Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy

SCREECH—

Amidst an utterly resplendent sound, like millions of sparrows chirping, a red and a yellow thunderbolt flashed past the Youming Royal Mansion's front courtyard, arriving within the main hall in an instant.

In the hall, the gazes of a dozen or so Ranxue Jing Yaomo were cast over.

"Hm? Isn't that the little Daoist from just now? He didn't die?"

"It must have been some kind of avatar or dummy technique. This little Daoist has some skill. He even managed to deceive a Dao Body Realm Leader like King Yintian."

"It doesn't look like he's acting alone out of sheer bravery; rather, it's a group committing the deed. Now that King Yintian has been lured away, this pair wants to rescue the Shenxiao Sect disciple."

"Should we get involved?"

"Get involved, my ass! We came to observe the ceremony, not to fight. Besides, these people are all direct disciples of the Shenxiao Sect. Do you want to be hated by them too?"

"Hehe, today's show is getting more and more interesting."

Watching Qi Xiu and Nangong Qingqiu enter the main hall, the group of Ranxue Jing Yaomo remained indifferent.

A few who thought to intervene were discreetly stopped by others standing nearby.

Even among demons, there was a struggle for dominance.

Besides, this was not a battle that concerned their fundamental interests.

They didn't need to incur the wrath of the Shenxiao Sect just to save King Yintian's face.

And these Blood-Stained Demons were the children and disciples of the Kings of various nations.

They possessed noble identities, elevated and lofty.

They would not act just to curry favor with King Yintian.

Second Senior Sister, it seems our calculations were correct. These demons who came to observe the ceremony really are just standing by.

Seeing that the group of Blood-Stained Demons' eyes shifted but showed no hint of action, Qi Xiu chuckled softly.

The temperament of Demonic Evil Cultivators was largely malicious and extreme.

Kicking someone when they were down was something they greatly enjoyed.

But to offer help and support, there needed to be sufficient benefits involved.

Hurry and get Fifth Junior Brother away from here. King Yintian could return at any moment. If he catches us, all our efforts will be for naught.

Muttering softly, Nangong Qingqiu raised her hand. Countless pale silken threads flew out, wrapping around Ge Ping, preparing to take him away.

However, Xia Houlian, who was nearby, could not stand by and watch her beloved "husband-to-be" be taken away just like that.

"You hussy! Release my husband!"

With a fierce shout, Xia Houlian's body was shrouded in a dense black aura. Numerous cold, shadowy figures emerged from behind her. Instantly, countless chaotic footprints appeared on the ground, swiftly encircling Qi Xiu and Nangong Qingqiu.

Bing Fire Divine Thunder!

With one step, thunder roared around Qi Xiu.

Dropping the disguise of the Supreme Yin Technique, the purple tiger revived. Billowing, domineering Yang Qi, mixed with Hunyuan True Essence, fueled his Thunder Magic.

In an instant, a dozen or so vermilion thunderbolts transformed into enraged dragons soaring from the abyss.

The thunder surged, tearing through the void!

"UGH!"

The Thunder Magic of the King of All Paths was already an invincible force among those of the same cultivation level. Furthermore, Xia Houlian, being a ghostly entity, was even more susceptible to the restraining power of thunder.

In an instant, Xia Houlian was blasted away by the vermilion thunderbolts, her body scorched black, nearly struck dead on the spot.

With thunder crackling around his hands, Qi Xiu's eyes glinted with killing intent, fully intending to finish off this Fourth Princess of the Yin Tian Nation.

But at that moment, several of the onlooking Ranxue Jing Yaomo promptly stepped in front of Xia Houlian.

"Little Daoist, we can turn a blind eye to you rescuing someone."

"But if you intend to deliver a killing blow, we cannot simply stand by and watch."

With a casual wave of her hand, Green Mulberry Yuer sent countless azure lights to heal Xia Houlian's scorched body. She then looked directly into Qi Xiu's eyes and said softly.

It wasn't a problem for them to watch as neutral observers.

After all, King Yintian himself wasn't very satisfied with this son-in-law.

He was only holding this grand wedding because his daughter had insisted.

