the hillside, which, along with the vast mountain behind it, had been sliced ​​flat and erased by an invisible giant blade under the impact of the dark red demonic flames! The hard rock instantly melted and vaporized, billowing up clouds of dust and thick smoke that obscured the view, forming a huge, shocking, charred crater!

The violent energy shockwave spread out like ripples, blowing away cultivators and demons who were near that area.

"Wen Sheng—!" For the first time, a near-shattering mark appeared on Jun Ning's cold face. A flash of bloodlust appeared in her eyes, and her body exploded with uncontrollable coldness, freezing all the demons within several feet around her.

Countless people gasped in shock, almost rushing over without thinking.

However, just as despair and grief were about to engulf people's hearts, Shi Yubai, who stood proudly in the sky, stared intently at the center of the churning dust. Then, he tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a disdainful arc that was a mixture of mockery and understanding.

Shi Yubai's eyes were cold and unfathomable as he stared intently at the place where the smoke and dust were billowing. After a few breaths, he seemed to sense something, and a cold and mocking smile slowly appeared on his lips. His voice was filled with a knowing mockery: "No wonder the aura was unstable... So, it's just a damn imposter who doesn't know his own death."

He immediately turned his head, his gaze sweeping like a cold blade towards Min Xiao, who was dealing with Jun Ning Daojun not far away. His tone carried an undisguised accusation and a condescending command: "How dare a demon betray us at such a critical juncture? Min Xiao, is this how you manage your subordinates? I really should ask you how you operate!"

The familiar and natural tone, as if commanding a subordinate, made Min Xiao's heart sink, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He keenly sensed that within the surging demonic energy surrounding Shi Yubai, there seemed to be a strange fluctuation that was extremely subtle yet completely different from the remnant soul of the former Demon Lord that he knew. An indescribable chill quietly crept up his spine.

Min Xiao's lips twitched slightly involuntarily, and a hint of doubt and wariness flashed deep in his eyes—had some unknown change occurred during the release of the Demon Lord? Was Shi Yubai's consciousness corrupted, or... replaced? But if it was replaced, how could it show such a "familiar" attitude towards him?

Various thoughts flashed through his mind in a flash, but the current situation did not allow him to think deeply about them.

Min Xiao quickly suppressed his doubts, his face regaining its enigmatic expression. He bowed slightly, his tone becoming respectful and apology-laden: "It was my oversight that allowed this scoundrel to infiltrate the battlefield and disturb Your Majesty. Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. I will personally deal with this traitor to set the record straight!"

Before he finished speaking, Min Xiao's figure had already transformed into a dark streak of light, like a venomous snake merging into the shadows, silently yet swiftly shooting towards the edge of the explosion, where the smoke and dust had not yet completely dissipated.