"Boom—"
With the true form of the Xuan Rang Immortal revealed, the skies above the Huai River transformed abruptly, with dark clouds rolling in en masse, gathering to create a canopy that blocked out the sunlight, plunging the area for thousands of miles around Linhuan Pass into darkness where one could not even see their own hand.
The gigantic head of the Xuan Rang Immortal towered in mid-air, its two emerald snake eyes hanging like meteorites against the night sky, flickering with a sinister luster, causing the people of Linhuan Pass to tremble in fear, their souls nearly leaving their bodies.
Even the three ladies by the banks of the Huai River—Huo Ling'er, Yun Hua, and Yao Ge—had serious expressions, as if facing a formidable enemy.
It was only Yu Yuan who remained calm and unhurried.
In his hands, he held two hammers.
In his left hand was the compact and exquisite Purple Lightning Hammer, radiating sparks of electricity; the right hand held the square-shaped Mixed Gold Hammer, surrounded by colorful and nebulous aura.
"Purple Lightning Hammer?"
Upon seeing this hammer, the Xuan Rang Immortal immediately confirmed Yu Yuan's identity and recalled many related rumors.
Although he spent most of his time in secluded cultivation at Qingbo Mountain, he occasionally kept abreast of news from the outside world.
In recent years, the one who had gained the most attention in all of Primordial was this Jie Sect's One Qi Immortal, Yu Yuan.
His clever acquisition of the Chaos Bell Fragments in Eastern Emperor Heaven, his few words at the Peach Banquet that caused the Western Sect to lose all face, his victory over the third generation disciples of Chan Sect during the Three Sects' negotiations, and his upper hand in the battle against a Golden Immortal of Chan Sect for treasures at Wuyi Mountain...
These exploits were spread by many gossips, and now Yu Yuan was a renowned figure in Primordial.
Although the Xuan Rang Immortal didn't know Huo Ling'er, he had heard of Yu Yuan's name.
That's why he had been ready to retreat just now.
He truly did not wish to engage in conflict with Yu Yuan.
Because even if he won, it would be meaningless, and he would have offended the other's master—the Jie Sect's eldest sister who at any moment could attain the Quasi-Saint Dao fruit.
As the Xuan Rang Immortal was eyeing the two hammers, Yu Yuan was also sizing up this ancient serpent demon, with surprise and curiosity in his gaze.
Within the Jie Sect, there were many factions, all complex and chaotic.
One of these factions, extremely powerful yet very low-profile, was the remnant of the Ancient Demon Court!
At the end of the Witch Demon Calamity, when the Ancient Demon Court was destroyed, many surviving Demon Gods were unwilling to migrate to the desolate and arduous Northern Continent.
Coincidentally, the Three Pure Ones of Kunlun had just gone their separate ways, and Tongtian opened a large sect in the East Sea, broadly accepting disciples. Thus, these Demon Gods flocked to the Penglai Holy Realm, hoping to be admitted to the Jie Sect.
Tongtian, adhering to the principle of teaching without discrimination and fighting for a chance at salvation for all beings, welcomed everyone—whether independent immortals from the East Sea or remnants of the Demon Court—without rejection. In a short time, he had created an overwhelming momentum with tens of thousands of immortals coming to his audience.
However, although these Demon Gods were each profound in their Dao Xing, they also carried heavy karma of killings.
Admitting them to the Jie Sect not only failed to enhance the sect's fortune but also meant bearing their karma retribution.
In Yu Yuan's view, these Demon Gods were like leeches lying on the foundation of the Jie Sect, sucking away at the sect's fortune bit by bit to suppress their own karmic backlash.
And this process was long and ongoing.
Only when these Demon Gods earned enough Heavenly Dao Merit to offset their karma could this situation end.
But how easy is it to earn Heavenly Dao Merit?
And these karmically burdened Demon Gods, when they enter the mortal world, are more likely to induce cause and effect than other Immortal Gods, accruing moral obstruction, and killings follow.
That's why most Demon Gods usually hide within their own sanctuaries in seclusion, comfortably being a "leech".
Now, this ancient serpent, having lived for untold ages, after being forced to reveal its true form, made no further moves. Its deep green snake eyes closely watched Yu Yuan, and in a deep and hoarse human voice said, "In consideration that we're both disciples of the Jie Sect, I will let go of the matter of that Human Immortal killing my offspring…"
"What a 'letting go'!"
Huo Ling'er was amused by his cowardly approach and said discontentedly, "You clearly just heard my junior brother's name and were scared into wanting to flee, right?"
The Xuan Rang Immortal, having his thoughts poked at, felt somewhat annoyed and said, "What do you youngsters know? I was merely contemplating that both of you are Inner Sect Disciples; I did not want to spoil our sect fellowship."
"Tsk~"
Huo Ling'er curled her lips, her gaze shifting to Yu Yuan who leisurely arrived by her side, with the Ta'ia Double Swords appearing in her hand, ready to act at any moment.
Although she had been nervous when facing the Xuan Rang Immortal moments ago, now that Yu Yuan had arrived, she was fearless.
"Junior!"
