054: Slaying the Golden Core in Defiance

The chilling blade of the Demonic Frost Knife swept with a trace of Zen, its movement seemingly slow yet in truth swift, rising unhurriedly to stand upright before the face.

Clang!

The knife and sword met for a fleeting instant before separating. The gleam of the sword vanished once again without a trace. The Demonic Frost figure stood suspended in the void, right hand gripping the emerald ring-bladed knife, left hand forming a seal, his entire body still shrouded in resplendent golden radiance. The surrounding void seemed frozen, his posture poised in defense.

Pang Yue drove the Invisible Sword with all his might, several times piercing through the Demonic Frost’s defenses, striking close, yet each blow was intercepted by the profound knife techniques of the Buddhist sect.

The Demonic Frost, realizing he could not pin down his opponent for the moment, poured his entire being into defense, resembling a taciturn old monk, unruffled as he weathered each assault.

Suddenly—

The Invisible Sword once more broke through the Demonic Frost’s defense, appearing at his ear.

The blade’s gleam washed over like water. Just as it seemed he would block the sword’s light, the Invisible Sword drifted aside, bending gracefully around the knife’s glow, aiming straight for the Demonic Frost’s eye.

At the same moment—

A slender hand manifested in the void, descending lightly.

Brilliant, glass-like radiance spun upon the palm, devoid of any trace of mortal heat. Wherever it passed, the Buddhist golden aura that shielded the Demonic Frost dissolved into nothingness and scattered away.

The Radiance of Parting Sorrow.

The Demonic Frost, already lacking in battle experience, found himself suddenly beset by such peril that a hint of panic flickered in his eyes. He threw back his head and howled to the heavens, his entire form erupting in intense golden brilliance, meeting Pang Yue’s strike head-on with desperate courage.

The emerald ring-bladed knife swept up in a cascade of blade light, intercepting the Invisible Sword.

The Radiance of Parting Sorrow, like boiling water poured over snow, pierced through the protective golden aura in an instant and appeared before the Demonic Frost.

In the next moment, a sudden change occurred!

That hand gave a slight twist, revealing from its palm a greyish-white stone axe.

This axe, unremarkable at first glance, swept gently across the Demonic Frost’s throat.

The Demonic Frost’s eyes widened, disbelief frozen on his face.

Time itself seemed to halt.

A faint sound, like the slicing of paper, rose into the stillness.

The Demonic Frost’s head toppled and rolled away.

With a sweep of his sleeve, Pang Yue collected the remains of this Golden Core-level skeleton.

He retrieved the Origin Yang Axe, muttering to himself, “A fourth-rank magical treasure—damn, this is truly useful!”

Yet in his heart, he sighed with regret; in the end, it was only with the aid of a treasure that he could slay a Golden Core Demonic Frost.

His own cultivation was still lacking by a margin.

Still, this expedition into the Ancient Wasteland Secret Realm had yielded rich rewards—enough to support his training up to the sixth level of Dao Foundation in a short span!

By then, with the supreme demon furnace Jin Yuege as his ally, and aided by various spiritual elixirs, he would have a strong chance to break through the bottleneck of late Dao Foundation.

…

Let us turn back a short while earlier.

Within the first cavern.

Two cultivators clad in platinum armor entered the cave through the opening Pang Yue had made.

Though both hailed from the True Yang Sect, a great sect of the East Sea, they could not suppress their awe at the sight before them.

Above, stalactites glowing with gentle white light bathed the cavern in brightness.

Below, the floor was carpeted with luxuriant flowers, grasses, and trees, threaded with streams and rivers, vibrant with life.

The air was thick with spiritual energy, rivaling the core region of True Yang Sect itself; the moment one entered, one’s entire cultivation felt spirited and light.

All around the cavern, thousands of Buddhist statues stood within their alcoves, solemn and dignified, emanating an invisible pressure that inspired a nameless dread.

“Senior Brother Zhou, look!”

