Chapter Thirty-Three: The Soul-Piercing Arrow

Seeing Lin Weiyan step forward like that moved me deeply.

She knew full well she was no match for the Phantom Demon, yet she unhesitatingly placed herself in front of me. How could I possibly leave her alone here to face the Phantom Demon, even if she was a fox spirit? Besides, I had already learned the spells to counter the Phantom Demon from the Emperor.

So I said, “Leave the Phantom Demon to me.”

Hearing this, Lin Weiyan glanced back at me and said, “Brother Chu Yun, now is not the time to act tough. You can’t defeat the Phantom Demon.”

Feng Zimo gripped his Sky Halberd and walked over, his voice righteous and resolute. “We’ll hold them off—Lin Weiyan and I. The rest of you withdraw.”

As he finished, Feng Zimo leveled his Sky Halberd at the Phantom Demon.

The Phantom Demon remained unmoved, speaking in a low, mocking tone. “Heh, just you two? You overestimate yourselves.”

With a flicker, the Phantom Demon appeared before the point of Feng Zimo’s halberd.

Without hesitation, Feng Zimo swung his weapon, thrusting it straight at his foe.

A muffled clang rang out!

The Phantom Demon didn’t even flinch; his body alone stopped the halberd’s thrust.

Feng Zimo’s face changed at once. In all his life, he’d never encountered anything like this.

But in the moment Feng Zimo was caught off guard, the Phantom Demon’s hand flashed with a Seven-Star Blade, swinging it mercilessly at him.

Feng Zimo hurriedly withdrew his halberd, straining to block the blow.

But then the Phantom Demon’s body surged, the Seven-Star Blade glimmering with a faint red light.

Seeing this, Lin Weiyan charged in, brandishing the Chixiao Sword.

The clash of weapons rang out with a cacophony…

The Phantom Demon grew fiercer with each bout; Feng Zimo was the first to fall, grievously wounded.

Soon after, Lin Weiyan was also defeated.

Little Ling dashed over, furious, just about to attack the Phantom Demon—but her body was frozen in place, unable to move.

Watching Lin Weiyan and Feng Zimo, injured and collapsed on the ground, the Phantom Demon extended a pitch-black, clawed hand.

“Now it’s your turn. Will you surrender quietly, or must I do it by force?”

Hearing his arrogant tone, I snorted coldly. “Don’t celebrate too soon. Watch out, or I’ll flay you myself.”

The Phantom Demon chuckled, raising his blade and charging at me.

At first, his ferocity truly startled me. I cursed silently—damn it, is he trying to cleave me in half?

Of course, faced with the Phantom Demon’s assault, I dared not be careless.

I dodged aside to avoid the Phantom Demon’s deadly strike. Lin Weiyan, at some point, rushed forward again.

Perhaps she feared I couldn’t hold out against the Phantom Demon and forced herself to come to my aid.

So I said to the Phantom Demon, “Wait…”

I spoke mostly out of desperation.

To my surprise, the Phantom Demon actually paused and asked, “Wait for what?”

Since he asked, I replied, “I want to duel you, one on one…”

The Phantom Demon was visibly taken aback, perhaps wondering if he’d heard me wrong.

After a long moment, he recovered, mocking me. “What? Say that again?”

I helped Feng Zimo and Lin Weiyan to the side and asked Su Wanyi to look after them.

Lin Weiyan shook her head at me, saying, “Brother Chu Yun, don’t.”

Feng Zimo also tried to dissuade me: “Don’t act rashly. Find a chance to run.”

I gave them a small smile. “Trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Hearing this, Lin Weiyan seemed to sense something, grabbing my hand tightly. “Brother Chu Yun, you can’t use the Crimson Demon Eyes again. They’ll destroy you.”

As she spoke, I saw tears well up in her eyes, glistening at the corners.

I gently freed my hand from her grasp and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t use the Crimson Demon Eyes. Besides, they’ve been sealed already.”

Lin Weiyan still seemed uneasy and wanted to say more, but I was already walking away.

Standing a few meters from the Phantom Demon, I declared, “You heard me right. I want to duel you. What’s the matter—afraid?”

As I spoke, I summoned all my strength, letting the Soul-Piercing Arrow technique circulate swiftly through my heart.

The Phantom Demon laughed. “You’re the first to dare speak to me like that. Fine, I’ll grant you a quick death.”

With that, black energy surged around him, a murderous aura swelling that seemed to shake the heavens.

Yet I felt no fear. I knew that whether in skill, spellcraft, or speed, I was no match for the Phantom Demon.

Even so, I had a chance—just one.

When the Emperor taught me the Soul-Piercing Arrow, he’d told me: it can only be used once within seven days. The times I practiced in the Underworld didn’t count.

Now, the technique was already flowing within me.

All I needed was the opportunity—the moment the Phantom Demon let down his guard, I would end him.

It wasn’t long before the Phantom Demon attacked.

Black mist condensed into countless Seven-Star Blades, flying toward me with blinding speed.

Faced with a sky full of blades, there was no time to dodge.

So I shouted with all my might, “Break—!”

A blood-red arrow shot forth from my back, streaking straight for the Phantom Demon.

The arrow’s speed was incredible—several times faster than the Phantom Demon’s blades.

In an instant, all the black blades dissipated into mist, and the Phantom Demon stood there, stunned.

Though he wore a mask and I couldn’t see his face, I knew he must be full of disbelief.

As the Phantom Demon fell, he uttered a single phrase: “Impossible…”

“What’s impossible?” I stepped up to him.

I was about to reach for his mask when I noticed a piece of hide tucked in his robes.

I took it out before turning back to the mask.

But before my hand could touch his face, his whole body cracked like shattered porcelain.

In an instant, he broke apart, then crumbled into a pile of ash.

A gentle breeze swept through, dispersing even the ashes.

With the Phantom Demon’s complete annihilation, the dark clouds overhead scattered, and the sun once again smiled down on us.

Little Ling, released from her paralysis, ran straight to Lin Weiyan and the others.

Even from a distance, I could see their faces frozen in shock.

Feng Zimo hobbled over to me, looking me up and down. “Not bad, kid. I didn’t expect this from you. Did the Emperor of Ziwei teach you some special spell on Celestial Peak?”

I was at a loss for words. In truth, the Emperor of Ziwei hadn’t taught me anything—the real master was the Emperor in the Underworld.

Though I thought this, I said nothing aloud. I simply nodded to placate Feng Zimo, who seemed to believe it instantly.

Lin Weiyan soon approached as well. Unlike Feng Zimo, she didn’t barrage me with questions—she only asked quietly, “Brother Chu Yun, are you alright?”

I gave her a gentle smile. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

With that, I took out the piece of hide I’d found on the Phantom Demon and looked at it.

When I saw what was on it, I was utterly stunned.