But to watch King Yintian's most beloved daughter be beaten to death by a Human Cultivator right before their eyes…

When that Dao Body Realm Leader returned, they would undoubtedly bear the brunt of his anger.

"Let's go."

Nangong Qingqiu murmured. The two immediately carried Ge Ping, transformed into a streak of lightning, and instantly burst out of the Youming Royal Mansion.

Just as they had left, a dozen or so figures with profound auras, their bodies wreathed in nether energy and their faces expressionless—Blood-Stained Fierce Ghosts—charged forward.

They were all Fierce Ghosts under King Yintian's command.

Earlier, they had all gone out to deal with the Demonic Evil Cultivators rioting in the city and the mansion.

Little did they suspect that in those mere dozen or so seconds, someone had snatched away the Prince Consort!

"Where are they?"

Stepping forward, a three-meter-tall Blood-Stained Fierce Ghost clad in heavy armor and wielding a long spear swept his cold gaze over these Blood-Stained Demons who had come to observe the ceremony.

These fellows had purely come to watch the show.

If it weren't for them standing idly by, how could the Prince Consort have been taken away so easily?

"They've run off."

Stepping forward without a hint of fear, Green Mulberry Yuer looked calmly at the imposing Blood-Stained Fierce Ghost.

Clutching his spear tightly, if not for his apprehension regarding the prominent identities of these demons, the heavily armored Fierce Ghost would have long since ordered their capture.

"Go!"

With a cold snort, the heavily armored Fierce Ghost turned and led a host of Blood-Stained Fierce Ghosts to pursue and capture the escaping Shenxiao Sect disciples.

However, the entire Dead Spirit City was now filled with Demonic Evil Cultivators driven into a frenzy by the rage poison.

Those Shenxiao Sect disciples were also extremely adept at concealment.

Trying to catch them in such a chaotic situation was akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

「In Dead Spirit City」

Every street and alley was teeming with Demonic Evil Cultivators who had succumbed to the rage poison and fallen into complete madness.

They were frantically smashing, vandalizing, and slaughtering each other.

The entire Dead Spirit City was already a devastating wreck, a horrific sight.

It had utterly transformed into a blood-soaked meat grinder.

Chaos had reached its zenith!

Shrinking Ge Ping into a palm-sized ball of thread, Nangong Qingqiu stored him in the jade bracelet on her wrist.

The sealing technique on Ge Ping was extremely dangerous. Forcibly breaking it could very likely damage his soul. They would have to return to the sect and have their Master personally remove it.

"Junior Brother, you take this jade bracelet and leave Dead Spirit City first. I'll go find Wei Wujie and Third Senior Brother," Nangong Qingqiu swiftly instructed, taking off the jade bracelet and handing it to Qi Xiu.

King Yintian could realize what happened at any moment. Every minute longer spent in Dead Spirit City meant added danger.

"That won't do. Destroying the Soul-Summoning Altar was just the first step. Even if we manage to escape Dead Spirit City, if a Dao Body Realm Leader like King Yintian is determined to find us, we'll never make it past Divine Sorrow Ridge. Only by completing the second part of the plan can we delay King Yintian and create an opportunity for us to escape. But only I can carry out the second part. Second Senior Sister, take this jar of clear water. My Water Escape Technique allows me to teleport to its location. After I complete the second step, I will escape with Eldest Senior Brother and Third Senior Brother."

Handing a jar of clear water to Nangong Qingqiu, Qi Xiu's form flickered, and he transformed into a formless, invisible water mist, drifting away.

Although the Minor Five Elements Water Patrol Escaping Skill had already evolved into the Black Water True Skill, Qi Xiu had long since engraved the essence and principles of this Escape Skill into his very heart and bones. Activated with the Black Water True Skill, its Divine Marvel was even more potent, several times more formidable than the original.

"Junior..."

Watching Qi Xiu vanish in an instant, Nangong Qingqiu opened her mouth slightly, her expression subtly shifting.

Although this boy has only been in the sect for a few short years, he has truly developed the backbone of our Shenxiao Sect. After this battle, she completely acknowledged Qi Xiu. From now on, if Qi Xiu were to face a calamity like Ge Ping's, she would do everything in her power, even risk her own life, to save him.

