Since Mengxu Daochang and the others had recovered and regained their combat strength, they naturally wouldn't let their enemy slip away from under their noses.
Having suffered such a significant loss, they needed to retaliate.
Thus, the three formed a pincer formation, encircling all possible escape routes for Jiamu Zhenren. Simultaneously, a series of oppressive auras emanated from them, transforming into a giant net that continuously swept towards Jiamu Zhenren, halting his advance.
Although Jiamu Zhenren had already reached the Void Refining stage, he was utterly unable to contend with the combined pressure from three cultivators of the same realm. After only a short resistance, he knelt on the ground.
The intense downward force instantly carved a deep pit into the bluestone floor.
His face turned ashen pale from the overwhelming pressure, and his bones creaked under the immense strain.
Seeing that Jiamu Zhenren had lost all ability to resist, Jiang Feng seized the opportunity to vent his anger and made a swift move.
A black light instantly appeared on his finger, transforming into a sharp sword in the sky.
"Whoosh!"
With a humming sound, the sword plunged directly towards Jiamu Zhenren's chest.
At such speed, if it were to truly strike Jiamu Zhenren's chest, it would undoubtedly create a gaping hole.
Jiamu Zhenren, facing the oncoming flying sword, wore an expression of terror and cried out in panic, "No, please spare me."
Hearing Jiamu Zhenren's plea for mercy, Jiang Feng sneered, "Begging for mercy? You can say that in your next life."
Just as the sword was about to pierce Jiamu Zhenren's chest, Ouyang Chuge, who had been standing by, suddenly changed his expression and shouted nervously, "Stop."
With that, he quickly unleashed a streak of black light from his hand.
Although his magical power was no match for Jiang Feng's, he put all his effort into one final strike, slightly deflecting the sword's trajectory so it missed Jiamu Zhenren.
This sudden and unexpected turn of events instantly drew everyone's attention.
Su Xi looked at Ouyang Chuge with confusion, wondering why he had intervened.
Was Jiamu Zhenren his relative, which prompted him to stop Jiang Feng from killing?
Knowing that everyone expected an explanation, Ouyang Chuge did not conceal his reasons and calmly stated, "The Demon King has placed a restriction on him, so he cannot be killed."
"???"
The others looked at Ouyang Chuge, even more bewildered.
Could he not explain more clearly? They couldn't understand him at all. What did having a restriction mean, and how was it relevant to them?
If it weren't for the fact that Ouyang Chuge had previously saved their lives, they might have already lost patience and made a move to deal with him directly.
Seeing their lack of understanding, Ouyang Chuge pointed at Jiamu Zhenren on the ground and continued to explain, "He bears the Demon King's Mark. If anyone kills him, the harm will be transferred to the attacker."
Ouyang Chuge looked at Jiang Feng beside him and said gravely, "In other words, if you truly kill him, you will also die."
"What?" Jiang Feng was stunned at Ouyang Chuge's words.
How could such a bizarre method exist?
Did such an overbearing method truly belong in this world?
Ouyang Chuge saw the disbelief in Jiang Feng's eyes but didn't elaborate further, "As I said, believe it or not."
The reason he had warned them earlier was not out of concern for Jiang Feng's safety, but for his own.
It was because the Demon King's Mark on Jiamu Zhenren also concerned his own safety.
The Demon King's Mark, being extremely overbearing and perverse, would not disappear with the death of one person. Instead, it would immediately seek a new host.
Once found by the Demon King's Mark, one could only become the Demon King's slave, losing the freedom to live independently.
Furthermore, the Demon King's Mark could not be cast too far from the Demon King.
The presence of the Demon King's Mark on Jiamu Zhenren at this moment indicated that the Demon King was likely nearby.
It was highly possible that the seal at the Heavenly Scar was ineffective, and the Demon King had already left the Demon Realm.
Upon hearing Ouyang Chuge's explanation, everyone's expression turned solemn.
The Demon King's cultivation might have reached the legendary Mahayana stage. They were no match for the Demon King; if they truly encountered him, their only fate would be death.
If not for that great battle years ago that severely wounded the Demon King, forcing him into slumber, the entire human world would have known no peace.
Had the Demon King awakened once more?
Jiamu Zhenren, hearing Ouyang Chuge's words, suddenly wore a peculiar expression and shouted, "Impossible, you must be lying to me."
He had spent a considerable amount of time in the Demon Realm and had heard of the Demon King's Mark.
He also knew that in addition to what Ouyang Chuge had mentioned, anyone who bore the Demon King's Mark would become the Demon King's slave and lose their original rationality.
