Queen of Ten Thousand Demons Insists on Marrying Me - Chapter 81

Three days felt as if they were stretched into three years.

The group guarded the Shading the Sky and Shielding the Sun array, their minds taut, not daring to relax even slightly. Outside the array, the wind of the Dead Spirit Abyss howled like ghosts, and the occasional roar of spatial rifts tearing the void sent chills down their spines.

On the first day of the vigil, Yan Gengshen’s figure appeared outside the array like a ghost, silently.

His long sword continuously slashed wildly, creating gashes along the array’s edge. However, the Shading the Sky and Shielding the Sun array lived up to its name as an ancient secret technique, perfectly concealing everyone’s aura and traces. Yan Gengshen lingered outside the array for a long time, ultimately gaining nothing, and had to leave grudgingly.

Inside the array, everyone held their breath until Yan Gengshen’s figure completely vanished before slightly easing their tension. Lu Xiaoxiao clenched her fists and muttered, “He really won’t give up easily.” Wan Xuānr nodded, her expression grave: “This is just the beginning. We must be even more cautious for the next two days.”

On the second day, the spatial rifts in the Dead Spirit Abyss began to grow unstable. Violent tremors occasionally erupted from the void, as if something terrifying was brewing in the darkness. Feeling the external disturbances, the people inside the array grew increasingly uneasy. Lu Xiaoxiao stood at the array’s edge, her eyes fixed outside, silently praying, “Just hold on for one more day, just one more day…”

After two days of guarding, immense pressure and exhaustion weighed heavily upon everyone. When the third day arrived, Lu Xiaoxiao felt her vision starting to blur, with scattered spatial rifts blooming into large halos before her eyes.

Suddenly, within the halos, a somewhat familiar golden light flashed.

She focused her eyes…

It was the golden giant dragon!

The giant dragon was soaring and turning within the distant spatial rifts, causing a sudden eruption of a spatial rift storm. Countless rifts, like the sharp claws of a giant beast, tore at the void. A furious energy fluctuation swept over, directly impacting the Shading the Sky and Shielding the Sun array. Although the array was powerful, cracks began to appear under such terrifying force.

“Not good! The array is damaged!” an Elder cried out in alarm.

Wan Xuānr’s face changed, and she immediately channeled her spiritual power to try and repair the array. However, the spatial rift storm was too fierce. The cracks in the array grew larger, and only by exerting all their strength did the group barely manage to repair it.

The instant the array was repaired, Yan Gengshen’s hoarse voice echoed all around: “You were hiding here after all. You made me look for you.”

A cold glint flashed in Fú Zhāo’s eyes. She abruptly pushed off the ground with her toes, her figure shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow. In the moment she charged out, her form instantly swelled, transforming into a massive Nine-Tailed Fox. Her snow-white fur shimmered silver under the array’s light.

She should have nine imposing tails, but now only five remained. Still, these five tails whipped about even without wind, like five silver whips dancing in the air, exuding bone-chilling coldness. Her massive body stood like a mountain, firmly blocking the group and completely isolating Yan Gengshen’s view.

“Yan Gengshen, don’t even think about succeeding!” Fú Zhāo’s voice was deep and cold, and a sharp light flashed in her fox eyes.

Seeing this, Wan Xuānr and Lu Xiaoxiao unhesitatingly followed. The three stood shoulder to shoulder, facing Yan Gengshen, who was hidden in the darkness.

Wan Xuānr raised her long sword high, its tip pointing to the sky, her voice clear and firm: “People of the Yáoxiá Palace, heed my command! Ten Directions Slaying Evil Array, form ranks!”

Following her order, the Yáoxiá Palace disciples quickly abandoned the Shading the Sky and Shielding the Sun array and began to move. Figures passed through like phantoms, instantly forming a profound array. Spiritual energy surged within the array, and the faint sound of thunder echoed in the air. It was as if the power of heaven and earth had been invoked, converging into an invisible pressure that bore down on Yan Gengshen.

Illuminated by the array’s light, Yan Gengshen’s stern face was finally revealed to the group. His lips were tightly pressed, and his eyes were full of contempt: “You think you can stop me?”

Before his words landed, he abruptly raised his hand. A sharp sword energy erupted from his fingertips, like a silver viper carrying chilling coldness, heading straight for the three of them.

A cold light flashed in Fú Zhāo’s eyes. The Nine-Tailed Fox’s massive body violently shook. Her five tails, like five sharp swords, met the incoming sword energy.

