Chapter 156: Demonbane: Lin Mo vs. Heaven-Cutting

Gu Qingxiao’s face gleamed with hope as she brushed past Nangong Lin, Liu Ruyan, Wang Wan, and Nangong Wentian.

They had arrived here by chance, but the sight before them wiped the smiles from their faces. For a long moment, no one could say a word.

“That was close—I nearly died!” Lin Mo staggered, gravely wounded by the sword, looking in shock at Li Xun’s corpse.

With a slow, chilling smile, Lin Mo inched closer to the tip of the sword.

Crack—

The Godslayer Sword crumbled to dust with Lin Mo’s approaching steps, falling in a heap. The sword’s hilt vanished, and Li Xun’s body dissolved into gray ash, disappearing from the world.

“How could this be? How could Senior lose? This can’t be real!” Gu Qingxiao stared in disbelief.

Nangong Lin was stunned. “What… what on earth happened here? What could have caused such terrifying destruction? Are we even capable of defeating someone like that?”

Lin Mo opened his eyes, having finished admiring the scene. Glancing at the four women before him, he found the situation rather amusing. With a wave of his hand, he grabbed all four of them.

“I’m surprised. Shouldn’t you all be running away right now? Why are you hanging around—miss me already?” Lin Mo grinned.

Nangong Lin scoffed. “Shameless! Why would any of us come back to see you? You’re a monster—after everything you’ve done to our people, we were just unlucky enough to fall into your hands today. Kill us or not, do whatever you want!”

“Monster! You’re so heartless, you’ll pay for this one day!” Liu Ruyan shot Lin Mo a furious glare.

“Hardly. For now, I’ll keep you alive. Besides, I’m at the very peak of the Demon God Realm—who in this world dares kill me? Who could?” Lin Mo shook his head and turned away.

Wang Wan hesitated. “You… you—”

………………

Meanwhile, inside the Gate of Ascendants.

Suddenly, two powerful auras exploded—one pure golden light, the other a raging tide. Twin pillars shot toward the sky.

Within the golden pillar stood a man, poised and elegant, dressed all in white.

His silver hair spiked upward, golden eyes shining. His entire body was veiled in a sweeping golden radiance, with a massive golden disc suspended behind him.

That figure gripped the Skydome Sword in his hand.

An overwhelming might radiated in all directions, making the Skydome Sword shine brighter than ever.

The man embodied this awe-inspiring strength—none other than Gu Qingyi! (Gu Xiaoyao)

A second later, another pillar revealed a woman in blue. She moved with effortless grace, her curves accentuated by her stunning figure, face as breathtaking as a goddess. Like a fairy, she floated gently to the ground.

This ethereal beauty was none other than Xuyan, the Flame of the Void.

A luminous sea-moon hung behind her, giving her an air of icy aloofness that warned others away.

Taking tiny, quick steps, she moved to Gu Qingyi’s side, her eyes lighting up as she eyed him up and down. “So my host is actually this handsome? I had no idea!”

“Enough joking around. And to think, someone just turned into a great beauty a moment ago. Let’s focus—we should get going!” Gu Qingyi replied coolly.

“Of course, I’ll do as you say.” Xuyan trailed leisurely behind Gu Qingyi, hands folded behind her back.

After a few steps, a swirling vortex opened before them. Without hesitation, they stepped through together.

The portal closed behind them, leaving the Divine Path as tranquil as ever.

………………

At that moment, high above Xuanwu City.

The sky was heavy and oppressive. Several figures hovered in the air, suspended by some strange force—each wore a tense, anxious expression.

After spacing out for three minutes, Gu Qingxiao snapped from her daze, glaring violently at Lin Mo.

“You monster! You deserve to die! If you have the guts, just kill us already. Toying with us—what does that prove?” Gu Qingxiao fought desperately to break free.

The other three shared a look, then nodded in unison. Together they declared, “That’s right! We’re not saying another word!”

“Ha! Good! You’re all so determined to die—I’ll grant your wish!” A smile on his lips, Lin Mo slowly raised his hand.

Seeing that Lin Mo actually intended to follow through, the four women shut their eyes tightly, biting their lips and bracing for the end—as if not seeing it could make the pain go away.

They waited in silence for death to come.

But just as Lin Mo was about to strike, the sky above roared to life. Thunder rolled overhead with an immense, booming force.

“Stop right there!”

The voice echoed across the heavens.

Lin Mo froze mid-strike, a hint of confusion flickering across his face as he looked up.

A streak of golden lightning burst forth, snatching Nangong Lin, Liu Ruyan, and Wang Wan from Lin Mo’s grasp before he could react.

