The sinister youth, "Senior Brother Li," pressed forward step by step, the spiritual pressure of his peak ninth-layer Qi Refining stage felt as substantial as a physical weight. Mixed with the filthy demonic aura, it bore down heavily on Xiao Qi, making it difficult for him to breathe. The short, stocky demonic cultivator and the tall, thin demonic cultivator had also regained their composure, flanking Xiao Qi from left and right, blocking his retreat. Their eyes were vicious, like hungry wolves staring at their prey.
Although the wok was miraculous, its shockwave power was highly effective against opponents of the same level or slightly higher, but when facing foes whose cultivation far exceeded his own, it ultimately fell short. The intense pain and numbness in his right arm, along with the churning qi and blood within his body, reminded Xiao Qi that a direct confrontation was definitely not a good strategy.
Yet, the path of retreat was cut off—only battle remained!
His gaze instantly sharpened like a blade. All hesitation and probing were cast aside. Facing a life-and-death crisis, only by pouring forth his full strength could there be a sliver of hope for survival!
His hand plunged into the storage bag and abruptly withdrew—a crimson, blood-red streak of light suddenly flashed, carrying a scorching yet vast aura that instantly dispersed part of the cold, gloomy demonic energy within the hall!
The Crimson Flame Sword, unsheathed!
The sword body was crimson like jade, the flame patterns on its surface seeming to come alive, flowing with a molten, lava-like sheen. A blazing sword intent soared skyward, faintly resonating with the residual purifying aura in the air, emitting a joyful hum.
"Crimson Flame Sword!" Senior Brother Li's pupils contracted sharply, the greed in his eyes nearly materializing into substance. "So it really is in your hands! Hand over the divine sword, and I'll spare your life!"
Although startled by the imposing presence of the Crimson Flame Sword, he relied on his cultivation being far superior to his opponent, not believing that a mere seventh-layer Qi Refining brat could truly unleash the divine sword's power.
"Want it? Come and take it yourself!" Xiao Qi sneered, gripping the Crimson Flame Sword's hilt with both hands. The moment the hilt touched his hands, a stroke of inspiration struck him. Not only did he channel the Long Spring Art spiritual energy within his body to pour into the sword, he also attempted to activate the initially awakened Purification Source within the jade pendant at his chest!
A stream of cool, immense Purification Power flowed along his meridians, merging with the vital spiritual energy of the Long Spring Art, and together infused into the Crimson Flame Sword!
"Hummm—!"
The Crimson Flame Sword emitted an even more impassioned sword cry. The crimson radiance on its body exploded brilliantly, and within that scarlet glow, a faint, pure white halo actually appeared! Blazing heat and purification—two seemingly opposing forces now perfectly merged on the Crimson Flame Sword. The aura they emanated caused the three demonic cultivators' expressions to change drastically!
"Attack!" Senior Brother Li, sensing the powerful suppression of demonic energy within that light, no longer dared to be overconfident. He shouted fiercely and took the lead in striking! With both palms thrusting out, dense, pitch-black demonic qi transformed into two ferocious demonic serpents. With piercing, hissing cries, they lunged to devour Xiao Qi!
At the same time, the short, stocky demonic cultivator brandished his poisoned dagger, attacking from the side, aiming straight for Xiao Qi's ribs. The tall, thin demonic cultivator once again released several strange insects and pulled out a small black banner. Shaking it, sounds of wailing ghosts and howling wolves arose, and wisps of black qi, like chains, entwined towards Xiao Qi's legs!
Facing the three-pronged assault, Xiao Qi's eyes held no fear, only an icy calm. His feet stepped in mysterious footwork patterns, his body swaying like a swimming dragon, narrowly dodging the short cultivator's dagger and the tall cultivator's black qi chains.
Simultaneously, with both hands holding the sword, he faced the two lunging demonic qi serpents and fiercely executed a horizontal slash!
"Glorious crimson flames, purify the evil!"
An extremely concentrated, crimson-white interwoven crescent-shaped sword aura swept forth like a new moon!
Wherever the sword aura passed, the two ferocious demonic qi serpents, as if encountering their nemesis, emitted miserable shrieks. Instantly evaporated and dissolved by the blazing heat and Purification Power contained within the sword aura! Not even a trace of demonic qi remained!
"What?!" Senior Brother Li's face changed dramatically. His full-power Demon Snake Devouring Heart was actually broken by the opponent with a single sword strike?! How was this possible?!
Yet, what made his heart tremble with fear was still to come!
Having destroyed the demonic serpents, Xiao Qi's sword momentum did not cease. His body surged forward, the Crimson Flame Sword carrying an unwavering, resolute will, thrust straight toward Senior Brother Li's chest! Before the sword even arrived, that blazing purifying sword intent had already locked onto the target, causing the demonic qi circulation throughout his body to congeal and stagnate!
