Chapter 555 497: "No, Don't You Touch Him!" The Battle to Protect Peng Sword Immortal, a Crushing Defeat

With the descent of the majestic, silver-haired woman in a black robe, the sky itself seemed intimidated, changing color.

In an instant, the clear sky was devoured by roiling black clouds, like a tempest about to break over the ocean. Everyone present felt like a lone boat on a turbulent sea, teetering on the verge of being swallowed by a colossal wave.

Everyone, including Pei Yuhang, stared in astonishment at the proud, silver-haired beauty standing before them.

This was the being who had single-handedly shattered the Xuanyuan Dao Sect's Sect Protection Array—a barrier that had stood unbroken for ten thousand years.

Not some towering Ancient Divine Demon with three heads, six arms, and a monstrous face, but... a woman.

A beautiful woman who looked utterly harmless!

Ji Shenyun stood calmly before the black Cloud Sea, her majestic Dragon Robe fluttering in the wind. The high slit of her robe revealed long, jade-white thighs—an allure laced with palpable danger.

'So beautiful.'

Watching her snow-white hair drift like satin, someone was utterly captivated. 'If a beauty that could topple nations truly exists in this world, this must be it.'

But no one present had forgotten the terrifying power this silver-haired beauty had displayed when she transformed into a towering Divine Demon.

After a brief stupor, they all summoned their Magical Treasures and grimly stood in opposition to her.

Yet, facing countless hostile gazes, Ji Shenyun remained perfectly composed. She stood with her hands clasped behind her back, as if no one present was worthy of her attention.

However... there was one man who did merit her attention.

After all, aside from the Human Race Sage who had ambushed and suppressed her all those years ago, Pei Yuhang was only the second man in thirty thousand years to have thwarted her.

Twice, at that!

The first time was when he fulfilled the wish of that repressed vixen, Qing Yueqiu. After they coupled, he used the Seed Demon Seal to break the curse and punishment Ji Shenyun had inflicted upon her.

The second time, he had ruined her plan to possess Qing Yueqiu's body within the Sea of Consciousness.

Ji Shenyun let out a cold snort at the thought. She raised her head slightly, her gaze locking onto a certain White-clothed Sword Immortal in the crowd.

"Pei Yuhang. At long last, we meet again."

Ji Shenyun's red lips parted slightly, her voice as piercing as a blade of ice.

The moment these words, practically ground out between her teeth, were spoken, everyone present was deeply shaken.

'What does this Demoness mean?!'

'She knows the Cold Sun Sword Immortal, Pei Yuhang?'

'Or could it be... this terrifyingly, unimaginably powerful woman attacked the Xuanyuan Dao Sect just for Pei Yuhang?!'

VMMMM—

Sensing Ji Shenyun's unabashedly aggressive gaze sweep toward them, Shang Miaoyan instantly summoned over a dozen resplendent Magical Treasures, forming layered barriers to shield Pei Yuhang behind her. A cold glint flashed in Nangong Jin's normally placid eyes, and at her slender waist, the Celestial Extinction Sword was drawn three inches from its sheath.

Behind Pei Yuhang, Saint Master Yin and Chen Tiansheng also held their breath, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

But Pei Yuhang, the man at the center of the storm, seemed completely oblivious. He stared dazedly at Ji Shenyun's face and murmured,

"Ji Shenyun... It really is her."

Pei Yuhang had his suspicions about the identity of the powerful maniac who had crushed the Dao Sect's defenses with such ease.

But to actually see the Empress of the Ancient Asura Race reappear in the mortal realm still made his mind reel.

"My disciple... Qing Yueqiu... What have you done to her?"

Pei Yuhang's trembling voice reached Ji Shenyun's ears. She paused for a moment, then a mocking glint appeared in her beautiful eyes.

'This man... seems to think I actually succeeded in possessing Qing Yueqiu.'

'In that case—'

"Ah, Qing Yueqiu."

Ji Shenyun drew out the name. Watching Pei Yuhang's body instantly go rigid, her smile deepened. "She has been utterly devoured by me. From this day forward, she no longer exists in this world."

At this, Ji Shenyun took a step forward, her robes billowing like dark clouds.

"Of course, if you'd like, I could take Qing Yueqiu's place as your head disciple~"

"Master~"

Ji Shenyun tilted her head, flashing a brilliant smile. "Would you be willing to accept me?"

Pei Yuhang took a deep breath. He slowly closed his eyes, his long lashes casting shadows on his pale face.

When he opened his eyes again, the usual warmth in them was gone, replaced by a colorless, dead calm.

"I... will kill you!"

EVERYONE, FALL BACK!

YOU CAN'T HANDLE THIS FOE! GO!

A furious shout exploded like thunder as Xiao Jiuxing suddenly charged in front of everyone. His eyes were bloodshot, veins bulged on his temples, and his figure abruptly transformed into a bolt of lightning, fearlessly charging toward Ji Shenyun!

RUMBLE—!!

Purple lightning surged wildly around him. As the bolts intertwined, the phantom of a ferocious, majestic Qilin appeared, throwing its head back to roar at the heavens. Its mane writhed like electric serpents, and its hooves pawed at the air, shaking the very world with a deafening hum.

Pei Yuhang had seen this Thunder Battle Technique before, when Elder Xiao's grandson, Xiao Chenyu, used it during the Sect's grand tournament. But with Xiao Jiuxing himself unleashing it, the difference was like that between a firefly and the bright moon; there was simply no comparison.

"I will not let you take a member of my Dao Sect so easily! Your Excellency, I await your instruction!"

With a furious roar, Xiao Jiuxing threw a punch carrying the might of ten thousand thunderbolts. The purple lightning coalesced into the head of a Qilin, its gaping maw opened wide, as if to devour his powerful foe in a single bite!

However—

Ji Shenyun merely tilted her head, casting an indifferent glance.

"To condense a Divine Thunder Beast Soul into your fist intent... The resulting aura is passable, I suppose."

Her red lips parted as she offered a casual critique. "But it is merely an imitation of celestial lightning. You have captured its form, but none of its essence."

Before the words left her lips, she gave her right sleeve a light flick. A jade-white fist shot out from within the black fabric—

There were no fluctuations of Spiritual Qi, no world-shaking phenomena—just a perfectly ordinary punch, thrown as casually as a wave of the hand.