"Heh, Earth Demon, you don't need to say such things to belittle me. You are at the Dao Integration stage, and so am I. There's no difference between us!"
After a brief moment of shock and fear, Xu Weizhou finally displayed the demeanor befitting a powerful Dao Integration cultivator.
The onlookers, however, were utterly bewildered.
Was this fellow also a powerful Dao Integration stage cultivator? His name was Earth Demon? What was an Earth Demon?
Li Shouxian and Li Miaozhen were equally clueless. Even as the Saint Son and Saint Daughter of the Earth Sect, they had never heard of the name Earth Demon.
They were even more unaware that within Houtu City, belonging to the Earth Sect, there was a hidden Dao Integration expert.
Furthermore, judging by Elder Xu's tone, this person was an enemy, not a friend!
A look of vigilance appeared on both Li Shouxian and Li Miaozhen's faces.
However, they weren't overly worried. Although the opponent was a powerful Dao Integration cultivator, so was Xu Weizhou!
Even if Xu Weizhou wasn't a match for him, the Earth Sect had many other Dao Integration cultivators. No matter how powerful this Earth Demon was, he couldn't possibly be a match for over a dozen Dao Integration cultivators, could he?
"Heh, you are also at the Dao Integration stage? Since you are at the Dao Integration stage, you should understand that the gap between Dao Integration cultivators can sometimes be even greater than the gap between a Dao Integration cultivator and an ordinary person!"
The Earth Demon said haughtily, "Besides, you have only just achieved the unity of heaven and man. Do you think that's all there is to the Dao Integration stage? How naive!"
"Hmph, words are useless. Earth Demon, I never expected you to still be alive after so many years. However, if I were you, I would continue to live in obscurity forever, rather than come out here to die!"
Xu Weizhou shouted loudly.
"Heh, coming out to die? Xu Weizhou, you overestimate yourself. Do you think you can kill me?"
The Earth Demon laughed coldly.
"We'll know if I can kill you after we fight!"
Xu Weizhou drew his long sword, and his sword intent spread across the heavens and earth.
"You don't need to put on a show. Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? You want to stall for time, waiting for those treacherous scoundrels from your Earth Sect to come to your rescue, right?"
The Earth Demon saw through Xu Weizhou's little scheme at a glance. "Five hundred years ago, you were the weakest in the Earth Sect. Why were you weak? Because you were too foolish. I didn't expect that after five hundred years, you still haven't improved. Not only is your cultivation unbearable, but your brain is still just as stupid."
With all his hidden thoughts exposed, Xu Weizhou's brow furrowed slightly, and he said with feigned ferocity, "So what if you guessed it? What if I am waiting for the rescue of other elders? Earth Demon, if you dare to come out today, there is only death for you!"
"Wrong! I can come out today thanks to this little fellow!"
The Earth Demon glanced deeply at Chen Xiao. "And do you think I, Earth Demon, am a reckless person? Since I dared to come out, I naturally have a complete plan!"
Saying this, the Earth Demon paused for a moment, then let out a roar: "Array, activate!"
Immediately, array patterns lit up around the entire city walls of Houtu City.
The city's protective array had been activated!
A deep purple, semi-solid light shield enveloped the entire Houtu City, completely isolating it from the outside world.
Seeing this, Chen Xiao was slightly stunned.
He thought to himself, could it be that the array on the city walls of Houtu City was arranged by this person? Who exactly was he?
Inside Houtu City, everyone began to panic. The purple light shield obscured the sky and sun. Being enveloped by it, they felt a bloody and oppressive aura that made it difficult to breathe.
Xu Weizhou's pupils trembled, his eyes filled with confusion.
What was going on? Wasn't the city's protective array already broken? How could he activate it?
To conceal his unease, Xu Weizhou shouted loudly, "Earth Demon, do you think this protective array of yours can stop the elders of our Earth Sect and Lord Dizun? You are too naive!"
"Within an hour, they will break through the protective array, and by then, you will still be doomed! At most, you will have been a coward for an hour!"
Xu Weizhou's words were sharp and mocking.
However, the Earth Demon was not angered at all. He said with a fake smile, "When did I say I wanted to stop them? If I kept them out, how would I kill them?"
"I am merely giving them an hour to prepare. And within this hour, I will kill all of you and refine your vital blood and true essence. By then, let alone the mere Earth Sect, even if your Heaven, Earth, and Human three sects joined forces, what could they do to me?"
The Earth Demon became more and more smug as he spoke, appearing as if victory was already assured.
"You..."
Xu Weizhou finally fell silent, as he realized that everything the Earth Demon had done seemed to have been meticulously planned.
The only way out now was to stall for an hour until the elders and Lord Dizun arrived, and the difficulties would be solved.
However, to last an hour under the Earth Demon's hands... that was easier said than done!
On the ground, all the cultivators became apprehensive.
No matter who they were, they wouldn't feel comfortable hearing that they were about to be refined, especially when the opponent was a powerful Dao Integration cultivator.