The Xuan Rang Immortal seemed to feel his dignity challenged, he thundered, "I am addressed as a brother by your master, too. Although you are Inner Sect Disciples, in terms of seniority, you should still address me as Uncle Master!
Today I am showing you kindness by not pursuing this matter; don't be unappreciative!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Yuan indifferently said, "As for who is truly ignorant, let's discuss that later... Didn't you just mention that the Xuan Rang Immortal of the Human Race at Linhuan Pass killed your offspring?
When did this happen, and who told you about it?"
Although solving the issue with this Xuan Rang Immortal merely required a single strike from him, Yu Yuan still felt there was something fishy behind this matter, and so he wanted to clarify the incident first.
After pondering briefly, the Xuan Rang Immortal spoke gravely, "For hundreds of years, my offspring served as the Mountain God of Shan Mountain, conjuring clouds and rain for the local humans. Yet, some days ago, he was killed by this Xuan Rang Immortal of the Human Race at Linhuan Pass!
I've been in seclusion at Qingbo Mountain in the East Sea; had it not been for the message delivered by that Daoist in yellow robes, I would still be unaware of this..."
"I see."
Yu Yuan nodded and casually said, "That Mountain God of Shan Mountain has committed numerous evils at Zizhong Pass, often preying on the local humans as blood sustenance. That's why the Human Immortal took action to slay him.
It can be said that this catastrophe that befell your offspring was entirely self-inflicted!"
"Self-inflicted?"
Hearing his offspring judged in such a manner, the Xuan Rang Immortal could not suppress his anger and bellowed, "He served as the Mountain God of Shan Mountain for a millennium, and if not for merits, he has at least his hard work. Just because he ate a few humans, could that possibly cause any major problem?
Yet that Xuan Rang Immortal of the Human Race obliterated him completely in body and spirit. Where is the sense in that?"
"Eating just a few humans?"
Yu Yuan repeated the sentence and looked at the Xuan Rang Immortal with a mocking smile, "Judging by your tone, it seems you have also eaten your share, haven't you?"
The Xuan Rang Immortal, who failed to detect the change in Yu Yuan's tone, arrogantly claimed, "Back when I served in the Demon Court, the Human Race was nothing more than blood sustenance to replenish Essence Qi for beings like me."
As he spoke, his voice took on a mysterious undertone, "Do you all know why, during the Ancient Era, the Witch Demons and demons butchered the Human Race? It's because the blood of the Human Race contains Saint Blood, which is not only delicious but also greatly beneficial for cultivation... If you don't believe me, try it and you'll know."
"Good." Yu Yuan nodded, his gaze suddenly turning sharp, "Now I have a reason to kill you."
The Xuan Rang Immortal was briefly taken aback, and hurriedly said, "You're not of the Human Race, what does it matter to you if I eat humans or not? Besides, that was an affair of the Ancient Era, and even the Sect Hierarch didn't cast me out because of it!
Now that I am a disciple of the Jie Sect, I am considered your senior uncle!
If you raise your hand against me, you'd be violating the sect rules..."
Before he could finish, Yu Yuan nonchalantly interrupted, "I must confess, I'm quite experienced at slaying senior uncles!"
With that, he swung down the great hammer.
Far from accepting his fate, the Xuan Rang Immortal roared, "Young fool seeking death," conjuring stormy clouds above and sending streaks of lightning crashing down.
In that brief moment, silver serpents danced amidst heaven and earth, thunder dragons roamed, and electrical flashes ceaselessly twinkled.
Amidst the countless lightning, Yu Yuan transformed into a dazzling trail of light rising to the sky, unaffected by the wild thunder and lightning surrounding him.
Compared to the true form of the ancient snake demon, he seemed almost negligible, but as he drew nearer, his aura exponentially grew in intensity.
Alarm bells went off in the Xuan Rang Immortal's heart. He tried to control the almighty thunder, but he couldn't harm this young successor at all.
He wanted to flee, but found himself stuck as though mired in quicksand, unable to move an inch!
The next moment, Yu Yuan's hammer crashed down.
"ROAR!"
The colossal ancient demon snake let out a roar that shook heaven and earth.
The night sky above the Nine Heavens instantly shattered, revealing a clear blue expanse of sky.
Following that, the ancient demon snake abruptly stiffened.
Its body, like shattered porcelain, began to show countless fine cracks, from which multicolored lights beamed...
"Clang!"
With one tolling of the bell, the immense ancient demon snake instantly turned to dust.
Vanquished in both form and spirit!
Miles away, on a mountain peak, a Daoist in yellow robes stood dumbfounded, his eyes filled with disbelief.
In the next instant, as though realizing something, a deep fear flashed across his eyes, and he hurriedly transformed into a streak of yellow light, burrowing into the thick forest.
Meanwhile, Yu Yuan released Wuzhiqi, whispering: "I'll leave this matter to you."
"Don't worry!" Wuzhiqi slapped his chest and confidently said, "I, Wuzhiqi, always keep my word—just don't forget what you promised me!"
With that said, he soared into the sky and pursued in the direction where the yellow-robed Daoist had vanished, without looking back.
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