Chapter 357: Fated Struggle

The waves of the Quicksand River crashed against the banks, letting out a thundering roar.

In Ning Changjiu's eyes, the world, filled with torrential rain, truly began to stir the moment the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage appeared.

The sandy river surged, great trees swayed, and beneath the dark thunderclouds, the entire world seemed like a constantly twisting bolt of lightning, calling out for the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's arrival.

Inside Ning Changjiu's mind, the Golden Crow's warning cry suddenly rang out, shaking his Dao heart.

An ominous premonition spread like darkness. He stared at the great demon, wanting to stop it, but at that moment, they were still far apart, and with his cultivation level, he could do nothing at all.

All nine heads of the lion lifted simultaneously.

Behind Ning Changjiu, the outer city was close at hand, but he didn't hesitate. He immediately turned around and sped towards the Quicksand River, even if it was like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot.

In the sky, the two still locked in fierce combat also keenly sensed the crisis below.

After continuous bitter fighting, even though both were peak cultivators of the Five Paths with abundant spiritual power, they found it hard to endure such a desperate struggle's drain.

The depletion of spiritual energy was secondary; after all, the spiritual energy from thousands of miles around continuously surged towards them, like an endless supply of swords handed to those in a decisive battle. However, in fierce combat, the recovery of injuries was slow. Old wounds festered while new ones were sustained, and even the most powerful divine body would eventually be worn down.

After the sundial was activated, Siming held the upper hand throughout the fight. However, the Golden-Winged Great Peng also unleashed a continuous stream of bizarre moves and displayed his full divine power, along with the immense capability of the Ruyi Dark Iron Divine Staff, preventing him from ever truly being defeated.

The hurricane sword in Siming's hand had long since dissipated. To end the battle quickly, she directly refined the thunder essence from the clouds into a sword, holding it in her palm. The sword had a golden core, pulsed with purple lightning and frosty blue light, and emitted a sizzling hum of vibrating electricity.

It was a tyrant's blade, less agile than a wind blade, but far more purely powerful.

In the vast sky, the two stood facing each other, ready to resume their battle, when the dark clouds below suddenly began to slowly sink.

Siming's black robe billowed wildly, bright yellow electrical arcs surging around her.

Her gaze immediately shifted downwards.

"What's happening?" Siming muttered in confusion, staring at the cloud surface descending like lake water.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng was covered in blood, his eagle talons gripping the divine staff tightly, his demonic eyes also fixed on what was below.

He was more familiar with this aura and power. Though the thought was incredible, it was the only possibility—the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage had made a move!

That stone lion... how could it be?!

A tremendous sense of crisis enveloped both of them. This earth-shattering divine battle was forcibly halted. Both were seasoned warriors and, without hesitation, immediately ascended higher, darting in completely different directions.

But the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage had already spoken.

Its enormous mouth opened like a python's, stretching to an incredible extent, revealing chillingly white fangs and sharp teeth. Its scarlet tongue also flickered like lightning between its teeth.

Its body rose majestically like a Dharma Form, towering like a mountain blocking the Quicksand River, damming the great current.

Ning Changjiu watched this scene from afar, feeling an illusion that if the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage uttered even a single sound, the entire world would be unable to sustain itself and be swallowed whole.

One head assumed the posture of a lion's roar.

The other eight heads seemed to be inhaling rivers.

The devouring was about to begin.

His target was not the Myriad Demon City, but Siming and the Golden-Winged Great Peng, who were engaged in battle.

This was the moment he had waited a hundred years for.

The Myriad Demon Art he had comprehended was even more powerful than the Golden-Winged Great Peng's. Like the Great Peng, he could easily acquire the cultivation and abilities of those he devoured, but unlike the Great Peng, he didn't need to obsess over devouring his own kind.

Moreover, he and the Golden-Winged Great Peng were indeed of the same kind—kindred in authority.

Under the Sage's teachings back then, all demons were too united and generous. Coupled with his own hundred years of abstaining from food and drink, the Golden-Winged Great Peng had completely lowered his guard against him. But in a world where authority was contested, the struggle for origins among peers was ceaseless, etched into blood and bone... The Golden-Winged Great Peng should not have forgotten this.

Just as Ning Changjiu reached the edge of the Quicksand River, the long-prepared lion's roar finally erupted.

It was a low, majestic sound, not particularly loud at first, but once the mighty roar was unleashed, it was like a vast, sweeping wind that traveled thousands of miles without ceasing.

The world fell silent.

