Chapter 609: The Semi-Immortal War

The Baxia clan leader's sudden price hike infuriated Clan Leader Jin. But then he considered how spectacular the battle had been; describing it vividly and captivatingly would surely require the skill of a master storyteller. "Alright," he conceded, "but you can't raise the price again!" Clan Leader Jin glared, threatening the Baxia clan leader, lest he think the Qiongqi clan was easily intimidated.

After paying, Clan Leader Jin grew increasingly regretful. "Perhaps I should find time to learn storytelling?" he mused. If only he knew how to tell stories, he wouldn't have had to pay this exorbitant sum.

Zhu Tian attempted a carp jump, trying to spring to his feet, but Jiang Lianyi wouldn't give him the chance. She leaped down from the Heavenly Altar and delivered a powerful kick to Zhu Tian, who was still in the pit, causing him to nearly vomit his intestines. "Ugh—" Zhu Tian was pinned to the ground by Jiang Lianyi, unable to rise despite multiple attempts, and he erupted in a furious rage. "I merely gave you two courtesy moves; don't flatter yourself!"

Zhu Tian was astonished by how formidable Jiang Lianyi was. Based on the Phoenix Clan's reactions, they seemed unaware of her existence, suggesting she had only recently awakened. If that were the case, she should still be far from recovering her peak power. Yet, the moment they clashed, he discovered that Jiang Lianyi was already at her ancient peak, showing no signs of weakness, which led to his significant disadvantage. "Damn it, how is this possible?" he thought. With a furious roar, he transformed into his original, colossal form, sending Jiang Lianyi flying.

Jiang Lianyi stabilized herself in mid-air with two swift steps, completely unperturbed. Her arms shifted, transforming her into a magnificent five-colored phoenix. The phoenix soared, its body ablaze with vibrant, multicolored feathers. Sunlight pierced through them, casting five-hued celestial light upon the ground below. Even minor cultivators suffering from hidden injuries found them gradually vanishing when bathed in the five-colored aura.

The demon race's most potent state is fighting in their true forms. The two half-immortals, having reverted, no longer held back and launched a ferocious assault! Zhu Tian kicked with both feet, toppling the meticulously crafted Glazed White Jade Heavenly Altar, which served as both a sacred altar and a potent magical artifact! The colossal, hundreds-of-meters-tall Glazed White Jade Nine-Layer Heavenly Altar was hurled towards Jiang Lianyi. She deftly rotated her wings, caught the altar, absorbed its momentum, infused it with a layer of lightning, and flung it back.

Zhu Tian opened his mouth, emitting invisible sound waves that held the altar in place. It vibrated subtly but intensely under the sonic assault before being hurled back at Jiang Lianyi. If Jiang Lianyi dared to catch the altar in the same manner again, it, along with the lightning, would detonate! Jiang Lianyi had long since discerned Zhu Tian's ploy and commanded space to lock the altar in place. "Here, take it back." The Heavenly Altar became a mere plaything between the two half-immortals, tossed back and forth. Only the watching cultivators understood that with each exchange, the altar accumulated layers of destructive power, enough to severely wound even veteran Tribulation Transcendence cultivators if it exploded. Eventually, the altar succumbed to the cumulative force of the layered attacks and exploded mid-air between them.

The two half-immortals and six Tribulation Transcendence great demons engaged in four simultaneous battles, leaving the onlookers dizzy with the spectacle and wishing for more eyes to witness it all. Many Integration stage cultivators were present. While they could somewhat follow the Tribulation Transcendence level fights, the battles between half-immortals were utterly beyond their comprehension. Nevertheless, this didn't stop them from instinctively choosing to observe the half-immortal clashes.

Spiritual energy within a thousand-li radius was completely drained, commandeered by the two half-immortal great demons. The two demons fought from the sky to the ground and back again, shattering space and leaving devastation in their wake. The six engaged Tribulation Transcendence great demons tried to keep as much distance as possible from their fight, fearing being caught in the collateral damage.

The sky was a kaleidoscope of colors, with various phenomena unfolding: celestial maidens scattering flowers, the arrival of phoenix monarchs, phoenixes emerging from Wutong trees... Then came thunder and lightning, with two colossal shadows battling behind the storm clouds, only briefly illuminated by the occasional flash of lightning revealing the two demons.

