"Boom!!!"

Sacrificial Demon-Slaying, exhausting everything, the sword and saber ultimate form merged, confronting the Ten Thousand Dao Celestial Demons.

Mo Yunzi gave his all, pushing the Heavenly Demon Great Method to its limit, but it still couldn’t withstand it. The moment of contact resulted in a collapse, destroyed by the sacrificial force that turned life into extinction, obliterating his Dharma Aspect, physical body, and form.

The Demon Heaven Banner behind was also affected, the pole made from some unknown material suddenly showed signs of damage, the banner surface swirled with demonic flow, countless faces twisted, making silent screams, wanting to escape far away.

However, the Five Elements Seal Celestial, the Five Swords Locking Demon, pinned it firmly in place, even though the Primordial Spirit of Mo Yunzi inside desperately activated it, it couldn’t escape the confinement of the five swords.

At this moment, the sword and saber had vanished, the merging power exhausted, Mo Yunzi wounded but not dead, the Demon Heaven Banner also destroyed but not extinct, his Primordial Spirit merged with this Tier Nine Demon Treasure, should he escape, he still had the chance to rise again.

But a huge shadow approached, a body thousands of feet tall like a Demon God, Primordial Element Martial Body, Primordial Spirit Dharma Aspect, Qi and Essence united as one, with full force striking.

At once...

"Boom!!!"

In the void, another explosion was seen, the Demon Heaven Banner exploded, from which a demon shadow and a piece of the demon banner fragment shot out, trying to forcibly escape.

But unexpectedly, the Five Demon-locking Swords rose from the formation, turning into five long rainbows enclosing all the demon banner fragments, fiercely intersecting, instantly slicing out thousands upon thousands of swords, slashing the demon treasure fragment and Mo Yunzi’s Primordial Spirit into thousands of holes, cutting off the Three Flowers and Five Qi, cultivation merit.

Finally, the demon banner fragment, turned to ashes and vanished.

"How is... this possible!!!"

In the void, it seemed a voice of grief and hatred echoed, but it also seemed like an illusion, disappearing in an instant.

The Five Elements Grand Array disintegrated, the Five Demon-locking Swords subsequently fell to the ground, each dimming in Spirit Light, the sword bodies covered in scars and even cracks, showing the damage from the earlier battle.

The higher the realm, the greater the gap, both for humans and artifacts.

These Five Demon-locking Swords were Tier Eight Sword Artifacts, facing the Tier Nine Demon Heaven Banner had no advantage, if not for Shen Hex borrowing illusion for cultivation, achieving the Sealing Heaven and Locking Demon Formation, these swords would have no hope of restraining the Demon Heaven Banner and Demon Heaven Array. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Now, although successful, the price was heavy, all five swords suffered great damage, luckily Shen Hex opted for swift battle, otherwise, if delayed, the Sealing Heaven and Locking Demon Formation could not last long, sooner or later being broken by the Demon Heaven Banner.

The Five Demon-locking Swords, though heavily damaged, were much better than the Demon Saber Dao Sword.

Shen Hex dispersed the Primordial Spirit Dharma Aspect, the Primordial Element Martial Body also released, transforming into normal form standing in the void, then cast a True Yuan Magical Power, transforming into the figure of "Martial Madman".

Such transformation, only an illusion, lacking substance, far inferior to an Outer Body Incarnation, a Primordial Spirit could easily perceive inner emptiness.

But Shen Hex had no choice, the Sacrificial Demon-Slaying, a sword strike with no return, the Demon Saber Dao Sword was sacrificed into the merging move, exhausting everything, without reservation, after exceeding the limit, turned to ashes, both Outer Body Incarnations vanished without a trace.

Even his true self was injured, due to squeezing magical power, Primordial Element Martial Body and Primordial Spirit Dharma Aspect united as one, greatly depleting primordial qi, so he now could only use an illusion to hold the scene.

But no need to worry, after all experiencing the great battle, greatly depleting primordial qi, cultivation body exhausted, is only natural.

Even if not natural, based on the victory over Mo Yunzi, Taiyuan cultivators dared not act rashly.

Shen Hex looked at the Yin Yang Dust Array, quietly waiting for the final outcome.

He had defeated Mo Yunzi, the Yin Yang Dust Array against the Three Fierce Swords was even less suspenseful. After all, they were not opponents back then, relying only on West Sea’s burning jade and stone together to escape alive, today without a second West Sea to detonate, how could they withstand the combined forces of the Three Heroes, Two Talents, and Taiyuan cultivators practicing the Yin Yang Dust Array.

Moreover, Mo Yunzi was already dead, the Demon Heaven Array broken, even if the Three Fierce of the West Sea were not turned into puppet incarnations by Mo Yunzi, he must have used some restrictive means, sensing the death of Mo Yunzi and the breaking of Demon Heaven, their formation sure faltered, hastening defeat.

So...

A moment later, the Sword Realm trembled.

