Slaying Zhao Feng

In the instant the Purple Lightning Void Splitting, the blinding light, like Heavenly River overturned, tore a hideous gash in the sky above Carefree Peak —the leaden-gray clouds were dyed an eerie purplish-red, and the thin electric snakes coiling around the edges of the clouds crackled and sizzled, occasionally shooting out arcs several meters long that struck the distant mountain rocks, scattering countless fragments of rock. The craters created by the falling rocks still emitted smoky smoke. Even the ancient evergreen trees in the mountains, which had stood for thousands of years, appeared deathly pale under the lightning's illumination, the veins on their bark as clear as the veins of withered bones. The spirit birds that had perched among the branches had already scattered in fright, leaving only a few feathers, still covered in morning dew, frantically falling into the air. The moment they touched the residual power of the lightning, they turned into wisps of smoke, leaving not even ashes behind. The stream at the Foot of the Mountain, which should have been flowing gently, now rippled with fine waves due to the pressure of the lightning, and the purplish-red sky reflected on the water's surface looked as if it were covered with congealed blood.

Zhao Feng's body swayed, his black robe torn in several places by the previous Sword Qi, revealing bleeding wounds beneath. Dark red blood dripped from the fabric, splashing onto the bluestone, creating tiny blood flowers that were quickly dried by the wind, leaving dark marks. But now, he suddenly straightened his back, veins bulging on his neck, as if confronting the overwhelming lightning—the "Nine Revolutions Glazed Lamp" on his chest abruptly broke free from his robes, its palm-sized body hovering in mid-air. Flowing seven-colored halos coiled around his body like serpents, each halo resembling Invisible Barrier formed from the essence of a thousand-year-old Spirit Vein. The collision of the halos produced a faint hum, even suppressing some of the surrounding wind. The force of the descending Lightning Tribulation struck the halos... First, the outermost layer of purple lightning was greedily devoured by the halo, turning into tiny specks of light that dissipated in the wind. Next, the Lightning Core, imbued with Destructive Aura, trembled violently under the layers of the seven-colored halo, its surface cracking like a spiderweb. Finally, with a "crack," it was shattered into countless Stardust, which landed on the bluestone, still scorching hot, burning small dents into the stone surface. A thin layer of ash quickly accumulated in these dents. In the end, only a few faint strands of residual electricity remained, burning several charred holes in his black robe. The skin beneath remained unharmed, but the smell of burnt metal mixed with the blood from his wounds filled the air, causing wild dogs in the distance to howl in fear.

"Ren Xiaoyao! You think you can take my life with just a Lightning Tribulation?" Zhao Feng covered the blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, the crimson between his fingers intertwined with the maniacal laughter in his eyes, the afterimage of lightning still reflected in his pupils, bloodshot eyes revealing a morbid madness. He slammed his left hand onto the bulging Storage Bag at his waist, the opening of the bag instantly bursting with spiritual light like a blazing sun, blinding anyone who looked at it. Three distinct streams of light shot out almost simultaneously, tearing through the stagnant air with sharp whistling sounds, like three invisible arrows. Shooting in all directions, the first to attack were the "Mother-Child Soul Chasing Nails," two silver nails, each about an inch long, gleaming with a cold light tempered with Corrosive Heart Poison. The fine barbs engraved on the nails shone coldly in the light, like two fleeting shooting stars. Under the cover of the following black wind, they bypassed the frontal battlefield and silently pierced Ren Xiaoyao's vital heart. Even before the nail tips reached his body, they exuded a chilling coldness that made one's heart tremble. Even the surrounding air seemed to tremble slightly from the cold, and the dew on the bluestone instantly condensed into ice particles, which made a crisp sound when they fell to the ground.

