Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 140 Breaking the Illusion, Slaying the Demon!
Abbot Liaochen could sense that the mechanism at the entrance to the secret passage had been destroyed by brute force.

At the same time, Tao Yong, the man in the blue robe, was interrupted from casting a spell, and a trickle of blood slid down the corner of his mouth.

He raised his head venomously, looking towards the secret passage, his eyes filled with boundless hatred.

"Who, who is it that has ruined my plans time and time again?" he roared angrily.

Before he could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside.

"You fiend, come out here and face your death!"

Cong Bo's angry shouts resounded like thunder in the secret room.

Immediately afterwards, his imposing figure appeared at the entrance to the secret chamber.

When he saw the scene inside the secret room, even he, with his vast experience, couldn't help but gasp in shock.

The eerie and evil puppet, the dozen or so mummified corpses, and the girl whose soul was extracted...

All of this gave him a chilling feeling.

"As expected, you remnants of the Puppet Sect!" Cong Bo's gaze finally landed on Tao Yong and Abbot Liao Chen.

"Demon Slayer Division?" Tao Yong was taken aback when he saw Cong Bo and the officers in uniform behind him, then let out a disdainful sneer.

"I thought he was someone important, but he's just a lackey of the imperial court."

"You bunch of good-for-nothings think you can arrest me?"

He slowly stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with contempt and arrogance.

"Very well, I was originally going to let you live a few more days, but since you've come to die of your own accord, I'll grant your wish. My Ling'er just needs a few more powerful souls to embellish her, and your souls are more than enough!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his aura suddenly changed.

A powerful aura, no less potent than that of Cong Bo, erupted from his body.

At the same time, Abbot Liaochen, who was beside him, also stood up.

This seemingly kind-faced old monk now wore a ferocious smile, and an aura of the Great Perfection of the Unobstructed Realm erupted from his body.

Two heretical cultivators!

Cong Bo's expression instantly turned extremely solemn.

He hadn't expected his opponent to be so powerful.

One is at the Sea of ​​Condensation Realm, and the other is at the Great Perfection of the Unobstructed Realm.

Besides himself, who was at the Sea Condensation Realm, the rest of his group consisted of captains at the Qi Nourishing Realm.

Therefore, this battle will not be easy!
"Form the formation!" Cong Bo shouted without hesitation.

The dozen or so demon-slaying captains behind him immediately spread out in a well-trained manner, forming a simple combined attack formation, connecting all their auras together to jointly resist the opponent's pressure.

Chen Ye quietly retreated to the very back of the group, his eyes darting around, lost in thought.

He's not from the Demon Slayer Division, so there's no need for him to be at the forefront.

"Heh, a desperate struggle." Tao Yong looked at their formation, his disdain deepening.

"Junior brother, these small fry are yours to handle. I'll take care of the leader. Remember to finish this quickly and don't delay my important business!"

"Yes, senior brother!"

Abbot Liaochen grinned maliciously, and with a swift movement, he pounced forward like a vulture.

"You're asking for it!" Cong Bo roared, about to retaliate.

"Your opponent is me!"

Tao Yong's cold voice rang out, and he appeared in front of Cong Bo in a flash, striking him in the chest with a palm.

This palm strike appeared light and airy, yet it carried an extremely cold and powerful force.

Wherever the palm strike passed, the air seemed to freeze.

Cong Bo felt a chill run down his spine and, not daring to be careless, immediately turned around and brandished his ghost-head broadsword to meet the attack.

"Go away!"

The blade gleamed with a bloody light, and a fierce, bloodthirsty aura slashed fiercely at Tao Yong's palm.

when!
There was a loud bang.

The blade and palm clashed, unleashing a powerful shockwave that cracked the surrounding ground.

Cong Bo felt a chilling, bone-piercing force travel along the blade, causing his entire arm to go numb.

He stumbled back three steps before barely managing to regain his balance, a look of horror on his face.

What a strong strength!
Although both are at the Sea Condensation Realm, the opponent's internal energy is far superior to his in terms of both purity and coldness!
"You've got some skill." Tao Yong was somewhat surprised that his attack had failed. He then withdrew his hand, looked at Cong Bo, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"But that's all."