All sounds were swept away by this lion's roar that had been silent for a century.

The lion's roar was vast and formless, yet it instantly shattered the battlefield where Siming and the Golden-Winged Great Peng fought. The torn clouds plummeted, pouring into his enormous mouth. Heavy rain was sucked upwards, rivers flowed backward, and the night clouds grew thinner. The power unleashed by the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage at this moment had already surpassed the peak of the Five Paths.

Siming and the Golden-Winged Great Peng were also stunned by the lion's roar.

The entire world was like a Universe Bag, airtightly enveloping them. The terrifying sound waves were like an invisible giant sword striking their hearts—a sword honed for over a hundred years, grand in its decay yet without flaw, powerful enough to shatter a god's spine.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng spun his divine staff with all his might, the continuous flurry of staff strikes forming a shield before him.

Siming, without hesitation, once again summoned the sundial, and the slender, pale moonlight rapidly expanded.

But they had both endured prolonged combat, and caught off guard, they were no match for the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's century-long planning.

Siming had once envisioned whether she could escape from two peak Five Paths cultivators if other demon kings intervened. At the time, she believed she had a ninety percent chance, but now she realized she had vastly underestimated the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage. His strength surpassed the Golden-Winged Great Peng's by far more than a little.

Bang! Bang!

Two impact sounds occurred simultaneously.

The iron staff vibrated with a loud hum, revealing a pointed, monkey-like face, almost reverting to its original form. The sundial, having already been used once, suffered a significant reduction in power this time and was also shattered by the lion's roar.

The sound waves were formless yet struck like heavy blows that could demolish flesh. Even though her divine robe absorbed much of the force, Siming still felt a sweetness in her throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage sat like a stone Buddha, while its other eight heads began to devour.

Siming and the Golden-Winged Great Peng could not escape; their figures were dragged back one by one.

Siming desperately resisted by wielding her authority. She stretched out her hand, intending to reform a sword and cleave through this inescapable net.

But she grasped at nothing.

Around her, wind and clouds, thunder and fire, all matter and elements were emptied, leaving only her, struggling alone.

Having no sword was not the most critical problem.

The most critical problem was that the surrounding spiritual energy had also been completely absorbed.

Without the replenishment of spiritual energy, even her Qi Sea, truly as vast as the ocean, would eventually be evaporated under such rapid consumption.

The power of mountains and seas unleashed by the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's century-long accumulation of inhaling and exhaling surpassed everyone's expectations.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng relied on this once-Divine Sea-Stabilizing Needle to hold on, but this was not the ocean, and tumultuous undercurrents surged endlessly. He and the Ruyi Dark Iron Divine Staff already lacked perfect synergy, and under the immense pressure, the sound of his bones breaking echoed occasionally, while the divine staff in his hand was rapidly reverting to its original form.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage was now focused on devouring, remaining unmoving.

Ning Changjiu had arrived at the edge of the Quicksand River. He looked at the back of this demon king, who was far more powerful than himself, and without a word, dashed straight towards its back with all his might, wanting to do something to stop its next move.

His Asura Golden Body activated, and the killing strike of the Heavenly Mandate Sword Scripture instantly formed. He strode across the river surface, imagining a sword in his hand, a sword unlike any other in the world.

The Golden Crow tore through the night, illuminating the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's back like lightning. Filled with this conviction, Ning Changjiu dashed across the river, exerting all his strength, leaping high until he was level with the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage, then thrust the sword in his hand towards the Sage's back of the neck.

This was his peak sword strike, which should have been magnificent.

But the gap in their cultivation levels was simply too vast.

A low hum vibrated.

The sword Ning Changjiu formed with his intent stopped before the Sage's back of the neck. Yet, the lion's bristling mane was more like countless swords, instantly devouring his sword light. The sword wind rushed towards him, and a myriad of swords retaliated against his body. Ning Changjiu's Asura Body was instantly pierced, blood flying everywhere.

Pain drilled into his flesh, making his whole body tremble. Ning Changjiu watched helplessly as the sword, created by his will, was erased, his heart twisting as if being cut by a knife.

Amidst the severe pain, he looked up, glancing at the sky above.

Above, Siming and the Golden-Winged Great Peng, having endured a battle to the death, could no longer hold on. Their bodies plummeted like meteors towards the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's enormous mouth.

Ning Changjiu gritted his teeth. Though his sword strike was spent, he suddenly stretched out his palm, continuing to thrust towards the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's back of the neck.

The sword-like mane pierced through the back of his palm.

