Half-God Shocked, Might of the Robbery Flame
Su Rui's declaration—"All of you must die"—rang out with unyielding force, stirring colossal waves of terror in the hearts of the surviving demonic cultivators.
"One breath!"
After a brief, deathly silence, as Su Rui began his countdown, a figure clad in purple robes emerged from the crowd, his face shrouded in eerie ghostly qi. The spiritual power radiating from him was at the peak of late-stage Nascent Soul!
He was the ancestor of the Nether Prison Sect. Gazing down imperiously at Su Rui, he sneered mockingly, "Putting on airs! You're just an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, yet you dare spout such arrogance? Do you really think that demonic spear of yours can wipe us all out? Ridiculous!"
Despite his words, he halted firmly in place, not daring to advance another step. He secretly activated his protective treasures to their utmost, his eyes—hidden behind the ghostly qi—locked dead on the Robbery Flame in Su Rui's hand, a flicker of dread deep in his pupils.
He knew the strength of the Withered Bone Demon Lord all too well. That crimson-black flame that had felled the old ghost, with its aura of incinerating all things, filled even him with profound dread.
The other Nascent Soul cultivators exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to step forward lightly.
To slay a late-stage Nascent Soul grand cultivator in a single strike, and emerge with steady breath—this utterly shattered everyone's understanding of early-stage Nascent Soul power.
All eyes subtly turned skyward, to the peerlessly beautiful figure who had commanded the battlefield from the start—the lord of Eternal Night Palace, Yan Mingli.
Yet she made no move. Her world-shaking visage was etched with furrowed brows, her phoenix eyes no longer calm but filled with unprecedented gravity.
For a peak Half-God like her to reveal such an expression proved just how grave a threat the youth below—cradling a beauty in his arms, demonic spear in hand—had become.
"Two breaths!" Su Rui's voice rang out again, devoid of emotion, like a death knell.
Some early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators with weaker wills began to crumble under the palpable killing intent and the suppressive might of the world-shattering Robbery Flame, their figures involuntarily drifting backward.
"Too late!"
Su Rui had no intention of counting to three. Murderous fury exploded in his eyes as he circulated the Heavenly Extreme Demonic Flame Art to its third layer. "Magic Dragon Soul Devour" erupted forth, and the Robbery Flame in his grip unleashed a deafening dragon roar that tore at the eardrums.
The Nirvana Holy Flame and Heavenly Extreme Demonic Flame were no longer merely fused—they transformed into two roaring, entwined torrents surging from the spear tip!
"Roar—!!!"
The dragon cry shook the nine heavens. A crimson-black magic dragon, twenty zhang long, ripped through the void!
More solid than ever before, every scale blazed with dao rhyme runes. Its eyes burned like molten lava, its colossal body churning the world's spiritual qi, shattering space wherever it passed!
This was no mere spell construct—it was the embodiment of Robbery Flame power, born from the fusion of Nirvana Holy Flame and Heavenly Extreme Demonic Flame, a summoned avatar of destruction from the depths of the nine nether realms!
The moment the magic dragon appeared, it locked onto those who had retreated first, their minds already broken. Its massive form cleaved the sky at impossible speed, pouncing in an instant!
"No!!"
"Save me!!"
"Palace Lord Yan—!"
Terrified screams and despairing wails cut off abruptly. Wherever the dragon passed, protective spiritual lights, defensive treasures, cultivators' fleshly bodies, and even frantically fleeing nascent souls—all vanished soundlessly upon touching the apocalyptic flames, leaving not a trace.
In a heartbeat, over a dozen early-stage Nascent Souls—including two mid-stage demonic cultivators—were utterly erased from existence!
The dragon's momentum unabated, it bore down on the other horrified demonic cultivators with incinerating fury, poised for greater slaughter—
Then, from the high skies, Yan Mingli finally moved. Her jade hand rose lightly, a clear flute note rang out, and surging nether demonic qi formed a sky-obscuring black phoenix claw, precisely seizing the rampaging crimson-black dragon.
"Boom—!!!"
Dragon and claw collided head-on. A horrific energy storm swept outward, space twisting violently as mountains below collapsed in swathes.
The clash ended in mutual annihilation—the dragon and claw both shattered into scattering embers and demonic qi, slowly dissipating.
Yan Mingli's phoenix eyes blazed with killing intent, fixed on the crimson demonic spear in Su Rui's hand. Her red lips parted coldly: "Brat, this spear of yours... contains Feng Xi's inner core?"
