The Heart-Piercing Monk wrapped his entire body in demonic light and burrowed underground, intending to escape along the earth's veins.
Suddenly, a speck of green appeared beneath him. It spun and rapidly expanded, revealing itself to be a lush, emerald-green lotus pod.
The Heart-Piercing Monk keenly sensed danger. He knew this was an ambush his opponent had laid underground.
There are thirty-six purity bamboos aboveground, he thought. Who knows how those bamboos were grown or refined? Even the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword Qi couldn't cut through them.
By now, those bamboos must have formed an array. If I turn back, I'll fall straight into it. Even if he can't hurt me, I won't be able to get out anytime soon.
I'll have to stake everything on one strike either way. Better to put my strength into this, cleave the lotus pod in two, and break through the encirclement to escape with my life!
With that thought, he roused all his blood, vital energy, and true essence, merging man and sword into a blood-red sword rainbow. With the force of something that could split the earth and pierce its crust, he slashed viciously down at the lotus pod.
Naturally, this was the lotus pod Shi Feiyang had taken from Emerald-Congealing Peak on Mount Emei. An innate spiritual root, it had grown in the Jade Pool of the Great Void Immortal Mansion, then been nurtured and refined by several owners. Subduing demons was its specialty.
Of course, the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword was incomparably deadly. Although Shi Feiyang had broken this Immortal-Slaying Sword with the Suiren Fire Drill as soon as it emerged into the world—and it had actually been broken twice—it had also absorbed far too many people's blood essence and souls.
Several of them had been cult-leader-level figures, including Gu