Following closely behind was the "Blood Transformation Demonic Banner." The moment the black banner unfurled, the shrill howls of countless vengeful spirits echoed throughout the valley. The sound was so piercing it seemed to shatter eardrums, even stopping the flow of the distant stream. A thin layer of black frost condensed on the water's surface, reflecting the ghostly silhouettes. Thick, inky black winds surged from the banner, within which countless twisted ghostly figures could be vaguely seen: some had festering faces, their eyeballs drooping from their cheeks, oozing dark green pus that dripped onto the bluestone, instantly corroding small holes in the stone; others were severed limbs, only half their bodies struggling in the wind, their white bones still bearing witness to their power. Hanging from the ground was rotting flesh, which emitted a nauseating stench as it fell; there were also vengeful spirits resembling children, dressed in tattered red clothes, their slender ghostly claws reaching out to scratch in Ren Xiaoyao's direction, blood still clinging to their fingernails, as if they had just witnessed a massacre. Wherever the black wind passed, even the hard bluestone was corroded, hissing and emitting wisps of white smoke with a fishy smell. The white smoke condensed into black mist in the air, lingering for a long time; the surface of the bluestone was left with black patterns like spider webs, and it turned to dust at the slightest touch, the dust carrying a pungent odor in the wind, making one's lungs ache with just one breath.

The most terrifying of all was the "Heaven Burning Cauldron." As this three-legged, two-eared crimson bronze cauldron hovered in mid-air, the flame patterns engraved on its body suddenly lit up. Lava seemed to flow between the patterns, casting an orange-red hue over the surrounding air. Even people several meters away could feel the intense heat emanating from it. The Southern Bright Li Fire spewing from the cauldron's mouth churned like boiling lava, its orange-red flames reaching extreme temperatures, even slightly distorting the surrounding void and forming concentric waves of heat. Wherever these waves passed... Even the air seemed to be on fire; the grass and trees several feet away began to wither and turn yellow, their leaves curling and turning to ash. The ash was blown up by the Li Fire, with its destructive power, pressed down directly towards Ren Xiaoyao's head. Even the tips of his hair were slightly curled by the heat wave, and the collar of his white robe turned a faint yellowish-brown. A few wisps of smoke still lingered on his clothes, and one could vaguely smell the burning fabric. Yet, he remained unfazed, as if the extreme heat had nothing to do with him.

Ren Xiaoyao's expression remained unchanged. His white robes fluttered in the gale, the hem carrying faint fluctuations of Spiritual Qi that rippled outwards, dispersing even the black wind in their wake. He lightly touched the bluestone with his toes, his body drifting backwards several feet like a willow catkin, landing without disturbing a speck of dust, as if he had merged with the mountain wind. A wisp of icy blue energy condensed at his fingertips, swirling in his palm before instantly transforming into three sharp Ice Soul Sword Qi —surrounded by a fine mist of Sword Qi, freezing even the air itself, leaving a faint trace of ice on the ground where the Sword Qi passed. The ice mark was still covered with fine frost flowers, which shimmered faintly in the light. Two Sword Qi, like arrows released from a bow, slashed precisely at the Soul-Chasing Nails attacking from behind. Two crisp clangs of metal clashing echoed through the valley. The poisoned silver nails, upon contact with the Sword Qi, were instantly frozen into ice blocks by the extreme cold. A thick layer of White Frost covered the surface of the ice blocks, and frost flowers continued to condense. Then, under the impact of the Sword Qi energies, the ice blocks shattered into powder, scattering across the ground and even freezing the ground with a thin layer of ice. Fragments of silver nails remained on the ice surface, reflecting a faint light like tiny diamonds.

But at this moment, the black wind whipped up by the Blood Transformation Demonic Banner and the fiery Li Fire of the Heaven Burning Cauldron were already upon him. The vengeful spirits within the black wind raged wildly, extending their withered, ghostly claws to scratch at Ren Xiaoyao's protective aura. The claws sizzled and corroded the aura as they touched it, causing ripples to spread across its surface, as if it might shatter at any moment. The intense heat of the Li Fire made the air around him scorching, the edges of his clothes beginning to yellow slightly, and even the protective jade bracelet on his wrist glowed with a faint red light. The patterns on the bracelet's surface flickered, clearly indicating it was desperately resisting the intense heat, and the Spiritual Qi contained within was rapidly being depleted. Ren Xiaoyao waved his sleeve, and instantly, a pale blue "Carefree Sword Intent" appeared around him. The sword intent intertwined like flowing water into a semi-transparent light shield, upon which wisps of spiritual light swirled. As the light flowed, it seemed as if Mountain and River Phantoms within it, towering peaks... Peaks and rushing rivers loomed in and out of view, protecting him firmly within their embrace. The vengeful spirits crashed into the sword-inspired light barrier, emitting a cacophony of shrill screams, their cries piercingly sharp. Some spirits were instantly shattered by the sword intent, dissipating into wisps of black smoke that twisted and writhed in the air as if in a final struggle. Others left black marks on the barrier, only to be quickly covered by the spiritual light. A few drops of highly poisonous Black Blood, taking advantage of the gaps in the spirits' clashes, pierced through the barrier and landed on his bare forearm. The moment the Black Blood touched his skin, a sizzling sound pierced several smoking, gaping wounds. The black toxin spread along the wounds, turning the veins beneath his skin a dark purple. Intense pain spread through his veins, causing him to furrow his brow slightly and even slow his spiritual energy circulation. Yet, he did not retreat; his gaze remained resolute.

