"Shua!"
The red-robed youth, now transformed into a demon ape, raised his hand and retrieved the treasure. Its hilt was carved with the golden characters "Sun Moon Water Fire Staff." Huo Piaoyao stood frozen, a gaping hole in his chest, flesh and blood mangled. Even more fatal was the endless torrent of demonic energy surging in, eroding his physical form. The dignified Sage of the Thirteen Realms of the Military School was on the verge of death.
"You beast!"
From within the small town, Xiang Ji, a Martial Warrior of the Nine Realms, arrived with the wind. Witnessing the gruesome scene before him, he trembled with rage. "I took you in, believing you still harbored some humanity, only to discover you are such a beast..."
The demon ape turned, its fiery red eyes fixed on Xiang Ji. It chuckled, "What humanity can a demon speak of? Lord Xiang Ji, your foolishness lies in believing demons would willingly embrace humanity. I originally intended to spare your life, but seeing you like this, there's no longer any need."
"Xiang Ji!"
Lin Zhao had already drawn his sword, Li Quan, and shouted, "Leave quickly, are you seeking death?!"
Xiang Ji clenched his fists, tears welling in his eyes, and said tremulously, "My lord, Huo Piaoyao has fallen to this state because of my involvement. Do you think I, Xiang Ji, can still live in this world with any shred of honor?"
With that, he leaped high, channeling all his strength into his right fist. The air surged with fist qi, and with a roar, he bellowed, "Beast, take this punch!"
"Hmph..."
A sinister grin spread across the lips of "Man Yuan," the demon king of the Thirteen Realms. Before Xiang Ji's fist qi could reach him, he casually swung the Sun Moon Water Fire Staff. With a "poof," Xiang Ji's fist qi was not only obliterated, but his physical body instantly dissolved into a shower of blood. A Nine Realms Martial Warrior facing a Thirteen Realms Demon King – the disparity was unimaginable.
"Your turn!"
Man Yuan slung the Sun Moon Water Fire Staff over his shoulder. He raised his left hand and flicked it. Behind him, a tattered, blood-red cloak billowed, emanating immense demonic energy. His gaze fell upon Huo Piaoyao, and he smiled, "Shall I grant you utter annihilation?"
"Ugh..."
Huo Piaoyao let out a long sigh. He was unable to move, the endless demonic energy coursing through his body, sealing his bones and meridians. He couldn't muster even a sliver of strength. He tilted his head back and sighed, never expecting to be the first Human Thirteen Realms to perish in this great battle. He had too many regrets, unable to express them all.
"Die!"
Man Yuan leaped into the air, conjuring a fiery red ape dharma image that seemed to paint the entire sky. The Sun Moon Water Fire Staff in his hand became as colossal as a mountain, descending with the force of "Mount Tai Crushing Down," aiming to utterly crush this Sage of the Military School.
"Buzz..."
Just as Man Yuan swung his staff, the world suddenly darkened before his eyes. The Snow Region Heavenly Pond and Huo Piaoyao vanished. In their place, golden Confucian characters began to rise slowly from the ground. At this moment, he had been drawn into a small, independent realm. What angered Man Yuan even more was that this realm exuded the faint aura of a Fourteenth Realm Heaven's Mandate and Confucian righteousness!
"Brother Huo!"
Lin Zhao darted over, raised a finger, and guided the flying sword Haoran, which had trapped Man Yuan, away from the Snow Region Heavenly Pond. Simultaneously, he embraced Huo Piaoyao's body. Seeing the horrifying bloody hole in Huo Piaoyao's chest, Lin Zhao felt as though a thousand arrows pierced his heart. He quickly turned and shouted, "Wu Zhi, activate the sword formation to protect the mountain! Mu Gua, order the Flood Dragon Boat to ascend and confront the Thirteen Realms Demon King!"
