Chapter 123: Sowing Golden Lotus in the Sea of Bitterness

In the shimmering blue sea, a bright moon hung high in the sky, slowly turning. Its moonlight, like water, cascaded towards Yan Ruyu. "Ah..." Many demon cultivators around screamed, instantly disintegrating. Even the faint glow emanating from the jade disc was more than they could bear.

The "Moon Rising from the Sea" phenomenon, rarely seen in the world, was unstoppable even by powerful spiritual treasures; none could contend with it. In the chaotic battle, demon corpses fell from the sky one after another; anyone touched by the moonlight instantly perished.

Yan Ruyu directly confronted it, enveloped by the most brilliant moonlight, naturally enduring the most potent attack. A pure white radiance covered her like a thin mist. "Clang!"

Yan Ruyu seemed ethereal, like an immortal. Behind her, a miraculous phenomenon appeared: the sea and sky merged into one, the sky like a sapphire, the clear waves like a bright mirror. Golden lotuses emerged from the sea, their leaves adorned with dewdrops, vibrant and dazzling.

A gentle breeze swept through, causing the blue sea to ripple. Golden lotuses bloomed, exuding such a rich vitality that one might have thought they had arrived at the dawn of creation, with even a faint aura of chaos lingering.

Many powerful cultivators from the Ji family nearby were caught unawares and, before they could react, were transformed into the most fundamental spiritual energy by this overwhelming life force, remaining bewildered until their demise. The sea and sky blended, golden lotuses shone brightly, as if primordial creation was unfolding, manifesting in an intangible way. "Clang clang clang!"

The pure radiance from the silver moon was completely absorbed by the golden lotuses, emitting a resounding clang. Ten thousand rays of light and a thousand auspicious colors created a magnificent spectacle, with Yan Ruyu standing amidst it like a fairy in the Jade Pool.

"Planting Golden Lotuses in the Sea of Bitterness" stood alongside "Moon Rising from the Sea," both being rare Wheel Sea phenomena of ancient powerful beings, seldom mastered in the current era.

Ji Haoyue's expression changed. He moved through the void, rapidly approaching with the grace of a descending wild goose, agile and elegant. The bright moon in the sky fell, pressing down upon Yan Ruyu.

If the scattered moonlight alone could destroy demon powerhouses, one could only imagine the terrifying power of the entire moon descending.

Yan Ruyu's figure was ethereal and delicate, exceptionally refined. Behind her, golden lotuses swayed, full of life. Golden blossoms unfurled in the wind, releasing a refreshing fragrance. Their glistening golden petals shot skyward, instantly engulfing the descending moon.

The two combatants on the field appeared like banished immortals, their robes fluttering, ethereal and graceful. There were no ripples in their movements; the duel was surprisingly picturesque. However, those watching from the sidelines did not share this view.

Everyone was rapidly retreating. Although the core of the decisive battle remained calm, like a gentle breeze over a mountain, the surrounding area was a turbulent, almost violent chaos.

The diffused moonlight and the golden radiance emanating from the lotus petals surged outwards like a tide in every direction. Nothing could resist it. Many people didn't even have time to scream before they were directly reduced to dust, leaving nothing behind.

It was an incredibly terrifying confrontation! This was the unique immense power of a Wheel Sea phenomenon, which ordinary cultivators could not hope to challenge!

Ji Haoyue's eyes gleamed with a demonic purple light, and behind him, a vast blue sea raged. He had truly unleashed his power.

The bright moon revolved around his body, gathering even more terrifying divine power.

Yan Ruyu, with her ethereal jade-like skin, seemed untouched by the mortal world. Concealed amidst the golden lotuses, she became even more transcendent. A powerful life force permeated the air as lotus after lotus burst from the water, extending skyward like ancient trees.

At this moment, within the mountains, an ocean surged, the moon fell from the sky, and golden lotuses tore through the firmament. It was a dazzling sight, accompanied by strains of celestial music.

Everyone was retreating rapidly. A few strong demon cultivators finally seized the opportunity to break out. Moments later, in the center of the battlefield, the bright moon shattered, the golden lotuses withered, and the ocean raged, creating an unimaginably terrifying scene. "Rumble rumble rumble!"

Even retreating at their fastest, they couldn't outpace the brilliant beams of light. Many were pierced through, falling forever in the scorching radiance, their blood splattering across the sky, leaving numerous corpses.

In the center of the battlefield, as everything settled, a corner of Ji Haoyue's purple robe was torn, while a wisp of Yan Ruyu's dark hair drifted down. The two stood opposed. "Your Highness, flee quickly! Don't waste time trying to save us!" three old demonesses cried out anxiously from a distance, unleashing their spiritual treasures to shield Yan Ruyu, hoping she would retreat.

Meanwhile, five elders from the Ji family in the distant sky also brought forth their weapons to assist Ji Haoyue. They guarded the family's divine body with the same vigilance as a rare treasure, absolutely unwilling to allow any harm to befall him.

"Leave quickly!" Yan Ruyu commanded the three old demonesses to retrieve their spiritual treasures and depart. "Clang!"

Above Ji Haoyue's head, an ancient mirror floated, emitting streams of chaotic light and gently trembling. Despite the great distance, it still obliterated the three demon powerhouses, who were shaken into dust and transformed into a bloody mist by the chaos. The ancient mirror possessed immense power!

Yan Ruyu was too late to stop it. Her jade-like body shimmered with divine radiance, and a blinding light, like a segment of a rainbow, shot from her palm, too dazzling to discern, striking forward. "Puff, puff, puff!"

