Chapter 1665: Sin Mace
Bang!
Caught off guard, Immortal Dizang was struck and scattered into a mass of Yin energy. When he reformed, his aura had already weakened several times.
Fang Chen was freed from his restraints as well. The moment his feet touched the ground, he saw Chen Enxue strike again. Within the span of a breath, she had already thrown more than a dozen punches at Immortal Dizang. Each punch seemed to mobilize the full might of an eighth transformation Ancient Immortal.
Immortal Dizang's form was blasted apart again and again, only to reassemble repeatedly. Each time he reformed, his aura diminished further. He was utterly unable to fight back.
Fang Chen was stunned. He was certain that Chen Enxue's true cultivation had not reached the eighth transformation. She wasn't even a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal! Yet at that moment, she was undeniably unleashing the power of an eighth-transformation Immortal, and among the very strongest of them!
What's going on?! Is this another one of her and Senior Sister's plans, where she's actually Senior Sister in disguise?
Half-kneeling on the ground, Immortal Dizang tilted his head and looked at Chen Enxue as she approached. "The seal I placed upon you... actually failed?"
Chen Enxue grinned. "I've gone to great lengths for this. I've also waited a very long time for today."
She let out a savage laugh and punched him squarely in the head.
Bang!
Immortal Dizang once again dispersed into Yin energy. This time, it took him slightly longer to reform.
"Don't even think about running. I've already sealed this place. No one outside can hear what's happening inside, and no one inside can get out." Chen Enxue strode toward him again. "Today, I'm settling a score for Ninth Sister, repaying the debt you owe her."
Ninth Sister? But I never—
Fang Chen suddenly understood. She was probably referring to the previous ninth core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace.
In an instant, everything seemed to click.
Immortal Dizang was likely the culprit who had killed the previous ninth core disciple, Chen Enxue's junior.
Chen Enxue had to have joined the Motian Division precisely so she could one day personally avenge her junior sister.
Where did Third Senior Sister's cultivation come from? Was it because she had absolute confidence that she believed she could bring me out of here alive? Fang Chen wondered to himself.
While he was thinking, Immortal Dizang was beaten again. Like a ghost being lashed shorter and shorter by willow branches. His aura showed faint signs of dropping below the eighth transformation. Yet his vitality remained stubborn. He refused to die.
Immortal Dizang reformed once more and burst into mocking laughter. "Hahaha! War Immortal Chen Enxue, we Ghost Immortals are not so easy to kill. Our cultivation levels are comparable. You only gained the upper hand through trickery. But if you want to kill me, it won't be easy.
"That person will soon sense my waning strength. If he comes in person, I'll enjoy watching you beg for mercy before him. He has countless methods to make you regret being born into this world and regret betraying the Motian Division."
"But I am curious, your cultivation—ah, I should have realized sooner. You've deliberately avoided advancing to the seventh transformation all these years. Even when you're given the chance to obtain an Ancient Immortal Register, you secretly relinquished it. You were waiting for this day all along, weren't you?"
A manic grin spread across his face. "You were actually willing to give up your mortal life, becoming a Ghost Immortal, just for my sake. Tell me, should I feel honored?"
Given up her mortal life?
Fang Chen's expression turned extremely grave as he looked at the expressionless Chen Enxue. At this moment, there was none of her usual irreverence, only resolve.
"You're quite clever," Chen Enxue said lightly. "You guessed that all these years, I've devoted myself entirely to the Ghost Immortal Path. Since everyone must die eventually, why should I cling to that stinking mortal shell? One less register for me means one more Ancient Immortal can be born."
She smiled faintly. Perhaps noticing Fang Chen watching her, she glanced at him. "Ninth Brother, don't be too sad after we go back. You won't be seeing me at Enlightenment God Palace anymore. But if you miss me, you can come to the Enlightenment Underworld Realm. I'm still the head of the Nether Guards Division, after all."
With that, she reached into her robes. "Immortal Dizang, since you guessed that I've fully committed to the Ghost Immortal Path, did you also guess why you could never detect it?"
Immortal Dizang narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
Chen Enxue withdrew a three-foot-long mace. It had eight facets, each carved with ferocious ghostly beasts. A Candle Dragon coiled from the hilt, winding all the way to the tip of the weapon like a chain, as though suppressing the eight ghost beasts.
The moment the mace appeared, even Fang Chen felt a terrifying pressure descend upon his soul.
Immortal Dizang's pupils dilated. He exclaimed in shock, "The Sin Mace once wielded by the Monarch of the Ancient Nether Guards Division? It's actually in your Enlightenment Underworld Realm? And they let you, a mere third-ranked core disciple, wield it? That makes no sense!"
"What sense do I need to make with you?" Chen Enxue smiled faintly. "You only need to know that since ancient times, this Sin Mace has slain countless Ghost Immortals. As for twisted heretics like you, how can you possibly survive?"
In a flash, she appeared before Immortal Dizang and swung the Sin Mace down with all her might!
Bang!
The instant the Sin Mace touched his soul, it exploded. Countless strands of spiritually imbued Yin energy scattered like extinguished ashes, slowly drifting away.
Chen Enxue watched impassively. Suddenly, she dropped to one knee, gasping heavily. Nearly half of her soul had dispersed. Her entire being looked dim and faintly translucent.
"What are you standing there for? Help me up," she scolded lightly, glancing at Fang Chen.
"Third Senior Sister, this artifact is extraordinary. Forcing its use at your level has already consumed your Yin Lifespan. You'll need many years to recover."
Fang Chen stepped forward and helped her up, sighing softly.
The Sin Mace was likely from the same era as the Reincarnation Mirror, the Book of Life and Death, and the Divine Furnace.
"It doesn't matter. No cost is too great if I am able to avenge Ninth Sister." Chen Enxue smiled faintly. "Now we need to find a way to leave. After we step outside, you need to put on an act. Don't let them see through us. In my current state, if the Ghost Immortals of the Motian Division here besiege us, both you and I will die."
Fang Chen nodded. "Alright."
Chen Enxue straightened herself. Yin energy surged around her as she adjusted her complexion. Then she led Fang Chen step by step toward the door.
Just as they were about to open it, the doors swung open on their own.
Chen Enxue immediately sensed danger and dragged Fang Chen back at high speed.
Outside the door stood an unharmed Immortal Dizang, looking at Chen Enxue with a half-smile. Ghost Dragon stood behind him, his face full of mockery.
"War Immortal Chen Enxue, to push me to this extent, throughout history, you are the first." Immortal Dizang sighed softly. His gaze fell upon the Sin Mace, his eyes burning with desire. "I can forgive you. I can even let you both leave. Just hand over the Sin Mace."
He smiled. "What do you say?"