After saying that, he pressed forward again, his attack becoming even more ferocious.

In an instant, the entire secret room was filled with the glint of swords and the flash of palms, and the bursts of energy.

The two experts at the Sea Condensation Realm became entangled in a fierce battle.

Meanwhile, Abbot Liaochen had already engaged in battle with the Demon Slayer Division's formation.

"A swarm of ants!"

Abbot Liaochen grinned maliciously, his hands transforming into claws, his moves wide and sweeping, ruthless and vicious.

Although he was only at the Unobstructed Realm, relying on the strangeness of his evil arts, he managed to fight on par with a battle formation of more than a dozen demon-slaying captains for a time.

Although the Demon Slayer Division's combined attack formation could bring everyone's power together, it lacked cohesion and was somewhat overwhelmed when facing an experienced evil cultivator like Chen.

Every now and then, captains would be struck by his sharp claws, letting out a muffled groan and leaving wounds on their bodies.

The overall situation is very unfavorable for the Demon Slayer Division.

Cong Bo was firmly suppressed by Tao Yong and could only barely hold on, unable to free his hands at all.

And those captains could have their defenses breached by Abbot Liaochen at any moment.

Once their battle formation is broken, they will become lambs to the slaughter.

Chen Ye stood at the edge of the battlefield, witnessing everything.

The situation was worse than he had imagined.

His original plan was to set fire to lure Cong Bo into the main force, while he would wait for an opportunity to launch a sneak attack from the side.

But now it seems that Cong Bo, the main player, is not performing well. He was suppressed by Tao Yong from beginning to end and had no power to fight back.

If things continue like this, defeat is only a matter of time.

"Damn it, it's always better to rely on yourself than on others," Chen Ye cursed inwardly, knowing he couldn't wait any longer.

Then he fixed his gaze on the altar.

Chen Ye could see very clearly that although Tao Yong was engaged in a fierce battle with Cong Bo, a considerable portion of his attention was focused on the altar.

Clearly, the ghost bride that was about to be completed was what he valued most.

So if we can destroy that puppet, or save Miss Zhang, we can interrupt this ritual.

Tao Yong must be in complete disarray!

That will be Cong Bo's best chance to strike back!
With that thought in mind, Chen Ye no longer hesitated. He took a deep breath and then silently crept towards the altar.

In the center of the battlefield, the fierce battle between Cong Bo and Tao Yong has reached a fever pitch.

The clash of swords and the flicker of palms created a terrifying shockwave with each impact, causing the entire secret chamber to tremble slightly.

Meanwhile, Abbot Liaochen was also engaged in fierce battle with the battle formation composed of the captains of the Demon Slaying Division.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the two fierce battles, and no one noticed the dark figure that was quietly approaching the altar.

Chen Ye's gaze was fixed on the ghostly bride on the altar.

He could clearly sense an evil yet powerful energy gathering within the puppet's body.

Meanwhile, Ms. Zhang, who was tied up to the side, convulsed more and more violently, and the soul light overflowing from her seven orifices became increasingly dim.

Can't wait any longer!
It's now!

Chen Ye suddenly exerted force with his feet, and like an arrow released from a bow, he instantly crossed the final distance and rushed towards the altar.

At the same time, the long sword in his hand drew a cold arc in the air, pointing directly at the head of the ghost bride!

Needle-and-Knife Technique!
Chen Ye used all his strength in this strike, holding nothing back.

He knew very well that this was the only chance to turn the tide of the battle!
Just as Chen Ye launched his attack, Tao Yong, who was locked in combat with Cong Bo, felt a sudden jolt of unease.

He subconsciously turned around and saw Chen Ye's decisive slash.

"You little beast, how dare you!"

Tao Yong's eyes instantly turned blood red, and he let out a deafening roar.

That ghostly bride was his masterpiece, the culmination of half his life's work, and his only hope. Therefore, he would never allow anyone to touch her!

At that moment, he didn't even care about Cong Bo in front of him, and turned around to go back to help without thinking.

How could Cong Bo let him have his way?

He had long seen through Chen Ye's intentions and knew that this was their only chance of winning.

