Volume Two, Travels in Qi State Chapter 169: The Demon Lord Perishes, the Sword Saint Departs

"He's escaping, quick, after him!"

After the great battle ended, Ling Tian, having returned to the scene, cried out in anxious alarm upon seeing the Demon Lord slip away.

However, catching sight of Dugu Bai standing nearby with his sword in hand, he instantly clamped his mouth shut like a child caught in mischief, then stood obediently to the side with a well-behaved posture.

The others remained silent, all eyes fixed upon Dugu Bai, waiting to see what decision the Sword Saint senior would make.

Zhang Heng covered his mouth with a slight smile; Ling Tian's current appearance as an old man was truly comical.

Dugu Bai sheathed his sword, turned his gaze to Zhang Heng, and spoke calmly, "Lad Zhang, drag him back."

At these words, Zhang Heng's fingers danced in a continuous sequence of incantations as he muttered under his breath.

"Spirit-Binding Array, appear."

Suddenly, the space around them trembled violently, and countless streams of blue light surged from beneath the earth. Fixing their eyes upon the phenomenon, the crowd discerned a pathetic wispy black aura trapped right in the center of the azure radiance.

It was none other than the Sovereign of the Demon Realm who had just fled.

The demonic race was, after all, a form of spiritual entity, which made the Spirit-Binding Array equally effective against them.

What? The crowd stared in shock and disbelief at the unfolding scene—Zhang Heng was actually proficient in arrays and capable of trapping the Demon Lord?

Trapped within the Spirit-Binding Array by Zhang Heng, the Demon Lord instead burst into laughter.

"This Sovereign is a being that transcends your imagination. Even if you can trap me, so what?"

"Sixteen thousand years ago, your ancestor, the one named Qing Yangzi, didn't he also seek out forbidden power? Didn't he trap us back then as well? What a pity, even he could not annihilate us. Do you honestly think you can achieve what he could not?"

As a supreme powerhouse of his clan, the Demon Lord naturally would not beg Zhang Heng and the others for mercy, nor was there any need for him to do so.

At that moment, Zhang Heng stepped forward with a disdainful smile.

"Demon Lord, is it? Have you ever considered why, sixty thousand years ago, my clan's predecessor Qing Yangzi was able to trap you? It was because he sought out forbidden power. Yet, I have trapped you relying merely on a simple Spirit-Binding Array. Why do you suppose that is?"

Upon hearing Zhang Heng's words, the Demon Lord, who had been laughing hysterically, abruptly cut off his laughter, realization dawning upon him in an instant.

Indeed, why was that? Why could a mere, simple Spirit-Binding Array manage to trap him? It defied all reason. He must remember that he was not some ordinary spiritual entity; he was the Supreme Lord of the Demons.

"Why?" came the Demon Lord's frigid voice.

"Is that the attitude you use when asking a question?" Zhang Heng retorted.

Without waiting for the Demon Lord to reply, Zhang Heng continued, "If you don't know, well, you just don't know. Perhaps after you die and go through the wheel of reincarnation, you'll find out in your next life."

"You little bastard, what kind of nonsense are you spouting? Do you honestly believe you can annihilate this Sovereign?" The Demon Lord had always firmly believed that no power in this world could destroy him, for they were beings inherently transcendent of this realm.

Right then, amidst the puzzled gazes of the onlookers, Zhang Heng pressed the fingers of his right hand together and made a light slash across his left palm. Instantly, fresh blood gushed forth from his wound.

"Haha, boy, even if you resort to self-mutilation, you still cannot kill this Sovereign," the Demon Lord roared with laughter.

Yet, the next second, he was struck dumb with astonishment, for Zhang Heng's blood actually pierced right through the Spirit-Binding Array and splattered onto his body.

"Brat! Your blood tastes rather decent." Feeling that Zhang Heng's blood possessed no lethal properties against him, the Demon Lord smiled triumphantly.

"Senior Dugu, do it." Zhang Heng did not say much more, casting a calm glance toward Dugu Bai.

Dugu Bai grasped his intent instantly. With a flicker of his thoughts, a small sword materialized in the palm of Zhang Heng's left hand in the very next instant.

By now, the tiny sword had been completely stained by Zhang Heng's blood, transforming into a crimson blade.

This was precisely the natal artifact Dugu Bai had left in Zhang Heng's keeping, the "Heart-Guarding Sword."

