Chapter 35: The Sevenfold Killing Sword Formation

“Greetings, Master! It’s been many years, yet your presence remains as impressive as ever!”

As Pang Yue appeared, he first bowed respectfully to one of the six Golden Core cultivators of the Celestial Gate. The man was surrounded by a clear radiance and emanated an awe-inspiring sword intent; he was none other than Sun Yiyan, Elder of the Cloudsky Sect.

Sun Yiyan snorted coldly. “The Demon Lord of Seven Slaughters—what a notorious title. No wonder you’ve abandoned even your own sect!”

Pang Yue smiled faintly, choosing not to reply. Instead, he turned to Gao Chong. “Fellow Daoist Gao, the enmity between the Celestial and Demonic paths is a millennium-old knot, impossible to untangle. Since you’ve come here in such grand fashion today, what is it that you want? Why not lay out your intentions?”

Gao Chong scrutinized Pang Yue, recalling their first meeting years ago, and could not help but feel a surge of emotion. He called out, “The feud between righteous and demonic is hard to judge—let us settle it through a contest of magical prowess. If you lose, you must release Yan’er!”

Pang Yue nodded solemnly. “I can agree to these terms.”

“There are a few more conditions though,” Xi Yueming interjected.

“Please, Fellow Daoist Xi, speak your mind,” Pang Yue responded, turning to her.

“First, the contest must be decided over three bouts, best of three wins. Each side selects three participants, but you, sir, must compete personally. Second, though we won’t bully you with numbers, you must agree that neither side will use sect-treasured artifacts. If you deploy the Bone Palace or the Tome of Parting Sorrow, we too will bring forth the Divine Thunder Warship and the Heaven-Cleaving Axe.”

“Master, you must not agree to this!” Shen Lun flashed to Pang Yue’s side, urging him in a low voice. He knew well that Pang Yue’s strength was rooted in the supreme demonic artifact, the Tome of Parting Sorrow. Without it—the consequences would be dire. After all, among the six from the Celestial Gate, aside from Xi Yueming, the other five were all ancient monsters who had cultivated their Golden Core for over a century.

Pang Yue waved his hand, signaling Shen Lun to be silent, and then asked Xi Yueming, “If I lose, I not only forfeit my life, but must give up my wife as well. But if I win, what then?”

Xi Yueming replied calmly, “You may name your terms.”

Pang Yue smiled. “As it happens, I am short one Golden Core cultivator’s skeleton for refining a magical weapon. If I win, Fellow Daoist Xi, will you offer yourself?”

Though he spoke lightly, a chill ran through everyone present. They almost forgot that this courteous, well-mannered man was in fact a towering figure of the demonic path—a master of dark cultivation! Even as a mere Spirit-Absorbing cultivator, he had dared to sneak into the midst of the Demonic Sect, surrounded by enemies, and step by step had climbed to his current stature, entrapping four Golden Core elders and hundreds of demonic cultivators. He was not one to be trifled with.

Only Sun Yiyan sighed inwardly. His disciple had, in the end, fallen to the demonic path.

“What’s wrong, are you afraid to accept, Fellow Daoist Xi?” Pang Yue’s lips curled in a mocking smile.

“I—”

“Wait!” Gao Chong interjected. “I have with me the skeleton of a Golden Core demon beast.” With a wave of his sleeve, a colossal skeleton measuring over thirty meters appeared in midair, exuding a terrifying, abyssal demonic aura.

Pang Yue looked at Xi Yueming and said, “Please, Fellow Daoist Gao, put it away. I have no lack of demon beast bones. What I want is Fellow Daoist Xi.”

A murderous intent enveloped Xi Yueming, yet none of the gathered Golden Core experts seemed to notice. Xi Yueming’s brows drew together, a flush of anger rising to her beautiful face as she snapped, “So be it!”

Pang Yue clapped his hands and laughed. “Good! That makes it worthwhile for me!”

