Annihilating the Twelve Demons
The Energy Vortex churned wildly with a force capable of tearing apart heaven and earth, ripping out eerie blue cracks in the surrounding void. The edges of these cracks crackled with tiny sparks of electricity, as if the wounds torn open the heavens and earth were convulsing. Each tremor caused mountains thousands of miles away to hum in response, their ancient pines rustling and their needles falling in a shower. Deep within the cracks, countless Space-time Fragments slowly rose and fell. Some reflected the eruption of primordial volcanoes, crimson lava carrying millstone-sized boulders bursting through the clouds, turning the sky a Purgatory color. The lava splashed as it landed... The Mars could penetrate the fragments, leaving fleeting red dots in the void; some flashed across the ruins of future cities, where reinforced concrete swayed precariously in the apocalyptic winds, and only a few scattered neon lights remained on billboards, flickering in the ruins, with the words "2077" faintly visible; still others flickered with the illusory images of Stars' Life and Death and falling, a star going from brilliance to Annihilation in an instant, yet seemingly consuming countless ages, the afterglow bursting forth during its collapse able to penetrate time and space, leaving faint burn marks on the edges of the cracks, those burn marks lingering for a long time, like marks burned into the heavens and earth.
The giant shadow of chaos suddenly raised its head in the center of the whirlpool. The head seemed to be made of thousands of bones stacked up. Each bone was glowing with a dark yellow luster, like ancient jade that had been soaked by the years for hundreds of millions of years. Dark red demonic fire flowed between the gaps. Miao licked the seams between the bones, and plumes of black smoke rose up. In the smoke, countless twisted human faces could be vaguely seen struggling. Some of those faces were children, some were old people, all with endless pain. It let out a roar that was neither a cow nor a horse, like crying and laughing, The sound seemed to come from the deepest part of Jiuyou Purgatory, with a biting chill that could freeze the soul. Wherever the sound wave passed, even the ten thousand-year-old black ice condensed on the distant mountains was shaken and fell. The ice cubes hit the ground, and the sound of cracking was heard in the empty space. The sound spread far and wide between heaven and earth, and the strange beasts lurking in the mountain stream were so frightened that they buried their heads in the cracks of the rocks, not even daring to breathe. One of the strange beasts, which looked like a white deer, was so frightened that its fur stood up on its body, shaking ice crystals all over the ground.
The swirling black mist surrounding it suddenly exploded, spreading outwards like spilled ink on a blank sheet of paper. Wherever it passed, even sunlight was stained black. Birds flying through this black mist didn't even have time to cry out before instantly turning into charred afterimages and falling to the ground, becoming a smoldering black puddle, the outlines of feathers still remaining within. The black mist dissipated, revealing twelve twisted Light Orb suspended within— the Origin Core of twelve demons. One was as red as poisoned blood beads, as green as rotting bone venom, as blue as man-eating vines, as black as a bottomless abyss, and others as yellow as cracked earth and as purple as raging thunder. Colored light swirled wildly within, sometimes surging like a blazing sun, blinding people and scorching even the void with tiny holes from which wisps of black energy seeped; at other times contracting like a cold star, concealing all its sharpness, as if it would be extinguished completely at any moment, alternating between light and darkness in a rhythm completely contrary to the Heaven and Earth Rhythm. Each flash caused the void to groan under unbearable pressure, as if twelve parasitic hearts in the Primordial Chaos were gripping the very foundation of this Demonic God's existence with the most savage force, threatening to drag the world into an abyss of eternal damnation at the slightest disturbance, even the earth itself groaning under the crushing weight of this power.
"Ren Xiaoyao! Do you know why we dare to fight with our very essence, merging into Primordial Chaos?"
The colossal figure's voice was no longer the chaotic interweaving of countless voices, but instead carried an arrogance originating from the depths of its bloodline. That arrogance carried an open disdain for the Heaven and Earth Laws, as if mocking the fragility of all order in the world. Each word seemed forged from millennia-old Mysterious Iron, striking the void with a dull echo that caused the distant clouds to churn. "Twelve Origin Powers, twelve lives! If you shatter one, eleven origins will still support this body; if you crush two, the remaining ten can still gather energy and reshape the form! Today, I will wear you down until your Life and Death Spring is completely depleted and your Primordial Spirit disintegrates inch by inch, letting you taste the bitterness of being utterly annihilated, unable even to grasp a fragment of reincarnation!"
