Self-Destruction

Hongjun's expression remained as still as an ancient well. Above his head, the Jade Disc of Creation shed ten thousand streams of clear light, making him seem sacred and untouchable.

"Luo Hou, even with death at your door, you still dare to sow discord."

"My three fellow Daoists, this demon is an arrow at the end of its flight. The Sword Formation of Immortal Execution may be deadly, but if the four of us work together and each suppress one sword, we can break it!"

"Once we break this formation, Heaven's Way will surely bestow boundless merit upon us and help us attain the Primordial Origin Realm!"

At the words "attain the Primordial Origin Realm," the doubt in the eyes of Yin-Yang Ancestor and the other two was instantly replaced by greed and longing.

They had been stuck at Peak Primordial Golden Immortal for far too long. For the slightest chance to attain the Dao, any risk was worth taking!

"Daoist Hongjun is right. Don't listen to this demon's nonsense! Attack!"

Five-Elements Ancestor roared and was the first to summon the Five-Elements Pagoda. It transformed into a streak of Five-Colored Divine Light and shot toward the Immortal Execution Sword Gate in the east.

"I'll break the Immortal-Slaughter Sword!" Yin-Yang Ancestor charged south atop the Taiji Diagram.

"Leave the Immortal-Trapping Sword to me!" With the Heaven-and-Earth Cauldron above his head, Qiankun Ancestor charged west.

A barely perceptible cold glint flashed through Hongjun's eyes. Pangu Banner in hand, he flew unhurriedly toward the Severing Immortal Sword Gate in the north.

"If you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Seeing the four enter the formation, Luo Hou's eyes blazed with murderous light. He spat a mouthful of his origin demon blood onto the Immortal Execution Formation Diagram.

"The Immortal Slaying Sword cuts keen, the Immortal-Slaughter Sword brings death, red light rises wherever the Immortal-Trapping Sword goes! The Immortal-Severing Sword's changes are wondrous without end; the robes of Great Firmament Realm immortals run red with blood!"

"Kill!"

Rumble!

The formation surged into full operation. Hundreds of millions of streaks of Chaos Sword Qi swept toward the four inside like a raging storm, seeking to tear them apart.

And just as this world-shattering battle erupted...

Beyond Mount Sumeru, within a fold of space layered over itself countless times...

Dijiang and the other Eleven Ancestral Witches watched everything unfolding inside the formation with cold eyes, like the most patient of hunters.

"Big brother, when do we make our move?" Zhu Rong's hands itched as he watched the sword qi fill the sky.

"Not yet."

A cruel smile curved Dijiang's lips. "We wait until Yin-Yang and the others are forced to self-destruct. We wait until Luo Hou and Hongjun have played every hidden card and both sides are gravely wounded."

"Hongjun wants to scheme against everyone under heaven. Today, we'll be the oriole waiting behind the mantis!"

Inside the Sword Formation of Immortal Execution, Chaos Sword Qi surged without end like waves on a furious sea.

Driven by Luo Hou's madness as he drained the Western Continent's earth veins dry, this peerless killing formation, hailed as the Primordial World's foremost, finally bared fangs terrifying enough to make even Sages shudder.

Hiss, hiss, hiss—

The first to falter was Five-Elements Ancestor, who had taken the lead in attacking the eastern Immortal Execution Sword Gate.

Though the Five-Elements Pagoda above his head was a Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, its Five-Colored Divine Light was stripped away layer by layer and shredded before the unstoppable Immortal Slaying Sword Qi.

"Daoist Hongjun! Break the formation, quickly! I can't hold on much longer!"

Five-Elements Ancestor's hair hung wild, and sword wounds deep enough to expose bone covered his body. He shouted in terror.

Yet at the northern Severing Immortal Sword Gate, Hongjun held the Pangu Banner beneath the Jade Disc of Creation and swept aside every incoming streak of sword qi. He appeared to be giving his all to break the formation, but in truth he had strength to spare and no intention of coming to anyone's aid.

"Don't panic, Daoist Five-Elements. I'm doing all I can to hold the demon back. Hold out a little longer!" Hongjun's calm voice carried over.

"Hold out? With what?"

