amaotonovel Chapter 1381 Slaying the Yue Emperor!
Chapter 1381 Slaying the Yue Emperor!
The capital of Yue Kingdom still presents a scene of prosperity and grandeur.
On Zhuque Avenue, carriages and horses bustled about, the shouts of vendors mingled with the sounds of music from restaurants, and the red walls and golden tiles of the palace stood majestically under the autumn sun, the moat reflecting the rows of pavilions and towers. The common people hurried along, their faces showing no worry, clearly the shadow of the invasion of the six demonic sects had not yet fallen upon this ancient capital.
Qin Hao, dressed in a green robe, concealed his powerful spiritual energy, which was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and steadily suppressed his aura to the seventh level of Qi Refining, blending into the bustling crowd.
He lingered with great interest at the stalls selling worldly antiques, spending lavishly and speaking with the curiosity and naiveté of a scion of a wealthy family towards mundane things. The bulging storage bag at his waist swayed slightly, adding to his air of a naive and eager newcomer.
“Young Master, this man’s aura is weak and his behavior is arrogant, but he is quite wealthy. He seems to be a rookie from some small family who has come out to gain experience.” On the second floor of a teahouse facing the street, a gray-clad man with a sallow complexion and sinister eyes whispered to a figure draped in a large cloak beside him.
The cloaked figure nodded slightly, his gaze like a hook, firmly fixed on Qin Hao, who was looking around below: "Keep your tail clean, 'Lord Tie Luo' needs fresh blood to stabilize his cultivation recently."
As night falls, the noise fades away, and all is quiet.
Qin Hao lodged at "Yuelaiju," an inconspicuous mid-range inn in the east of the city. He sat cross-legged on a simple wooden bed, seemingly practicing breathing exercises, but in reality, his divine sense quietly covered the entire inn and even several nearby streets and alleys like a spider web.
Insects chirped outside the window, and the moonlight was cool and clear. Not long after the third watch drum sounded, a very faint, sweet and cloyingly fragrant pinkish-white mist, as if it were alive, silently seeped in through the cracks in the window frame.
"Here it comes." Qin Hao sneered inwardly, but showed no sign on his face. He deliberately slowed his breathing and relaxed his body slightly. When the fog became so thick that it was visible to the naked eye, he pretended to be drowsy, his eyelids feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds. After struggling a few times, he collapsed onto the bed with a "thud" and remained motionless.
A few suppressed snickers came from outside the window:
"Tsk tsk, these young masters and ladies from cultivation families are really spoiled. They can't even be bothered to set up a warning barrier when they go out. They deserve to be slaughtered!"
"Enough with the nonsense, hurry up! Lord Tielu has a bad temper, or he'll skin you alive!"
The wooden window was silently pried open, and two dark figures slipped into the room like cats. One quickly patted Qin Hao a few times to confirm that he was indeed unconscious; the other deftly stuffed him into a large burlap sack.
The two men shouldered the sacks, expertly climbed out of the window, and disappeared into the night, speeding towards a sinister Taoist temple on the outskirts of the capital.
Half an hour later, deep in the cold and damp dungeon.
Water droplets condensed on the cold stone walls, mingling with the heavy stench of blood and decay. A few dim oil lamps flickered, casting long, twisted shadows of the iron bars like ghostly apparitions.
Qin Hao was carelessly tossed onto a pile of withered grass in a corner, like livestock awaiting slaughter. The footsteps faded into the distance, and the iron gate slammed shut with a clang.
After confirming that there were no more spiritual fluctuations monitoring his surroundings, Qin Hao slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were clear and sharp, showing no trace of the drug's influence.
He sat up and looked around the cell specifically for holding blood sacrifices. The walls were engraved with simple imprisoning runes, which isolated spiritual energy from the outside in. They were more than enough to deal with Qi Refining stage cultivators, but they were useless against the divine sense of late Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.
"It's time to close the net," Qin Hao murmured, gently patting the storage pouch at his waist. A streak of crimson light emerged like a dragon rising from the sea.
"break!"
The Crimson Soul Blade unleashed a scorching, sharp blade light, fiercely slashing towards the binding runes flowing on the wall! The rune light screen shattered like a fragile eggshell with a "crack," causing the entire dungeon to shake violently, with gravel falling down in a shower.
"what happened?!"
"Something's happened in the dungeon! Go check it out!"
Suddenly, a chaotic cacophony of shouts and running sounds erupted outside.
