A Startling Change! The Stable Triangle!

Chu Yang had a headache over how to deal with Jiang Ming. It was not because he could not defeat him, but because an adorable little girl stood before him.

Jiang Wan’er.

The daughter Jiang Ming had with the Fox Demon.

It was precisely because Jiang Wan’er existed that Jiang Ming had not completely fallen into the demonic path and still retained a trace of clarity.

The moment he entered the final level, Chu Yang encountered Jiang Wan’er.

Sensing the aura of a living person on Chu Yang, Jiang Wan’er was initially delighted before becoming frightened. She feared that Chu Yang would be killed by her demonized father, so she urged him to turn back.

Chu Yang had not expected Jiang Ming to be on the final level, yet it made perfect sense. There was no stronger existence to be found here.

Even the Heavenly Demon Emperor would only meet a dead end against the demonized Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming was an exceptionally special figure. Though he was the cause of Shu Mountain’s disaster, in the end, it was his beloved master and fellow disciples who had forced him into demonhood.

If he had been given a choice, he would not have walked this path. Unfortunately, no one had allowed him to choose back then—or rather, they had forced him to choose a road he did not wish to take.

From Sect Leader Jiang Juezhi down to the disciples beneath him, that generation of the Sword Sect had brought it upon themselves. They planted the cause, then bore the bitter fruit. That was all.

From beginning to end, Jiang Ming was more like a victim of those unusual circumstances.

Chu Yang could kill the Heavenly Demon Emperor without hesitation, but when it came to Jiang Ming, he hesitated again and again.

"You should leave quickly. If Father isn’t lucid later, you won’t be able to leave!"

Jiang Wan’er tugged at Chu Yang’s arm, anxiously begging him to leave.

"Do you think he is suffering like this?"

Chu Yang suddenly asked.

Jiang Wan’er gazed deeply toward her father beyond the door, her eyes full of sorrow. "Of course he is suffering. Father lives in self-reproach every day. His guilt drives him mad, and in his madness, he slaughtered many people. It has kept repeating like this for many years."

"The time he remains lucid is getting shorter and shorter. Perhaps one day, he will become a demon that knows only slaughter. But I cannot leave him, because I am his only family."

Chu Yang sighed. "I can try to free him, but he may die. Can you accept that?"

Jiang Wan’er stood there in a daze, staring at Chu Yang with disbelief, as though asking whether it was truly possible.

"Rather than completely falling into the demonic path, Father would surely prefer to be freed."

Jiang Wan’er gave an affirmative answer.

"Then wait for me outside."

Chu Yang slowly walked through the door.

The current Jiang Ming was far more terrifying than the Jiang Ming in the original story. When he fell into demonhood, he had drawn in heavenly demons. After death, he had been infected by their aura, leaving him in a state half-ghost and half-demon.

In terms of sinister strangeness, even Evil Sword Immortal would likely pale before him.

"Who are you?"

Jiang Ming tilted his head. His eyes were blood-red and filled with madness.

Chu Yang cupped his hands. "This junior is Chu Yang. Greetings, Senior."

"A Shu Mountain disciple?"

Jiang Ming recognized the Daoist robe on Chu Yang. His tone abruptly turned dull, but the next instant, his pupils became a sea of blood.

The words Shu Mountain were like some sort of switch, stimulating Jiang Ming to the utmost extent.

Jiang Ming instantly fell into demonhood.

"I had wanted to chat with you like the Sword Saint did, but it seems there is no need now."

Chu Yang helplessly summoned Fengdu. Yomi Water surged from the void and drowned the demonized Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming, who had been about to attack, seemed to have been struck by an immobilization spell. He stood motionless, his expression becoming extraordinarily pained and conflicted.

Yomi Water inflicted tremendous damage on soul bodies, while also washing away the heavenly demon aura on Jiang Ming. If he was lucky, Jiang Ming would regain his senses before dispersing and be able to exchange a few words with Jiang Wan’er.

At first, Jiang Ming still let out agonized howls, but as his demonic thoughts diminished, his eyes gradually cleared.