Before the words were finished, a dark green Light Orb at the edge of the Energy Vortex suddenly flickered violently. Countless phantoms of venomous snakes appeared on the surface of the Light Orb, struggling frantically. The cold light on their scales was blinding, and their forked tongues, still dripping with viscous venom, left green trails in the air as they dripped. Then, with a "bang," they shattered, turning into countless fluorescent green dots flying everywhere. Each dot that landed caused a wisp of black smoke to rise from the ground, within which one could vaguely see the agonizing struggles of the poisoned creatures. Their phantoms twisted into various shapes, some curled up in a ball, others with limbs outstretched, as if accusing the Snake-Haired Demoness of cruelty—the marks left by the crushing of the Snake-Haired Demoness's Origin Core by the Power of Life and Death.
The Chaos Giant Shadow trembled slightly, and from the broken snake hair at its neck, a thick, grayish-black mist rapidly welled up. Within the mist, countless vengeful spirits could be vaguely seen struggling, reaching out withered hands as if trying to grasp something, but they could only futilely traverse the mist. Their wails were as faint as a whisper, yet they pierced through the mist and stabbed into the heart. The mist tumbled and condensed in the void, instantly reforming into snake heads covered with tiny scales. When the snakes opened their mouths wide, they revealed two rows of fine, venomous fangs, each dangling from a sticky droplet. As it dripped, it corroded the void, creating tiny holes from which wisps of black thread seeped, like the void itself bleeding. It no longer spewed the previous Ink Green Venom, but a grayish-black, sinister wind carrying the stench of aged corpses. This wind swept over Ren Xiaoyao, causing ripples to spread across the Life and Death Giant Wheel and death spinning behind him. The green mist and blue flames around the wheel's rim seemed veiled in gray, their luster dimmed, as if even the two Heaven and Earth Origin Power life and Annihilation had been corrupted by this sinister energy, losing their original purity.
"So that's how it is... The twelve lives were forcibly continued using the Chaos Power, based on the Origin Reincarnation of reincarnation."
Ren Xiaoyao raised his hand to wipe away the bright red blood that had spilled from the corner of his mouth. The blood droplets on his fingertips transformed into specks of red plum blossoms in the void. The petals unfurled with a resolute and vibrant color, as if they were about to burn out their last brilliant flame in this dark world, before vanishing into the Chaos Current without leaving a trace of ash. There was no fear in his eyes, but rather a flash of enlightenment, as if he had found a path to light in the fog. All his confusion vanished in that moment, and even the weariness between his brows faded, leaving only a sense of relief and clarity.
In the brief moment of fierce combat with the Chaos Power, as the life and death Life and Death Qi flowed alternately at his fingertips, he vaguely touched the underlying structure of that disordered power—though Primordial Chaos was powerful, it was ultimately the result of twelve distinct demonic origins forcibly bound together by malevolent energy. It was like a group of wicked villains, each with their own ulterior motives, seemingly united but actually already divided and prone to falling apart at the slightest provocation. Each time it shattered and reborn, it would create a crack in the connection between the origins, like porcelain glued together with inferior adhesive. It appeared intact, but its interior was riddled with spiderweb-like fissures. With just a light tap, it would shatter completely, turning into countless irreparable fragments, never to be restored.
"Beyond birth and death, there exists Primordial Chaos. The way to subdue demons lies not in annihilation, but in returning to order and the law."
He abruptly withdrew his palm, and the previously formed Life and Death Long Blade and the wall of light that spanned the heavens and earth simultaneously dissipated, transforming into countless points of light in shades of blue and black. These points of light drew graceful arcs in the air, like a brief meteor shower, illuminating the world shrouded in darkness. Even the distant broken mountains were tinged with a faint blue glow, and the rock patterns on the mountain walls became clearly visible.