“Boom!” The sword energy and the fox tails collided, erupting in a deafening crash. The shockwave swept through the surroundings, cracking the ground and sending dust flying. Fú Zhāo was sent flying backward, kicking up a cloud of dust. Her figure flickered indistinctly within the smoke.

Seeing this, Yan Gengshen sneered. His figure flashed abruptly, turning into a black shadow and charging toward the trio. At the same time, he raised his left hand. The Hàoyue Bracelet on his wrist instantly lit up, emitting a dazzling white light, like a bright moon rising in the dark night. The Hàoyue Bracelet spun rapidly in the air, carrying a world-destroying momentum, and violently slammed into the Ten Directions Slaying Evil Array formed by the Yáoxiá Palace group.

“Boom—!”

A deafening crash erupted the moment the Hàoyue Bracelet and the array collided, unleashing a blinding flash of light. The ground was shattered and collapsed. The surrounding trees snapped, and dust flew everywhere. Although the Yáoxiá Palace Elders maintained the array with all their strength, the power of the Hàoyue Bracelet was simply too terrifying. The array only held for a moment before completely shattering.

“Puff—!”

The Elders simultaneously spat out a mouthful of blood. Their figures were sent flying backward like kites with cut strings, crashing heavily onto the ground. Their faces were pale as paper, clearly suffering severe internal injuries. With the Ten Directions Slaying Evil Array broken, the morale of the Yáoxiá Palace instantly plummeted. A deadly silence fell upon the scene, broken only by Yan Gengshen’s cold and mocking laughter echoing in the air.

“Utterly vulnerable.”

Yan Gengshen spoke faintly, his gaze sweeping over the group, as if looking at a bunch of struggling ants. He slowly raised his hand, and the Hàoyue Bracelet lit up again.

Heaven and earth shook, space twisted, and waves of strong, cold air swept out from the spatial rifts.

Fú Zhāo’s five massive tails swept out like silver whips. Lu Xiaoxiao and Wan Xuānr unleashed their swords simultaneously. Sword light streaked like rainbows, bearing down on Yan Gengshen. However, Yan Gengshen sneered. The Hàoyue Bracelet shone brilliantly, easily blocking the trio’s attacks. The backlash forced all three back. Blood stained the fox tails, and Fú Zhāo let out a series of low growls.

Seeing Fú Zhāo injured, Yan Gengshen intended to press his advantage. The Hàoyue Bracelet headed straight for Fú Zhāo again. Seeing that Fú Zhāo was already on the ground, another blow would surely mean her death. Wan Xuānr was horrified, casting all caution aside, and let out a piercing scream: “Fú Zhāo—”

In a flash of lightning, the blade of the Cháoyuán Sword burst forth with an incredibly brilliant sword light. The light was like a silver river slicing through the night sky, carrying an unparalleled momentum, shooting straight toward Yan Gengshen. Where the sword light passed, the air seemed to be ripped apart, letting out a sharp screech. The ground was also cracked with countless fissures by the residual sword energy.

Yan Gengshen clearly hadn’t anticipated that Lu Xiaoxiao could unleash such terrifying power. A look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He hastily raised his sword to block. However, the power of the sword light far exceeded his expectation, forcing him to take a step back. Deep cracks were also stamped into the ground beneath his feet.

“Hmph, I underestimated you,” Yan Gengshen sneered, the cold light in his eyes intensifying. He raised his left hand. The recalled Hàoyue Bracelet lit up again, like a cold, bright moon, carrying a world-destroying momentum, and violently met the Cháoyuán Sword’s light.

“Clang—!”

The instant the two divine artifacts clashed, a deafening metallic clang erupted. The shockwave shattered the surrounding trees and rocks. The white light of the Hàoyue Bracelet and the golden light of the Cháoyuán Sword intertwined in the air, resembling a bright moon and a silver river locked in fierce combat. Heaven and earth instantly changed color, illuminating the entire gloomy area.

Lu Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth, fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead. Although she had temporarily blocked Yan Gengshen’s attack with the divine might of the Cháoyuán Sword, her cultivation was still far inferior to his. Her internal spiritual power was being rapidly depleted. After a few breaths, the Cháoyuán Sword’s light began to dim slightly, and the sword body subtly trembled. Clearly, it was struggling to hold on.

Seeing this, Yan Gengshen curled his lips into a cold smile: “A mere ant, daring to compete with the bright moon?”

