Chapter 44: Death of the Black Butler

The invisible astral winds transformed into sharp blades, slashing toward the surging sea of blood, but to little effect. Just as the astral winds managed to cut through the blood curtain, more black blood would soon surge forward to fill the gap.

Song Changsheng’s expression grew solemn. He picked up his precious gourd and took several heavy gulps, instantly erupting with even more majestic spiritual power. A massive phantom of a bronze bell emerged, emitting bursts of resonant, booming tolls.

The sea of blood began to churn incessantly, showing signs of recoiling.

Standing on high ground, the Black Butler gave a cold sneer and calmly raised his right arm. A river of blood, filled with the wailing of vengeful ghosts, surged forth from his wide sleeves.

This river of blood had devoured countless living beings; innumerable yin souls howled within it, their piercing cries causing those present to fall into a slight state of mental trance.

*Crash!*

The sea of blood slammed heavily against the bronze bell phantom with the force of ten thousand tons. In an instant, the phantom shattered, dissolving into specks of light.

"Pfft—"

Song Changsheng felt as if he had been struck by lightning. A sweetness rose in his throat, and he spat out a cloud of blood mist.

"Changsheng?" Zhu Yiqun and the others felt their hearts tighten, watching the injured Song Changsheng with anxiety.

Song Changsheng’s sword-like eyebrows were furrowed, and his blood-stained mouth looked somewhat ferocious. He took out a handful of Essence Recovery Pills, stuffed them into his mouth, and chewed vigorously before once again stabilizing the collapsing formation.

The Black Butler raised an eyebrow slightly and said leisurely, "If it were the original [Xuan Yang Astral Formation], I truly wouldn't be able to do anything to you. But now... it's simply not enough to look at!"

*Rumble!*

Accompanied by a massive explosion, the river of blood that had shattered the bell phantom transformed into a lifelike blood dragon. Its bell-like giant eyes glared as it slammed violently into the protective shield condensed from Yang energy.

The entire formation shuddered violently. A small black dot appeared on the shield, and from that point, cracks began to spread outward like a spiderweb.

Song Changsheng gritted his teeth, injecting all of his spiritual power into the formation.

But it was all in vain.

The Yang energy gathered by the formation was insufficient, and Song Changsheng's cultivation level could not fully unleash the formation's power. Ultimately, he could only watch helplessly as the shield shattered like a mirror.

"Roar—"

After breaking the shield, the blood dragon threw its head back and let out a high-pitched roar, as if announcing its existence to the four directions.

Song Changsheng’s face was deathly pale; the breaking of the formation had caused him to suffer severe backlash.

"Hmph, swallow them!" the Black Butler commanded. The hundred-zhang-long blood dragon opened its massive maw, intending to devour everyone.

Though Song Changsheng was mentally exhausted, he maintained his composure deep down. Looking at the overwhelming dragon, a talisman appeared in his hand—this was his final trump card!

Before he could activate it, Zhuang Yuechan had already moved a step ahead, crushing a jade pendant in her hand. A navy-blue spiritual shield instantly enveloped them.

When the blood dragon slammed into it, the shield only swayed slightly.

Song Changsheng and the others stared wide-eyed, their curiosity regarding Zhuang Yuechan's identity reaching its peak at this moment.

Sensing their gazes, Zhuang Yuechan gave a bitter smile and said, "This is a Talisman Treasure given by my master for self-defense. It can hold out for at most the duration of an incense stick. If reinforcements don't arrive by then, we truly will perish here today."

The duration of an incense stick.

Song Changsheng and the others felt a heavy weight in their hearts. Although they had all called for help from their elders, this place was far too distant from the market town. Even for Foundation Establishment cultivators traveling at full speed, it would take a considerable amount of time. The situation was dire...

"Just what is the background of these people? They actually possess a Talisman Treasure!" The Black Butler was nearly driven to madness. He had been unable to take down a few Qi Refinement cultivators for so long; if word got out, wouldn't people laugh him out of his skin?

Just as he prepared to launch another fierce assault, a thick, cold voice drifted slowly from the distance: "What a fine remnant of the Demonic Sect! To dare set up such a demonic formation—you are simply seeking death!"

"Who goes there?" The Black Butler was startled. He turned to look behind him and saw a golden rainbow racing swiftly from the horizon, sweeping in with an endless aura of slaughter.

"I am your Grandfather Niu!"

With a thunderous shout, a robust figure appeared. He stood over nine feet tall, built like an ox with a face full of rugged flesh. The moment he appeared, he lunged straight toward the Black Butler on the hillside.

"[White Bones Filling the Wild]!"

The Black Butler held his hands out as if supporting something invisible, and the sounds of ghostly wailing and howling erupted around him. The hillside beneath his feet transformed into a field of grim white bones, permeated by endless death energy. The surrounding vegetation withered instantly, turning the area into a barren wasteland.

"Fill your mother!" The burly man cursed loudly, closing the distance rapidly. He swung a fist the size of a sandbag toward the Black Butler's face.

The Black Butler's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly raised his hands to defend himself, crying out, "You do not fear death energy?"

His only response was a rain of fists as fast as afterimages. Each punch was heavier than the last. The Black Butler struggled to defend himself, gradually falling into a disadvantage.

Inside the shield, Zhu Yiqun said in astonishment, "He completely ignores the Blood Demon's death energy. This senior's physical body must be comparable to a spiritual tool!"

"At this rate, the Blood Demon probably won't last half an hour. It's almost a complete crushing of his opponent."

This was the first time Song Changsheng had witnessed a Body Refiner of the Foundation Establishment stage. He hadn't expected him to be so powerful—he was essentially a human spiritual tool; ordinary attacks could not cause him any harm.

"Hahaha! You little demon brat, is this all you've got? Your Grandfather Niu has only just finished warming up!" The burly man's laughter was like thunder, filled with utter contempt.

The Black Butler shouted with a grim face, "Arrogant! Don't get too happy..."

"I *am* arrogant! Come and kill me then!" The burly man had no interest in listening to his nonsense. A heavy punch landed on the Black Butler's chest, instantly snapping several ribs and sending him flying backward.

The burly man gave the Black Butler no chance to recover. He rushed forward and unleashed a barrage of blows, treating the dignified late-stage Foundation Establishment Blood Demon like a human punching bag.

Watching this "brutal" scene, Zhu Yiqun scratched his head and said with a wry smile, "This senior is quite a man of character."

Even the corner of Zhuang Yuechan's mouth beneath her veil twitched slightly; this scene was truly damaging to the sect's dignified image.

"Too much!! " The Black Butler's eyes turned blood-red, and his body expanded rapidly, transforming in an instant into a blood-colored giant several Zhangs tall.

"You still won't submit, you bastard?" The burly man glared, swinging his fist once more. A faint layer of golden light covered it, tinting the fist a brilliant gold.

As the punch was thrown, the wind from the strike roared like thunder.

Song Changsheng only felt a flash of golden light before the man's fist had already pierced through the Black Butler's heart.

Looking at the hole in his chest, the Black Butler's eyes were filled with disbelief. He cast a venomous glance at the burly man, and the surface of his massive Blood Demon body began to crack, finally dissolving into a pool of filthy blood.

A streak of blood light shot into the sky, attempting to flee toward the horizon.

"Trying to run from your Grandfather Niu?" The burly man took a massive stride and caught up to the Black Butler's soul in an instant. With a squeeze of his massive hand, both soul and body were annihilated!

...

(End of Chapter)