With his current cultivation, breaking through the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's defenses was as difficult as ascending to heaven. He thought of the bell and wanted to speak, but amidst the lion's roar, all sounds were swallowed, and he was no exception.

Ning Changjiu stared at Siming's falling figure.

He couldn't help but tremble... This was more terrifying than his own death, just as Xiang'er had been restrained by Lady Bone, and Lu Jiajia and the Nine Infants fought until they were covered in blood.

He could not endure this process.

Inside him, the Dao Ancient Pure Yang Divine Scroll ignited once more. His blood boiled along with it. He used no techniques, but rather, turned his body into a sword, directly charging into the myriad swords formed by the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's mane.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage sensed this, even feeling a hint of admiration for such a formidable junior, but he knew even more clearly that it was still a futile, impulsive act. He paid no heed to Ning Changjiu.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng fell first. He was swallowed by the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's enormous mouth. As the fangs closed, the sound of breaking bones was like thousands of firecrackers exploding simultaneously.

Siming followed closely behind.

Her authority was continuously activated, her figure moving through layers of space, yet unable to prevent the process of being devoured.

Siming no longer tried to resist.

She stared at the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage, and simply used his devouring power to turn her own body into a sword, striking towards his massive maw. This scene was similar to how Lady Bai had once transformed her broken body into a sword to cleave a city, though the power of the two acts was incomparable.

After Siming made this desperate decision, the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's expression showed slight surprise. He dared not take the risk either. As Siming approached, he actively punched towards the silver light, intending to intercept it, incapacitate it, and then swallow it.

A resounding boom!

The two collided.

Everything around them was instantly overturned. Trees, rivers, rocks—everything visible was shattered into dust, and the flat, open battlefield was instantly cleared.

Siming met his punch.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's body swayed incessantly, as if a mountain were about to collapse, while Siming's figure was also sent flying, only just managing to stabilize herself a hundred zhang away.

In the previous collision, Ning Changjiu had also been flung back into the Quicksand River. He rose from the muddy riverbed, as the river, which had flowed backward from the impact, surged back and engulfed him. Already exhausted from a full day's travel, and now with his power depleted, his body was unstable, and he nearly fell over from the current.

As he struggled to pull himself out of the water, all nine heads of the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage had simultaneously turned towards Siming's location, and a second roar was about to erupt.

Suddenly, a golden light flashed, striking directly onto the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's head.

The Ruyi Dark Iron Divine Staff!

Along with the backward-flowing river, the Golden-Winged Great Peng's figure surprisingly reappeared. He emerged with his staff, and a fragmented Great Sun Buddha Nation map and the Sun Phoenix Azure Feather Sword simultaneously struck down!

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's expression flickered with surprise. He suddenly realized that what he had just devoured was merely the Golden-Winged Great Peng's external body. His true form had silently submerged into the water, launching a sudden attack while the Sage was fully focused.

No matter how severely wounded the Golden-Winged Great Peng was, he was still one of the Four Great Demon Kings, renowned alongside the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage. His mountain-splitting strike, unleashed in a thunderous rage, was something even the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage chose not to meet head-on.

He opened the holy artifact, the Iron Umbrella.

The iron staff struck the Iron Umbrella. The dark iron umbrella frame vibrated in unison. Amidst the ringing of steel, several bursts of golden flame erupted between the staff and the umbrella, becoming the only dazzling light in the pitch-dark world.

During the clash, the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage landed a fierce punch squarely on the chest of the Great Peng Demon Saint. The Golden-Winged Great Peng flapped his damaged wings, his body tumbling several times in the air before halting unsteadily. He was severely wounded, and the divine iron in his hand also lost its luster.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng struggled to rise, staring at the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage, asking in horror, "You... you've hidden this from me for so long?"

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage raised his umbrella, revealing his majestic lion's face, which, under the torrential rain, seemed forged from steel.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage said in a deep voice, "The Myriad Demon City is about to collapse, the Sage is about to die, and you show no despondency or inaction? I'm not willing to participate in that! Your talk of creating your own Buddha Nation is merely a fool's dream; even if it happened, it would do nothing for the grand scheme. As for the Myriad Demon Queen, she's trapped by love, daydreaming. How can I not be heartbroken when our great demon race has withered to this state? Just die peacefully, and after your death, our authorities will merge, becoming an entity several times stronger than the Taotie. We'll slay Ke Wenzhou, break through the eighty-one cities of the Central Plains, and re-enact the magnificent feat of five hundred years ago, turning heaven and earth upside down!"