Qin Hao kicked the heavy iron door open and darted out like a ghost. He ran straight into seven or eight black-robed cultists who had rushed over after hearing the commotion; most of them were at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining.
The leader, a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator, was both shocked and furious: "How dare you! You dare to cause trouble on Lord Tie Luo's territory! Seize him!"
His response was met with an overwhelming barrage of crimson blade shadows! Under Qin Hao's control, the Crimson Soul Blade danced like a leaping fire sprite, each flash bringing forth a spray of blood and the crisp sound of bones shattering.
The cramped space of the dungeon became a one-sided slaughterhouse. The speed of the Crimson Soul Blade was unbelievable. The magic weapons of those low-level cultists had barely begun to glow when they were cut in two, along with their weapons.
The leader, at the ninth level of Qi Refining, attempted to conjure a bone shield, but the Crimson Soul Blade pierced it like a hot knife through butter, its momentum undiminished, pinning him to the cold stone wall! The slaughter was completed in the blink of an eye, the intense stench of blood almost overpowering the original putrid smell of the dungeon.
"You bastard! Who dares to act wildly in front of me!" A furious roar, as loud as thunder, exploded from the depths of the dungeon. A powerful aura of malevolence swept over like a tangible shockwave, causing Qin Hao's clothes to flutter wildly.
Heavy footsteps approached like drumbeats, and a figure nearly ten feet tall, with muscles bulging like a steel tower, appeared at the end of the passage. His bare upper body was covered with hideous scars, his bald head was shiny, and his large, copper-bell-shaped eyes flashed with a ferocious red light. He was none other than Tie Luo, one of the four Blood Servants of the Black Fiend Cult, known for his physical strength and immense power!
It unleashed its early Foundation Establishment aura without reservation, attempting to crush the seemingly "Qi Refining" intruder before it.
Tie Luo's gaze swept over the mess of his men's corpses, finally settling on Qin Hao. He roared in a deep voice, "Boy, no matter what underhanded tricks you used, if you dare to touch my men, today I'll tear your soul out and devour your flesh!"
Faced with Tie Luo's fierce and oppressive aura, Qin Hao remained calm and composed, his eyes even carrying a hint of mockery. He recalled the Crimson Soul Blade, its blade shimmering with an uncertain crimson light.
"I don't need any underhanded tricks to deal with you."
Before he finished speaking, Qin Hao moved! Instead of probing from a distance, he instantly increased the speed of his Swiftness Talisman and Cloud-Stepping Boots to their maximum! He transformed into a blurry azure afterimage, and with astonishing speed, he rushed straight to Tie Luo's side the instant Tie Luo's pupils contracted sharply!
A warning screamed in Tie Luo's heart! This speed was simply beyond the reach of someone at the Qi Refining stage! He roared, crossed his arms to protect his chest and abdomen, and shone a bright earthy yellow light, attempting to withstand this thunderous blow!
The Crimson Soul Blade, accompanied by a piercing shriek that tore through the air, aimed straight for Tie Luo's heart! Tie Luo blocked with both arms, and a piercing metallic scraping sound rang out. This Tie Luo was indeed somewhat skilled; a string of sparks burst from the sharp tip of the Crimson Soul Blade, but it only left two deep gashes on his arms.
However, just as Tello showed a look of delight, and even made sarcastic remarks.
A dark, almost shadowy, emerald-green streak of light shot silently from Qin Hao's sleeve! Its speed was lightning-fast, its trajectory unpredictable! It was none other than the treacherous and vicious Ink Dragon Venomous Fang Dagger!
Tie Luo's copper bell-like eyes widened suddenly; he sensed a deadly threat! But he was restrained by the Crimson Soul Blade, and his heavy body couldn't dodge in time, only managing to barely turn to the side!
"Pfft!"
The venomous dagger pierced precisely below his right shoulder blade! A terrifying toxin, domineering, numbing, and penetrating straight to the heart, exploded instantly!
The Black Dragon's poison is a deadly poison that even Wang Chan, the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect who possesses great treasures, is extremely wary of!
"Ah—!" Tie Luo let out a deafening scream, the excruciating pain causing him to instantly lose control of his magical power. The earthy yellow luster on his body flickered violently and rapidly faded, his massive body began to convulse and shrink like a deflated balloon, the eerie bulges under his skin instantly flattened, and the ferocity in his eyes was replaced by boundless fear and pain. He tried to say something, but only foul-smelling black blood gushed from his mouth.