Though he remained in unbearable pain, it no longer seemed worth mentioning.

In the end, Jiang Ming’s figure grew increasingly faint, like an illusion in a dream that would shatter at the slightest touch.

"Thank you, young friend. This old man has been muddleheaded for many years, and at last, I have a day of clear consciousness."

Jiang Ming nodded slightly, a gentle smile on his face.

"There isn’t much time. Senior, whatever you have to say should be left for Jiang Wan’er."

Chu Yang turned and called Jiang Wan’er in from outside.

Because she had not spoken to Jiang Ming in so long, Jiang Wan’er was somewhat timid, walking forward very slowly.

"If you do not say something soon, Senior will have to leave."

Chu Yang reminded her, then turned and walked outside, leaving the space to the father and daughter.

Only a few breaths later, Jiang Wan’er’s crying came from within. Before she had the chance to experience either paternal or maternal love, her parents had left her one after another.

When Chu Yang entered again, Jiang Ming had already vanished. His soul, cleansed by Yomi Water, was qualified to enter reincarnation. Otherwise, with a soul tainted by heavenly demon aura, he would have been reduced to ashes.

Jiang Wan’er tearfully thanked Chu Yang. He waved it off, his gaze sweeping over the formations around them.

As the bottommost floor of the Demon Imprisonment Tower, this place was the foundation of the entire tower and naturally had the most formations.

Completely recording them would take even longer.

Chu Yang did not care that Jiang Wan’er was beside him. He took out all kinds of high-tech equipment right in front of her. The little girl, who had been crying moments earlier, was immediately drawn in, and her tears abruptly stopped.

In any case, no one would believe anything she said once she left, given her identity. Besides, she would not remain on Shu Mountain.

While Chu Yang repaired the formations, however, a storm was brewing outside the Demon Imprisonment Tower.

Moon Worshipper and Evil Sword Immortal arrived together. They suddenly launched a sneak attack on Qing Wei and the others, who were maintaining the formation, and snatched away the Five Spirit Orbs.

The Five Spirit Formation instantly collapsed.

The situation they had painstakingly maintained was destroyed just like that. The Demon Imprisonment Tower, which had already been more than half repaired, began to crumble again.

"Damn it! I was careless!"

Seeing that things had been going so smoothly on Chu Yang’s side, Dugu Sword Saint had let down his guard, only for this grave mistake to occur. In fury, he attacked, countless streams of sword qi sweeping toward Moon Worshipper and Evil Sword Immortal.

The Drunken Sword Immortal was likewise enraged beyond measure. He directly smashed his wine gourd to the ground, used the Sword Control Technique to trap the two of them, and assisted his senior brother, the Sword Saint, in exterminating these two demonic heretics.

Xu Changqing ran toward Qing Wei and Cang Gu in panic, his heart seized by a fear he had never known before.

Li Xiaoyao and Jing Tian were also about to head over, but Lin Yueru stopped them. She said anxiously, "We can handle things here. Hurry and help Senior Sword Saint and Senior Drunken Sword Immortal. We absolutely cannot let Moon Worshipper and Evil Sword Immortal take away the Five Spirit Orbs!"

Upon hearing that, Li Xiaoyao immediately charged toward Moon Worshipper, while Jing Tian followed with the Demon Sword in hand.

When Lin Yueru turned around, she saw Xu Changqing holding Cang Gu, his face deathly pale. Her heart sank along with his.

"Brother Xu, pull yourself together! Quickly feed the Blood Bodhi to the seniors!"

Lin Yueru grabbed Xu Changqing’s robes and shook him forcefully. Xu Changqing only revealed a bitter smile.

"Miss Lin, I have already given them Blood Bodhi, but it has no effect at all. Evil thoughts are lodged within Master’s and the others’ wounds like parasites clinging to the bone, preventing the wounds from healing."

Xu Changqing’s voice trembled. He feared that these revered elders of his sect would die here.

"Wake up!"