The Golden-Winged Great Peng ignored his deafening rhetoric. He gripped his staff tightly, then suddenly laughed, saying, "So that's it... you're the one with the greatest ambition! You've been waiting for me to make my move and fight her until we're both severely wounded..."

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage looked at him, and also at the silver-haired woman in the deeper darkness, quietly gathering her strength.

He didn't want to waste any more words and spoke again.

The first lion's roar had been the most potent, swallowing half the sky's clouds. Even if this second roar was slightly weaker, it would still be a force capable of changing the very color of heaven and earth.

Just as he was about to speak, something was thrown from behind him... it seemed to be a hidden weapon.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage grabbed it, opened his hand, and saw that it was a bell.

In the Quicksand River, Ning Changjiu pulled himself out of the muddy sand. His white robes were soaked through with sandy water, weighing him down and making him stoop. He threw the bell, hoping to momentarily distract the Sage.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage looked at the bell, a fleeting look of reminiscence appearing on his face.

"The Sea-Suppressing Spirit Tortoise... it's actually still alive," the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage sighed, saying, "Thank you for bringing back this news; it brings me a little peace of mind."

As the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage spoke, he crushed the bell in his hand into dust.

While it was good that his old friend was alive, there was nothing to dwell on from the past, and he didn't want to be distracted by such emotions.

As the bell shattered, the second lion's roar exploded.

Seven of the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's nine heads were aimed at Siming.

He knew that this mysterious woman, whose origin was unknown, was far more difficult to deal with than the Golden-Winged Great Peng.

Just now, Siming had had an opportunity to escape, but her pride wouldn't allow her to retreat. This wasn't a game of deception like with Ning Changjiu; this was a direct confrontation of power. How could she allow herself to shrink back before mortals and demons in the mortal realm!

The lion's roar instantly enveloped her.

Siming knew that while the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage was strong, his current power was primarily due to a century of accumulated effort. His roars would surely weaken after the second and be exhausted after the third. If she still had the strength to maneuver after enduring them, she was confident she could turn the tide.

But the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage gave her no respite.

As the lion's roar erupted, his colossal fists and feet also transformed into a continuous flurry of blows, each strike ripping the air and creating constant resounding crashes.

The plain was open, leaving Siming nowhere to hide. Wielding a spiritual sword, she parried the lethal attacks, confronting him head-on.

After a brief exchange, Siming, already exhausted, was at a disadvantage.

Ning Changjiu stood in the sandy river, watching the flickering light and shadow ahead. He lowered his head, and the intense pain in his body, along with his rage, transformed into flames within him, gathering into clusters. His Purple Mansion and Qi Sea were instantly illuminated—the Dao Ancient Pure Yang Divine Scroll ignited!

Ning Changjiu felt it... that familiar power, the power he had once possessed in his previous life and was now continuously reclaiming.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage sensed the abnormality behind him, and one of its heads turned back for a glance.

Just as Ning Changjiu was on the verge of reaching that realm, the lion's roar erupted again, forcibly interrupting his enlightenment.

Ahead, Siming also found it difficult to continue.

She was besieged on all sides, her physical strength nearing its limit. Knowing she couldn't delay any longer, she mustered her last reserves of energy. Beside the goddess-like woman, electrical arcs flickered, illuminating her eyebrows and eyes with a faint golden hue. She extended her hand, and a mud sword condensed in her palm.

She considered herself untainted by the mundane, but at this moment, her figure was like a demon fallen into purgatory, wielding a filthy longsword. With a flash of her body, she transformed into a rapidly traversing cold blade, cutting towards the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's expression was solemn; he also mobilized all his power to defend.

This earth-shattering explosion had now echoed countless times.

The echoes ceased.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's Dharma Body collapsed. His physical body was covered in a hundred wounds. He opened his lion's mouth, revealing blood and broken teeth within.

But Siming had also used all her strength; her body was flung back again, crashing into the muddy riverbed, where she fell unconscious.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage gasped for breath... This mysterious woman was powerful, exceeding his initial expectations, but precisely for that reason, devouring her would truly grant him power comparable to a deity.

He opened his bloody mouth, preparing for the third lion's roar.

No one had the strength to fight again.

Just as everything was about to settle, another lion's roar abruptly sounded.

It was not the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's roar.

It was so resonant, completely unlike the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's low and majestic roar.

Yet, the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage's third lion's roar was forcibly suppressed!

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage abruptly turned his head.

On the Quicksand River, a snow-white figure stood, appearing at an unknown moment!

The white figure was dazzling.

