Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 268 Final Battle 2
This sword light was neither simply white nor purely gold, but rather a blend of several of the most fundamental Confucian powers.

Among them is the dignified and upright light of Confucianism, which governs all things; the light of the School of Mind, which shines from the heart and illuminates the darkness; and the majestic power of the School of Symbolic Mathematics, which draws upon the stars and punishes on behalf of Heaven!
Now, all of this has converged on Jing Zhaoning's sword.

At this moment, she was no longer the aloof and cold junior sister of the academy, but had become the embodiment of Confucian and Taoist spirit, and the personification of the righteous energy of heaven and earth!
"Monster, die!"

Tsk-!
There was no earth-shattering noise, only a slight sound like cloth being torn.

This sword light, which incorporated the lifelong cultivation of dozens of great Confucian scholars, did not hesitate at all when it came into contact with the barrier of resentment that covered the entire county city, and easily cut through it!
Wherever the sword light passed, the resentment and death energy were like ice and snow encountering the blazing sun, being frantically purified and evaporated.

Immediately afterwards, countless souls that had been struggling and wailing in agony within the barrier gradually relaxed their distorted features, turning into wisps of green smoke and dissipating, finally finding their release.

This sword is not only a sword of slaughter, but also a sword of redemption!

Upon witnessing this scene, the scholars of the academy outside the city were greatly encouraged, and they poured their righteous energy into Jing Zhaoning in front of them without reservation.

With a constant supply of power, the sword light became increasingly dazzling, and the speed of its downward slash increased!
Click…click…

A crisp cracking sound came from the huge black and red barrier, and then visible cracks spread out in all directions like a spider web from the point where the sword light struck.

In just a few breaths, the once indestructible barrier of resentment, which seemed to encompass the entire world, was now riddled with cracks and on the verge of collapse.

Within the county town.

The demonic face in the sky looked up, and then a playful look appeared in its pair of eerie green eyes.

"The Confucian sword of self-cultivation seems to also incorporate the power of numerology and the philosophy of mind... Interesting."

His hoarse voice echoed between heaven and earth, sounding like praise, but more like a condescending assessment, as if evaluating a fairly good toy.

The key point is that he did not intervene, but simply hovered quietly in mid-air, letting the sword light, powerful enough to shatter mountains and rivers, slash fiercely at the barrier he had set up.

boom--!
Finally, under everyone's watchful eyes, the massive black and red barrier could no longer hold on and shattered with a deafening roar!

Countless resentments and deathly energy swept outwards like a flood bursting its banks, but were quickly purified by the dazzling sword light that followed, turning into nothingness.

The gloom that had shrouded Nanhe County for many days was swept away at this moment!

The long-awaited sunlight once again shone on this desolate land.

"Success!"

"Great! The evil formation has been broken!"

The teachers at the academy showed joy upon seeing this scene.

However, just when they thought the situation was settled, the giant demonic face in the sky suddenly burst into laughter.

"Thank you very much."

Thank you?

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned, not understanding what this demon meant.

Holding a long sword and hovering in mid-air, Jing Zhaoning felt a sinking feeling in her heart, followed by a strong sense of unease.

She saw that the barriers of resentment that she had shattered with her sword light had not completely dissipated, but instead surged wildly toward the demonic face in the sky like swallows returning to their nests!
As these energies flowed in, the aura of this demonic face did not weaken due to the broken formation; instead, it began to surge at a terrifying speed!
Its originally somewhat illusory outline became more and more solid, its size became larger and larger, and its pair of ghostly green eyes burned more and more fiercely, with the pressure emanating from them being more than twice as strong as before!
"What...what's going on?"

"Why has his power actually increased?"

The joy on everyone's faces froze instantly, replaced by shock and horror.

"Only now do you realize it? It's too late." The demon's hoarse voice was full of mockery and ridicule.

"Do you really think that shell is there to protect me?"

"No, that's not a cage, it's... an incubation chamber."

"Its only purpose is to purify and compress all the resentment, death, and despair of the millions of living beings in Nanhe County, and then wait for an opportunity to be completely broken, so that it can become the final nourishment for me to emerge from my cocoon."

"I thought I would have to wait a few more days, but I didn't expect you to be so considerate as to deliver this final step to me."

"So I really have to thank you all... Hahahaha!"

Accompanied by that chilling, eerie laughter, an oppressive force a hundred times more terrifying than before descended with a deafening roar, as if the sky were collapsing and the earth were sinking!
puff!
Jing Zhaoning, who was the first to be hit, was struck as if by lightning. She coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell from the sky like a kite with a broken string.

Her sword strike, which she poured all her energy into and even risked her own Dao heart for, not only failed to harm the enemy, but instead became a tonic for him, helping him complete his final transformation.