Tang Xuejian stepped forward and slapped Xu Changqing across the face. Looking at the stunned Xu Changqing, she said, "You are the only one who can save them here. Do whatever you can think of!"

Xu Changqing took a deep breath, helped Qing Wei and Cang Gu sit upright, then transferred his spiritual power into them to help them resist the erosion of the evil thoughts.

Lin Yueru followed suit, lifting Jing Ming, one of the elders, and using her true essence to help him resist the evil thoughts.

Tang Xuejian’s cultivation was insufficient, but she herself was a Divine Tree Fruit and carried a sacred aura. With the Five Poisons Beast’s assistance, she could barely help one elder resist the evil thoughts as well.

Long Kui helped the final elder. She was originally the sword spirit of the Demon Sword and was skilled at dealing with things like evil thoughts and demonic qi.

In this way, they barely preserved Qing Wei and the others’ lives, but as time passed, they would inevitably be unable to keep it up.

Everyone understood that their only hope now was Chu Yang inside the Demon Imprisonment Tower.

"Do not place your hopes on him. If he were not maintaining the formations inside, this Demon Imprisonment Tower would have collapsed long ago!"

A crimson figure suddenly appeared.

"Red-haired…" Tang Xuejian had not even finished speaking when she felt Chonglou’s icy gaze. She hurriedly changed her words. "Senior Demon Lord, you came at the perfect time. Please help us!"

Chonglou glanced at the heavily wounded old men, who were on the verge of death, and said indifferently, "My agreement with that fellow was to ensure you do not die. Old man Qing Wei and the others are not included."

Tang Xuejian said anxiously, "How can you say that? If Sect Leader Qing Wei and the others are harmed, Daoist Xu and Daoist Chu will definitely be heartbroken. If they die of grief, wouldn’t that mean you failed to keep your agreement too?"

Chonglou’s eyelid twitched. After holding it in for a long while, he finally said, "Women truly love to be unreasonable!"

Lin Yueru said irritably, "If you will not help us, then go help Li Xiaoyao and Jing Tian. Kill Moon Worshipper and Evil Sword Immortal, and you can count that as fulfilling your agreement. How about it?"

The corners of Chonglou’s mouth lifted slightly. "They are not in a mortal predicament. I will not help!"

Tang Xuejian glared fiercely at him and snapped, "Fine, do not help! You only came here to laugh at us!"

As the stalemate continued, a cool voice rang out.

"Since Demon Lord will not help, then let me. I ask Demon Lord to leave Shu Mountain, this place of purity."

Zi Xuan suddenly appeared, carrying the Sacred Relic Pearl as she walked over step by step. She said to Xu Changqing, "The repair of the Demon Imprisonment Tower is only one final step away. The Sacred Relic Pearl and the Five Spirit Orbs share the same origin. It can divide the Five Spirit Power and make up the final bit of spiritual power."

Xu Changqing and Demon Lord Chonglou spoke in unison. "No!"

Xu Changqing immediately shook his head in refusal. "If you do that, the Sacred Relic Pearl will be completely destroyed. You will not live for more than a few days!"

"I have lived for a very long time. It is enough." Zi Xuan smiled like a blooming flower. "Now that Ling’er and I have acknowledged one another and spent some time together, I am already content."

Xu Changqing still shook his head. "No!"

Zi Xuan’s gaze was tender. She walked to Xu Changqing’s side, stroked his hair, and softly said, "I am leaving. You must cultivate well and seek immortality and the Dao."

Xu Changqing could only watch helplessly as Zi Xuan walked toward the Demon Imprisonment Tower. Qing Wei’s and Cang Gu’s lives were still in his hands, leaving him unable to move!

"What a useless fool!"

It was unclear whether Chonglou was cursing Xu Changqing or himself. After cursing, he strode forward and reached the Demon Imprisonment Tower before Zi Xuan, pressing his hand against it.

Powerful Magic Power enveloped the Demon Imprisonment Tower, instantly supplying all the spiritual power needed for the repairs.

