CHAPTER 407: ESCAPE FROM SKY SHATTERING ISLAND (1)

In the Demon Cult, the Sun Moon Divine Demon Cheonmudo is a legendary figure.

More precisely, it would be correct to say he “was” a legendary figure.

With his powerful martial arts mastery and cunning intelligence, he ultimately rose to the pinnacle of tens of thousands of demons.

Though time passed and his body grew weak and his wisdom dimmed, his end was a futile one.

If he had unleashed his latent power and fought.

If he had not greedily tried to absorb the demonic energy that Ha-jun possessed.

It might have been Yi-gang who suffered instead.

「If you’re at the level to be defeated by a pig like that, it’s better to die here.」

Though the Heavenly Demon judged coldly.

Yi-gang struck the neck of the Sun Moon Divine Demon.

He had no sword, but it didn’t matter. The hand blade of an Absolute master was enough to cut a person’s neck.

Moreover, in a situation where he couldn’t even control his own True Qi and was subdued by Ha-jun.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

That massive body collapsed with a thud.

It looked like a sack that had held red beans had fallen over.

Yi-gang picked up a metal necklace rolling in the blood spilled on the floor.

It had once hung around the neck of the Sun Moon Divine Demon.

An unknown energy tingled from his fingertips.

「It is made from the same material as the the Heavenly Demon Plaque.」

Just as said, a strange noble aura flowed, similar to when he had first encountered the Heavenly Demon Plaque.

Hanging from the silver-looking necklace was a small dagger-shaped ornament crafted from purple metal.

「Only those who possess it can pass through the barrier.」

From the perspective of the secret formation, this necklace serves as the key guiding to the Life Gate.

The Heavenly Demon emerged in spirit form and pointed upward with a finger.

「That way.」

Yi-gang raised his head and pointed upward.

The ceiling was decorated with strange relief carvings.

The reliefs had a strong religious tone.

There were figures of winged people and also figures stabbing each other to death with spears.

「It’s true that I personally built this Cult leader’s hall, but some parts were originally here.」

In the center of the ceiling was a round disc with a fierce face painted on it.

After hearing the Heavenly Demon’s explanation, it seemed possible to remove it.

「At the mountain’s peak, there was an old altar of the White Lotus Cult. A grand plan spanning three hundred years was prepared there. Go there.」

Let’s climb up there.

Just as Yi-gang decided and was about to leap up.

Ha-jun’s condition was strange.

His face was flushed red and veins bulged.

Yi-gang understood the situation.

He immediately approached Ha-jun.

“Sit cross-legged and circulate your cultivation method.”

Ha-jun barely managed to steady himself.

He must be suffering pain as if his blood vessels were about to burst.

The reason was obvious. It was the backlash from absorbing the Sun Moon Divine Demon’s True Qi in reverse.

“The absorbed demonic energy likely contains much turbid qi. You must expel it.”

Ha-jun barely nodded.

“Can you do it alone?”

Another nod.

Yi-gang hesitated briefly but finally spoke decisively.

“I’ll be back soon.”

There was no time to help Ha-jun expel the turbid qi.

Yi-gang bent his legs and looked upward.

The ceiling was well over a meter high, but the leap was not difficult for him.

In an instant, the ceiling came close.

The ghost face relief came right before him. Yi-gang grabbed the protruding molar of that ghostly face.

The round disc from the ceiling fell along with Yi-gang.

A round hole exactly the shape of the disc appeared in the ceiling.

With another leap, Yi-gang entered the hole.

Inside was a rusty ladder.

Instead of grabbing the ladder, Yi-gang climbed it with a few steps as if running on flat ground.

He felt as if passing through a layer of hot air midway.

This seemed to be the barrier the Heavenly Demon mentioned.

Soon, Yi-gang arrived at a peculiar space.

Whoooosh—

A strong wind blew.

Perhaps due to the high altitude, a distinctly cold wind swept through the room.

Compared to the splendid Cult Leader’s Hall, this space was much rougher and older.