Those who had traveled thousands of miles to Houtu City to watch the excitement were on the verge of tears. Who would have thought that such a thing could happen on the Earth Sect's territory?
"What should we do? What should we do? Are we really going to die here today? I knew I shouldn't have come to join in the fun!"
"Panicking is useless! Isn't Elder Xu of the Earth Sect here? Elder Xu is a powerful Dao Integration cultivator. Even if he's not a match for that Earth Demon, he can hold on for an hour!"
"I hope Elder Xu can hold on. Damn it, where did this person come from!"
Not everyone was afraid and terrified. There were still some who were proud and arrogant. No matter who they were or what stage they were at, if they dared to have designs on them, they would fight back.
"Earth Demon, what are you being so arrogant about? What's so great about the Dao Integration stage? Do you think we're all vegetarians?"
"I'm telling you, we are not lambs to the slaughter, waiting to be refined by you!"
A proud young saint, dressed in a green Daoist robe, pointed at the Earth Demon and cursed.
The Earth Demon glanced at the person and spat disdainfully: "Ptooey!"
A glob of phlegm fell and directly turned the green-robed saint into a mist of blood.
Everyone was stunned. They knew that this saint had the cultivation of the Void Transformation stage and had performed exceptionally well in the recent four trials of power.
Who would have thought that the Earth Demon had killed him with just a spit... As expected of a powerful Dao Integration cultivator, their strength was truly incomparable!
With the tragic example of the green-robed fool, even those who were indignant dared not express it.
"Earth Demon, don't go too far. Your opponent is me. Those people are innocent, and I will not allow you to kill them indiscriminately!"
Xu Weizhou stood on the moral high ground, accusing the Earth Demon.
However, his words sounded good, but in reality, he made no move.
This was because he was hoping for more foolish youngsters like the green-robed saint. This way, with these cannon fodder to stall for time, the pressure on his shoulders would be significantly reduced.
"Heh, hypocrite!"
The Earth Demon saw through Xu Weizhou's ulterior motives once again. "Xu Weizhou, you speak well, but why don't you make a move against me? You say you won't allow me to kill indiscriminately, so show me some actual action! What, are you a dog? Only capable of barking!"
When the crowd heard the Earth Demon's words, their gazes towards Xu Weizhou immediately became a little strange.
Was the situation really as the Earth Demon described?
Xu Weizhou was in a difficult position. If he didn't act now, it would be truly inexcusable.
Regardless of whether he could stall for time until the rescue arrived, if the situation continued to develop like this, the reputation of the Earth Sect would be completely ruined by his hands.
"Earth Demon, stop spewing venom and sowing discord! Do you really think this humble Taoist dare not act?"
Xu Weizhou shouted, "Today, this humble Taoist will let you see my progress over the past five hundred years!"
"Unity of Heaven and Man, Soaring Immortal, Dharma Image, appear!"
As Xu Weizhou uttered a series of shouts, an image of an immortal, several hundred meters tall, appeared behind him.
The immortal had white hair and wore white robes. His sleeves fluttered without wind, exuding an immortal aura and supreme majesty.
"Earth Demon, take my sword!"
Xu Weizhou thrust his sword into the void. The Soaring Immortal behind him transformed into a phantom, evolving into a sharp sword energy that pressed down on the Earth Demon like a mountain tide.
The sword energy was torrential, covering the sky and earth!
The sword's edge was sharp, and at its tip, it gradually transformed into a golden line!
The golden line slashed directly towards the Earth Demon's body. Everyone could feel the energy contained within that sword energy!
That energy seemed to come from ancient times, a power that could cleave heaven and earth!
However, the Earth Demon merely sneered: "Is that all?"
Before his words even fell, he extended his right hand, his five fingers long and dry, and grabbed directly at the sword energy.
"Earth Demon, you're courting death!"
Xu Weizhou gritted his teeth and shouted.
This sword energy was the embodiment of his Dharma Image, condensing the power of heaven and earth. Unless one was an immortal, it was impossible to catch it with one's bare hands.
However, the next moment, Xu Weizhou was dumbfounded... The imposing aura he had just gathered dissipated like a waterfall.
Because the sharp sword energy, like a silk thread, had turned into a soft lump in the Earth Demon's palm...
"Xu Weizhou, I told you, there are differences between Dao Integration cultivators!"
"The gap between us cannot be bridged by these five hundred years alone!"
"Even if you cultivate for another hundred lifetimes, you will never be my match!"
The Earth Demon rubbed the sword energy with his hand as if playing with a piece of clay. Finally, the lump of sword energy in his hand transformed into a shape resembling excrement...
"Go!"
The Earth Demon flicked his hand, and the lump of excrement flew towards Xu Weizhou.
"It's over, I'm dead for sure!"
This was Xu Weizhou's last thought.
Then, he was hit in the face by the lump of excrement, his body immediately swayed precariously, and he finally fell from the flying sword...