Su Rui met her piercing gaze, a mocking curve on his lips. "Indeed. Fused with the holy phoenix core, it wields such might. In a way, I really must thank Palace Lord Yan for your 'generous' gift of the phoenix."
Yan Mingli's fingers clenched fiercely, her jade flute wailing under the strain in her palm.
The surging demonic qi around her froze solid, as if the entire world had been plunged into eternal profound ice.
"Beast! Excellent... you've done splendidly!!"
She laughed in rage, each word forced through gritted teeth: "Since you've taken Feng Xi's core, this palace shall extract your soul today and cast it into the nine nether profound flames to burn for ten thousand years—never to reincarnate!!"
Before her words faded, she raised the flute to her lips. A shrill note tore the skies, surging spiritual power condensing before her into a nether demonic beam piercing heaven and earth, crashing toward Su Rui!
This nether beam could obliterate a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, nascent soul and all!
Facing this heaven-shattering strike, Su Rui glanced down at the peacefully unconscious Mu Xueyi in his arms, a flash of tenderness in his eyes—then madness ignited.
His aura exploded. He circulated the Heavenly Extreme Demonic Flame Art to its fourth layer—the move: Magic God Descent!
A colossal magic god phantom rose from behind him, towering over a hundred zhang, like a giant from the laws of heaven and earth, overlooking the eight desolations!
The magic god's arm gripped a spear of condensed Robbery Flame, its tip warping space.
Su Rui thrust forward; the phantom mirrored him. The Robbery Flame spear rent the void, boldly meeting the nether beam!
True flame and phantom spear merged as one. Crimson-black apocalyptic fire clashed with nether demonic light like twin doomsday stars—
"Boom—!!!!"
The deafening roar shook the cosmos. Space at the collision's heart shattered like fragile glass, revealing the pitch-black chaos beyond! A visible ring of destructive ripples exploded outward!
The ground for a hundred li radius—mountains, rivers, forests—was erased by the shockwave like by an invisible titan hand, dust plumes soaring skyward!
The demonic cultivators lingering nearby, even those who had fled far, were tossed like leaves in a gale. They desperately activated defenses, spiritual lights flashing wildly, barely stabilizing.
Some already inclined to flee seized the shockwave's push, fleeing at full speed toward the horizon!
In moments, aside from Eternal Night Palace's several grand elders, only a scattered few remained—those confident in their cultivation, or coveting Su Rui's demonic spear and Mu Xueyi's beauty.
Yet their lingering proved laughably futile against Su Rui's next assault.
In magic god state, Su Rui swept his gaze over the Eternal Night Palace elders attempting to form an array. He swung the Robbery Flame casually!
Several crimson-black fire threads, like living venomous serpents, pierced three elders' protective arrays and treasures in an instant. Amid their horrified gazes, they—and their nascent souls—ignited into flying ash!
Yan Mingli's heart bled at the sight; these were Eternal Night Palace's pillars, her loyal subordinates!
Clenching her silver teeth, she commanded outright: "All of you, withdraw immediately! Clear the battlefield!"
With even the palace lord ordering retreat, the remaining onlookers fled faster than they had come.
Su Rui had indeed planned to slaughter them all, but Yan Mingli's aura locked him tight—he couldn't split to pursue.
His gaze fell on Yan Mingli's chest, heaving with fury, its ample swells even more pronounced and proud. A wild, arrogant laugh escaped him: "Palace Lord Yan, since you're shielding them, stay and play with laozi! Heh heh heh, those massive tits of yours—plump, perky, perfectly shaped—are prime goods laozi's been eyeing! Perfect chance to capture you, toy with them day and night, squeeze those big jugs to ruin! Wonder if they could squirt milk—how sweet would that be?"
"Shameless cur! You've gone too far! This palace will tear you to ten thousand pieces!"
No one had ever dared profane her so. Frost veiled her peerless face as she pushed the Nether Heavenly Sound Art to its limit!
Flute strokes summoned a storm of demonic notes into tangible dark runes, chains, and weapons, raining down like tempest on Su Rui—each blow carrying Half-God mountain-shattering power!
Su Rui laughed madly, leaping skyward with the hundred-zhang magic god phantom. Robbery Flame and phantom spear danced, crimson-black flames forming a sea of fire that clashed wildly against the demonic onslaught!
Explosions chained endlessly; spiritual power rioted, plunging the world toward primordial chaos.
He kept the comatose Mu Xueyi clutched tight, shielding her with his body and the phantom from all shocks.
They battled from sky to earth. Su Rui's magic god stomped, cracking a hundred li of ground, spewing magma—only for Yan Mingli's flute to freeze it in icy demonic qi.
