Chapter 86: The Fall of the Demonic Lotus Saint!
"Rumble—"
At this moment, in this deathly silent world, astonishing energy fluctuations came from above the volcano.
Two violent auras contended against each other, locked in an unceasing great battle. Snowflakes spread out across the heavens and earth like flying blades, stirring up an ice and snow storm, churning the boundless skies in a sight that made one's heart tremble with fear.
Great dragon claws stretched across the sky at times; a Vermilion Bird bathed in flames at others; even a giant purple eye appeared. Both sides' strength had long since surpassed the scope of Dou Huang.
All manner of formidable Dou Techniques emerged in endless succession. The two of them seemed like tireless fighting machines. With the mere raising of a hand, they caused countless snow mountains to crumble.
At the center of the battle, two circles of indescribably terrifying force suddenly rippled outwards. Immediately after, two great suns—one purple, one black—rose one after the other.
"Rumble!"
Both figures were sent flying out, but right after, they swiftly charged back in and fought together again.
Vast Dou Qi rippled around them, spreading like a tide. Little Red gripped a purple-crystal spear, cold light pulsing at its tip as it pointed straight at Jiang Yun.
Jiang Yun held a black flame halberd in hand. His brow arched slightly. In the next moment, the opponent's figure moved, already darting forth, the purple-crystal long spear in hand dancing into several purple spear flowers, enveloping Jiang Yun's vital points with incomparable ferocity.
"Clang—"
Jiang Yun reacted swiftly. As the opponent charged within a few meters of him, the halberd in his hand also met the blooming spear flowers head-on with equally sharp ferocity. Instantly, sparks flew in all directions, and violent gale winds swept out from the point of contact.
The frenzied offensive erupted once more. Sky-filling spear shadows and halberd shadows danced, each occupying one side of the sky. The sparks that flickered across the sky were dazzling to behold.
"Bang—"
After yet another clash, neither paid the other any heed as they charged in once more!
The red Jiang Yun strode forward, his red robes fluttering, as if a heavenly being descended to the world. Around him, the Four Symbols roared, evolving a stretch of starry sky. The Four Symbol True Spirits stabilized the universe around him.
Jiang Yun's hair danced wildly, his body standing firm like a demonic mountain. In his two eyes, black and white sacred flames flickered, like two demonic suns rising and falling.
With every step he took, the aura around Jiang Yun surged by a fraction. Gradually, sky-reaching demonic flames soared into the heavens, coalescing into a phantom image behind him.
Bang!
Jiang Yun's eyes blazed intensely. No words were necessary. Fighting up to this point, Jiang Yun had long since abandoned all extraneous thoughts. He only wanted an all-out, exhilarating battle. His entire person transformed into a streak of black light as he charged in, launching a lethal strike without any wasted movement.
A punch blasted forth from him, a black demonic sun stretching across the sky. The scorching black flames seemed to transform into a black dragon, winding forth and shaking space itself.
Screech!
A fiery-red Vermilion Bird beat its wings, closely followed by the White Tiger, the Azure Dragon, and the Black Tortoise behind it. The opponent faced Jiang Yun's offensive with no fear, similarly blasting forward with a punch, the Four Symbols in tow, as if the sovereign of this world.
Rumble!
The firmament shook, and snow mountains shattered. Both figures shuddered violently, bursting with dazzling splendor like two great suns, blindingly brilliant.
"Kill—"
"A mere counterfeit—how can you stop me—"
Jiang Yun roared. Endless black and white twin flames spewed from his body, transforming into two giant dragons—one black, one white—slowly intertwining, penetrating heaven and reaching earth, illuminating the universe.
"Roar!"
Opposite him, the fiery-red figure let out a long howl. The four great spirit beasts transformed into four great seals, slowly merging together, suspended in his palm.
Holding the seal in one hand, the opponent was like a flame sovereign, his head of red hair cascading loose, blasting forward seal in hand with utterly intimidating might.
"Boom!"
A palm descended. Infinite black flames invaded every nook and cranny. Even before arriving, they incinerated the surrounding heaven and earth, evaporating a snow mountain below into nothingness.
Jiang Yun exuded a terrifying aura. Fighting up to this moment, his state had reached an unprecedented peak. This one palm strike seemed to break some boundary, making him feel as if he had suddenly grown several times stronger.
He charged forward in a massacre, giving the opponent no chance to catch their breath. Sky-filling black flames swept in overwhelmingly, suppressing all ten directions of heaven and earth, completely engulfing the red-robed figure.
"Bang—"
The red figure was shattered by Jiang Yun's single palm, transforming into sky-filling red specks of fire. But in the next instant, something bizarre happened: the sky-filling red flames blazed even brighter. Seen from afar, they were like a sea of fire wreathing the horizon.
