Cang Xuan's Embers: Demonic Curse Bound to the Body

Like a surging spring tide, seven-colored spiritual light poured out from the seven-colored sphere at the tip of Ren Xiaoyao's spear, spreading along the ravines of Cang Xuan Mountain. The light was not blindingly hot, but carried a warm vitality. Wherever it passed, the dark blue demonic energy melted away like snow meeting the blazing sun, turning into wisps of gray vapor, which rose with subtle crackling sounds. In the deep pits scorched by poisonous fire, tender green grass sprouts emerged from the soil, topped with glistening white dewdrops. As the grass blades unfurled, they were still covered with fragments of spiritual light. Even the pebbles in the crevices were enveloped in spiritual light, gleaming with a warm jade color, like polished gems. The last trace of sulfur and the stench of rotting corpses in the air were completely washed away, replaced by the bitterness of spiritual herbs and the sweetness of morning dew. Even the mountain breeze became gentle, carrying a faint warmth as it brushed against the robes of the cultivators.

But amidst this vibrant scene, the four demon envoys' crumbling bodies suddenly underwent a strange change—four wisps of dark blue smoke, as if bound by invisible chains, abruptly broke free from the gray mist, swirling and colliding wildly in the air. The collision of the smoke produced a shrill screech, like fingernails scraping bronze, a sharp and piercing sound that sent chills down one's spine. The remnant soul of the Ghost Bone Demon Emissary pierced through the barrier of spiritual light, its voice like that of someone crawling out of the Nine Nether Hell, filled with resentment and venom. "Don't even think about annihilating us! Ren Xiaoyao, you mortal, you won by sheer luck with a broken spear, do you really think you can sever the foundation of my Demon Realm? Even if our souls are scattered, we will drag you down with us, trapping you in demonic energy for eternity, never to be reborn!"

Before the words were even finished, the four wisps of green smoke suddenly contracted inward, like iron filings attracted by a magnet, instantly coalescing into a ball. Dark blue-black demonic energy surged wildly from the smoke, as thick as ink that couldn't be dissolved, climbing upwards along the edge of the spiritual light, actually swallowing up the fine particles of light on the outer layer of the spiritual light. As the particles of light were enveloped by the demonic energy, they emitted a "sizzling" corrosive sound. Even more bizarrely, those long-vanished body fragments—the withered claws of the Ghost Bone Demon Emissary, covered in Black Blood, with dried scabs still remaining on the knuckles; the fragments of the Void Splitting Demon Emissary's Demon Blade, gleaming with a dark purple light, still shimmering with a faint light that Sky-Rending Strike; the black mist of the Soul Devouring Demon Emissary, with swirling patterns, and a subtle suction force still visible within the mist; the Pink Mist condensed into dewdrops by the Corrupted Heart Demon Emissary, with a bewitching luster on its surface—were drawn together from all directions by the demonic energy, intertwining and merging in the air, as if they were living things.

In the blink of an eye, a ten-foot-tall demonic figure materialized. Half of its body consisted of exposed, withered bones, the stark white surface stained with undried black, rotting flesh that still writhed slightly. Broken tendons hanging from the joints swayed with each movement, as if about to fall off at any moment. The other half was wrapped in tattered black cloth, riddled with holes through which wriggled black Demonic Insects Demonic Insects. These worms were entirely black, covered in tiny, sharp barbs, leaving behind a sticky, black liquid that emitted a nauseating stench that made anyone who smelled it want to vomit. A young cultivator... The man couldn't hold it in and turned to the side, retching. The demon's left hand held two magical artifacts simultaneously: one was Black Chains studded with spikes, each link embedded with inch-long barbs. The venom on these barbs dripped down the links, leaving black, corrosive streaks in the air. Even the hard bluestone was scorched with tiny pits upon impact, emitting wisps of black smoke. The other was Demon Blade gleaming with a dark purple light, its blade covered in fine Space Cracks. With each breath, these cracks expanded slightly, seemingly trying to absorb all the surrounding light. When the blade was swung, it carried a sharp Sky-Rending Strike. A sound rang out. Its right hand formed a Black Vortex three times larger than before, emanating a chilling suction force from its center. Even the rubble on the mountaintop and newly sprouted grass were drawn in and swirled around the vortex, forming a black cyclone. The air at the cyclone's edge was twisted and distorted, even sunlight passing through it was distorted. The demonic figure was enveloped in a thick Pink Mist, even denser than when the Corrupted Heart Demon Emissary was released alone, clinging to its body like melted honey. Within the mist, countless distorted human faces vaguely appeared—the terrified faces of cultivators on the verge of death, bulging eyes, Black Blood still dripping from their mouths; There were the innocent faces of crying children, tears streaming down their cheeks, yet grinning eerily; and the desperate expressions of old men, their wrinkles concealing pain—each face repeated seductive whispers, the voices soft yet incredibly penetrating, clearly audible even through the defensive array. Nether-Green Ghost Fire danced in their eye sockets, the tongues of fire several times larger than before, reaching half a foot high, scorching the surrounding air until it was slightly hot. Newly sprouted green shoots that approached instantly withered to a grayish-black, turning into a puddle of pus that seeped into the cracks of the stone, continuing to corrode the bluestone.