He was initially at the first bend of the Quicksand River, then in a blink, he was at the second, and in another blink, he appeared behind Ning Changjiu.

The man wore white robes, had white hair, and even his eyebrows were white. His face was calm, his features distinct, and he appeared aloof.

He glanced at Ning Changjiu, sighed, and said, "Just a hair's breadth away, what a pity."

Ning Changjiu was injured across half his body, bobbing in the river current. He knew someone had arrived, and even knew who it was, but he didn't look, instead keeping his gaze fixed on the spot where Siming had fallen into the river.

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage looked at the white-robed, white-haired man and said, "Baize, you've come after all."

Baize replied, "Yes, I'm here."

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage said, "You shouldn't have come."

Baize said, "A master's command is hard to disobey."

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage said, "You once studied under me. Are you now going to betray your master and obliterate your ancestors?"

Baize replied, "I have long since found another master."

The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage said, "Are you confident you can defeat me?"

Baize sighed and said, "My past master always told me to be taciturn, and I suppose it was for today... to speak my mind freely."

As Baize spoke, a Dharma Form of a nine-tailed white lion arched behind him, like a great moon rising from the river.

The two lions stood in confrontation.

Just as the tension escalated, Ning Changjiu mustered all the strength accumulated in his body and leaped, plunging into the portion of the river that had been blocked behind the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage.

He plunged into the water, opening his golden eyes to scan the riverbed.

Countless broken shells and conchs struck his face as he frantically plunged downwards, following the location in his memory. At the bottom of the Quicksand River, within a large sand pit, Siming's figure slowly emerged. Ning Changjiu's heart pounded. He dared not blink, staring at Siming's face, which remained untainted even in the murky water. He lunged forward, digging through the mud and sand with both hands, pulling her out and embracing her.

Siming seemed to sense him; her arms also rose with the current, embracing the person in front of her.

Ning Changjiu held her, feeling immense relief. He had no strength left, only tightly gripping the woman in his arms. Holding each other like this, without any struggle, they were carried downstream by the current of the Quicksand River.

A long time passed.

Because of the oppressive dark clouds, Ning Changjiu couldn't tell the time. He slowly stood up from the rocky beach, holding Siming's body. The surroundings were pitch black, with no sign of human activity.

Ning Changjiu had never been here before.

Nor did he care where he was now.

He gently disentangled himself from Siming's embrace. The woman in his arms, her strength utterly spent, was still unconscious. He wrung out his sleeve, used it to wipe her face dry, then silently picked up her wet body and carried her on his back.

The riverside was mostly open rocky beaches, making it too easy to leave tracks.

Ning Changjiu needed to find shelter to treat her injuries.

The one whom the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage had called Baize earlier was his sixth senior brother.

He didn't know why his senior brother had come, nor was he certain if he could defeat the Myriad Demon City's strongest demon.

He was now chillingly cold all over, and a hazy drowsiness periodically surged through his mind—an invisible, unstoppable sword threatening to shatter him at any moment.

But feeling the weight on his back, he dared not slacken his pace.

Fortunately, he soon found a relatively dry mountain cave. He killed all the few bats inside and placed Siming against the stone wall.

He removed Siming's divine robe and, using what little temporal authority he had left, performed basic treatment on her most severe injuries. He coughed ceaselessly, truly unable to wield the power of his authority anymore. He wrung out Siming's robes, dried them somewhat with sword fire, and put them back on her.

Siming's eyelids fluttered; even in her unconscious state, she was still enduring pain.

The battle with the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage had been too perilous. Had she not perfected the flaws in her sword techniques in her dreams, she might truly have been utterly defeated by him.

Ning Changjiu sat beside her, recuperating from his injuries. He watched the torrential rain outside, quietly guarding her.

About an hour later, Siming's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly woke up.

Ning Changjiu held her, telling her not to move. He looked at Siming's pale face, many words of concern still caught in his throat, when he heard Siming's delicate brows furrow and her jade lips part, her voice slightly hoarse as she warned, "Be... careful..."

Crash!

Lightning struck, illuminating the cave.

Ning Changjiu stared at the ground, a chill running down his spine.

In the previous flash of light, he had seen a grotesque figure on the ground again.

Ning Changjiu slowly turned his head.

At the mouth of the cave, a hunched shadow crouched. The figure was also heavily wounded. He knelt on the ground, slowly raising his head, revealing a face with only half of a red crow mask remaining.

"Golden Crow... I've finally found you."

It was the Golden-Winged Great Peng.