Myriad Demon Blood Prison Scripture

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash! That girl is merely at the Innate Realm, and you still let her escape!"

Yue Ji's heart blazed with towering fury. The joy she'd felt upon obtaining the Pine Crane Pill was utterly gone. She berated the trembling Demonic Cult disciples kneeling before her, all grace abandoned.

Black Robe's eyes were also thick with killing intent. The turn of events had caught him off guard, and even he was no longer composed.

"Speak, what the hell happened? How could so many of you fail to capture a mere Innate Realm girl?"

"Reporting to the Black Robe Flag Bearer, Yao Qingyin was gravely wounded and had no strength left to resist. But someone unknown saved her. By the time we arrived, several of our brothers had been cut in half."

Fearing the two Flag Bearers might not believe him, the kneeling Demonic Cult disciple waved a hand, and several others carried over the corpses of the fallen.

Yue Ji glanced at the wounds, and her face instantly changed. "Innate Sword Qi! Could a Sword Cultivator master from the Sword Sect have intervened?"

"No, Yue Ji, look. This Innate Sword Qi is condensed and unyielding, but its power isn't strong—at most, it's at the Innate Realm."

"Still, for someone to refine their Innate Sword Qi to such a degree, almost solid, I wonder when the Sword Sect produced such a prodigy."

Though the Sword Sect was inferior to the Demonic Cult, it was still a first-rate sect in Great Li. The current Sword Sect Master was a pinnacle figure firmly among the top ten in Great Li.

Black Robe, as a Demonic Cult Flag Bearer, had dealt with Sword Sect elders a few times and had some understanding of the sect.

Not every Sword Cultivator could condense Innate Sword Qi. Only those who cultivated the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation could do so.

And in the Sword Sect, only certain elders and prodigious disciples were qualified to train in the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation.

The more solid the Innate Sword Qi, the deeper one's comprehension of the Thirteen Swords. But to condense it to something tangible—that was something only the Founding Ancestor Zhu Yang had achieved, three hundred years ago.

Black Robe knew that the current generation of the Sword Sect had produced several remarkable prodigies, but even they couldn't refine their Innate Sword Qi to this extent.

That was why he was stunned—the Sword Sect had hidden such a terrifying genius.

"Black Robe, what do we do now? If that girl falls into the Sword Sect's hands, how could the Lord of Great Li let us off?"

"Remember, one of the conditions for the Lord of Great Li allowing us into the Imperial Capital was to hand over that Ancient Jade and the scroll."

This...

Black Robe was also at a loss, momentarily unsure what to do.

"You two, has His Majesty's desired item been obtained? This servant needs to report back to His Majesty."

Just as the two Flag Bearers were lost in thought, a soft, effeminate voice rang out beside Yue Ji and Black Robe.

Then, a figure slowly materialized from the void.

Seeing who it was, the two Demonic Cult Flag Bearers lost all trace of their demonic dignity, their eyes filled with fear.

"Eunuch Li, there's been an unexpected complication. Please grant the Demonic Cult two more days, and we will surely deliver those two items."

Li Lianying heard that something had gone wrong, and the smile on his face instantly froze. He glanced at Yue Ji and Black Robe, his eyes icy cold.

"A mere Demonic Cult Flag Bearer, what right do you have to bargain with this servant?"

"Since you can't obtain the item, then all of you will stay here!"

A flash of killing intent crossed Li Lianying's eyes. His long sleeves billowed, and his aura surged to its peak. He struck out with a palm, as if carrying the might of heaven and earth, leaving Yue Ji and Black Robe unable to muster any will to resist.

"Hahaha, Manager Li, no need to be so angry."

Another voice emerged from the void, neutralizing Li Lianying's earth-shaking palm strike.

Then, a figure wreathed in surging Demonic Energy, with an apparition of a sea of blood and a mountain of corpses behind him, appeared in the void.

"Vice Cult Master."

Yue Ji and Black Robe, having narrowly escaped death, saw the newcomer and their eyes flashed with relief as they couldn't help but cry out.

Gu Yue cast a cold glance at Yue Ji and Black Robe. Instantly, their faces turned deathly pale, their breath faint.

"Two useless wastes. You can't even handle such a simple task. What use are you? Since you found the Pine Crane Pill, This Seat will give you a minor punishment for now."

"When you return to the Demonic Cult, report to the Enforcement Hall to accept your sentence."

After reprimanding Yue Ji and Black Robe, Gu Yue turned to Li Lianying. "Manager Li, why lose your temper over two juniors?"

Li Lianying looked at the suddenly appearing Gu Yue, a half-smile on his face. "Old Demon Gu, you have quite the nerve, appearing alone in the Imperial Capital."

"His Majesty is wise. Allowing your Demonic Cult Flag Bearers into the Imperial Capital is already a great favor. Don't tell me you think Great Li has no one who can deal with you?"

Gu Yue stood in the void, threw his head back and laughed, Demonic Energy churning, his face full of arrogance. "I, Gu Yue, have roamed the Canglan Domain without a single defeat."

"Though your Great Li has stood for a thousand years, if that sleeping ancestor doesn't awaken, the entire Great Li may not be able to do anything to me."

"Is that so?"

Li Lianying sneered, driving his aura to its peak, as if on the verge of breaking through the shackles of heaven and earth.

"Then stay here!"

Seeing Li Lianying mobilize his full power, Gu Yue also pushed his demonic arts to the limit. The two exchanged a palm strike.

Terror flashed in Gu Yue's eyes as a tremendous force surged from their joined palms. He was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the Dragon Pillar.

"You... have you stepped into that... that realm?"

Gu Yue's aura was utterly depleted. He struggled to rise from the ground, staring at Li Lianying with disbelief.

Li Lianying smiled faintly, flicking the whisk in his hand, and said casually, "I've had some insights, but to fully set foot in that realm, I'm still missing a sliver of opportunity."

Gu Yue let out a bitter laugh, a trace of admiration on his face. "I never thought that in this Age of Dharma's End, someone like you could still emerge."

"If you had been born in a Prosperous Era, you would surely rival Emperor Li and the Devil Master."

"To lose to you today, I, Gu Yue, have nothing more to say."

Gu Yue closed his eyes, unable to muster a single thought of resistance. To escape from someone like this, only the Grand Elder in seclusion might have a slim chance if he intervened.

After a long silence, Gu Yue felt no move from Li Lianying. He opened his eyes, puzzled. "A man like you wants to play cat and mouse?"

"I, Gu Yue, have roamed the Canglan Domain and consider myself someone of note. Why toy with This Seat like this?"

Li Lianying stepped down from the void, coming before Gu Yue, and said calmly, "Old Demon Gu, how about we make a deal?"

"What deal?"

Gu Yue asked in surprise.

"I hear your Demon Sect's master hails from the Forbidden Zone of Chaos. Hand over your sect's foundational technique, the Myriad Demon Blood Prison Scripture, and not only will you all leave alive, but you'll also get a Pine Crane Pill to extend the Devil Master's life by five hundred years. What do you say?"

Li Lianying glanced at Gu Yue, a faint smile playing on his lips.