Chapter 73: Extermination of the Sect

Two loud booms, "Boom!" "Boom!"

As the golden-furred giant ape's massive fists slammed down, ripples spread across the black light barrier, with two deep depressions at the points of impact, even emitting a piercing "squeak."

"Where did this beast come from? Such terrifying strength!"

"This creature seems quite similar to the legendary true spirit Mountain Ape. Could it be..."

"Regardless, this audacious monster dares to run wild in our esteemed Heavenly Ghost Sect. We must capture it and make an example of it!"

Led by the bearded elder Fu, seven or eight Body Integration cultivators, after a moment of shock at the sight of the golden-furred giant ape outside the grand formation, followed by various speculations, all offered up their treasures and flew swiftly toward the ape.

Elder Lu was about to fly forward when a strange glint flashed in his eyes, and he halted mid-motion. Besides him, those who did not move included the Heavenly Ghost Sect's sect master, a hunchbacked old man, a beautiful woman, and a one-eyed giant.

These four were the ones who had joined forces to summon the Nine Heavens Demon Flame against Han Li in the Demon Flame Valley that day. They exchanged glances, each seeing shock in the other's eyes.

At the same time, numerous streaks of light flashed from various peaks of the Heavenly Ghost Sect. Almost all the elders and disciples flew out from their residences, landing on nearby peaks or squares, watching with confusion.

The golden-furred giant ape paid no heed to those charging at him. Not only did it not stop, but it let out a roar, and with its fists flashing with golden light, it furiously pounded the black light barrier.

A thunderous roar echoed!

The black light barrier trembled violently, twisted and deformed, and soon, unable to bear the strain, emitted tearing sounds and shattered inch by inch.

The giant ape's massive form abruptly passed through the broken part of the formation and plummeted toward a mountain peak. At that moment, the several Body Integration elders who had rushed from Sacrificial Abyss Peak also met it head-on.

Elder Fu, charging at the forefront, let out a roar. Rolling crimson blood mist surged around him, enveloping his entire body and rapidly condensing into a blood-armored giant ghost over five hundred feet tall.

Its hands gripped a bloody mountain-splitting giant axe, swinging it down at the giant ape's head.

Where the axe blade passed, blood-colored whirlpools appeared on either side, emitting powerful pulling forces that seemed capable of drawing everything around into the blade's edge.

Following the blood-colored giant, several ghostly treasures of various colors and shapes, some carrying rolling black mist, others stirring up a surging blood river, covered most of the sky and charged fiercely at the giant ape.

In an instant, the sky howled with yin winds and thickened with blood energy, like ten thousand ghosts wailing and vengeful souls crying out, causing the temperature in the surrounding hundreds of feet to plummet.

The golden-furred giant ape snorted disdainfully, its descent unabated. It raised one arm high and slapped down toward the blood river and ghost mist below.

"Whoosh!"

An indescribably powerful blast wave, like a hundred-foot-high wall, pushed downward with irresistible force.

Elder Fu's blood-armored giant bore the brunt of it. The blood-colored giant axe slammed into the blast wave and shattered instantly without any delay.

Then, its massive body seemed to hit a boulder. First, half of its body collapsed, and then the whole figure turned into a mass of blood light and exploded.

The yin clouds and blood mist behind, before even touching the blast wave, were blown apart by invisible forces. The bone swords, skulls, blood rings, and other treasures hidden within all burst like firecrackers, turning to dust.

In midair, mournful cries rang out continuously. Several figures, their natal treasures destroyed, spat blood and fell from the sky.

The rest were greatly alarmed and hastily fled backward.

The next moment, the golden giant ape's massive body fell like a meteor, crashing heavily onto a mountain peak. The ground shook violently, rolling dust rose, and half the mountain collapsed.

Near the mountain, exclamations sounded incessantly. Hundreds of streaks of light rose and fled rapidly in all directions.

At this moment, within the chaotic blood light in midair, a small infant several inches tall shot out. Its features closely resembled Elder Fu's, but its expression was terrified as it prepared to flee into the distance.

Just as light began to glow around it, a fat figure silently materialized beside it—it was none other than the Hermit of All Mountains!

He expressionlessly slapped down with his palm. The infant felt the air around it tighten, and before it could even let out a wail, it turned into a red light and exploded with a bang.

On Sacrificial Abyss Peak, the Heavenly Ghost Sect's sect master, already shaken by the sight of seven or eight Body Integration elders' combined attack being broken by the giant ape's slap, now saw the sudden appearance of the Hermit of All Mountains, and his face turned extremely grim.

"Senior Hermit of All Mountains, what are you doing?" he asked, forcing himself to remain calm.

The Hermit of All Mountains glanced at the golden-furred giant ape from afar, then turned back and shook his head, saying, "Sect Master Shi, to be honest, both of your sect's Great Ascension elders have died at the hands of Senior Han. The Heavenly Ghost Sect is finished."

His voice was not loud, but to the Heavenly Ghost Sect's sect master and the surrounding Body Integration cultivators, it struck like a thunderbolt.

Elder Lu and the other four immediately showed expressions of despair.

They had already sensed a familiar aura from the giant ape. Now, hearing the Hermit of All Mountains confirm that the fierce golden-furred giant ape, as formidable as an ancient true spirit, was Han Li, they naturally knew his words were true.

Elder Lu took a deep breath, his lips slightly moving as he transmitted a message to Sect Master Shi.

