Sacrificing the Sword

The young man's white hair fluttered, curling and stretching with the wind. The fatigue on his soft, feminine face had not yet faded as he replied lightly, "I'm tired. I won't run anymore."

Chi Yan was confident, unable to hide his smugness. "Hah... I see you aren't someone who doesn't recognize the flow of the world. I admire your demonic talent. Tell you what, if you're willing to follow me, this prince will guarantee your safety."

Chi Ji spat on the ground. "In your dreams."

Unexpectedly, Xu Xian agreed readily. "Sure."

Chi Ji choked on her words, staring at the young man's back with eyes full of disbelief.

Chi Yan's eyebrows relaxed, and the corners of his mouth curled up.

Xu Xian continued, his voice laced with amusement and mockery, "If you're willing to bow to me as your foster father, be my son, and show me filial piety, then I'll go with you."

Chi Ji's brow smoothed over, her eyes sparkling with delight.

It was Chi Yan's turn for his smile to vanish. He let out a low laugh. "Hah... peasant. You have quite the nerve, and an even bigger mouth."

Xu Xian shrugged and said nonchalantly, "Maybe I've always been this arrogant."

Chi Yan shook the tip of his spear, pointing it at the youth. The fire-bathed red tassel danced wildly as he took a stance. "Fine. Come then. Let this prince see the capital behind your arrogance."

That feeling.

It was as if two armies were at war, each sending out a great general to settle the field first.

Xu Xian glanced sideways at Chi Ji and asked strangely, "Are you afraid of pain?"

Chi Ji was stunned, staring blankly at the young man's face. It felt as if someone had asked her this before, an odd sense of déjà vu washing over her.

"Hmm?"

In the next second, a blur flickered before her eyes.

With a loud thud.

Chi Ji felt her head grow heavy, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed straight to the ground.

Sleeping on the spot.

Chi Yan frowned, his face full of confusion. His gaze switched back and forth between Chi Ji and Xu Xian as if he were lost in a fog. His throat bobbed as he asked tentatively:

"Did you... change your mind?"

Xu Xian shook his slightly numb palm and pursed his lips. "Don't misunderstand. I just don't want her to see me kill you. Because what comes next will be very cruel, and I'm afraid she'll have nightmares later..."

Chi Yan's expression shifted between darkness and light. "Do you always like showing off like this?"

Xu Xian didn't care and gave a kind reminder. "If you run now, there's still time."

Chi Yan didn't know where Xu Xian got his confidence from.

However, things seemed to be getting interesting.

He raised his other hand, which wasn't holding the spear, and beckoned Xu Xian with a single word.

"Come!"

Xu Xian stowed Wait away and stopped hiding his strength. His cold eyes narrowed as he recited:

"In the Heavenly White Jade Capital, twelve stories and five cities."

"Rise!"

Wind and clouds surged, and air currents tumbled. Ripples radiated from the young man's body as a towering Sword Tower manifested out of thin air. It rose twelve stories high, blotting out the sun.

Heaven and earth turned white, and the world became clear.

Chi Yan looked up. The tower was hundreds of feet high, its sword intent soaring into the sky. His brows tightened.

"This is..."

A tower he had never seen before. It looked like a mirage, yet also like a demonic god's phantom.

However, the sword intent coming from the high tower made him feel wary of the youth for the first time.

As if facing a formidable foe, his hand tightened around the Crimson Flame Gilded Spear instinctively.

Xu Xian hovered before the high tower, his body bathed in brilliant white light. Noticing the change in Chi Yan, he mocked, "Old man, what's wrong? Are you scared?"

Chi Yan gritted his teeth and gave a disdainful smile. "Hmph, just tricks. This prince will take your life right now."

Chi Yan abandoned his previous composure and grace. Without another word, he charged forward with his spear.

And unlike before, he started with his strongest battle intent this time, pouring it into the immortal demon spear as he aimed straight for the youth.

