Chapter 224 — For the Righteous Path of All Under Heaven

" The Dutian Demon King was both shamed and furious, and was about to rise, when the great Bear Demon God, looking down from his height, lifted a foot and pinned him beneath it, chuckling, "Tyrant, your day has come too.

Summoner, you called me forth, so what do you mean to sacrifice to me? " "Him!

" Shen Mu pointed at the old Daoist. The great Bear Demon God drove a fist at the old Daoist; the turtle-backed god-shade behind the Daoist raised a hand to block, and a dull impact sounded.

Shen Mu was left dazed and muddled by the shockwave, while the old Daoist was blasted flying backward and embedded in the cliff opposite. The great Bear Demon God sprang up and drove a fist into the old Daoist on the cliff wall, grinning ferociously: "Delicious worm. . .

eh? " A sword-light flew in from behind and pierced his heart, emerging from his chest; the old Daoist had used the treasured sword at his back, and struck home with one blow. "Not bad. Only this body is not what you think it is!

" The great Bear Demon God grinned and raised his fists, pounding them into the cliff: "This body is nothing but a demon-god image. Even if you cut off my head, you cannot harm me in the least! " "Is that so?

" A voice sounded of a sudden.

The great Bear Demon God hastily turned his head, and a sword-light circled his neck three times; at once his enormous head dropped from his neck. "Daoist Dryleaf, your foolish brother is late. " The sword-light flew up and landed on the cliff top. There stood a scholar, his blue robe fluttering, his gaze falling first upon the great Bear Demon God's headless body, then shifting to Shen Mu.

Solemnly he saluted: "Lu Wenshu, of the school of Master Qiong of the Qiongli Sect, greets the Hierarch of the Dark Demon Cult! The Hierarch is a senior; that this junior should strike at a senior, that hardly counts as improper, does it?

" The great Bear Demon God's head flew up and settled back onto his neck, and he laughed, "Another cat or dog has come. " Shen Mu's face was calm.

He shook his head: "Master Qiong is my peer.

That he did not strike at me himself, but sent you instead, is already to hold me cheap. " Lu Wenshu said unhurriedly, "My master was not unwilling to come meet the Hierarch of the Dark Demon Cult in person; he had other weighty business, to save the common people of the world. " "Assassinating the emperor, you mean?

" Shen Mu said, "The Imperial Preceptor of Jingping gave the Old Tathagata face and let him rescue Master Qiong and the others.

The Old Tathagata promised that Master Qiong would take refuge in the Buddhist order and no longer meddle in the world's affairs. Why go back on your word?

" Lu Wenshu's expression stiffened.

Suddenly another voice laughed, "For the sake of all living beings under heaven, why should one not go back on one's word? " Shen Mu turned to look. On another peak stood a Daoist nun in white robes, a plum blossom embroidered on her breast. "Qingyu the Wanderer of the Lingxiu Palace greets the Hierarch of the Dark Demon Cult," the nun saluted.

Shen Mu smiled, "Why does the Wanderer salute me?

" The nun said gravely, "Though you are an enemy, the proprieties must not be neglected. In dealing with the young Hierarch of the Dark Demon Cult, we may be open to the charge of the strong bullying the weak; but you are, after all, the Hierarch of the foremost holy ground of the demon path, and higher than we in seniority.

So it does not quite count as the strong bullying the weak. " Shen Mu smiled slightly: "Well said, well said.

Who else has come to kill me?

" "I have come to kill you. " Auspicious clouds drifted through the air, and an arhat alighted on the peak, a string of prayer beads hanging from his hands, each bead the size of a human head.

Joining his palms, he said, "The Hierarch of the Dark Demon Cult holds a lofty station. This humble monk, Pusan, has come to subdue the demon, and begs the Hierarch's instruction.

" "The Hierarch of the foremost holy ground of the demon path should not fear one more than I, surely? " Xue Hu'er hastily hid behind Shen Mu, stealthily poking her head out, and spat, "Your Sect Master Qi is truly petty, not a sporting fellow at all!

" Luo Sanpo pointed at her and laughed, "That's the little fox!

Fellow Daoists, that I, Luo, may join with the righteous path of the jianghu to besiege the Hierarch of the Dark Demon Cult and slay the demon here, truly that is a fortunate thing, and a joyous thing!

This battle shall be called the Grand Assembly for Slaying the Demon and Defending the Way! " "The Grand Assembly for Slaying the Demon and Defending the Way? A good name.

" From the mountain's body, Daoist Dryleaf struggled out, spat blood, and sat down on the cliff to settle his breath.

He said, "If we can wipe out the Hierarch of the Dark Demon Cult and restore peace to the world, our pains will have been worth it.

My lords, for the righteous path! " On the peaks all around, one great master after another of the heaven-being realm grew grave, their breasts surging, a heroic spirit bursting forth, and they said in unison, "For the righteous path of this mortal world, through all its vicissitudes! " "Kill!

" The five great masters, high in spirits, each burst forth with vital essence; behind each a vast phantom god-man appeared, and each brought forth his strongest move, bombarding down upon the valley!

At that instant the great Bear Demon God roared and unleashed all the energy within him! "Heaven-Demon Boundless!

" Shen Mu hastily drew Xue Hu'er behind the dragon qilin. A dreadful throb shook the valley, loosening the mountain stone; great boulders fell from the air one after another, and were shattered in the next breath into finest dust. Even with the dragon qilin shielding them, Shen Mu and Xue Hu'er felt an unimaginable pressure assail them, crushing them until their bones creaked and groaned.

One great master after another of the heaven-being realm spat blood and toppled backward, life or death unknown.

Shen Mu poked his head out from behind the dragon qilin and saw the great Bear Demon God standing there in awesome might. Xue Hu'er, startled and delighted, praised, "Bear Demon God is wonderful! " Of a sudden the great Bear Demon God's body began to crumble, breaking apart inch by inch.

The great demon god muttered, "My energy is spent. A pity I could not harvest these offerings, but at least I saw the great Dutian Demon King in such a wretched state.

.

. Summoner, I am off!

" With that his body burst apart with a bang, and his consciousness rolled back to the other world.

Xue Hu'er was dumbstruck a moment, then heard coughing from beyond the valley: Luo Sanpo and the others.

The great Bear Demon God had not done them in. "Young Master. . .

" Xue Hu'er turned her head to look at Shen Mu.

"It's nothing. " Shen Mu rose, patted the dust from his clothes, hauled up the Dutian Demon King, who had been trampled into the ground, and tossed him onto the dragon qilin's back.

The youth was full of spirit; he urged the Taotie Bag to gather the other three altars into it, and shouted, "Long Pang, run! "