Realizing something was wrong, Lin Mo instantly tightened his grip on Gu Qingxiao, glaring menacingly into the empty air.

“Who are you? Stop hiding! I know these four are your targets. If you don’t show yourself, I’ll kill this girl where she stands!”

“Don’t you dare!”

Four figures slowly materialized from the void. Gu Qingyi stood at their head, fury blazing in his eyes and voice thundering across the sky.

“Listen up, beast! I am the new Sword God of the Human Race—Gu Qingyi!”

“You can also call me Gu Xiaoyao!”

“What?!”

The four captives stood frozen in shock. The man before them, both divine and handsome, was the very Gu Qingyi they’d so longed to see.

“What?! Xiaoyao is back!” Xie Jinxuan beamed an enormous smile, shooting into the air with a whoosh.

Lin Mo sneered. “Gu Xiaoyao, or should I say Gu Qingyi—is this girl special to you? I’ll give you a choice: kneel and declare me your master and I’ll let her go. Or… do you want to see whose speed is faster, yours or my hand around her neck?”

His grip on Gu Qingxiao tightened further.

Gu Qingxiao was now struggling to breathe, pain twisting her features.

“Don’t you dare!” Gu Qingyi’s heart twisted painfully at the sight, his jaw clenched tight.

With tears brimming, Gu Qingxiao made a heavy decision. Suddenly she shouted at the top of her lungs. “Brother, do you remember that promise you made at Uncle Nalan’s house? I’m calling it in—my request is that you kill me. I refuse to be your weakness!”

“But—!” Gu Qingyi stepped forward, then hesitated, torn.

Inside, he was tortured by doubt—even after becoming a god, he still couldn’t keep his loved ones safe. What was the point of godhood then?

Just then, Xuyan’s voice rang in his mind.

“Don’t stress, Host. Pretend you’re about to kill your sister, and when Lin Mo drops his guard, I’ll grab her and get her out!”

“Alright, it’s a gamble!” Gu Qingyi nodded. “Trust me, Xiaoxiao—I’ll avenge you!”

“Don’t do it!” Nangong Lin pleaded, panicked.

Hearing this, Gu Qingxiao let a single tear slip from the corner of her eye, her lips curled into a faint smile as she closed her eyes.

“Divine Sword—Divine Sword Technique!”

“The first sword: Star-Slashing Strike!”

In that instant, the golden disc behind Gu Qingyi grew several times larger and the Skydome Sword blazed with dazzling light.

Lin Mo’s eyes filled with shock. “Are you insane? You’d strike at your own sister?!”

A golden blade surged out, a hundred meters high and fifty meters wide, carrying the vastness of the stars. It shot straight for Lin Mo and the captive Gu Qingxiao.

Deep down, Lin Mo’s instincts screamed: this blow couldn’t be faced head on. He instantly let go of Gu Qingxiao, dodging several dozen meters away.

On the brink of disaster, a rip in space opened behind Gu Qingxiao. A surge of blue energy enveloped her, whisking her into the void and out of danger.

The light of the sword passed by, missing her by the tiniest fraction—a split second saved her from certain death.

After this strike, the void was left in ruin, cracks everywhere stained crimson.

At that moment, a portal opened at Gu Qingyi’s side. Out stepped two radiant figures—Xuyan and a shaken Gu Qingxiao.

“Host, all done! Want us to team up and finish him off?” Xuyan offered.

“No need. I can handle this alone. Once it’s settled, I’ll explain everything to everyone.” Gu Qingyi glanced at the crowd, then turned into a lightning bolt streaking straight for Lin Mo.

Boom—a heavy thud rang out.

Lin Mo, caught off guard, tried to block Gu Qingyi’s sudden attack but failed. He staggered back several steps.

From above, Gu Qingyi leveled his sword at Lin Mo, fury burning in his wild gaze.

“You’ve brought this on yourself.”

“A dragon’s reverse scale means death to any who touch it!”

“A god’s rage is worse. My loved ones are my reverse scale, and you’ve touched not one, but two!”

“You deserve to die—a thousand deaths wouldn’t be enough! I advise you to surrender now!”

Lin Mo laughed wildly. “Ha! So what if you’re the Sword God? You think you can kill me—a Demon God at his peak?”

“No one in this world can kill me—not even you!”

“You arrogant brat! Next year, this day will be your memorial—go to hell!”

“Divine Art—Demon God Manifestation!”

“Divine Art—Demon God’s Blade!”

“Divine Art—Demon God’s Massacre!”

His voice thundered as a colossal Demon God avatar materialized overhead, gripping a gigantic, blood-red Butcher’s Blade.