The points of light swirled and converged in the air, no longer clearly defined as green mist and blue flames. Instead, they intertwined with the gray radiance emanating from the Grey Pill of Reverse Dao Origin within his dantian, like three dragons playing in his palm, sometimes chasing, sometimes entwining. The shimmering dragon scales exuded an ancient charm, as if they were Totems passed down from the High Antiquity primordial era. Each dragon scale was engraved with mysterious runes, and finally, they condensed into a Primordial Chaos phantom of gray mixed with blue and blue with black on his clenched fist.
The illusory image slowly flowed across the fist, its patterns ever-changing, seemingly containing the mysteries of the Beginning of Heaven and Earth. Each Dao Patterns flowed in harmony with a certain rhythm of the universe. It was neither as warm and gentle as the green mist of life, nor as fierce and cold as the blue flame of Annihilation, which carried the shattering of Ice Crystals. Instead, it exuded a domineering power that could encompass all things and crush all rules—it was the "Chaos Demon Subduing Fist he had comprehended after seeing through the essence of Primordial Chaos on the brink of life and death.
"First punch, Delusion Breaker!"
Ren Xiaoyao's figure shot out like an arrow, leaving a pale golden afterimage in the void. Where the afterimage passed, even the turbulent flow of the Energy Vortex paused, as if time itself slowed down. Everything around him became a blurred background, except for the Primordial Chaos phantom on his fist, which became increasingly clear, its flowing light carrying World-Ending Aura. His fist, carrying the Primordial Chaos phantom, whistled through the air, and struck the second primordial Light Orb beating in the heart of the Chaos Giant Shadow —the crystalline white core of the Stone Demon. Within the Light Orb, countless sharp-edged fragments of stone could be vaguely seen spinning rapidly, colliding and producing a crisp metallic clang, as if proclaiming its indestructible nature. Even the void was sparked by these Mars, which turned into tiny Mars upon landing, leaving shallow craters on the ground.
The moment the fist struck, there was no earth-shattering roar, only a subtle yet clear "crack," as if the most exquisite Glazed Ice had been crushed in the palm of one's hand. Though the sound was soft, it stilled the world, even stopping the wind from flowing. Only the sound of shattering echoed in the void, like a key unlocking a long-forgotten secret.
The Stone Demon's crystalline essence shattered instantly, turning into countless crystalline dust particles that refracted a blinding light in the air, making it impossible to look directly at. Just as the Chaos Giant Shadow's body was about to expel the stone mist to reshape its heart, the Chaos Current from Ren Xiaoyao's fist, like maggots clinging to bones, burrowed into the wound, transforming into countless tiny vortexes within the giant shadow's body, churning wildly. Wherever it passed, the stone mist instantly dissipated, turning the newly formed stone body into dust, leaving not even a sliver of chance to reshape it, as if it had never existed. Only wisps of green smoke remained, drifting within the giant shadow's body, carrying the aura of stone.
"Impossible! How could my very essence... not even be able to replenish the Chaos Power!"
The Chaos Giant Shadow let out a deafening roar, its voice filled with unbelievable terror, as if its entire worldview had collapsed in that instant, all confidence and arrogance vanished, leaving only a deep-seated fear. Its massive body trembled violently from this sudden turn of events, its giant feet cleaving the earth's crust into several deep fissures. Scorching magma surged from these fissures, instantly incinerating the surrounding vegetation. The air was thick with the smell of burning, and even the distant river was steamed by the heat, its surface faintly revealing the pebbles at its bottom.
Before it could finish speaking, the third Light Orb representing the Leopard Demon and the fourth dark golden Light Orb symbolizing the Bone-Winged Demon exploded one after another. When the crimson Light Orb shattered, it turned into a rain of blood, each drop of blood burning a small crater emitting black smoke upon landing. In the crater, the phantom of the Leopard Demon devouring living beings could be vaguely seen, their faces still bearing expressions of terror, their limbs struggling incessantly. When the dark golden Light Orb cracked, it scattered into bone dust, within which the phantoms of countless fallen warriors could be vaguely seen screaming, their voices filled with resentment and anger, as if accusing the Bone-Winged Demon of brutality. The phantoms still held broken weapons in their hands, trembling incessantly in the dust. The sounds of clashing weapons and screams intertwined, forming a tragic elegy.