Yin Yang Heaven and Earth disintegrated, streams of Spirit Light emerged, materializing into the figures of the Three Heroes, Two Talents, and Taiyuan cultivators, many looked worn out, bearing noticeable injuries, some even missing, but their whereabouts need not be discussed.

To ensure swift victory, to support Shen Hex delaying Mo Yunzi outside the formation, they made quite a sacrifice.

But now...

"Friend, where is that demon?"

Qii Yunming looked into the desolate void, not seeing the overwhelming demon cloud, only Shen Hex and one other standing side by side, he couldn’t help but voice his surprise.

"He has been killed by our combined move, the Demon Heaven Banner has turned to ashes."

Shen Hex spoke calmly, revealing shocking facts.

"What!?"

Qii Yunming’s expression changed, everyone was dumbfounded, looking incredulously at Shen Hex and his companion.

Although all these years, under Taiyi Daoist Palace’s propulsion, the examination of sword and demon has become part of Taiyuan cultivators’ knowledge, even Taihua Mountain must acknowledge, yet honestly there remained some doubts, further thinking the Three Heroes, Two Talents were the main force against demons, not the subsequently introduced Demon Saber Dao Sword.

Because of this, they fought vigorously within the Yin Yang Dust Array, sparing no cost to take down the Three Fierce Swords, then hurriedly came out to support, fearing Shen Hex and his companion couldn’t hold Mo Yunzi, leading to an imbalanced situation.

Unexpectedly...

"So that demon is truly dead?"

Though realizing the impropriety of such questioning, Qii Yunming couldn’t suppress his lingering doubt.

"If friend does not believe, you may search."

"Hmph!"

Shen Hex spoke no more, the "Martial Madman" beside him coldly snorted, rising with saber light returning to Taiyuan Heaven and Earth.

"Demon Heaven is broken, tribulation ended, everyone is at your leisure!"

Finally, Shen Hex left with a word, also became sword light and departed.

"Master!"

Zhong Yuxiu upon seeing this, too broke away from the crowd, following closely back to Taiyuan.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Watching the two leave, everyone was silent for a long time, eventually coming back to themselves, casting their gaze toward Qii Yunming.

"We were rude."

Qii Yunming also awoke, looking at the empty chaotic void, speaking with a bitter smile: "The Demon Heaven Array was broken by the two friends’ sword and saber, even if Mo Yunzi has some trick to escape death once more, it would only be lingering, hard to form a threat again."

"Indeed!"

Tianji Zi also spoke: "This time demon-slaying success, entirely thanks to the two friends!"

With a sigh he continued: "This time demon calamity, caused Taiyuan great loss, countless beings suffered, now that demon-slaying success, finally we can comfort the souls!"

"In the unseen, fate exists!"

Qii Yunming nodded, then looked towards Taiyuan Realm: "Let’s return inside the realm!"

Although demon-slaying succeeded, ascending to the Upper Realm is unobstructed, there are still many matters to attend to, cultivators cannot leave immediately.

Besides, they had undergone great battles, exhausted their primordial qi to kill the Three Fierce Swords, requiring time to recover. Only when in peak state, can they traverse the void, ascend to the Upper Realm.

They had no choice, they are only Divinity Transformation, unlike Mo Yunzi as a Returning Void Cultivator, lacking the ability to absorb Chaos Primordial Qi in the void, without thorough preparation, even with the guide left by Ancient Immortals and Buddhas, it’s difficult to traverse the void, reach the True Immortal Upper Realm.

Thus everyone agreed, returning to Taiyuan Heaven and Earth, minds inevitably began to stir.

This time’s demon-slaying success, the Demon Saber Dao Sword was the primary merit, even one could say all merit, as the Demon Heaven Array was broken, how the Three Fierce Swords were of no consequence.

Not to mention the Three Calamities Demon Monarch, whose mysterious and solitary ways augmented the fact Taiyuan Demon Dao was now extinct, and given everyone’s wounded hearts, little concern lingered about rebuilding the Demon Dao, growing it strong.

Only the Taidao Master required consideration.

In recent years, the Demon Heaven Tribulation already made the Taiyi Daoist Palace of Five Elements Locking Demon unrivaled, even they as overseas Immortal Sects had to migrate inland, seek refuge, dependently under them.

Now the Sword and Demon Examination achieved unprecedented merit, replacing Taihua Mountain as the dominant foothold in the cultivation realm is inevitable, even having the potential to dominate the world, supreme and unmatched.

Therefore, how should the Mystic Sect Orthodox Sect situate themselves?

Though concerns about this may seem like a small-minded suspicion, sitting at their position necessitates this consideration.

Even if they are soon to ascend, for the sake of legacy and sect strategy, before departing, they must finalize a strategy, properly position their sect, and establish the relationship with Taiyi Daoist Palace, to ensure the continuity of their tradition.

But there is no need to contemplate too deeply, since the person will eventually ascend, even if unable to counter Taiyi Daoist Palace, enduring and hibernating for a few thousand years, until they ascend, all will resolve, merely another Mystic Sect Orthodox Sect.

There’s nothing to worry about.