Crimson Net Pagoda, Crimson Flame Golden Lion Sword

"My life is over!" Kongtong forcefully activated the red banner, holding on desperately. Inside his body, his Nascent Soul trembled violently. His mind was filled with a boundless sea of blood, and in an instant, several chilling streams of energy slithered through his body like snakes. He became stiff all over, the red banner's crimson light vanished, and the terrifying ghost was instantly shredded by the crisscrossing lightning.

It turned out these six red banners were called the Crimson Net Pagoda, a rare magic treasure of Esoteric Buddhism that could be used for both offense and defense. Those with profound cultivation could condense it into a Dread Yaksha, akin to an external incarnation that only legendary sages could cultivate. However, the power of the Crimson Net Pagoda formation itself came from drawing upon the underground black fiend demonic qi, making the caster extremely susceptible to backlash from demonic qi illusions. Kongtong's cultivation was insufficient, and he hadn't dared to use this magic treasure when fighting Hetu that day. Now, in his desperate struggle, he found no luck. His Nascent Soul suffered a backlash from the blood sea's fierce illusion, and the original yin soul ghost qi within him could no longer be suppressed, erupting all at once.

This magic battle was already extremely perilous, allowing no room for the slightest mistake. The thought of his life being over had barely flashed through Kongtong's mind when Miro in mid-air let out a cackling laugh. Black qi surged from his hand, forming a giant black claw, which he brought down.

The Mò Chà Pearl that Miro sought was now in the hands of a young man nearby, who had already been stunned by the two men's magic battle. Furthermore, Kongtong was known for his cunning, so Miro attacked without holding back. Miro's Helpless Yin Fiend Hand was originally a spell designed to counter magic flying swords, filled with vicious, foul, and malevolent energy, containing Star River Sand, Vajra Sand, and other substances capable of cleaving metal and stone. Poor Kongtong had no power to resist. With a single grasp, he and his coffin were crushed into pieces like brittle biscuits.

As Miro's claw struck and killed Kongtong, his eyes suddenly changed. He saw several sword lights in the northern sky, swift as startled dragons, piercing through the air with astonishing speed. It seemed they had only flashed once before three figures stood in the area: two men and one woman. All three wore white robes with silver silk trim. One of the men had thick eyebrows and a furious expression, and was tall. The other man had a long beard and a topknot on his head. The woman, though appearing to be over thirty, had a seductive figure that seemed as if she would float away with a gust of wind. Three sword lights, one black, one red, and one white, circled their bodies, flickering intermittently.

"Helpless Yin Fiend Hand! Thunder-Commanding Silver Bead! Are you disciples of Daoist Yin Xiao of Beimang?" As soon as the three appeared and saw Miro kill Kongtong with a single claw, they put away their Thunder-Commanding Silver Beads and immediately recognized Miro's identity, startling them. "How could it be people from Qingcheng?" Miro was also inwardly shocked. Firstly, he hadn't expected anyone to arrive so quickly. Secondly, judging by their clothing and appearance, Miro recognized these three were not Shushan disciples, but Ao Ming, Songhezi, and Shui Wuyue, disciples of Qingyang Sanren of Qingcheng. These three were all renowned experts. Miro's thoughts flashed, and he surmised he might not be a match for these three. Before they could speak, the foul black qi reformed and lunged directly towards the young man within the red banner.

"Mò Chà Pearl? Wait a moment!" Ao Ming, Songhezi, and Shui Wuyue were merely passing by. Seeing the strange light flashing here and people fighting, they had rushed over. Now, upon realizing Miro was from the lineage of Daoist Yin Xiao of Beimang, and not yet understanding the situation, but as Miro suddenly attacked the young man, Songhezi, with sharp eyes, glimpsed the pearl in the young man's hand and immediately cried out. As his cry arose, a white sword light leaped three times, intercepting Miro's Helpless Yin Fiend Hand.

"What?" Although Ao Ming and Shui Wuyue didn't know what was happening, the three were united and shared a tacit understanding. As Songhezi's sword light emerged, Ao Ming's and Shui Wuyue's sword lights also shot out. Shui Wuyue's sword scabbard was green, but as her spirit moved, the sword light that flew out was entirely crimson, complementing Ao Ming's black sword light as they rapidly circled around them.

"Go!" A silver light shot directly at the woman among the three who appeared to be the weakest, Shui Wuyue. With a "shing" sound, Ao Ming's black flying sword blocked the silver light Miro flicked out. Upon impact, the black flying sword shimmered with black scales, and the black radiance scattered like molten gold with the silver radiance. Shui Wuyue's red flying sword then moved to attack Miro.

