Xu Xuan had been carefully watching everything that unfolded ever since Shi Ge flew out of his body. When Shi Ge began revealing ancient hidden secrets, Xu Xuan almost wished he could shrink himself into the background and disappear completely.
He was already in the forbidden rear mountain, surrounded by such strange and ominous circumstances. No matter how many schemes he had in mind, there was no opportunity to put any of them into action. He originally thought he would surely die after overhearing so many secrets. Who could have expected that, during the struggle between the trapped man and Shi Ge, another mass of black energy would suddenly appear?
Xu Xuan watched in shock as the situation developed. Just as his despair had begun to ease and hope surfaced again—thinking that if these few forces fought among themselves, he might be able to escape in the chaos—Shi Ge was instantly devoured completely by the newly appeared black energy. The black mass rapidly expanded, rolling and transforming in midair into a handsome man dressed in white.
Xu Xuan stared in disbelief at the man’s face, utterly stunned. This man actually looked exactly like Leng Hanran. He quickly glanced at Leng Hanran, only to see disbelief etched across his face as well, as if everything happening had exceeded even his calculations.
In truth, Leng Hanran was no longer merely shocked, but filled with a profound confusion. The black shadow that had suddenly emerged from the ring on his right hand—wasn’t that supposed to be a wisp of residual soul from the ancestor? Why would it devour Shi Ge instead? And why had this remnant soul taken on a form identical to his own face?
Since obtaining this ring, Leng Hanran had only ever heard the ancestor’s voice and had never seen him in person. He had assumed the remnant soul was incapable of forming a body, which was why it had remained hidden. Yet the first time he saw it take shape, it brought him such an unexpected shock.
Xu Xuan and Leng Hanran were both stunned, but Jing Zhan did not seem surprised at all. He glanced meaningfully at the transformed man and spoke directly:
“Who should I call you—Jing Zhan, or Leng Qin?”
The black energy-clad man smiled faintly, his appearance extraordinarily handsome.
“Jing Zhan is Leng Qin. Leng Qin is Jing Zhan.”
Jing Zhan gave a half-smile. “Do you think you can replace me?”
The man called Leng Qin laughed loudly. “Do you still think you are the Jing Zhan of ancient times? You are nothing more than a defeated dog trapped in the back mountain of Yun Tian Sect. In all these long years of being imprisoned, burned daily by the Earth Core Flame, constantly eroded by the Locking God Chains, your demonic soul has been suppressed and your cultivation continuously declined. Do you still think you are the demon who once ruled the world in ancient times?
“Let me guess—you are almost unable to hold on, aren’t you? The soul damage from three thousand years ago still hasn’t recovered, has it? Right now, you are nothing more than a half-soul. And me? After three thousand years of nourishment by spiritual energy, do you still think I am the same remnant soul you once split off? You are wrong. I have already completed my soul. I am now a complete individual. I am no longer your subordinate, no longer a fragment of you.”
Jing Zhan looked at Leng Qin indifferently. “And so what?”
This calm indifference seemed to enrage Leng Qin. A trace of cold malice flashed across his handsome face.
“I will replace you. From now on, I will be Jing Zhan—the ancient demon Jing Zhan. I will accomplish what you never could. I will restore the demon race and lead it to rule this world.”
Jing Zhan looked at him with faint mockery. “Restore the demon race? So that’s what you want—the Creation Orb?”
A satisfied expression appeared on Leng Qin’s face. “I know the Creation Orb is in your possession. Don’t forget—we are essentially the same person.”
Jing Zhan seemed to hear something absurd. “Do you really think I am as foolish as you?”
Seeing anger rise on Leng Qin’s face, Jing Zhan suddenly stepped forward. As he moved, the chains connecting his body to the surrounding mountain rocks were forcibly torn out. Amid the crashing debris, an overwhelming aura erupted from him. His long hair scattered behind him, rising without wind.
Jing Zhan stared coldly at Leng Qin. His gaze was proud and condescending.
“I can give you life, and I can take it away. You are merely a wisp of remnant soul—how dare you act recklessly in front of me?”
The pressure he released was too powerful. Xu Xuan let out a low cry and fainted instantly. Leng Hanran gritted his teeth tightly, circulating all his spiritual energy just to resist the crushing pressure.
Leng Qin retreated rapidly at the first instant, reacting with astonishing speed. He flicked his sleeve, sending out a pale jade box. Carefully opening it revealed a withered vine flashing with faint blue lightning. Leng Qin smiled coldly at Jing Zhan and sent the vine flying toward the mountain peak behind him.
Jing Zhan’s eyes darkened instantly, realizing what he intended. He exhaled a burst of black energy toward it. The moment the black energy and vine collided, a streak of pale blue lightning flashed, scattering the black energy. The vine itself was also heavily damaged and fell from the sky.
Just as it was about to drop into the sea of fire below, the entire mountain suddenly trembled violently. The chains Jing Zhan had forcibly pulled out were dragged upward once again. With a thunderous explosion, seven massive swords wrapped in lightning shot out from within the mountain.
In an instant, a terrifying thunderous pressure descended. Jing Zhan’s aura was forcibly suppressed, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale.
