Chapter 540 - 535: The Might of a Single Sword

Chapter 540: Chapter 535: The Might of a Single Sword

"Huh? What’s going on?"

Inside the Ghostly Array, Ao Lie and the others were fighting off the surrounding Dog Demons. But just then, the Dog Demons unexpectedly shattered, dissolving into plumes of Demonic Qi.

Moreover, the Demonic Qi that had enveloped them on all sides began to recede like a tide, converging in a single direction.

Soon, the space around them was completely clear of Demonic Qi, and their vision sharpened once more.

"Could it be that the Ghostly Array has been broken?"

Lady Black Scorpion watched all this in astonishment.

"No, it seems the power of the Ghostly Array is concentrating in one location," the old man in the straw coat said with a frown.

"Regardless, we’re out of the Ghostly Array now. I have no intention of lingering in this damned place any longer. Farewell," Ao Lie said, before promptly retreating with Ao Fengfeng.

Although they were geniuses from the Hidden Dragon List with life-saving measures at their disposal, the place was simply too bizarre. For safety’s sake, it was best to leave quickly.

"Indeed. This is no place to linger."

Lady Black Scorpion and the old man in the straw coat exchanged a glance and also hurried away.

As for Ning Jiang and the others, they couldn’t care less. Their previous cooperation had been born of necessity. In the end, they had no real connection to one another—they were merely passing acquaintances. Naturally, they wouldn’t wait for Ning Jiang now.

’So heartless and disloyal,’ Gu Huaying thought, snorting in dissatisfaction as she watched them leave.

If Ning Jiang hadn’t risked his life to find the Demon Heart, how could the Array have changed like this? Their escape was all thanks to him.

SWOOSH.

Of course, she wouldn’t abandon Ning Jiang. With a flick of her graceful figure, she rushed over.

"Ning Jiang, are you alright?"

After flying forward several hundred meters, she spotted Ning Jiang beside an altar. At the same time, she saw the giant heart on the altar and couldn’t help but be startled.

However, her shock was short-lived.

"Get the hell out!"

A furious roar reached her ears. She saw roiling Demonic Qi converge in one direction, thick as ink, enveloping a figure.

Although the Demonic Qi obscured her vision, preventing her from seeing the figure clearly, Gu Huaying still guessed who it was: Liu Yama!

"Heh heh heh, it is your honor to become my Demon Servant," the Demon Heart cackled.

At this moment, the entire power of the Ghostly Array was converging on Liu Yama. With his level of Cultivation, he was naturally unable to resist it.

Countless streams of Demonic Qi surged into Liu Yama’s Seven Apertures. After a few breaths, the Demonic Qi vanished completely, and Liu Yama underwent a drastic transformation.

First, his skin turned black and became covered in dense scales. Then, his fingernails grew sharp and hard like the claws of a beast.

’This is bad.’

A grim look appeared in Gu Huaying’s beautiful eyes. She could tell with a single glance that Liu Yama had undergone Demonization!

"Using Demonization on Liu Yama... You’ve played your hand well," Ning Jiang said slowly.

"Brat, you have the Eternal Stele. I can’t kill you with my own power, so I’ll borrow a blade to do the deed. Let’s see what tricks you have left," the Demon Heart said coldly.

Although its own power was formidable, it was not only suppressed by a Seal, but it would also trigger the suppressive power of the Eternal Stele.

That’s why it chose to use Demonization on Liu Yama and borrow his power to kill Ning Jiang.

In truth, it had a better candidate than Liu Yama: Wang Yunfei. But after some consideration, it decided against it.

Wang Yunfei might already be half-human, half-demon, but with the strength of a King, it would be impossible to fully subject him to Demonization in a short amount of time, even with the concentrated power of the Ghostly Array.

Liu Yama was different. He was only in the Earth Martial Realm, after all. Using Demonization on him was much simpler.

"Kill him," the Demon Heart’s voice commanded coldly.

Liu Yama was seen walking toward Ning Jiang step by step, a vast, overwhelming killing intent pressing down on him.

SLASH.

The next moment, Liu Yama swung his saber, sending a massive blade light hacking down at Ning Jiang.

But the blade light went askew, missing Ning Jiang and streaking past him.

"Hmph. Just a mere Earth Martial Realm cultivator, yet his will is so firm. To think he can still maintain a sliver of consciousness," the Demon Heart snorted.

"Kill... kill me!"

A strained voice reached Ning Jiang’s ears. It was Liu Yama. Although his body was controlled, he still retained a shred of clarity!

"I promise," Ning Jiang said slowly.

He knew that a man like Liu Yama would rather die than become someone’s puppet. One had to remember, Liu Yama had gouged out his own eyes to overcome fear, which was enough to show he was a man who would press forward no matter what.

"Thank... you."

After uttering those two halting words, Liu Yama fell silent. His body had been completely taken over by Demonization, turning him into a Demon Servant.

He raised his arm and slashed down, a strike far more formidable than the last.

’Not good.’

Gu Huaying’s expression changed drastically. As the saber fell, there was no time to dodge. The sharp Sword Qi locked firmly onto Ning Jiang. It was like a slash from Yama himself—a killing blow, just like Liu Yama’s moniker, Yama One-Slash!

The moment the saber struck, one’s heart was plunged into despair. The blow seemed unstoppable!

In fact, with such power, it truly couldn’t be blocked. Neither Gu Huaying, nor Ao Lie and Ao Fengfeng, would have been an exception!

"Explode."

At the critical moment, Ning Jiang flicked his finger, and a cyan pearl shot out.

Accompanied by a blinding flash of light, a deafening explosion erupted.

This was a Sea-Splitting Thunder Pearl.

At the Celestial Treasure Auction, Ning Jiang had bought three of them for seven million Upper Grade Spirit Stones. The power of these pearls was astonishing; the force of their explosion was enough to severely injure an Earth Martial Realm Peak expert.

The blade light from Liu Yama’s attack was blasted to smithereens.

But before Ning Jiang could even breathe a sigh of relief, Liu Yama’s second slash descended. He was a fanatical Blade Master whose Saber Technique consisted of only a single strike, so this attack was identical in power to the last!

"Explode again."

Ning Jiang once again flicked out a Sea-Splitting Thunder Pearl, using its power to block the strike.

But then, Liu Yama’s third slash fell.

Ning Jiang had no choice but to flick out the third Sea-Splitting Thunder Pearl to defend himself.

In an instant, all three Sea-Splitting Thunder Pearls were used up.

He was now in an extremely precarious situation.

Yet, there was no trace of fear on his face. Liu Yama had unleashed three consecutive slashes, and his aura now showed a slight stagnation. A Saber Technique this powerful could not, of course, be used continuously without pause.

In that momentary pause, Ning Jiang drew his sword and struck—all in one smooth, seamless motion!

"Divine Sword Technique, Fourth Stance: Sword Decides Life and Death..."

A beam of light flashed by in an instant, like an illusion that had never been there at all.

Liu Yama stood there, motionless, but a bloody hole had appeared on his forehead.

"Thank you..." His body collapsed.

As for Ning Jiang, he slumped to the ground, sweat pouring down like rain, completely drained of strength!