Yi-gang realized he had reached the highest point of Sky Shattering Island.

Several stone pillars stood carved from rock, and beyond them, the entire panorama of Sky Shattering Island was visible.

It was a semi-exposed space to the outside.

Since it was not visible from outside, it seemed cleverly concealed.

Yi-gang’s expression brightened slightly.

Escape had been a concern, but it seemed possible to exit through here.

Yi-gang’s gaze stopped firmly at the center of the space.

There was “that”.

The Heavenly Demon said.

It was a weapon capable of permanently killing the Cardinal of the Evil Cult.

In other words, a means to even sever souls.

It was said it could even wound the Evil God.

He had always wondered what form a weapon transcending the mortal world would take.

「That is the oldest sacred tool of the White Lotus Cult.」

It was neither a sword nor a spear.

It was closer to a ritualistic sacrificial vessel.

Its was something he had seen several times in Potala Palace in the West.

「More precisely, it came from Tianzhu. It is the Vajra (वज्र) said to have been used by Indra.」

Indra refers to Śakra.

Vajra means the Adamandite Scepter.

Its body was golden and splendid, the blade extended like a dagger but was jet black, with three lightning patterns drawn on it.

「Into the vajra that had served as Indra’s weapon for ten thousand years, I infused three hundred years’ worth of the entire Divine Cult’s karma into it.」 ɽÄ𝐍ồ𝐛ÈS̩

That dagger strangely floated in midair.

A stronger energy than that felt from the Azure Forest Forbidden Treasure was sensed.

Then, something caught Yi-gang’s eye.

Around where the Vajra floated were various spell inscriptions, and a flower shape was carved there.

Moreover, the faint purple color remaining.

It resembled the symbol of the honor flower disciple.

「Long ago, the White Lotus Cult and Guardian Sect had exchanges.」

“Guardian Sect, you say…”

「Yes, it’s the old name of the Azure Forest.」

So there was exchange between the White Lotus Cult, the predecessor of the Demon Cult, and the Azure Forest.

And the carving of the honor flower disciple’s symbol here—could there be a connection between that Vajra and the honor flower disciple?

Yi-gang felt a strange attraction.

The Heavenly Demon nudged Yi-gang’s back.

「Go and take it.」

「…Priest.」

The one who stopped him was Zhang Sanfeng.

He spoke in a somewhat uneasy tone.

「The weight of karma contained in that Vajra is tremendous… it’s not ordinary.」

「Enough! You coward. As a Taoist, you should know well that nothing in this world is without cost!」

The Heavenly Demon growled in anger.

Zhang Sanfeng was embarrassed rather than confrontational.

「That is an item that can even annihilate immortals. The priest is not yet a vessel capable of holding it.」

「Even the sword masters scattered across the Central Plains know they can cut themselves with their own swords. Do you think Yi-gang is such a fool not to know that?」

「You are also a servant of the Heavenly Realm. You don’t care what the Evil God seek!」

「It’s not like that…」

「Shut up!」

The Heavenly Demon stepped forward in front of Yi-gang, furious.

「I intended to share the burden this guy would endure!」

Zhang Sanfeng quietly kept his mouth shut.

Yi-gang could only recall what the Heavenly Demon had told him.

“The Heavenly Realm will overlook the Evil Cult. And Zhang Sanfeng, who belongs to that realm, will be the same.”

Yi-gang paused briefly and then stood beside the Vajra with the Heavenly Demon.

Would Zhang Sanfeng really remain silent?

「Damn it! I can help too!」

Zhang Sanfeng puffed up and stood side by side with the Heavenly Demon, in front of Yi-gang.

Yi-gang stared blankly at Zhang Sanfeng, who blushed and replied.

「It’s not that I don’t support our priest’s will. I was just worried.」

「Ha!」

The Heavenly Demon just snorted.

He said to Yi-gang standing before the Vajra.

「Grab it.」

And he grasped the Vajra.

The Heavenly Demon and Zhang Sanfeng placed their hands over Yi-gang’s hand.

White steam rose from the Vajra.

