Facing the onslaught of countless evil spirits, especially from the Changsheng Association.
This mysterious faction, primarily driven by the pursuit of immortality, harbored a penchant for researching orphaned souls and wandering spirits.
Their methods had already been witnessed within the Yin Yang Gate.
Now, arriving to reinforce their ranks, they had brought forth three thousand evil spirits.
These spirits were far more potent than those cultivated by the Black Demon forces.
Their bodies made of straw rendered them even more ferocious.
The Amaterasu Alliance, though small in number, perhaps a hundred strong, comprised Eastern Yin Yang masters whose strength could not be underestimated.
Skilled in ninjutsu, their assassination capabilities were formidable.
Among the crowd, I spotted two Yin Yang masters from the Kukuchi school, Cang Jing and Hikawa Kojiro, whom I had previously encountered and sparred with during the alliance meeting.
Yet, our Daoist Alliance, even facing three thousand evil spirits, did not retreat.
"Damn it, let's fight!"
"Exterminate the demons!"
"To uphold justice and fight for the Dao."
"Let me shatter those dog eyes with my talismans."
"..."
The melee reignited, this time even more brutal.
Due to the sheer numbers, many fellow Daoists perished, becoming martyrs.
However, even after death, the souls of those fallen comrades reappeared on the battlefield, continuing to fight until they were utterly annihilated.
Battle, battle, a brutally fierce battle.
Lao Mo, Uncle-Master, Qiu Xi, Xiao Yao, and I formed a small unit, constantly carving our way through the battlefield.
We maneuvered around the periphery of the Black Demon Cult Master.
Whenever an opportunity arose, we would not hesitate to strike and finish him off.
Time trickled by, and the sky had long since darkened.
But tonight, the moon was a rare, crimson orb.
As if foretelling the tragic nature of this night's struggle...
And on the battlefield, I once again encountered my former opponents, Cang Jing and Hikawa Kojiro of the Kukuchi school.
The last time we met was for a friendly spar.
This time, we were mortal enemies.
"Qin Ze-kun, do you remember my mother?"
Hikawa Kojiro spoke in broken Chinese.
I scoffed:
"I don't remember your mother, damn it!"
"Baka!"
Enraged, he roared, drawing his sword:
"San Gen, Sword Flow Slash!"
As I prepared to engage him,
Lao Mo stepped forward:
"I'll handle him, that damn little Japanese bastard."
With that, crackling arcs of electricity danced around Lao Mo as he swung his axe:
"Thunder Law, Five Thunder Slash."
"Boom!"
A thunderous explosion, accompanied by flashing lightning.
Hikawa Kojiro, who had once even held the upper hand against me, was now sent flying by Lao Mo's lightning spell.
After so much time, his cultivation had only advanced slightly, reaching the True Light realm.
Meanwhile, Lao Mo had firmly consolidated his position in the True Light realm.
"Good for nothing Kukuchi dog, daring to be so arrogant in my Middle Kingdom."
Lao Mo spoke, pressing his advantage and crushing him.
As for Cang Jing, he was now locked onto by Xia Qiu Xi.
Cang Jing's strength lay in his illusions, but under the chaos of this large-scale battle, his illusions were extremely difficult to manifest effectively.
The outcome was predictable.
Both visiting Yin Yang masters fell here.
Hikawa Kojiro's soul was then crushed beneath Lao Mo's boot.
He begged in terror, but Lao Mo remained unmoved, exerting force and obliterating him, scattering his soul.
Cang Jing's soul, amidst the fray, was swiftly devoured by a Northeast Immortal.
The scent of blood permeated the battlefield.
An unprecedentedly tragic scene.
Finally, the Black Demon Cult Master, unable to withstand Zhenren Cang Song, had an arm severed by a sword and was then kicked away.
Uncle-Master and Zhenren Qi Shang seized this opportune moment, rushing forward and hacking at him relentlessly, finally killing him.
Just as they intended to destroy his soul,
his soul shot away like a streak of light and was drawn towards a tall altar in the distance.
Nevertheless, this act greatly boosted our side's morale.
The fellow Daoists were jubilant; the enemy's strongest force had been eliminated, its soul escaping.
This once again signaled the impending victory.
However, as everyone rejoiced,
On the distant Black Demon Altar, two figures appeared, one after the other.
And the escaped Black Demon Cult Master was kneeling before the foremost figure.
Such a sight left many dumbfounded.
"Who is that?"
"The Black Demon Cult Master is kneeling to him?"
"Could there be an even stronger existence?"
"..."
But as I looked at the figure, I felt a sense of familiarity.
Coupled with Qing Dai's words from last night, and the fact that Qing Dai and Wudi Laomu had not yet appeared,
I had a vague premonition as to who it was.
The mastermind behind the Netherworld Cult, the Source of Darkness.
The true Big Boss, the new emperor, Wang Mang.
The moment the figure appeared, it exuded a ferocious aura.
Upon seeing him, the various demonic Daoists of the Black Demon Cult shouted in unison:
"Long live Black Demon!"
"Long live Black Demon!"
"Long live Black Demon!"
"..."
And as the figure took a step forward,
it shook its body, and black mist dispersed.
It was revealed to be a robust man clad in dragon robes.
His eyes were crimson, and he surveyed the battlefield:
"Your emperor has returned."
His aura was invincible, suppressing the entire scene, striking fear into the hearts of everyone on the battlefield.
But then, many began to curse vehemently.
"Bah!"
"What kind of demonic Daoist is this, still daring to call himself emperor?"
"Dynastic rule ended long ago, yet some still cling to imperial dreams."
"..."
Amidst the torrent of curses,
He simply uttered a cold sentence:
"Great Preceptor!"
The shadow behind him knelt on the ground:
"Your Majesty!"
"Dispatch the Undead Legion to attack and kill everyone."
His voice was not loud, but it reverberated across the entire battlefield, his invincible presence instilling a sense of dread.
The shadow kneeling before him immediately nodded:
"Yes!"
With that, he rose, revealing his true form.
It was an elder in black robes, wearing a ceremonial robe, with the character "Preceptor" emblazoned on his chest.
His attire marked him as a demonic Daoist of the Netherworld Cult.
The title "Preceptor" suggested he was Wang Mang's lackey, the Netherworld Zhenren who controlled the Netherworld Cult, the one referred to as "Great Preceptor" by Daoist Wuya previously.
He surveyed the battlefield, raised his staff, and roared:
"Undead Legion, attack!"
Instantly, war drums began to beat.
"Dong dong dong, dong dong dong..."
The muffled beats seemed to strike directly at the heart with every thud.
Overwhelming miasma emerged from behind the altar.
Following that, seven ghost generals appeared, riding warhorses.
Behind them, ranks of ghost soldiers, armed with long spears and armor,
emerged in formation from behind the altar...