Qin Hao's eyes were cold, and he did not hesitate at all.
The Crimson Soul Blade's crimson light surged, like a rainbow piercing the sun!
A flash of red light passed by.
With an expression of disbelief, Tieluo's enormous head shot into the sky! The headless, massive body crashed to the ground, and its foul-smelling blood quickly soaked into the cold earth.
Qin Hao retrieved the Crimson Soul Blade and the Poison Fang Dagger, bent down and took the storage bag from Tie Luo's charred body. He scanned it with his divine sense and found nothing of value except some refining materials and spirit stones.
"What Four Blood Servants? They're all penniless wretches!"
"Hey, this is..."
After Tie Luo's body was completely burned, a pale golden pill appeared.
"Blood Coagulation Five Elements Pill?"
Qin Hao casually tossed it into his storage bag. This thing was of no use to him, but he could use it to exchange for some pills or something with Han Li.
After annihilating Tie Luo, Qin Hao was not in a hurry to leave this bloody place. He looked around at the ruins of the dilapidated dungeon, a cold smile curving his lips. His fingertips flew rapidly, and array flags engraved with intricate runes shot out like a shower of flowers, disappearing into the walls, the ground, and even the void around the dungeon.
A faint five-colored light flashed and disappeared in an instant, and a mysterious spatial fluctuation quietly spread out, enveloping the entire dungeon area. After the arrangement was completed, Qin Hao's figure rippled like water and instantly disappeared into the core area of the formation. His aura blended perfectly with the surrounding environment, leaving no trace.
Sure enough, it didn't even take the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!
Three streaks of light, each a different color and exuding a chilling aura, arrived in an instant, hovering above the ravaged dungeon ruins, like sharks that had caught the scent of blood.
On the left was a figure shrouded in a visible layer of pale blue icy mist. He was thin, his face indistinct, revealing only a pair of cold, emotionless eyes. The chill permeated the air, even causing frost to form on the pebbles beneath his feet.
The person in the middle wore a wide robe covered with strange blue runes. His face was withered, his eyes were sunken, and he was leaning on a withered wooden staff wrapped with green vines.
On the right is a short, stocky man with fine, bluish scales covering his joints. His eyes are vertical, revealing a sinister and swift quality befitting a snake.
The three men stared grimly at Tie Luo's massive, decapitated corpse and the scattered limbs of his followers. Tie Luo's defense and strength were among the best of the four Blood Servants, yet he had been so cleanly and swiftly beheaded in his own stronghold, without even having time to unleash his demonic transformation?
"Who did this?" The Ice Demon's voice was like two pieces of ice rubbing together, and the bone-chilling killing intent caused the air temperature to plummet.
"How dare you! You dare to provoke the Black Fiend Cult!"
"The Ironclad Copper Armor Technique has formidable defense, and after its demonic transformation, its skin and flesh have become even thicker. Yet it was killed in one blow, without even having time to call for help... The opponent must be at least a mid-Foundation Establishment expert, and must possess a powerful magic weapon or method to counter physical defense!" The wrinkles on the withered face with blue patterns deepened, and the voice was hoarse as he analyzed, while the green vines on the withered wooden staff twisted uneasily.
The leaf snake's vertical pupils scanned its surroundings, its scarlet forked tongue flickering rapidly as it caught any lingering scent in the air: "The smell of blood is strong, but the killer's spiritual energy... is very faint, very unfamiliar! And... it doesn't seem to have gone far away?!"
Just as the leaf snake finished speaking!
A sudden change occurred!
The three of them felt the surrounding space suddenly freeze, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth fluctuated violently as if boiling water was being boiled. The scene in front of them was like a broken mirror peeling off piece by piece, and then it was replaced by a boundless, lush bamboo forest with vibrant green leaves!
The bamboo shadows swayed, and the mist swirled, completely obscuring the sky, the ruins, and each other's figures! A powerful spatial binding force suddenly descended, like invisible shackles binding them!
"Oh no! We've been tricked! It's a formation!" Ye She reacted the fastest, crying out in alarm. Her whole body flashed with azure light as she tried to transform into a swift azure shadow and forcefully break out of the bamboo forest!
However, no matter how hard he tried to use his magic to escape, he could never reach the edge of the bamboo forest, which seemed so close! The space seemed to stretch infinitely!
