Chapter 128: The Dragon Sheds Its Armor

Elder Patriarch Cheng Shipeng paid no heed to Nangong Jiu's jeers.

If given another chance, the day the sect leader’s soul descended and ordered him to lead his clan to attack the Demon Refining Prison, Cheng Shipeng would have considered it more carefully.

Though he had long known the Ji family descendants were formidable, he never imagined Ji Youyun would be so overwhelmingly powerful.

Cheng Shipeng had no idea how these Dao cultivators had tracked him all the way to his stronghold, nor did he have time for regret. His mind was solely focused on how to survive this ordeal.

“Brother! How long do you plan to keep hiding in this valley?” one voice called out.

“Father, charge out now! Let’s fight them head-on!” urged another.

Except for the reckless Fifth Brother, who was felled by a sudden “Heart Sword” strike from a Golden Spirit Root Dao cultivator, and Fourth Brother’s son Cheng Tian, who had failed to return in time, with Jing Xiaoyun missing, the remaining Nascent Soul cultivators of the Cheng clan gathered around Cheng Shipeng, their voices full of anxiety and debate.

To charge forward was a desperate gamble, risking the lives of their entire clan with little chance of success; the few enemy Nascent Souls with Golden Spirit Roots alone were overwhelming, not to mention Ji Youyun had yet to make his move.

But if they did not charge, the “Heavenly Demon Sacred Body” protecting them would eventually be exhausted and broken. Moreover, this was the territory of the Dao cultivators; once the Demon cultivators revealed themselves, escape was the only viable option—staying meant certain death.

Cheng Shipeng found himself caught between a rock and a hard place.

He glanced around, sighed deeply, and said with difficulty, “Prepare yourselves. I will activate the ‘Heavenly Demon Sacred Body’ and summon its sacred soul to aid us. Watch for the right moment and follow closely behind me. Do not fall behind.”

He knew well that only a handful of Nascent Souls could break through alive; once they left, the rest of their family would inevitably be captured. But this was better than perishing together in total annihilation.

With this decision made, the few Nascent Souls showed only reluctant expressions but no opposition.

Fourth Brother Cheng Shiying suggested, “As long as the green mountains remain, firewood will never be scarce. There are many Golden Core cultivators among our elders and children. Let them join the charge. If they escape, it’s their fate; if not, better to die early and be reborn.”

The younger ones remained silent, while Third Brother Cheng Shioo snorted coldly. From what he understood, despite the noble words of Fourth Brother, his true intent was to scatter the enemy’s focus and use their own family as shields.

Cheng Shipeng glanced at his two brothers and said gravely, “So be it.”

A warrior’s severed wrist; in dire times, sacrifices must be made.

Orders were issued, and the Cheng clan elders and youngsters quickly gathered, arranging themselves in formation, awaiting Cheng Shipeng’s signal.

At noon, the sun hovered above the valley. Cheng Shipeng, enduring a barrage of spells like rain from the Dao cultivators, looked up at the sky.

Normally, activating the “Heavenly Demon Sacred Body” at this hour was much weaker than at night, but since the enemy possessed the “Great Calamity Scripture,” they would never allow him a moment’s peace. Cheng Shipeng abandoned hope and howled toward the sky, his cries drowning out the thunderous impacts of spells on the mountain and the Dao cultivators’ taunts.

A fierce wind rose in the valley. Before all eyes, the old Demon cultivator’s long hair whipped wildly, resembling a roaring, raging lion. The wind grew stronger, whipping up sand and stones. Gradually, both the surrounding Demon cultivators and the Dao cultivators stationed atop the mountains found their vision obscured.

Suddenly, Cheng Shipeng spat a mouthful of fresh blood. Remarkably, his blood did not fall but hovered in the air, writhing like living creatures.

In his hand appeared a pen—its shaft black, the tip crimson red—a treasured artifact named “Heaven’s Seizure.” Forged with blood sacrifice, it was rarely shown and crafted solely to command the “Heavenly Demon Sacred Body.”

Grasping the “Heaven’s Seizure” pen and dipping it in blood, Cheng Shipeng swiftly inscribed a series of symbols in midair that appeared neither entirely like characters nor paintings. He wrote incessantly.

A sudden gale swept away the symbols he had written, and then a vast swarm of demonic insects surged forth from nowhere.

The insects multiplied rapidly, darkening the sky and nearly filling the entire small valley.

Nangong Jiu commanded his men, “Demon cultivators, fight with all your might! Do not be distracted; intensify your assault!”

The three Golden Spirit Root Nascent Soul cultivators he brought were relentlessly attacking the valley’s defenses. The Futu Sect had long cooperated with Ji Youyun, steadily recruiting Golden Spirit Root cultivators. Few had reached Nascent Soul stage and could wield the “Heart Sword” with talismanic aid. This battle against the Heavenly Demon Sect was of utmost importance to Ji Youyun. Since Dai Mingchi could not come, he entrusted these fighters to Nangong Jiu.

The real master, Ji Youyun, stood atop the highest peak with a cold expression, occasionally directing his men with a few words but showing no intention of personally engaging.

Nangong Jiu could not fathom Ji Youyun’s thoughts but felt the latter’s aura was terrifying, almost rivaling that of his master, Dai Mingchi.

Before coming, Dai Mingchi had told him to heed Ji Youyun’s orders, so Nangong Jiu had handed over full command early on; whatever Ji Youyun said was final.

