The Purple Robe Great Sage's demonic power poured down like a black rainstorm. Chen Fan whirled his golden Blazing Spear around himself into an impenetrable barrier, every collision making his blood and qi churn. He could feel that nearly half the power of the Human Immortal within him had already been consumed. If he could not find a way to break the deadlock, he would sooner or later be devoured by the demonic power. Just then, a white figure swept across the battlefield like drifting clouds. Su Muxue held an ancient jade pendant and stepped between Chen Fan and the Purple Robe Great Sage.
"Miss Su? How did you get here?" Surprise flashed through Chen Fan's eyes. He had not expected Su Muxue to suddenly appear.
Su Muxue did not turn around. She pressed the ancient jade pendant against her brow with her fingertips, and it suddenly erupted with a gentle white radiance. As the light spread, the Purple Robe Great Sage's black demonic mist dissolved rapidly like ice and snow meeting blazing fire. "This is the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant of an Ancient Martial Path Guardian. It can restrain external evil forces—including this demonic mist, as well as the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy relied upon by the Spiritual Root system."
The Purple Robe Great Sage's expression changed drastically. "Who are you? How dare you ruin my plans!"
"I am Su Muxue, and a descendant of an Ancient Martial Path Guardian." Su Muxue's voice was cool, yet carried an unquestionable firmness. "Purple Robe Great Sage, do you think your demonic mist can suppress Spiritual Root cultivators because of the Demon Race's innate gifts? Wrong. It is because the Spiritual Root system itself runs contrary to the origin of this world, and your demonic mist happens to trigger the rejection caused by that contradiction!"
Her words exploded like thunder in the hearts of all the human cultivators. The Heavenly Sword Sect Master hurriedly asked, "Miss Su, is that true? How could the Spiritual Root system run contrary to the world's origin?"
Su Muxue raised a hand, and the jade pendant's white radiance condensed into scene after scene in the air. In ancient times, Martial Path cultivators used their fleshly bodies to shake Heaven and Earth, resonating with the world's origin. Later, a crack from beyond the heavens appeared, and Spiritual Root seeds fell into this world. They devoured the world's origin and transformed it into Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. Cultivators relied on spiritual energy to cultivate, yet gradually became its "puppets." Once spiritual energy was suppressed, their combat strength plummeted.
"This is the truth of the Spiritual Root system—it was not a path that evolved naturally, but a trap laid by outsiders to plunder the world's origin!" Su Muxue's voice was heavy. "And the Martial Path is this world's true orthodox path, because its power comes from oneself and coexists with the world's origin. It cannot be easily suppressed!"
Chen Fan suddenly saw the light. The claim of "Martial Path orthodoxy" within Zhao Lie's inheritance had finally been confirmed. Looking at the human cultivators around him, he suddenly shouted, "Everyone, if you want to break the demonic mist, temporarily abandon your reliance on spiritual energy! Circulate your blood qi with me and gather your combat power through Martial Path methods!"
Though the human cultivators were half-convinced and half-doubtful, they saw that Su Muxue's jade pendant truly could dissolve the demonic mist. They also recalled how Chen Fan had resisted a Great Sage of the Void Refinement Realm with Martial Path power. One after another, they tried to stop circulating spiritual energy and instead mobilized the most fundamental blood qi within their bodies. At first, their movements were awkward, their blood qi as faint as fireflies. But under Chen Fan's guidance, they gradually found the rhythm of blood qi circulation, and faint crimson glimmers began to shine around them.
"Use blood qi as the guide, and will as the blade!" Chen Fan roared, spreading his Human Immortal blood qi outward like a golden river that enveloped every cultivator's crimson glimmer. The golden river merged with the red light, forming an enormous Blood Qi Formation Diagram. It contained vast, surging power as it charged toward the Purple Robe Great Sage's demonic mist.
"No! Impossible!" The Purple Robe Great Sage's eyes filled with terror. Before the Blood Qi Formation Diagram, his demonic mist was torn apart as easily as fragile paper. He had always believed that suppressing Spiritual Root cultivators was the Demon Race's advantage. He had never imagined that humans could shatter the demonic mist through Martial Path blood qi. It completely overturned everything he knew.
The Blood Qi Formation Diagram not only tore apart the demonic mist, but also carried the will of every cultivator as it blasted toward the Purple Robe Great Sage. The Heavenly Sword Sect Master gripped his longsword and poured blood qi into its blade. The sword erupted with unprecedented red light. "So blood qi can make sword intent this fierce!" he shouted, thrusting his sword at the Purple Robe Great Sage.
The Pill Cauldron Sect Master also fused blood qi into his pills. The golden pellets were no longer mere flame attacks, but carried blood qi's Evil-Breaking Power as they flew toward the Purple Robe Great Sage. The other cultivators followed suit, combining blood qi with their own cultivation arts and launching wave after wave of fierce attacks to surround and annihilate him.
