Chapter 2027: Death of Bichen

When masters clash, life and death hang by a thread.

The appearance of the Sword Gourd caught Bi Chen off guard. The brief shock and distraction gave Chen Xuanhai an excellent opportunity to strike.

The sword pierced through Bi Chen's protective demonic energy, passed straight through his body, and blood splattered.

Demonic cultivators possess extremely powerful physiques, especially peak demonic experts like Bi Chen. Even with one arm lost and protected by tens of thousands of years of pure demonic energy, he could not be easily defeated by ordinary means.

However, Chen Xuanhai's Talisman Sword was no ordinary talisman sword. It was the crystallization of his cultivation over many years, arguably the finest magical artifact in the world, short of a true treasure.

Even so, it did not immediately take Bi Chen's life!

He abruptly turned his head, eyes blazing with fury, and raised his remaining arm. He grabbed Chen Xuanhai's wrist, fiercely channeling his demonic energy to contend with Chen Xuanhai's spiritual power, pinning Chen Xuanhai motionless for a moment.

With their demonic energy and spiritual power locked in a stalemate, when it came to raw physical strength, even Chen Xuanhai, bolstered by two secret techniques, couldn't match Bi Chen, a Grand Demonic Venerable.

"You want me dead?" Bi Chen's voice was tinged with blood, his gaze still profound and imposing, showing no weakening despite his severe injuries. "Then you might have to be buried with me!"

He no longer wished to continue this battle. This threat was undoubtedly an attempt to secure an escape route; if Chen Xuanhai showed even a hint of hesitation, he would have hope of breaking free.

Unfortunately, Chen Xuanhai's expression remained unchanged. Instead, he looked at Bi Chen with a hint of pity and sighed softly, "I have long heard of the great name of Demonic Venerable Bi Chen; his name is renowned, echoing like thunder. What a pity..."

Bi Chen naturally knew what he was pitying. He glanced sideways and saw Lu Ye approaching, sword in hand. He immediately said coldly, "A newly ascended Sun Realm cultivator? I'll stand right here and let him try to kill me. What can he possibly do?"

Currently, locked in combat with Chen Xuanhai and unable to move, he was indeed nothing more than a stationary target.

Although he didn't know why Lu Ye, who was reportedly only at the Moon Realm, had advanced to the Sun Realm, he had, after all, only just ascended.

Just as a Moon Realm cultivator couldn't harm a Sun Realm one, as a peak Sun Realm expert facing a newly ascended individual, Bi Chen possessed such confidence.

Chen Xuanhai could break through his demonic energy because the opponent was strong enough. But a mere newly ascended Sun Realm cultivator? What right did he have?

"Then you better stand firm!" Lu Ye heard his words, responded indifferently, and with a few swift bounds, he was at Bi Chen's side, bringing his Mountain-Splitting Saber down fiercely.

A look of disdain flashed in Bi Chen's eyes. He fiercely channeled his demonic energy, confident that with his own demonic energy and physique, Lu Ye couldn't do anything to him. Once he broke free from Chen Xuanhai, he could escape with his life.

As for the 'sub-treasure' from before... it had already been retrieved by Lu Ye. Bi Chen understood such items; each use required a long period of nourishment or a huge cost. That sword light, after severing his arm, had significantly weakened, so Bi Chen didn't pay much attention to it.

The instant the long saber descended, Lu Ye's right arm, holding the saber, suddenly swelled. Nearly half of his spiritual power and vital energy converged onto his right arm. The descending Mountain-Splitting Saber, at that very moment, became ethereal and indistinct, as if transforming into a phantom blade devoid of substance.

His pure protective demonic energy was easily shattered, flesh and blood separated, and his body was severed.

From the smoothly severed neck, blood gushed like a fountain, and his body convulsed and twitched...

His massive head flew a short distance, hovering nearby. Bi Chen blinked, looking at Lu Ye gravely, his mouth opening and closing: "That strike... what was that technique?"

Even with his head severed from his body, he somehow didn't die immediately, revealing the terrifying vitality he possessed.

Lu Ye stood beside his body, his right arm steaming with vital energy, shrouded in white mist. Hearing the question, he tilted his head and said, "Vibration Blade!"

"I think it should be called Saw Blade!" Bi Chen said, lowering his gaze to fix on the Mountain-Splitting Saber in Lu Ye's hand. "You have a good saber!"

With ten thousand years of cultivation, Bi Chen's discerning eye was incredibly sharp. Whether it was the Vibration Blade or Saw Blade, they were merely techniques, far from being true saber arts. The fundamental reason for such terrifying destructive power was the sheer sharpness of the Mountain-Splitting Saber.

If it had been another magical artifact in the same situation, it might not have achieved such an effect.

"No matter how good the saber, it depends on who wields it," Lu Ye replied indifferently. Bi Chen's words clearly showed a touch of resentment, and Lu Ye certainly wouldn't indulge him.

Bi Chen remained silent, his eyelids slowly closing.

However, at that very instant, his closed eyelids suddenly snapped open again. Terrifying soul power surged forth, directly assailing Lu Ye. From his bloody mouth, he roared, "No-Escape!"

In an instant, the pure soul power visibly transformed into a twisted mass of energy. Even before it reached him, Lu Ye felt an immense threat.

A flicker of triumph crossed Bi Chen's eyes. How could he accept being beheaded by a newly ascended Sun Realm cultivator? His previous calm demeanor was merely a pretense, and the casual conversation was meant to make Lu Ye drop his guard. The true killing blow was this final burst at the last moment.

He refused to die so ignominiously. Even if he died, he would drag Lu Ye down with him!

