Chapter 595: Resolute Heart of the Dao

Kun Long’s eyes widened. He could barely believe what he was seeing, but Ghost Canyon had just taught him a profound lesson.

“Don’t get distracted. Handle this calmly. Remember my words: anyone who harbors killing intent towards us is an enemy!”

As Xu Yang finished speaking, he charged forward, unleashing a sword strike. With his immense power, this sword energy was incredibly formidable, far beyond what any ordinary person could resist. One of the three mutated young monsters before them was instantly obliterated by Xu Yang.

There was no sign of the expected grief from their companions. The other mutated youngsters completely ignored the demise of their comrade. Once they entered this state, every individual among them completely lost their emotional attributes, transforming into relentless war demons.

Unbeknownst to them, Ling Yao, witnessing the scene unfold, felt a faint ache begin in her heart...

“It seems some people in this world can truly fall to such depths for their own desires, turning these immature lives into battlefield machines. It’s despicable!”

Xu Yang could, of course, tell that Ling Yao was softening her heart again.

He knew that cultivators absolutely could not allow such emotional processes to occur frequently. Otherwise, if it formed a subconscious habit, it would create irreparable cracks in their Dao heart. On the path to godhood, every tiny flaw could become the very screw that brings down a towering edifice during the final crystallization of their divine essence.

As the undisputed leader of the entire team, Xu Yang was responsible for every member. He would never allow his closest companions to be tainted by such potential risks.

Upon noticing Ling Yao’s state, Xu Yang immediately appeared before her and, in front of her, struck out with his sword, instantly obliterating the completely mutated, dehumanized war machine before them.

Even though the creature initially resembled a harmless child, its essence of life had changed. Xu Yang understood this truth perfectly: even if he hadn’t intervened, the next moment, the opponent’s already frenzied, homicidal rage would have undoubtedly torn Ling Yao to shreds.

“Don’t forget what I told you. When what you see before you contradicts what you desire in your heart, you must make a clear judgment. Whichever side is closer to the essence of the matter, that is the direction you must pursue.”

As Xu Yang finished speaking, the Asura God Sword in his hand flashed again. Locking onto the aura of the leading youth, he unleashed a cold sword blade dozens of meters high.

The opponent let out a roar, its blood-red pupils burning with an unprecedented murderous glow. This was a complete obliteration of humanity, the extreme expansion of pure bestial desire, causing this battle machine, now in monster form, to instinctively charge at Xu Yang.

“Do you see? Even with such a vast disparity in power, they insist on sacrificing themselves to fulfill the will Zikuang instilled in them. This... this is what a puppet is!”

Ling Yao watched the puppet youths continuously fall before Xu Yang. She finally understood his intentions and truly reaffirmed her previously wavering Dao heart, vowing never again to allow a speck of dust to cloud it.

Clenching her long sword, the might of the Sky Sword fully erupted at that instant. Behind her, the incomparably dazzling light of the Sky Sword shone brilliantly. With a single strike, it slammed down, accompanied by faint, ethereal ice-blue auroras.

Rumble!

The immensely powerful sword energy seal shattered completely. The targets hit were instantly obliterated, their frozen properties not even fully manifesting.

Clearly, Ling Yao, in her berserk state, had unleashed the power of the Sky Sword, and her attack power had exceeded the defensive limits of these war puppets. In just a single encounter, she decisively annihilated them.

At the same time, Kun Long and Shi Lingyun also made significant progress, striking forcefully and swiftly clearing the mutated puppets from the center of the battlefield with overwhelming force.

However, this was merely the beginning. As these child war puppets fell, more and more playful sounds echoed continuously throughout the center of the valley. Each reverberation sent an incredibly strong shockwave through the very souls of Xu Yang and his three companions.

“Guard your minds. This is the spiritual pressure released by the lingering souls of these fallen war puppets. It’s clear that Zikuang is extracting their very last ounce of value.”

Xu Yang’s words once again touched the softest parts of his three teammates’ hearts.

Undoubtedly, the lives of the children who had fallen by their hands were a complete tragedy. Yet, at this moment, they possessed no ability to change or prevent any of it. The only thing they could do was become the harbingers of an end to their endless, tragic fate, helping them find release as quickly as possible.

At least in the moment they completed their life sacrifice, these individuals found the spiritual satisfaction they so desperately craved.

“You bastard, Zikuang, get out here! How could you do something so vile? Your Grandpa Kun Long will tear you limb from limb today!”

Kun Long’s big mouth began its strong output again, but awkwardly, no one responded to his prolonged shouting. Even the echoing waves between the two sides of the valley gradually subsided.

“Mere lowly human food, yet you dare to be so audacious!”

The voice was ancient and deep. Accompanied by a rapidly flashing deep blue light and shadow, it landed. Xu Yang and his three companions were startled to discover that the black skeletal figure before them, emerging from the depths of Ghost Canyon, exuded a dense and violent demonic aura from head to toe.

It was noteworthy that this entity was entirely skeletal, without the slightest hint of flesh or blood. Yet, this very skeleton, enveloped by a peculiar soul flame around its head, showed no signs of perishing; instead, it emitted an incredibly powerful, suffocating life force!

Mounted beneath the black skeletal figure was a three-headed hellhound with glowing green eyes.

“I am the Ghost Rider, a first-rank warrior guarding Ghost Canyon, and your terminator.”

When the last sentence was spoken, every member of Xu Yang’s team wore an expression struggling to suppress laughter.

“What are you laughing at? Do you think I lack the power?”

The Black Skeleton Rider’s previous opponents had all been top-tier human experts, even some close to god-like beings. Yet, he seemed to be seeing a group as arrogant as Xu Yang’s team for the first time.

“I say, in your state, you dare to call yourself a terminator? Do you even know how to spell ‘joke’?”

Kun Long directly insulted the opponent, but the Ghost Rider didn’t seem to be one for verbal sparring.

“Say whatever you like. In three minutes, I will attack all four of you simultaneously. Before that, you have three minutes and fifty seconds to consider your countermeasures. Once the game begins, you will have no chance of escape.”