Therefore, Cong Bo roared, and the blood-red light of his ghost-head broadsword surged. Disregarding his own safety, he used a mutually destructive fighting style to entangle Tao Yong.

"Get out of my way! Get out of my way!" Tao Yong, acting like a madman, frantically attacked Cong Bo, trying to break free from his clutches.

But Cong Bo was like a piece of chewing gum; no matter how he attacked, he wouldn't back down an inch.

In that brief moment of delay, Chen Ye's knife was already within reach!
However, just as the blade was about to pierce the thin red veil and shatter this evil creation, a sudden change occurred!
Suddenly, the puppet raised its head.

The bright red veil flew down without wind, revealing a face that was exquisitely beautiful yet utterly lifeless.

Its skin was as white as snow, its eyebrows as distant as mountains, and its lips as red as cherries.

It's so perfect it doesn't look like a real person; it's more like a work of art carved from the finest mutton-fat jade.

However, this stunningly beautiful face opened its eyes at this moment.

A pair of eyes as black as ink, with no white showing at all, as if they could devour all light.

Those eyes were fixed on Chen Ye, who was standing right in front of him.

Immediately following, a piercing scream that seemed to pierce the soul burst forth from her mouth!
The invisible sound waves, like a raging torrent, instantly swept through the entire secret chamber.

hum!
Everyone present, whether it was Cong Bo and Tao Yong who were engaged in fierce battle, or the demon-slaying captains who were struggling to hold on, felt as if their heads had been hit hard by a heavy hammer. Their vision went black and even their movements faltered.

Chen Ye was the first to be hit, being the closest, and therefore naturally suffered the greatest impact.

He felt as if his entire mind had turned into a mess, experiencing a moment of confusion and blankness.

When masters clash, victory or defeat hinges on the slightest difference.

The ghost bride's jade-like hand shot out with lightning speed, arriving before Chen Ye's blade with perfect precision!
Keng!
A harsh sound of metal friction was heard.

Chen Ye's full-force strike, which was infused with all his internal energy and was powerful enough to split rocks and shatter stone, remained completely unmoved under the opponent's seemingly slender palm!
At the same time, a tremendous force came from the blade, making Chen Ye's hands go numb and almost causing him to lose his grip on the knife.

"Ling'er!"

Tao Yong was stunned at first when he saw this, then his face lit up with ecstasy.

"Hahaha, it worked! Although it's not perfect, my Ling'er has finally come back to life!"

He laughed maniacally, his eyes filled with resentment and cruelty as he looked at Chen Ye.

"Ling'er, kill him! Kill this ant who dared to desecrate you!"

Although not in its complete form, the aura emanating from the Ghost Bride at this moment had risen to an extremely terrifying level.

Upon hearing Tao Yong's command, two crimson lights suddenly shone in the Ghost Bride's dark eyes.

A red light shone from her eyes and pierced directly into Chen Ye's eyes.

Chen Ye felt a moment of dizziness.

The next moment, everything around them changed.

The dark, secret chamber, the evil altar, the terrifying puppets... all vanished.

Instead, there are brightly decorated villages, bustling banquets, and faces with simple, honest smiles.

Wangjiacun!
Chen Ye found himself standing in the threshing ground of Wangjia Village.

She was wearing a bright red wedding robe and a large red flower on her chest.

The villagers around him warmly surrounded him, their faces beaming with joy.

"Groom, what are you daydreaming about?"

"That's right, the auspicious time is almost here! Look, the bride is coming out!"

Amidst a cacophony of cheers, Chen Ye instinctively turned his head.

Not far away, at the doorway, a woman with a red veil and a slender figure was slowly walking towards him, supported by two bridesmaids.

It's Xiao Cui.

My bride.

The thought arose from the depths of Chen Ye's mind without warning, and seemed so natural.

Looking at that figure, he felt an indescribable surge of excitement and admiration.

This is my childhood sweetheart, and the wife I'm about to marry.

Today is a day of great joy for us.

Chen Ye's eyes became somewhat dazed, and a happy yet shy smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

He felt like he was Li Xiuwen, the young scholar who was about to marry the girl he loved.

Everything around me felt so real.

The villagers' blessings, the aroma of food and wine filling the air, the distant sound of gongs and drums...

