131 Seizing the Corpse Demon Beast

"If... if we cannot destroy the Corpse Demon, my senior brother remains in danger." Zhou You’s expression shifted as he spoke of the impossibility of destroying the creature.

"Rest assured. The Corpse Demon has been reduced to a mindless killing machine and is currently trapped within my Righteous Energy. As long as I learn the Daoist arts from the old master, I will naturally be able to annihilate it," Li Xintian said, shaking his head.

"Many thanks for your help, Young Master Li. If not for you, I fear I would have become a sinner," Zhao Longjie said, clasping his fists. With the malevolent toxin purged from his body, he was a changed man, almost unrecognizable from his former self.

"Catch." Li Xintian tossed the Heaven-Polarity Sword and Earth-Polarity Sword back to Zhao Longjie. Zhao caught them and said, "We should leave the Five Elements Tower Formation first. Daoist Zhou, please perform the ritual."

"These are the Heaven and Earth-Polarity Swords—how did they end up here?" Zhao Longjie asked as he took hold of the blades.

"I suspect the Corpse Demon absorbed your memories, brother, and learned to wield the Heaven and Earth Dual Absolute Sword Technique," Zhou You explained. He channeled his spiritual energy, and as his Celestial Eye opened upon his forehead, a gap appeared in the Five Elements Tower Formation.

The three emerged from the formation, and Zhou You gathered the Five Elements Stones, which had now lost all their luster. Li Xintian tucked away the Qilin Stone.

"It is a pity; the Five Elements Stones are spent," Zhao Longjie remarked, seeing that they were ruined.

"As long as my brother is saved, it was all worth it. I have not failed the trust placed in me by our master and uncle, and I have fulfilled the wishes of those two elders," Zhou You said, placing the stones into his pack.

"Enough. You two brothers can catch up later. Let us return to the righteous hall first. Daoist Zhou, please escort me to the old master; destroying the Corpse Demon is our priority," Li Xintian interjected.

"Junior brother, you..." Zhao Longjie began, sensing something, but stopped before he could voice his suspicion.

"Brother," Zhou You said, shaking his head to silence him.

"Li Xintian, you truly live up to your possession of the Vast Righteous Energy. You have indeed done me a great service." A figure known as the Black Emperor appeared, accompanied by a black hound floating in mid-air amidst black clouds.

Li Xintian, Zhao Longjie, and Zhou You all watched the Black Emperor with guarded vigilance.

"Black Emperor, what is your business?" Li Xintian did not wish for a conflict, given the immense power the Black Emperor displayed.

"Hand over what you hold, and I shall withdraw." The Black Emperor wore a mask, hiding his intentions regarding the Corpse Demon.

"Who are you to speak so cryptically? And you dare covet such an evil thing!" Zhao Longjie shouted.

The Black Emperor remained silent, but his eyes narrowed slightly, sending a wave of compressed air toward Zhao Longjie.

"Brother, watch out!" Zhou You, recognizing the power of the strike, joined Zhao Longjie in a defensive stance, but their combined efforts could not withstand the force.

Seeing them struggle, Li Xintian stepped in, channeling his Righteous Energy to neutralize the blast. Zhao Longjie broke into a cold sweat, looking at the Black Emperor with trepidation.

"You have no right to speak to me. If not for Li Xintian, you would already be pulp," the Black Emperor said, as if performing a trivial task. He stroked the black hound, which responded with a satisfied grin.

"Daoist Zhou, you are no match for him, and I will not hand over the Corpse Demon," Li Xintian said, compressing the energy field containing the creature and tucking it into his robe.

"In your current state, you are far from my match. Your Righteous Energy is useless against me!" The Black Emperor stopped stroking the hound, which bared its teeth at Li Xintian.

"You want the Corpse Demon? I will not let you have your way." Li Xintian wanted to test the limits of the Black Emperor’s strength.

The Black Emperor raised his hand, and a black-and-white circle manifested around them. Zhou You and Zhao Longjie were frozen in time, unable to move. Li Xintian, however, was unaffected. Before he could react, another air wave struck him, sending him skidding over ten meters across the ground.

"Hand it over. I have no time to waste. If you refuse, my hound will head to the Chen Family Village hall. The Zouwu and that sickly cat will not be able to stop it," the Black Emperor threatened, forcing Li Xintian into a corner.