Roaring flames exploded from the spear tip, like a heaven-burning beast howling incessantly, intending to burn him into dust in a single strike.

Xu Xian was calm. He pulled out a sword, and flames shot out as a scorching heatwave swept across the area.

In an instant, the ten miles of mountains and rivers were turned into a sea of fire.

The landscape glowed brilliantly as the flames raged. The fire brought forth by that spear strike appeared insignificant before this sea of fire.

The intent of these flames far surpassed his own.

Chi Yan's heart tightened, his face filled with horror.

In the Demon Abyss, the Chi family excelled in fire, and no one could surpass them. Yet, the flames in the sea of fire before him were faintly suppressing him.

Moreover.

Within this sea of fire, sword intent manifested everywhere.

He didn't dare to be distracted. He only wanted to end the battle quickly to avoid any complications. His long spear tore through the fire barrier, continuing to close in.

"Die!"

In the blink of an eye, a loud cry echoed in all directions.

A second before the spear intent reached Xu Xian, a fire bird soared out with its wings spread, cloaked in flames as it sliced through the void.

"Screech!"

The long spear in Chi Yan's hand shook, and the shaft bent like a bow. He was actually forced back by the impact.

Seeing the large bird lunging toward him, he had no choice but to suppress his killing intent.

He dealt with it hurriedly.

"Vile creature, you dare use such tricks before this prince!"

A giant bird condensed from sword intent chased Chi Yan into battle.

The two clashed briefly. Because this sword intent had just emerged from the Sword Tower, its resentment was extremely heavy, and its sword momentum was at its peak.

For a moment, Chi Yan was too busy dealing with it to pull away.

Xu Xian took the opportunity to pull out a second sword.

When that black sword was sacrificed, a black mist spread over the sea of fire.

It was like black smoke rising from the burning flames, clouding this world.

The towering building faded away, hiding itself from sight.

However, a death sword intent suddenly manifested, also lunging toward Chi Yan.

Chi Yan had just finished tearing through the giant bird's sword intent and didn't even have time to catch his breath.

He turned around to see a dark shadow charging at him.

The aura of death rushed straight at his face.

He cursed angrily, "Damn it, another one!"

He was forced to gather his demonic power to hold his ground and engage in a fierce battle.

That sword intent came quickly and vanished just as fast. After a round of fighting, the sea of fire and the black mist beneath him had dispersed.

The ground had been scorched into parched earth. Within a ten-mile radius, nothing could be seen but pitch blackness.

Chi Yan held his spear, hovering in mid-air, his armor riddled with gaps from the sword strikes.

His red hair was messy, and a shallow wound remained on his chiseled cheek, seeping a green liquid.

A faint, imperceptible black mist still lingered over it.

He raised his hand, touching it lightly, then looked forward with unmistakable killing intent in his eyes.

He had actually been wounded!

He was wounded by a demon general at the initial-stage sixth rank.

However...

It wasn't that surprising. After all, this youth had killed an eighth rank existence right before his eyes.

Chi Yan narrowed his eyes and asked hoarsely, "Is this the capital of your arrogance?"

Not far in front of him.

Xu Xian was also hovering in mid-air, but he held two swords in his hands.

A fire sword, entirely crimson, was held in his right hand, hanging diagonally at his side.

An ink sword, surrounded by black mist, was held in his left hand and rested on his shoulder.

Xu Xian didn't answer the question directly, but repeated himself once more, "If you run now, there's still time."

However, his tone was no longer a reminder; it was provocation and mockery.

Chi Yan's throat bobbed, his eyes cold. "Do you think you can beat me with just these two swords?"

Xu Xian didn't deny it.

To kill the red-clad woman of the eighth rank, he had fought for nearly an hour.

And that was when he was in his best state, and his opponent didn't have an immortal weapon.

Dealing with the Chi Yan before him, who held an immortal demon spear, just these two swords were indeed not enough.

But...

He still had trump cards.

Xu Xian let out a cold laugh. "It was you who refused to run. When you reach Yanwang, don't complain..."