"Zhao Feng, to kill me, you've exhausted the Zhao Clan's accumulated Law Treasure of a century, from the Mother-Child Soul Chasing Nails to the Clan Suppressing Dragon Talisman. This desperate gamble is nothing but a desperate attempt to prolong your life." Ren Xiaoyao's voice was as cold as a thousand-year-old ice, each word seemingly carrying icy shards, capable of freezing the air itself. His words were filled with disdain. A flash of spiritual light appeared at the wound on his forearm, a wisp of gentle spiritual energy coursing through his meridians, forcibly suppressing the pain. However, the dark marks on the wound had not faded; instead, they seemed to be spreading, the toxins slowly eroding his meridians. He slowly raised his right hand, palm up, and suddenly a pale golden sword shadow, over ten feet long, appeared behind him—it was the "Carefree Sword Embryo," which he had nurtured with a thousand years of cultivation. Although the sword embryo was unsharpened, the blade gleamed with a warm yet sharp luster, a faint aura swirling around it. The cloud patterns on the sword embryo, flowing as if a gentle breeze were blowing, carried an unrestrained and free-spirited sword intent, seemingly capable of severing all worldly constraints. As his aura circulated, the Spiritual Qi of the surrounding world surged into the sword embryo like a tidal wave: the mountain streams stopped flowing, water droplets suspended in the air, reflecting the golden light of the sword embryo like golden pearls; the leaves stopped rustling and all tilted towards the sword embryo, the dew on the leaves flowing along the veins to the sword embryo, condensing into a layer of water film on its surface; even the Southern Bright Li Fire spewed by the Heaven Burning Cauldron seemed to have its power drained, the color of the flames gradually dimming from a fiery orange-red to a pale red, its power greatly reduced, the flame patterns on the cauldron's body also became blurred, as if it would be extinguished at any moment, the cauldron even began to tremble slightly, as if in fear of the sword embryo's power.

Zhao Feng stared at the sword prototype, a genuine fear flashing in his eyes for the first time—his pupils contracted slightly, his fingers gripping the Storage Bag trembled, his knuckles turned white, and even the veins on the back of his hand bulged. But this fear was quickly replaced by unwillingness and madness; he absolutely could not admit defeat like this. He gritted his teeth and spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood Essence Blood. The blood essence drew a scarlet arc in the air, carrying a rich aura of spiritual energy, and was completely sprinkled onto the Heaven Burning Cauldron. The moment the Essence Blood touched the cauldron, the cauldron erupted with an even more intense red light, the flame patterns dazzlingly bright, even forming a flame shield around the cauldron. The flames dancing on the shield shot up several feet high, mixed with blood-red spiritual light. The Li Fire at the cauldron's mouth surged again, regaining its previous power, even surpassing it in intensity. Even the distortion of the void intensified; the distant mountain rocks were slightly scorched, and cracks began to appear on the rock surfaces, from which a faint... "Ren Xiaoyao, don't be so smug! My Zhao Clan family's ' Clan Suppressing Dragon Talisman,' guarded for generations, hasn't even been used yet. What makes you think you can act so arrogantly in front of me!" Before he finished speaking, he suddenly tore open his shirt, revealing a palm-sized bronze talisman engraved with intricate dragon patterns. The edges of the bronze talisman were tinged with a faint patina of copper, and the dragon patterns on its surface were lifelike. The patterns of the scales and the sharpness of the claws were clearly visible, and even the tiny rubies embedded in the dragon's eyes could be seen. The rubies glowed with an eerie red light under the light, as if blood was flowing within them. When the bronze talisman came into contact with the dense spiritual Spiritual Qi in the air, it instantly emitted a buzzing vibration. The talisman body glowed with a faint golden light, and the dragon patterns seemed to come alive, slowly moving across the surface of the talisman. The dragon claws moved with a faint fluctuation of Spiritual Qi, as if accumulating power. Zhao Feng formed hand seals, and as his fingers changed, traces of Essence Blood remained on his fingertips. He shouted sharply, "Clan Suppressing Dragon Talisman, display your power!"

