Chapter 13: The Exorcist Lord Descends from Beyond the Heavens

Golden Core, also known as Grandmaster, is already a figure capable of founding a sect. The Golden Core Grandmasters possess their own pride. Even though Nangong Yan held a noble status and was the most favored grandson of a Nascent Soul Patriarch, and though the others were willing to defer and show him respect for their own advancement along the path to the Dao, none would stoop to the sycophancy found among common lackeys.

These Golden Cores affiliated themselves with the Four Seas Trading Company for no greater reason than its wealth and resources, and their own aspirations to climb higher. Among them, one of the late-stage Golden Core men in a blue robe frowned and addressed the relaxed, untroubled Nangong Yan with gravity:

“You must not be careless, Young Master. Those able to establish a sect are never simple characters—let alone this Demon Lord, who has managed in a short time to subdue both the Yin-Yang Sect and the Tianxuan Sect, preventing chaos in Zhangze County and keeping others from exploiting the situation. Judging by this, whether in cunning or in magical prowess, this Demon Lord is no easy foe.”

Nangong Yan’s smile did not falter; he nodded. “Protector Yang, your words are true.” He tossed a spirit stone to a wandering cultivator who had brought news, waving him away with a gesture.

“Let us go! Straight to Luoyun Mountain,” Nangong Yan declared, his body aglow with spiritual light as he sped toward the mountain, the others close behind.

Though he had agreed with his mouth, in his heart he held Chen Yang in contempt, as he did the Supreme Demon Sect. In fact, he did not truly respect even those of his own faction. He was a true scion of heaven—not only extraordinarily gifted, but also backed by the Nangong family and the power of a Nascent Soul ancestor. All his life had been smooth and triumphant; among his peers, he stood unrivaled.

Not only did he look down upon these so-called “protectors” eager to curry favor with the Nangong family, but even his own brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts failed to earn his regard.

According to the Four Seas Trading Company’s original intent, as long as the Supreme Demon Sect submitted, punishing Chen Yang, the chief culprit, would suffice. After all, the company sought commerce across the land, acquiring resources to supply the great clans. While it was necessary to make an example of someone, going too far might breed fear among the local sects—a result contrary to the company’s broader interests.

Yet Protector Yang’s admonition sparked dissatisfaction in Nangong Yan’s heart.

“Invite Daoist Chen, Sect Master of the Supreme Demon Sect, to come forth and meet us.”

Arriving outside Luoyun Mountain, Protector Yang exhaled a deep breath and projected his voice across the entire mountain.

“What need for such trouble?” Nangong Yan laughed lightly, his gaze sweeping the mountain’s layout until it settled on the Heavenly Demon Hall.

His spiritual power surged; from between his brows shot a golden talisman.

In an instant, heaven and earth changed color, wind and thunder suddenly bursting forth.

“Young Master—!”

Protector Yang’s face changed drastically, but Nangong Yan ignored him. The golden talisman flared, transforming into a three-inch golden shuttle that, carrying the might of heaven and earth, hurtled toward the Heavenly Demon Hall.

This golden talisman, called a Talisman Treasure, was crafted by sealing the power of a magic treasure within a talisman arts. Once activated, it could unleash most of the original treasure’s power. This three-inch golden shuttle had been specially refined for Nangong Yan by the Nangong Patriarch himself, a Nascent Soul cultivator, drawing power from his own life-bound magic treasure.

The mountain-protecting formation of Luoyun Sect lasted but a moment before shattering. A streak of blood shot from within the Heavenly Demon Hall.

Almost as soon as Chen Yang escaped, the golden shuttle struck the hall.

Time seemed to freeze, then suddenly accelerated.

With a deafening thunderclap, the entire Heavenly Demon Hall and half the mountaintop were reduced to powder, dust billowing skyward.

The strike’s power was far from spent. Centered on the Hall, the blast radiated outward. Disciples who had cultivated divine demon bodies survived, their bodies no longer mortal but of the gods and demons, able to withstand the aftershock. Those who had not—whether Foundation Establishment or mere Qi Refining—had their organs shattered in an instant. Though cultivators’ vitality far exceeded mortals, none survived.

As for the tens of thousands of mortal servants, not a single one lived. Blood trickled from every orifice; all perished on the spot.

With a single blow, over ten thousand lives were snuffed out. In terms of ruthlessness and disregard for human life, these cultivators far surpassed Chen Yang, the so-called demon.

Protector Yang was both shocked and furious, while Nangong Yan remained impassive, brushing imaginary dust from his robes as he cast him a glance.

Fury simmered in his heart, yet he was helpless. Protector Yang looked at the spinning blood light, the result of the Talisman Treasure’s power, gritting his teeth. “If we move, we must be thorough—exterminate the Supreme Demon Sect, root and branch.”

“Yes.”

Six Golden Cores: two late-stage, two middle, two early. Protector Yang and another late-stage, clad in yellow, charged at Chen Yang, while the other four positioned themselves at the four cardinal points, unfurling banners to encircle Luoyun Mountain.

The banners snapped in the wind, the powers of earth, fire, wind, and water surging forth. Clearly, they intended to refine the entire Supreme Demon Sect in a single sweep.

“Well, well... you shun the road to heaven, but barge into hell unbidden. Let me send you all to your deaths!”

With a thunderous shout, Chen Yang summoned the White Bone Demon from behind him. In a flash, it appeared behind the yellow-robed Golden Core, cackling wickedly.

Its bone claws lunged. The yellow-robed cultivator paled, hastily summoning his defensive treasure—a small, rapidly spinning shield, pitch black, inscribed with talismans and gleaming with a metallic luster.

A screech like grinding metal rang out. Deep claw marks gouged the shield’s surface, and its glow dimmed considerably.

Though damaged, the treasure deflected the fatal blow, and the cultivator breathed a sigh of relief.

“Watch out!” someone bellowed in warning, making the yellow-robed cultivator start in fright. Yet before he could react, a streak of blood flashed before his eyes.

The shield, already weakened, lost its luster and split in two, the cut smooth as glass.

A bloody line appeared on his brow, the light fading from his eyes.

The White Bone Demon cackled incessantly, tearing off the man’s head with one hand and plucking out his golden core with the other, stuffing it into its mouth as blood sprayed and it chewed voraciously.

“Hmm?” Nangong Yan, who had been watching the massacre as if it were a play, arms folded in leisure, suddenly sensed disaster. In but an instant, a late-stage Golden Core protector had been slain by Chen Yang.

Before he could summon his Talisman Treasure again, the Blood-transforming Demon Blade, having dispatched the yellow-robed cultivator, twisted in several subtle arcs, slicing through Protector Yang’s defenses and magical treasures, cleaving him in two with a single stroke.

They had come swiftly—died even faster.

The remaining four Golden Cores turned pale and abandoned their attempt to refine Luoyun Mountain, frantically waving their banners to try and trap Chen Yang.

But such a crude Four Symbols formation was nothing to a top student of Mount Shu like Chen Yang.

With the Blood-transforming Demon Blade and the White Bone Demon attacking from left and right, east and west, in just moments the other four were likewise slain.

As for Nangong Yan, seeing the tide turn, he did not hesitate for an instant—he fled.

In a flash, as easily as breaking dry twigs, these so-called materials dared to rebel?

Indeed: When a demon lord descends by heaven’s decree, from this day forth, the world is plunged into chaos.