The sea of fire spread. At its center, that fiery-red human figure reappeared. Its head of fiery red hair grew deeper and deeper red, until finally, it seemed like flowing fresh blood.
"Kill—"
The sea of fire pervaded, and sounds of slaughter rumbled noisily, rolling out from within. Even in those sounds, scorching sound waves were carried.
Within the sea of flames, the opponent's figure flickered in and out of sight. In the next instant, the sea of fire churned. The void above shattered, and a massive phantom figure, completely wrapped in flames, slowly materialized.
Boom!
With the appearance of this flame phantom, the temperature of this stretch of heaven and earth seemed to turn scorching hot in an instant. The natural energy between heaven and earth boiled over in the blink of an eye.
"It's here!" Watching the change unfold, Jiang Yun's expression was calm, murmuring in an unreadable tone.
The sea of fire reflected in Jiang Yun's pupils. Flames soared. His arms hung slightly lowered, his slender palm slowly extending from his sleeve. Deep within his eyes, flickering flame sprouts also stirred forth.
"Evil demon—deserves execution—"
A deep shout suddenly swept out from within the sea of fire. In the next instant, flames surged wildly, and that flame phantom also abruptly coalesced.
But what was strange was that the flame phantom's eyes suddenly became exceptionally animated, just like those of a living being.
Its body hovered in the sky. Its right hand suddenly grabbed towards the sea of fire below. The sea of fire below exploded open.
A giant flame hand, fully three hundred meters wide, burst out of the sea, carrying astonishing heat. With a single flicker, it appeared above Jiang Yun, then a single slap descended upon him.
"Great Compassion Hand!"
Accompanied by the shout, the flame phantom completely solidified. It was an extraordinarily handsome face—one exceedingly familiar to Jiang Yun.
It was precisely—
"The Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint! So it was you!" Seeing the figure, Jiang Yun suddenly spoke out, a cold sneer on his face, as if he had long expected this.
"Demon-Slaying Xuan Spirit Light!"
Jiang Yun's movements were equally swift. Black-purple mystical light shot explosively toward the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint.
Waves of power that could only be called terrifying spread out from the sky like a hurricane.
"Rumble—"
The giant hand shattered, the sea of fire extinguished. This stretch of heaven and earth returned once more to silence.
Jiang Yun looked at the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint opposite him and chuckled lightly: "To think the renowned Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint would play such tricks?"
The Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint gave an icy smile, his blazing eyes fixed on Jiang Yun. In a deep voice, he said: "Against an otherworldly evil demon like you, no means are excessive!"
"How did you know?" Jiang Yun asked the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint with some curiosity.
"I knew the moment you first entered here. That kind of flame—though similar to the Nihility Devouring Flame—this seat is absolutely certain: that is no flame of the Dou Qi Continent!"
"So that's how it is. Worthy of a Half-Emperor who has dealt with heavenly flames his entire life. But in your current state, you cannot kill me!"
"This seat acknowledges that you are very outstanding. But the methods of any Half-Emperor are not something you can fathom."
Listening to the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint's vaguely threatening words, Jiang Yun's expression remained unchanged. He stared directly into those demonic pupils and suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha—"
"Senior Demonic Lotus Saint, there is no need to scare this junior. Ultimately, I am still within your Nightmare Heavenly Mist. Everything around me that I see is an illusion. I feel no fear in my heart, so you cannot stir my emotions to execute your extermination methods."
"Right now, the initiative lies with me. I originally thought there would be a third layer of illusion, but the moment I saw you, I knew the third layer had already collapsed on its own. Now, I can break this Nightmare Heavenly Mist at any time!"
Hearing Jiang Yun's words, the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint was inwardly shocked, but his face showed no change. He stared coldly at Jiang Yun, his face brimming with killing intent.
"You can try!"
Jiang Yun remained as unruffled as ever, calmly watching the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint, displaying utter composure.
"Fire Demon Halberd!"
After a long while, the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint suddenly roared. The sky-filling sea of fire reappeared. He gently grasped at the sea of flames, which violently churned. Then, a gigantic flame halberd, bone-white throughout, fiercely shot out from within. In a flash, it appeared in the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint's hand.
"Go!"
As his voice fell, the flame halberd in the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint's hand expanded to a thousand yards in length and descended upon Jiang Yun.
Accompanying it was a colossal flame wave of several hundred yards, abruptly spewing forth. That terrifying temperature—even knowing it was fake, the horrifying heat still made Jiang Yun's heart lurch violently.
"Come!"
At this moment, Jiang Yun made an unexpected move. Facing the sky-surging sea of fire, he offered no resistance. Spreading his arms wide, he charged headlong into the sea of flame!