"Boom—" The bronze talisman suddenly shattered, and dazzling golden light burst forth from the fragments. The light was so bright that it was blinding, and even the lightning in the sky was suppressed. The entire Carefree Peak was enveloped in golden light, and the distant mountains became blurry silhouettes. It seemed that only this ultimate golden light existed between heaven and earth. A phantom golden dragon, tens of feet long, coiled and rushed out from the golden light. Its body was covered with golden scales, which shimmered with a metallic luster under the light. When the sunlight shone on it, it refracted a seven-colored halo. The scales collided and made a crisp sound, like jade striking stones, which echoed throughout the valley. The golden dragon's eyes were full of majesty and destruction. The scene of the entire valley was reflected in the pupils, Ren Xiaoyao's figure was clearly visible. A cold killing intent flashed in the dragon's eyes. The dragon's whiskers fluttered as it... With an awe-inspiring pressure, the surrounding vegetation bowed, even the bluestone trembled slightly, its surface cracking with fine lines, from which a faint Spiritual Qi seeped. The golden dragon let out a roar that shook the valley, the roar echoing throughout the entire Carefree Peak. Birds and beasts scattered in all directions, even the spirit insects hidden deep underground dared not utter a sound. The branches of ancient trees trembled, countless leaves falling like a green rainstorm, each leaf carrying a faint fluctuation of Spiritual Qi as it landed. The enormous dragon claw, with the power to Sky-Rending Strike, viciously grabbed at Ren Xiaoyao. Wherever the claw passed, the space cracked open with fine black fissures, from which a faint aura of Void emanated. Even the air was sucked in, emitting a "whooshing" sound, like the wailing of a vengeful ghost, sending chills down one's spine.

This attack nearly drained all of Zhao Feng's spiritual energy. He staggered back a few steps, leaving two deep gashes on the bluestone. His blood seeped from the gashes, spreading dark red along the lines of blood that continued to spread. His face was deathly pale, devoid of any color, his lips were cracked and bleeding, and every breath was accompanied by excruciating pain in his chest. His shoulders heaved violently, as if he might collapse at any moment, yet he still held on, his gaze fixed on Ren Xiaoyao. His eyes were filled with anticipation and resentment, the image of the golden dragon reflected in his pupils. He hoped that this golden dragon, formed from the Clan Suppressing Dragon Talisman, would tear this opponent, who had repeatedly ruined his plans and destroyed his cultivation, to pieces, scattering his soul and condemning him to eternal damnation. Only then could he vent his hatred.

Ren Xiaoyao merely grasped the illusory sword embryo behind him, and his sword intent instantly surged threefold. The pale golden sword shadow became increasingly solid, and the sword's luster grew ever more dazzling. One could even see the flowing Spiritual Qi patterns on the sword's surface, like golden streams meandering through it. The Spiritual Qi energy patterns continued to flicker, seemingly accumulating power. Even the surrounding light seemed to be absorbed by the sword embryo, leaving only the sword shadow's radiance shining brightly in the darkness, forming a golden pillar of light that protected him within. The air outside the pillar shimmered with a golden light. A faint ripple spread, continuing to expand, keeping the black wind and the Li Fire at bay. "Zhao Feng, no matter how many Law Treasure you possess, they cannot withstand a clear and discerning Dao Heart. You are obsessed with hatred, trapped by your Heart Demon, and have long since strayed from the righteous path. Today's defeat is inevitable." He spoke softly, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching Zhao Feng's ears, carrying a hint of barely perceptible regret, but more so a resolute determination to eradicate the threat completely. His words seemed to pause even in the air, as if in agreement with his words.

