Chapter 1518: Qinglian Sword Shows Its Power

Tianfu Zhenren’s lifespan was nearing its end. His decision to personally lead the extermination mission this time served two purposes: first, to fulfill his duty of eliminating evil and upholding justice; second, to contribute his remaining strength to the sect. If they could destroy the Netherworld Spiders, it would indirectly boost the sect’s influence, effectively serving as a temporary protective charm for the Sacred Talisman Palace. Eliminating evil and upholding justice was more than just a slogan; it could prove vital in crucial moments.

“Young Friend Lei, you and your group should assist Young Friend Wang with the extermination. Don’t let the Fourth-Order Netherworld Spiders interfere with him.” Ye Yan transmitted this message to Lei Yiming and the other Nascent Soul cultivators. Although Wang Qingshan’s cultivation wasn’t the highest, the Azure Lotus Karmic Fire he possessed was highly effective against the Netherworld Spiders, making him the most suitable person for the task.

The Netherworld Spiders were already formidable, and now they had mutated, rendering ordinary flames ineffective against them.

Lei Yiming and the others paused for a moment, then, after a slight hesitation, they agreed.

Lei Yiming waved his Heavenly Thunder Banner, unleashing countless azure electric arcs that transformed into thick azure lightning spears, striking the Netherworld Spiders below.

Tianfu Zhenren recited a spell, and the Five Elements Talisman Soldiers glowed with a dazzling yellow light. Amidst a deafening roar, the ground tore open as if an earthquake had struck, transforming a hundred-li radius into a vast desert. Large numbers of low-level Netherworld Spiders fell into the quicksand pits and were submerged. They struggled violently, but it was to no avail as the pits churned, pulling each spider deeper.

“Junior Brother Wang, we’ll accompany you inside,” Han Tianxuan told Wang Qingshan. Having received Liu Ye’s orders, he naturally had to comply. “Then I’ll trouble Senior Brother Han,” Wang Qingshan said with a sigh of relief and gratitude. He flew towards the Puppet Emperor Palace, accompanied by Han Tianxuan and a team of Sword Peak disciples. As they advanced, Netherworld Spiders were sliced into bloody mist wherever they passed.

To facilitate the extermination, Liu Ye had dispatched a team of Sword Peak disciples, renowned for their mastery of sword formations and seamless coordination.

Wang Qingshan used his nine Azure Glazed Swords to clear the path, with Han Tianxuan and the others following closely. The Netherworld Spiders attempted to obstruct them but were intercepted by Song Xiruo and her group.

Over forty Nascent Soul cultivators, including Song Xiruo, Lei Yiming, Wu Chang, Li Ling’er, Monk Jingkong, and Tianfu Zhenren, collectively engaged in annihilating the Netherworld Spiders, while Ye Yan and Liu Ye teamed up to confront the Fifth-Order spiders.

For a time, constant roars echoed as multicolored spell lights burst in the sky. Waves of energy surged, accompanied by the screams of cultivators and the hissing of Netherworld Spiders.

Fifteen minutes later, Wang Qingshan and his group reached the Puppet Emperor Palace. The entire palace had been devoured by the Netherworld Spiders, leaving only scattered remnants. The mountain was swarming with dense mutated Netherworld Spiders; there were hundreds of Third-Order ones, along with three mutated Fourth-Order Mid-grade Netherworld Spiders.

Wang Qingshan activated his sword art, and his nine Azure Glazed Swords immediately erupted with dazzling azure light, unleashing a vast expanse of incredibly sharp azure sword qi. These strikes successively hit the mutated Netherworld Spiders, producing dull thudding sounds. The mutated spiders remained completely unharmed, bearing only faint, almost imperceptible sword marks on their bodies—so subtle they would go unnoticed without close inspection.

Wang Qingshan's brows furrowed deeply. His responsibility was immense, and he dared not be careless; he needed to achieve a quick victory.

He flicked his sleeve, and an azure light shot out, revealing a misty azure short sword—the spiritual treasure, the Azure Lotus Sword. Wang Qingshan had rarely used this spiritual treasure since acquiring it, but for the sake of this extermination mission, he had no choice but to summon the Azure Lotus Sword.