"This is... Demon Body formed from Four Demons Unity! It's Forbidden Secret Technique recorded in the <Demon Realm Secret Records>!" The white-haired elder behind the defensive array suddenly widened his eyes, his voice trembling with Jade Ruyi Scepter. The jade ruyi in his hand clattered to the ground, rolling a long distance before striking the bluestone with a crisp sound. A small crack even appeared on the surface of the Jade Ruyi Scepter. The other cultivators also gasped in shock. The joy that had just appeared on the faces of the younger cultivators vanished instantly, replaced by deep fear—they had seen records of it in their sect's Classics. A demonic shadow formed from Four Demons Unity possessed power more than ten times that of a single demon wielder. It could control chains and Demon Blade in close combat, and it could also devour with vortexes and bewitch with mist. It had almost no weaknesses. A thousand years ago, three Immortal Venerable joined forces, exhausting half of their immortal power, to barely seal a demonic shadow. How could Ren Xiaoyao possibly defeat it alone?

As soon as the merged demonic shadow stabilized, it unleashed a roar that shook the mountain peak's bluestone. The roar was infused with the voices of the four demons, sometimes sharp as tearing silk, piercing the eardrums; sometimes deep as muffled thunder, making chests tremble. Even the defensive array swayed slightly, and the cultivators behind it covered their ears, their faces pale. Many even felt their spiritual energy becoming chaotic. Then, the demonic shadow swung its left-hand Demon Blade, slashing at Ren Xiaoyao. This slash carried the full power of the four demons; the dark purple light on the Demon Blade and the Black Vortex in its right hand interacted, forming a twisting suction force that forcefully tore open a gap in the seven-colored spiritual light—a gap only the width of a finger joint, yet wide enough for the Pink Mist to slip through. Like a venomous snake attracted by blood, the mist frantically rushed through the gap. The energy surged in, instantly engulfing Ren Xiaoyao's consciousness. In the mist, his deceased fellow disciple smiled and beckoned to him. Blood still flowed from the wound on his chest, staining his robes crimson, yet he still said, "Xiaoyao, stop fighting. Come with me, and you'll be free. You'll never have to endure the pain of battle again." His mentor also appeared in the mist. His white hair was entangled in demonic energy, and his once gentle eyes had become cloudy, yet he still gently advised him, "Give up. The demonic shadow is too strong. Preserving your life is the most important thing. The safety of the sect will be borne by others." These words were as gentle as a murmur, yet they carried a deadly allure. Even the cultivators behind the defensive array could hear them, and many began to lose focus. One female cultivator even subconsciously took a step forward; if the elder beside her hadn't pulled her back in time, she probably would have already stepped outside the array.

At the same time, the Black Chains of the demonic shadow swung violently, their clattering sound like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, coiling towards Ren Xiaoyao's limbs. The spikes on the chains gleamed with a ghostly green poisonous light, the flickering light carrying a faint corrosive quality. The venom dripped from the spikes onto the bluestone, hissing as it fell, instantly withering even the green shoots just nourished by the spiritual light, turning into a pool of black pus. The pus seeped into the cracks in the stone, corroding the hard bluestone into tiny holes, from which black smoke billowed.