None among those present could object further. Shen Lun hesitated, his face ashen. If there were three bouts, the Bone Demon Sect would surely count on him as one of their champions... but he was not skilled at direct magical duels. His life-bound treasure, the Bone Flute, was shaped like a whistle, adept at destroying the soul, conjuring illusions, and corrupting minds—a formidable weapon for ambush, but lacking in head-on battles.

With a sweep of his long sleeve, Pang Yue sent the Tome of Parting Sorrow flying. It hovered above the Bone Palace, its divine radiance glimmering like resplendent glass, enveloping the palace below.

“Who will take the first round?” Pang Yue pointed, and the Seven Slaughter Sword flashed forth, slicing through the air, its sword aura formidable.

The six Golden Core cultivators of the Celestial Gate exchanged glances; none had expected that Pang Yue himself would take the field first.

Gao Chong stepped forward, lightning crackling around him, as a bronze bell materialized above his head. The energy between the two clashed, emitting a thunderous boom! The other cultivators quickly withdrew to a safe distance.

Before the Bone Palace, Gao Yan turned into a streak of lightning, soaring into the sky, her clear eyes fixed intently on the unfolding battle.

Shen Lun sighed, casting anxious glances toward the Bone Palace. “The crisis is upon us, so why hasn’t Brother Zhou come out yet?”

The disciples of the Bone Demon Sect gathered before the palace, staying within the divine light’s protection, watching from afar.

Gao Chong of Mount Qingyun was the most renowned Golden Core cultivator of the Celestial path—a lifelong slayer of demons, whose exploits sent shudders through the demonic world. The Demon Lord of Seven Slaughters, Pang Yue, though only having ascended to Golden Core two years prior, wielded the Tome of Parting Sorrow, and had easily defeated the former sect master Zhou Nianyuan; his depths were just as unfathomable.

Their duel held everyone’s rapt attention. Even more astonishing, the two were father- and son-in-law!

In the arena, Gao Chong knew that Pang Yue’s swordsmanship was a perfect transmission of Cloudsky Sect’s ultimate art, equal to Sun Yiyan himself. He dared not be careless and struck first!

With a series of hand seals, a cerulean dragon of lightning surged from the void, talons bared, lunging at Pang Yue.

“Zha!”

At the same time, he uttered a low incantation. An invisible bolt of lightning exploded within Pang Yue’s mind. Pang Yue’s body trembled, his expression dazed for a moment, and the lightning dragon descended upon him, engulfing him in a tempest of blinding thunder.

The lightning dragon wrapped around Pang Yue, transforming into a storm cloud the size of an acre, churning with terrifying force, thunder rumbling ceaselessly through the void.

The Celestial cultivators felt a moment’s relief. Few among them would dare to meet such a spell head-on.

“Be careful, Daoist Gao!” Sun Yiyan suddenly called from afar.

Gao Chong’s face changed; he pointed to the bronze bell above his head. The bell spun rapidly, enveloping him within.

The next instant, a misty, radiant sword beam struck the bell!

Clang!

The bell shuddered violently, knocked back through the air. From within the thundercloud, a bridge of white bone stretched out. Pang Yue stood upon it, untouched by the thundercloud’s fearsome power—not even his robe was ruffled.

The Bridge of the Afterlife.

“A first-grade magical weapon…” Shen Lun murmured from afar. None there understood better than he the difficulty of forging the Bone Demon Sect’s top ten magical implements—especially those ranked at the top. The crafting of restrictive spells was hard enough; finding high-grade spiritual bones was even harder. After ninety years as a Golden Core, he himself had only forged two supreme magical weapons, having poured most of his efforts into his Bone Flute.

Yet, in just two years as a Golden Core, his own sect master had forged another first-grade magical artifact!

Pang Yue’s sword seals shifted, and the Seven Slaughter Sword let out a piercing wail. The sword light trembled, splitting into seven beams, which then split into forty-nine, then into three hundred and forty-three! In an instant, the sky was awash with sword gleams and murderous intent.

The sword lights interwove, forming a sword formation that trapped Gao Chong within.

The Seven Slaughter Sword Formation!

