The Gold Spirit Pearl and Earth Spirit Pearl of the Five Spirit Pearls have already been obtained. The remaining Water Spirit Pearl was in the hands of Li Xiaoyao ten years ago, while the Wood Spirit Pearl and Fire Spirit Pearl are with the Golden-Winged Phoenix and the Golden Qilin.
Having mastered the five Spirit Pearl, the Moon Worship Sect Leader was unable to utilize their power.
Ultimately, just like in the original storyline, the Moon Worship Sect Leader will hastily summon the Water Demon Beast for a final battle.
The Water Demon Beast is born when it encounters water and cannot be killed at all. Lin Qing'er could only suppress it.
Over the years, the Moon Worship Sect Leader has been using human sacrifices, and the Water Demon Beast can break free of its restraints and reappear in the world at any time.
Xu Long went to Mount Shu not to save Zhao Ling'er, but to meet with Sword Saint Dugu.
The level of this world is too high. The Moon Worship Sect Leader and the Sword Saint are both top experts in the S-rank. They are only one step away from reaching the next level.
Xu Long underwent a physical transformation thanks to Zhao Ling'er's bloodline, but he was still no match for the two of them.
He wanted to see just how far he was from the world's top tier before deciding whether to take a roundabout approach or confront it head-on.
As the undisputed strongest sect in the Legend of Sword and Fairy series, Mount Shu boasts countless masters.
The current sect leader Sword Saint Dugu Yin Ruozhuo, is one of the strongest in the world.
After flying for several hours, Xu Long arrived at Mount Shu.
The scenery was beautiful, with clear waters, birdsong, and fragrant flowers; it lacked any of the sharpness of a sword, but instead exuded tranquility.
Looking up, two large characters are deeply embedded in the boulder.
It has the power to shake Kunlun Mountain from the very beginning, and the grace to span the Five Sacred Mountains with a single stroke.
At first glance, it's as if an invisible sword is coming straight at you.
It seemed to pierce through flesh and blood, and shatter the soul.
Snap!
The invisible energy arrived before him, only to be shattered by Xu Long's psychic power.
If the person who carved those two words had personally taken action, Xu Long definitely wouldn't have been able to defeat him.
But just two words aren't enough to stop it.
" Li Xiaoyao of Yuhang Town requests an audience with Sword Saint Dugu, the leader of the Mount Shu Sect!"
Xu Long's voice echoed around, immediately attracting a group of the Mount Shu Sect disciples.
Thousands of people swarmed out and surrounded Xu Long.
His expression was solemn, and his murderous aura was palpable, as if he might start a fight at any moment.
"Is this how the prestigious Mount Shu treats its visitors?"
Xu Long snorted coldly. Yin Ruozhuo, he would have already started the fight.
"Everyone, step back!"
A low shout came from not far away, followed by a figure appearing out of thin air.
His hair and beard were white, his face was handsome, and his aura was as calm as water.
This is Yin Ruozhuo, the leader of the Mount Shu Sword Saint Dugu.
"Young brother, what brings you to my Mount Shu?"
Yin Ruozhuo looked at Xu Long, and couldn't help but be surprised.
Reaching this level in less than half a year of cultivation is beyond description; the word "genius" is insufficient to describe it.
"Why pretend to be stupid, senior? Don't you know why I'm here?"
Xu Long smiled. He had just taken Zhao Ling'er Xu Long away when she asked him what he was doing there. You can't pretend to be stupid like that.
"You did it for that snake demon?"
"Alright, stop pretending. I know you know Ling'er is a descendant of Nüwa, and I know you locked her in the Demon-Locking Pagoda to protect her."
Xu Long looked at the Sword Saint and said, "The reason I came here is to ask if you will intervene."
"Heaven and earth, the universe, all things follow their natural order. Everything in the world has its own laws of operation; when things begin, the outcome is already predetermined. No matter how hard you or I try, we cannot change anything."
A slight smile appeared on Sword Saint Dugu's lips. "Does it matter whether I intervene or not?"
"Is this your way? To follow the will of Heaven, to achieve through non-action. Senior, you will surely make a move."
Xu Long seemed confident of victory. "If you make a move, I'll find a way to deal with the Water Demon Beast. If you don't, I'll switch sides to the Moon Worship Sect Leader and join him in destroying the world. Anyway, with my strength, even if this world is destroyed, I can still survive unscathed."
Are you threatening me?
The Sword Saint narrowed his eyes, and a terrifying killing intent quietly emerged.
"I'm not threatening you, but stating a fact that will inevitably happen. My strength is limited; I can't defeat the Moon Worship Sect Leader, nor can I stop him from destroying the world. Rather than doing futile work, it's better to choose an outcome that benefits me."
Xu Long spoke calmly, as if victory was assured.
"Senior, do you want everyone to die tragically for your own path, or do you want to abandon everything and let those around you live? The trajectory of fate has already unfolded, and your junior brothers, your disciples and grand-disciples are all involved. You want to let go, but can you really let go? Or rather, when you completely let go, will you still have any meaning in living?"
"..."
Upon hearing Xu Long's words, the Sword Saint fell silent.
He didn't fall silent because of Xu Long's words, but because of Xu Long's attitude.
Although this person always does righteous things, he has no sense of justice in his heart.
Sword Saint had no doubt that if things became unfavorable, Xu Long would definitely side with the Moon Worship Sect Leader.
Just as Xu Long said, since this world is destined to be destroyed, it is better to choose an outcome that is beneficial to oneself.
" The Water Demon Beast is born from water and is immortal. Do you have any way to kill it?"
The Sword Saint looked at Xu Long, waiting for a clear answer.
Use this!
Xu Long pulled out an object the size of a basketball. This was a thermonuclear bomb, a bomb made using the principle of nuclear fusion. Despite its small size, each one possessed ten times the power of Hiroshima Nagasaki.
"What's this?"
The Sword Saint was somewhat curious; he hadn't sensed any energy fluctuations from the thermonuclear bomb and had no idea what it was for.
"Watch closely!"
Xu Long said something, then grabbed the thermonuclear bomb and hurled it into the sky.
His power was immense; the terrifying kinetic energy caused the thermonuclear bomb to tear through the air, instantly breaking the sound barrier and creating a piercing shriek.
With his eyes fixed on the thermonuclear bomb, Xu Long gently pressed the remote control.
boom!
A blinding white light, terrifying heat, followed by a deafening roar.
Even from a distance of ten thousand meters, that extreme power still inspires fear.
This is pure destruction, annihilating everything without any room for reversal.
"This..."
Sensing the terrifying energy fluctuations, Sword Saint Dugu's expression changed drastically.
He didn't care about the power of the thermonuclear bomb, but his disciples couldn't withstand it.
If it were to affect Mount Shu, it would instantly result in the annihilation of an entire family.
" Heaven and Earth Prison! Go!"
The Sword Saint dared not delay for the slightest and immediately made his move.
An invisible sword light shot into the sky, transforming into a prison that encased the exploding thermonuclear bomb.
Once you reach S-rank, your own resistance to energy alone is enough to survive a nuclear attack, not to mention the boundless vitality within your flesh and blood.
With Sword Saint Dugu's strength, even if several more thermonuclear bombs were to come, they wouldn't even scratch his skin.
However, protecting oneself and saving others are two completely different things. Although Xu Long is also unafraid of nuclear bombs, he can only protect a few people and cannot directly control the exploding nuclear bomb like the Sword Saint.