Ren Xiaoyao remained unfazed, his grip on the Creation Spear tightening with a sudden burst of power. His knuckles turned white from the force, the veins on the back of his hand bulged slightly, and even the muscles in his arm tensed. The four runes on the spear—"Life, Annihilation, Devouring, Immortality"—simultaneously erupted with an even stronger light than before. Emerald green, silver-white, deep blue, and golden light intertwined, forming a three-foot-thick light shield. Tiny specks of light flowed across the surface of the shield, twinkling like stars in the night sky. The emerald green Life Patterns grew rapidly like bamboo shoots after rain, with dense vines of spiritual light spreading along the gaps. Tiny white flowers bloomed on the vines, releasing a refreshing spiritual light as they blossomed. As the light spread, it instantly repaired any gaps in the spiritual light, leaving not a single crack. The silver-white Annihilation runes transformed into several bolts of lightning as thick as an arm, coiling around the spear tip. The lightning also contained... Mixed with tiny Ice Crystals, it hissed and crackled, carrying the power to crush all evil spirits. Just looking at it was chilling, as if even the air itself was about to be cleaved by lightning. The deep blue Devouring Pattern released an even stronger suction force, drawing in the demonic energy of the demonic shadow—the dark blue demonic energy, like iron filings attracted by a magnet, was continuously drawn into the gun barrel, where it was transformed into pure immortal power. This power flowed along the shaft into Ren Xiaoyao's palm, where a warm sensation quickly restored his slightly depleted immortal power. The golden Immortal Pattern emitted a dazzling glow, which enveloped Ren Xiaoyao's sea of consciousness as if it were a tangible substance, completely purifying the Pink Mist that had entered. The faces in the mist emitted shrill screams in the glow, their faces twisting and shattering, instantly turning into wisps of gray smoke, leaving not even a trace of bewitching power.

Immediately afterward, Ren Xiaoyao stepped onto the "Demon Blade -Cloud Treading Immortal Steps lost to the Qingyun Sect for three hundred years. His toes lightly touched the ground, his figure as light as a willow catkin in the wind, nimbly weaving between the Demon Blade and chains. The demonic blades slashed down with incredible speed, the air currents they created causing his robes to flutter wildly. As the hem of his robes swept across the ground, it kicked up tiny stone chips. Amidst the flying chips, he always managed to dodge to the side just before the blades touched his body. His robes, grazed by the air currents from the blades, were even cut with tiny gashes. Chains coiled around him from all directions, their spikes almost touching his skin; he could even feel the sharp points on his skin. The thorns brought a chill, but with a light leap, he could step through the gaps in the chains and rise into the air. While suspended, he could adjust his posture, letting the subsequent chains graz the soles of his boots, even leaving faint marks on them from the thorns. In the blink of an eye, he was beside the demonic figure. With a sudden flick of his wrist, the tip of his spear, imbued with the full power of the four demonic patterns, pierced the demonic figure's heart like a meteor—the very core of the four demonic remnants' souls, and also the demonic figure's most vulnerable spot. No matter how dense the demonic energy around the demonic figure was, its heart always shimmered with a faint gray light, clearly a weak point. Amidst the flickering gray light, one could see the remnants of the souls stirring within.

"Pfft!" The moment the spear tip pierced the Demon Body, it made a sound like piercing leather. Where the Demon Body was pierced, demonic energy leaked out wildly. The demonic shadow let out a deafening, shrill scream, filled with pain and rage. The sound waves spread outwards, even causing the bluestone on the mountaintop to crumble and fall. The demonic energy around it surged violently, churning like boiling water. Demonic Insects fell through the holes in the black cloth, struggling and dying on the ground, black fluid flowing everywhere, and Pink Mist also began to disperse. It began to thin, as if about to dissipate again. But just then, the demonic shadow suddenly stopped struggling, and a mad laugh flashed within the Nether-Green Ghost Fire. The laugh was so sharp, like fingernails scratching metal, that it pierced one's eardrums. "Ren Xiaoyao! You think you can kill us like this? How naive! We were prepared. Using remnant souls as a guide and demonic energy as a medium, we have created an eternal Demonic Curse! From this day forward, you will be our prison. We will erode your soul day and night, ensuring you are never free!"

The moment the words fell, the demonic figure's body suddenly exploded, transforming into countless tiny black lines. These lines, like living venomous snakes, moved with astonishing speed, rapidly coiling around Ren Xiaoyao's arms along the Creation Spear —first his wrists, where the lines clung tightly to his skin like tiny chains; then his forearms, where the lines continued to spread, forming complex patterns; then his shoulders, where the lines even began to spread towards his neck, spreading visibly throughout his entire body in just a few breaths. Ren Xiaoyao felt his immortal power suddenly stagnate, like a frozen river unable to flow. His once smooth meridians felt blocked, and each time he circulated his immortal power, he felt waves of stinging pain, as if his meridians were about to be torn apart; his heart burned with a searing pain, as if countless red-hot needles were simultaneously piercing his heart, causing him to break out in a fine sweat that trickled down his face and dripped onto his clothes, instantly turning his face paler and even draining the color from his lips.

