Chapter Thirty-Nine: Ten Thousand Blades Battle the Ten Demons, Part One

In that moment of confusion among the four Celestial Immortals, Haodan gently brushed his right hand across the crimson mark shaped like the character "one" at the center of his brow. Immediately, a hateful cry spilled from his lips: "Golden Bell, transform into blade!"

The crimson mark on Haodan's brow shimmered in response. In a flash, the Eastern Emperor Bell leapt forth, bursting with dazzling golden light that enveloped him entirely. The bell soared into the sky, tracing a magnificent arc through the air before finally transforming into a golden blade that landed in his grasp.

"Ten—thousand—slashes—of—blades!" Each word was drawn out, spat through gritted teeth, each syllable laden with vengeful fury.

With a piercing whistle, a golden blade of light shot from Haodan's right hand. The Eastern Emperor Blade cleaved through the sky like a golden twilight, hurtling toward the four with astonishing speed. Though already on guard, the four Celestial Immortals were nonetheless chilled to the bone by the sight. Before their eyes, the golden twilight split into countless shining blades, instantly filling the heavens, blotting out sun and sky alike as they surged down upon them. Desperately, the four unleashed all their power, summoning their treasured artifacts to defend themselves and only just managing to preserve their own lives.

As the four frantically darted through a sky ablaze with golden blades, Haodan's fury only burned hotter.

"My heart is ablaze with wrath, and with nowhere to vent it—yet you have arrived at the perfect moment!" Haodan now seemed radiant and invincible, his long hair billowing in windless air, a confident smile gracing his handsome face.

"There is something uncanny about this youth," Fox Immortal Miao Qianxun warned grimly, her eyes never leaving Haodan. "Let us proceed with caution. When the Upper Five Luo arrive, we shall unleash our full strength—he must be destroyed here, lest he become a future threat." Only a moment ago, Haodan's aura was entirely different; now, in the blink of an eye, he had transformed before their very eyes. Clearly, he had been concealing his true strength, and they could not afford to be careless.

"Understood!" the other three replied in unison.

"In our current predicament, we must deploy the Lower Five Luo Immortal Formation!" Miao Qianxun declared anxiously, her gaze heavy with worry as she looked at Haodan.

"But Chisongzi has not arrived yet. How are we to perform the formation?" asked Willow Immortal Qiansisi, her voice uneasy.

It was not that they overestimated Haodan; the memory of the horrors in the desert of yellow sand was still vivid for them all—scenes of such terror as to resemble hell itself.

Clearly, Haodan had yet to unleash his true killing technique. Judging by his recent attack, the assault he had just launched was entirely different from what they had witnessed in the desert. From their analysis, the technique that had slaughtered fifty desert storm dragons in an instant was not at all the "Ten Thousand Slashes of Blades" just performed.

At that moment, Dongjun's voice sounded in Haodan's mind, light and carefree. "Master, that 'Ten Thousand Slashes of Blades' was awe-inspiring, but it still falls short of the essence you wielded a thousand years ago. Do you know that the Ten Thousand Slashes of Blades is the most formidable and ferocious attack among the Four Innate Techniques?"

"Oh?" Haodan was surprised, but did not overthink it. Dongjun, having sent him out from the Eastern Emperor's world, surely had his best interests at heart.

"If you could bring the technique to its peak, those Celestials would have been reduced to ashes!" Dongjun's tone brimmed with anticipation.

"Can it truly be that powerful?" Haodan wondered. In the Eastern Emperor's world, he had seen his past self, the Eastern Emperor Taiyi, perform Ten Thousand Slashes of Blades, but had not sensed such ultimate power in that vision.

"But that is because you have not yet mastered the technique," Dongjun said mildly. "Of the Four Innate Techniques, you have now grasped two. This battle is only the beginning. I hope you will break through in this fight. The road ahead will not be blocked by Celestials of this strength much longer!"

"Xiao Bailing!"

As the four Celestials struggled to compose themselves, the image of Xiao Bailing, her peerless beauty filled with longing for his rescue, flashed through Haodan’s mind. Her ever-changing temperament had haunted his dreams time and again. His innate talent might have allowed him to progress quickly in cultivation, but he had devoted so much of his heart to Xiao Bailing that his advancement had slowed. Perhaps this explanation sounded weak, but it was the truth—Haodan simply had not matured in his heart during his time in the Realm of Void Spirits, unable to focus solely on cultivation. Nor could anyone blame Xiao Bailing for being too beautiful.

...

At that moment, Xiao Bailing was imprisoned atop the Execution Platform of the Nine Heavens. The clouds above the Ninth Heaven were dense and layered; each successive tier of cloud thicker than the last. Because of this, mortals could never see through to the sky above, nor could they imagine that palaces and a whole other world lay hidden among the clouds.

Now, a graceful immortal maiden descended beside the Execution Platform. She was Fairy Yan Xiuer, bearer of the Glazed Celestial Zither. Though she could easily have freed Xiao Bailing, she could not violate the sect’s rules.

"Sister Xiuer, what brings you here so suddenly?" Xiao Bailing, who had been resting with eyes closed, sensed someone’s approach, and opened her eyes to see the immortal beauty before her. Despite her frail and weary appearance, a rare smile graced her face.

