Chapter 258: Vital Energy Eventually Has Its End
Li Qingqiu’s battle of techniques with Great Demon Luo could be described as earth-shattering. Both had mastered movement techniques, giving them an extremely wide range of activity, making everyone in the city feel as though they were facing a natural calamity head-on.
Li Qingqiu did his utmost to restrain Great Demon Luo, preventing him from approaching the Clear Sky Sect disciples.
Great Demon Luo had no such scruples. He did not fear losses among the Ghost Soldiers at all, his sole intent being to kill Li Qingqiu.
This was the first time Li Qingqiu had faced such immense pressure in battle.
Great Demon Luo was far too comprehensive, mastering all kinds of spells, and even being proficient in soul-related techniques.
If not for Li Qingqiu possessing the 【Human Ghost-God】 Fate Trait, this situation would likely have been extremely troublesome.
In a clash between strong experts, even a momentary flaw could be fatal.
Precisely because of Great Demon Luo’s power, Li Qingqiu could freely squander the vital energy within his body—this was a sensation he had never experienced before.
Exhilarating to the fullest!
Li Qingqiu grew fiercer the longer he fought. He once again condensed a Sword Soul and, together with Chu Jing, surrounded and attacked Great Demon Luo.
Great Demon Luo instantly felt as if he were facing two Li Qingqius at once, the pressure doubling.
Facing the pincer attack from Li Qingqiu and Chu Jing, Great Demon Luo leapt upward, transforming into a streak of blood-colored lightning that pierced through the clouds of the night sky.
Li Qingqiu and Chu Jing halted and looked up, only to see a massive black Flood Dragon tumbling within the clouds, radiating overwhelming pressure.
Roooar—
A dragon’s roar resounded throughout Cloud Emperor City, causing the people within the city to become even more irritable.
Li Qingqiu could clearly judge that this sound possessed a certain bewitching effect. Even the snow in Cloud Emperor City seemed to be related to this ghost Flood Dragon.
He immediately leapt up, charging toward the thunderclouds of the night sky. He raised his sword and slashed upward, and Chu Jing followed suit, swinging his sword as well. The sword in the Sword Soul’s hands carried even greater might. Two sword energies slashed out together, swiftly dispersing the thunderclouds. Lightning interwove, like the screeching of countless birds.
The ghost Flood Dragon let out a howl—this time, it sounded less like a dragon and more like a ferocious tiger.
That ghost Flood Dragon fell from the clouds, smashing into a corner of Cloud Emperor City.
Li Qingqiu and Great Demon Luo landed at the same time, touching down atop ruins, separated by several dozen zhang.
Great Demon Luo lowered his head to look at his ghost sword. Lightning intertwined around the blade, causing him to frown.
“Heavenly lightning, how is this possible…”
Great Demon Luo was shocked inwardly. He had not expected Li Qingqiu’s vital energy to actually contain heavenly lightning.
He recalled that earlier, an evil ghost had returned to report that there was a woman in the Clear Sky Sect who wielded lightning-attribute spells. At the time, he had dismissed it, thinking the subordinate evil ghost was too weak and merely making excuses.
They were no ordinary ghosts—common lightning-attribute spells could not extinguish their ghost bodies.
So it was heavenly lightning…
Killing intent surged violently within Great Demon Luo. Li Qingqiu, who possessed heavenly lightning attributes, along with that female cultivator, would surely become great enemies of the Ghost Dynasty.
Li Qingqiu had long known that heavenly lightning vital energy could injure Great Demon Luo; he had merely concealed it deliberately. If not for that ghost Flood Dragon being able to affect the Clear Sky Sect disciples, he would not have used heavenly lightning vital energy.
The reason for hiding the heavenly lightning vital energy was that Li Qingqiu wanted to seize the perfect opportunity to kill Great Demon Luo in a single strike.
The Great Demon Luo before him was not the true body!
This fellow was fighting him using an avatar!
When Li Qingqiu entered the main hall, he had already seen through Great Demon Luo’s disguise.
With the 【Human Ghost-God】 Fate Trait, his insight into soul bodies surpassed that of cultivators of the same realm. He could tell that Great Demon Luo’s soul body was incomplete, very similar to the earlier Soul-Seizing Black Fiend.
However, since the heavenly lightning vital energy had already been exposed, there was no need to keep pretending any longer, lest the disciples be affected.
