Image of the Divine Demon, Awakening a Divine Ability

Lin Changqing's consciousness sank into his sea of knowledge, which was already shrouded in gray.

Streams of gray aura enveloped the entire sea of knowledge, and Lin Changqing's primordial spirit was now obscured by the mist.

A ten-thousand-zhang-long spear condensed from the gray mist and thrust straight toward his primordial spirit.

This was the Soul Devouring Needle!

A chill ran through Lin Changqing's consciousness.

The power of a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure was terrifying! Even a replica was far beyond what a mere Mystic Immortal could withstand!

Even a Golden Immortal—or a Grand Unity Golden Immortal—would surely die if the Soul Devouring Needle pierced their sea of knowledge.

But Lin Changqing felt only a slight chill. He was otherwise unharmed.

At the same time, the instant he entered his sea of knowledge, Lin Changqing let out a long breath of relief.

Before the ten-thousand-zhang gray spear stood a blood-red figure, as immovable as a mountain, gripping the spear tightly in its hand.

The image of the Divine Demon!

Lin Changqing's lips curled into a smile, and a hint of smugness rose in his heart.

No matter what Juliusun did, he could never have imagined that Lin Changqing had an image of the Divine Demon in his sea of knowledge.

What was more, Lin Changqing's primordial spirit was now seated beneath the image of the Divine Demon.

The spear appeared to possess boundless power, but the image of the Divine Demon had seized it in its grasp. It couldn't move even an inch, let alone destroy Lin Changqing's primordial spirit.

He hadn't expected the image of the Divine Demon to protect his primordial spirit and suppress his sea of knowledge!

With the image of the Divine Demon there, Lin Changqing no longer feared sinister arts that destroyed primordial spirits and shattered souls.

At the very least, he no longer had to worry about attacks on the level of a replica Soul Devouring Needle.

Just as Lin Changqing was congratulating himself, a sudden change occurred in his sea of knowledge.

The gray spear had been blocked, and it seemed to sense something.

All the gray aura in his sea of knowledge surged toward the spear. In an instant, it solidified as though it were real, then pressed forward.

Even the entire image of the Divine Demon trembled slightly.

Lin Changqing's expression changed. Could the image of the Divine Demon be unable to withstand the Soul Devouring Needle?

The worry lasted only a moment before it vanished.

The blood-wreathed image of the Divine Demon suddenly opened its eyes.

The sleeping statue glared furiously, releasing streams of blood-red aura. Countless strands of energy gathered throughout the sea of knowledge, becoming threads that wound around the spear.

In an instant, the blood-red aura transformed into divine markings, inscribing themselves onto the spear like seals.

The gray spear was like the unfinished form of a weapon. It rapidly transformed, becoming a blood-red spear.

Countless divine markings covered the spear from end to end, while the image of the Divine Demon absorbed and refined all the gray energy within it.

Once the spear had taken shape, it could no longer threaten Lin Changqing. The image of the Divine Demon even held it tightly, like a weapon.

But that wasn't all. At that moment, Lin Changqing felt an unfathomable, boundlessly murderous aura awaken within the image of the Divine Demon. A divine ability imprinted itself upon his mind.

"This is a divine ability?!"

Lin Changqing was overjoyed. He hadn't expected Juliusun's attack to not only fail to kill him, but also to have the replica Soul Devouring Needle absorbed by the image of the Divine Demon, awakening a divine ability before its time!

As he contemplated the divine ability, delight grew in Lin Changqing's eyes.

"Juliusun, Juliusun—you really brought this on yourself?"

"I ought to thank you. You've given me a technique of such devastating power."

"Hmph!"

At the mention of Juliusun, Lin Changqing's gaze turned even colder.

Those treacherous Sect of Elucidation wretches! If he hadn't had a few tricks up his sleeve, they would have succeeded!

Lin Changqing focused intently, quickly mastering the newly awakened divine ability.

Outside, the Interception Sect disciples were already in a panic.

Dozens of breaths had passed. Why hadn't Senior Disciple Brother moved?

Had that scoundrel Juliusun really succeeded, killing his primordial spirit with a single Soul Devouring Needle?

"Damn it! Juliusun, you dare use underhanded tricks against Senior Disciple Brother? I'll kill you!"

Bixiao had always had a fiery temper, and now she was furious. She pulled out the Tongtian Sword Talisman, ready to crush it at once.

Yunxiao stopped her, grabbing her hand just in time.