Her flute carved a spatial rift spanning dozens of li, a maw swallowing Su Rui into the void—yet he tore free with Robbery Flame, spear thrusting straight at her!
Yan Mingli retreated sharply, flute tapping seven times. Seven solid nether finger strikes linked like the Big Dipper, sealing all his paths.
Su Rui dodged not; the phantom roared skyward, its chest splitting into a savage maw that spewed heaven-scorching demonic flames, devouring the seven strikes!
They plunged to the earth's depths, igniting leyline fire. Crimson magma wove with crimson-black Robbery Flame, turning caverns into doomsday forges; then burst surfaceward, clashing amid cloud seas, churning ten thousand li of storms—thunder born of their strikes, torrents from their killing will!
Yan Mingli grew impatient in the drawn battle, unleashing a greater divine ability!
Her flute floated free; hands formed seals. A massive Nether Empress dharma image arose behind her, wielding an illusory soul-whip that lashed out, ignoring flesh to scourge Su Rui's nascent soul!
Sensing peril, Su Rui shielded Mu Xueyi tighter. The phantom clasped palms; Robbery Flame condensed in them into a compressing, leaping crimson-black orb of annihilation, hurled at the soul-whip!
Orb met whip—not in cataclysmic blast, but silent annihilation and soul-shaking quake!
Su Rui grunted, nascent soul stabbing with pain; phantom wavering.
Yan Mingli paled, her Nether Empress blurring.
This exchange shook both nascent souls.
The fight dragged unknown hours; sun, moon, stars dimmed in their clash.
A thousand li around lay ravaged—earth scarred, scorched wastes, air thick with pure demonic qi and searing Robbery Flame. Low-rank cultivators entering would burst apart instantly.
Su Rui's face was pallid, aura halved. Sustaining the phantom and Robbery Flame strained his early Nascent Soul reserves; the phantom's edges blurred.
Yan Mingli too was drained, her lofty breasts rising unevenly, brow beaded with fragrant sweat.
Though Half-God with profound mana, Su Rui's bizarre, domineering flames and god power churned her blood with every clash, demonic essence depleting far beyond expectation.
Yet both gazes sharpened, battle wills blazing—an unbreakable deadlock!
Yan Mingli breathed raggedly, bosom heaving. Gazing at the equally drained but undimmed Su Rui, complex emotions flashed in her phoenix eyes—hatred, fury, and unspoken awe: "You little thief! Though this palace hates you to the bone, I must admit—you're a freak unseen in eons! To battle me, a peak Half-God, to this extent with mere early Nascent Soul cultivation!"
Su Rui parried a sound blade with his spear while taunting: "If not for siphoning your holy phoenix core to forge this spear, laozi could only flee against you. But now? Your lofty peak Half-God ass might just fall to me."
Yan Mingli's eyes chilled further, but a cold arc hooked her lips: "You truly dare dream of toppling this palace? Unaware of the chasm our realms create! This palace's Half-God mana depth—how could your early Nascent Soul compare? Fight hours more, and you'll burn dry! I've clashed this long, yet retain at least half my power!"
She spoke truth; the phantom's blurring edges betrayed Su Rui's waning reserves.
Yet panic fled his face—instead, a madder grin: "Palace Lord Yan, this laozi has one final trump unplayed. Wonder if you can take it!"
Her expression darkened; divine sense swept him—no anomalies. She sneered coolly: "Bluffing! You're at your limit—yet prattle of trumps?"
"Bluff or not—try it!"
Resolution flashed in Su Rui's eyes. He thrust Mu Xueyi into the phantom's core, sealing her with pure demonic essence.
Then, hands formed a complex, ancient seal brimming with endless destructive dao rhyme!
"Pfft!"
He spat a dense glob of vital blood, which ignited into vast life-source power, merging into the seal!
Heavenly Extreme Demonic Flame Art surged to its fifth layer!
"Incinerating Heaven Magic Hell, open!"
Instantly, heaven fell silent, all things froze!
Centered on Su Rui, the sky drowned in pure, all-devouring "nothingness"!
Absolute darkness swallowing even light!
Endless pitch-black demonic flames—not fire-form, but primal destruction laws—erupted from Su Rui's body, from the Robbery Flame!
In a flash, a terrifying magic hell domain over a thousand zhang wide formed, engulfing Yan Mingli and vast space around her!
Within the hell, space crumbled and reformed!
Ground—rocks, dust, air molecules—silently annihilated!
Countless apocalyptic fire phantoms howled, formless as destruction incarnate, bearing wills to erode ten thousand daos and incinerate laws!