As the giant swords emerged, the falling vine was drawn toward them. In moments, it disintegrated into dust in midair, while the lightning energy on the swords became even more intense.
Leng Qin watched Jing Zhan’s miserable state with satisfaction, feeling indescribable pleasure.
Originally, Leng Qin had been only a fragment of Jing Zhan’s soul, created to help him escape. He had faithfully executed his mission, carefully laying out plans in the mortal world and sending wave after wave of subordinates into Yun Tian Sect. But somewhere along the way—perhaps due to the temptation of worldly pleasures, perhaps due to the allure of power—he began to develop his own thoughts.
Why should he save Jing Zhan? Was he not Jing Zhan himself?
He realized clearly that once Jing Zhan truly escaped, the first person Jing Zhan would eliminate would be him. He would die—and he did not want to die.
At first, this thought terrified him. But as each attempt to rescue Jing Zhan failed, he began to feel secret joy. When he personally witnessed Jing Zhan’s weakened state under the seal, his emotions became even more complicated. He hated that humans had trapped Jing Zhan here, yet he also hated Jing Zhan’s weakness.
Jing Zhan should have been the unstoppable ancient demon of legend. He should have been the name that made cultivators tremble. He should have been invincible.
Only then did Leng Qin realize: Jing Zhan was no longer the supreme being in his memory. He was just a prisoner who would not live much longer.
And so, Leng Qin decided he would become Jing Zhan. He would surpass the Jing Zhan in his memory.
With this belief, he had orchestrated everything. As long as he obtained the Creation Orb, he could rebuild the demon race and become its new sovereign.
Watching the Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Formation activated by the thunder vine, Leng Qin laughed in satisfaction. With a hand seal, he transformed into a black mist and rushed toward Jing Zhan.
At this moment, Jing Zhan was at his weakest. Under the suppression of the thunder sword formation, he could barely exert even one-tenth of his power. The Creation Orb—he would take it.
While Jing Zhan and Leng Qin were locked in battle, Ling Xiaozi was already leading Chu Mingwei directly toward the center of the forbidden area.
Due to sect rules, only the sect master could enter this place. Chu Mingwei, as the undisputed next sect leader, was brought in by special permission.
Many disciples were stationed at the edge of the restriction. Xiao Lingyu stood quietly on his Moonlight Wheel, assigned to patrol a radius of several hundred meters. The night sky was dim, clouds obscuring the moonlight. The rear mountain looked like a colossal ancient beast devouring everything in its path.
Xiao Lingyu lowered his gaze. Earlier, when the sect master brought Senior Brother into the forbidden area, he had specifically mentioned that Senior Brother’s rare thunder spiritual root would be useful inside.
In the chaos, Xiao Lingyu had not even had a chance to speak to him before watching him disappear into the forbidden zone. Thinking of the unknown existence sealed within, he could not help but worry.
Just as he was thinking this, a surge of demonic energy erupted into the sky.
“Jing Zhan! It is actually Jing Zhan!!”
The old ghost within him cried out in shock.
Xiao Lingyu frowned. “Jing Zhan? You know the demon sealed in there?”
The old ghost did not answer at first, only muttering to himself, “They are insane… to imprison Jing Zhan here…”
Xiao Lingyu pressed, “Who is Jing Zhan?”
After a long silence, the old ghost finally spoke.
“Jing Zhan is one of the Three Saints of the ancient demon race. He was extraordinarily powerful, bloodthirsty, and cruel. Few in ancient times could stand against him.”
After speaking, the old ghost seemed to recall something and added, “Even if Jing Zhan is powerful, after being sealed for so many years, he is likely at less than one-tenth of his peak strength. Moreover, since they dared to seal him here, they must have left countermeasures. You need not worry too much about Chu Mingwei.”
Despite this, Xiao Lingyu remained uneasy. But bound by sect rules, he could only stay and wait.
Suddenly, a thunderous explosion shook the forbidden area. A terrifying wave of thunder pressure swept outward.
“Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Formation?” the old ghost exclaimed in shock.
Unable to suppress his worry any longer, Xiao Lingyu made a decision.
He activated a technique and headed straight into the forbidden area.
At the same time, outside, the elders sensed the disturbance in the restriction.
Inside the formation, Xiao Lingyu stood with a solemn expression.
Because of the many layered restrictions, reaching the center step by step would take an unknown amount of time, assuming he survived at all. The old ghost suggested tearing open a spatial rift to pass through the void instead.
After calculating the distance, Xiao Lingyu stepped into the rift.
Meanwhile, Chu Mingwei and Ling Xiaozi also sensed the terrifying thunder pressure as they advanced toward the center.
Ling Xiaozi explained that the most powerful weapon sealing the demon was the sword formation, though its original control method had long been lost. They could only rely on inherited oral techniques to barely maintain it.
As they moved forward, Xiao Lingyu also stepped into the forbidden area through the void.
He formed a hand seal and spoke softly:
“Void.”
A rift appeared in midair, tall enough for a person to pass through. After confirming direction, he stepped inside. The rift slowly closed behind him.