He looked down at his arms, where the black lines had solidified into eerie demonic marks on his skin: his left arm had a chain-shaped mark, its lines resembling intertwined chains with faintly visible spikes; when the mark flickered, he could feel a subtle binding sensation. His right arm had Demon Blade- shaped mark, the blade's lines clearly visible, gleaming with a faint dark purple light; when the mark pulsed, a slight stinging pain shot through his arm. His chest had a vortex-shaped mark, its lines resembling a rotating vortex with tiny black dots at its center; as the mark rotated, the burning sensation in his chest intensified. His back had a mist-shaped mark, its lines resembling drifting mist, with the outline of a human face vaguely visible; as the mark spread, a slight dizziness arose in his consciousness. The four marks were faintly merging into one. The circle, like an invisible cage, trapped his soul. Even more terrifying, he could clearly sense that the remnants of the four demon envoys' souls hadn't dissipated, but were hidden within the demonic seals, clinging to his soul like maggots—the remnant soul of the Ghost Bone Demon Emissary howled within the Chain Demonic Seal, trying to tighten the chains around his soul, making it difficult for him to breathe; the remnant soul of the Void Splitting Demon Emissary stirred within the Demon Blade Demonic Seal, trying to sever his soul with the Demon Blade, bringing excruciating pain; the remnant soul of the Soul Devouring Demon Emissary whispered within the Vortex Demonic Seal, trying to devour his soul with the vortex, blurring his consciousness; the remnant soul of the Corrupted Heart Demon Emissary bewitched within the Mist Demonic Seal, trying to disturb his mind with the mist, causing him to lose his reason. They were constantly trying to erode his mind, turning him into a demonic puppet.

"This is... Demonic Curse!" Ren Xiaoyao frowned, biting his lower lip so hard that a trace of blood seeped out, starkly contrasting against his pale lips. He immediately circulated his immortal power, attempting to dispel the black markings on his skin—the immortal power flowed along his meridians towards the demonic seals, but those seals seemed to have taken root in his skin, clinging firmly to them. When the immortal power touched them, it not only failed to dispel them, but was instead absorbed by the demonic seals, transforming into demonic energy to nourish his remnant soul. At that moment, the light of the demonic seal grew even more intense. From within the seal came the mocking voices of the four demonic envoys, their voices buzzing in his ears like flies. "Mortal, from this day forward, we will live and die together! If you lose your composure, you will become our puppet, wielding the Creation Spear to slaughter your fellow disciples, turning the Qingyun Sect into a river of blood; if you forcefully suppress it, the demonic curse will backfire on your soul, causing you to suffer Bone Erosion pain day and night, like being burned by raging fire during the day and pierced by freezing ice at night, Demonic Curse worse than death!"

Ren Xiaoyao slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, there was no trace of panic in his eyes, only a resolute look. He knew that the more panicked he was now, the easier it would be for the remnant souls to take advantage of his weakness. He no longer tried to dispel the Demonic Curse, but instead circulated the remaining immortal power in his body, forming a pale golden barrier in his meridians—this barrier was condensed from the Purifying Power of the "Immortal" runes and his own Soul Power, like a solid city wall, temporarily suppressing the demonic seal on the surface of his skin, preventing it from continuing to erode his divine soul. Only when the barrier formed did the pain in his chest ease slightly. "Even if the Demonic Curse binds me, I will never let you succeed!" He gripped the Creation Spear tightly, his voice as firm as the rock of Cang Xuan Mountain, without the slightest wavering, "From this day forward, I will use myself as a cage, using my immortal power to suppress your remnant souls! If the Demonic Curse ever erupts, I will end it all first, using my divine soul as a catalyst to completely annihilate you, never allowing you to wreak havoc on the world and harm my fellow disciples again!"

Having said that, Ren Xiaoyao slowly turned around and looked at the cultivators behind the defensive array. Although a faint demonic aura surrounded him, and the black demonic marks on his skin flickered with an eerie light, his eyes remained resolute, like a beacon in the darkness, illuminating everyone's hope. "Rest assured, everyone, the four demonic envoys have been suppressed. Their remnant souls are bound to me by the Demonic Curse and cannot wreak havoc on Cang Xuan Mountain for the time being. The summit is safe for now." His voice carried a hint of imperceptible fatigue, and with each word, the pain in his chest intensified, yet he still tried his best to keep his voice steady so as not to worry everyone. "However, the Demonic Curse has not been removed. I must immediately go to the sect's ' Heart Calming Seclusion Cave ' to try to suppress the Demonic Curse with the power of the Spirit Vein within. From now on, the sect's defense will be entrusted to you elders and fellow disciples—you must guard the mountain gate and not allow any Devil Creature to approach."