A chilling, terrifying aura spread outward. The Celestial cultivators felt a jolt of fear—the formation’s power rivaled even their own sect’s grand protective arrays!

Within the formation, thunder boomed, but the sword array remained stable, unshaken.

“Daoist Gao is in danger!” Sun Yiyan sighed, clasping his hands in salute. “Demon Lord of Seven Slaughters, show mercy!”

A tremendous crash erupted from within the sword array. Suddenly, the sword light dissipated.

A disheveled figure floated in the air, fragments of bronze scattered around him. The gleaming blade of the Seven Slaughter Sword hovered at Gao Chong’s brow, its light flickering ominously.

Gao Chong’s expression was somber; he gave a self-deprecating smile, then, moving like lightning, withdrew to the Celestial Gate’s ranks.

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

From afar, Gao Yan’s melodious voice rang out. The Seven Slaughter Sword swept back to Pang Yue’s side like a streak of light.

He turned to the Celestial cultivators. “Who will take the second bout?”

“Will the Demon Lord fight again this round?” one of the Golden Core cultivators asked.

Pang Yue smiled. “Indeed.”

The Celestial cultivators fell silent. They had come at Gao Chong’s request, but none considered themselves significantly stronger than him—perhaps even weaker! After witnessing the power of the Seven Slaughter Sword Formation, none were confident enough to step forward.

“This round, old man will go!” At that moment, Sun Yiyan spoke with a crisp tone, flying forth on his sword.

Pang Yue’s expression shifted slightly; he sheathed the Seven Slaughter Sword and spoke in a deep voice, “Please, Master Sun!”

Without a word, Sun Yiyan formed a sword seal. A sword beam appeared in midair, twisting and splitting into countless sword threads, weaving a formation that descended upon Pang Yue.

Sword Threads—an even more advanced sword technique than mere sword-light division!

The sword formation fell, seemingly freezing the very air. Within, sword lights coiled like ethereal clouds, as delicate as an ink painting.

Inside, Pang Yue smiled faintly, sat cross-legged, and formed a hand seal. A radiant, glassy light burst from his body, forming a ring that shielded him.

“The Divine Light of Parting Sorrow!”

“Demon Lord, weren’t you forbidden to use the Tome of Parting Sorrow?” Xi Yueming demanded.

“Who told you that the Divine Light requires the tome itself?” Pang Yue replied serenely.

Xi Yueming glanced at the tome still hovering above the Bone Palace, momentarily speechless.

Sun Yiyan mustered all his power, driving the sword formation to crush Pang Yue. Each wisp of cloud within the formation was composed of myriad sword threads. Every clash with the Divine Light was a thousandfold collision—deadly perils hiding in every inch. If there were even the slightest flaw in the shield, the sword threads would break through instantly!

Within such a formation, even a first-grade magical treasure offered scant protection. This sword formation’s subtlety surpassed even the Seven Slaughter Sword Formation, faintly sealing the void itself, making even the Bridge of the Afterlife ineffective.

“Why doesn’t the Sect Master use the Seven Slaughter Sword?” Shen Lun, seeing the danger, could not help but stamp his foot in frustration.

From afar, Gao Yan remarked coolly, “All his swordsmanship comes from Master Sun. Out of gratitude, he has sealed his sword and will not use it in this bout.”

“Tch! This…this is not the Demonic Path’s way!” Shen Lun sighed heavily.

Above, the cloud-like sword formation drifted, ethereal as a painting. Within, one sat cross-legged; without, one stood at the ready—master and disciple, both unleashing their full power, one attacking, one defending. Past debts and obligations silently faded in the ever-changing sword formation.

Unexpectedly, this duel lasted a full hour.

Sun Yiyan was the first to feel his spirit exhausted, unable to maintain the formation. With a sigh, he withdrew the sword light.

“The Divine Light of Parting Sorrow is truly extraordinary. I admit defeat.”

He sheathed his sword, turned to bow an apology to Gao Chong, then transformed into a stream of light and departed.