Chapter 374: Chapter 373: Who Will Win or Lose (2nd update, asking for monthly tickets!!!)
The black-red storm grew increasingly wild, quickly reaching the peak of Mountain Cang that stood nearly a thousand meters high, where it stirred up a whirlwind of dust and debris.
Multiple masters of the Devil Path stood below the peak, eyes staring upwards, completely transfixed.
Who would have known had they not looked, but what they saw was utterly terrifying.
The stone wall from mid-mountain to the peak bore a deep, winding trace that was dozens of meters wide and deep, and hundreds of meters long, like a coiled dragon nestled in the dense forest. Its surface was as smooth as a mirror, as though it had been painstakingly polished.
Even from thousands of kilometers away, this sight was clearly visible.
This was clearly a spectacle created by the pressure of their battle. This left one to wonder just what level of mastery they had reached.
The Demon Marquis’s power was enough to leave one breathless, and Shi Xiaole, who had been battling evenly with the Demon Marquis, could only be described as possessing talents that were heaven-sent.
"How ridiculous. I even thought I could compete with them. The gap is so big, how can I contend?"
The Chief of the Eradicating Emotion Clan, an old man, couldn’t help shaking his head with self-ridicule. Other competitors for the position of Demon Lord also wore a pale complexion, with their expressions fluctuating.
Even if all of them were to band together, they probably couldn’t beat either Shi Xiaole or the Demon Marquis.
"Having been trapped for decades, I didn’t expect my judgement to have also degraded. Are we getting old?"
On a tree outside the mountain, Yi Wentian let out a sigh, but his eyes were filled with extreme excitement.
With his experience, he was not jealous of the Demon Marquis and Shi Xiaole. Instead, he looked forward to their future development. The more geniuses, the stronger the Devil Path.
"It’s not that we’re getting old, but that the times are changing. The ancient Devil Path always had its prophecies. The prosperity six hundred years ago was but false glory, a sign of a forthcoming eruption. The luck that has accumulated over thousands of years is unfolding today."
Xiao Qian was murmuring while watching the two men fiercely battling on the peak.
"How is it?"
"Good."
Halfway up the mountain, the two elders with damaged visions hadn’t moved or opened their eyes from the start, but every move of Shi Xiaole and the Demon Marquis was fully reflected in their hearts.
Left-eye Elder said, "This lad’s Internal Power is so fierce, it’s rarely seen in the Martial World. I guess what he’s practicing is probably not some second-rate top-grade Internal Power."
Right-eye Elder jokingly replied: "Every fate has its own path. If he can obtain it, that’s his ability. Don’t be covetous."
"How could I? I still need this old face."
"Hehe."
The two old men’s brief exchange was known to no one else.
At Mount Cang’s peak, the fierce battle between the two powerhouses had reached a fever pitch. At this point, endurance and willpower were being tested. Whoever failed to hold out first would lose.
With the Faceless Divine Skill in his possession, Shi Xiaole wasn’t exactly having an easy time.
This Internal Power skill was too domineering, and as a result, it was very easy to exhaust. Up to now, Shi Xiaole only had forty percent of his Internal Power left. Without pulling any killer move, he could, at most, endure a few more thousand moves.
"I can’t use the Soul Transfer Great Method."
Shi Xiaole suppressed his impulse to use the Pupil Skill.
He didn’t want his true self to bear too many similarities to Xie Xiaofeng. If too many similarities are revealed, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.
While Shi Xiaole struggled, the Demon Marquis was not faring better.
The state of Heartless Demon Desire consumed spiritual power. Although only a thread was reduced, as time wore on, the burden on the Demon Marquis was undoubtedly increasing. Compared to the beginning, his reaction speed was much slower.
Fortunately, it was evident that more than half of Shi Xiaole’s Internal Power had also been consumed. He couldn’t exploit these flaws like at the beginning, otherwise the Demon Marquis would be in grave danger.
This fight had to end quickly!
