Chapter 137: Li Xi Comes to the Rescue

This strike nearly split my chest in two. Were it not for the innate white dragon scale armor I wear, I would have surely perished by now. Yet even this dragon scale armor was slashed open, blood pouring forth.

Moreover, the dark Kirin sword wielded by Mokui radiated boundless malevolent energy. Without the Qingping Sword in my hand to absorb this fierce aura, the malicious energy surged through the wound in my chest, intent on seizing my life force and ending me.

Gritting my teeth, I pressed tightly on the chest wound, forming a seal with one hand to close the relevant meridian gates, preventing the malevolent energy from invading my vital channels.

However, immediately after Mokui’s dark Kirin sword, Mokxin’s massive dark Kirin blade came crashing down toward me. I braced one hand against the ground and flipped up, swiftly evading the strike.

The giant blade smashed into the earth, causing the ground to fracture and mountains to tremble. Though I dodged the blade, its overwhelming momentum threw me backward. I landed hard on a withered wutong tree behind me, then crashed onto the ground.

The wound on my chest burst open again, searing agony consuming me. Yet this piercing pain kept my mind alert. I saw a white aura swirling around the injury, driving out every last trace of the malevolent energy from within me. That white aura was the revival energy left by my mother—she was aiding me still.

My nose tingled with emotion as memories of my mother flooded through me. Thinking of her, how could I afford to fall now? I rose once more.

Clenching my fists, my aura burst forth. As Mokui and Mokxin approached again, I unleashed a series of Five Thunder Palm strikes, but they barely fazed them. They advanced from left and right, sword and blade poised to strike me, when suddenly a crimson shadow descended from the distant sky.

In an instant, a fierce heatwave surged out, forcing Mokui and Mokxin to recoil. I saw it was the spectral image of a fiery phoenix.

As she landed, she wore a flowing red robe that billowed like boiling flames. Her back to me, both palms burned with blazing scarlet fire.

“Wei Yang, it’s you!” I blurted without thinking.

Yet when she turned, it was not Wei Yang’s face. She hesitated slightly and said, “Chief Lin, what did you just say?”

Long ago, outside the Demon Hall, the elder clan chief had told me that this woman was actually the new clan leader of the Phoenix tribe, named Li Xi. To ensure her clan’s survival, she had become a slave in the Wutong Demon Hall.

The elder chief said they had a means of escape, though it was uncertain. Still, her silhouette so closely resembled Wei Yang’s.

“I’m sorry, I mistook you,” I said, then added, “Thank you, Clan Leader Li Xi, for saving my life. Be careful of Mokui and Mokxin!”

Li Xi nodded slightly.

“Chief Lin, where is your sword?” she asked.

I raised my hand, closed my eyes, and connected mentally with the sword’s spirit. In the next moment, the Qingping Sword shot swiftly through the air and appeared in my palm.

“Impudent demon slave, how dare you strike the lord of this hall! Such a crime must be punished!” Mokui roared, her dark Kirin sword flashing a sinister light as she swung it toward me.

This time, Li Xi transformed into a fiery phoenix and lifted me into the air, evading Mokui’s strike.

Yet shaking off Mokui and Mokxin was no easy feat. They pursued us at once.

“Chief Lin, only you can slay Mokui and Mokxin! I will assist you!” Li Xi warned.

Recalling the severe injury to Daoist Li, I hesitated.

“Chief Lin, trust me. I have a way to create an opening to slay them,” she said firmly.

“Alright, I trust you. Be careful!” I replied.

She nodded.

Gripping the Qingping Sword, I once more focused my sword intent. The intent was to suppress the malevolence; the fierce energy rapidly condensed within the blade, while killing intent and hostility served as supportive forces, amplifying the malevolent energy.

Li Xi gave a confirming nod as I leapt into the air.

Seeing me attack, Mokui and Mokxin brandished their weapons and charged fiercely. Their aura was overwhelming, suffused with malevolent energy.

Yet just as they prepared to strike, both furrowed their brows, cold sweat appearing on their foreheads. Behind me, Li Xi once again manifested as a fire phoenix, her aura towering.

“What’s happening?” Mokui asked.

“Brother, there’s a blood energy inside me that conflicts with my demonic blood. Now... ah!” Mokxin screamed in agony, staggering to the ground to steady himself.

At that moment, a blood-red rune appeared faintly on both their brows.

