kvmb Chapter 588
Chapter 588
“The power of this ‘Summoning Demon Codex’ is too bizarre; each attack is stronger than the last.” Tianjizi’s voice sounded like it had been sanded. He picked up a piece of stone engraved with demonic patterns, the surface of which sizzled in his palm. “That Nine Nether Soul Locking Array just now was definitely not something an ordinary demonic cultivator could set up. There must be an even more terrifying force controlling this mysterious person.”
Su Yao's gaze swept past the ruins, landing on the western horizon shrouded in purplish-black clouds. The wind, carrying demonic energy, brushed against her blood-stained face, but couldn't extinguish the fire in her eyes: "Passive defense will only embolden the enemy. No matter what dangers lie ahead, we must take the initiative, find the whereabouts of the *Summoning Demon Codex*, and utterly destroy it!" She gripped her sword hilt tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force. "The Xuanxiao Sect has never survived by hiding and evading."
The guardian spirit smiled weakly and gently touched Su Yao's hand. Soft green light flowed from her fingertips, coursing along Su Yao's meridians, and the torn wounds healed at a visible speed. "You're right." The girl struggled to her feet, gripping the jade staff again; the staff resonated faintly. "I will do my utmost to restore your spiritual power. The place where the demonic energy is most concentrated in the West holds the key to unraveling all mysteries."
As night fell, several bonfires rose from the ruins of the Xuanxiao Sect. The group gathered around their makeshift tents, repairing broken magical artifacts and bandaging unhealed wounds. Shen Xinghe embedded the last spirit stone into the broken part of the Seven Star Sword, causing it to hum; Tianjizi spread out a yellowed ancient scroll on the ground, trying to find clues to combat the *Summoning Demon Codex*; Su Yao repeatedly wiped the Azure Phoenix Sword, its blade reflecting her resolute profile.
As the first rays of dawn pierced the clouds, the five figures appeared on the mountain path. The guardian spirit walked in the center of the group; though her steps were still somewhat unsteady, she maintained an upright posture. The morning mist swirled in the mountains, but it could not obscure the light in their eyes. The purplish-black clouds in the west surged like boiling molten iron, faintly emanating a low roar, but no one stopped.
Su Yao raised her hand to shield her eyes from the blinding sunlight, the sword tassel fluttering in the wind. She turned to look at her companions standing side by side behind her, and suddenly felt that those unhealed wounds and those broken magical artifacts had become the most dazzling medals. "Let's go." Her voice was firm and clear, "The sword of the Xuanxiao Sect will never be tarnished in the darkness."
Five figures gradually merged into the rising sun, casting long shadows on the mountain path. In the distance, the roars of demons echoed from beneath the purplish-black clouds, but even louder was the unwavering belief in their hearts—this battle was not only for the survival of the Xuanxiao Sect, but also to ensure that all living beings would forever be bathed in light.
Before dawn, the mountain path was shrouded in a bluish-gray mist. Five figures slowly ascended the dew-covered stone steps. The golden rays of the rising sun pierced through the clouds, painting their silhouettes in a flowing amber hue. The hems of their robes were billowed by the mountain wind, casting long, inky shadows on the ground. In the distance, the churning purplish-black clouds on the horizon resembled a quagmire stirred by an invisible giant hand, occasionally bursting forth with crimson lightning. The roars of demons, carrying a putrid stench, rolled down from the clouds, causing the ancient pines on both sides of the mountain path to rustle their needles.
The leading elder, Qingyang, had temples streaked with white, his palm caressing the ancient cloud-patterned hilt of the Xuan Tie sword. As the first rays of dawn kissed the blade, he abruptly drew the sword, its cold, azure light instantly dispelling the surrounding mist. The light reflected from the sword's edge mingled with the rising sun, casting countless dappled patterns of light on the rock face. "The Xuanxiao Sect has stood for two thousand years," he said, turning to the four people behind him, his cloudy eyes burning with a youthful fervor, "If our sect falls today, we will use our souls as foundation stones to rebuild this barrier protecting all living beings!" Before his words had even finished, the sound waves crashed through the valley, startling a flock of white doves into a fluttering flight towards the sky.
The second disciple, Ling Xue, lowered her gaze and stroked the flowing cloud patterns carved on the jade flute, a faint pink halo appearing where her fingertips touched. This seemingly warm and smooth white jade flute was actually forged from the ribs of an ancient divine beast; when played, it could condense sound waves into sharp blades. She held the jade flute to her lips and hummed a half-song; the wildflowers by the mountain path unfurled their petals to the rhythm, only to be corroded to ashes by the black mist drifting from afar in the next instant. "Senior brother, there's no need to worry," she looked up with a gentle smile, the silver bells in her hair jingling softly with her movement, "When those demons get close, I'll make them vanish into nothingness amidst the celestial music."