Li Qingqiu mobilized the vital energy within his body. One sword shadow after another condensed and appeared around him.
These were the Soul-Seizing Flying Swords!
Soul-Seizing Flying Swords infused with heavenly lightning vital energy—twelve in total!
Great Demon Luo sensed the threat and immediately leapt up. He raised the ghost sword in his hand high as black sword energy erupted skyward, forming a black pillar standing above Cloud Emperor City, piercing through the sea of night clouds.
Endless evil ghosts surged out from the black pillar, charging at Li Qingqiu wave after wave. Crying, roaring, and screaming sounds merged together, echoing throughout the entire city, making Cloud Emperor City grow even colder.
Sword Solitary, who had just slain a Corpse Ghost, turned around and saw, at a glance, the endless evil ghosts in the distant sky. Even a sword-path genius like him felt his scalp tingle with fear.
Immediately afterward, he saw an incomparably brilliant sword light scatter those evil ghosts and, in the same motion, shatter the black pillar.
That was the Sect Master’s sword!
Sword Solitary withdrew his gaze and turned back to continue fighting.
At this moment, many Clear Sky Sect disciples were frightened by Great Demon Luo’s ghostly techniques, yet were also encouraged by witnessing the Sect Master’s sword light.
The most powerful enemy was being handled by the Sect Master—what did their own pressure amount to?
……
Great Demon Luo landed within a temple inside the city. Before he could catch his breath, the courtyard wall beside him suddenly burst apart, and a Soul-Seizing Flying Sword wreathed in heavenly lightning came slashing toward him, forcing him to dodge once more.
When he stopped again, even more Soul-Seizing Flying Swords attacked.
In the darkness of night, the Soul-Seizing Flying Swords, attached with heavenly lightning vital energy, were dazzlingly brilliant. In Great Demon Luo’s eyes, they carried an indescribable sense of oppression.
“What kind of spell is this?”
Fear arose within Great Demon Luo as he found himself unable to comprehend Li Qingqiu’s technique.
Facing the pursuit of twelve Soul-Seizing Flying Swords, he could only dodge. His spells simply could not block them.
He landed again. Immediately after, the ground trembled violently. The courtyard he stood in actually cracked apart and rose up together, lifting him into the night sky atop the stones beneath his feet.
He focused his gaze and saw Li Qingqiu rapidly closing in, his left hand pointing directly at him.
Great Demon Luo had just wanted to leap when a Soul-Seizing Flying Sword severed one of his arms. Blood sprayed everywhere. He turned and caught the ghost sword with his left hand, slashing out with a single strike.
Sword energy surged like waves, slowing the flight of three Soul-Seizing Flying Swords. Yet at this moment, other Soul-Seizing Flying Swords struck, swiftly piercing through his flesh and blood body, causing his momentum to collapse in an instant.
Great Demon Luo, his body filled with Soul-Seizing Flying Swords, crashed into the ruins, stirring up rings of dust waves.
He half-knelt on the ground, one hand propping against his knee, struggling to stand up, yet utterly unable to do so.
Li Qingqiu appeared before him and swung his sword, severing his head.
Heavenly lightning covered Great Demon Luo’s flesh, swiftly blasting it into a charred husk and extinguishing his remaining soul.
Great Demon Luo’s head rolled onto the ground, the face—most of it exposed white bone—filled with shock.
Li Qingqiu sheathed his sword and lowered his head to glance at Great Demon Luo, curling his lips slightly.
Truly knows how to act.
Li Qingqiu turned around, heading off to exterminate the remaining evil ghosts while waiting for intelligence to arrive.
Aside from the evil ghosts faced by Jiang Zhaoxia, Shen Yue, and Zhao Zhen, all other evil ghosts had to be eliminated as quickly as possible to avoid heavy casualties.
Li Qingqiu employed the divine art Extreme Movement Technique, moving rapidly and annihilating evil ghost flesh bodies at the fastest speed, then using the Soul Refining Banner to collect their souls.
In less than ten breaths’ time, he destroyed three evil ghosts.
A small number of evil ghosts, sensing danger, had already fled toward the outskirts of the city, while those Corpse Ghosts and other ghostly monsters continued their attacks without knowing fear.
Suddenly.
Li Qingqiu halted his steps and turned around. He sensed Lin Chuan’s mental call.
