Chapter 913: Deep Sea Fierce Battle (Part 1)

"Yun Che... is he dead?" a Phoenix elder asked with a look of terror.

They had seen Yun Che's flames completely devoured by darkness, and then witnessed him being struck by Xuanyuan Wentian's Reversal Sword, sending him flying into their view. He bled as he fell into the ocean. Even if he wasn't dead, he must have been severely wounded.

In contrast, Xuanyuan Wentian, who was pursuing him, showed no other injuries except for a bloodstain on his chest. His aura was even more terrifying than before.

"Even if he's not dead now, he will be soon... you should worry about yourselves first."

A sinister voice suddenly sounded, making everyone stiffen.

After both Yun Che and Xuanyuan Wentian plunged into the deep sea, the world finally quieted down. Even the sky-obscuring darkness began to rapidly dissipate. Ye Meixie and Xuanyuan Bo slowly approached, followed by a group of people from the Sun Moon Divine Hall and Heavenly Might Sword Region. Their eyes and faces clearly revealed malevolence, mockery, and... killing intent.

"Ye Meixie, what are you doing... Ugh!!" Zi Ji immediately sensed trouble, but the devil poison had permeated his body, making him writhe in agony. He could barely stand.

"Do you truly not know what we're doing, wise Mr. Zi?" Ye Meixie stepped forward. A cold glint flashed as he gripped a jade longsword, slowly pointing it at Zi Ji.

"Ye Meixie... you... how dare you..." the Nine Sighs True Man of the Sacred Grounds roared. He forced himself to stand, but as soon as his profound energy surged, he agonizingly collapsed back onto his knees.

"Heh, look at you all now, how pathetic and miserable." Ye Meixie's face was somewhat twisted. Ever since his arm was severed by the Little Demon Empress and his defeat by Xuanyuan Wentian, his personality seemed to have warped. Watching the tragic plight of the people from the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary and Supreme Ocean Hall under the devil poison, a strong sense of perverse delight surged within him. Compared to losing his own arm, these people were far more wretched and pitiful!

"More than just pitiful! Now, even I alone could easily slaughter the Sacred Emperor and the Twelve True Men of the Sacred Grounds, hahahaha!" Xuanyuan Bo burst into maniacal laughter. "Although I don't know why that brat Yun Che suddenly became so powerful, no matter how strong his profound energy is, how could he compare to the Heavenly Monarch who has entered the Divine Way! You all saw it yourselves; his power was completely useless before the Heavenly Monarch. You fools were actually hoping Yun Che could defeat the Heavenly Monarch just now. What a colossal joke."

The already dilapidated atmosphere of the Ocean Hall suddenly turned chilling. The representatives from the Seven Nations instantly understood the intentions of the Sun Moon Divine Hall and Heavenly Might Sword Region. They frantically retreated, trembling, none daring to step forward.

"Ye Meixie... Xuanyuan Bo!" Huangji Wuyu struggled to his feet. Severely wounded and afflicted by the devil poison, every part of his body convulsed in pain. He gripped his palm, and the Cosmic Heaven Ruler was already in his hand. "Do you... truly think you're worthy of killing me, Huangji Wuyu!"

With a low growl from Huangji Wuyu, the Cosmic Heaven Ruler flew from his grasp. Almost simultaneously, a look of immense pain flashed across his face, and he crumpled to his knees, his body trembling, unable to rise again.

In his current state, Huangji Wuyu couldn't even unleash a tenth of his usual profound energy. Xuanyuan Bo stepped forward and slammed his sword onto the Cosmic Heaven Ruler. With a resounding 'clang,' the Cosmic Heaven Ruler was sent flying far away. Xuanyuan Bo was only pushed back three steps. He threw his head back and burst into maniacal laughter. "Hahahahaha, so the Sacred Emperor of the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary is nothing special. Palace Master Ye, please step back. Let me have the pleasure of personally ending the life of the number one profound practitioner in the Profound Sky Continent."

As an elder of the Sword Region, in the past, Xuanyuan Bo would never have dared to act so presumptuously, even if he wasn't entirely deferential to Huangji Wuyu and Ye Meixie. Now, not only was he arrogant and unrestrained before Huangji Wuyu, but he also spoke to Ye Meixie in a commanding tone. With a sinister grin, he suddenly thrust his sword towards Huangji Wuyu's heart.