Saying this, he stepped onto his flying sword Hong Ye and retreated from the front line with Huo Piaoyao. His gaze swept over the mountain gate and he bellowed, "Tang Guangjun!"
Tang Guangjun, the gatekeeper, frowned deeply. He naturally understood the peril of the current situation. He rose with the wind and said solemnly, "Mountain Master, what do you require of Tang Guangjun? Please issue your command! I would gladly face any trial, even death."
"You don't need to die!"
Lin Zhao looked at Huo Piaoyao and said, "Immediately take Brother Huo back to the ancestral court of the Military School for treatment. Quickly!"
"Ah?!"
Tang Guangjun was taken aback. "But... but..."
"No buts!"
Lin Zhao commanded, "This is my order. Immediately take Brother Huo back to the ancestral court of the Military School for treatment. Do not disobey. I know you are at least at the Twelfth Realm, and you can surely escort him back safely. Hurry! Once he is settled, you can return. It won't be too late!"
"Yes!"
Tang Guangjun immediately summoned a wisp of gentle sword qi to envelop Huo Piaoyao's body. Huo Piaoyao had already lost consciousness, his breaths shallow and ragged. Tang Guangjun gritted his teeth and said solemnly, "Mountain Master, what about you?"
"I will guard the mountain. Go!"
"Yes!"
Tang Guangjun turned and rode his sword away. To avoid the demon king, he descended directly into the Washing Sword River and followed it eastward towards the ancestral court of the Military School.
...
"Boom!"
In the sky, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from a place beyond the sight of everyone. It was the furious impact of the peak Thirteen Realms demon king Man Yuan, trapped within the small realm. The Heaven-piercing treasure, the Sun Moon Water Fire Staff, struck the boundary of the small realm with tremendous force. This impact felt as though it landed on Lin Zhao's chest, causing him to suddenly double over, clutching his chest, as if his heart were about to shatter.
The flying sword Haoran was Lin Zhao's life-bound artifact. As such, it was connected to his life force. If Haoran was damaged, Lin Zhao would naturally suffer as well.
In the next moment, Man Yuan's second attack surged. The Sun Moon Water Fire Staff, wreathed in flames, directly tore through the boundary of the small realm. As the blazing tip of the staff ripped through the boundary and hung in the sky, almost all the players in the Snow Ridge region looked up. Each felt a thousand-pound weight pressing down on their hearts.
"Creeeak~~~"
Lin Zhao's heart ached immensely. The small realm had been completely breached by Man Yuan. The moment it was broken, the flying sword Haoran returned to the Sword Concealment Lake, but a crack at least three inches long had appeared on its tip!
"Mortals, you know not the height of heaven nor the depth of earth!"
In the sky north of the Snow Region Heavenly Pond, Man Yuan's demon king form stood in the wind, his tattered blood-red cloak fluttering. He held the Sun Moon Water Fire Staff, a sinister grin curving his lips. His eyes were fixed on Lin Zhao above the Snow Region Heavenly Pond, and he said, "Years ago, you relied on the Dragon Slaying Sword to defeat Bai Lan of the Thirteen Realms. That was your peak. But... even if your sword could be drawn again, and could slay Bai Lan, it cannot slay me, Man Yuan..."
Saying this, he turned his gaze towards the eastern horizon, scoffed, and pointed the Sun Moon Water Fire Staff at the sky, roaring, "You old fellows only know how to hide in your lairs. Do you dare descend and fight me? Ancestor of the Military School, do you dare to fight? And you sages of the Confucian school, do you dare descend? Hmph, as for those old fellows of the Mohist school, there's no point in even mentioning them; not a single one is capable of fighting. Fine, if none of you are willing to descend, then I, Man Yuan, will turn this world upside down!"
"Prepare for battle!"
Lin Zhao held Li Quan and ascended on his sword.