"Do you know what I hate most in this life?" Li Xintian’s voice turned cold with fury.

"Threatening you? Ha! Even without threats, you could do nothing to me," the Black Emperor laughed.

"I hate it most when people threaten my family!" Li Xintian erupted, his Righteous Energy burning like a flame as he dashed toward his opponent. He threw a punch, but it was as if space itself were being stretched; despite his proximity, his blows landed a meter away, unable to touch the unmoved Black Emperor.

"Hmph!" Annoyed, the Black Emperor exhaled, releasing a shockwave from his body that sent Li Xintian flying backward.

Li Xintian recovered and traced the character for "Righteousness" in the air with his energy, hurling it at the Black Emperor. It vanished upon contact without causing a stir.

"Hand it over. You cannot protect it. Do not force my hand," the Black Emperor said, completely unfazed.

"Very well." Realizing his efforts were futile, Li Xintian compromised. He produced the trapped Corpse Demon and said, "Daoist Zhou, Daoist Zhao, I am truly sorry."

"Young Master Li, we are deeply grateful for your help. We could never blame you. If this saves your family and my disciple, it is entirely understandable," Zhou You said with a shake of his head.

"Young Master Li, if not for you, I would still be a thrall to the demon. I do not blame you for your choice," Zhao Longjie added.

"Take it." Li Xintian tossed the entity to the Black Emperor.

The Black Emperor caught it with a magnetic pull, crushed the protective energy with one hand, and seized the Corpse Demon by the throat. The demon struggled violently but suddenly went limp like a dead dog.

"My thanks." With that, the Black Emperor departed, his hound close behind.

"Young Master Li, this person..." Both Zhou and Zhao were deeply shaken.

"I do not know his origins, only that he calls himself the Black Emperor. He is incredibly dangerous and possesses immense power," Li Xintian said. "Let us return to the hall. We should leave him be for now."

Li Xintian, eager to learn from the old master, set off first.

"Junior brother, while I was under the demon's control, was Black Moon in any danger?" Zhao Longjie asked as they walked.

"Rest easy, brother. Black Moon is unharmed. She was affected by the toxin, but Li Xintian purged it," Zhou You replied as they arrived at the hall.

"Xintian!" "Master!" The group reunited with relief. Hu Qiuyan embraced Li Xintian, while Black Moon stole a glance at him before turning her eyes toward her master, Zhao Longjie. Bian Yiyuan and Bian Yihe were overjoyed to see their master returned.

"Master, your toxin...?" Black Moon asked, sensing no strangeness in Zhao Longjie.

"Black Moon, the toxin has been purged; it will not surface again," Zhao Longjie said, maintaining his dignified composure, though he had noted her earlier glance toward Li Xintian.

"My brother and I are fine. The process was perilous, but all is well now," Zhou You explained to the apprentices.

"Grandfather, Grandmother, I worried you," Li Xintian said, stepping toward Chen Linqing and Huo Wanping.

"As long as you are safe," Chen Linqing replied.

"Very well, everyone rest. We leave Chen Family Village tomorrow," Li Xintian said.

"Cousin, tell us, how was the Corpse Demon defeated? We saw a giant sword in the sky. Just as we thought it was the end, that sword was shattered by a pale blue light," Chen Yuanwen said, draping an arm over Li Xintian’s shoulder. The others gathered around, eager to hear.

"Cousin, that must have been my doing. The demon was incredibly strong, but we managed to defeat it together," Li Xintian said with a smile, opting not to elaborate on the Black Emperor's involvement.

"Well done, Young Master!" the servants cheered.

"Master, is that true?" Bian Yihe asked, looking at Zhou You expectantly.

"Indeed, it was a joint effort between your uncle, Young Master Li, and myself," Zhou You said, keeping the Black Emperor’s existence a secret.

"Master, when that giant sword appeared, I really thought we were done for. I never expected we would be safe," Bian Yiyuan admitted. Though he was loath to acknowledge Li Xintian's prowess, he gave him a thumbs-up of genuine respect.

Li Xintian offered him a faint smile.

"Cousin, tell us more about how you saved Daoist Zhao," Chen Yuanwen prompted.