Lin Chu's voice fell, and his figure instantly disappeared from his original spot. When Lin Chu reappeared, he was already directly in front of the Dark Demon God.
Lin Chu clenched his left fist and struck the Dark Demon God.
BOOM!
With a deafening roar, the Dark Demon God's massive body was actually sent crashing into a rift in the earth by Lin Chu's punch.
"Sorry, I didn't quite gauge the force," Lin Chu waved his arm, shrugging with a hint of helplessness. His figure then flickered again, instantly plunging into the rift.
BANG BANG BANG!
Several thunderous booms echoed, and the earth trembled once more. The terrifying aftershocks, even reaching Li Qingzhu and the others far in Xiaodu City, caused cracks to appear on the ground and the city walls.
Fortunately, with the intervention of Lin Chu's clone, the panicked crowd was somewhat calmed.
"Huh? The Dark Demon God actually disappeared!"
"What's going on? Why can't I sense even a trace of the Dark Demon God's aura?"
"Could it be that the Dark Demon God has been completely slain by Your Excellency the Young Venerable? But how did he achieve it?"
As time passed, Xiao Changfeng and the Divine Kings in mid-air suddenly noticed the figures beneath the earth disappear, and the Dark Demon God's aura vanished with them.
For a moment, they were all perplexed.
After all, they knew that Lin Chu had only recently broken through to the Heavenly Venerate realm, and even the Embodiment of Order couldn't stop the Dark Demon God, yet Lin Chu had somehow managed it.
THUD, THUD, THUD!
Beside the Forgetfulness River Crossing, at the bottom of the riverbed which had long since dried up, a heavy, slow thudding sound began to resonate. Lin Chu and Xiao Jingren, who had reappeared in mid-air, exchanged a glance and then simultaneously looked in the direction of the sound.
At this moment, both of them frowned, as if sensing something.
BOOM!
With a deafening roar, the earth began to bulge outwards layer by layer. A colossal figure broke through the soil – it was the Dark Demon God who had suddenly vanished.
The Dark Demon God's body bore distinct battle scars, and its chest was pierced by a gaping wound the size of a basin, from which black blood flowed. It was evident that Lin Chu had inflicted this injury during their previous encounter.
"As expected of one who has comprehended the power of the Heavenly Way. To wound this deity to such an extent." The Dark Demon God looked down at the wound on its chest, its voice resonating deeply through the heavens and earth.
"But alas, even with the comprehension of the Heavenly Way, you cannot kill this deity! How many years has it been? This is the first time I have felt such pain. None of you shall live!"
"Divine Forbidden Art, Demonic Devourer's Purgatory!"
The Dark Demon God's low voice echoed, and from the rift in the earth below, waves of demonic energy began to surge.
In an instant, the area within a hundred-mile radius of the Forgetfulness River Crossing was transformed into a demonic pool.
Illusions sprang forth everywhere, and enormous black hands materialized from the demonic energy. In a flash, those present began to plummet downwards like kites with cut strings.
Even Xiao Changfeng and the Divine Kings could only hold on for less than ten breaths before they swayed and began to fall. The cultivators with the weakest strength, upon hitting the ground, were immediately enveloped by demonic energy and instantly transformed into wisps of demonic energy, merging into the purgatory.
Lin Chu and Xiao Jingren also felt an invisible force pulling at them, clearly intending to drag them into the purgatory below.
However, their strength had greatly increased. Sensing this, they simultaneously formed hand seals and each unleashed a beam of golden light that merged together.
"Heavenly Way Art, Azure Heaven Revival!"
As the golden lights from Lin Chu and Xiao Jingren combined, the chaotic spiritual energy in the sky instantly transformed into a ripple of spiritual power that spread in all directions.
The cultivators who had fallen below immediately stabilized themselves as this spiritual wave spread over them.
Then, the spiritual wave surged towards the purgatory below, dissolving it in an instant.
"Damn it!" The Dark Demon God cursed under its breath as the purgatory demonic pool below vanished. Its figure rapidly shrank, and it shot towards the distance.
The spiritual wave that had broken the Dark Demon God's purgatory was now surging towards it. However, as the Dark Demon God moved, the spiritual wave grew more potent. In an instant, it reached the Dark Demon God's surroundings.
Seeing the increasingly dense spiritual waves, the Dark Demon God's face clearly contorted with anger.
It struck its chest with a palm, and from the wound that Lin Chu had previously created, a stream of pure demonic blood gushed out. The Dark Demon God then formed hand seals, and a bloody light erupted outwards.
"Blood Demon Art, Fiery Demonic Flames!"
The bloody light spread outwards, and the speed of the spiritual waves instantly slowed. The two forces began to erode each other, and the space began to shatter under their compression.
RUMBLE!
With a deafening roar, spiritual light and bloody light flashed intensely. The blinding radiance forced Xiao Changfeng and the Divine Kings to immediately close their eyes.
CRASH!
Just then, a crash sounded quickly. When Xiao Changfeng and the Divine Kings opened their eyes, they saw that the Dark Demon God had appeared where Xiao Jingren had been moments before. Xiao Jingren himself had been sent flying outwards by a palm strike from the Dark Demon God.
"Damn it!" Even Lin Chu hadn't reacted in time when he noticed the Dark Demon God's move. Seeing Xiao Jingren struck by the Dark Demon God's palm, a look of seriousness flashed in his eyes.