"Qingcheng's flying swords are indeed extraordinary!" Miro's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty. He had fought sword immortals with magic treasures and flying swords before, but the flying swords of Qingcheng, a thousand-year-old renowned sect, were completely incomparable to those of ordinary rogue cultivators. Songhezi's flying sword, made of an unknown material, was fearless against Miro's Helpless Yin Fiend Hand, which was specifically designed to break flying swords. That silver light was the Thunder-Commanding Silver Bead Miro had just retrieved. Although its stored lightning had been depleted, the silver bead itself was a magic treasure, possessing immense power in a single strike. Yet, Ao Ming's flying sword easily blocked it. Furthermore, the three cooperated with great skill in attack and defense. With a single exchange, Miro knew he was no match for them. However, the Mò Chà Pearl was right before his eyes, and it was incredibly difficult for Miro to give up now. His Helpless Yin Fiend Hand rapidly retracted, reaching for Shui Wuyue's sword light, while Miro's mind raced, contemplating how to deal with the situation.

"Another flying sword? Who is it now?!" Just then, a golden radiance shot down from the sky like a flowing flame. Before it even reached them, a powerful pressure descended. Sensing the incoming person's momentum, Ao Ming and the others' flying swords circled back, and they all tensed in preparation.

The sword light descended like a waterfall, revealing a bald, short, and stout old man. He had large ears and small eyes, lacking any demeanor of a master, but his gaze flickered as if with electric sparks. "I'm still a step too late!" The short, stout old man swept his gaze around and first let out a long sigh. Seeing small flames flickering on the golden flying sword around him, Songhezi suddenly remembered someone and was startled, "Crimson Flame Golden Lion Sword, Senior, are you True Lord Lieyang?"

The short, stout old man did not reply. His gaze fixed on Miro. "Will you end yourself, or shall I do it?"

At this moment, Miro also knew that this short, stout old man was True Lord Lieyang, Kongtong's friend. Judging by the cultivation of True Lord Lieyang's flying sword alone, Miro knew he was no match for him. However, Miro was inherently sinister and vicious, yet he did not fear. He snorted and remained silent, simply staring coldly at Miro.

"Mò Chà Pearl?" True Lord Lieyang's sword light surged, and just as he was about to act, his gaze fell upon the blue radiance peeking from between the young man's fingers. His entire body trembled.

"What, you only notice it's the Mò Chà Pearl now?" Miro sneered upon seeing this. "Kongtong sent you to save him, but did he not tell you that he met this calamity because of the Mò Chà Pearl?"

"Boy, even if your master himself came, he wouldn't dare speak to me in such a tone. You're facing death, yet you're still so arrogant!" True Lord Lieyang became furious. His sword light, like a silken banner, exploded with a thunderous boom as if a lightning strike had occurred on flat ground, blasting towards Miro.

Miro extended his Helpless Yin Fiend Hand. The black qi met the sword light and, like hot oil poured onto a red-hot iron plate, hissed and turned into green smoke. But Miro was not in a hurry. He merely said, "Do you think all these people from Shushan are like dead pigs?"

True Lord Lieyang's sword light flickered upon hearing this. "True Person Yinxiao's spells have always been sinister. This brat is his disciple. If he fights desperately, it might be difficult to subdue him quickly. This place is also close to Shushan, and these three from Qingcheng are not ordinary individuals either. If I'm not careful, they might take advantage. " With a flash of thought, True Lord Lieyang hesitated further.

A disdainful sneer appeared on Miro's lips.

No matter how high your cultivation, you're still like this when you see the Mò Chà Pearl!

Miro's initial thought was correct. The Mò Chà Pearl was a great temptation to True Lord Lieyang as well. The moment he recognized the Mò Chà Pearl, True Lord Lieyang's Nascent Soul trembled violently, as if he had fallen into a greedy hell during Buddhist cultivation, almost losing control of his life-cultivated flying sword. However, what Miro didn't expect was True Lord Lieyang's extremely fiery temper. "What if I don't want this Mò Chà Pearl!" Seeing the mockery in Miro's eyes, True Lord Lieyang's inner fire of karma ignited. Without a second thought, his sword light exploded, and before everyone's eyes, a golden crow seemed to light up, illuminating the area within several yards as bright as day.

"You wretched fat gourd!" Miro's eyes widened in alarm. He quickly waved his short staff, and black qi erupted.

True Lord Lieyang laughed heartily and pointed with his hand. The Crimson Flame Golden Lion Sword was forged from underground refined gold tempered with Crimson Sun True Fire. It was immensely powerful and unafraid of yin souls and filth. With a sweep, it tore the black qi apart.

A silver light shot directly at True Lord Lieyang's face. Miro, seeing the situation turn unfavorable, hurled the Thunder-Commanding Silver Bead again. "Hmph!" True Lord Lieyang did not dodge. He suddenly opened his mouth and, with a "poof" sound, spewed out a wave of white energy. With a collision and a swirl, the Thunder-Commanding Silver Bead was sucked into True Lord Lieyang's mouth. Meanwhile, Miro trembled violently, his face pale, almost struck directly by True Lord Lieyang's sword light.