"Too late!" the Ice Demon roared, his icy mist suddenly condensing into a thick layer of ice armor. "Be careful! Tie Luo will surely die at the hands of this formation and its creator!"
He made hand seals, and countless ice spikes instantly condensed and shot out in all directions with a sharp whistling sound, attempting to forcefully break through this strange bamboo forest illusion! The ice spikes shot into the depths of the bamboo forest, but it was like a mud ox entering the sea, only stirring up a few bamboo leaves to fall, without even a ripple.
The old Taoist priest with blue markings had an extremely solemn expression, and he slammed his withered wooden staff heavily on the ground: "What a strange illusion array!"
He muttered incantations, and the green vines wrapped around the withered wooden staff suddenly grew wildly, transforming into countless ferocious venomous pythons that lashed out at the surrounding green bamboo. At the same time, ripples of green containing corrosive power spread out like waves, attempting to pollute and destroy the foundation of the formation.
Qin Hao's icy voice seemed to come from the depths of hell, echoing throughout the bamboo forest: "You guessed right, but unfortunately there's no reward. Besides, you're about to go down and join him!"
"You cowardly rat hiding your head and tail! Get out here!" Leaf Serpent roared, his vertical pupils flashing with ferocity. The silver whip at his waist, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, cracked with a sharp "snap" and transformed into a silver lightning bolt, tearing through the mist and lashing towards the direction from which the voice came!
Wherever the whip passed, several thick bamboo stalks snapped in two! Yet, beyond the broken bamboo lay only a vast sea of bamboo, with no sign of the enemy.
"Since you're in such a hurry to get going, then I'll grant your wish!" Qin Hao's voice was filled with chilling killing intent.
Before he could finish his words, the attack arrived!
Several talismans rained down on the three of them.
"Golden Blade Storm Talisman!"
Hundreds of talismans, gleaming with blinding golden light, exploded simultaneously! In an instant, it was as if the gates to a metal hell had opened above the bamboo forest!
Thousands of palm-sized golden wind blades materialized out of thin air, each with edges as sharp as divine weapons! They roared and spun, forming destructive golden tornadoes that swept indiscriminately toward the three blood servants who were separated in the formation!
Wherever the storm passed, the resilient, ethereal bamboo was shredded into dust like wheat stalks. The sharp, metallic energy sliced through the air, producing a teeth-grinding hissing sound! The entire bamboo forest was filled with a chilling golden light!
"Ice Walls Rise!" The Ice Demon's expression changed drastically, and he roared. Instantly, massive, crystal-clear ice walls, several feet thick, rose from the ground, layer upon layer, blocking his path! The golden storm slammed into the ice walls, creating a deafening roar! Ice shards mixed with golden fragments flew everywhere!
The ice demon grunted and retreated step by step under the continuous impact of the storm. The solid ice wall kept shattering and reforming, and its magic power was rapidly being consumed!
The Leaf Serpent was the most agile creature. The moment the golden storm approached, it twisted its body strangely, moving and dodging at high speed along the gaps in the wind blades like a serpent! At the same time, the silver whip at its waist danced so tightly that it formed a silver light shield, scooping away or shattering the scattered wind blades that it couldn't dodge in time!
He tried to use his speed to break out of the storm zone, but the spatial distortion of the formation made him feel like he was spinning in place.
The old Taoist priest with blue veins radiated a brilliant blue light. His withered wooden staff was planted in the ground, and countless thick vines burst forth from the earth, frantically intertwining and coiling, instantly forming a massive, constantly writhing vine fortress around him! The storm of golden blades sliced through the vines with muffled "plop" sounds, and the sap from the severed vines splattered everywhere, yet they regenerated at a speed visible to the naked eye! The vine fortress shook violently in the storm, its surface sheared away in thick layers, but its defenses remained unbroken for the time being!
Qingwen hid in the center of the fortress, his face gloomy, chanting incessantly. The runes at the top of his withered wooden staff glowed with a faint green light, clearly brewing a stronger wood-based counter-spell.
Would Qin Hao give him that chance?
"Explosive Flame Talisman! Fall!"
The second wave of attacks followed immediately! Dozens of blood-red talismans detonated simultaneously above the old Taoist's vine fortress!
"Boom! Boom boom boom—!!!"
Like dozens of miniature suns exploding in the sky above the bamboo sea! The terrifying heat instantly ignited the air! A violent shockwave of flames, mixed with fragments of shattered metal, slammed into the vine fortress! Fire overcomes wood! This was an absolute suppression in terms of attributes!
