The Yin Devil's extremely flexible arm, which could stretch and retract at will, suddenly seemed to stiffen, then inch by inch, it began to crack apart.
In an instant, Yu Ziqing was suspended in mid-air, clashing with the Yin Devil's numerous arms.
Within a breath's time, Yu Ziqing retreated, landing on the ground. The earth behind him seemed to surge like a wave, crumbling over vast areas.
Yet, more than twenty of the Yin Devil's arms had already shattered.
Yu Ziqing's figure vanished once more, engaging in another clash, causing dozens of the Yin Devil's arms to shatter entirely.
Seeing the unfavorable turn of events, the Yin Devil prepared to turn and flee.
Yu Ziqing suddenly appeared beneath him, pulled back his fist, and twisted his waist, channeling all his strength, exploding with full force. The ground beneath his feet abruptly shattered, and Yu Ziqing's fist smashed into the lower half of the Yin Devil's trunk.
The most straightforward burst of power transmitted to the rear of the trunk, suddenly exploding, blasting it to pieces.
Fragments of the broken arms continued flying towards him, automatically reforming into new arms.
However, Yu Ziqing ignored them, leaped up, and pressed a palm against the Yin Devil's face, forcibly bending its body backwards, pressing its head to the ground, while his other fist hammered down relentlessly.
He hammered until he punched through its skull, ignoring the arm attacks.
Only then did he turn around to shatter all the arms again.
He forced the Yin Devil's body to crumble with his fists, waited for it to reform, then shattered it again.
Until the entire city turned into ruins from the battle, the Yin Devil lay there like a heap of muck, surrounded by severed arms.
Only then did Yu Ziqing extend his right hand again, directly piercing the Yin Devil's forehead, speaking in a deep voice.
"Receive your retribution!"
With a whish, a black flame ignited at the tip of Yu Ziqing's right middle finger.
The black flame burned inside the Yin Devil's head, setting it ablaze, then it spread throughout its entire body, with flames burning on the severed arms.
Gray-blue-faced infants tore open the Yin Devil's abdomen, crawling out and shrieking as they bit the Yin Devil, slowly tearing it into pieces.
The arms were burned into nothingness, the trunk also dissipated, and finally, only a mass of black-gray mist remained in place.
Those infants emerging from the Yin Devil's abdomen turned into phantoms, slowly dissolving.
Yu Ziqing reached out, grabbing the black-gray mist.
"I serve under the Seven Yin King, you cannot kill me, your wicked fire cannot burn me to death, even if I lose my power, I will resurrect under the king's seat."
Yu Ziqing said nothing, quietly observing the arrogant Yin Devil.
It probably still regarded the world with old eyes, believing itself undying.
Being slain merely meant losing power, its True Spirit could revive where it left a trace of power.
Apparently, it thought too much; it wasn't the kind of Heavenly Demon that sought out great figures to obstruct their paths. Every trace of power was a piece of consciousness, every piece of power was a Devil.
Yu Ziqing stood still, waving to Lou Huai.
"Take it, don't let it escape, alright?"
"No problem, brother, though I'm weak, this Yin Devil is even weaker now."
Lou Huai extended his hands, grabbing the Yin Devil.
Yu Ziqing waited quietly, determining the battle over.
He waited for the power to dissipate.
Moments later, he slowly returned to his original state, while the surrounding towns were reduced to ruins, and the corpses transformed from Yin Devil Seeds vanished entirely.
Yu Ziqing took the Yin Devil from Lou Huai, speaking a final sentence.
"Now, is your true retribution; you're not worthy to become a hungry ghost and face punishment.
Thinking you're immortal, then be granted eternal death."
As he finished speaking, he opened his mouth, swallowing the most essential part of the Yin Devil's True Spirit.
It would never have the chance to resurrect again.
From today, the Constantly Yin-Spreading Devil vanished permanently from this world.
With the complete fall of the Yin Devil, the city beneath began to collapse.
Cracks filled the sky, the land split from the center, the city walls crumbled into powder.
This domain was collapsing.
"Brother, let's go quickly."
Lou Huai grabbed Yu Ziqing's arm with one hand, crouched down as he had when entering.
The next moment, he and Yu Ziqing vanished.
With the domain's owner gone and its source of power lost, it began a complete collapse, finally condensing into nothingness.
In the inn, Lou Huai appeared by Yu Ziqing's bed.
Yu Ziqing slowly opened his eyes.
Cece was already waiting nearby.
Cece didn't ask what happened; as long as Yu Ziqing was fine, they'd discuss it afterward when there was time.
Yu Ziqing quietly sensed it, his Yin God holding a mass of black-gray mist, slurping it down.
The once-settled belly bulged again.
Yu Ziqing got out of bed, approached the window, and looked at the city outside.
What was once a silent night turned a bit boisterous.
Many homes lit their lamps.
There were grumbling voices, the cries of children, the noise, the barking of dogs, and a chaotic clattering.
It seemed as if, in an instant, this city, dormant at night, regained its daytime hustle.
That night, everyone who had just fallen asleep was startled awake.
No one knew what had happened, and perhaps no one cared. Locals might forget it in a few days.
The next day, Yu Ziqing smelled the scent of breakfast and took his people out for a meal on the street stall.
Eating fried dough sticks and white porridge with a small dish of pickles, the idle chatter from the next table drifted over.
"I had a nightmare last night and woke up scared. I had just awoken for a bit when my wife was also frightened awake from a nightmare. Weird, isn't it?"
"What did you dream about?"
"Uh, I forgot, but it must have been scary; it woke me up."
"If you forgot, then what are you talking about?"