"Holy Young Master, you are truly extraordinary. You’ve opened my eyes. However, it’s better to admit defeat. If we continue to battle, you will die, and I will be injured. With your vision, you surely wouldn’t make such a senseless self-sacrifice," said the Demon Marquis, making a bold proposition that he hoped would end their standoff.
"Admit defeat. With your talents, you can become one of the people I rely on the most."
The Demon Marquis took a step back and uttered a sentence that caused an uproar among the crowd.
"What does he mean? It sounds like he hasn’t used his full strength yet? What audacity! He’s actually suggesting that Holy Young Master, a formidable enemy, should serve him?"
"This is the magnanimity and demeanor that the Lord of the Devil Path should have. The Demon Marquis lives up to his reputation. Let’s see what other surprise moves he has!"
The crowd was astonished and speechless.
"Why shouldn’t you be the one to retreat? In the narrow path where the brave make their stand, Demon Marquis, your words are too naive. Use your power. The one who loses may not be me. If you lose, I will still value someone as talented as you."
Shi Xiaole gripped his sword with his right hand, and the red sword qi floated up and down behind him, ready to strike.
"Does Holy Young Master’s words imply that he also has hidden moves..."
"This... these two people are far beyond our level. Any speculation is pointless. Let’s just watch it go."
Everyone was at a loss for words and almost numb from the shock.
All of them were heroic figures in the Devil Path from various regions, each with their fearsome reputations. Here, however, they were like rookies just starting out, their hearts filled with admiration as they watched the decisive battle between the two powerhouses.
"Fine! Everyone has to be responsible for their own choices. I hope you never regret it!"
Having said what needed to be said, the Demon Marquis no longer hesitated. He wholly entered the realm of ’Heartless Selflessness, Merging with Heaven and Earth,’ and his spiritual power poured out like floodwaters bursting through a dam.
The Magic Desire Eight Forms, which complemented Heartless Demon Desire, grew more powerful the more spiritual power was consumed. Previously, the Demon Marquis had only suppressed his spiritual power consumption to a very low level.
Now, in order to win, even if there were aftereffects, he could no longer bother with that.
As he unreservedly consumed spiritual power, a whole new world seemed to form within a radius of three meters centered on the Demon Marquis. Everyone stood as figures within a painting, while he alone stood outside it, coldly observing the world.
Threads of invisible and intangible power spread out, and a sense of despair suddenly engulfed the hearts of those hundreds of meters away.
This world seemed so false. People go through life with so much sorrow and joy. In the end, it all turns out to be a hollow dream.
What is all their striving and hard work for? It turns out everything is just a tool for the heavens to fool the world. Only death, only darkness can escape this prison to attain true freedom.
"So powerful!"
Most had already come back to consciousness after their moment of sinking. They were not ordinary people, with strong will and a few hundred metres away from Demon Marquis, the impact was not too significant.
But it was the very fact that made everyone feel horrified.
If such an impact was felt from hundreds of metres away, what would happen if one was directly targeted by Demon Marquis?
Death, only death.
No one could withstand such a presence.
Led by Lan Tian and Huang Rong, everyone from the houses of Lan and Huang was watching Shi Xiaole on the other side with great apprehension. Shockingly, they noticed that he was absorbing the dark fluctuations gathering the most Qi from Demon Marquis into his body, and immediately, they were surging out from his back.
The expression on his face was as calm as ever.
"As long as my heart doesn’t change, what can external disturbances do to me?"
Shi Xiaole raised his eyes.
"I desire to rule!"
When the momentum has risen to its peak and could no longer be raised, the Demon Marquis moved. With a single leap, he traversed space instantly arrived in front of Shi Xiaole, striking down with a single palm.
"This is the Quickness Intent Realm!"
Seeing this scene, the three famous elders Yi Wentian and others were all moved.
The Demon Marquis’s strike, contained the Quickness Intent Realm, having reached at least 80% mastery.
Among profound realms, the Quickness Intent Realm was one of the top ranks. For it pointed directly at power, encompassing all the laws of motion in the world.