Chiiik!

Yi-gang’s hair stood on end.

His teeth clenched, and a strong shock ran through his entire body.

It was a familiar sensation.

It was like… being struck by lightning.

The Heavenly Demon and Zhang Sanfeng had similar reactions.

「Ugh.」

「Hruuup…!」

Though spirits should not feel pain.

Their faces twisted and even their hands covering Yi-gang’s trembled.

Yi-gang noticed the pain in his hand lessened.

The two legendary souls were sharing Yi-gang’s burden.

「The power of Śakra is the power of lightning, and lightning is the power of purification.」

Zhang Sanfeng said in a trembling voice.

「It can surely sever even the ancient reincarnations of the Cardinal…」

The Heavenly Demon said, and.

Finally, the long pain ended.

Zhang Sanfeng and the Heavenly Demon’s right arms simultaneously burst and scattered.

Then, the Vajra floating in the air had vanished without a trace.

It was soon clear where it had gone.

Yi-gang looked at his trembling palm.

In the center of his palm, three lightning-shaped marks were scattered.

「It can be used… three times.」

The Heavenly Demon said in a tired voice.

His severed right arm slowly regenerated.

But somehow, his form had become more transparent than before.

Zhang Sanfeng was the same.

「You must have realized how to use it yourself. Do not waste it.」

The power the Heavenly Demon prepared even by tearing his own spirit.

It flowed into Yi-gang’s body like this.

Yi-gang instinctively understood.

The power contained in his right arm was not meant to be used against humans.

If Mang-hon or such a person appeared again, this could kill them.

「It’s done. Now leave this place.」

Even without urging, he intended to do so.

Yi-gang went down again to bring Ha-jun.

Meanwhile, Ha-jun barely calmed the raging demonic energy.

He climbed back up through the hole in the ceiling with Yi-gang.

It was possible because Yi-gang carried the Cult Leader’s sacred relic.

Upon arrival, Yi-gang pointed to the hole leading outside.

“We’ll go out that way and descend straight to the True Demon Palace. Follow me.”

Yi-gang said so and led the way.

Ha-jun followed behind.

Whoooosh—

A fierce wind swept by.

Outside that space was truly a dizzyingly high place.

It was the peak of a jagged and rugged rocky mountain.

At that desolate summit, Ha-jun, following Yi-gang, was momentarily overwhelmed by the scenery.

“Ah…!”

Yi-gang murmured softly.

“It’s near sunset.”

The world was dyed red.

The setting sun in the west looked like flames burning the earth.

The opposite east.

The steadily flowing river shimmered orange.

Crossing that river and passing the Great Desert would lead to their Central Plains, to Xi’an.

While Ha-jun looked at the river, burning with the will to escape.

Yi-gang was looking westward instead.

「What are you looking at so intently?」

“…Have you ever been beyond to the west?”

Yi-gang asked Zhang Sanfeng.

Xinjiang was practically the western edge for the people of the Central Plains.

Zhang Sanfeng answered that he had never been.

Looking quietly at the Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Demon also shook his head.

However, he answered quietly.

「I’ve heard of it. They say it’s a land full of war and suffering.」

Is that so?

Yi-gang gazed at the horizon where the sun was setting.

No signs of people were visible.

“Brother?”

“…Let’s go down.”

At Ha-jun’s calling voice, Yi-gang turned his head again.

Though dizzyingly high, descending was not difficult for the two brothers.

Stepping on tiles.

Treading on the ornate ridge of the roof.

Only the sound of footsteps echoed, not noisy.

But when they finally reached the stairs descending from the Cult Leader’s Hall.

At that moment, witnesses were inevitable.

The warriors guarding the door were flustered.

The physicians they had just admitted suddenly fell from above.

They were bewildered by this impossible event.

“Catch those guys!”

Only the elder guarding the door sensed the problem.

Yi-gang and Ha-jun were covered in blood.

The gatekeeper blew a whistle.

Piiiiik!

As if it was a start signal, Yi-gang and Ha-jun began running down the stairs.