No mere divine ability—this neared domain proto-form! Law-level power!
Yan Mingli sensed crisis at the seal's forming, pushing peak Half-God cultivation to max. Vast nether demonic qi formed nine ultra-solid dark barriers shielding her; flute to lips blew soul-resisting supreme demonic notes.
Yet as "Incinerating Heaven Magic Hell" fully descended, her face drained white!
"This... impossible? Early Nascent Soul touching law domains?!"
In horror, she saw her barriers—able to tank full peer strikes—melt like thin ice under fierce sun amid the hell's eerie, apocalyptic erosion!
Worse, phantom howls struck her nascent soul directly, shaking divine sense, stalling mana flow!
At the hell's heart, Su Rui merged with the domain, face paper-pale, blood spilling from lips—burden immense.
He raised a trembling hand toward Yan Mingli, clenching virtually.
"Extinguish."
Word became law!
The entire Incinerating Heaven Magic Hell contracted madly inward!
All darkness, flames, phantoms, destructive will compressed to utmost—a thread fine near-invisible, black enough to devour soul sense. Ignoring time-space, it pierced her final three barriers and a hastily raised ancient demonic shield!
"Pchi!"
The thread grazed; shield's light dimmed, a clear crack surfacing.
Yan Mingli shuddered like thunderstruck, spewing a huge mouthful of blood, staining her bosom.
Her aura wilted; peerless face showed horror, disbelief for the first time.
The hell faded; skies cleared, leaving a bottomless, mirror-smooth crater and a soul-chilling trail of destructive lingering resonance in the air.
Su Rui collapsed unsupported; phantom shattered. Mu Xueyi was gently set down from the core. He spewed blood wildly, aura plummeting, body swaying—only Robbery Flame propping him kept him upright.
Yan Mingli clutched her chest, suppressing churning blood and damaged meridians. Gazing at the spent Su Rui, her pale face twisted in icy mockery: "Heh... your final trump is terrifying indeed. Pity—it still can't truly defeat this palace! You've lost! Urk..."
Unfinished, she spat congealed blood—wounds grave.
Su Rui wiped bloody lips, flashing a bloodied grin: "Lost? This is... even match, half a catty eight taels! How's the taste, Palace Lord Yan?"
Yan Mingli mustered breath, killing intent reigniting: "Even match? You're burned out, no more moves! This palace... has reinforcements!"
As she spoke, she crushed a special transmission talisman!
From distant horizons, Eternal Night Palace's grand elders—who had just fled—and demonic powerhouses sensing the terror energy calm, minds stirring anew, detected the summons and Su Rui's weakened aura. They wheeled about, streaking back as sword-lights like blood-scenting sharks!
Greed and fervor blazed in their eyes!
Su Rui's Robbery Flame spear, Mu Xueyi's world-captivating beauty—they all craved!
Su Rui eyed the dozens of potent auras closing fast, face darkening utterly.
Deep breath; gaze raked Yan Mingli's peerless yet frigid visage darkly: "Yan Mingli! You win this round! But remember laozi's words—"
His voice carried heart-chilling curse, erupting in eerie cackles: "Once laozi breaks to mid Nascent Soul, you'll no longer be my match! With my speed, two months at most, one at least—breakthrough certain! Savor your final days in endless fear and wait! That plump, tempting body of yours will become laozi's forbidden plaything!"
Yan Mingli's face blackened like a pot bottom, unprecedented chill surging within.
Indeed—this freak was too monstrous! Early Nascent Soul already this thorny; mid-stage with that bizarre spear and horrific art... she'd truly be in dire straits!
"This brat... cannot be spared! All Eternal Night Palace forces—capture and kill him at any cost!"
Her voice held urgency and panic she herself hadn't noticed.
"As commanded!" The grand elders chorused, swarming with killing intent.
But at his words' fall, Su Rui decided.
He spat another vital blood mouthful; it burned into dense blood runes enveloping him and Mu Xueyi.
"Good thing the battle's shockwaves shattered that bitch's prior space seal..."
This thought flashed; one reason he'd directed energies voidward in clashes!
"Incinerating Nascent Soul Escape!!"
Buzz!
Blood runes blazed blindingly; space rippled violently.
Mere instants before the elders' assaults landed, Su Rui and Mu Xueyi blurred, then vanished like bursting bubbles—no trace left!
Yan Mingli's divine sense swept thousands li—no sign.
"Damn it!!!"
Fists clenched till nails bit palms, blood dripping seams.
Utmost rage, humiliation, and a fear she refused to acknowledge drowned her utterly.