He had joined the demon race only to increase his strength and reach higher realms; he had no desire to be a slave. Therefore, he was unwilling to believe that he had fallen so far.
However, before he could utter his next words, he suddenly felt his breathing being suppressed, and his skin began to ripple and surge.
Within a mere blink of an eye, his body was covered in dense, crimson scales. Two large, horn-like protrusions sprouted from his head. Sharp fangs emerged from the corners of his mouth, and guttural roars, akin to those of a beast, emanated from his throat.
Witnessing Jiamu Zhenren's transformation, Su Xi and the others couldn't help but take a step back, their expressions growing serious.
Not only had Jiamu Zhenren's appearance become monstrous, but his cultivation had also begun to surge, reaching a level that they could no longer look up to.
"You have managed to push me this far, which is quite commendable," Jiamu Zhenren said, clenching his fists, which produced crackling sounds, indicating immense power.
To gain such formidable strength, even at the cost of losing his freedom, it wasn't an entirely unfavorable outcome.
Mengxu Daochang frowned upon seeing the transformed Jiamu Zhenren and immediately attacked.
Jiamu Zhenren had not yet fully transformed, so a swift strike might still offer a chance.
"Myriad Swords Returning to the Source!"
With a fierce roar, Mengxu Daochang's robes fluttered, and countless shimmering swords materialized behind him.
These swords formed a vast lotus-like pattern behind him, radiating powerful gusts of wind that pulverized everything in their path.
"Go!"
Mengxu Daochang gestured towards Jiamu Zhenren, and the swords behind him shot forward with incredible speed.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
A series of humming sounds created sonic booms in the air. The dense flying swords presented a powerful visual spectacle, carrying an air of dominance and the momentum to swallow mountains and rivers.
This magnificent sword formation was a supreme art of Mount Shu.
Now, unleashed with the full power of Mengxu Daochang's late Void Refining stage cultivation, its might was naturally extraordinary.
"A petty trick, and you dare to show off?" Jiamu Zhenren, however, showed no signs of tension upon seeing Mengxu Daochang's ultimate technique.
With a mere wave of his hand, a massive barrier formed before him.
The flying swords struck the barrier and were all blocked by its dense weave, unable to advance even an inch.
At this sight, solemn expressions appeared on everyone's faces.
Mengxu Daochang's offensive abilities were the most formidable among them. Yet, he had been thwarted by Jiamu Zhenren, which was not good news.
Seeing Jiamu Zhenren effortlessly deflect his attack with such casual ease, Mengxu Daochang's expression remained unchanged.
That move was merely a probe; it was not his true strength.
Now that he knew Jiamu Zhenren was a formidable opponent, he would no longer hold back. It had been a long time since he had used his full power, and the feeling was both unfamiliar and familiar.
"Attack!"
With a shout, the others around him surged towards Jiamu Zhenren, determined to eliminate the threat in one concerted effort.
They had realized that Jiamu Zhenren's cultivation was rapidly approaching the late Void Refining stage, making him too difficult to handle alone. Only by working together could they defeat him.
Mengxu Daochang raised his hands above his head and then spread them apart. Instantly, a giant, pale blue sword materialized above him, emitting intense spiritual fluctuations.
Sensing these powerful waves, Su Xi felt the Meteor God Sword within her tremble, as if excited by a worthy opponent.
The Ice Soul Fairy also took out a pale blue hairpin from her person and muttered an incantation.
As the incantation was spoken, the jade hairpin gradually grew larger, and a series of luminous halos spread outwards.
Everything enveloped by the halos was instantly frozen.
Before Jiamu Zhenren could make any further moves, he was also encased in ice, temporarily immobilized.
The Ice Soul Fairy knew full well that her technique couldn't truly defeat Jiamu Zhenren, but she only intended to buy Mengxu Daochang some time.
During the brief period Jiamu Zhenren was trapped, Mengxu Daochang's personal flying sword instantly arrived and cleaved directly towards him.
"Clang!"
With a metallic clang, the ice shattered, and the flying sword struck Jiamu Zhenren's head.
However, the scales on Jiamu Zhenren's body suddenly emitted an eerie glow, preventing the sword from causing further damage.
Witnessing this, Jiang Feng quickly bit his finger and dripped his blood onto Jiamu Zhenren's body.
This was his essence blood, cultivated over five hundred years, capable of shattering any defense with just a single drop, his ultimate trump card.
As the blood landed on Jiamu Zhenren's body, the glow of his scales began to fade. The flying sword that had struck his head then plunged downwards.
"Ah."
The pain on his body caused Jiamu Zhenren to cry out in agony.