Zhu Tian danced gracefully, resembling a winged pig in motion, as a somber, deadly song accompanied his movements. "Speak not of bountiful autumn harvests, for after autumn, heads will fall..." Jiang Lianyi, sensing something amiss, flapped her phoenix wings and moved sideways. An imperceptible blade whizzed past, severing a few of her phoenix feathers. "The Autumn Song from the Song of Four Seasons?" Jiang Lianyi, a master of music, softly chanted in return, her melody equally imbued with deadly intent. Two distinct melodies resonated through the sky, transforming into visible ripples that warped space, creating an aura of pervasive killing intent, a true ambush from all directions!

Suddenly, the sky opened up, and a torrential downpour lashed the ground with a rhythmic patter. "Hmm? Not rain... are these seeds?" Lu Yang picked up a seed from the ground, unable to identify its origin. "These are Dragon-Locking Vine seeds. You likely don't have them in your era." "Dragon-Locking Vine?" "As the name suggests, it once bound Ao Ling." Lu Yang remembered the Immortal of Indestructibility saying that Jiang Lianyi and Ao Ling were similar in strength, with a 40/60 split in favor of Ao Ling.

The Dragon-Locking Vine seeds rapidly rooted, sprouted, and grew. In an instant, the entire demon city was covered in these vines, which resembled countless eerie hands reaching towards the sky. The vines rapidly grew and then suddenly bent, coiling around Zhu Tian. He flapped his four wings, which acted like four celestial blades, capable of cleaving heaven and earth with unstoppable force. This time was no different: his four wings unleashed four blades of qi, shredding the Dragon-Locking Vines.

But immediately, Zhu Tian noticed something peculiar: vigorous flames burned at the severed ends of the Dragon-Locking Vines, as if they had been hollowed out and filled with fire. "Oh no, this is Nirvana True Fire!" The Dragon-Locking Vines rapidly regrew. Zhu Tian continued to hack them apart with his wings, but no matter how many he severed, they endlessly regenerated.

The Immortal of Indestructibility explained to Lu Yang: "The Dragon-Locking Vine is an immortal vine Lianyi specially cultivated. It's scorched with Nirvana True Fire, allowing a wisp of the flame to infuse its seeds. When planted using the 'Tree Growth Art', these seeds sprout into immortal vines that perpetually grow under the blessing of Nirvana True Fire. Under the control of her nascent Dao Fruit, the Dragon-Locking Vine moves according to Lianyi's will, making it incredibly flexible, versatile, and impossible to defend against. Little Ling didn't anticipate this move that time and was completely caught off guard, bound tightly."

Zhu Tian was also bound by the Dragon-Locking Vines, his six wings wrapped around him like the leaves of a zongzi. Unwilling to be trapped, he let out a furious roar. "Heavenly Law and Earthly Form!" He invoked the 'Heavenly Law and Earthly Form' technique, transforming into a colossal beast with bulging muscles, attempting to break free with sheer brute force. When growing larger proved ineffective, he reverted to human form, trying to slip through the gaps in the Dragon-Locking Vines. Under Jiang Lianyi's control, the Dragon-Locking Vines could expand or contract, tightly binding Zhu Tian no matter what form he took, making escape impossible.

"You forced my hand!" Zhu Tian's eyes were bloodshot as he opened his maw, spewing forth countless ancient spirits that instantly formed a spectral army. The ancient spirits varied in form, some human, some demonic, and some monstrous. These were the defeated of ancient wars, devoured by Zhu Tian and refined through the power of his nascent Dao Fruit. "The fabled 'Ghost Army Crossing', where all demons retreat!" A Tribulation Transcendence great demon was horrified. This was a renowned ancient legend: the passage of ghost soldiers would leave a thousand li of land barren, not a single blade of grass growing, and even planets would turn desolate. It was a taboo among the demon race, often used to frighten children. So, the origin of this legend was none other than Zhu Tian the Supreme!

Lu Yang found the move strangely familiar. "It should be familiar," the Immortal of Indestructibility said casually. "The Tiger Clan learned this move and adapted it into the 'Chang-gui Method,' which is the origin of the saying 'to act as a tiger's accomplice.'"

Jiang Lianyi exhaled a ball of fire, a flame so intensely hot it seemed to surpass the sun's temperature—this was the very origin of Nirvana True Fire! Biting her tongue, she let a drop of phoenix essence blood fall onto the Nirvana True Fire. The fire responded with a phoenix cry and transformed into a phoenix identical to her. This was the true Phoenix Nirvana! Nirvana True Fire, supremely potent and imbued with pure yang, was the ultimate bane of ghosts, demons, and evil entities!