"True Lord Lieyang's flying sword technique is indeed overbearing, to have actually captured his opponent's magic treasure in one go!" The three from Qingcheng had only just had this thought flash through their minds when they suddenly heard Miro shout, "What, are you trying to snatch the Mò Chà Pearl while I'm in trouble?"

Ao Ming, Songhezi, and Shui Wuyue were all stunned. True Lord Lieyang also hesitated for a moment. Suddenly, Miro flicked his hand and scattered a wisp of green smoke. The green smoke was chillingly cold. "What a trick!" The three from Qingcheng frowned, immediately recognizing it as the extremely sinister Profound Nether Yin Phosphor Sand. At the same time, they all realized that Miro had deliberately shouted that sentence to disrupt True Lord Lieyang's concentration, giving himself time to release this Profound Nether Yin Phosphor Sand under the shredding of True Lord Lieyang's flying sword.

"Not good!" True Lord Lieyang also snapped back to reality instantly, but the green smoke swirled and intercepted his Crimson Flame Golden Lion Sword. As he hastily retracted his flying sword, the sword body was already flashing with greenish-red phosphorescence.

Controlling a flying sword appeared simple, but in reality, it was difficult to cultivate. The general method for controlling a flying sword first required a powerful flying sword as the sword embryo, which was then nurtured by one's own vital energy. Gradually, a portion of the Nascent Soul was divided and imprinted upon it. Only when one's mind and spirit were in perfect sync, using it as if it were one's own limb, could it be considered initially formed. Although True Lord Lieyang's Crimson Flame Golden Lion Sword was not an ordinary item, Miro's Profound Nether Yin Phosphor Sand directly adhered to the sword body, burning vital energy. Now, the Crimson Flame Golden Lion Sword's brilliance had greatly diminished, and the vital energy lost would take at least a thousand days to replenish.

True Lord Lieyang severed Miro's connection with the Thunder-Commanding Silver Bead using his own true essence, capturing the magic treasure and injuring Miro's Nascent Soul. Now, Miro had similarly injured True Lord Lieyang's Nascent Soul with the Profound Nether Yin Phosphor Sand, damaging his flying sword. It could be said that he had immediately retaliated. However, Miro was merely a junior to True Lord Lieyang. If he couldn't finish him off in a few exchanges, his flying sword would be damaged. True Lord Lieyang was so enraged that his "three souls and seven spirits" were leaping wildly. "If I don't kill you today, I'm not human!" With a flash of his sword light, Miro waved his short staff to block, but it was a feint. With several booming sounds, golden light and thunder erupted in the air, electric snakes writhing and twisting. The Five Paths of Golden Light Heavenly Thunder unleashed by True Lord Lieyang struck Miro squarely. Miro let out a strange cry, and most of the black smoke around him was scattered. His body was thrown backward like a windmill in the air.

"This person is likely doomed!" The three from Qingcheng saw True Lord Lieyang's golden sword light chasing after him and intercepting him head-on. The black cloud Miro had just condensed was scattered with a single sweep. Seeing that Miro was unavoidable, a black radiance suddenly descended from the sky. It was a flying sword about three feet long, shrouded in black cloud energy.

Seeing the sinister black cloud energy on this flying sword, which was similar to Miro's true essence, True Lord Lieyang knew the newcomer was an enemy, not a friend. Before the black radiance could entangle his flying sword, he had already grasped a Fire Cloud Shuttle in his hand. However, before this Fire Cloud Shuttle, whose power was not inferior to an ordinary flying sword, could be launched, True Lord Lieyang saw a yellow-green cloud mass descend upon him.

Before the yellow-green cloud mass could get close, a foul stench assailed True Lord Lieyang's nostrils. He recognized this yellow-green cloud mass as the corpse poison gas, refined from countless corpse qi mixed with the poison of a hundred insects. He hurriedly cast an incantation, conjuring a ball of red light to protect himself.

"Senior Brother!"

As Miro's voice of surprise rang out, a man with a sinister expression appeared beside him, coldly watching True Lord Lieyang.

"This is Hetu, the eldest disciple of True Person Yinxiao!"

Hetu and Miro belonged to the same lineage, but their spell cultivation was very different. Not only did Hetu also have a flying sword, but his cultivation seemed to be considerably higher than Miro's. No wonder Kongtong was no match for him. Furthermore, judging by the expression in his eyes, this man's sinister and vicious nature was no less than Miro's, if not worse.

As the gold and black flying swords clashed, True Lord Lieyang already felt that he might not be able to withstand the combined efforts of these two. After a slight hesitation, from the vast black mountain range in the distance, several brilliant sword lights illuminated the sky.

That place was Shushan.

Someone from Shushan had finally sensed it!