Intense flames engulfed the sky! The sturdy vine fortress was instantly transformed into a massive fireball under the frenzied onslaught of flames and shockwaves! The crackling sound of burning was incessant! The rate of regeneration was far outpaced by the rate of destruction! The outer vines rapidly carbonized and disintegrated under the intense heat!
The old Taoist priest with blue patterns, hiding in the center, let out a shrill scream. Clearly, the magic power maintaining the fortress had been severely damaged and backfired! His withered face was distorted in the firelight, and his eyes were filled with horror and resentment!
"Now!" Qin Hao's gaze locked onto Qingwen, whose defenses had been weakened by the flames.
"Golden Talisman! Gather!"
A golden talisman imbued with the sharp energy of Geng metal merged into the Crimson Soul Blade! The Crimson Soul Blade emitted an excited, clear cry, and the crimson light on its blade surged several times over, condensing into a condensed blade aura over ten feet long!
The Crimson Soul Blade transformed into a blood-red rainbow that pierced through the heavens and earth! Ignoring spatial distance, it instantly pierced through the raging fireball of vines!
"No!! Green Wood Protection!" The old Taoist with green patterns was terrified. He held the withered wooden staff horizontally in front of his chest, and his life essence burned wildly in an attempt to activate the last defense!
puff!
The knife flashed!
A crimson blade tip emerged from the old Taoist priest's back! His hastily activated protective aura shattered like paper! The withered wooden staff was severed in two!
The scorching and domineering spiritual power contained within the blade instantly destroyed all the life force within his body! The old Taoist with green patterns stiffened, looking down in disbelief at the bloody hole in his chest, the light in his eyes quickly dimmed, and his body was completely engulfed by the exploding flames!
"Azure Pattern!!" The Ice Demon and the Leaf Serpent roared in shock and fury at the same time! The shared grief of the rabbits in their deaths further ignited alarm bells in their hearts!
Qin Hao killed Qingwen without pausing for a moment! Several Golden Blade Storm Talismans were unleashed again, targeting the fastest Leaf Serpent!
Meanwhile, more fiery runes, like a persistent thorn in the side, locked onto the ice demon who was doing its best to resist the storm!
Spurred by the death of the blue tattoo, the leaf snake unleashed its ferocity! It roared, and the blue scales on its body shone brightly. It actually stretched and twisted like a giant python, its speed increasing dramatically. It narrowly escaped the dense net of golden wind blades and a string of tracking fire runes!
He rushed straight towards the center of the formation with an uncanny speed—he keenly sensed the source of the subtle spiritual energy fluctuation that Qin Hao had just used during his attack!
"Found you! Die!" Ye She's eyes flashed with madness. He poured all his magic power into his silver whip, the tip tearing through the air with a piercing shriek, transforming into a silver venomous dragon that pierced through the void, aiming straight for a spatial node in the core area of the formation! He was betting that Qin Hao was there! This strike contained all the magic power he had after his demonic transformation, enough to severely injure a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Facing the Leaf Serpent's desperate attack, Qin Hao, at the core of the formation, curled his lips into a mocking smile.
"You're the one I've been waiting for!"
Just as the silver whip was about to touch that spatial node, the space in that area rippled violently like water! A massive stone shield talisman, as thick as a mountain and imbued with immense earth-elemental spiritual power, appeared out of thin air!
"Thick Earth Talisman! Condense!"
Boom!
The silver venomous dragon slammed into the massive, earthen-yellow stone shield! Amidst the deafening roar, the surface of the stone shield cracked, but it successfully blocked the force of the leaf snake's desperate attack! The insidious power contained in the whip tip didn't even have time to penetrate.
The leaf snake's all-out attack, aimed at breaking through the enemy's defenses, missed its target. Its old power was gone, and new power had not yet been generated, so its movements inevitably slowed down slightly! And in that instant, a deadly killing intent descended!
A sliver of eerie green light, like the sting of a venomous scorpion, appeared without warning before the Leaf Serpent's most vulnerable spot—its throat—affected by its rage and all-out attack! Swift! Ruthless! Precise! It was none other than the Ink Dragon Venomous Fang Dagger, the very weapon that had previously killed Tie Luo and remained hidden in the shadows of the void!