This was his Soul-Suppressing Secret Art, cultivated over countless years, and the very embodiment of his divine soul. With such an outburst, regardless of Lu Ye's fate, he himself would undoubtedly be utterly annihilated.

He had expected Lu Ye to respond in a panic. To his surprise, when he looked up, Lu Ye simply stood calmly in place, as if completely unaware of the approaching danger.

On Chen Xuanhai's side, however, a figure flickered. An unfamiliar presence suddenly appeared before Lu Ye, effortlessly blocking the unleashed Soul-Suppressing Secret Art with a raised hand.

Bi Chen was utterly astonished. He focused his gaze on the suddenly appearing stranger, vaguely sensing that this individual was not made of flesh and blood.

Recalling everything that had transpired, and the fact that the Sun Realm cultivators of the Xiaoren race had displayed strength far beyond imagination, an incredible thought burst into his mind.

Soul Race?

Yes, that's it! It was the Soul Race's spirit attachment technique. No wonder the Sun Realm cultivators of the Xiaoren race were so strong; there were Soul Race members secretly assisting them. No wonder he had been at a distinct disadvantage in their several soul confrontations when he previously clashed with Chen Xuanhai.

When it came to cultivating the path of the soul, who could be stronger than the Soul Race?

Even his own unleashed Soul-Suppressing Secret Art was nothing in front of the Soul Race.

Many of his doubts were answered. He wanted to transmit a message to the other Demonic Venerables, but boundless darkness swept over him, engulfing his body and mind.

With his head severed from his body, even a Grand Demonic Venerable like him could no longer hold on.

In the Sun Realm battle, the aura of Zixuan's strongest expert vanished.

The other Demonic Venerables, already in a panic, became even more terrified...

Originally, although they were no match for the Xiaoren Sun Realm cultivators, as long as the two Grand Demonic Venerables were alive, they still had hope of escape.

But now, the strongest among them, Bi Chen, had fallen first.

Everyone was fighting desperately in their respective battle zones, and no one knew how Bi Chen had died. The only thing they knew was that this was a place they should not remain in for long.

All the Demonic Venerables were attempting to break out. They were already outmatched, and the shock of Bi Chen's death made their situation even more precarious. In particular, one Demonic Venerable had been fighting two Xiaoren Sun Realm cultivators alone. Though arduous, he had managed to hold his own. But now, with his attention divided, he immediately suffered severe injuries and roared repeatedly. Had he not unleashed his Demonic Core and adopted a stance of desperate struggle, he might truly have followed Bi Chen's fate. However, unleashing the Demonic Core meant there was no turning back; it was a desperate release of one's power that could not be sustained for long before exhaustion. If he couldn't break free, he would become completely like a fish on a chopping board.

Beside Bi Chen's corpse, Lu Ye and Chen Xuanhai had vanished. The two of them had each streaked off in a different direction, brimming with killing intent.

Zixuan's attack, with Bi Chen's death being just the beginning, was meant to inflict severe pain and cripple Zixuan! Only then would the world know that Yuluo was no soft persimmon to be casually bullied! Only then would there be sufficient deterrence!

Chen Xuanhai chose the nearest battle group. With his addition, the outcome of that battle group was a foregone conclusion; their side's advantage would snowball.

Lu Ye, meanwhile, headed directly towards Su Yuqing.

Having obtained precise information about Zixuan from Qin Yi, he naturally recognized that the one clashing with Su Yuqing was another Zixuan Grand Demonic Venerable, seemingly named Mo Xuan.

As Lu Ye arrived, Mo Xuan was struggling to cope with Su Yuqing's assault.

Su Yuqing's fighting style was not as imposing as Chen Xuanhai's; it leaned more towards a continuous, flowing approach, like water. She unleashed various spirit talismans, never directly confronting Mo Xuan. Yet, it was precisely this style that made Mo Xuan so uncomfortable he almost wanted to vomit blood.

If Su Yuqing's strength had been inferior to his, he could have completely countered such a fighting style with brute force, which was also the demonic cultivators' greatest strength.

However, with the dual blessings of the Soul Race and the Mermaid Race, Su Yuqing's current strength far surpassed Mo Xuan's. This gave Mo Xuan the feeling that his opponent was slowly toying with him.

He repeatedly wanted to unleash his Demonic Core for a desperate struggle but couldn't bring himself to do it.

It wasn't until Bi Chen's aura suddenly vanished that he was startled, realizing that if he hesitated any longer, he might not even have a chance to escape.

In an instant, he immediately unleashed his own Demonic Core.

Su Yuqing naturally understood the danger. She conjured spirit talismans, forming defensive barriers, but under the fierce assault of Mo Xuan's Demonic Core, these defenses proved largely ineffective.

And once her defenses were breached, Mo Xuan could either press his attack or break free from her entanglement and flee. He would have many more options.

This was absolutely not what Su Yuqing wanted to see.

A hint of determination flashed across her brows. She gently parted her red lips.

Demonic cultivators had Demonic Cores, and she also had her own Inner Core! Although not the same type of object, their natures were similar.

However, just as she prepared to unleash her Inner Core, Su Yuqing suddenly saw Lu Ye rushing towards them. Simultaneously, Lu Ye's voice reached her ears: "Leave it to me!"

Su Yuqing immediately closed her mouth, her heart at peace. With a casual flick of her hand, she conjured a spirit talisman to protect herself.

Lu Ye's sudden intrusion made Mo Xuan extremely vigilant. A quick sweep of his divine sense revealed that it was only an early-stage Sun Realm cultivator who had arrived, and he breathed a sigh of relief.