One of the pair pointed excitedly toward a pool below.

Senior Brother Zhou focused his gaze—sure enough, it was an Ice Soul Snow Lotus.

As a true disciple of True Yang Sect, and a cultivator of the sect’s supreme legacy, the Grand Sun True Fire Scripture, Senior Brother Zhou’s senses were keen; he was the first to detect the anomaly in the Buddhist statues, so he was already splitting his focus to resist their influence, leaving no time to scrutinize the scene below.

He said in a low voice, “Junior Brother Chen, there’s something strange about this place. Be cautious.”

Junior Brother Chen laughed heartily, flattering, “With Senior Brother Zhou here, what danger could there be? Allow me to pick that snow lotus as an offering to you.”

As an inner disciple, he well knew the advantages of currying favor with a true disciple. Previously, he and Senior Brother Zhou had barely exchanged nods in passing.

Yet to his fortune, they had crossed paths in this Ancient Wasteland Secret Realm.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—it must not be wasted!

After leaving the secret realm, this experience would prove invaluable.

With a flash of light, Junior Brother Chen soared over the lake and plucked the snow lotus.

A pure, refreshing fragrance filled his senses, invigorating him. He could not help but exclaim, “Worthy of being an Ice Soul Snow Lotus—what a wondr—”

He had barely finished when a wisp of cold, silent flame leapt out from the silver lotus pod, latching onto him.

A dreadful surge of power emanated from the flame, as if within that tiny spark lay the might to annihilate the world.

By instinct, Junior Brother Chen activated his spiritual power, his entire being aglow as he summoned his protective aura to fend off the flame.

But as his power met the fire, it flared as if oil had met a spark, surging violently.

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!

The ghostly blue fire raged, devouring his power—and began to consume his very soul!

The three souls and seven spirits, those mysterious essences between the tangible and intangible, the most profound aspect of all living beings, were ignited by the strange flame!

What was worse, the harder he tried to channel his power, the faster the fire blazed.

It fed on his cultivation and soul, burning madly, consuming his very foundation.

For a moment, no matter what spells or arts he tried, nothing availed him.

Sensing disaster, Junior Brother Chen cried out in panic, “Senior Brother Zhou, save me!”

Senior Brother Zhou transformed into a streak of fire, flashing to his side.

“Lunar True Flame!”

“What a vicious fire!”

Senior Brother Zhou’s brow furrowed, yet he did not move to save his brother; his face darkened as he muttered, “Was this a trap laid by the first to enter, or does the flame arise naturally here?”

“Senior brother…”

By now, Junior Brother Chen had become a man of fire—yet apart from his cultivation and soul, his body was untouched.

“Junior Brother Chen, the Lunar True Flame is one of the world’s seven great fires. There is nothing I can do,” said Senior Brother Zhou with a regretful shake of his head.

Junior Brother Chen tried to speak, but his expression froze, as though turned to stone.

Moments later, his power spent, his whole body stiffened and plunged straight into the lake below like a block of stone.

Senior Brother Zhou pointed a finger, sending out a wisp of scarlet fire that shone on his platinum armor and face, dyeing them red.

The scarlet fire enveloped the Lunar True Flame; with a deafening bang, both vanished.

“It was a trap,” Senior Brother Zhou confirmed his suspicion, his eyes cold with murderous intent.

“Or perhaps a demonic trick…”

Just then, he sensed a tremendous surge of spiritual energy from deep within the cavern—someone powerful was locked in battle!

“Lunar True Flame…”

He gave a cold laugh, then shot away in a trail of fire toward the source of that commotion.

…

Within the fourth Buddha cave.

Pang Yue reached to pluck the Ice Soul Snow Lotus by its root, when suddenly, a fierce, searing killing intent descended, locking onto him.

“Stay your hand!”

A clear, resounding voice rang out from afar.

Pang Yue turned to see a tall, imposing man in platinum armor striding through the air toward him from the distance.