"Uh..." Leaf Serpent's vertical pupils instantly shrank to pinpoints! He didn't even see where the attack came from! Everything happened too fast! The terrifying black dragon poison contained in the venomous fang dagger had already rushed straight to his brain and heart along his blood vessels the moment his throat exploded!
Even with his demonized body possessing extremely strong resistance to poison, it was still difficult to withstand the deadly poison of the black dragon on the Poison Fang Dagger. His entire demonized body fell from mid-air like a puppet with broken strings, crashing into the bamboo forest below and stirring up a cloud of dust.
The Ice Demon witnessed the tragic deaths of Qingwen and Yeshe, and his heart turned to ice! He lost all will to fight! He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood essence onto the ice shield in front of him, and the ice shield instantly transformed into an incomparably thick coffin of black ice, enveloping him completely!
At the same time, several ice-blue talismans exploded, transforming into countless ice crystal arrows that rained down indiscriminately in all directions, attempting to disrupt Qin Hao's judgment!
"Ice Soul Escape!" The Ice Demon screamed as it activated its life-saving secret technique. The Xuanbing Coffin transformed into a blinding blue light, charging headlong in one direction, attempting to forcefully break free of the illusion array's restraints!
"Want to leave? Dream on!" Qin Hao's voice was icy.
"Reverse the Five Elements! Suppress!"
As Qin Hao activated his magic technique, the entire bamboo sea space suddenly collapsed and contracted inward! The blue cold light transformed from the ice demon seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall, and its speed decreased sharply!
At the same time, Qin Hao formed a hand seal and pressed down hard in the direction of the ice demon!
"Explosive Flame Talisman! Break it!"
Several crimson talismans appeared simultaneously in front of, above, and to the left and right of the Ice Demon's charging path! They detonated instantly!
Rumble——! ! !
The world lost its color! Destructive white flames illuminated the entire bamboo forest!
Under the combined impact of the exploding flames, the thick layer of ice coffin, like thin ice under the scorching sun, could only withstand the pressure for less than a breath before it let out a mournful cry of despair, exploded, and vaporized!
The ice demon's figure appeared instantly in the blazing white flames, his face still bearing the last traces of horror and despair, his protective aura vanishing like a soap bubble.
"Do not--!!!"
The piercing screams were completely swallowed up by the deafening explosion!
The flames subsided, leaving only a charred mark and a few wisps of smoke.
The Ice Demon was annihilated, body and soul destroyed!
Qin Hao waved his hand to dispel the Inverted Five Elements Array. The bamboo forest illusion receded like a tide, revealing the dilapidated ruins of the dungeon and several charred pits. He quickly took the storage artifacts of Qingwen and Yeshe, as well as the few dimly lit artifacts left behind by the Ice Demon, into his hands.
They acquired three Blood Condensation Five Elements Pills, each exuding a malevolent aura.
"The four Blood Servants have all been dealt with. It's time to go see the main culprit."
A glint flashed in Qin Hao's eyes, and without hesitation, he transformed into a streak of crimson light, rushing toward the most sinister and magnificent hall deep within the palace!
……
The main hall was brightly lit and filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, but it could not conceal the chilling and malevolent aura emanating from its depths.
Qin Hao made no attempt to conceal his powerful aura as a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Like a sharp sword, he pierced through the layers of restrictions outside the palace and landed with a bang outside the palace gate! The heavy vermilion gate seemed to be struck by an invisible force, and with a "bang," it exploded inward into countless pieces of wood!
Inside the hall, the Yue Emperor, who was sitting cross-legged on a dragon-patterned blood jade futon, suddenly opened his eyes! He was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, his face was majestic, but his eyes were sinister and deep, and his body was filled with an intense, impenetrable blood-red aura! The pressure of the late-stage Foundation Establishment peak level surged out like a tidal wave, colliding fiercely with Qin Hao's aura!
"You audacious madman! Trespassing into the Forbidden Palace, what is your punishment!" The Yue Emperor's voice was like the clanging of metal, carrying the wrath of an emperor and the brutality of a demonic overlord.
"What crime is there in slaying demons and eliminating evil?" Qin Hao's expression was cold and stern as he stepped into the main hall. The Crimson Soul Blade hummed and hovered in front of him, ready to strike.
The Emperor Yue's pupils contracted slightly, and then he unleashed a terrifying killing intent. A long sword, entirely black with viscous blood flames swirling around its blade, appeared in his hand—the Black Blood Blade!
"Youngster! Die!"