In the next moment, Man Yuan, enveloped in countless flames, unleashed a golden dharma image thousands of feet tall. The Sun Moon Water Fire Staff, like a colossal mountain, struck the Juque Umbrella Sword Formation. Even Wu Zhi, who had reached the peak of the Eleventh Realm, could not withstand it. With a single powerful blow, the palm holding the sword split, blood gushing out. She, along with her sword, plummeted into the Snow Region Heavenly Pond. This vast formation was directly smashed through.
"Spirit Crystal Cannon!"
Mu Gua roared. The Flood Dragon Boats that had only recently ascended reversed their course, turning their sides towards the demon king Man Yuan. Spirit Crystal Cannons spat fiery serpents, detonating amidst flames around Man Yuan's colossal dharma image. But Man Yuan's great dao was fire-aligned, and the attacks from the Spirit Crystal Cannons were like tickling him. His eyes burned with fierce light. He swept the Sun Moon Water Fire Staff, first crushing the protective barrier array of the Flood Dragon Boats, and then carving a terrifying scar across the massive vessel, sending the entire Flood Dragon Boat plummeting towards the back of the mountain.
Lin Zhao watched, feeling as though he was suffocating. They were clearly not on the same level. The demon king Man Yuan before him could no longer be considered merely the peak of the Thirteenth Realm; based on the strength he displayed, he should be regarded as a true Fourteenth Realm Great Demon!
...
To the south, water currents flowed through the sky.
"Aunt, no!"
Lin Zhao suddenly looked back and said into his mental lake, "The Snow Region Heavenly Pond can be destroyed, but you, Aunt, cannot die. After the Snow Region Heavenly Pond is razed, the next target for the demon race will be the Washing Sword River. You are at the Fourteenth Realm at the Washing Sword River; perhaps you can withstand Man Yuan. If you come to the Snow Region Heavenly Pond, it will be suicide. Absolutely not!"
"Little Zhao..."
Lin Xingchu's voice trembled slightly. "Are you going to let Aunt witness your death again?"
Lin Zhao said softly, "Aunt, trust me. This time, I absolutely will not die."
Lin Xingchu fell silent.
...
At this moment, streaks of sword light arrived from the east and west. These were the attacks from the Military School cultivators on the Sword Suppression Tower, driving their flying swords. In an instant, a dense, complex barrage of sword light bombarded Man Yuan's massive body. It was all repelled. Although it caused no substantial damage, Man Yuan was angered. He let out a low roar and laughed, "I haven't come to find you yet, and you're coming to seek death?!"
His colossal dharma image shifted, and the Sun Moon Water Fire Staff swept outwards!
"Boom!"
With a sky-shattering roar, a Sword Suppression Tower was reduced to countless fragments under the sweep of the iron rod. The hundreds of Military School cultivators defending the Sword Suppression Tower were mostly unable to dodge and were instantly consumed by the dense demonic energy. The power of a Sword Suppression Tower could not withstand even one blow from Man Yuan!
"Again!"
Man Yuan strode forward, his massive dharma image shifting a hundred miles in an instant. He thrust the Sun Moon Water Fire Staff forward, and another Sword Suppression Tower was pierced into countless fragments. The world was a blur of blood and flesh. The flying swords that had flown from the Sword Suppression Towers swirled around the colossal dharma image of the Sun Moon Water Fire Staff, but they were utterly powerless.
"Third one!"
Man Yuan shifted his dharma image, and the radiance of the third strike ascended from the earth.
"Enough!"
Just then, a clear voice echoed through the heavens and earth. Immediately, strands of golden imperial edict inscriptions descended. In the clouds, an elder in a gray-white robe descended from the upper realm. He exuded an aura of majesty, carrying a uniquely shaped sword box on his back. His eyes, fixed on the peak Thirteen Realms demon king before him, blazed with fury.
The Mohist Grandmaster, sealed by the Fourteenth Realm Heaven's Mandate, could no longer bear to watch the Military School cultivators perish in vain and finally descended to the mortal world!