It was a full-force, lethal strike, holding nothing back.

"Stop!!"

Amidst the loud cry, Feng Zukui lunged like an eagle, his right hand, burning with Phoenix flames, striking Xuanyuan Bo's sword. Xuanyuan Bo's expression changed, and he hastily retreated. Just as Feng Zukui was about to pursue, a cold light suddenly flashed, and Ye Meixie appeared like a phantom between the two of them.

*Bang!!!*

"Ugh!" Feng Zukui grunted, violently thrown back. He stumbled back more than a dozen steps after landing before Feng Tianwei caught him. His body swayed violently, and his face was pale, clearly having sustained internal injuries.

"Phoenix Divine Sect, don't worry, your turn will come soon," Ye Meixie said in a low voice.

"Attack! Don't hold back, these people have no power to resist. Kill them all!" Xuanyuan Bo, still furious from being repelled by Feng Zukui, roared. "Their corpses will be our divine tribute to the Heavenly Monarch!!"

At Xuanyuan Bo's command, everyone from the Heavenly Might Sword Region and Sun Moon Divine Hall surged forward. Profound energy and killing intent rattled the crumbling Ocean Hall. The eyes of everyone from the Sun Moon Divine Hall and Supreme Ocean Hall widened in despair... In terms of overall strength, the Sun Moon Divine Hall combined with the Heavenly Might Sword Region would absolutely not be a match for the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary and Supreme Ocean Hall. However, they were now all poisoned by the devil poison. One of their two Sacred Masters was severely wounded, and the other was on the verge of death.

Forget fighting back; they were essentially lambs to the slaughter, barely able to struggle.

As for the Phoenix Divine Sect, even if they were freed from the devil poison, they would be utterly incapable of stopping the two Sacred Grounds and would face the same fate of destruction.

"Ye Meixie... Xuanyuan Bo... you will... you will die a terrible death!!" the True Man of Bitter Pain shrieked, unleashing all the profound energy he could muster in a desperate final struggle.

"I don't know how I'll die, but I know you'll die very soon!" Xuanyuan Bo charged forward, thrusting his sword at the True Man of Bitter Pain. Behind him, the elders and disciples of the Sun Moon Divine Hall and Heavenly Might Sword Region had also surged forward.

*Chirp...*

Just as everyone fell into complete despair, a phoenix cry tore through the sky. The world suddenly turned crimson as a colossal phoenix phantom, like a descending deity, appeared in the heavens, circling majestically.

Instantly, the entire world was engulfed in towering flames. It was as if all the fire energy between heaven and earth was drawn to this immense phoenix phantom, which soared through the air with world-ending power.

"Wh... wh... what... what is that?" Everyone from the Sun Moon Divine Hall and Heavenly Might Sword Region stopped dead in their tracks. The terrifying pressure caused their entire bodies to tremble uncontrollably.

"Ahhh..." Even the Phoenix Divine Sect members stared up at the phoenix phantom, letting out cries of utter shock. That colossal phoenix image made them feel as if the Phoenix God had descended.

Feng Xue'er, who had returned, slowly descended from the sky. In her beautiful eyes flickered an oppressive majesty that made even Feng Zukui hold his breath. "Everyone, retreat. Anyone who takes another step forward will be turned to ash forever!"

The Phoenix Spirit's pressure from above was so immense it made their souls tremble. However, they hadn't personally witnessed her fierce battle with Xuanyuan Wentian a month ago, and they wouldn't believe that Feng Xue'er's strength now completely surpassed that of a Sacred Master. Although Xuanyuan Bo felt an uncontrollable tremor in his heart, with the forces of the two great Sacred Grounds behind him, he could disregard even Feng Zukui, let alone Feng Xue'er.

He let out a mocking, maniacal laugh. "Oh, poor little phoenix, your struggle is truly endearing... oh no, no, it's pathetic. Come on, let me see how you're going to burn us to ashes!"

"Why are you all stopping? Attack!! Kill them all! Leave no one! Their lives will be proof of your loyalty to the Heavenly Monarch."

"Go!" Ye Meixie also said grimly.