Almost at the same moment, a crisp sword cry rang out. Fengdu flew out from the top of the tower first, followed by Chu Yang’s figure.

Fengdu flew toward Qing Wei and the others, summoning Yomi Water to cleanse the evil thoughts, while Chu Yang charged straight at Moon Worshipper and Evil Sword Immortal.

"Die!"

Rage burned through every corner of Chu Yang’s body. Since coming to this world, this was the first time he had ever been so furious.

The phenomenon of sun and moon sharing the sky appeared behind Chu Yang. The upgraded Source Martial True Body radiated an even greater pressure, and every gesture carried an aura that made hearts tremble.

Sun and moon hung in the sky, their might crushing heaven and earth!

Chu Yang raised his fist and slammed it down. In an instant, the entire space trembled!

The ground beneath Moon Worshipper and Evil Sword Immortal suddenly sank. The terrifying force of the punch nearly pressed them down until they could not stand.

The two figures flickered and vanished from where they stood.

The next moment, the place they had occupied exploded with a thunderous boom, then swiftly collapsed, sending tsunami-like shockwaves surging in all directions!

Even the Sword Saint and the others in the distance were affected!

Hovering high in the air, Chu Yang possessed an overwhelming majesty that made it hard to breathe, as though he were a God!

Moon Worshipper and Evil Sword Immortal exchanged a glance, both considering retreat. They already had the Five Spirit Orbs; there was no need to continue fighting to the death.

With such terrifying Chu Yang alongside the Sword Saint and the others, the two of them had almost no chance of victory.

Fortunately, Demon Lord had no intention of acting. Otherwise, Moon Worshipper and Evil Sword Immortal would have fled at once rather than remain here fighting.

Chu Yang noticed their intentions and immediately unleashed Banshō Ten’in. Evil Sword Immortal was yanked by the terrifying attraction, his body swaying as the Five Spirit Orbs flew out.

"Oh no!"

Evil Sword Immortal wanted to fly over and seize them, but a frigid stream of sword qi slashed toward him, forcing him back.

The Sword Saint used his fingers as a sword and unleashed the Myriad Swords Technique. Countless streams of sword qi formed a storm and blasted Evil Sword Immortal away.

After putting away the Five Spirit Orbs, Chu Yang held Fengdu and opened the Ghost Gate, intending to completely subdue Evil Sword Immortal.

The appearance of the Ghost Gate shattered Evil Sword Immortal’s final mental defense. For the first time, terror appeared on his face.

Without a second thought, he tried to flee!

Suddenly.

The ground split open with a massive crack, and an enormous demonic beast burst out from underground, blocking everyone’s attacks.

In the blink of an eye, Moon Worshipper and Evil Sword Immortal vanished.

Chu Yang merely glanced at the suddenly appearing demonic beast and did not take it seriously. He left it to the Sword Saint and the others, then flew to Cang Gu’s side.

Without the evil thoughts lodged in his body, Cang Gu’s injuries swiftly healed under the effects of the Blood Bodhi.

The others were the same.

Only then did Chu Yang let out a breath of relief and begin reflecting on himself. He should not have underestimated Moon Worshipper and Evil Sword Immortal. They had nearly succeeded in this ambush.

If not for his prior agreement with Demon Lord, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The complete collapse of the Demon Imprisonment Tower would have been secondary. More importantly, Qing Wei and the others had nearly lost their lives. If all five of them died, Evil Sword Immortal, who shared the same origin, could obtain the cultivation of all five and ascend in a single step to become an Extraterrestrial Demon.

Fortunately, the worst-case scenario had not happened. Having learned from this painful lesson, Chu Yang decided that next time, he would have to fleece Chonglou a little more. He was truly useful at crucial moments!

But that was a matter for later. There was something more important to deal with now.

Not far away, Chonglou was staring at Zi Xuan. Zi Xuan was gazing lovingly at Xu Changqing, while Xu Changqing glared angrily at Chonglou. The three of them formed a perfect triangle.

Chu Yang could not help sighing. "What a stable shape."