All of this captivated him, leaving him unable to extricate himself.

The bride was helped to stand before him.

Even though there was a red veil between them, he could almost see the shy and beautiful face beneath it.

"Groom, after drinking this cup of nuptial wine, you are truly husband and wife!"

The matchmaker handed over two glasses of wine with a smile.

Chen Ye took one of the cups in a daze.

The bride accepted the other glass.

The two men crossed their arms, ready to drink it all in one gulp.

Chen Ye's heart was filled with happiness and contentment; he had even begun to fantasize about his wedding night.

Then he raised his glass, about to bring it to his lips.

But at that moment, Chen Ye suddenly felt a sharp, needle-like pain in his mind.

A chilling sensation emanated from his right hand, which held the knife, and instantly spread throughout his body.

This is…….

Chen Ye's movements suddenly stopped, and a hint of struggle appeared in his dazed eyes.

wrong!

I am not Li Xiuwen!

I am Chen Ye!

I am currently fighting a remnant of the Puppet Sect in the underground chamber of the Black Buddha Temple!
The thought exploded in his chaotic mind like a thunderclap.

Bloody visuals!
Almost instinctively, Chen Ye roared in his heart!
hum!
The next moment, the world before his eyes was instantly shrouded in a thick, indistinguishable layer of blood!

The joyous wedding ceremony collapsed amidst the bloodshed.

Where are the brightly lit villages now? What lies before us is a hellish landscape of corpses and blood!

Those villagers who had offered their heartfelt blessings have all turned into walking corpses with missing limbs and rotting faces.

They stared at him with empty eye sockets, a strange smile on their faces.

The beautiful bride before him, who was about to share a nuptial cup with him, was not a shy and timid woman with a delicate face under her red veil, but rather a head that was already highly decomposed!

What she was holding was not fine wine, but a cup of foul-smelling corpse blood!

"roll!"

Chen Ye let out a roar, unleashing his divine soul power, and the illusion before him shattered instantly!
real world.

Cong Bo, Tao Yong, and the others only saw that after Chen Ye was illuminated by the puppet's red light, he stood still with a silly grin on his face.

The ghostly bride had already released her grip on the blade, and instead formed her five fingers into a claw, carrying a sinister chill, as she viciously clawed at Chen Ye's heart!

If that claw had landed firmly, Chen Ye would have been disemboweled on the spot!
"Kid, wake up!"

Cong Bo's eyes were bloodshot with rage, and he roared in desperation, but he was held tightly by Tao Yong and had no way to spare any attention.

"Die! Hahahaha!" Tao Yong's face was full of pleasure and cruelty.

You dared to ruin my plans, this is what you'll get!
Just as the deadly claw was about to touch Chen Ye's chest.

At this critical moment, Chen Ye, whose eyes had been glazed over, suddenly regained his clarity and then abruptly turned to the side.

The ghost bride's claws grazed almost his ribs, tearing up his clothes and leaving a trail of blood.

At the same time, Chen Ye twisted the long sword in his hand, directly breaking free from the opponent's grip, and then turned the blade, slashing fiercely at the Ghost Bride's neck at an extremely tricky angle!

This series of movements was so fluid and fast that it was incredibly fast!
From breaking free of the illusion to dodging to the side, and then slashing back, it was all done in almost the same instant.

"What?!" Tao Yong's smile froze instantly.

He never expected that Chen Ye could break free from Ling'er's illusion so quickly!
That was a soul-shaking impact powerful enough to make even a cultivator at the Sea Condensation Realm momentarily lose their senses!

The Ghost Bride seemed to have been caught off guard by her prey's sudden counterattack, but her fighting instincts were terrifying.

Faced with this fatal blow, it did not retract its claws, but instead swiftly raised its other hand to block its neck.

when!
The blade clashed with the arm, producing another crisp metallic clang.

Chen Ye felt a tremendous force of recoil, which sent him staggering back several steps before he managed to regain his footing at the edge of the altar.

A deep white mark was left on the ghost bride's arm.

Although his defenses weren't breached, Chen Ye's eyes lit up.

really!

Although this thing is ridiculously strong and fast, it doesn't seem to have any intelligence!
(End of this chapter)