High Mother Qin Xue had completely lost it at that point. Within their shared sea of consciousness, the three-eyed eagle who had turned into feathers had been completely crushed by Axiu Qian's hands. The few feathers that had escaped his grip were covered in the pestilence of the Unclean Evil, while those in Axiu Qian's hands were now soiled with blood. Cao Yun's Flying Poison had perverted High Mother Qin Xue's very soul. Deep within herself, the Demon Soul she had been forming was turning against her. His Stinking Lungs were fully developed and the putrid smell that had permeated throughout her sea of consciousness had helped push her over the edge. Soon, her own Demon Soul would turn into a true inner demon. But she was extremely powerful.
In other circumstances, she should have been able to fight against such an attack. However, Cao Yun's very existence was already an assault against her sanity. After everything she had done, everyone she had sacrificed, a mere human had obtained more from the Blood Abyss and her own god than she had in her entire life. Obviously, this was infuriating.
At the same time, the Sisters around Sister Lisha were completely stunned, for the same reason. They could see that High Mother Qin Xue was even more cruel and murderous than they had thought. And they also saw that her plans to revive the Weaver of Souls had not only failed but even hastened the loss of his intent. Without Cao Yun's presence to gather it, it would have disappeared for good. In other words, Cao Yun had literally saved the last fragment of their gods. Moreover, it appeared clearly to them that he was using the Weaver of Souls' arts. Since they were all proficient in 'Abyssal Blood Veil Art', they could see through Cao Yun's current technique.
Unlike their art though, his version was clearly superior. There was no doubt to be had, he was holding the complete version. Lost for millenniums, the Weaver of Souls' 'Abyssal Blood Veil Art' had been mostly reconstructed by the Sisters of the Abyss. In fact, their religion had grown from a small group of scholars who were trying to study the Weaver of Souls' martial arts and cultivation techniques. Overtime, it had grown and had ended up encompassing most of the Desolate Sepulcher. Then, they had completely deified the Weaver of Souls and spread his teaching, or their version of his teachings to be more accurate.
Of course, some of those teachings had been altered or invented altogether. But contrary to the Empyrean Asura Theology, there was no hatred of humans at all in them. Thankfully, that part had been saved from his original view of the world. Fangzhi Hunpo had fought Demon God Da Mo on that very point. In fact, he had become convinced that studying the cultivation method of the humans could help improve the cultivation ways of the asura, and the demons as well.
Disregarding the Sisters who were doing nothing, simply watching the fight, High Mother Qin Xue completely unleashed everything she had. From her spatial ring, several hundred strings emerged and crisscrossed the entire chamber. They even reached the Blood Abyss down below, trying to absorb some of the blood. Even though Cao Yun was mostly in control, High Mother Qin Xue was still extremely powerful and talented. She wasn't a fighter but she was a 7th-grade Accomplished Demon. She wouldn't be easily slain. Although her soul was under constant attack, she retained enough reason to know what to do. If she could simply kill Cao Yun, then she could put everything under her control again.
In fact, if she could extract the knowledge of 'Abyssal Blood Veil Art' from his very soul, she could reach a higher level. Instead of awakening her god, she could become that god. And she meant to!
'Dancing Threads of Evisceration'!
Without hesitation and disregarding her own safety, High Mother Qin Xue circulated all of her blood cultivation, increasing the turmoil in her soul. Although she was controlling the threads with her mind, some were still held in her hands. This gave her even more control as she could feel the vibration of the threads directly in her flesh. Tightening her hands, some of her blood slowly flowed on the threads. Very soon, all the threads were covered in an extremely thin layer of her own blood. Without Cao Yun's senses, this would have been impossible to notice.
Suddenly, some of the threads darted toward Cao Yun as though they were sharp needles. Every single attack was aimed at vital points in his body. Indeed, they were targeting his acupoints. Humans and demons both had acupoints, but they were in different spot since demons didn't have meridians. Unfortunately, High Mother Qin Xue knew that Cao Yun was human so her attacks were targeting his acupoints with expert aim.