The Demon God surged forward, swinging down with earth-shaking force!

The world trembled, on the verge of collapse.

Gu Qingyi murmured coolly, “First sword slashes the stars. Second sword stirs the world. Third sword shatters the sky!”

Then he attacked—three slashes from the Skydome Sword tore through space, aimed right at Lin Mo.

Thunder crashed—

The first sword severed both arms. The second beheaded him. The third split his body in two.

The Demon God’s avatar was utterly destroyed. Lin Mo barely survived, reeling from the devastating blows.

Lin Mo’s eyes shone with disbelief. “Impossible! How can you be this strong?!”

“I’ve slain Celestial Demons—killing you, a mere lower-realm Demon, is hardly worth mentioning.” Gu Qingyi turned away, unfazed.

“So this is how it is. But Gu Qingyi, I am a god—undying and immortal. Give me a little time, and I’ll recover. I’ll see you in the Upper Realm! We’ll have a proper fight then!” Laughing, Lin Mo faded from sight.

Gu Qingyi paid no mind to Lin Mo’s words, leaping to rejoin his companions.

He gently stroked Gu Qingxiao’s trembling head, whispering softly.

“It’s all over now, Xiaoxiao.”

Reassured, Gu Qingxiao broke down in sobs like a child who’d finally found safety.

“Wuwu… Brother, Senior Li Xun and the others died to protect us.”

Before Gu Qingyi could reply, a familiar voice called out from behind.

“Long time no see—Xiaoyao, you’ve become a god! Should I call you Xiaoyao, or Qingyi now?” Xie Jinxuan teased, smiling.

Gu Qingyi smiled. “Jinxuan, call me whatever you like. There’s no need for formality between us.”

Soon, the rest of the surviving humans gathered. When they heard Lin Mo was dead, they cheered—only for the sorrow to return as quickly as it had come.

“I have a sword called the Mercy Sword. It ignores all laws and can bring back to life anyone who’s died within twenty-four hours!” Gu Qingyi announced with a light cough.

“Really? Are you serious?”

Elated by the news, the crowd quickly grew anxious again.

Only one person could be revived—meaning the rest had to remain dead. After heated deliberation, they decided to hold a vote.

“Li Xun, seven votes!”

“Li Ran, three votes!”

“Mo Lin, one vote!”

“An Muran, two votes!”

“Luo Sen, one vote!”

With most of the group from Sky Sword Sect, they agreed to revive their strongest fighter: Li Xun.

“Mercy Sword, heed my command! Bring back the soul lost in darkness—Li Xun! Return to the living!” Gu Qingyi called forth the sword.

A low hum—

Fragments of Li Xun’s body in the void slowly pieced themselves back together, until he stood whole once more.

High above, the Will of Heaven itself sensed Li Xun’s soul escaping its grasp. The Will was enraged.

“Who dares?! Who dares snatch my plaything from right under my nose?!”

The Vault of Heaven shook. Crimson moons loomed over the sky, vast and terrifying. The entire world seemed to tilt in their presence.

Invisible eyes bore down on the living below, dripping with anger and fury.

“So it’s you, filthy lower-realm insect! How dare you challenge the Creator’s authority—have you grown tired of living?”

“I gave you shelter, let you live and thrive in peace—yet you betray and rebel against me! Dream of overthrowing my rule?!”

“You’re nothing but pathetic worms!”

“To challenge your Creator… ignorant and foolish!”

“If you won’t obey, I’ll erase this whole world and create a new one with more obedient insects. As for you—just die!”

As the Will of Heaven’s voice fell, the earth shook violently. Waves crashed, continents shattered, volcanoes erupted.

The Sword Qi Continent stood on the brink of destruction.

In the face of doom, Gu Qingyi suddenly spoke, laughing.

“Heavenly Will, don’t be so full of yourself! Today, I’ll cut you down!”

“Divine Sword Technique—first sword slashes the stars, second stirs the world, third shatters the sky!”

Three colossal sword blades, overflowing with might, surged from the Skydome Sword, aiming straight for the Will of Heaven.

Thunder roared—

The three giant sword strikes tore apart the vault above, sweeping aside the endless sky. A furious voice thundered back.

“Filthy insect! So you’re from the Upper Realm! Go ahead—erase me if you dare! When you leave this world, you’ll regret what you’ve done today!”

“The Upper Realm? It’s merely a bigger cage. You’ll spend the rest of your days suffering in that prison!”

“Ha! Then you’ll finally remember what you lost!”

With that, the Will of Heaven of the Sword Qi Continent was completely annihilated. All chaos vanished; peace returned.