"Ten Spirit Stones?" The ancestor suddenly laughed, shaking his head, his expression turning sharp, "Do you at Star Sect think I am a beggar? I'm set on taking this Star Sect residence, either you leave today, or wait for me to break your Array Formation. By that time, I will slaughter everyone and refine you into my Corpse Masters."
With those words, the three elders, including Cheng Ying, simultaneously turned pale.
Their sacrifice did not matter so much, but there were dozens of disciples in the sect who, according to the nature of the Puppet Corpse Sect, would certainly not be spared.
"We at Star Sect are not afraid of death. Your Puppet Corpse Sect is incredibly aggressive, but we—at Star Sect—are prepared to fight," Qiu Xingjian said through gritted teeth, his pupils blood-red, staring fixedly at the ancestor.
"Even if I die in battle, I will absolutely not back down," Dong Xiangyun said.
Cheng Ying sighed, using Spiritual Energy to make his voice heard throughout Star Sect, "Disciples of Star Sect, heed my command, protect our sect!"
The many disciples echoed in unison, "In life or death we belong to Star Sect, in death we are ghosts of Star Sect."
"Stubborn fools, but since all three elders are at the Foundation Establishment Stage, maybe I can refine three top-grade Corpse Masters from them," the ancestor said with a cruel smile, suddenly flinging his sleeve sending three Black Swords whistling towards them.
The three elders each performed their Divine Skills, resisting the arrows formed from the Black Fog, but were continuously forced back. Even the weakest, Dong Xiangyun, was hit so hard that she tumbled in the air.
"Mountain Protection Array Formation!" Cheng Ying formed a Dharma Seal in his hands and quickly threw a Jade Pendant towards the array, which immediately materialized, thousands of Starlight patterns forming an intricate and fantastical design, enveloping the entire Star Sky Sect.
The power emitted from the formation boosted the Mana of every Star Sect disciple.
"Starlight Sword," Cheng Ying voiced, moving back several hundred meters while swiftly forming spells with his hands.
"Elder Qiu, protect Brother Cheng!" Dong Xiangyun said, already tossing several talismans into the air that ignited and transformed into beachball-sized Fireballs that suddenly flew towards the ancestor.
Qiu Xingjian nodded, a Green Ruler appearing in his hands, imbued with an immensely powerful Power of Life, turning into a beam of green light that followed the Fireballs, heading fiercely towards the ancestor.
The ancestor, mainly proficient in magic, surely couldn't withstand such an attack with just his body, and instantly turned into Black Fog dissipated several hundred meters away, but the Top-grade Corpse Demon standing behind him was immovable, like a rock blocking in front of him.
The Fireballs and green light simultaneously struck the Top-grade Corpse Demon, sparks flying everywhere, with the green light impacting like it had hit metal, emitting a sound like metallic clanging.
"I don't need to lift a finger to kill the three of you," the ancestor stood far away, coldly sneering.
Although the Fireballs and green light hit the Top-grade Corpse Demon, it only trembled slightly, without a single mark of injury on it; such attacks seemed only like tickles to it.
Qiu Xingjian and Dong Xiangyun were momentarily stunned.
Just as they were both stunned, the Top-grade Corpse Demon suddenly vanished from its place, the next moment appearing in front of them, both of its palms striking out. The immense force was like being hit by a high-speed train, and the two elders were immediately blasted back a hundred meters.
They quickly stabilized their chaotic Spiritual Energy, barely managing to stay aloft, otherwise, this single strike could have sent them plummeting.
Blood spilled from the corners of their mouths, their internal Spiritual Energy in chaos, blood boiling, they exchanged a glance, not expecting the Corpse Demon's strength to be so formidable, its speed, and power far beyond their imagination.
Elder Ancestor stood to one side, a defiant look on his face, "Over the past few decades, I've collected many materials like Mithril and Treasure Iron, almost using up all my 'savings' to craft this Top-grade Corpse Demon. It's beyond the three of you to contend with him."
At that moment, Elder Cheng Ying finally completed the spell he had been casting, a set of Golden Light Swords about three zhang long suspended in front of him, radiating a dazzling light akin to starlight.
Moreover, the power contained within this Light Sword was immensely formidable, as if it could even sever a small mountain.
Elder Cheng Ying's face was ruddy, and a smile appeared on his lips; however, he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, while the Star-shining Sword in front of him also trembled.
Qiu Xingjian and Dong Xiangyun immediately flew to his side, channeling their Spiritual Energy into his body.
"Brother, you're not yet able to control the Star-shining Sword with your strength. Continuing will harm your foundation, leaving no chance to pursue further achievements," Qiu Xingjian said, frowning with evident distress.
"If Star Sect no longer exists, even if I continue my cultivation, what meaning would it hold?" Cheng Ying shook his head, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
"Yes." Dong Xiangyun nodded. "I feel the same. If Star Sect is lost, I wouldn't have the face to continue living."
Qiu Xingjing nodded as well, the three of them gathering their Spiritual Energy together and transmitting it to the Star-shining Sword above them, its brilliance growing even more splendid, its power nearly severing the air into fragments.
Cheng Ying's middle and index fingers came together and swiftly chopped down; the roughly ten-meter-long Star-shining Sword in the sky swept down, drawing a golden, stardust-like light curtain with lightning speed and ferociously struck upon the Top-grade Corpse Demon.
Elder Ancestor couldn't help frowning, worry written across his face.
The tremendous force carried by the Light Sword brought the Corpse Demon crashing down, impacting the ground and cleaving a hundred-meter-long, deep gouge into the forest; dust filled the air, and all trees and plants turned into fragments under the power of this sword.
Cheng Ying's face was pale, and he spat out another mouthful of fresh blood; deploying the peak magic of Star Sect with his limited strength was indeed excessively forced.
"Brother!" Dong Xiangyun immediately pulled Cheng Ying up, infusing a stream of Spiritual Energy into his body to prevent him from falling from the sky.
Elder Ancestor also watched intently toward the dust-filled area where, suddenly, a figure shot up into the sky—it was the Top-grade Corpse Demon that had been slashed down.
Cheng Ying and the others turned pale as the Corpse Demon bore a massive wound on his shoulder, nearly cleaved in two, but visibly healing at an observable rate.
"How is this possible!" Cheng Ying gritted his teeth. If even the Star-shining Sword could not destroy the Corpse Demon, then with Elder Ancestor added to the mix, they stood no chance at all.
"Retreat to Star Sect."
Qiu Xingjian immediately formed a Wind Manipulation Technique, and the three of them fled back into the array. However, during their retreat, Elder Ancestor slapped Qiu Xingjian's back, causing him to spit up blood, his face as pale as paper. As for the other disciples, although Lu Xing and Yingzi joined to confront the Black-clothed Elder and the three Golden Corpses, they were still at a disadvantage. Seeing the three elders forced to retreat, the rest of the disciples also withdrew into the array of Star Sect.