'Crafty Harassment'.
Cao Yun moved all over the place, avoiding every thread sent toward him. But even with his speed, this was a difficult task. Besides, he was really getting exhausted at that point. He had to kill High Mother Qin Xue as fast as possible. Physically, it would be almost impossible, but thankfully, her soul was weaker than her body. If she had been a trained fighter, a great martial artist, Cao Yun would probably have been dead by now. Fortunately, she didn't even master any form of Martial Aura while Cao Yun had developed his Spear Intent.
'Dragon's Tail Sweeps the Sky'!
Slashing with his spear, the tail of the Azure Dragon flashed into existence for an instant, cutting apart many threads around Cao Yun.
'Slicing Veins of the Fallen'!
Before he could advance toward the old woman, she controlled the cut threads. They all flew in Cao Yun's direction. Unable to avoid the first ones, his back was lacerated by those threads as he could feel the blood of High Mother Qin Xue enter his body. Within the blood, there were many tiny runes that immediately attacked his flesh. Compared to the Blood Abyss, this was nothing. But he couldn't get distracted. Even 'Dragon's Chest' barely protected him as the threads simply cut through the Qi Manifestation of the scales. When they were close to him, Cao Yun could see that they truly looked like pulsating veins.
'Thread of the Blood Moon'!
In the Blood Abyss below, the reflection of a new blood moon appeared. However, there was no celestial body in the air.
'Fish in the Galaxy'!
The young man didn't wait for the moon to fully form. He simply threw his spear toward the ground. In the Blood Abyss, the image of a starry path lead the way toward the blood moon. In that starry path reflected in an ocean of blood, the Azure Dragon swam like a fish and crushed the young moon in its maw. Without his weapon for an instant, Cao Yun rushed even faster toward the old woman. This time, he was using 'Axiu Qian's Blood Wrath'. His eyes were injected with blood and his skin was redder than usual.
'Blood-Laced Web of Destruction'!
Between Cao Yun and High Mother Qin Xue, the threads formed a complex web. Even without touching it, everyone could tell that those strings were able to cut through anything. Of course, the young man also knew that. However, he didn't slow down at all. Turning in midair, he put his forearms in front of him so that they could hide his entire body. He was perpendicular to the web as though he was lying on his stomach. When he smashed into the web, his forearms were severely cut. The threads even reached his bones. But they were unable to completely cut through his bones. They got stuck in them.
As soon as Cao Yun made contact with the web, the threads were about to close around him to cut him apart. At that very moment, his spear had flown back into his hands.
'Azure Dragon Tears the East Sky'!
Merging 'Three Storms' and 'Azure Dragon's Seven Piercing Stars' once more, Cao Yun's body spun as an azure tornado ripped apart all the threads. Some were even sent toward High Mother Qin Xue's face who was able to stop them before they lashed at her. Still surrounded by a a raging tornado, the young spearman tried to stab through the old woman's heart. Although they were a certain distance apart, he knew that his Spear Intent was powerful enough to cross that gap. And he was right.
Focusing all of his Insight Writings, Cao Yun mobilized his Spear Intent and struck.
'Crimson Whispers of the Abyss'! 'Thousand Needles of Devastation'!
At the same time, some of the threads vibrated and many changed direction in midair to turn into thin needles. Cao Yun was in the middle of his attack and got pierced throughout his body. Thankfully, the raging tornado prevented the aim of the threads to be true and almost nothing vital was hit. However, the vibration of the threads persisted. In the air, the sound didn't affect it thanks to the air around him. On the other hand, the needles sent the vibrations directly into his flesh.
Coughing up blood and sensing some of his veins and organs split open, Cao Yun still pushed forward. Certain of her victory, High Mother Qin Xue was horrified when the spear didn't stop. Its trajectory didn't even change. Before she could react, the spear had pierced her heart. As it was made of Cao Yun's Black Heart Flame, it was incredibly corrosive. Even with her body, she couldn't stop it. The Black Heart Flame engulfed her own heart and the pain almost knocked her out. Pure rage and disbelief kept from passing out.
