CHAPTER 78.1: ELDER SLAYER

Qi Yuan looked on. In the scene before him, a burly man reeking of alcohol was beating and kicking an old man. In the end, the brute snatched some broken pieces of silver from the old man’s arms, kicked him once more, and left.

Despite watching that, Qi Yuan was unmoved.

The elder waved his hand, and the image shifted. "Keep watching, Young Friend."

Now, the very same burly man was kneeling before the old man with the utmost filial devotion, feeding him, serving him tea, tending to him with great care.

"It was precisely because we issued the Law of Filial Piety that people in this world began to act with such devotion. That is why we came here to save this world."

Qi Yuan gave a calm, contemptuous smile. "Such grandiose filial piety."

The old man didn't get angry. Instead, he said evenly, "Do you know that after you abolished the Law of Filial Piety, that same man slaughtered his own father that very day? The responsibility for this lies with you."

Qi Yuan regarded the elder suspiciously. "Is it you who's gone mad, or me? An otherworldly demon is trying to morally blackmail me?"

The old man sighed helplessly. "Young Friend, we do not wish to be your enemy. But every word I have spoken is the truth. We truly are here to save this world."

Qi Yuan said nothing. His gaze stayed sharp, wary of his surroundings.

The elder said, "We fish for the living, and devour their flesh and blood, not out of choice but necessity. Once our lifespans run their course and we die of old age, we transform into terrifying demon spawns. Demon spawns are mindless, killing everything on sight. Their power reaches the Fifth Realm, bringing calamity to all creation. A single demon spawn is enough to plunge this world into ruin, unstoppable. Hence, we harden our hearts. We did what we had to do to extend our years a little longer, so that the world might be spared from disaster."

The old man's face showed a sorrowful compassion, as though he truly carried the weight of the world. "After coming to this realm, we’re afraid of bringing disaster. That is why we chose Earth's End. Here, a single day is ten years outside. The geniuses and martial experts born outside over ten years are enough for us to extend our lives. Thus, demon spawns will not appear. I have my shares of difficulty, Young Friend. Otherwise, why’d we remain trapped in this abyss when we could descend to the human world?"

The elder's voice was earnest and persuasive. What he said seemed to make sense. If their lives ended, demon spawns would indeed be born. And if even one or two appeared, humanity would face catastrophe.

Qi Yuan stared into the old man's eyes, before cutting straight to the point, "If you become demon spawns when you die of old age, how did your original world deal with it? How did they prevent them from appearing in the first place?"

As expected, the old man's gaze froze, pain flashing in his eyes.

Qi Yuan recalled the Law of Filial Piety and the elder's words. He understood in that instant.

Locking eyes with the old man, he said each word with precision, "Since dying of old age creates demon spawns, doesn't that mean none will appear if you don't die of old age?!"

Anguish and bitter memories twisted the elder's face.

After a long silence, he lifted his head. His voice trembled with rage and grief. "Do you know? Since the age of seventeen, I have fought for my clan. I shed blood for them. I seized seventeen secret silver mines for them. Even when besieged by peers of my own level, I took more than seven hundred wounds. And yet... Why? Why, when I grew old, with only a few years left, did my clan discuss how to kill me? They even invited the Demon Slayers to come! I wasn't even dead yet. What were they plotting? Those were my most beloved children, the ones I raised with my own hands. What did they want to do? Was it wrong of me to wish to die of old age, to rest in peace? Put yourself in my shoes, would you accept such a fate?"

The elder's voice cracked into hysteria.

Qi Yuan, however, looked at him coolly. "What a boring setup. You're just a villain. A final boss I'm meant to slay. Whatever tragedies you've suffered, whatever injustices you endured, I couldn't care less. Even if you were a pitiful beauty, sobbing through tears as you poured out your tale of hardship, I wouldn't feel sympathy. Want to know what I think? I want to raise my giant sword, and lop off your dog head!"

To Qi Yuan, a boss was simply a boss. Kill it and move on.

The elder's face darkened. "Are you certain you want to oppose us? Have you considered the price you'll pay?"

He had no desire to fight Qi Yuan. Their lifespans were already dwindling, and battle would shorten them further. Moreover, Qi Yuan's strength far exceeded the Celestial God's group.

Qi Yuan sneered. "It's not that I chose to oppose you. It's fate. I was destined to defeat bosses like you. I am the youth who slays evil dragons!"