Because the distance was too great, he could not hear clearly. When Lin Chuan drew closer, he finally heard it.
The true body of Great Demon Luo has been found!
……
Two hundred li east of Cloud Emperor City.
Within a ruined Daoist temple, the door opened, and Great Demon Luo’s body slowly stepped out. Compared to when he had previously possessed the old man, his current form was taller and more youthful.
Moonlight passed through gaps in the clouds, falling upon his body.
He looked toward the direction of Cloud Emperor City. The trees on this mountain were withered and dry, unable to obstruct his view, and he frowned deeply.
“Vital energy containing heavenly lightning, an unfathomable Sword Soul… Li Qingqiu, to think someone like you exists in this world…”
Great Demon Luo’s expression was complex. He knew his plan was going to fail.
Li Qingqiu’s strength far exceeded his expectations.
He had never imagined that he would be defeated by a Spirit Perception Realm cultivator. In his current state, he was far stronger than in life. Within the Spirit Perception Realm, he believed no one should be able to deal with him.
Yet Li Qingqiu appeared.
As expected.
Those who could establish an Immortal Sect upon the lands of the Nine Provinces were all earth-shaking, extraordinarily fortunate individuals.
Great Demon Luo raised his right hand, palm facing downward. Ghostly energy surged toward the ground, rapidly covering the courtyard.
A tightly curled infant actually rose up from within the ghostly energy and landed in Great Demon Luo’s hands.
Great Demon Luo looked at the infant in his hands, a look of regret and pity appearing on his face as he muttered, “What a pity, it could not be as wished.”
Boom—
The courtyard wall suddenly burst apart as sword light erupted upon Great Demon Luo’s body. He fixed his gaze and discovered in horror that it was actually Li Qingqiu’s Soul-Seizing Flying Sword.
A vertical eye abruptly opened on his forehead, erupting with terrifying ghostly energy, forcibly halting the Soul-Seizing Flying Sword’s advance.
“So the so-called Ghost Dynasty was merely a smokescreen.”
Li Qingqiu’s voice came from outside the Daoist temple. He walked through layers of dust and entered Great Demon Luo’s field of vision.
Upon seeing him, Great Demon Luo’s expression darkened.
Li Qingqiu looked at the infant in Great Demon Luo’s hands. His face was expressionless, yet inwardly he felt astonished.
The aura of this infant was extremely similar to that of the mysterious Ghost King within the Soul Refining Banner!
He realized that the Soul Refining Banner had an extraordinary origin and was entangled with Ghost King Ridge through countless threads of karma.
Great Demon Luo’s vertical eye burst wide open. He forcibly dispersed the Soul-Seizing Flying Sword and stared at Li Qingqiu as he said in a deep voice, “Li Qingqiu, this seat admits that you are very powerful. Even in the Azure Dragon Domain, I have never seen a Spirit Perception Realm cultivator as strong as you. However, living beings have a fatal flaw—that is, vital energy eventually has its end.”
Azure Dragon Domain?
Li Qingqiu grew even more interested in Great Demon Luo’s memories. His vital energy surged out, condensing above his head into a Soul-Seizing Flying Sword. Lightning intertwined, silver light gleamed, and it rapidly expanded.
“Vital energy does indeed have its end, but how do you know I have already reached mine?”
Li Qingqiu stared at Great Demon Luo and said coldly. As his words fell, the Soul-Seizing Flying Sword above his head suddenly expanded, growing to a length of five zhang. The escaping heavenly lightning bombarded the entire courtyard, piercing through the mountain walls.
Under the illumination of thunder light, Li Qingqiu’s expression was incomparably cold and severe, killing intent fully revealed in his eyes.
Great Demon Luo felt Li Qingqiu’s vital energy pouring out endlessly. His expression grew increasingly ugly as he clenched his teeth and asked, “Just who in the world are you?”
With such vital energy, he could only think of the descendants of those ancient immortal clans of the Azure Dragon Domain.
Li Qingqiu did not answer. Instead, he stepped forward toward Great Demon Luo. With every step he took, his Soul-Seizing Flying Sword grew another circle larger, causing the entire desolate mountain to tremble.
A ruthless glint flashed through Great Demon Luo’s eyes. He actually raised the infant in his hand, opened his mouth, and bit down on its small arm, blood rapidly flowing into his throat.