But each time the origin shattered, just as the giant shadow was about to use the remaining Origin Power to reshape its body, it was completely torn apart by the Chaos Demon Subduing Fist energy within its body. The Twelve Origin Powers Light Orb dimmed at a visible speed, and the flicker of the Light Orb became weaker and weaker, like candles in the wind, about to be blown out at any moment. Even the light carried a trace of desolation, as if mourning the impending end, or as if issuing a final lament to the world, a lament filled with endless regret.
As the seventh gray-black Light Orb Human-Faced Spider Demon shattered, the tough black threads wrapped around the Chaos Giant Shadow suddenly trembled violently. Space Fragments shimmering on the threads fell like meteors, disappearing upon impact with the ground, as if they had fallen into another world, leaving not a trace, only faint ripples in the void. As the ripples spread, they slightly distorted the surrounding space. The threads, which had been flowing with spatial power, instantly lost their luster, becoming as fragile as withered leaves, then "rustled" into dust and scattered, leaving faint trails in the air before being blown away by the wind, completely merging into the world, as if they had never existed.
Freed from the black silk's restraints, the remaining five primordial Light Orb, like beads from a broken string, clashed and collided wildly within the colossal shadow's massive body. Golden, purple, and gray light exploded within it, like countless fireworks blooming in the darkness—brief yet dazzling—illuminating the shadow's face, contorted in agony. Dark red liquid seeped from the gaps in its skeletal bones, as if bleeding. This caused its thousand-foot-tall body to convulse and twist continuously, its originally solidified form becoming blurred and indistinct, like a rag writhing mass on the ground, or a torn cloth ripped by a gale, seemingly on the verge of complete collapse, turning into dust that could never be reassembled. Even the strength to maintain its stance was rapidly dwindling, and its massive body began to slowly sink, pressing down on the earth with a creaking sound.
"The final punch, Return Ruins!"
Ren Xiaoyao hovered in the void, the tri-colored radiance surrounding him growing ever stronger, enveloping his entire being like a god descended to earth. He exuded an inviolable majesty, even causing the Energy Vortex to automatically retreat around him, creating a brief vacuum where even sound could not travel. The Chaos Current gathered on his fist suddenly surged, the blue, black, and gray light intertwining into a thick pillar of light that pierced through the heavens and earth. Within the pillar, the phantom of Cycle of Life and Death, could be vaguely seen slowly rotating, and ripples of Reverse Dao Backlash spread outwards, carrying a powerful force that could pierce through Primordial Chaos and reshape order. Like a sword of judgment in the hand of a god, it carried an unquestionable majesty, directly piercing the brow of the Chaos Giant Shadow, creating a huge hole in its skull made of stacked bones. From the hole, a large amount of gray-black mist poured out, mixed with fine bone fragments.
The remaining five primordial Light Orb simultaneously blazed with blinding light within the pillar, but instead of their previous violent resistance, they disintegrated rapidly like melting snow—the twisted runes on the Withered Bone Old Demon's joints faded to grayish-white, losing the support of vengeful spirits and resentment, turning into harmless dust that gently drifted down the air like a soft snowfall, merging into the scorched earth and staining it with a faint white hue; the remaining red and blue flames of the Nine-Headed Demon turned into wisps of smoke, no longer capable of burning away the soul. The domineering smoke, drifting and dispersing, seemed to convey a sense of relief at the end, even the shape of the smoke carrying a hint of liberation, like a blooming lotus flower; finally, even the black mist that maintained the Primordial Chaos form was completely purified by the Power of Life and Death in the pillar of light, turning into specks of warm golden light, falling on the earth like spring rain, and rising into wisps of white steam when it landed on the scorched earth, the steam carrying the fresh fragrance of the soil, refreshing the mind and body, as if the earth itself was giving a comfortable sigh, even the air became fresh.
