Chapter 80: The True Inheritance (Part Four)
The ghastly pale sword light twined gently, like drifting silk, flashing at He Miao’s right side—almost wrapping around his neck.
He Miao let out a low shout. All around him, more than ten invisible mouths appeared, biting through the void. The sword light darted and twisted between these mouths, narrowly avoiding their snapping jaws. Then, the sword light suddenly split into seven strands, while forty-nine crimson-gold talisman swords shot forth, weaving into a sword formation that descended toward He Miao.
He Miao swung his wide sleeves, twisting the space above his head. A massive, formless mouth snapped down, shattering the sword formation and scattering the sword light.
Within this rain of swords, an invisible strand separated itself, ethereal and traceless, slipping through the void to appear before He Miao. The invisible sword light whirled swiftly; the protective spiritual radiance around He Miao flashed and then was abruptly sliced in two!
The spectators were left utterly dumbfounded. Aside from the five great Golden Core cultivators, even the other true disciples widened their eyes in confusion. In their vision, He Miao’s protective radiance simply flickered—and then, inexplicably, he was split in half…
At that moment, He Miao’s "corpse" squirmed lightly, releasing dense, dark demonic energy, transforming into a severed demonic serpent. As with the previous demonic serpent, it first collapsed into demonic energy and condensed into a talisman, then reverted to a void serpent, winding and swimming through the air.
“What a remarkable invisible sword.”
A faint voice sounded. The crowd looked over to see a tall figure standing far off in the void; it seemed he’d been there all along, yet none had noticed. Pang Yue revealed himself, saying, “A demonic talisman clone—truly formidable!”
“You’re not lacking, either,” He Miao replied, looking at Pang Yue with admiration. “If not for certain obligations, your strength would merit my recognition… Alas, there is no turning back in this matter.”
“If you have any other techniques, do use them. If not, you’d best surrender the true disciple examination now!”
As He Miao finished speaking, sixteen void serpents appeared in the sky. These serpents, formed of black smoke, could gather or disperse at will, vanish into the void, and devour space itself. Their offense, defense, and transformations were all unmatched.
Even Pang Yue’s profound sword arts struggled to contend.
“In that case, I ask you for guidance, Senior Brother!”
Pang Yue smiled, and a flash of golden light appeared before him—a golden Buddha, three fathoms tall. The Buddha’s whole body was made of glazed crimson gold, its expression compassionate, with a look of sorrow between its brows. It radiated a gentle, pure Buddhist light, with a wheel of Dharma forming behind it, chanting Sanskrit and emanating vast Buddhist power.
“Puppet arts?” He Miao was slightly surprised, not expecting Pang Yue to have such a card up his sleeve.
He pointed, and the sixteen void serpents vanished into the air, attacking Pang Yue.
Pang Yue moved, flashing to the Buddha’s shoulder. He formed a Buddhist seal, chanting softly, “Buddha of Infinite Light!”
In the next instant, Buddha light shone across sea and sky.
The golden Buddha wore a gentle smile, flicking its fingers. Finger seals pierced the void, striking the serpents with precision and dispersing them. Within the Buddha light, everything slowed and grew stagnant, as if a mountain pressed down, lengthening the process of the serpents reforming their talismans.
He Miao’s expression changed, a look of gravity in his eyes. Before he could act, a brilliant sword light appeared on the Buddha’s shoulder.
A chill swept the heavens!
Accompanying the sword was a lofty intent, spanning sky and earth.
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This sword intent soared layer by layer, stirring the boundless tides of spiritual energy, suddenly becoming intense beyond belief. Pang Yue raised his hand, and the sword light, like a deep-blue rainbow, tore through heaven and earth, rising into the clouds, proud and majestic.
Within a ten-mile radius, countless crystalline snowflakes condensed in the air. The sword light carried a grand, blazing momentum, oppressing sea and sky. Even the surging spiritual energy of heaven and earth stopped, obedient to its command!
He Miao’s eyes flashed with astonishment, as if seeing Pang Yue anew, his face filled with awe. He formed seals with both hands, accelerating the recovery of the void serpents suppressed by Buddha light.
At the same time, he beckoned, and a demonic lion wreathed in transparent flames leaped from the void. In an instant, it transformed into armor, settling upon his body.
Quick as thought!
The deep-blue sword light fell gently.
He Miao was slashed from his brow downward, split by a single sword. The armor fractured. The protective radiance shattered. His robes frosted. His whole being was cleaved in two, slowly drifting downward.
Gasps echoed through the sky.
The spectators felt as if struck, staring blankly. Many looked toward Li Nian’an, the arbiter in the sky, faces full of confusion.
Why didn’t he intervene?
He Miao gave them an answer again.
His corpse suddenly transformed into thousands of demonic talismans!
A sense of ancient chaos arose.
These talismans fluttered together, merging in midair to form a tall, upright figure. Demonic energy billowed; demonic intent and spiritual energy entwined, a swirling vortex of chaos circling the figure.
In the blink of an eye, the figure took on He Miao’s appearance. But his aura had plummeted to its nadir!
He smiled at Pang Yue. “I concede… You have extraordinary means, Junior Brother, and have cut away thirty years of my hard cultivation.”
Pang Yue, his own mana nearly spent, recalled a certain rumor and couldn’t help but ask, “Was the technique you just used the Chaotic Demonic Talisman Transformation?”
He Miao smiled bitterly and nodded. “Now, you too may cultivate this method. If you have the chance in the future, we should exchange insights.”
With that, he looked up at Li Xi’an in the sky. “Uncle Li, He Miao withdraws.”
Above the clouds, Li Xi’an spoke softly, “Why persist in such hardship?”