This discovery was unacceptable to her, to the point that her Dao heart showed signs of instability.

"Junior sister!"

Master Yan and the others were shocked and rushed over to catch Jing Zhaoning as she fell.

But before they could get close, the demonic face in the sky had already launched an attack.

Suddenly, his enormous mouth, composed of countless souls, opened wide and let out a roar!
Immediately, a visible black sound wave swept towards the direction where the academy members were located!

This sound wave contains the purest malice and curse directed at the soul.

"Not good! Form the formation!" Master Xun's expression changed drastically, and he immediately roared.

The dozens of Confucian scholars dared not be negligent and immediately pushed their remaining righteous energy to its limit, forming a defensive light screen composed of countless golden ancient characters in front of them.

However, this defensive light barrier, which was strong enough to withstand the charge of thousands of troops, was as fragile as paper under the impact of the black sound wave, and shattered in less than a breath!
In an instant, dozens of academy teachers, like fallen leaves swept by a whirlwind, coughed up blood and flew backward.

With a single strike, the entire academy group, who had come with overwhelming force, was utterly defeated!
This is the true strength of the Sect Master of the Wrathful Soul Sect after he emerged from his cocoon!

Inside the city, Hou En, Qian Yi, and the others watched as these learned scholars from the academy were easily defeated by the demon in the sky as if swatting flies, and their entire worldview completely collapsed.

it's over...

This time, it's really over...!
Inside the carriage, Bai Yingluo's pretty face was already deathly pale. She gripped the soft cushion beneath her tightly, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably.

Xia Lingshuang beside her was in no better shape. Although she had broken free from the control of the sect leader's soul imprint because of Chen Ye, the fear that originated from the depths of her soul was not so easily eliminated.

At this moment, Chen Ye was the only one in the county town who could remain calm.

His gaze was calm as he stared at the sky. In the vision of the Throne of Desire, the core of that enormous demonic face, the already unimaginably vast fire of desire, had expanded into a black sun after absorbing the energy of the entire barrier of resentment!

The flame was so pure and concentrated, representing an absolute self and desire for control that transcends all living beings and regards all things as straw dogs.

"The appetizers are over."

After defeating the academy's group, the demonic face seemed to find it somewhat boring. Its pair of eerie green ghost fire eyes slowly turned and finally landed on the carriage where Chen Ye was.

"Now it's your turn, you funny little mouse."

At the same time, Chen Ye finally made a move.

Instead of running away, he slowly lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out.

Behind him, Bai Yingluo and Xia Lingshuang followed closely behind. Although the two women were pale and their bodies were trembling, their eyes held a resolute determination as they stood on either side of Chen Ye.

“Brother…” Xia Lingshuang gripped Chen Ye’s sleeve tightly, her voice trembling.

Chen Ye didn't turn around, but simply looked up, calmly meeting the gaze of those eyes burning with eerie green ghost flames in the sky.

"Oh? You've finally come out?"

The demonic face in the sky let out a playful laugh, "I'm very curious, what exactly gave you the courage to face me directly?"

Meanwhile, the students from the academy who had been severely injured in the attack struggled to their feet in the distance.

Upon seeing the current situation, everyone's hearts sank to the bottom.

"It's that imperial envoy, Chen Ye!"

"Alas, although this boy acted eccentrically, he did make contributions to the country by governing Pingyang and burning the city to cleanse the evil. It is a pity that he will perish here today."

The scholars sighed in despair, their faces filled with helplessness and despair.

They couldn't even withstand a single move from their opponent, so how could they possibly save someone?

"No...we can't let him die!"

Just then, Jing Zhaoning, who was being supported by Master Yan, struggled to her feet.

She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her cold eyes fixed on the demonic face in the sky, burning with an indomitable flame.

"Master Xun, Master Wang, fellow disciples!" Jing Zhaoning's voice was hoarse, but his attitude was exceptionally firm. "This fiend sacrificed countless people and refined an entire prefecture. If such heinous crimes are allowed to succeed, the thousand-year-old reputation of our Confucian school will be ruined in an instant! Therefore, even if we are torn to pieces today, we must not let him succeed!"

"To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, and to secure a destiny for the people! Today is the day we put the Great Way into practice!"

His words were powerful and thought-provoking!
The students of the academy, who had already given up hope, had their fighting spirit rekindled after hearing these words.

Yes, they are Confucian disciples, scholars who read the classics and understand the principles of sages!
They may die in battle, but they must never retreat!
"Junior Sister Jing is right!"

Xunzi, the leader of Confucianism and its doctrines of rites and laws, let out a furious roar, forcibly suppressing the injury to his soul, and his body once again radiated a righteous aura.