His pupils contracted. He abruptly increased his power. The Hàoyue Bracelet’s light flared intensely, immediately suppressing and knocking the Cháoyuán Sword’s light away. Watching the Hàoyue Bracelet hurtle straight toward her, Lu Xiaoxiao felt a massive force impact her shoulder. She was sent flying backward dozens of meters, finally crashing into a deep pit.

“Xiaoxiao!”

Lu Xiaoxiao’s face was pale. She felt all the bones in her body were broken, and even the shíhai (Sea of Consciousness) in her dāntián (energy center) was severely fractured. A trace of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth. She turned her head toward the Demon Locking Tower and murmured, “Still couldn’t stop him, could I…”

As the final syllable faded, her aura gradually weakened to a thread, like a candle flickering in the wind. Her once bright eyes gently closed. No trace of life could be seen on her pale face. Wan Xuānr tightly embraced her now lifeless body, her arms trembling. The grief in her eyes was bottomless, and tears silently rolled down her cheeks.

Yan Gengshen was about to strike again when a violent spatial fluctuation suddenly erupted not far away.

A blinding light burst forth from the direction of the Demon Locking Tower, shooting into the sky, as if intending to tear apart the entire space. Immediately following, an earth-shattering tiger roar shook all four directions, unnerving everyone. As the light gradually faded, Tantai Jing’s figure slowly emerged from within. Her robes fluttered, her silver hair streamed, and a suffocatingly powerful aura surrounded her, as if all the power of heaven and earth had converged upon her. Clearly, she had successfully broken through.

Yan Gengshen’s face changed. He clearly hadn’t expected Tantai Jing to appear at this moment. Sensing the Integration Stage aura surrounding Tantai Jing, he flashed, attempting to vanish into the void: “I’ll let you go today. When we meet again, it will be the day you die!”

But this time, things didn’t go as he wished. Before his words landed, Yan Gengshen suddenly felt his entire body bound, unable to move, as if restrained by a large hand. Looking down, he saw that Tantai Jing’s Guīchén (Dust Return) had silently wrapped around his body at some point.

“H-How is this possible? We’re both in the Integration Stage, yet you…” Yan Gengshen’s face showed shock.

But Tantai Jing had no desire to waste any more words on him. Her gaze was locked onto Yan Gengshen’s eyes. She picked up the Cháoyuán Sword, which had been knocked away, and shouted the command, “Star River Reverses,” her voice deep and cold.

As her words fell, heaven and earth instantly changed color.

Countless stars lit up in the night sky. The starlight converged into a brilliant silver river, which surged down from the heavens like a massive dragon, roaring toward Yan Gengshen.

Every star in that silver river contained world-destroying power. Where it passed, space seemed to be torn apart, letting out a sharp buzzing sound. Yan Gengshen’s pupils contracted. He tried to break free from the restraint of the Guīchén Sword, but found the whip was like a bone-deep infection: the more he struggled, the tighter it bound him.

“No—!”

Yan Gengshen squeezed an unwilling roar of fury from his chest, but his voice was quickly drowned out by the thunderous rush of the star river.

Tantai Jing didn’t spare Yan Gengshen a glance. She walked rapidly straight toward Lu Xiaoxiao.

Her body lay quietly on the ground, her face pale as paper. A trace of fresh blood still lingered at the corner of her mouth. Her eyes, once bright as stars, were now tightly closed, devoid of life.

Tantai Jing crouched down, her movements stiff and slow, as if every action drained all her strength. She reached out, her fingers trembling slightly, and gently wrapped her arms around Lu Xiaoxiao’s waist, pulling her cold body into her embrace.

“Just a little while longer… just a little while longer…”

She repeatedly stroked Lu Xiaoxiao’s now-lifeless arm. The grief in her eyes surged like a tide. Her heart felt tightly squeezed by an invisible hand, causing pain that made it difficult to breathe.

“Why… why couldn’t you wait for me a little longer…”

Her voice was so low it was almost inaudible, carrying a fragility close to collapse. She wanted to reach out and gently caress Lu Xiaoxiao’s cheek, attempting to wipe away the bloodstain on her mouth, but found her hand shaking too violently to clean it.

Wan Xuānr, supporting Fú Zhāo, stood by, watching the scene, her eyes filled with grief and helplessness. She opened her mouth, intending to say something, but found no words would come out.

The Elders of the Yáoxiá Palace also stood in silent attendance. A heavy sadness permeated the air.