"Oh, foolish child! Why are you so stubborn? If you would hand the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl to Brother Zhao Gongming, as the sect’s honored Immortal Lord, he would surely pardon you. Why suffer and torment yourself thus?" Yan Xiuer spoke with deep affection for her junior. Had Xiao Bailing not fallen in love a thousand years ago and lost her Dao heart, she would never have ended up in such dire straits.

"I appreciate your concern, sister, but the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl belongs to our master and is one of our sect’s treasured artifacts. I will never hand such a sacred item to that shameless man!" Xiao Bailing replied proudly, her face resolute. She loathed Zhao Gongming; if he had not first schemed against her, she would not have ended up in this predicament.

For reasons unknown, Yan Xiuer did not press this point, instead shifting to another topic, her tone tinged with strangeness as she asked, "Sister, do you remember what happened a thousand years ago?"

"What does sister refer to?" Xiao Bailing’s exquisite face was full of confusion.

"Could it be that you have forgotten that event?" Yan Xiuer was deeply curious—she had only heard of it from the all-knowing Daoist Wo Luoyu.

"I do not understand what you mean, sister. Please enlighten me," Xiao Bailing replied, utterly perplexed.

"A thousand years ago, you secretly took our master's two treasured artifacts out of the sect. Do you remember this?" Yan Xiuer asked solemnly.

"Of course I remember. But I took them only to use against the ancient Wu Clan, not out of mischief. I trust Master would not blame me. And Zhao Gongming—he feigns righteousness but covets the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl for himself. I would never yield to him!"

"Strange, truly strange," Yan Xiuer murmured, shocked at heart. She realized now that there was something amiss.

"Why do you say that, sister?" Xiao Bailing was even more bewildered; she sensed Yan Xiuer was hiding something from her.

"It’s true you took the treasures to oppose the Wu Clan, but do you recall why you went?" Yan Xiuer pressed, hoping her suspicion was correct.

"Why? For the sake of saving all living beings!" Xiao Bailing answered plainly, her bright eyes sparkling.

Suddenly, a powerful figure descended—Grand Marshal Yan Lietian, who had in fact been listening in all along. He approached with overwhelming presence.

"There's no need to dwell on these trivialities. As a direct disciple of our master, you colluded with demonkind and betrayed the sect. Such treason is unforgivable!" Yan Lietian declared.

"Do you feel no kinship? She was once your most cherished junior sister," Yan Xiuer retorted, showing no surprise at his arrival but much displeasure at his words.

"Precisely because she was my most cherished sister, I cannot let her run amok. If not for her grave mistakes, our Master and the Celestial Lords would not have been trapped above, unable to descend for a thousand years. Even now, the Great Celestials and ancient deities must incarnate to enter the lower realms. Were it not for her reckless actions, would the Eastern Heavens be in such turmoil?"

Clearly, there was an earth-shattering secret hidden in their exchange, but neither wished to continue the conversation. Yan Xiuer was deeply displeased with Yan Lietian and unsure of his intentions. She turned, her voice gentle as she addressed Xiao Bailing: "I must go now. Do not, under any circumstance, trigger the Execution Sword Formation. If you do, your cultivation will be destroyed, and even our master’s boundless power will not be able to restore what is lost. Do you understand?"

"I understand, sister. Thank you for your concern. Please do not worry!" Xiao Bailing replied.

With nothing more to say, Yan Xiuer turned to smoke and vanished, not sparing Yan Lietian another glance.

After Yan Xiuer’s departure, Yan Lietian fixed Xiao Bailing with a stern look. "Whether you have truly lost your memory or not, I hope you will reflect on your actions. When our master returns from the Celestial Assembly, you will face judgment."

"I appreciate your concern, brother. But if there is nothing else, please leave me to reflect in peace," Xiao Bailing replied, turning her face away, a trace of resentment in her tone.

"I hope you truly repent." With these final, meaningful words, Grand Marshal Yan Lietian departed without another glance.

...

Returning to Haodan, the situation had grown ever more precarious. Before the gates of the Tower of Celestial Attraction, the all-knowing Daoist Wo Luoyu had already vanished, perhaps already departed.

At that moment, five mighty auras tore through the sky. The entrance to the Celestial Attraction was hidden among the clouds, but as these figures streaked across the heavens, dark clouds swiftly gathered, as if a demon god had descended, converging with terrifying speed before the tower’s gates.

Such an imposing display was extraordinary. As soon as Chisongzi finished his report, he swung his Spirit-Absorbing Whip and sped toward the Lower Five Luo.

The five approaching figures were none other than the Five Luo of the Upper Nine Heavens—brothers, each master of one of the Five Elements, each possessing the power to reverse heaven and earth.

Metal Sky Lord Li Jinhai, Water Sky Lord Li Shuishui, Earth Sky Lord Li Shentu, Wood Sky Lord Li Zimu, and Fire Sky Lord Li Feihuo—these were the Upper Five Luo.

Upon the Nine Heavens, a verse was often recited to describe the Nine Heavens and Ten Luo:

"Among the Five Elements, the Upper Five Luo reign supreme;
Among spirits and demons, the Lower Five Luo hold sway."

For Haodan, the current situation was grave indeed. In his battle with the Celestial Soul of the Eastern Emperor, he had already suffered wounds to his spirit. In the fight just now, he had expended his full strength, yet failed to harm the four of the Lower Five Luo in the slightest. Because the Lower Five Luo were wary of the desert’s devastation, they had refrained from acting, awaiting the arrival of the Upper Five Luo. Without this hesitation, Haodan would likely have been overwhelmed.