The Purple Robe Great Sage panicked completely. He tried to gather demonic mist for defense again, only to find that the moment it appeared, the Blood Qi Formation Diagram dissolved it. He turned to flee, but Chen Fan's golden Blazing Spear blocked his path.
"Old Purple Robe, weren't you planning to raze human cities to the ground? Why are you trying to run now?" Chen Fan's voice was icy as Human Immortal blood qi surged around him. "Today, we will use the power of Martial Path orthodoxy to slay you, a Great Sage of the Demon Race who aids tyranny and abets evil!"
Blazing Spear Art: Heaven-Burning!
The golden Blazing Spear in Chen Fan's hand condensed once more. This time, it contained not only Human Immortal power, but also the blood qi and will of every human cultivator. Its might far surpassed before. Like a burning golden dragon, the Blazing Spear blasted toward the Purple Robe Great Sage.
The Purple Robe Great Sage howled in despair, drawing upon the last trace of demonic power within him to form a shield. But before the Blazing Spear infused with everyone's will, the shield shattered instantly. The spear pierced through his body, and golden blood qi exploded inside him, completely destroying his demon core.
"I refuse to accept this..." The Purple Robe Great Sage's body slowly fell, his eyes full of unwillingness, but he made no sound again.
With the Purple Robe Great Sage's death, the remaining Demon Race soldiers completely lost their fighting spirit and turned to flee. The human cultivators pressed their victory, slaughtering countless Demon Race soldiers and ultimately crushing the demon army entirely. Clear Wind City's crisis was finally resolved.
On the battlefield, the human cultivators gathered around Chen Fan and Su Muxue, their eyes filled with admiration and gratitude. Looking at the faint blood qi flowing around their bodies, they gained an entirely new understanding of the Martial Path—so even without relying on spiritual energy, they could possess such powerful strength.
"Miss Su, thank you for revealing the truth and helping us break the demonic mist." Chen Fan clasped his fists toward Su Muxue, his eyes full of gratitude.
Su Muxue shook her head and handed the ancient jade pendant to Chen Fan. "This jade pendant should have been given to a true Martial Path inheritor. Chen Fan, you not only broke through to the Human Immortal Realm, but also united everyone to defeat the enemy with blood qi. You are the key to leading the revival of the Martial Path and shattering the Spiritual Root trap."
She paused before continuing, "The conspiracy of the Spiritual Root system has now begun to reveal itself, but the incarnation of the Will of the Heavenly Dao, the hidden mastermind, has yet to appear. It has always manipulated the Spiritual Root system in secret, plundering the world's origin. If you want to completely shatter these shackles, you must find more inheritances of ancient Martial Immortals and break through to the Earth Immortal and Heavenly Immortal realms. In the end, only by Proving Dao with Martial Arts can you contend against the Will of the Heavenly Dao."
Chen Fan accepted the jade pendant. It was warm in his hand, as though it resonated with his blood qi. He looked toward the distant horizon, his eyes filled with determination. "I will. No matter how difficult the road ahead is, I will persist on the Martial Path. I will shatter the shackles of Spiritual Root Destiny for all living beings, let the Martial Path and Immortal Path coexist, and allow everyone to freely choose their own road."
Lin Xiaohu ran to Chen Fan's side, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Brother Fan, from now on, I'll cultivate the Martial Path properly too! I'll protect humanity with you and uncover even more truths!"
Chen Fan patted Lin Xiaohu's head and smiled gently. "All right. We'll work hard together."
The masters and elders of the major human sects also stepped forward one after another, clasping their fists toward Chen Fan. "Mr. Chen, we misunderstood the Martial Path before. We hope you will forgive us. From this day onward, we are willing to support the Martial Path inheritance, stand with you against the hidden mastermind, and protect this world."
Chen Fan nodded. "Thank you, everyone. To oppose the Will of the Heavenly Dao, one person's strength is far from enough. All of us must unite as one. Whether Martial Path cultivators or immortal cultivators, we should cast aside our prejudices and fight together for this world's future."
As the sun set in the west, its golden afterglow spilled across Clear Wind City's battlefield, illuminating everyone's resolute figures. This stage victory in the war of myriad races had not only protected humanity's homeland, but also exposed the Spiritual Root system's conspiracy and brought Martial Path orthodoxy back into everyone's sight.
Chen Fan stood at the center of the battlefield, gripping the ancient jade pendant tightly, hope gleaming in his eyes. He knew an even greater challenge was about to come—finding ancient Martial Immortal inheritances, breaking through to higher Martial Path realms, and confronting the incarnation of the Will of the Heavenly Dao. Yet he was no longer alone, for he had companions who could fight beside him, strength that supported the Martial Path, and an unshakable conviction to forge a new road for all living beings.
Chen Fan's Human Immortal's Path to Heaven had officially begun.
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