The crowd puzzled, but after a moment’s thought, understood. Li Xi’an must have meant that He Miao refused his rescue, choosing to take Pang Yue’s sword head-on with the talisman transformation.
He Miao smiled, bowed slightly, took a half-step back, and vanished.
Li Xi’an looked around, his expression complex, and announced in a low voice, “Today I declare: Pang Yue of the Flame Demon Hall has passed the true disciple examination!”
“Pang Yue, here is the true disciple token. Keep it well!”
A streak of light landed before Pang Yue.
He reached out and received a bronze talisman, engraved with a sigil. Once refined, he would become a true disciple of the Demonic Talisman Sect, able to cultivate all its doctrines and arts.
Pang Yue took a deep breath, joy welling in his heart.
At last, he could cultivate the Secret Canon of Chaotic Demonic Talismans.
The Demonic Path’s usurpation…
As Pang Yue was lost in thought, a figure appeared at his side.
A fragrant breeze brushed past.
The newcomer was a dignified, elegant middle-aged beauty, seemingly in her forties, adorned with a jeweled headdress and jade earrings, her figure voluptuous, clad in rainbow robes, with a mark of an icy-blue snowflake upon her brow.
She wore a gentle smile and asked softly, “That sword you just used—was it from the Tenfold Frozen Demon Path of the Nine Nether Demon Sect?”
“Senior, you are…”
Pang Yue sensed her overwhelming spiritual pressure, knowing she was a Golden Core master, and grew respectful.
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“I am Ye Bing, Hall Master of the Ice Demon Hall,” the beauty replied with a smile.
At that moment, an icy-blue streak descended from among the spectators, bowing. “Master, why are you here?” It was Ye Xue.
“I was drawn by his sword light,” the beauty replied gently, her voice melodious.
Pang Yue said, “Senior Ye, you are correct; that sword was indeed from the Tenfold Frozen Demon Path.”
Her smile deepened. “Would you be willing to take me as your master?”
“This…” Pang Yue was momentarily at a loss for words; Ye Bing’s question was simply too sudden.
“Senior Aunt Ye, Pang Yue has already pledged to Hall Master Luo Zhiyin of the Hall of Justice as his master. Please don’t make things difficult for him,” Luo Qingyuan descended lightly, speaking up.
Ye Bing glanced at her, saying quietly, “But the formal disciple relationship hasn’t been established yet, has it?”
Luo Qingyuan smiled sweetly. “It’s already agreed: once Pang Yue becomes a true disciple, Hall Master Luo will accept him as her student.”
Ye Bing neither agreed nor disagreed, turning to Pang Yue. “If you take me as your master, I’ll see to it that Ye Xue becomes your Dao companion. Whatever conditions the Luo family promised you, I can fulfill as well.”
“Master…” A faint blush colored Ye Xue’s pale face, her cold beauty tinged with a unique charm.
Ye Bing snorted, “You and he were trapped together in the Ancient Secret Realm’s spatial treasure for eighteen years, spending every moment together, day and night. You only stopped short of dual cultivation—what’s there to be shy about?”
Luo Qingyuan smiled helplessly, glancing at her own Thousandfold Cloud Sea Ship.
At that moment, the spectators, who were about to disperse, remained at a distance, craning their necks with interest.
The most nervous among them was Meng Zitao. The situation had taken a turn, unexpectedly involving his own lifelong affairs!
Even the Wanlei Hall of the Ping family seemed rooted in the void, unmoving.
“Ye Bing, are you going to compete with me for a disciple?” A distant voice floated from the Thousandfold Cloud Sea Ship.
“Luo Zhiyin, I know your intentions well. We’ve known each other for centuries—let’s speak plainly,” Ye Bing replied, calm and cold.
“Ye Bing, I also know what you’re after… Pang Yue is my disciple; I absolutely won’t give him to you.” Luo Zhiyin’s voice sounded again from the ship.
Just then, Li Xi’an descended from the cloud, approaching Pang Yue.
“Hall Master Ye, Hall Master Luo, I’ve just received a message from the Vice Sect Leader: I need to take him to the True Demon Hall… Whatever you’re contesting, let’s wait until Pang Yue returns.”
Ye Bing’s willow brows furrowed. “The True Demon Hall wants to intervene as well?”
Li Xi’an chuckled. “What you both seek, the True Demon Hall has no interest in… But I advise you both to quell your desire to take him as your disciple, at least for now.”
“Since Pang Yue is to become the Luo family’s son-in-law, why not let him be the Ice Demon Hall’s son-in-law as well?”
Ye Bing’s gaze flickered. After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Is this the wish of the True Demon Hall’s master?”
Li Xi’an smiled and nodded, casting Pang Yue a meaningful glance.
Ye Bing suddenly smiled. “Very well, then. I’ll bestow Ye Xue upon Pang Yue as his Dao companion. Pang Yue, remember to visit the Ice Demon Hall.”
With that, she turned to the Thousandfold Cloud Sea Ship. “Senior Sister Luo, do you have any objections?”
Luo Zhiyin’s voice sounded, “Pang Yue, if you dare treat her poorly, my Luo family will never forgive you!”
Pang Yue looked at Luo Qingyuan, who giggled, taking Ye Xue’s soft hand. “Junior Sister Ye, from now on, we’re sisters-in-law! Truly a bond forged in a past life.”
Ye Xue glanced at Pang Yue, her eyes showing a hint of panic.
“Come with me,” Li Xi’an placed a hand on Pang Yue’s shoulder. With a flash of demonic light, they both vanished.
The spectators in the sky paired up and gradually dispersed.