Strangely enough, all the Tianyuan powerhouses present showed remarkably little reaction upon seeing Dugu Bai's natal artifact in Zhang Heng's possession.

Using two fingers to guide the Heart-Guarding Sword, Dugu Bai directed it to strike down upon the Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord still wore a triumphant smirk. "Though I know not what tricks you are playing, this Sovereign is undying and indestructible. Ha-ha-ha-ha."

The next second, his laughter was cut short abruptly.

The blood-stained little sword pierced through his body, and his demonic core shattered.

The demonic core was the core of a demon, the very source of their life. For the demonic core to shatter meant only one thing—

Annihilation.

This was impossible! How could any power capable of destroying him exist in this world?

Yet, despite all his lingering reluctance and utter incomprehension, the haughty and unyielding Sovereign of the Demon Race was thus reduced to absolute nothingness in both body and soul.

Seeing the black Qi finally vanish, every single disciple burst into irrepressible cheers.

"Many thanks, Sword Saint Senior."

"Might is the Sword Saint Senior!"

"The Sword Saint Senior is truly the guardian deity of our Immortal Cultivation Continent."

Everyone dropped to their knees in unison toward Dugu Bai's direction.

Moments ago, enveloped by that black Qi, they had been drowning in utter despair. Had it not been for the appearance and intervention of the Sword Saint Dugu Bai, they feared their souls would have already scattered and perished.

Dugu Bai paid no attention to the crowd. He merely pointed gently in the direction of Zhang Heng before vanishing into the void.

Immediately following that, Zhang Heng's figure disappeared as well.

The next second, Zhang Heng tumbled out of the spatial void.

Surrounded by numerous towering trees, Zhang Heng deduced that they should currently be on a small hill outside the imperial capital.

Zhang Heng could never understand why these powerful figures held such a peculiar fondness for mountains and forests.

"Sword Saint Senior." Zhang Heng knelt heavily on the ground and performed a deep kowtow. Dugu Bai had saved the entire population of Qi, a feat that more than justified his prostration.

Yet Dugu Bai simply hoisted him up with a gentle pull. "Lad Zhang, not bad at all, already at the third tier of the Qi Sea Realm."

Zhang Heng scratched his head, offering no further comment. In Dugu Bai's eyes, the Qi Sea Realm and the Deity Transformation Realm were likely no different.

The two stood there in quiet stillness.

Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Zhang Heng broke the silence, "Sword Saint Senior, where are you heading next?"

Dugu Bai let out a long sigh, offering no direct reply to Zhang Heng. Instead, he spoke in a placid tone, "Lad Zhang, I must take back this Heart-Guarding Sword."

Zhang Heng nodded without a word. Although he had not yet fully matured and still needed the Heart-Guarding Sword for protection, the weapon ultimately belonged to Dugu Bai.

If Dugu Bai wanted it back, could Zhang Heng possibly stop him?

"Kid! You must cultivate diligently and grow strong as fast as you can!"

Zhang Heng stared solemnly at Dugu Bai, sensing that the man's state of mind had undergone a fundamental shift.

"Boy! Xueqing's identity is extraordinary. You must become powerful enough to properly protect her, do you understand?"

Why did Dugu Bai's tone sound so much like someone arranging final affairs?

"Senior?" Zhang Heng wanted to voice his query.

Dugu Bai raised a hand to cut him off.

"Lad! There are things I simply must do."

Dugu Bai's words were cryptic, yet Zhang Heng grasped his underlying meaning instantly.

It most likely meant that Dugu Bai was about to undertake a perilous task. Lacking absolute certainty of survival and fearing that Yan Xueqing might suffer bullying or harm, he had spoken those parting words.

Zhang Heng bowed with utmost solemnity. "Senior, if there is something you must do, go with peace of mind. As for Miss Yan, I swear that as long as I, Zhang Heng, draw breath, I will never let her suffer any grievance."

It seemed as though Dugu Bai had finally laid his lingering worries to rest. His voice carried a trace of helplessness and melancholy: "Lad Zhang, my Dao is not necessarily suited for you, so I have nothing else to bestow upon you. However, if I am fortunate enough to survive and return, I shall stand guard by your side until you are invincible across the realm."

"Senior, your cultivation is profound, and your swordsmanship is peerless. In this vast world, how many trials could possibly stump you? You will certainly be fine."

Before Zhang Heng could finish, he lifted his gaze only to discover that Dugu Bai had already departed.

A voice echoed from the empty void: "Lad Zhang, remember the words you spoke."