Li Xuanming's face bore no trace of pity. He had survived the destruction of the Infinite Sect, escaping encirclement by countless righteous cultivators—a feat he had performed not infrequently.
As a demonic cultivator, he embraced ruthlessness; to him, the lives of others meant nothing if his own survival was at stake. Even Liu Zhenxiong, his fellow sect junior brother, was nothing more than a pawn to be sacrificed when necessary.
Liu Zhenxiong had not anticipated that his self-sacrificial attempt to save Li Xuanming would result in being explosively thrown aside and used as a human shield against Duan Feipeng's attack. His eyes dimmed, void of any curses or angry roars; he simply yearned for rest.
Boom!
The column of thunder swallowed him whole. His robes shattered, his flesh charred, and his bones melted. When the thunderous assault finally dissipated, only a charred corpse remained smashed upon the earth.
Duan Feipeng furrowed his brow, surprised by Li Xuanming's decisive action to forsake his junior brother to escape. He stamped the ground forcefully and vaulted over the scorched remains, continuing his pursuit.
Escape, escape, escape!
That was the only thought left in Li Xuanming's mind as the wind howled past his ears.
The distant sounds of battle from the main frontline reached him. If he could just make it back there, where countless cultivators witnessed the fray, Duan Feipeng would have to consider his status and reputation, likely staying his hand.
"Just need to get there…"
Li Xuanming could already see the low-quality spells clashing ahead—the battlefield of the Qi Refining cultivators.
But at that moment, a horrific ghostly wail pierced the air, and a black chain, serpent-like, suddenly appeared. In an instant, it ensnared and immobilized Li Xuanming completely.
Thud!
Unable to stop his forward momentum, Li Xuanming crashed violently into the mud and blood-soaked ground. As he struggled to his feet, he found himself facing someone—Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan's eyes were filled with cold. After repelling Han Liuyun, he swiftly moved to this sector of the battlefield. Although he was strong enough to potentially kill Duan Feipeng, the effort would be immense, possibly leaving him severely wounded. Thus, he had remained hidden, waiting for an opportune moment to strike during one of Duan Feipeng's vulnerabilities.
He had witnessed the entire scene. Liu Zhenxiong had sacrificed himself to save Li Xuanming, only to be used as a human shield. Chu Xuan was not one to sacrifice himself for others; he always prioritized his own interests. Yet, he remembered the Tiger Soul Talisman Liu Zhenxiong had once given him—a rare act of kindness in this brutal and cold world of cultivation.
"Junior brother, I can explain. Better I live alone than we both die, so I..." Li Xuanming hastily began to explain.
Chu Xuan shook his head, "If you can betray senior brother Liu, one day you will betray me too. What use then is there in keeping you alive?"
With a swift motion, he clenched his hand. The Evil Soul Chain tightened violently.
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Crack!
Li Xuanming's head was twisted off abruptly, his handsome face still marked by a mixture of shock and unwillingness. He had not expected that Chu Xuan would grant him no time to even finish his sentence before ending his life.
Casually, Chu Xuan collected Li Xuanming's corpse into the Corpse Nurturing Tower, then turned his attention to Duan Feipeng, who was slowly approaching.
Duan Feipeng, a tall, thin cultivator dressed in blue robes, was not handsome. His stern face was enough to deter countless cultivators.
"You're still alive; Han Liuyun really is useless," Duan Feipeng sneered.
Chu Xuan responded calmly, "Thinking Han Liuyun is useless just shows you're not much better."
Duan Feipeng made a flicking motion, and countless thunder-wrapped beams of light surged towards Chu Xuan. He spoke no idle words; his every move was an attack meant to kill.
Yet, Chu Xuan did not use the Yin Evil Escape to dodge. Instead, he stomped the ground, aggressively closing the distance between himself and Duan Feipeng.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The beams hadn't yet hit Chu Xuan when they were blocked by the Mystic Iron Shield. The sound of metal clashing rang out.
Duan Feipeng smirked coldly. Many thought he specialized in long-range thunder magic, but he also practiced close combat. Those cultivators who recklessly tried to close in on him often met grimmer fates.
As Chu Xuan closed to within thirty feet of Duan Feipeng, the latter swiftly changed his spell, clenching his fist to summon a massive axe wreathed in thunder into his palm. He bellowed angrily, swinging the axe directly at Chu Xuan's head.
In that moment, Chu Xuan roared back, his claw reaching fiercely toward Duan Feipeng's body, while the Evil Soul Chain wrapped around his throat.
"You won't block? Seeking death!" Duan Feipeng held the axe with both hands, nearly striking Chu Xuan's head.
However, in that instant, layers of golden light rose above Chu Xuan's head, and ethereal chants filled the air.
Suddenly, behind his head, a multicolored halo of rich mist appeared. The halo emanated tremendous force, forming a protective aura around his body.
Moreover, atop Chu Xuan's head, a small bell sounded with a resonant clang, adding to the formidable defenses now shielding him.
The force of meritorious power around Chu Xuan exploded with even greater intensity, forming a massive golden bell inverted around him, protecting him flawlessly. This dual defense was the manifestation of the Golden Dragon Temple's Body Protecting Golden Wheel Decree combined with the top-grade magic tool, the Merit Bell.
Clang!
The thunderous axe struck these layered defenses, not only failing to penetrate them but also being violently repelled. The hefty blade of the axe bore a significant notch as a result, nearly slipping from Duan Feipeng's grasp.
"Merit! Such formidable merit? How can this be? Isn't he a demonic cultivator?!" Duan Feipeng's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, his usually stern face almost losing composure in shock.
At that moment, Chu Xuan's counterattack arrived. The Yin Evil Demon Claw, fueled by Yin Evil Qi, immediately grasped Duan Feipeng's body.
The Evil Soul Chain, controlled by Huikong, precisely targeted Duan Feipeng's throat.
Duan Feipeng's top-tier defensive magic tool barely managed to hold under the dual assault, cracks spreading across it, signaling it wouldn't last much longer. Duan Feipeng struggled to raise his hand, attempting to cast a defensive spell.
However, Long had already materialized behind him, opening its gaping maw. The roar of a corpse puppet resounded as if a demon's whisper exploded right by his ear, causing Duan Feipeng's thoughts to stall, his mind going blank.
By the time he regained his senses, Chu Xuan's palm had already struck his chest.
Boom!
The terrifying Corpse Refining Blood Fire instantly erupted, engulfing him on the spot.
Duan Feipeng's agonized screams echoed through the flames, along with a few strained words, "I have a top-tier… magic tool… don't kill me…"
Regret flooded his heart. He had underestimated Chu Xuan, and before he could utilize any of his own trump cards, he had been trapped in this dire situation.
"Foolish, by killing you, your possessions also become mine," Chu Xuan sneered.
The fire burned even fiercer. Within moments, Duan Feipeng was reduced to a charred body, falling unconscious from the pain.
However, Chu Xuan did not let him die. Instead, he had Long and Hu bind him tightly and stand guard beside him.
Chu Xuan vividly remembered that Duan Feipeng possessed an ultimate grade Thunder Spiritual Root, and as a demonic cultivator, he knew techniques to transplant such Spiritual Roots for his own use!