The colossal Chaos Giant Shadow dissipated inch by inch in the golden light. First, its skeletal arms turned to ashes, drifting away with the wind without leaving a trace, not even a hint of Yao Qi remained in the air. Then, the tangled black threads melted into specks of light, flickering in the air for a moment before vanishing into Void, as if they had never existed. The dying wails of the twelve demons intertwined in the air into a symphony of despair, a mixture of snake hissing, beast roars, and the cracking of bones, yet it failed to stir even the slightest ripple that could shake the heavens and earth. It was as if they were merely a few specks of dust thrown into a lake, instantly sinking into silence without a trace, leaving only a faint mark on the land they had polluted, as if reminding us of the battle that had taken place.
As the last wisp of demonic Yao Qi vanished in the golden light, the suffocating, malevolent aura that had permeated the world receded like a tide, so swiftly it seemed as if it had never existed. Only a faint, purified freshness remained in the air; a deep breath revealed a hint of sweetness—the taste of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. The long-hidden sunlight finally pierced the clouds, casting dappled shadows across the land, illuminating the scarred mountains and rivers, bringing warmth to this broken land, dispelling the lingering chill. Even the distant glaciers began to slowly melt, dripping softly, the melting water forming streams that flowed gently down the hillsides.
From the scorched earth polluted by Yao Qi, tender green shoots emerged, pushing through the blackened soil. The blades were so delicate they seemed fragile, yet they exuded a tenacious vitality, each tip adorned with a glistening dewdrop, a testament to life's resilience. The dewdrops, reflecting the sunlight like tiny gems, shimmered on the distant, now-flowing stream. The stream, clear and cleansed of its former defilement, teemed with life. Fish, now active again, swam merrily, occasionally leaping out of the water, splashing tiny droplets that shimmered in the sunlight.
Ren Xiaoyao stood silently in the void. The Chaos Current on his fist had slowly dissipated, revealing faint bloodstains on his knuckles—medals left from the great battle, witnessing this breathtaking duel. Each Dao Wound seemed to tell the story of the fierce fighting, and a faint Chaos Aura lingered around them. A few newly added strands of white at his temples were particularly striking in the sunlight, like an early snowfall, yet they only accentuated his noble bearing, revealing a composure born of experience. His eyes no longer held their former sharpness, but instead possessed a detached indifference to the world, as if the rise and fall of all things were no longer relevant to him. Yet, his eyes shone with an unprecedented clarity and depth, as if he could see through the cycle of heaven and earth, and understand the mysteries of all things. His heart was free of confusion, only a serene tranquility remained, like an ancient well without ripples.
He gazed down at the earth, now calm again, at the new green shoots emerging from the ruins, and gently exhaled a breath of stale air. The breath transformed into a stream of blue and black energy in the air, then merged into the heavens and earth, as if becoming one with the land, inseparable from it. Even his breath was in sync with the rhythm of heaven and earth, each breath carrying a natural rhythm, causing the surrounding Spiritual Qi to flow slowly with his breath.
The Life and Death Giant Wheel spinning behind him finally slowed down. The green mist and blue flames around its rim softened considerably, no longer so blatantly sharp. Like a wise man who had sheathed his edge, though weary from a great battle, it possessed a profound and steady quality, capable of embracing Primordial Chaos and reshaping order. It turned slowly behind him, the radiance flowing across its surface reflecting on the newly sprouted vegetation below, as if resonating with the land. Occasionally, splashes of green mist from the rim would land on the scorched earth, whereupon new shoots would emerge; blue flames would sweep across the streams, causing tiny Ice Crystals to ripple across the surface, which would then evaporate and rise, nourishing the creatures on the banks.
Ren Xiaoyao raised his hand to brush away the frost-white hair at his temples. Where his fingertips touched, a few strands of white hair faintly glowed with gold before returning to normal. He looked down at the bloodstains on his palm. The wounds were healing at a visible speed, leaving only faint marks, as if reminding him of the battle.