North of the Great Wilderness City, in an unnamed mountain valley, atop a colossal stone at the valley's center, a man in black robes sat cross-legged.
His face exuded a chilling aura, and a strand of crimson murderous intent lingered around him, sending shivers down the spine.
"Eight thousand miles! A full eight thousand miles!" The man in black robes was none other than Du Qianshang.
His voice was icy, as if echoing from the depths of the Nine Nether Hell, instilling fear in anyone who heard it.
"I merely killed a few outer disciples of the Great Luo Sword Sect, yet you, Liu Chengxue, pursued me for eight thousand miles. You nearly forced me into the wild to fend for my life! If you come again this time, this place will be your burial ground!"
Du Qianshang scanned his surroundings with a cold gaze.
Within this mountain valley, Du Qianshang had already deployed the Five Demons Devouring Heaven Formation.
With this formation in place, he felt no fear, even if ten more Liu Chengxues were to come.
After all, this was the sect-defining art of the Nine Nether Demon Sect.
Even though it had been simplified numerous times, its power remained formidable.
If an ordinary person managed to break it, the Nine Nether Demon Sect might as well cease to exist in the cultivation world.
"Master should be arriving soon," Du Qianshang licked his lips, gazing at a crimson token in his hand that emitted a faint luster.
"If I had known, I wouldn't have notified Master."
Previously, being relentlessly pursued by Liu Chengxue left him with no time to set up the formation.
In desperation, he had to inform his Master for rescue.
However, right after the notification, he effortlessly shook off Liu Chengxue, allowing him to calmly arrange the formation.
Now, whether or not his Master came was no longer of great significance.
With his own layout, he could easily counter-attack and defeat the opponent.
"Hmm?" In the midst of contemplation, Du Qianshang sensed a change.
Rising from the giant stone, he looked towards the sky, revealing a cold, ruthless smile.
"Is it time already? Faster than I expected."
Swish!
A streak of light tore through the air.
Above the nameless valley, a figure in white appeared abruptly.
"Senior's words were accurate; you are indeed here!" Liu Chengxue's clothes fluttered as she stood in mid-air, wielding a long sword.
The moment she appeared, she slashed down with the sword.
Clang! The sword radiance was dazzling, cutting through the heavens!
A sharp, piercing roar echoed.
"Senior?" Du Qianshang was puzzled.
Who was the senior referred to by Liu Chengxue?
Did someone know about his formation deployment here?
Before he could ponder further, the sword radiance approached.
Without much time to think, he quickly formed hand seals and commanded, "Five Demons Devouring Heaven, activate!"
Roar!
An ear-shattering roar resounded.
The earth cracked open, and within a radius of ten miles, demonic energy surged, forming a vast, black ocean that swept through the nine heavens.
An intangible murderous intent surged within the waves!
In the black demonic sea, five towering demons stood, their eyes glowing crimson with ruthless killing intent.
One of them reached out its colossal hand, capturing the sword radiance and crushing it into pieces.
The Five Demons Devouring Heaven Formation was activated!
Du Qianshang breathed a sigh of relief.
This formation gave him tremendous confidence.
Even if Liu Chengxue had a Master guiding her from behind, he was not afraid.
The only exception would be if the Master personally showed up!
As long as he could stall until his Master arrived, the outcome would be uncertain.
"The Five Demons Devouring Heaven Formation?" Liu Chengxue's expression revealed not shock but delight.
She spoke again, "It seems the senior was right again; you did set up this formation!"
Each step unfolded exactly as the senior had foreseen. Du Qianshang's actions were like a puppet manipulated by the senior's strings.
From this point forward, everything would likely unfold precisely as predicted by the senior!
"More than half of the two hours have passed; there's no time to hesitate," Liu Chengxue observed the sky, took a deep breath, and her delicate face showed unwavering determination.
Without any hesitation, she charged straight into the formation, targeting the Death Gate within.
"Is Liu Chengxue seeking death?"
Du Qianshang couldn't fathom her actions.
Even those unfamiliar with formations should understand the perilous nature of the Death Gate within the formation.
Anyone entering it would face certain death, and those defying the odds and surviving were a rarity, occurring perhaps once every few thousand years.
"Since you seek your own demise, I shall grant it!" Du Qianshang's face turned fierce as he formed hand seals.
Suddenly, an overwhelming force erupted, and an endless killing intent permeated the air.
Five black gigantic demons, as if emerging from the Nine Nether Hell, simultaneously extended their colossal hands, covering the sky, pressing down on Liu Chengxue.
Boom!
A tremendous sound, cracking gold and shattering stone, resonated.
It was like a tsunami sweeping through the heavens, with countless stars falling, reaching a peak of terror!
Hum!
The void trembled, almost tearing apart.
Even with Liu Chengxue's extraordinary strength, peerless among her peers, she stood no chance against the attacks of the five gigantic demons.
After a single strike, the smoke cleared, and Liu Chengxue's figure vanished.
"Is it over so soon?" Du Qianshang frowned.
Being pursued for eight thousand miles, the sudden and dramatic conclusion left him with a surreal feeling. "Liu Chengxue is, after all, the third disciple of the Great Luo Sword Sect's Sect Master; how could she act so recklessly?"
Du Qianshang couldn't comprehend it.
If he had known, why had he endured such a miserable pursuit?
"Not right!" Suddenly, a sense of crisis surged within him.
Du Qianshang rapidly retreated, barely evading a sword light that passed by his side.
Even with his quick reaction, a sword mark remained on his body, and crimson blood sprayed, staining his clothes.
"How is this possible?" Du Qianshang's eyes widened in disbelief as he quickly looked in the direction from which the sword light came.
There stood Liu Chengxue in pristine white attire, completely unharmed.
At that moment, Du Qianshang disregarded his injuries.
His gaze was fixed on Liu Chengxue, who stood at the Rest Gate, as he uttered each word with astonishment:
"How did you break the Five Demons Devouring Heaven Formation?"