After dozens of fierce exchanges, Xiao Dongsheng's breathing gradually grew ragged. Cheng Heng seized a fleeting opening and struck with the Azure Sea Formless Palm, its flowing force slamming into Xiao Dongsheng's shoulder. Vast, waterlike vajra force surged into his meridians, shattering the demonic vajra force circulating within them. The Golden Metal Demon-Slaying Blade swept out immediately afterward, its icy gleam cutting through the demonic aura surrounding him.
A piercing scream rang out. Xiao Dongsheng's demonic vajra force shattered with a thunderous crash, and all strength drained from his body. He collapsed heavily to his knees. As he stared at Cheng Heng, the defiance in his eyes slowly faded, leaving only boundless desolation, without a trace of his former pride as a prodigy.
At that moment, the heavens shook with a thunderous roar. Thick, black-and-red demonic aura poured down from the clouds like the vault of heaven collapsing, rolling toward Mount Zhenyue. The leader of the Mahayana Evil Cult, an old demon who had lain hidden for a hundred years, had finally descended upon the headquarters in person.
The terrifying pressure of the true essence realm swept across the land, filling heaven and earth. Countless lower-level cultivators buckled beneath its immense weight and fell to their knees, their blood and qi churning. Even raising their heads became agonizingly difficult. The old demon hovered in midair, shrouded in dense demonic aura, and unleashed a wild laugh that shook the clouds.
"Mere mortal martial arts! A swarm of elixir-embracing and vajra-force ants dares obstruct my thousand-year undertaking! Today, every last one of you orthodox cultivators will become nourishment for my demon embryo!"
Lu Ding, Shi Songquan, the Heavenly Treasure Sect's sect master, the Azure Water Pavilion's pavilion master, and the other foremost vajra-force experts all leaped into the air, joining forces in