The cultivators behind the defensive array rose to their feet, bowing respectfully to Ren Xiaoyao in perfect unison, their eyes filled with admiration and worry. The white-haired elder picked up the Jade Ruyi Scepter from the ground, wiping the dust off with his sleeve. The cracks on the Jade Ruyi Scepter ruyi were particularly noticeable. His voice choked with emotion. "Nephew Ren, rest assured and continue your seclusion. Leave the sect's defenses to us! I will personally lead the guards at the mountain gate and reinforce the defensive array with Spirit Vein. We will not allow any Devil Creature to set foot in Cang Xuan Mountain. We will definitely protect Cang Xuan Mountain and wait for you to emerge!" The young cultivators echoed his sentiments. Their previous fear had long since been dispelled by Ren Xiaoyao's steadfastness, their eyes shining with unwavering determination— Ren Xiaoyao had used himself as a prison to Protecting All Living Beings, and they were willing to give their all for the sect and for Cang Xuan Mountain. One young cultivator even gripped his magic weapon tightly and shouted, "Senior Brother Ren, rest assured, we will not fail you!"

Ren Xiaoyao nodded slightly, saying nothing more. He gripped the Creation Spear tightly, the warmth emanating from it bringing him some reassurance. He turned and walked towards the secluded cultivation area deep within the sect. A black demonic mark flickered faintly on his arm, its light shimmering with each step, like a lurking shadow, constantly reminding him of the heavy burden he carried. The cultivators behind the defensive array watched his retreating figure until he disappeared around the bend in the Mountain Path, only then slowly straightening up. The white-haired elder wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, turned to the crowd, and his voice instantly became serious. "Everyone, be alert! Junior Nephew Ren used himself as a prison to suppress the Demonic Curse; we must not let his sacrifice be in vain!"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone stepped forward quickly: "Elder, this disciple is willing to stand guard at the mountain gate, day and night without rest!" "This disciple is willing to allocate Spirit Vein to reinforce the defensive array, and will not allow Devil Creature to get close!" The voices of the young cultivators rose and fell, their eyes filled with determination, replacing their previous fear— Ren Xiaoyao's back had become their most steadfast belief at this moment. The white-haired elder nodded and quickly assigned tasks: one group would carry magical artifacts to the mountain gate to add three temporary barriers outside the existing defensive array; another group would follow him to the Spirit Vein Hall to draw Spirit Vein power into the main peak's defensive array, ensuring that Cang Xuan Mountain was absolutely safe.

Meanwhile, Ren Xiaoyao had already embarked on the Mountain Path leading to the Heart Calming Seclusion Cave. The Spirit Tree on both sides of the Mountain Path had regained their vitality due to the dissipation of demonic energy, and the sunlight filtering through their branches fell on him, but it could not dispel the faint demonic energy lingering around him. The Chain Demonic Seal on his arm suddenly became hot, and the remnant soul of the Ghost Bone Demon Emissary roared within it, "Ren Xiaoyao, do you think you can suppress us by going into seclusion? In less than three days, your soul will be eroded by us, and then you will personally tear down this Qingyun Sect!"

Ren Xiaoyao ignored it, simply gripping the Creation Spear tighter and quickening his pace. The "Immortal" runes on the spear glowed faintly, and golden spiritual light spread along his arm, temporarily suppressing the demonic seal's agitation. He knew that the Heart Calming Seclusion Cave was located at the source of the Spirit Vein deep within Cang Xuan Mountain. The Spirit Vein energy within the cave was pure and abundant, and perhaps he could use the power of the Spirit Vein to temporarily seal the Demonic Curse deep within his meridians, buying time to find a way to break it.

After traveling for about half an hour, a hidden Stone Gate appeared in the mountain wall. Ancient runes were carved on the Stone Gate, emitting a faint spiritual light. This was the entrance to the Heart Calming Seclusion Cave. Ren Xiaoyao raised his hand and placed it on the Stone Gate, slowly pouring his immortal power into it. The runes instantly lit up, and the Stone Gate opened to both sides with a "rumble." A rich aura of Spirit Vein rushed out, carrying a refreshing coolness.

