At that moment, Ji Xuan suddenly sensed a flash of cold light coming straight at him.
A strong warning surged in his heart. He urgently twisted his body to dodge.
However, having narrowly escaped death using the Rebirth Cicada’s shell, his strength was down to less than one-tenth.
What would have been an easy dodge now struck him squarely.
A sharp pain erupted in his right shoulder.
Blood spurted violently.
Ji Xuan glared ahead—
And saw a seemingly ordinary middle-aged man walking toward him.
The aura from the man far exceeded that of a peak Dharma Body cultivator.
He was clearly at the half-step Nirvana Realm!
“Didn’t expect anyone to actually flee in this direction.”
Zhang Longxiang looked at Ji Xuan, clicking his tongue in surprise.
He had long been stationed here under Shen Mo’s instructions.
Never did he expect there to be a hidden tunnel leading directly from the ninth layer to the first.
And even more shocking—Shen Mo had predicted it all.
“Spare my life. I’ll give you anything you want,” Ji Xuan said in a low voice, taking a deep breath.
This man’s strength was beyond his expectations.
If Ji Xuan were in his prime, the other would be no match.
But now, he could only humble himself.
Zhang Longxiang chuckled. “No can do.”
Gritting his teeth, Ji Xuan burned a Heaven-grade talisman and launched a sudden strike.
Zhang Longxiang immediately summoned his Dragon Elephant Dharma Body.
Their fists collided head-on.
Both were blasted backward by the force.
“General Zhang, I’m here.”
A light voice drifted in.
Ji Xuan’s expression changed drastically.
Shen Mo had arrived too quickly!
He roared in fury, his face twisted with madness, both fists exploding forward.
Demonic qi in his left hand, blood qi in his right.
He smashed them together mid-air.
But demonic and blood qi did not naturally fuse.
Even An Cang, with the Authority of Corrupted Will, took centuries to barely merge the two into Blood Demon Force.
Ji Xuan had no time for such things.
He forcibly merged the two forces—
And there could only be one outcome:
He had resolved to abandon both arms if it meant forcing Zhang Longxiang back.
If Shen Mo got close, he would surely die!
“This path is under my watch—no one gets through!”
Zhang Longxiang growled, his Dragon Elephant Dharma Body swelling massively.
He stood like a towering mountain, unmoving.
A thunderous explosion erupted.
Zhang Longxiang didn’t budge, though his robe was torn and blood streamed from his mouth.
Ji Xuan had not advanced—he’d been forced back several steps.
His arms were obliterated—blown off at the roots.
His eyes were bloodshot.
Even if he had to blow his body apart, he would push Zhang Longxiang aside.
“You have no more chances.”
A calm voice suddenly sounded behind him.
The Ancient Void Sword pierced straight through Ji Xuan’s chest.
His expression froze.
Life flowed from him like sand caught in the wind, vanishing swiftly from his body.
Streams of golden and red fate energy—visible only to the extraordinary—flowed out of Ji Xuan’s body and into Shen Mo.
At that moment, Shen Mo’s fate underwent dramatic transformation.
His existing fate lines advanced and strengthened.
And he gained unprecedented new ones.
Shen Mo turned his gaze inward and viewed his life panel:
【Realm: Entry Level Nirvana】
【Fate Lines: Son of the Apothecary, Clairvoyant Perception, Lord of the Three Clans, Sword Dao Grandmaster, Child of Heaven's Will, Primordial Unity Body, Heaven-Defying Fortune, Demon Suppression General】
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
Ji Xuan truly was a treasure trove.
Killing him had massively enhanced Shen Mo’s fate.
Pity—he was too powerful, too dangerous.
Had his strength been weaker, Shen Mo could have kept him around like Ye Yan and Lin Dongtian to slowly reap benefits.
Now that was sustainable development.
“Everyone, it’s over.”
Shen Mo turned toward the others who had just arrived, smiling calmly.
They looked at Ji Xuan’s corpse and nodded heavily.
A deep sense of relief washed over them—but also, a tinge of loss.
The watch over the Sea of Demon Suppression that had lasted thousands of years… was finally coming to an end.
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