"My lineage of propriety and law emphasizes regulating heaven and earth with laws and regulations! Today, I will use my own body as the law and my blood as ink to write the punishments of heaven and earth, and see if I can suppress this scoundrel!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Master Xun began to burst into flames, transforming into a ball of golden fire.

Within the flames, ancient seal characters formed by righteous energy emerged, creating a code filled with solemnity and majesty, which pressed down on the demonic face in the sky!

"Hmph, a mere grain of light dares to rival the brilliance of the moon?"

The demonic face let out a disdainful snort, and simply blew a breath at the golden tome that was pressing down on it.

call!
A black, demonic wind appeared out of nowhere, and this codex, powerful enough to suppress mountains and judge ghosts and gods, instantly turned to charred black and curled up like burning paper upon contact with it, finally vanishing into ashes without a trace. "Pfft!"

Master Xun was struck as if by a heavy blow. The golden flames on his body instantly went out, and his breath became extremely weak, with little air intake and much more air exhalation.

Everyone was shocked: "Senior Brother Xun!"

Upon seeing this, Master Wang, a representative of the School of Mind, was even more enraged, roaring to the heavens, "Mind is principle, principle is heaven! This demon's mind is not righteous, therefore it cannot be tolerated by heavenly principles!"

After saying this, he sat cross-legged, put his hands together, and entered a state of ethereal tranquility where he was oblivious to the world around him.

The next moment, an invisible sword, purely formed from his thoughts, shot up from the top of his head, ignoring the distance in space, and pierced directly towards the demon face's brow!

This is the strongest attack method of the Mind School—the Sword of Heart Severance!
Specifically designed to destroy the enemy's mind and will!
However, this sword, which could make even a highly accomplished monk lose his composure, disappeared without a trace after piercing the demon's brow, like a mud ox sinking into the sea.

"Use my power to attack me?" The demonic face let out a mocking laugh.

"What you call the principles of heaven, what you call inner enlightenment, are nothing more than another manifestation of desire in my eyes."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sword that had pierced his brow suddenly trembled, changed direction, and stabbed back into Master Wang's brow at a speed ten times faster than it had come!

Master Wang let out a muffled groan, his eyes instantly losing all their luster, and he fell straight backward. Although his body was unharmed, his mind and will had been completely destroyed by his own power, turning him into a mindless living dead.

"Junior Brother Wang!" Master Yan's eyes turned red with grief and indignation.

"You monster! I'll fight you to the death!"

One of the masters of the Mathematical School roared, bit his tongue, and used his own blood essence as a guide to frantically deduce the secrets of heaven, attempting to disrupt the flow of fortune in this world and thus weaken the demon's power.

But just as he began his deduction, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of black blood, bleeding from all seven orifices, and died.

Because the fate of this world has long been completely controlled by this demon, his attempt to deduce it is tantamount to using his own soul to directly confront the other party's will, and there is only one outcome: the annihilation of both soul and spirit!
In the blink of an eye, three of the academy's leading Confucian scholars were killed, crippled, and seriously injured!

The remaining teachers were also unable to move under that terrifying pressure, and could only watch helplessly as their fellow disciples died tragically. They were filled with grief and indignation, but were powerless to do anything about it.

An unprecedented despair gripped the hearts of all the Confucian disciples present.

Their proud Confucian and Taoist supernatural powers, and their unwavering belief in the great way of the sages, appeared so vulnerable, even laughable, in the face of this terrifying demon.

"See that?" The demonic face seemed to relish the process of crushing people's hopes bit by bit.

"This is the difference between you and me."

"Everything you cultivate, learn, and believe originates from this world, and I... am the master of this world!"

"Before me, you are nothing but a bunch of slightly stronger ants."

After saying that, he seemed to lose interest in continuing to toy with Chen Ye, and his pair of eerie green ghost fire eyes fell on Chen Ye once again.

"Okay, the game is over."

"Now, it's time to send you on your way."

As soon as he finished speaking, a giant hand formed from black energy emerged from the clouds and slowly pressed down.

The terrifying pressure caused the ground beneath Chen Ye's feet to crack inch by inch, and the surrounding buildings were directly crushed into dust.

Hou En, Qian Yi, and the others had already fainted from the pressure. Even among the five hundred elite soldiers of the Beijing Garrison, only a few were still barely holding on, but they were bleeding from all seven orifices and were about to die.

"elder brother!"

Xia Lingshuang used all her strength to stand in front of Chen Ye, spreading her arms wide, trying to use her petite body to shield Chen Ye from this devastating attack.

However, Chen Ye simply pulled her behind him, and then looked at the giant hand that was slowly pressing down. Instead of fear, he showed a cold smile.