He stepped into the cave. The cave was spacious and dry, with a square blue stone platform in the center, about ten feet in size. Below the platform was the source of the Spirit Vein, and wisps of Spirit Vein rose like mist, feeling exceptionally comfortable on the skin. Ren Xiaoyao walked to the blue stone platform and sat down, placing the Creation Spear beside him. The four patterns on the spear resonated with the Spirit Vein in the cave, radiating a soft light.

He closed his eyes and began circulating his Cultivation Method, attempting to guide the power of the Spirit Vein into his body to suppress the Demonic Curse. But as soon as he activated his immortal power, the Vortex Demonic Seal on his chest suddenly erupted, and the remnant soul of the Soul Devouring Demon Emissary transformed into a wisp of black energy, surging along his meridians into his sea of consciousness. "Trying to borrow the power of the Spirit Vein? How naive!" Wherever the black energy passed, his meridians felt a sharp pain, and his immortal power instantly became disordered.

Ren Xiaoyao gritted his teeth, forcibly calming his mind. He mobilized the Purifying Power of the "Immortal" rune to envelop his sea of consciousness, while simultaneously guiding the power of his Spirit Vein to flow slowly through his limbs and bones, gradually washing away the demonic energy within his body. The power of his Spirit Vein and the life force of the "Life" rune worked together to repair the meridians Demonic Qi Erosion; the "Extinction" and "Devouring" runes joined forces to suppress the demonic seal, with silver-white lightning and deep blue suction enveloping the demonic seal, preventing the remnant soul from spreading further.

But the power of the Demonic Curse far exceeded his expectations. The Mist Demonic Seal on his back suddenly spread, and the Pink Mist quietly seeped into his sea of consciousness. The voice of the Corrupted Heart Demon Emissary whispered in his ear, "Give up, you can't defeat us... As long as you are willing to submit to the Demon Realm, we will make you a Demon General and let you enjoy wealth and glory..." In the mist, he saw scenes of his childhood with his parents, and the scene of his fellow disciples smiling and handing him spiritual fruits—these warm memories had now become the most deadly temptation.

Ren Xiaoyao's consciousness began to waver, his sea of consciousness trembling slightly. Just then, the Creation Spear suddenly emitted a soft hum, and the four patterns on the spearhead simultaneously burst forth with intense light. Emerald green, silver white, deep blue, and golden yellow spiritual lights intertwined to form a net of light, firmly protecting his sea of consciousness, and the Pink Mist was instantly purified. Ren Xiaoyao suddenly regained his senses, cold sweat beading on his forehead—he had almost been bewitched by the Corrupted Heart Demon Emissary.

"It seems I have no choice but to take the risk." Ren Xiaoyao opened his eyes, a resolute glint in them. He decided to combine the power of his Spirit Vein with the Soul Power to create a solid barrier between the demonic seal and his soul, completely isolating the Demonic Curse from his soul. He took a deep breath, mobilized all the immortal power within his body and the power of the Spirit Vein in the cave, and slowly approached the demonic seal.

The moment the Spirit Vein power touched the demonic seal, the remnant souls of the four demonic envoys erupted simultaneously. Dark blue-green demonic energy surged from the four demonic seals, raging wildly within his body. "Ren Xiaoyao, you are courting death!" The demonic energy collided with the Spirit Vein power, producing a "sizzling" sound. Ren Xiaoyao's face instantly turned deathly pale, and a tearing pain shot through his chest, as if all the meridians in his body were breaking.

He gritted his teeth, refusing to lose consciousness, and continued to guide the power of his Spirit Vein and Soul Power to condense into a barrier. Time passed slowly, the power of the Spirit Vein within the cave grew increasingly thin, and Ren Xiaoyao's aura became weaker and weaker, but the determination in his eyes remained undiminished. Finally, just as the power of the Spirit Vein was about to be exhausted, a pale golden barrier formed between the demonic seal and his divine soul, trapping the Demonic Curse firmly like a city wall.

The light of the demonic seal dimmed instantly, and the roars of the four demon envoys weakened. "Ren Xiaoyao... you wait... we won't let this go!"

Ren Xiaoyao slowly breathed a sigh of relief and slumped onto the bluestone platform, his entire body already soaked in cold sweat. He knew that this was only a temporary victory; the Demonic Curse had not been completely eradicated. As long as the barrier showed even the slightest crack, the remnant soul would once again erode his divine soul. But at least for now, he had temporarily suppressed the Demonic Curse, buying time for the Qingyun Sect and Cang Xuan Mountain.