Everyone from the Heavenly Might Sword Region and Sun Moon Divine Hall responded in unison. Their momentarily halted advance resumed, surging forward, their intense killing intent completely enveloping the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary and Supreme Ocean Hall.

Feng Xue'er bit her lip. After a brief internal struggle, she finally closed her eyes, and her small, jade-like hand, illuminated by phoenix flames, gently waved downward.

*Whoosh—*

The Phoenix Flame Phantom let out a long roar, as if bursting from the heart of a star. It swept down, a vast sea of fire, shattering space wherever it passed.

Ye Meixie let out a cold snort and flew up, reaching out with both hands to grasp the Phoenix Flame Phantom... But the instant his palms extended, his expression drastically changed. His body spasmed as he frantically tried to retreat, but it was too late. He was instantly swallowed by the flame phantom.

"Wuaaaahhhh!!"

Above the Ocean Hall, Ye Meixie's horrific scream echoed.

The Phoenix Flame Phantom continued its descent, carrying Ye Meixie, who had been completely transformed into a man of fire. Amidst a chorus of terrified shouts, it plummeted onto the Ocean Hall. A sea of fire erupted, and a brilliant pillar of flame shot skyward, engulfing everyone from the Sun Moon Divine Hall and Heavenly Might Sword Region who had charged forward...

In the Ten Thousand Fathom Abyss, Xuanyuan Wentian and Yun Che stood facing each other.

"Finally accepted your fate?" Xuanyuan Wentian chuckled deeply. "To have endured this long under my demon god's power, you are indeed worthy of my commendation."

"Accept my fate? Heh... heh heh." Yun Che was smiling. Ever since he stopped fleeing and willingly faced Xuanyuan Wentian, he had been smiling. "I've never known what it means to accept my fate."

"Oh?"

"Xuanyuan Wentian," Yun Che chuckled softly. "Don't you find the injuries on my body strange?"

"Indeed, I find it peculiar," Xuanyuan Wentian said nonchalantly. "You've been struck by my sword so many times; anyone else would have died ten thousand deaths by now. Yet, your aura hasn't weakened much. It seems your physique is far superior to your profound energy, perhaps even comparable to my demonic body. I am now extremely interested in the secrets of your flesh and blood, so much so that I'm reluctant to destroy it before I uncover them."

"No, no, no," Yun Che's smile became even more bizarre. He slowly raised his arm and said, "Have you not noticed that all my injuries are sword wounds? Your so-called demon god's power hasn't left a single mark on me!"

"..." Xuanyuan Wentian's eyes narrowed instantly, and the black light in his pupils flickered slightly.

Flame profound energy causes burns, ice profound energy causes frostbite, but dark profound energy is far more terrifying. Once inflicted by dark profound energy, flesh and blood will be ravaged; minor injuries result in charring, while severe ones turn flesh and even bone into black liquid.

Back when Yun Che battled the Moon Slaughter Devil Monarch in the Moon Slaughter Devil Nest, his entire body was hideously ravaged by dark profound energy.

Yet now, despite numerous wounds of various sizes on Yun Che's body, they were all sword wounds, ranging from light to severe. There were no signs of decay, and what seeped out was crimson blood.

Xuanyuan Wentian's dark demonic aura, and the dark profound energy infused in every one of his sword strikes, seemed to have never touched Yun Che's body.

"What are you trying to tell me?" Xuanyuan Wentian's voice deepened.

"Heh... heh heh..." Yun Che's smile grew even more peculiar. His gaze and expression gradually turned sinister, with a hint of ferocity. He slowly raised his eyes, and a mass of pitch-black light flickered within his pupils.

Xuanyuan Wentian's eyes twitched violently. "Hm? This is..."

*Whoosh!!!!*

As if a long-dormant demon had suddenly awakened within Yun Che's body, an incredibly dense cloud of black mist erupted from him. His hair stood on end, swirling wildly in the dark glow, and a chilling sense of dread, intensely cold, enveloped Xuanyuan Wentian's entire body.

"Wh... what!?"

Xuanyuan Wentian's pupils dilated to their widest. The darkness of the Ten Thousand Fathom Abyss couldn't block his vision. The black light on Yun Che's body, and his suddenly changed aura, were unmistakably...

Dark demonic aura!!

And it was an incredibly pure and dense dark demonic aura!!