As long as there’s power, there will be movement. And as long as there’s movement, there will be differences in speed.
It is a realm that appears simple at first but is actually extremely complex and difficult to comprehend. Reaching over 70% comprehension can unimaginably enhance one’s power.
As for realizing the essence of it, no one in the Martial World of the eight states had claimed to have fully comprehended the Quickness Intent Realm.
No one expected that the Demon Marquis’ most feared realm was not the Demon Cloud Intent Realm, but the Quickness Intent Realm. Moreover, it was so well hidden and only utilized at this crucial moment, catching everyone off guard.
His thoughts paused.
The world in front of Shi Xiaole seemed to slow down. The body of the Demon Marquis, once an almost uncatchable phantom, now became faintly visible, then gradually blurred.
In less than a third of the blink of an eye, his body moved spontaneously, leaning heavily to the left with his Wind God Leg.
The speed of the Demon Marquis was way too fast. He could only vaguely see the other party’s direction, unable to gauge the other’s moves, hence evasion was the best option.
Only if it was Shi Xiaole, any other person would not have been able to react in time.
A remote boulder exploded, with an attack missing.
"Desire Roaming!"
As if he had predicted that it would not be easy to defeat Shi Xiaole, the Demon Marquis activated his subsequent attack once his first move failed.
The palm’s intent enveloped from above, like a river of desire flowing from the demon realm. There’s no telling its length or its breadth; desire is, after all, immeasurable.
From the Demon Marquis launching his attacks, to Shi Xiaole dodging, and to him swinging a palm attack, everything happened in an instant. Therefore, barely visible wisps of wind could be heard, and the Demon River had already overshadowed everything above them.
The crowd was stunned by the speed of the Demon Marquis, yet no one could utter a word. Everything happened too fast, barely giving them time to process.
Only the Red Charm Demon from the Demon Sky Sect and the three Qi brothers were laughing loudly. Their lord was sure to win!
The deep, black demonic light reflected in Shi Xiaole’s eyes, he had been waiting there all along.
In less than the third blink of an eye, a powerful, avant-garde, and unparalleled force began to radiate from every pore of his body. The wind around him erupted, the dust settles, and the trees swayed.
Faceless Divine Skill!
From beginning to end, Shi Xiaole had never used his full force for the Faceless Divine Skill. At this moment, he finally let go of his restraint, and allowed this vast and powerful, peerless internal power to truly reveal its glory.
"Demon Jade Hand!"
With his right hand still holding the sword, Shi Xiaole’s left hand had long been pushed out.
Rumble!
Thunder exploded, and a black jade-like hand surged upwards.
The boundless demon river scattered to both sides as soon as it encountered the black jade hand, splitting like a torn cloth, blasting trees on both sides of Shi Xiaole and making the ground unrecognizable.
"Puff!"
A mouthful of blood spurted, Demon Marquis flew up, his eyes filled with shock for the first time: "A top-tier internal power, you’ve learned a top-tier internal power, but I’m the unbeatable Demon Marquis, I desire to reign over heaven!"
The torn demon river suddenly closed again, engulfing the black jade hand. The Demon Marquis stepped out from the demon river, and with a single palm grabbed towards the top of Shi Xiaole’s head.
Triple moves in succession!
So, the last three forms of Magic Desire Eight Forms were a three-fold lethal move, each closely linked. This was his real killer move!
A red sword Qi was almost simultaneously emitted. Shi Xiaole exhausted his last bit of internal power, used the Faceless Divine Skill, and executed the Death Claiming Fifteenth Sword. The final sword that would determine life and death was his.
What kind of sword is this?
Wherever the eye could see, it was all red, even the golden sun shining at the top of the mountain was dyed deep red.
The forceful motion of the Demon Marquis was eroded by the sword Qi, and finally a crack sounded, and his palm was pierced through. The sword Qi drilled into him from the palm and burst out from his back, bringing out a jet of blood that shot through a giant stone ten feet away.
"Ah!"
At the top of Mountain Cang echoed a sharp scream.