With a soul-ripping shriek, the Black Blood Blade slashed out! A dark red blade of light, several meters long, swept down like a reversed River Styx, a sea of blood churning! Wherever it passed, the space itself seemed to be stained with a layer of filthy blood!
Facing the Yue Emperor's furious attack, Qin Hao dared not be careless in the slightest! The Crimson Soul Blade transformed into a condensed crimson streak to meet the attack! At the same time, several golden "Golden罡 Talismans" engraved with solid runes instantly surrounded his body, forming layers of golden light shields!
"boom!"
The crimson and dark red blades collided violently! A violent shockwave swept out, instantly turning the exquisite furnishings in the hall into dust! Spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the walls!
Qin Hao grunted, his body sent flying backward by the immense force, crashing into a golden pillar adorned with coiled dragons! The Vajra rune shield surrounding him shattered considerably! His blood surged! The Crimson Soul Blade also let out a mournful cry, its spiritual light dimming considerably. The corrupting power of the Black Blood Blade even began to erode the blade!
"Hmph! A mere late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator dares to be so insolent before me!" Emperor Yue pressed his advantage relentlessly, his figure transforming into a blood-red shadow, his black blood blade unleashing a torrent of bloody waves as he launched a frenzied attack! The blade's momentum was relentless, each strike carrying immense power and tainted, malevolent energy!
A fierce glint flashed in Qin Hao's eyes. He abandoned his direct confrontation, his Cloud-Stepping Boots gleaming. His figure moved like a willow in the wind, weaving and dodging amidst the raging crimson blade light, narrowly avoiding fatal attacks each time. At the same time, he continuously fired out talismans shimmering with golden light from his hands!
"Golden Blade Storm Talisman!"
Dozens of golden tornadoes reappeared, frantically cutting and weakening the blood-fiend spiritual light protecting Yue Huang's body! Although they could not cause fatal damage, they effectively hindered his pursuit and depleted his mana.
"Explosive Flame Talisman!"
A massive fireball exploded around the Yue Emperor, the intense heat scorching the bloodthirsty aura and emitting a sizzling sound.
Qin Hao fought and retreated, staggering as he went towards a relatively empty side hall behind the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Trying to run? Leave your life behind!" The Yue Emperor was bloodthirsty and would never let this weakened enemy go. He grinned maliciously, and with a wave of blood crashing down on him, he chased after him into the side hall!
The moment the Yue Emperor stepped into the side hall!
"Reverse the Five Elements! Arise!"
Qin Hao's cold voice was like an ice bead falling to the ground! The array that had been quietly set up here was activated instantly!
Five-colored light shot into the sky, enveloping the entire side hall! The environment changed abruptly; it was no longer the imperial palace, but a vast, sandy desert! The terrifying binding force descended once more! The Yue Emperor's charging figure abruptly stopped!
"What kind of formation is this!" The Yue Emperor was both shocked and furious. He tried to slash at the void with his sword, the dark red blade light striking the yellow sand and stirring up a cloud of dust, but it couldn't shake the foundation of the formation!
"You really think this broken formation can trap me?"
"Second brother, help me!"
A dark figure, using some unknown secret technique, directly pierced through the Inverted Five Elements Array and suddenly appeared in front of Emperor Yue.
However, the next second, Yue Huang's hand pierced through the chest of the Black Fiend Cult Master, absorbing his entire body's essence and blood. In the blink of an eye, Yue Huang's cultivation not only increased greatly, reaching the Pseudo-Core Realm, but he also completed his demon transformation!
"Hehehe~~~ Second brother, don't worry, I will definitely avenge you!"
A streak of blood ignored the barriers of space and shot silently toward the direction from which the fluctuations of the array's core were coming from! This was his strongest sneak attack, launched at the cost of his life essence! It was designed to break through protective spiritual light, and it was his trump card! He was confident that even a Core Formation cultivator would perish if caught off guard.
However, a scene that terrified the Yue emperor occurred!
The instant the Blood Spirit Drill was fired, Qin Hao's figure, as if he had foreseen the future, left a lifelike afterimage in the same spot, while his real body appeared several feet away by the slightest difference! The deadly Blood Spirit Drill only pierced through the afterimage left in the same spot!
"How is this possible?!" Emperor Yue exclaimed in shock, his mind reeling! This Blood Spirit Drill was silent and faster than lightning; how could his opponent have predicted and dodged it so accurately?! Unless... he knew this secret technique of his inside and out!