Clenching her fists, Nangong Qingqiu sensed that those Blood-Stained Fierce Ghosts had already started searching in their direction. Her lips pursed lightly, and she turned into a bolt of lightning, vanishing in an instant.

「At the site of the former Soul-Summoning Altar」

The original Soul-Summoning Altar had now been reduced to a pile of ruins. Tiny sparks of electricity still flickered faintly over the broken walls and rubble. The immense explosive force had obliterated everything within dozens of miles and had even blasted a terrifying crater, a hundred meters deep, into the ground.

Standing on a piece of broken stone, King Yintian's face was as dark as water. His terrifying pressure twisted and deformed the surrounding void. His eyes, filled with extreme fury, surged with murderous intent, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

"Shenxiao Sect..."

Clenching his fists tightly, King Yintian squeezed the words through his teeth, "This King will make you beg for life, yet find no relief! Beg for death, yet find no release!!!"

BOOM—

Wave upon wave of Netherworld death qi erupted from his body. The crown on King Yintian's head shattered completely. His black hair danced wildly, and his eyes transformed into bloody, hollow voids.

The cultivation of the Dao Body Realm Leader surged to its peak, unleashing millions of wisps of deep black vital energy.

Chang Baichuan and his three companions had been guarding the Soul-Summoning Altar.

How could a few young disciples from the Shenxiao Sect silently eliminate all four of them and then destroy the altar?

There had to be more to this!

Dark light shot from his eyes as King Yintian scanned the surrounding Cosmic Bi. Indeed, in a very inconspicuous corner, he discovered a Cosmic Bi fissure that had not yet completely healed.

This aura…

Approaching it, King Yintian's nostrils flared slightly, his expression changing abruptly. The Eighteen Layers of Hell!

Retreating explosively, King Yintian's eyes darted around rapidly.

For ghost cultivators, the Eighteen Layers of Hell were a far more terrifying prospect than Heavenly Thunder.

After all, being struck dead by Heavenly Thunder merely meant the soul scattered, a quick end.

But to fall into the Eighteen Layers of Hell…

That meant eternal, unceasing torture, with no hope of reincarnation.

I understand now! These young Shenxiao Sect disciples must have used a Judgment Order to forcibly drag Chang Baichuan and the other three into the Eighteen Layers of Hell. That's how they were able to destroy the Soul-Summoning Altar unhindered. The Judgment Order only allows entry, not exit. If they want to return to the mortal realm, they must come back here.

Instantly comprehending everything that had transpired, King Yintian, as a Dao Body Realm Leader, possessed not only profound cultivation but also vast experience and knowledge.

The fact that the Shenxiao Sect had annihilated the Hell Dao and seized all its treasured magic artifacts, though a closely guarded matter, was no secret to those at the Dao Body Realm level.

Heh, then this King shall simply wait here to catch them!

A malicious and venomous glint in his eyes, King Yintian waved his hand. The ground around him rose layer by layer, and countless bizarre, eerie ancient characters descended, subtly forming an array.

Just as King Yintian finished laying his trap, intending to catch his prey with ease, the extremely well-hidden Cosmic Bi fissure suddenly widened.

Two figures, battered and bloodied, covered in cuts, gashes from axes, and the searing marks of countless chains, stumbled out.

"Hahaha! You've finally arrived!"

Leaping to his feet, King Yintian's eyes blazed with intense light as he thrust out a hand.

In an instant, heaven and earth dimmed!

A colossal hand, seeming to prop up the sky and shake the earth, tore through layers of void, reaching directly for Wei Wujie and Li Jun, who had just escaped the Eighteen Layers of Hell.

As the massive hand descended, Wei Wujie had just managed to struggle to his knees.

A figure shot forward at high speed, suddenly flinging an object out.

"King Yintian, a gift for you!"

Instantly recognizing the newcomer as the handsome Daoist he thought he had crushed earlier, King Yintian's eyes narrowed, and a cold smile touched his lips. "It's you! Excellent. Let's see where you run this time!"

He was about to casually swat away the flying object.

But when his gaze fell upon it, clearly distinguishing its form, his sinister and terrifying face contorted violently. He let out a piercing shriek, "Upper Clarity Purple Jade Spirit Light Talisman!"