The moment his words fell, Ren Xiaoyao gripped the sword embryo and slashed down at the golden dragon. There was no earth-shattering sound, no dazzling clash of spiritual light; only utter silence remained—the wind ceased, leaves hovered in mid-air, even the golden dragon's roar stopped abruptly, time seemed to stand still, and the entire world fell into a state of complete silence. The pale golden sword intent, like a stream of light, swept across the void, even smoothing out the distortions of space. Wherever the sword intent passed, faint ripples spread through the air, like pebbles thrown into water, the ripples continuing to expand; wherever it passed, the golden dragon's massive body disintegrated inch by inch, as if melting ice and snow. Scales, claws, and body all turned into a shower of Gold Dust Gold Dust contact with the sword intent. The ground was imbued with a faint spiritual energy, which merged into the bluestone upon contact. Before a single mournful cry could be uttered, the golden dragon's figure vanished. The Heaven Burning Cauldron was cleaved in two by the sword intent, its body instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks, from which a faint golden light emanated. With a "crack," it shattered into countless small pieces, each fragment still warm as it hit the bluestone with a crisp sound. Upon touching the ground, the fragments turned into wisps of green smoke and dissipated in the wind. The Blood Transformation Demonic Banner was even more vulnerable, directly shredded into ashes by the sword intent, leaving not even a trace of cloth. The black wind and vengeful spirits also dissipated, and the screams in the valley ceased abruptly, leaving only the lingering stench in the air, which was slowly dispersed by the wind, and the air finally returned to its freshness.

Zhao Feng's pupils suddenly shrank to pinpoints, his body trembled violently with fear, his teeth clenched so hard they rattled, drawing blood from his lips. The taste of blood filled his mouth, making him feel nauseous. He instinctively tried to activate the Nine Revolutions Glazed Lamp again, only to find that it had already been shattered by the sword intent. Several sharp shards of Glazed Ice pierced his chest, stained with his blood, their tips penetrating his heart, bringing a searing pain that nearly made him faint. His vision blurred, Ren Xiaoyao's figure became indistinct. He tried to reach out and grab something, but he couldn't grasp anything.

"No... I'm not reconciled! I clearly have so many Law Treasure, and the Zhao Clan's century-old foundation, why did I still lose... why!" Zhao Feng opened his mouth, letting out a desperate and weak roar. His voice was hoarse like a broken gong, each word laced with blood and foam, almost inaudible in the air, yet the resentment and bitterness within were clearly conveyed. His body began to dissipate from his toes upwards, turning into specks of spiritual light, leaving behind faint fluctuations of spiritual energy where he vanished. The light contained his unwilling resentment, touching... The surrounding vegetation withered instantly, and even the bluestone seemed to be affected by this resentment, its surface turning a faint black. He glanced at Ren Xiaoyao one last time, his eyes filled with resentment and bitterness, as if he wanted to etch Ren Xiaoyao's image into his very bones. But in the end, he was powerless to reverse the situation. His body transformed into countless specks of light, completely dissipating into the air without leaving a trace. Only where he had just stood remained a pool of dark red blood, which slowly dried in the wind, congealing into black marks, as if telling of his final unwillingness.

Ren Xiaoyao watched the spot where Zhao Feng had disappeared, then slowly withdrew his hand. The illusory image of the Carefree Sword Embryo behind him gradually faded and finally vanished. The Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth resumed its flow—the stream rushed forward again, its waters gurgling, washing away the bloodstains and ash on the bluestone; leaves continued to fall, swirling in the air before carpeting the ground with a green carpet; the wind began to blow, carrying the fragrance of mountain grass and trees, dispelling the last traces of fishiness in the air. The lingering sword intent at his fingertips slowly dissipated, and the wound on his forearm still throbbed faintly. Although the black mark had not completely faded, it had stopped spreading. He circulated his spiritual energy, condensing a light blue protective film at the wound. The film shimmered with tiny fragments of spiritual light, gently covering the wound like a thin veil, slowly repairing the Damaged Meridians.

He glanced down at his wound, his fingertips gently tracing the protective membrane, feeling the slow flow of spiritual energy. He then looked up at the empty valley—the trees scorched by the Li Fire still held their twisted forms, the smoke from their branches long gone, leaving only black charcoal marks; the rocks cleaved by sword intent were smooth as mirrors, faint golden light still lingering in the crevices; the bluestone corroded by the black wind was pitted and uneven, the black patterns on its surface long gone, leaving only dents of varying depths. This scene of devastation filled him with emotion, and he murmured softly, "Too much obsession, ultimately becoming a demon. If you could let go of hatred, perhaps there would be another path to survival. What a pity."