He activated his sword art, and the Azure Lotus Sword let out a resonant cry, transforming into an azure rainbow that shot straight towards the Netherworld Spiders below. Wherever the azure rainbow passed, Third-Order Netherworld Spiders were torn in half as if made of paper, their blood spilling onto the ground.

Two piercing hisses rang out as the three mutated Fourth-Order Mid-grade Netherworld Spiders spewed dense golden silk, forming a colossal golden web that enveloped the azure rainbow. Dull "clanking" sounds echoed as the azure rainbow struck the golden web, creating the muffled clang of metal on metal.

Wang Qingshan was dumbfounded. "Even a spiritual treasure can't cut through these silk threads?" he wondered. "Is the difference between Fourth-Order Mid-grade and Fourth-Order Low-grade Netherworld Spiders so vast? If Mid-grade Fourth-Order spiders are this formidable, wouldn't Fifth-Order ones be even more powerful?"

The golden spider web rapidly contracted, attempting to seal the Azure Lotus Sword. The sword burst forth with dazzling azure light, emitting dull "clanking" sounds as the golden threads snapped. However, vast quantities of golden silk quickly converged, enveloping the Azure Lotus Sword once more.

An azure fire lotus descended from the sky, landing on the golden spider web and incinerating it. The Azure Lotus Sword transformed into an azure rainbow, piercing through the air to instantly appear before a Fourth-Order Netherworld Spider. Its blade, wreathed in Azure Lotus Karmic Fire, radiated intense heat, causing the surrounding void to twist and distort, seemingly unable to withstand the karmic fire's scorching temperature.

The Netherworld Spider crossed its scythe-like claws to block. The Azure Lotus Sword struck them, producing a dull clang. Though the spider remained unharmed, the Azure Lotus Karmic Fire spread along the sword's body, enveloping the spider, which then let out a painful hiss.

The Azure Lotus Sword's azure light intensified dramatically, and tiny cracks began to appear on the Netherworld Spider's sharp claws. The spider spat out golden demonic fire, striking the Azure Lotus Sword, but it was quickly overwhelmed by the Azure Lotus Karmic Fire. It then spewed golden silk, but like thin paper, it was incinerated by the karmic fire, leaving not even a trace.

“Break!” Wang Qingshan roared. The Azure Lotus Sword burst forth with dazzling azure light, and the Netherworld Spider was instantly cleaved in two.

It took the combined power of the spiritual treasure Azure Lotus Sword and the Azure Lotus Karmic Fire for Wang Qingshan to finally kill a single Fourth-Order Mid-grade Netherworld Spider. Other Nascent Soul cultivators would likely find it even more challenging to defeat one on their own.

A series of extremely piercing hisses erupted as the Netherworld Spiders each unleashed a misty golden sound wave. The Azure Lotus Sword was instantly sent flying backward, and dense golden sound waves surged toward Wang Qingshan.

A shocking sword intent surged from Wang Qingshan, and countless illusory azure flying swords appeared around him. These illusions rapidly materialized and surged forward to meet the attack. A series of thunderous roars erupted as the dense golden sound waves and the myriad azure flying swords annihilated each other, unleashing powerful energy waves that sent many Netherworld Spiders flying.

Four sword lights of various colors shot forth, accompanied by a resounding clang of swords. The four lights then dispersed, transforming into four distinct flying swords, each gleaming with spiritual energy. These four swords encircled the peak where the Puppet Emperor Palace was located.

Han Tianxuan activated his sword art, causing large amounts of white mist to appear out of thin air, condensing into a gigantic cloud. The massive cloud churned violently, and pea-sized raindrops poured down. The raindrops blurred, transforming into sharp blue sword qi that struck the Netherworld Spiders below. A resounding rumble echoed, followed by a series of faint metallic clanging sounds. The blue sword qi struck the spiders' bodies, but it was like tickling them; Netherworld Spiders of the Third Order and above remained completely unaffected.