Senior Brother Li, both shocked and furious, hastily gathered demonic qi before his chest, forming a black bone shield in an attempt to block.
"Sss—!"
The Crimson Flame Sword was like a red-hot branding iron piercing into snow. The seemingly sturdy demonic qi bone shield emitted sounds of unbearable stress and cracking the moment the sword tip touched it, then was easily pierced through!
The sword tip penetrated Senior Brother Li's chest without any hindrance!
"Ugh, ah!" Senior Brother Li let out a piercing, miserable scream, his face filled with unbelievable terror. He could feel a scorching yet pure force rampaging wildly within his body. Wherever it passed, meridians withered, demonic qi dissolved, and vitality was cut off!
"No... impossible..." He lowered his head to look at the crimson sword body piercing through his chest, the light in his eyes rapidly dimming.
Xiao Qi flicked his wrist, withdrawing the Crimson Flame Sword.
Senior Brother Li's corpse heavily hit the ground, a charred black hole in his chest, without a sound.
With a single sword strike, a peak ninth-layer Qi Refining demonic cultivator was slain!
All this happened in a flash. The short, stocky demonic cultivator and the tall, thin demonic cultivator beside him had not even reacted yet when they saw their strongest member, Senior Brother Li, already dead!
The two were scared out of their wits, not a shred of fighting spirit left. They turned and tried to flee.
"Thinking of leaving now? Too late!" Xiao Qi's gaze was icy, killing intent already risen. He deeply understood that showing mercy to enemies was being cruel to oneself! If he let even one person escape today, endless trouble would follow!
His figure moved like lightning, instantly catching up to the short, stocky demonic cultivator whose legs had gone weak from fright. The Crimson Flame Sword, carrying the will to purify everything, easily severed the dagger he raised to block, then swept across his neck!
A head soared into the air, blood spraying everywhere!
The tall, thin demonic cultivator, horrified out of his soul, desperately shook the small black banner, releasing large amounts of black qi in an attempt to block, while throwing all the strange insects on his body towards Xiao Qi. He himself scrambled and crawled toward the hall's exit.
Xiao Qi swung the Crimson Flame Sword. Crimson-white sword light swept through like a storm—all black qi and strange insects shattered upon contact! He took a step forward, as if shrinking the earth to inches, catching up to the tall, thin demonic cultivator. The sword tip pierced in from his back and emerged from his chest!
The tall, thin demonic cultivator's body stiffened. He looked down at the crimson sword tip protruding from his chest, his eyes filled with despair and regret, then breathed his last.
In the blink of an eye, three Shadow Snake Pavilion demonic cultivators, all with cultivation higher than Xiao Qi, were completely annihilated!
Within the hall, only Xiao Qi's heavy panting remained, and the "drip, drip" sound of blood dripping from the Crimson Flame Sword's body hitting the ground.
A thick stench of blood filled the air.
Xiao Qi stood holding the sword, looking at the three corpses before him, especially Senior Brother Li's unseeing eyes. The hand gripping the sword hilt trembled slightly. This was his first time... killing someone with his own hands.
Although they were wicked demonic cultivators, the feeling of life extinguishing beneath his sword still brought a massive impact to his state of mind. His stomach churned, and his face turned somewhat pale.
Was this what life-and-death battle was like? Either you die, or I perish...
He closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the discomfort in his heart. He knew that in this cruel world of cultivation, such scenes would only become more frequent in the future. Showing mercy to enemies was being cruel to himself and those close to him.
When he opened his eyes again, the slight confusion within them had already faded, replaced by a more determined, colder glint.
He walked to the three corpses and quickly searched them, gathering the storage bags, magical artifacts, and that small black banner from their bodies. These were trophies, and also clues to understanding the Shadow Snake Pavilion.
After finishing this, he dared not linger here any longer. The commotion from the battle and the smell of blood were likely to attract more trouble.
He glanced at the Crimson Flame Sword in his hand, still flowing with crimson light, yet seeming sharper after drinking blood, and returned it to his storage bag. Then he glanced at the rabbit spirit cautiously peeking out from behind the broken pillar, its red eyes holding a trace of fear.
"We have to leave here quickly." Xiao Qi said quietly, his tone having regained its calm.
He took one last look at this dilapidated hall that had given him opportunity and also brought slaughter, without any attachment. Leading the rabbit spirit, he swiftly left through another damaged exit. His figure soon vanished into the deeper mists of the canyon.
First trial of the Crimson Flame Sword, drinking blood to sharpen its edge. The sword in the youth's hand had begun to reveal its sharpness, and his heart, amidst the baptism of blood and fire, quietly transformed.