Five-Elements Ancestor watched in despair as the main Immortal Slaying Sword Qi, thick as a mountain, came crashing down.

Crack!

The Five-Elements Pagoda gave a mournful cry and shattered.

"Hongjun! You despicable wretch! You plotted against us!"

Five-Elements Ancestor finally understood, but it was too late.

The violent sword qi instantly ground his body into a mist of blood. Not even his primordial spirit escaped.

"If I can't live, then we'll die together!"

In his despair, Five-Elements Ancestor's remaining primordial spirit ignited his Peak Primordial Golden Immortal origin.

BOOM—!!!

How terrifying was the self-destruction of a Peak Primordial Golden Immortal powerhouse?

The entire Sword Formation of Immortal Execution shook violently. The eastern Immortal Execution Sword Gate was blasted until its light dimmed, and a huge rift tore through the Immortal Execution Formation Diagram.

"Pfft!" At the formation's heart, Luo Hou spat a mouthful of black blood, his aura thrown into disarray.

"Daoist Five-Elements!"

The sight nearly tore the hearts from Yin-Yang Ancestor and Qiankun Ancestor.

How could they fail to see Hongjun's sinister intent now?

He was using their lives to fill the formation and exhaust Luo Hou's strength!

"Hongjun, you old thief! Even as ghosts, we won't let you go!"

Qiankun Ancestor's hair stood on end with rage, but the Immortal-Trapping Sword Qi had him trapped fast, and the light of the Heaven-and-Earth Cauldron grew dimmer by the moment.

"Luo Hou, I'll take you down with me!"

Knowing he was certain to die, Qiankun Ancestor's eyes flashed with madness. He hurled himself and the cauldron straight into the Immortal-Trapping Sword and blew himself up!

Immediately afterward, at the southern Immortal Slaughtering Sword Gate, Yin-Yang Ancestor let out a shrill, bitter laugh and detonated his Yin-Yang Origin.

Boom! Boom!

Two world-shattering explosions rocked the formation in succession.

The successive self-destruction of three Peak Primordial Golden Immortal powerhouses finally exceeded what the incomplete sword formation could withstand.

Crack... Bang!

The Sword Formation of Immortal Execution's formation diagram shattered. The four towering Slaying Swords gave a mournful cry and flew backward, their light dimmed almost to nothing.

"No—!"

Luo Hou let out a despairing, piercing roar.

With the formation broken, the terrifying backlash struck his chest like hundreds of millions of divine mountains.

Every bone in his body shattered inch by inch. The Twelfth-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus was blasted until its light dimmed, and he flew away like a torn sack before slamming into the ruined slopes of Mount Sumeru.

Between heaven and earth, the rampaging sword qi finally began to fade.

From the smoke, Hongjun stepped through the air without a speck of dust on him.

He looked at the three fallen ancestors. Not a trace of sorrow appeared in his eyes; instead, a hint of triumph flashed through them.

"My three fellow Daoists showed such noble spirit, giving their lives to slay the demon and defend the Dao. I shall always remember their sacrifice."

Hongjun gave a false sigh, then swept his sleeve, ready to pocket the ownerless treasures scattered across the ground, including the Heaven-and-Earth Cauldron and the Taiji Diagram.

At the same time, he turned a cold gaze on the gravely wounded, dying Luo Hou.

"Luo Hou, your fate is spent. Today, I shall send you on your way. As for the Four Swords of Immortal Execution and the God-Slaying Spear, I shall take them into custody on heaven's behalf."

Pangu Banner in hand, Hongjun walked toward Luo Hou step by step, ready to claim the final fruits of victory.

Luo Hou glared at Hongjun, his eyes brimming with resentment and madness. "Hongjun! You hypocritical old dog! Even if I die, I'll drag the Western Continent down with me!"

With that, Luo Hou moved to detonate what remained of the west's earth veins.

At that hair's-breadth moment, just as Hongjun was about to strike Luo Hou down!

Hum—

The void beside Hongjun twisted violently without warning.

A slender, fair-skinned hand reached out of the void as though breaking the surface of water. With inconceivable speed, it seized the Heaven-and-Earth Cauldron just as it was about to fly toward Hongjun!