Although Lin Chu and Xiao Jingren had comprehended the Yin and Yang of the Heavenly Way, they still needed to combine their strength to unleash its full potential. This was why Xiao Yan had insisted on two individuals with close bloodlines from the very beginning.
However, Lin Chu was puzzled; with Xiao Jingren's current strength, how could he not have sensed the Dark Demon God's movement?
"Heh heh, this deity's guess was correct. Unless you two join forces, this deity fears you not. Now that one is dealt with, dealing with you will be much easier." Seeing Lin Chu's increasingly serious expression, the Dark Demon God sneered.
Lin Chu remained silent. Although he could still sense Xiao Jingren's aura, it was incredibly weak. While the Dark Demon God's strike might not be fatal, Xiao Jingren would likely be unable to cooperate with Lin Chu. In such a scenario, Lin Chu would be unable to suppress the Dark Demon God again.
"Cough cough... Dark Demon God, you underestimate this venerable one too much!"
Just then, Xiao Jingren's voice suddenly rang out.
Lin Chu looked towards the source of the sound in surprise. Xiao Jingren, whose aura had been fading, flew up from the ground below and landed not far from Lin Chu. Moreover, his aura had, in an instant, surged to its peak.
"You actually burned your soul!" Upon seeing Xiao Jingren's appearance, the Dark Demon God's pupils constricted sharply. Lin Chu, on the other hand, looked at Xiao Jingren with a complex expression.
As he felt Xiao Jingren's aura ascend, Lin Chu had already realized that Xiao Jingren was burning his soul. He had never imagined Xiao Jingren would take such a drastic measure.
After all, burning one's soul could grant a significant surge in power, but it would leave no possibility of survival afterward.
"Lin Chu, my nephew. This venerable one has indeed wronged your father and my imperial brother. What this venerable one owes you, I shall repay now." Sensing Lin Chu's expression, Xiao Jingren smiled as if he had noticed something.
With his words, Xiao Jingren's gaze shifted directly to the Dark Demon God: "All of this was caused by me. Come to think of it, you only had the opportunity to descend here because of me. Since that is the case, I shall resolve this trouble with my own hands!"
"Heavenly Way, Yin Wheel!"
As Xiao Jingren finished speaking, pure spiritual energy surged from his body. A crescent moon slowly rose. As this crescent moon ascended, the Dark Demon God's expression drastically changed.
"Heavenly Way, Yang Wheel!"
Lin Chu sighed softly, looking at the increasingly bright crescent moon above Xiao Jingren's head, his eyes gradually revealing a sense of acceptance.
With his perception, Lin Chu naturally sensed that Xiao Jingren was not only burning his soul but also his life force entirely. It was likely that after this battle, no trace of life would remain.
However, thinking of the Dark Demon God before him, Lin Chu's heart stirred, and spiritual energy flowed within him.
HUM.
As a white sun appeared above Lin Chu's head, the Dark Demon God instantly shot into the distance. Because the Dark Demon God sensed that if it didn't leave immediately, it would surely perish here.
However, after the Dark Demon God had only flown a hundred meters, its speed was abruptly halted. The surrounding space was completely sealed.
"Heavenly Way Yin and Yang, Harmonious Strength and Gentleness. The Wheels of Yin and Yang Shall Slay the Demon God!"
The voices of Lin Chu and Xiao Jingren rang out in unison, and the crescent moon and the white sun instantly merged. As Xiao Jingren and Lin Chu finished speaking, they descended towards the Dark Demon God, who was now trapped in space.
"No...!" The Dark Demon God's pupils widened, its face filled with a terror that starkly contrasted with its previous demeanor. However, under the radiance of the white sun and the crescent moon, it instantly transformed into wisps of demonic energy, which were then completely purified and scattered.
As the last wisp of demonic energy dissipated, Xiao Jingren, who had been beside Lin Chu, slumped weakly, falling downwards like a broken kite. Seeing this, Lin Chu moved swiftly and gently lowered Xiao Jingren to the ground.
"Cough cough... I, my current predicament is all my own doing. Cough... cough cough, Xiao Yi, I don't beg for your forgiveness, but can you... cough... grant me one thing?" Xiao Jingren spat blood, yet he tightly gripped Lin Chu's arm and said.
Lin Chu looked at Xiao Jingren in his arms with a complex expression, unsure how to respond for a moment. Even Xiao Changfeng and the Divine Kings, who had gathered around, were all silent.
As Xiao Jingren's aura continued to weaken, Lin Chu finally nodded slowly.
"Good, good! Lin Chu, on my behalf, on behalf of my... take good care of her..." Seeing Lin Chu nod, Xiao Jingren's face brightened with a semblance of returning vitality. With his words, his arm suddenly drooped.
...
Five years later, a figure suddenly appeared in mid-air. As the aura emanating from this figure spread, the Ten Directions Continent simultaneously floated upwards, and with thunderous roars, they merged together.
The chaotic continent, shattered during the great battle, also slowly integrated into this continent. As the continent gradually stabilized, a voice instantly resonated in the minds of every cultivator.
"From this day forth, there shall be no more Chaos Heaven. The Ten Directions Continent was meant to be one, and today it merges, in accordance with the Heavenly Way. I name it, the Yuan Ling Continent."
"Heaven gives birth to all things, each with its order. Spiritual energy permeates the four directions, and a glimmer of hope can be found. May you all cultivate diligently and uphold righteousness."