"The demonic aura in the heavens is welcoming its master."
"When the demonic aura runs rampant, that is the day the Demon Sovereign descends," Huangfu Long said calmly.
"Gather all clan members of Empyrean Meridian and above. The rest are to be evacuated from Demon-Slaying Ridge."
"Ancestor, can we really stop him?" Huangfu Xiong asked hesitantly.
"You should not hesitate. Whether we can or not, we must," Huangfu Long slowly stood up.
Sword intent soared into the sky from his body.
The golden longsword in his hand trembled slightly.
"This is the mission of the Huangfu Clan, and it will also be our end."
"Understood," Huangfu Xiong nodded heavily.
"Patriarch!" At that moment, a voice shouted from halfway up the mountain.
A yellow-robed man came running up in a panic.
"Why the panic?" Huangfu Xiong frowned. "What happened?"
"Huangfu Song's life lamp has extinguished!" the man replied hurriedly.
"Huangfu Song was guarding the entrance to Demon-Slaying Ridge," Huangfu Xiong sighed softly.
He closed his eyes, then waved his hand. "Understood. You may go."
...
Xu Zimo walked into Demon-Slaying Ridge. He looked straight ahead.
Ten thousand miles of demonic clouds loomed. Jagged mountains rose ahead.
No living creatures were in sight. The surrounding flora had been corrupted by the demonic aura and turned into demonic-type vegetation.
A strange feeling stirred in his heart.
As if something was calling out to him.
The deeper into the ridge he went, the stronger the sensation became.
Xu Zimo focused his gaze and stepped forward steadily.
After walking for over ten minutes, suddenly, a slash of sword energy descended from ahead.
It landed less than a meter in front of him.
With a thunderous boom, a chasm split open in the ground, the sword energy slashing with deadly force.
"Halt, outsider."
Xu Zimo looked up to see a group of people standing atop the mountain before him.
Their robes fluttered in the wind. Each one emanated an overwhelming aura, and their combined presence suppressed the very sky.
"Huangfu Clan?" Xu Zimo asked.
"Are you the Infernal Lord?" Huangfu Long stood at the front.
The golden longsword in his hand radiated powerful sword intent.
"We've been waiting for you."
"Waiting here to die, then?" Xu Zimo smiled.
"We guard Demon-Slaying Ridge. We will not let you take a single step toward the sealed land," Huangfu Long said sternly.
He stepped into the air, his golden robes flowing like a dragon as he advanced.
Behind him followed more than a dozen powerful members of the Huangfu Clan, each no weaker than the God Meridian realm.
Some had even reached the peak of Arcane Immortal realm.
"Just you lot?" Xu Zimo chuckled.
"Unleash the formation!" Huangfu Long didn’t waste words. Raising both arms, he shouted loudly.
"Demon-Slaying Grand Formation!"
Everyone lifted their arms, and vast waves of immortal energy surged from their bodies.
The aura was ethereal yet boundless, seemingly refined over countless eras.
As this immortal energy rose to the sky, a blue barrier formed around all of Demon-Slaying Ridge,
Like an inverted bowl sealing everything within.
Even the demonic clouds above were completely cut off.
The dozen-plus Huangfu experts became the formation’s cores.
With God Meridian and Arcane Immortal-level cultivators as nodes, the power of this array was unimaginable.
Endless immortal energy continued rising, forming the array's foundation.
The entire Demon-Slaying Ridge trembled.
Thunderous rumbling echoed from all directions.
Huangfu Long’s golden robe soared into the sky.
In an instant, it enlarged thousands of times, covering the entire ridge beneath it.
The robe was patterned with countless symbols.
As it descended, the symbols detached and manifested on the ground.
Xu Zimo looked down to see a repelling force pushing against his demonic energy.
This suppressive force felt like a massive mountain pressing down on him,
And it kept growing stronger, as if determined to crush him completely.
It was endless, ever-increasing.
The Huangfu Clan stood in a strange formation.
Above them, the golden longsword floated in the sky.
Bathed in surging immortal energy.
"Immortal sword in the world, slay demons and uphold the righteous path!" Huangfu Long shouted.
Their faces contorted with strain; their forms appeared faint and unstable.
"Kill!" they roared in unison, all pointing at Xu Zimo.
The golden longsword above sliced through the void,
Carrying unmatched power and boundless immortal energy, it tore through everything in its path, striking at Xu Zimo.
All around him, gravity intensified, suppressing his movement.
Xu Zimo lifted his eyes slightly, watching the golden sword streak toward him like a stream of light,
It struck his head directly with immense force.
With a loud bang, the sword rebounded and was flung away.
Xu Zimo grinned and rubbed his head.
Since his body’s transformation, his defense had increased by several levels.
He threw a punch into the air, shattering the suppressive immortal aura around him.
Cracking his neck, Xu Zimo looked at the shocked and terrified Huangfu Long.
“As thanks for guarding this land all these years, I’ll reward you all by burying you here.”
The power of the Hell-Suppressing Demon Physique roared to life. Xu Zimo raised both hands, summoning the lingering demonic energy above.
Previously ownerless, the demonic aura now condensed into a giant figure, striking at the outer barrier of the formation.
“Ten Forms of Demon, Fourth Form: Celestial Demon, Seeker of Celestial Tribulation.”
As Xu Zimo spoke, he extended his right hand.
A pillar of demonic light shot up, piercing the clouds and tearing through the array before him.
What is Seeker of Celestial Tribulation?
This technique seizes the power of the Grand Dao itself, becoming the heavens that rule all.
He steals the authority of Primordial Heartlands’ heavens, and naturally governs its living beings.
Watching the towering demonic light tear through their formation, the Huangfu Clan had no power to resist or stop it.
The Hell-Suppressing Demon Physique howled, and the ancient demonic aura in the sky surged into Xu Zimo's body.
The demonic energy around him thickened drastically.
He slowly extended his right hand and clenched his fist. The space around it shattered outward like glass.
In a flash, Xu Zimo appeared in front of Huangfu Long.
He swung a punch at the man’s head.
“I took a sword from you. Why don’t you take a punch from me?”
At his fist, shockwaves blasted forth. Demonic energy roared.