"Nothing is impossible! I know your methods very well!" Qin Hao's icy voice echoed across the yellow sands of the Gobi Desert.
"Now, it's time to end this!"
To ensure that the Void Heaven Remnant Map was not damaged by the powerful explosion of the stacked talismans, Qin Hao did not unleash his strongest killing move!
His hands flew like phantoms!
"Golden Blade Storm Talisman!"
Ten Golden Blade Storm Talismans erupted simultaneously! The entire Gobi Desert space covered by the Inverted Five Elements Array was completely transformed into a world of golden wind blades!
The endless, layered wind blades, like golden waves of death, relentlessly assaulted and slashed at the blood-fiend spiritual light protecting Yue Huang's body!
The Yue Emperor brandished his Black Blood Blade, creating a dark red blade curtain around him to resist the omnipresent golden storm.
The clanging and clashing sounds filled the air! The blood-fiend aura surrounding him thinned and dimmed at a visible speed, as if being ground by a grinding wheel! His pseudo-core stage mana was also rapidly depleting under this high-intensity, relentless attack!
"Ahhh! I refuse to accept this! Why should you seven sects of cultivators be high and mighty? The legacy of the Yue Kingdom's royal family, built up over six generations, must not be squandered in my hands!" The Yue Emperor was like a madman, frantically burning his essence blood, and wielding the Black Blood Blade even more rapidly, trying to break through the storm's blockade.
However, the power of ten intermediate-level talismans is equivalent to the full-force attack of ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. Combined with the suppression of the formation, he was like a beast trapped in a swamp, possessing power but having nowhere to unleash it!
Qin Hao's eyes sharpened, and he slapped out two more talismans.
"Greatsword Rune! Fusion!"
"Golden Sharp Talisman! Attach!"
Two radiant talismans struck the Crimson Soul Blade simultaneously! One talisman exploded, transforming into an incredibly condensed, massive golden sword shadow that merged with the Crimson Soul Blade, instantly causing it to swell to a ten-zhang (approximately 33 meters) in size! The other talisman transformed into countless fine golden runes, flowing like water across the surface of the giant blade, endowing it with unparalleled sharpness!
The Crimson Soul Blade now seemed to have become a divine weapon capable of splitting the heavens and earth! The terrifying Geng metal energy mixed with the scorching blade intent, tearing through the sky!
"cut!!!"
With a furious roar from Qin Hao, the ten-zhang-long golden-red giant blade, carrying the momentum to cleave mountains and rivers, tore through layers of golden wind and rain, and slashed down at the Yue Emperor, whose blood-fiend protective shield was teetering on the brink of collapse! It was unstoppable!
The Emperor of Yue finally revealed boundless fear in his eyes! He felt the call of death! He roared, pouring all his remaining magic power and essence into the Black Blood Blade, and held it horizontally to meet the earth-shattering giant blade! He attempted a final struggle!
clang--! ! !
The deafening clang of metal against metal reverberated throughout the entire Gobi Desert!
The Black Blood Blade let out a shrill wail, the blood flames on its blade dissipated, and its spiritual light dimmed instantly! Immediately afterward, a piercing cracking sound rang out!
With a thud, the once mighty Emperor of Yue perished!
After killing Empress Yue, Qin Hao took her storage bag into his hand. In addition to the Black Blood Blade and a jade slip, there was also a "Soul Gathering Bowl" magic artifact, but this thing was of little use to Qin Hao.
Qin Hao only smiled when a tattered map appeared in his hand.
"The Fragment of the Void Heaven Map—only with it can one enter the Void Heaven Palace, which is a top-tier dungeon in the human realm!"
After cleaning up the battlefield, Qin Hao did not leave immediately. Instead, he captured a eunuch, used a soul-capturing technique to make him take him to the Yue Emperor's private treasury.
After breaking the magic array of the treasure vault, Qin Hao swept away everything in the Yue Emperor's treasure vault that caught his eye.
As expected of the accumulation of several generations of emperors of the Yue Kingdom, in addition to hundreds of mid-grade spirit stones, there are also seven high-grade spirit stones and tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones. In addition, there are five or six kinds of materials for refining magic weapons. Presumably, the Yue emperor collected them for his own core formation, and now they have all benefited Qin Hao.
A moment later, a streak of dark light shot out from the west gate of the Yue Kingdom's capital. (End of Chapter)