Apparently, Li Xi had anticipated this. I could not waste this chance. Seizing the moment of their suppressed aura, I gritted my teeth and struck Mokui and Mokxin with a sword in each hand.

Mokui raised her dark Kirin sword to block, but seemed unable to concentrate. The clash with my Qingping Sword instantly shattered her blade into a terrifying mass of malevolent energy.

The Qingping Sword’s azure glow flared, absorbing all the malevolent energy within.

My other sword struck at Mokxin. He gritted his teeth and dodged, swinging his massive Kirin blade at me. I blocked with the Qingping Sword.

Sparks flew, black mist billowed and scattered.

I flipped again and slashed at Mokxin. The giant blade shattered instantly under the Qingping Sword’s might, dissolving into malevolent energy, all absorbed by my sword. At that moment, the sword’s blade turned blood-red, as if thirsting for blood.

With sword intent harnessed to suppress evil, this was the moment for the suppressing strike!

With that thought, I launched the strike with overwhelming force.

“Suppressing Evil!” I roared, sword thrusting forward.

The blade pierced through Mokxin’s blood-scaled armor, stabbing deep into his chest. The force shattered the withered wood behind him into splinters scattered on the ground.

The malevolent energy within Mokxin was wholly drawn into the Qingping Sword.

As I withdrew the blade, he had already become a corpse, lying utterly still.

“My younger brother!” Mokui bellowed, a roar shaking the heavens and earth. Suddenly, the ground cracked beneath him. Malevolent energy surged wildly as he charged at me.

He bent low, pulling back his shoulders, and his punch descended like the weight of a mountain.

I blocked with the Qingping Sword, which bent under the impact, forming a curve. I was thrown backward, but he stood firm, unshaken.

He glanced at Li Xi, then formed a sharp arrow of malevolent energy with his hand, shooting it into her. Li Xi fell motionless.

“Clan Leader Li Xi!” I shouted.

Mokui growled, “Today, I shall bury you all here!”

The earth rumbled and cracked.

His eyes turned blood-red, glowing with dark red flames. Fangs protruded, veins bulged on his face—terrifying beyond measure.

My sword techniques shifted rapidly, striking at Mokui’s chest. Yet with a clanging sound, I failed to pierce his armor. Instead, his malevolent energy swept over me, hurling me away.

Adjusting midair, I struck the ground with the sword, bending it like a bow, then straightening it instantly. Using the recoil, I flipped and charged Mokui again, unleashing another Suppressing Evil strike.

I knew I had no other chance; this strike had to succeed.

Yet my successive sword strikes could not harm Mokui even slightly. He had nearly lost his humanity, fully transformed into a demon.

My sword strikes rang against him like blows against solid steel, sparks flying.

Mokui rushed me, suddenly grabbing my neck. His aura was overwhelmingly powerful; I could not move at all. His grip tightened swiftly; my neck cracked, breath cut off, nearly broken.

At this critical moment, a flame ignited in Li Xi’s hand as she chanted a spell. Gritting her teeth, she stood and shouted, “Chief Lin!”

The blood-red rune on Mokui’s brow flared, causing him to stagger.

Taking advantage, I quickly formed the Five Thunder Palm Seal in my palm, repelling Mokui.

Then, midair, I adjusted my form, connecting my will with the Qingping Sword’s spirit, condensing the ultimate Suppressing Evil strike.

The azure lotus on the Qingping Sword transformed into a blazing red lotus. The malevolent energy coursed wildly before converging entirely into the blade, which shone with deadly sharpness.

With one sword stroke—

I would slay the demon!

Mokui gritted his teeth to block the strike. One hand even moved to attack Li Xi, but I did not give him the chance. My Qingping Sword pierced straight through his demonic heart, all the way to the hilt.

Mokui screamed in agony and struck my chest with his palm. Gritting my teeth, connected with the sword’s intent, I drew the blade as I was thrown back, holding it firmly.

I crashed to the ground as Mokui roared and collapsed, reluctantly defeated.

Leaning on the Qingping Sword, I spit out dust and blood and rose. I immediately checked on Li Xi—she had also fallen.

Her red-robed figure so closely resembled Wei Yang’s that I had been momentarily disoriented, mistaking her for Wei Yang. Seeing her fall tightened my heart painfully.

“Li Xi! How are you?” I asked.

She opened her eyes, gritted her teeth, and pulled an arrow from her body. The black arrow dissolved into malevolent energy in her hand and vanished. She said, “I... I’m alright...”

Before she could finish, she collapsed once more.