Chapter 445

Chapter 445: Nine Nether Demon Slaying Strike

The two men, failing to reach an agreement, unexpectedly drafted a Life and Death Contract and prepared to fight to the death on the spot.

The other two disciples stood frozen in shock, exchanging uneasy glances. Their concern wasn’t whether Ding Haochen could kill Ye Yun, but rather the fact that this duel violated sect rules—life-or-death battles were strictly forbidden here. If Tian Yunzi discovered this, none would escape punishment.

Who was Tian Yunzi? The elder overseeing Divine Grace Palace’s laws and Master of Absolute Heart Peak. Though outwardly gentle, his merciless enforcement of rules chilled the blood of offenders.

"Brother Ding, perhaps let this go?" whispered the disciple clutching the pale-yellow sword.

"Indeed! Why stoop to this fool’s level? The upcoming assessment matters more," the other hastily added.

Ding Haochen glared coldly. "The contract is signed. Should I grovel now?"

Both juniors paled, sweat beading their brows. "W-we spoke out of turn," they stammered.

Ye Yun chuckled. "How fitting—a senior brother with lapdogs too scared to bark back. Delightful."

The two whipped their heads up, eyes blazing. Though cowed before Ding Haochen, they towered over Ye Yun—a mere Foundation Establishment stage four novice. His earlier ambush meant nothing against their pinnacle Foundation Establishment strength.

"Such fire when facing me! Where was this spine when scolded?" Ye Yun mocked, hands clasped behind his back. "Cultivators without courage are worthless, even with golden alchemy pills. To defy heaven itself—that’s true cultivation!"

"Brave words for a weakling!" spat the sword-bearing disciple.

Ye Yun sighed. "No courage? Then all three attack. I’ve no time to waste."

"Die!" they roared. Surging energy coalesced as murderous intent—condensed Soul Power—lashed toward Ye Yun.

He stood unmoved, smirk deepening. Such mental assaults crushed weaker cultivators, but Ye Yun’s Soul Willpower—tempered by the Heart of Immortals and Demons and countless brushes with death—remained unshakable.

The disciples gaped. They’d expected resistance, not casual indifference.

"Done testing me?" Ye Yun jeered. "Attack or cower?"

They hesitated, weapons lowering.

Ding Haochen’s voice cut through like ice. "Step aside. Today, death’s shadow devours his flesh to feed my soul."

Black mist writhed above him, howling with spectral screams.

"Enough chatter," Ye Yun snorted, arms crossed. "Fight or flee."

Roaring, Ding Haochen dissolved into the mist. A towering shadow-figure lunged, plunging the hundred-zhang area into darkness filled with ghostly shrieks.

Ye Yun frowned. Divine Grace Palace, a Great Qin Empire super sect, practiced righteous methods—why did Ding Haochen wield Ghost Path arts? Did the sect accept any disciple?

No time for answers. The shadowy net engulfed him.

Purple Shadow flashed in Ye Yun’s hand, vibrating 1,024 times in an eyeblink.

"Divine Thunder Annihilation!"

Thunder boomed. Lightning wreathed the Purple Shadow Sword as it pierced the darkness.

BOOM!

Electric snakes danced as thunder roared.

Purple lightning surged mightily, tearing through the heavens. The shadowy figure hadn’t anticipated Ye Yun unleashing such a potent lightning strike. The frigid wraith, born of the Nine Nether Realms’ chilling energy, faced its natural nemesis—lightning, the world’s most violent force, purging all darkness.

The moment the Divine Thunder Annihilation touched the shadow, a shrill scream erupted. The figure shrank instantly, recoiling a hundred zhang before crashing to the ground.

The shadow dissipated, revealing Ding Haochen’s pale face, fear flickering in his eyes.

“You’ve mastered Thunder Spirit Qi?” he gasped, voice trembling.

“Scared now? Weren’t you so eager to sign the Life and Death Contract? Too late to surrender,” Ye Yun sneered, his Purple Shadow Sword pulsing with violet light that rippled outward like water rings.

Ding Haochen steadied himself. “I underestimated you. No wonder Master took a Foundation Establishment stage four weakling as a Registered Disciple.”

In truth, he’d sensed the lightning’s threat the instant Ye Yun struck. Though the Divine Thunder Annihilation consumed much of his true qi, it hadn’t landed a direct hit.

“Enough talk!” Ye Yun flicked his sword, light scattering. “Come meet your end.”

Ding Haochen’s smirk vanished. A Tian Yunzi disciple didn’t survive on arrogance alone. For the first time, he regarded Ye Yun as a true rival for the master’s favor.

“Lightning and Nine Nether energy are opposing forces,” Ding Haochen spat. A dark pill vanished into his mouth, and his aura surged. The deathly shadow didn’t reappear—useless against thunder’s might.

His curved blade darkened further, swallowing surrounding light until only void remained.

“This is the Nine Nether Demon Slaying Strike. Perfected, it fells ancient gods. Die knowing you faced glory.”

“Still wagging your tongue?” Ye Yun taunted.

Black mist erupted from Ding Haochen’s pores, weaving through air before coalescing on his blade. The weapon blazed with dark radiance, churning winds that sent nearby disciples scrambling. Even Zheng Tong retreated, face grim.

Ye Yun stood calm amidst howling ghosts. Ripples along his sword mirrored patterns in his mind—the fragmented fourth stance of Thundercloud Lightning Sword: Sword of the Thunder God. Broken yet brilliant, it sparked revelation.

“Interesting,” he murmured, smile sharpening as he met Ding Haochen’s glare across the maelstrom.

The curved blade rose.

“NINE NETHER DEMON SLAYING STRIKE!”