Cheng Shipeng finished his final stroke and shouted, “Rise!”

The atmosphere in the valley shifted dramatically.

A black hole materialized at the center of the whirlwind. The poisonous insects swarmed toward it, drawn irresistibly as though the hole held some irresistible attraction. In moments, the valley was cleared of insects, and the black hole vanished.

“Defense breached!” a Dao cultivator shouted beside Nangong Jiu.

Sure enough, several golden spells struck directly into the valley, causing rocks to collapse with thunderous crashes. One demon cultivator failed to evade and was struck on the spot.

Nangong Jiu’s instincts screamed something was wrong. Before he could speak, Ji Youyun said behind him, “Do not approach. He has absorbed the demonic artifact, transforming it into Heavenly Demon battle armor. He’s prepared for a desperate fight.”

As the dust settled, everyone saw Cheng Shipeng had indeed changed.

The figure standing at the valley bottom was enormous, shrouded in black mist that obscured his features. The most striking change was a pair of black wings on his back, shimmering with a dim, eerie light.

Before anyone could study him further, he unfurled his massive wings and soared into the air, shouting, “Charge!” Behind him, the Cheng clan poured out like an army.

Seeing this, Nangong Jiu also ordered, “Don’t let them escape, demon remnants! Kill them!”

Blinding light erupted simultaneously—his Golden Spirit Root Dao cultivators finally unleashed their long-prepared “Heart Sword.” The rapidly shifting spiritual energy toppled several weaker Cheng clan members, throwing them back into the valley.

Yet more terrifying were those struck directly by the “Heart Sword.”

In an instant, except for Elder Patriarch Cheng Shipeng protected by the “Heavenly Demon Sacred Body” armor, no one—whether Nascent Soul cultivator or wielder of powerful artifacts—could withstand the light. It rained bloodlike sparks from the sky, scattering broken corpses of Cheng clan members across the valley, a hellish scene on earth.

Cheng Shipeng blocked a golden beam with his armored wings. Without looking back, he sensed the tragic fate of his kin, especially the sudden disappearance of Fourth Brother Cheng Shiying’s aura behind him.

Fury surged in Cheng Shipeng’s heart. He reached out toward the foremost Golden Spirit Root Nascent Soul cultivator among the enemies.

From between his wings, dense black mist rose, rapidly crawling along his arm and condensing into a massive, elongated hand, instantly grasping the Nascent Soul’s throat.

Though the black mist was not solid, the Dao cultivator’s reaction was as if he had encountered a deadly nemesis. He struggled fiercely within the misty hand, his body steaming with blue smoke. Making a quick decision, he attempted to leave his body, but just as his head emerged, the black mist behind Cheng Shipeng transformed into a gaping mouth and sucked him back in, devouring his Nascent Soul whole.

With one swift kill, the demon cultivators’ spirits surged. Nangong Jiu’s face darkened as he shouted, “Retreat! Fall back! That’s the demonic soul within the artifact!”

Cheng Shipeng led the charge, empowered by the demonic soul, reaching the mountaintop in no time.

Meanwhile, in the distant forest, Hong Jian and others finally discerned the combatants amid the chaotic barrage of spells.

They gasped upon seeing the colossal figure with wings rising from the valley, black mist swirling. Lu Yanchang exclaimed, “What is that thing?!”

Jing Xiaoyun remained silent, while Hong Jian said solemnly, “Look, Ji Youyun is making his move!”

Indeed, Cheng Shipeng cut a path through the enemy, and Nangong Jiu ordered the Futu Sect Nascent Souls to step aside. Only Nangong Jiu and Ji Youyun remained before Cheng Shipeng.

Ji Youyun made few movements; with a mere wave of his hand, the space before him twisted, and something emerged from the void above the valley.

At first, it was a massive orb, shimmering faintly in the sun’s rays. But it only stretched and yawned; the resulting airflow darkened the skies for miles, and even the midday sun seemed to lose its warmth.

The orb opened its eyes and fixed its gaze on the demonic soul behind Cheng Shipeng. Without waiting for Ji Youyun’s command, it transformed suddenly into a long dragon and lunged forward.

Though ethereal and featureless, those present felt its excitement and impatience keenly.

This was the true cause for the question, “What is that?” Except for Ji Youyun, no one had ever seen this sudden apparition.

Hong Jian’s mouth slightly parted as a sudden flash of insight struck her mind: Soul “Devouring”! This had to be the divine soul of the transformed godly beast Ji Youyun had taken from the Demon Refining Prison.

Two unimaginably powerful beings collided fiercely, tearing and devouring each other. The ground shook as massive chunks of mountain collapsed; the sun dimmed, but a strange halo appeared atop the peak, within which the battling pair rapidly shrank.

Jing Xiaoyun anxiously asked, “How is it? How is it?”

Hong Jian replied, “Don’t rush; the outcome will be clear soon.” Yet she felt no optimism, for Ji Youyun had withdrawn after releasing the divine soul, calm and composed as if fully in control.

The halo suddenly shattered and vanished. The demonic soul retreated into the “Heavenly Demon Sacred Body,” while the divine soul of the godly beast lingered briefly in the air before dissipating.

Elder Patriarch Cheng Shipeng’s black wings vanished, and he returned to his original form.

Ji Youyun pointed at Cheng Shipeng and said sternly, “Capture him alive!”

Without further spellcasting, the “Heavenly Demon Sacred Body” armor that had transformed around Cheng Shipeng suddenly split down the middle and fell away.