Patriarch Shi's face first showed a hint of struggle, but in the end he gritted his teeth secretly, respectfully bowed to the He Shan Daoist in midair, and said:

"Senior He Shan, since the Heavenly Ghost Sect is destined to be no more, rather than dying in vain, we might as well surrender here and now, and be willing to serve Senior Han in the future."

"Hehe, as for serving, my Jingyuan Temple is enough. As for Senior Han's wrath, let your Heavenly Ghost Sect bear it fully." The He Shan Daoist revealed a strange look in his eyes and chuckled.

As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve, and a peachwood ancient sword flew out. Trembling, it soared into the air and swelled wildly into a giant light sword over ten zhang long. Its surface was entwined with countless profound runes, and its whole body burst forth with a dazzling golden light.

Then, the giant sword turned into a golden rainbow and slashed toward Patriarch Shi and the others.

The surrounding void trembled violently, and was actually cut open into an extraordinarily long pitch-black rift!

Patriarch Shi and the other five were greatly alarmed. As their figures shot backward in several directions, various colors of light flared up, and with a wave of their hands, they summoned many defensive measures.

While they were speaking, the golden giant ape had already leaped to appear before a huge peak. It let out a roar, raised its fists high, and smashed heavily against the mountain wall like beating a drum.

With a thunderous "boom"!

The surface rock of the ground instantly cracked inch by inch, spreading a dense network of cracks like a spiderweb.

Immediately afterward, the entire mountain peak shook violently, then collapsed with a thunderous roar, and streaks of smoke and dust like yellow dragons rose billowing from within.

At this moment, a tall figure suddenly flashed out from the smoke and dust, hovering in midair. It was Han Li, who had returned to his human form.

He quickly swept his gaze around and saw escape lights flickering everywhere—almost all the elders and disciples of the Heavenly Ghost Sect were fleeing in all directions.

On the distant Sacrificial Nether Peak, light flashed and explosions rang out incessantly. Quanshan Daoist seemed to be engaged in a fierce battle with the Heavenly Ghost Sect Master and several other Combined Essence cultivators, appearing completely at ease.

Han Li narrowed his eyes, muttered something to himself, then suddenly opened his mouth and spat out.

A ball of silver fire shot out instantly, and with a "puff," it transformed into a silver firebird about a foot in size.

At that moment, Han Li formed a hand seal and pointed a finger at the firebird.

The silver firebird raised its head, let out a clear cry, and its body swelled at an unimaginable speed, turning into a giant as large as a small mountain. Spreading its wings, it dove toward a dense cluster of buildings below.

A deafening, earth-shattering explosion rang out!

The giant firebird plunged straight into the center of the building complex, exploded, and instantly turned into a sea of fire, engulfing everything.

Seeing this, Han Li suddenly turned and flew toward another mountain peak several hundred li away.

He had long learned from the He Shan Daoist that this peak was called Cangyou Peak, one of the most important peaks of the Heavenly Ghost Sect, and the Sutra Library and Alchemy-Artifact Hall were located on it.

……

A few days later.

In the courtyard within the Purple Bamboo Forest behind the Sacred Flame Peak of the Cold Flame Sect.

Sima Jingming was holding a communication jade plate in his hand, pacing back and forth in the room, his face full of joy.

With his cultivation of composure honed over endless years, he should not have behaved like this, but at this moment he could hardly contain himself.

Just then, the scroll hanging on the wall in front of him suddenly lit up, and the figure of the Cold Flame Ancestor materialized.

"Greetings, Ancestor." Seeing this, Sima Jingming immediately stopped and bowed to him.

"What, is there a result on that matter?" the Cold Flame Ancestor asked calmly.

"Reporting to the Ancestor, there is a tremendous piece of good news." Sima Jingming's eyes sparkled as he spoke at once.

Hearing this, the Cold Flame Ancestor frowned slightly but said nothing.

Sima Jingming immediately realized that he had been carried away by joy and had lost his composure.

He quickly apologized and said seriously, "Forgive me, Ancestor. Just today, that Senior Han suddenly sent a message saying that the Heavenly Ghost Sect has been removed from the Linghuan Realm, and that our sect should take over the parts of the country and sect forces previously controlled by the Heavenly Ghost Sect, as compensation for the destruction of our sect's scriptures."

"Parts... and what about the Jingyuan Temple?" the Cold Flame Ancestor asked calmly, showing no obvious joy on his face.

"Senior Han did not mention that. However, according to the reports, although the Jingyuan Temple suffered heavy losses, it does not seem to have suffered the same calamity of annihilation as the Heavenly Ghost Sect." Sima Jingming replied after a moment's thought.

After hearing this, the Cold Flame Ancestor frowned slightly, pondered for a long time, and then murmured:

"I originally thought he could only fight to the death, causing heavy losses to the two great sects, but I never expected that he alone not only severely wounded the Jingyuan Temple but also wiped out the Heavenly Ghost Sect in one go. It seems I underestimated him before."

"Ancestor, after this matter, our Cold Flame Sect will surely hold our heads high and leap to become the number one sect in the Linghuan Realm." Sima Jingming could not help saying.

"Do not be complacent. Keep a close watch on the movements of the Jingyuan Temple. By the way, I recall that this man has a younger sister in our sect. In the future, she must be treated well, with no negligence whatsoever. Additionally, all those in the sect related to him should be supported with resources and cultivated, doing our best to maintain good relations." The Cold Flame Ancestor reminded him thus.