The Ji family powerhouses who had stepped forward to assist, despite being enveloped by the chaotic aura from the ancient mirror, still could not escape their fate. They were all pierced through and perished.

In the distance, three detached elders of the Ji family, with white hair and beards, possessing an air of immortal wisdom, stood silently high in the sky. One of them remarked, "The Demon Emperor's Sacred Weapon truly lives up to its reputation." The Ji family's lineage was ancient; that mysterious ancient mirror was the weapon of their first patriarch, passed down from primordial times, possessing incredible power.

And the sacred weapon in Yan Ruyu's hand also had a profound origin, being the weapon of a Great Demon Emperor. Its terrifying power was beyond doubt.

Across the entire Eastern Wasteland, apart from primordial treasures like the Desolate Pagoda that coexisted with the world, the ancient mirror and the Demon Emperor's Sacred Weapon were absolutely the most supreme holy artifacts.

Initially, neither dared to rashly activate their ancient weapons, both wary of the unpredictable consequences should the two sacred artifacts clash.

The bronze mirror was incredibly ancient, inscribed with enigmatic patterns that evoked a sense of natural law. These patterns intertwined to form "Dao" and "Li" (principles), giving rise to chaos. It floated up and down, filling observers with dread.

At this point, the ancient mirror and Ji Haoyue's bright moon slowly merged. They hung high in the sky, gently vibrating, and the aura of primeval chaos immediately permeated the air.

It rapidly expanded, exuding an ancient majesty, vast and imposing, pressing down with immense force!

Yan Ruyu, like a fairy standing on clouds, was surrounded by a celestial palace formed of golden lotuses. Still, the true form of the Demon Emperor's Sacred Weapon remained unclear. At this moment, her hair fluttered, and her watery eyes suddenly shot forth two brilliant divine lights. All the golden lotuses behind her soared into the sky, merging with the Demon Emperor's Sacred Weapon, and charged towards the ancient mirror.

There were no terrifying energy fluctuations, no earth-shattering sounds. Everything was calm as water, as if a wisp of cloud had gently drifted by, with subtle chaotic light rippling outwards. It seemed as though nothing had happened.

It was only much later that the two figures at the center of the battlefield trembled repeatedly, constantly retreating. The ancient mirror flew back, falling into the vast ocean. The golden lotuses withered and, along with the Demon Emperor's Sacred Weapon, sank into the azure sea.

Silently, the large structures nearby suddenly turned into dust, dissolving like snowflakes and vanishing in the blink of an eye.

This terrifying sight stunned everyone. A deep chill gripped their hearts, for had they not retreated to a safe zone, no one would have survived.

Yan Ruyu saw that the stone coffin and Ye Fan were no longer on the field and had broken through. She felt little joy, sighing softly, her face filled with helplessness, as she realized she could not rescue anyone else; she could only do this much.

Aside from Ji Haoyue, the unfathomable divine body, her greatest concern remained the three transcendent elders high in the sky. They had protected Ji Haoyue throughout, closely monitoring the battlefield, exerting immense pressure on her.

Yan Ruyu, with her flawless immortal grace and eyes like water, swept her gaze over the besieged demon cultivators. Her red lips parted as she said, "I'm sorry!"

"Your Highness, there's no need to fight for us anymore, just save yourself!" the demon powerhouses collectively roared, creating a somewhat tragic scene. They knew they could not escape death today.

At that moment, everyone rushed in all directions, launching a desperate counterattack against the Ji family cultivators, attempting to carve out a bloody path for Yan Ruyu.

Yan Ruyu glanced at each of them, said nothing, and transformed into a rainbow light, soaring towards the sky to break through the encirclement. However, Ji Haoyue and the three transcendent elders had already locked onto her, following like shadows, with no intention of letting her escape.

"Kill—!"

It was a bloody massacre. Demon cultivators continuously fell from the sky, almost all of them dying in battle.

Yan Ruyu moved with lightning speed, a long rainbow streaking across the sky, but she could not shake off Ji Haoyue who pursued her. As for the three elders, they were Ji Haoyue's guardians, staying close. Although they would not act for now, they possessed an unparalleled deterrent force.

By now, Ye Fan was hundreds of miles away. Protected by several old demonesses, he had safely broken through the encirclement. His heart was far from calm. The successive appearance of "Moon Rising from the Sea" and "Planting Golden Lotuses in the Sea of Bitterness" truly possessed unfathomable power. Now, he had only one thought: to grow stronger and cultivate the Desolate Ancient Saint Body!

As for the ancient mirror and the Demon Emperor's Sacred Weapon, they also greatly impacted him. According to the old demonesses, the two combatants had only unleashed about ten percent of the sacred weapons' power, yet their might was already so immense, it was truly terrifying.

"I'm truly curious, why are you protecting this young man? Even when breaking through, you didn't abandon him." A clear, melodious voice, like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate, came from ahead. A seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, accompanied by several elders, blocked their path.

The girl wore purple robes, possessing an ineffably noble aura. Yet, when she smiled, she revealed a different charm: her eyes sparkled playfully, and a small dimple on her left cheek made her appear incredibly charming and mischievous.

The old demonesses from the demon race frowned. Ji Haoyue wore purple, and this girl's robes also fluttered in purple, making it easy to associate them.

The girl in purple was extremely beautiful, with large eyes and long lashes, emanating a spiritual aura. She appeared very lively and playful, giving off an agile and vibrant impression.

"Capture that young man for me. I'm curious to see what's so special about him," the purple-robed girl giggled, her small dimple reappearing on her left cheek, and her large eyes narrowed into crescent moons.