Chu Mo crouched down and pressed the last demon-suppressing talisman into a crevice in the mountain rock. Suddenly, the cinnabar runes on the talisman's surface glowed with a blood-red light. This taciturn third disciple, who had spent years in seclusion studying talismans, now had all thirty-three talismans hanging at his waist activated. The interwoven gold and red runes fluttered in the morning breeze, like thirty-three battle flags. He suddenly bit his fingertip, dripping his blood onto the core of the talisman array. Instantly, an ancient star map appeared on the mountain path, each star corresponding to a trap he had meticulously designed. "This time... I'll definitely trap them in the array," he murmured, cold sweat mingling with the raindrops sliding down his forehead.
Su Yao slung the spirit bow over her shoulder, the dragon-whisker string humming softly. This divine weapon, imbued with the lifeblood of generations of sect leaders, felt slightly warm in her palm. The girl gently stroked the inscription of her master's dying words on the bow, and the image of her master coughing up blood on his deathbed, still adjusting the bowstring for her, suddenly became vivid in her memory. "Master, you said back then that as long as the bow is there, I am there," she said, nocking an arrow to the bowstring, spiritual energy condensing into translucent ice crystals along the arrow, "Today, your disciple will use this bow to protect this rising sun for all people."
Leng Xuan was the last to draw his sword. The moment the Demon-Slaying Sword was unsheathed, golden sword energy soared into the sky like a dragon, cleaving a rift in the dark clouds. Morning light poured down through the crack, illuminating the heroic spirit in his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a spirit identical to his father's. This young master had carried the heavy burden of being the sect's heir since childhood. At this moment, the morning dew dripping from the tip of his sword condensed into dazzling starlight in mid-air. "Demonic creatures dare to trespass upon the mortal realm," he swept his sword across, instantly creating a three-zhang-deep chasm in the ground, "Then I will use their blood to appease the spirits of my ancestors!"
A deafening roar grew louder as it approached, causing the entire mountain forest to tremble violently. The purplish-black clouds swirled into a maelstrom, as countless winged demons, laden with poisonous mist, swooped down. Black raindrops fell like steel needles, igniting eerie blue flames wherever they touched. Elder Qingyang leaped first, his Xuan Tie sword clashing against the demons' claws with a cyan light, sparks flying. Ling Xue's flute music transformed into silver snakes, coiling around the demons' necks and tearing them apart. Chu Mo's talismans exploded one after another, forming golden cages that imprisoned hordes of demons. Su Yao's arrows split into a rain of arrows in the air, obliterating demons wherever they passed. Leng Xuan's Demon-Slaying Sword, with each swing of its sword energy, carved furrows burning with holy flames into the ground.
The deafening clash of flesh and spiritual energy was deafening. The clothes of the five Xuanxiao Sect disciples were already soaked in blood, yet they maintained their back-to-back formation. When Elder Qingyang blocked the attack of the ninth demon general, the Xuan Tie Sword finally succumbed to the pressure and shattered into pieces; Ling Xue's jade flute cracked, yet she persisted in playing with her bloodied lips; Chu Mo exhausted his last talisman and tore the demon's claws apart with his bare hands; Su Yao's spirit bow wailed, and the dragon whisker string snapped inch by inch after firing the last arrow; Leng Xuan's Demon-Slaying Sword was riddled with nicks, yet its golden sword energy shone ever brighter.
"If we die today..." Elder Qingyang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at the other four, "then let our souls merge with the mountains and rivers!" The five exchanged glances, simultaneously channeling all their spiritual power into their bodies. Dazzling light burst forth from their bodies, illuminating the entire dark sky. Amidst the roars of demons and explosions, the five figures transformed into five streams of light, merging into the earth beneath their feet and the rising sun above. When the first true ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, people saw five gleaming steles standing before the Xuanxiao Sect's mountain path, their flowing light forever protecting this world bathed in light.
Time flows like a gentle stream, carrying away the fragments of years, silently drifting eastward. A hundred years is but a fleeting moment in the cycle of sunrise and sunset. The former site of the Xuanxiao Sect has long lost its former grandeur and glory. Wild grass sprouts from the cracks in the stone steps, growing taller than knee-high, and purple vines entwine the broken walls and ruins. Only the five monuments still stand atop the mountain, like five eternal guardians. The winds and rains of time have etched mottled patterns on the monuments, yet every time the first rays of dawn shine upon them, the flowing light is still gentle yet firm, as if silently recounting the thrilling battle of defense that once took place.
That day, the sunset painted the clouds a blood-red hue, and the sound of light footsteps echoed along the mountain path. A mysterious young man walked against the setting sun, clad in a black robe, with half a jade pendant engraved with cloud patterns hanging from his waist. His features hinted at the same heroic spirit as Su Yao and others from years past, but his eyes held a depth rarely seen in someone his age. The young man stopped before the monument, his gaze sweeping over the blurred inscriptions on its surface. Suddenly, he was drawn to a faint, ethereal flute melody—a sound that seemed to come from afar, yet also as if whispering in his ear.