With that, he attacked.

The elder roared, "Courting death!"

Qi Yuan had found their weakness. "Ha! You're all just old fogeys. I'm young, strong, full of energy!"

Their lifespans were waning. The Black Army were all dead. If Qi Yuan blocked their exit, keeping them from feeding on mortals, their lives would dwindle away. Of course, this method sounded simple, but not everyone could do it.

Qi Yuan planted himself before the bronze gate, the only exit. "Heaven returns to heaven, men return to men. I'll be the gate's guardian general!"

Sword in hand, he barred the way.

Then, voices rumbled from the depths.

"Arrogant wretch!"

"His flesh, I want a tenth of it."

"Hah! A mere Divine realm cultivator dares block us!"

Five more figures emerged. Their aura was terrifying, each as dreadful as the first elder.

Qi Yuan squinted. "Wait, don't tell me there are only six of you demons? These bosses are too easy to farm."

The elder sneered. "Hmph."

The sky over Earth's End darkened. Qi Yuan looked up. The heavens were filled with countless glowing eyes, staring silently. They seemed dormant, in slumber.

A chill ran through Qi Yuan. "What, you brought an entire raid party?"

For a moment, he quailed. A raid boss party? Who played like this?!

He quailed, but only for a moment. After all, once they woke, their lifespans would burn even faster.

The elder hissed, "It's not too late to beg for mercy!"

Qi Yuan ignored him. Scared or not, he stood tall. "Then today, I'll be the Elder Slayer!"

The six level 119 elders struck together with crushing power.

Qi Yuan unleashed his trump cards at once. “Tyrannical Might! Heaven-Cleaving Sword!”

His body surged, his strength doubled. His sword descended, forcing all six elders to retreat.

"So strong!"

"We'll have to use our Origin!"

They unleashed their Origin force, the power that burned their remaining lifespans. Qi Yuan faced six enemies stronger than himself, yet he did not falter.

On the Ascension Platform, he had fought one hundred and twenty thousand battles. Sometimes against three thousand opponents at once. His battle experience was beyond mastery.

He pressed the offense. "Die!"

His strike ripped through the air, blood surging. The elders reeled.

Suddenly, the white-haired elder laughed, eyes wild. "Meat, such fragrant meat! Worth burning my Origin!"

A bloody chunk appeared in his hand.

Qi Yuan glanced down, his chest had been torn open, blood dripping freely. He had been injured on the very first day he entered Earth's End.

The elder leered greedily at the chunk of meat, devouring it with a serpent's tongue. He then froze as his eyes bulged. "There's no taste!"

The other five stared, stunned. They did not know what this meant.

"His flesh has no taste! It cannot replenish lifespan! What are you?"

Their lifespans had dropped steeply from burning their Origin, yet Qi Yuan's flesh and blood was useless to them.

"So my flesh is tasteless? Excellent." Qi Yuan grinned and laughed. "I'm young, I can outlast all you old fogeys!"

If only he could log out for a bowl of braised pork rice, then he'd fight even harder.

The elders grew desperate. One shouted, "He must die! Otherwise, we're finished. Ordinary methods will not work. Use your Origins, kill him!"

They struck again, depleting their Origins. In Earth's End, they had barely a day left to live.

Qi Yuan was riddled with wounds, blood flowing everywhere.

"Now’s my turn!" he roared, releasing all three ultimate skills at once. “Death Radiance! Tyrannical Might! Heaven-Cleaving Sword!"

His sword descended on the white-haired elder.

The elder screamed. "No!!!"

This attack caused him immense pain. Even though they were both in the Divine realm, he was no match for Qi Yuan. To defend against Qi Yuan's attack, he had to use his Origin power, but he couldn't bear to. He was doomed to die. He tried to block with his mortal strength, thinking he’d be able to survive.

However, Qi Yuan's strike shattered him.

Drenched in blood, Qi Yuan grinned savagely. "The hunt begins."

The other five demons felt fear at last. If they remained stuck here, there would be no way for them to replenish. But then, more voices shook the sky. Twelve terrifying figures broke their seals and descended. Their power was monstrous.

"Even if we deplete our Origins, we will kill you!"

Qi Yuan—bloodied and broken—met their gaze. His eyes burned with steel. "Come on! I'm young and strong. I'm not afraid of you old fogeys!"