Yang Maoda lost just like that. The Yang Clan of Great Waves, there was no doubt he had put this resounding name to shame. The six remaining human immortals were stunned. Everything had happened so fast. Yang Maoda had been defeated way too quickly. They didn't expect him to be so useless.
Qin Shiu'er let out a vibrant laugh and approached the group. Her watery figure quivered with excitement as if she couldn't wait to swallow all of them at once. With so few humans left able to fight, her victory was assured.
"Well, well, well. One... two... three... four... five... six! Oh my! So sad! Hehehe! Don't you think we've dragged this on long enough? How about all of you come at me together?"
"Bitch, die!" Peng Yuefeng spat and launched a horizontal sword strike.
His massive sword split the air and shot out an arc of sword energy. In a flash, the strike sliced her body in two, leaving a wide gap where her waist used to be.
"Eh...? Ehehehe!" She giggled, "That hurt sooooo much! Do it again!"
As she spoke, the two parts of her body reconnected. Water flowed together and there was no sign of any wounds. She was unharmed, she was impervious to all physical attacks including sword attacks.
A split second later, a barrage of golden sword beams descended like divine rain. The attack came from Su Tan and could be considered a small step above Peng Yuefeng's but the result was still the same. After the mighty burst of sword energy dissipated, the water demon remained unperturbed. There wasn't a single mark left on her perfect, azure figure.
"Ow! All of you are bullying me!" Qin Shiu'er said in a sing-song voice, "So mean! So mean!"
She lifted both hands and there was a great surge of spiritual energy. The water around the six human immortals surged upward, threatening to drown them all. Although they could hold their breaths for long periods of time, being forcibly submerged was nothing good.
As one, the six immortals flew into the air. Their expressions were ashen and their spirits were at the breaking point. The final battle had arrived. They no longer had any thoughts of saving the stricken people below. They couldn't even guarantee their own survival.
"We can't beat this demoness. She perfectly counters our sword arts." Su Tan gritted.
"Then there is only one choice. Regardless of anything else, we have to charge through this shadow domain." Peng Yuefeng said, pointing upward.
"Okay." Su Tan nodded.
Peng Yuefeng whirled around and glared at the four frightened swordsmen behind him, "You bunch of useless things. Didn't you always want to surpass me? If you four can't keep up with me, then you can forget about the title of the strongest sword cultivator in the subcontinent!"
"What did you say?" Hei Shanzhi bellowed.
"You rabbit bastard!" Yang Kaitian added fiercely.
"Hahaha! Good, you still have some fighting spirit. Then put it to use. Follow me!" Peng Yuefeng shouted and brandished his sword toward the sky.
The others fell in line, knowing this was their only choice. Su Tan stood to his right, her golden blade glowing bright like the sun. The Four Greats of the Eastern Sword Alliance stood to the left. Their swords weren't as special but each carried a strong aura that was enhanced by their unique sword arts.
"Go!"
"Charge!"
Six streaks of light shot into the dark clouds, a pitiful human force struggling against the might and wickedness of demons.
Peng Yuefeng waved his Desolate Sword madly. Arcs of gray sword energy blew away the clouds in front of their path. His Lonely Sword Wanderer was displayed to the extreme. One man, one sword, their sword intent combined into one, a lonely wanderer who went where he pleased, slaying all that opposed his will.
Su Tan's golden sword was like a shining needle beneath the gloomy sky. She weaved a beautiful tapestry of destruction. Her spiritual aura was filled with golden might, strong and brave enough to defy all evildoers.
The other four's swords emitted rays of defiant sword lights. They worked together and unleashed the Four Great Colossus Sword Domain. Four immortal auras combined into one, unleashing wide swaths of destruction that was no less powerful than the other two.
Sha!
Sha!
Sha!
This was the most powerful display of sword arts in the entire Eastern Sanmu Subcontinent. It could be said that this brief moment represented the defiant will of all humankind. The way of the sword was the pride and legacy of the human race, a race that was innately weak and fragile. It was one of the mightiest Daos that helped them conquer the land piece by piece; defeating beasts, demons, and other strange races along the way.
As the six ascended, the darkness around them became less and less. There was no response from the enemy but the shadow domain was being cut apart at a visible pace. They could see rays of daylight in the distance. They could almost see the sun.
But right at that instant when hope blossomed, an echoing, rumbling laughter filled the sky.
"Hahaha! Hahaha!"
The shadow came again. The surrounding clouds turned as black as coal. This time, it was overwhelming. It was utter darkness, so thick one could hardly breathe.
"What?"
"What's going on?"
"Keep charging upward!"
"Brother Tai, where did you go?!"
The formation of the human immortals was thrown into disarray. They could no longer see each other. They couldn't even see their own hands in front of their faces. North, east, south, west, they had no idea which way was which. A few even started to doubt if up and down were still true. Their movements also became sluggish. It felt as if they were struggling in a thick bog. They could barely summon enough spiritual energy to not suffocate.
"How does it feel?" A dark voice sounded all around them, "The struggle of humans is so pitiful. How is it? My true domain, Ancient Gloomy Underworld!"
"Ancient Gloomy Underworld?"
"Impossible!"
This name struck fear in their helpless souls. It was the domain attack of an ancient shade, the most powerful species of demonic shade. It was a demon that only appeared after secretly cultivating for tens of thousands of years. It drew upon darkness energy deep within the earth that was born from ancient crypts and prehistoric caves. Its might was not something ordinary immortals could contend with. Even if it was a Spirit King Realm cultivator, they would still have to fear for their life if they were trapped within an Ancient Gloomy Underworld.
"Help!"
"Nooo!"
"Don't kill me!"
"AhhhhhhHH!"
Wretched screams rang out in the darkness.
Chen Wentian knew it was over. He could no longer see or sense Peng Yuefeng, Sun Tan, or the others. Since the demons didn't want to kill just yet, the six were in the process of being incapacitated and captured.
It was time for him to go. He couldn't leave too soon but he couldn't leave too late. He had already made all the preparations.
Chen Wentian instantly erupted into action. Purely utilizing his immortal strength and not his flames, he grabbed Qiu Chuyi and Shi Shi who were nearby. As he hugged the two limp figures to him, the ground beneath him crumbled and the gaping mouth of a huge beast appeared.
It was Little Carrot, his Giant Mole Worm. Its mouth closed around Chen Wentian and the other two humans and then swallowed, revealing a faceless furry head that didn't carry a single wound. Somehow, it had made it past the Thunderfire mine array without setting any off.
As the water demoness Qin Shiu'er looked on in shock and anger, Little Carrot wiggled around and disappeared underground. Its powerful body slid through the tunnel it had dug already. When it reached a depth of twenty meters, it met the crackling Thunderfire mine array that seemed impenetrable. But the beast didn't stop or slow down. It directly rammed its head downward at the mines.
At the same time, there was a flash of void energy and a spatial rift appeared directly in front. There was a faint buzzing sound as a large black-striped bee with an extended abdomen flew out. Little Carrot opened its mouth slightly, swallowed the bee, and then plunged into the rift.
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