The moment the boy reached out to touch the monument, five beams of light suddenly burst forth from its surface, weaving into a dazzling net that enveloped him. A powerful and warm force surged into his body, and the boy felt dizzy. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself on the brutal battlefield of a hundred years ago. He saw Elder Qingyang wielding a shattered black iron sword, using his flesh and blood to block the demon general's claws; Ling Xue's blood-stained lips were still playing the jade flute, the broken notes transforming into sharp blades that pierced the demon's body; Chu Mo tore open the demon's throat with his bare hands, the light of the talismans behind him forming a galaxy; Su Yao snapped the dragon whisker string and fired her last arrow, the spirit bow transforming into a sky full of starlight in her arms; Leng Xuan's demon-slaying sword unleashed its final sword energy, his entire being merging with the light.
The boy could clearly feel the excruciating pain they endured in battle, and even more so, he could feel the unwavering belief etched into their very bones—that they would sacrifice themselves to protect all living beings. This memory, spanning a century, surged forth like a tidal wave, bringing tears to his eyes. As the light gradually faded, the boy noticed five faint lights appearing on his black robe, each corresponding to the shape of a Xuan Tie sword, a jade flute, a talisman, a spirit bow, and a demon-slaying sword. A warm sensation spread through his palms; five different types of spiritual energy flowed through his meridians, yet harmoniously blended together.
Just then, five rays of light descended from the top of the monument, coalescing into the illusory figures of five elders. Elder Qingyang's voice carried the weight of time: "Young man, the seal of the Purple Demon Abyss is loosening, and demons will soon ravage the mortal realm once more. We have chosen you from among thousands, wishing you to inherit this power and continue the Xuanxiao Sect's mission to protect all living beings." Ling Xue smiled and merged the illusory image of the jade flute into his brow: "This soul-capturing sound, I hope you will only use it to protect the good." Chu Mo raised his hand and cast a talisman: "Each talisman represents the hope of all living beings, use it with caution." Su Yao transformed the illusory image of the spirit bow into starlight: "This bow, from now on, is yours." Leng Xuan then infused the sword intent of the Demon-Slaying Sword into his body: "Remember, as long as the sword lives, so do you; if the sword dies, so do you."
The young man knelt on one knee and solemnly kowtowed, saying, "This junior will certainly not fail your expectations, senior!" As he rose, the light from the five monuments shone even brighter, as if bidding him farewell. The black-robed youth clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit. The cloud-patterned jade pendant at his waist suddenly emitted a faint light, echoing the monuments. He turned to look at the distant land shrouded in twilight, where the roars of demons seemed to echo.
Bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, the young man embarked on a new journey. The mountain wind ruffled his robes, and the light of the five towering monuments behind him illuminated his path. The spirit of the Xuanxiao Sect found a new inheritor a century later, and that belief in protecting the light of humanity will, like an inextinguishable flame, flow eternally through the long river of time.
A mountain wind, carrying a putrid stench, swept across the cliff face. The black-robed youth strode against the moonlight, his boots crushing pine needles beneath his feet. Silver light filtering through the clouds streamed down his shoulders, outlining his slender frame with a sharp, unyielding strength. Suddenly, the crisp sound of snapping branches echoed from the dense forest. Dozens of ghostly, phosphorescent shadows burst forth from the depths of the trees, their shrill screams of claws tearing through the air rising and falling, like the whispers of death exploding in one's ears.
The boy's pupils constricted sharply, and five distinct spiritual energies within his body instantly surged. The faint glows of the black iron sword, jade flute, talisman, spirit bow, and demon-slaying sword on his black robe lit up one after another, weaving into a flowing galaxy in the night. He raised his hand and threw out the demon-suppressing talisman left by Chu Mo. The talisman exploded in mid-air, golden-red runes binding like chains, causing the demonic figure in front of him to let out a shrill scream. Rotten flesh and shattered bones turned to dust in the golden light.
Before the residual power had dissipated, a phantom of a jade flute appeared at the boy's fingertips. As the ethereal flute melody pierced the night sky, the sound waves solidified into tangible silver blades, shredding the demonic shadows like paper in their wake. But the demonic horde surged forward like a tide, and suddenly a giant demonic wolf leaped from behind, its blood-red maw gaping wide, its foul saliva splashing onto the rocks and rising in wisps of smoke. The boy leaped into the air, his spirit bow conjuring ice crystal arrows. As the bowstring vibrated, a rain of arrows, carrying a bone-chilling cold, poured down. The demonic wolf howled in despair as the icicles pierced it, then vanished into black mist.
"Watch out!" Ling Xue's illusory figure suddenly whispered from the void. The boy instinctively spun around and swung his sword. The Demon-Slaying Sword clashed with the demon general's bone blade. Sparks flew, and his hand split open, blood dripping from the hilt. This demon general, clad in scales, was at least two people tall, its amethyst gleaming eerily on its forehead. Every strike it unleashed carried the power to shatter mountains and split rocks. The boy was forced back several steps, his back slamming against the cold rock wall. The demon general seized the opportunity to leap up, its claws aimed straight for his throat.