"Third Sister! Don't lose your composure!"

"If you use that talisman, Second Martial Uncle will have no choice but to intervene. Once the sword talisman is used, you might still fail to avenge him. Wouldn't that be a waste?"

"Besides, if anything really happened to Senior Brother, Master wouldn't stand by and do nothing."

As Yunxiao spoke, her own brows furrowed. She was just as unsettled.

After all, Senior Disciple Brother was only a Mystic Immortal!

How could he withstand a treasure like the Soul Devouring Needle?

The Interception Sect immortals were all as furious as Bixiao, seeming ready to rush in and attack at any moment.

If Lin Changqing's aura hadn't remained steady, they would likely have already charged in.

Now, they could only hope for a miracle—that Senior Disciple Brother would open his eyes, safe and sound.

"Hahahaha!"

"Lin Changqing, you crippled my cultivation, and now look at you!"

Among the Sect of Elucidation disciples, the immortal whose cultivation Lin Changqing had knocked down was already laughing with delight.

His cultivation had fallen by two realms. He was gravely wounded, and his soul was damaged. Even if he recovered to the Mystic Immortal peak and broke through to Golden Immortal, he would never make any further progress in this life!

Golden Immortal was his limit. As a disciple of one of the Three Sects, he had once been among the best beneath the Twelve Golden Immortals. And now he would never rise above Golden Immortal?

How could he accept that? His hatred for Lin Changqing was boundless, and seeing him dead filled him with joy.

"Hmph! Interception Sect immortals, Lin Changqing attacked us first. This is nothing more than what he deserves!"

"Serves him right!"

Seeing Lin Changqing struck, the Sect of Elucidation immortals had been overjoyed. Now they jeered and taunted the Interception Sect disciples without pause.

At that, the Interception Sect could no longer hold back. Waves of magical power surged as they prepared to attack.

But just then, Lin Changqing, seated in the center, slowly opened his eyes.

There was no sign of a damaged soul in his gaze. He didn't even look injured.

Instead, a faint killing intent seemed to stir within him.

"Interception Sect disciples, stay back!"

"Juliusun, with the Three Saints watching, what crime have you committed by using the Soul Devouring Needle to kill a fellow disciple?!"

The instant Lin Changqing opened his eyes, he paid no heed to the Interception Sect disciples' delight. He immediately turned on Juliusun and berated him.

How could Juliusun have imagined that Lin Changqing would survive the Soul Devouring Needle? The man was incredibly tough!

For a moment, Juliusun was too stunned to speak.

It wasn't only him. The Sect of Elucidation disciples, the Twelve Golden Immortals, and even Yuanshi fell silent.

This man hadn't died!

And in the moment Juliusun was stunned, Lin Changqing attacked again. Ten thousand streams of blood-red aura formed a giant palm that crashed down toward Juliusun!

Lin Changqing held nothing back. If Juliusun took this blow, he would be gravely injured at the very least, and his cultivation might even fall back to the Mystic Immortal realm.

Falling an entire major realm would be even worse than what had happened to that Sect of Elucidation Mystic Immortal!

His foundation would be shattered, and he would have no hope of becoming a Golden Immortal in this life!

"Lin Changqing, you dare?!"

"How dare you!"

The other Twelve Golden Immortals could hold back no longer.

A long sword in Cihang Daoren's hand came slashing down.

A jade pendant in Puxian Zhenren's hand shone with divine light.

The two Golden Immortals unleashed their spiritual treasures together, attacking Lin Changqing.

But Lin Changqing's expression remained cold. He made no attempt to defend himself.

"Die!"

"I said I'd destroy you, so I'll destroy you!"

In an instant, the blood-red palm came crashing down. The land within a thousand li of Kunlun Mountain trembled.

"Ah!!"

Juliusun let out a pained cry and suddenly coughed up blood. His chest caved in, and his soul was left reeling.

His cultivation fell straight to the late Mystic Immortal stage from his grievous injuries.

"Lin Changqing! I am one of the Twelve Golden Immortals. How dare you?!"

At that moment, Lin Changqing was swept by the long sword and struck by the jade pendant. He had nowhere to evade.

With no choice, he hurriedly summoned countless blood-red scales to shield himself. The instant the incoming light struck him, he plummeted toward Kunlun Mountain.

BOOM!!

After a tremendous crash, clouds of dust billowed into the air.

"Senior Brother!"