"Buzz—"
At this moment, the surrounding space began to fluctuate violently. Finally, under Jiang Yun's gaze, with a resounding bang, it exploded apart!
At the instant the space exploded, Jiang Yun felt a wave of dizziness surge from the depths of his mind. He promptly forced his eyes open.
He found himself now upon a stone platform. At the center of the platform was an altar, and a gigantic throne sat in silence.
Upon that throne sat a white-robed figure, seated quietly cross-legged. Strands of milky-white flame coiled around him, ceaselessly transforming into various forms.
This white-robed figure simply sat there silently, releasing not the slightest trace of aura. Yet, there was a sense that he suppressed all of heaven and earth.
This man was none other than the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint—the true Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint!
Unexpectedly, beside him, Jiang Yun discovered that stalk of the Dreamlike Fire God Lotus. Jiang Yun was certain this one was real, not one from an illusion.
To think this medicinal ingredient, gone since ancient times, still had one stalk left in existence!
Only at this moment did Jiang Yun understand. No wonder the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint could layer so many illusions and even replicate his mirror image. The Dreamlike Fire God Lotus had played a part in it.
And at the same moment Jiang Yun stepped onto the altar, the white-robed figure finally slowly opened his eyes. On his handsome face was a trace of complexity hard to put into words.
"I didn't expect this day to still come," the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint said, looking at Jiang Yun. After a long while, an indecipherable smile appeared on his face, and he spoke in a rueful tone: "But I did not expect that in the end, you would be the one to come."
"Senior, since you are already dead, there's no need to worry any longer over matters after your passing. Leave them to those who come after!" Jiang Yun revealed a soft smile.
The Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint neither agreed nor disagreed. For the first time, a trace of curiosity appeared in his eyes as he looked at Jiang Yun. "Can you tell this seat what the outside world is like? And what manner of splendor does a Dou Di possess?"
At this moment, the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint no longer acted for the sake of all living beings, but only for himself. Even if this was merely a manifestation of his residual soul and will, he still wanted an answer—the answer that their generation had pursued their entire lives.
"I can," Jiang Yun did not refuse. A streak of mystical light flew from the center of his brow straight toward the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint. He did not resist. What could Jiang Yun possibly do to a dead man?
After the mystical light landed in his hand, it transformed into streams of information, rapidly pouring into the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint's mind. Instantly, basic information about the Great Thousand World appeared in full.
He slightly closed his eyes, experiencing that information. A moment later, he opened his eyes, a trace of melancholy on his face. Sighing, he said: "Truly a magnificent world... What a pity..."
Jiang Yun remained expressionless. He knew exactly what the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint found a pity—this was a conundrum spanning ten thousand years, trapping countless geniuses.
"Will you bring harm to the Dou Qi Continent?" With his regrets resolved, on the verge of fading away, the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint could not help but ask Jiang Yun.
Jiang Yun paused. After thinking for a moment, he answered somewhat ambiguously: "Who knows?"
Not hearing the answer he had wanted, the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint was somewhat disappointed. But ultimately, he said nothing more. Instead, with a beckoning gesture, a jade slip flew before Jiang Yun. He spoke slowly:
"Although you did not give the answer this seat wished to hear, this seat believes in you—believes you are not a cruel, bloodthirsty person. Within this jade slip is the whole of my legacy. I hope you will carry them and go see even higher sights."
"To think it would end like this in the end... Xiao Yao, though this seat cannot personally go and reminisce with you, I have found you a troublesome opponent."
"I hope you won't blame me when the time comes."
After leaving behind the jade slip, a deeply meaningful smirk appeared on the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint's face. Then his body, in that single instant, thoroughly and completely dissipated. At the moment he faded, the mountain peak, the throne—all rumbled and collapsed, in the end transforming into nothingness, fading into the void.
Watching the void space, which had in an instant become dark and empty, Jiang Yun put away the jade slip and murmured lowly:
"This time, however, you have misjudged me. Just like... just like how you misjudged the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame back then."
Placing the jade slip into his ring, Jiang Yun turned his gaze toward the greatest gain of this trip: that stalk of Dreamlike Fire God Lotus.
The Dreamlike Fire God Lotus had twelve lotus leaves, its fragrance overwhelming. Jiang Yun merely drew near and felt his soul power quiver, as if it had grown slightly stronger.
"Truly worthy of being a grand soul medicine!" Jiang Yun said with emotion. This was likely the strongest soul-type medicinal ingredient still existing on the Dou Qi Continent.
Without hesitation, after putting away the Dreamlike Fire God Lotus, Jiang Yun's figure trembled. His illusory body then slowly faded away within this space.