"You seem to have... made a mistake."

"Oh? What is it?" the demonic-faced man asked with interest.

Chen Ye raised his head. "It's you who should be on your way!"

The moment he finished speaking, two extremely bright flames, seemingly containing all the colors in the world, suddenly lit up in Chen Ye's eyes!

Throne of Desire, activate at full power!
But this time his target wasn't the demonic face in the sky, but... himself!

Chen Ye directly used the Throne of Desire talent to ignite the fire of desire within his heart, a flame that represented battle and existence.

In an instant, an unprecedentedly terrifying aura erupted from his body!

boom!
An invisible storm of desire swept outwards from him in all directions!
This storm was so domineering that it swept away everything in its path, from the suffocating pressure to the mind-corroding demonic energy!

The massive, sky-covering hand that was slowly pressing down was halted by the impact of this storm.

"Um?!"

Above the sky, the demon's eyes, burning with eerie green flames, suddenly narrowed, staring intently at Chen Ye below, filled with disbelief.

Because in his perception, the aura of the guy below was surging wildly in a way that he couldn't understand!
That is not an improvement in true qi, nor an enhancement of the soul, but a more fundamental, more core, sublimation of existence!

"This...what kind of power is this?!"

The sect leader of the Wrathful Soul Sect was shocked by something unprecedented at this moment.

Because he couldn't understand the changes that had occurred in Chen Ye at all.

The people in the academy, watching from afar, were utterly dumbfounded.

All they saw was that this young man, who had been on the verge of death under the demon's oppressive power, suddenly unleashed an aura they had never seen before.

Just as everyone was in shock, Chen Ye slowly raised his hand below.

You say you are the ruler of this world?

"Then let me see if you, the ruler, can bear... the weight of this world!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Ye clenched his fist and slammed it towards the giant hand in the sky.

This punch had neither earth-shattering force nor dazzling brilliance.

But this seemingly ordinary punch, the moment it was thrown, caused the colossal hand, formed by the sect leader of the Wrathful Soul Sect and powerful enough to crush mountains, to vanish silently, like a punctured balloon.

Immediately afterwards, the invisible fist force continued its momentum and slammed directly into the giant demonic face in the sky!
boom! ! !
A deafening roar, so deep it was almost muffled, exploded deep within everyone's souls!

The enormous demonic face in the sky twisted and churned violently under the impact of this punch, and countless agonizing and wailing souls on it broke free from the demonic face's control, turning into specks of light and dissipating.

"what--!"

The sect leader of the Wrathful Soul Sect let out a scream of extreme pain. His massive demonic-faced body was shattered by nearly a third of its size by this one punch!

"Impossible! This is impossible!" His hoarse voice was filled with shock and disbelief.

"How could a mere mortal body possibly bear such immense power of desire! Aren't you afraid of being bursting?!"

Chen Ye merely sneered at this, offering no reply, and instead threw another punch.

boom!
This punch dealt another heavy blow to the Demon Face!

"enough!"

Seeing that his demonic body was about to be completely destroyed, the sect leader of the Wrathful Soul Sect finally let out a deafening roar.

With this roar, he no longer maintained his huge demonic face form, but suddenly shrank inward, and all the surging black energy and resentment frantically converged towards a central point.

The next moment, an indescribable, terrifying power erupted from the center where the power converged.

It was a power that transcended the level of mere energy, a power akin to law and the Tao.

This force, like an invisible shackle, instantly enveloped the entire world.

Chen Ye, who was about to throw his third punch, suddenly stopped.

He felt a tyrannical and domineering force of rules appear out of thin air, forcibly imprisoning the surrounding space and also restricting the flow of power within his body.

It felt like a dragon that was swimming freely in a river was suddenly pulled into a small, confined space, with no way to unleash its full power.

At the same time, the seven-colored flames of desire burning fiercely on his body began to dim and become obscure under the suppression of this power of rules.

Not only him, but everyone in the academy in the distance, including Jing Zhaoning who had just struggled to get up, felt an invisible force pinning them to the spot, making it impossible for them to even move a finger.

In an instant, the world fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden force.

At the center where the black mist dissipated, a figure slowly emerged.

He was a middle-aged man wearing a black dragon robe, a flat-topped crown, and with a dignified face.

He hovered silently in mid-air, making no move whatsoever, yet an unparalleled aura of supreme authority, as if he were ruling the world and controlling the land, naturally emanated from him, making everyone who saw him want to bow down in worship.

The moment Jing Zhaoning saw that face clearly, her pupils suddenly contracted to their maximum size.

"This...how is this possible..." she murmured to herself, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

Not only her, but all the other surviving scholars from the academy were struck dumb upon seeing this face.

(End of this chapter)