Just like Cao Yun, she felt her organs break apart and her veins open in her body. As a powerful demon, she could still control the flow of her blood even without veins. But the pain was intolerable. Besides, the Black Heart Flame also affected her mind and soul. Indeed, Axiu Qian's image was still tearing apart her three-eyed eagle's feathers.
'Fractured Strings of Fate'!
All the tattoos on her body appeared in full and shined as they had never done before. The next instant, they all left her body, alongside some of her own veins. Just like her threads, they acted like tentacles ready to skewer Cao Yun through and through. This was the ultimate technique of her martial art, 'Eight Hundred Silky Veins'. With this, she put her life on the line but she could suck all of Cao Yun's blood, regenerating herself while killing him.
Unable to move, Cao Yun was in an even worse position. He had already used everything he had but that old woman was just too resilient. There was still hope in his eyes though. If he could bring her down into the Blood Abyss, he would gain the upper hand long enough to win this fight. Indeed, her soul was clearly on the brink of collapse. Even if she was able to heal her body, it was too late for her. There was no way she would survive, either she would go mad or she would be devoured by her own Turbid Demons from within. However, she still had enough life in her to kill Cao Yun.
The very veins of High Mother Qin Xue pierced through his skin. Then, she began trying to suck him dry. At first, she was able to absorb some of his blood. But soon, she tried to touch his Golden Blood. It was so heavy that she couldn't move it at all in her current condition. However, by touching upon it, she incurred the wrath of the Drop of Wrath itself. Even if it was totally under Cao Yun's control, it could still act out of instinct. Sensing the invader threatening it, the Drop of Wrath fought back.
Instead of absorbing Cao Yun's blood, it was the Drop of Wrath that was beginning to absorb the old woman's blood. Because of the surprise, she didn't react fast enough. As the Drop of Wrath was feeding off her, the figure of Axiu Qian became even stronger and fiercer. The assault on her soul intensified while her very blood was being taken from her.
Using that opportunity, Cao Yun grabbed her shoulder and pushed his spear further and further into her chest. Then, he unleashed a barrage of elbows and knees into her broken body. Always holding the spear, he prevented her from leaving. Even if she had wanted to, she couldn't have anyway. After all, her very veins were still within Cao Yun.
Finally, Cao Yun plunged his hands into her stomach. For a human, this was the spot of the Lower Dantian. Although demons didn't have such a Dantian, they still had something Cao Yun was after, the Golden Fate, the physical manifestation of one's prenatal Jing. This was almost like the core of a demonic beast. Without hesitation, Cao Yun ripped apart her flesh and grasped the Golden Fate, it felt like a small lump of gold.
Such a vision was horrifying for the Sisters still spectating immobile. In the two fighters, there was just pure savagery. Cao Yun was skewered throughout his body with veins coming from many parts of High Mother Qin Xue's body as well. Those veins were bulging as blood was going through them. At the same time, their religious leader had a spear completely through her heart, more than half of the weapon was visible out of her back. And now, Cao Yun's hands were plunged into her belly, ripping apart her flesh.
With a powerful jerk, he took out the Golden Fate. High Mother Qin Xue looked below. She was simply unable to comprehend what was going on. It was as if a mortal was watching their heart being ripped apart from their chest. Prenatal Jing was the source of all vitality in the body. Without it, there was only death.
Trying to reach for it, High Mother Qin Xue failed. Her body went limp. Both Cao Yun and High Mother Qin Xue fell into the Blood Abyss down below, lifeless. For several minutes, Sister Lisha and the others were unable to move. They could barely breathe as they watched the Blood Abyss slowly consume High Mother Qin Xue's body. However, it left Cao Yun's body intact. In fact, it clearly helped regenerate him.