Chapter 137: Annihilation

"Where are the other generations of Demon Immortals, excluding you?"

Li Changsheng's expression was indifferent, his voice calm. But the moment Tang Yun heard this, her delicate body suddenly trembled, and her eyes snapped open!

"Lord of the Styx... I..." Tang Yun's voice quivered, her eyes filled with terror. She did not know why, but the clearer her perception of the Styx's aura became, the more profound her fear of this man grew. It was as if some strange, unseen force was influencing her from the void.

"The Ancestral Demon's remnant soul has perished," Li Changsheng said calmly. "Whether you speak or not is entirely up to you."

Since it had come to this, there was no need for deception. If this woman was sensible, what harm was there in granting her freedom? If she remained unrepentant, what difficulty was there in crushing her with a flick of his hand? Now, throughout the entire Qingling Realm, aside from that Ancient Immortal Venerable, there was truly nothing Li Changsheng feared. Even if that Ancient Immortal Venerable were to manifest his true form, so what? The Styx could sever the karma of all living beings with a single thought; no matter how strong one was, one ultimately existed within the web of karma! If he dared to show himself, he would surely meet his end.

"Reporting to the... God of the Styx..." Tang Yun's voice trembled, her eyes flashing with faint panic. She knelt respectfully on the ground, her frame shaking slightly. "The second-generation Demon Immortal fell in the Immortal Tomb. The fourth, fifth, and sixth generations also fell in different eras. Only the eighth generation took Lin Hao as a disciple."

Tang Yun's body shuddered continuously, her eyes revealing a hint of bitterness. She understood the implication behind Li Changsheng's words perfectly. If she spoke, she might live, and a spark of the Demon Immortal lineage could be preserved. If she did not, death was the only path, and the heritage of the Demon Immortals would be completely severed. Contemplating this, Tang Yun's resolve finally wavered. By comparison, survival was the only hope.

"Only the seventh generation traveled the mortal world, never concerning himself with the succession," Tang Yun said, her expression desolate, her voice filled with utmost reverence.

Previously, when she was sealed within the Styx, she had harbored some schemes. But when the second seal of the Styx was broken, the overwhelming aura of the Styx's absolute control over the Qingling Realm surged forth, and as one trapped within it, Tang Yun felt it most intensely! Against such an enemy, how could Lin Hao possibly be a match? And what power did she herself possess? With her mindset collapsing, she no longer felt any resentment, gradually finding a sense of resignation. The difference in the hierarchy of life was such that a summer insect could never comprehend ice. Mere ninth-generation Demon Immortals, even at their peak, could stir no waves before this Lord of the Styx.

"From now on, you are granted your freedom."

With Tang Yun having confessed everything, Li Changsheng did not delay. After giving a light command, a cold light flashed in the depths of his eyes. Wrapping his arm around Zhao Wan'er, he vanished instantly.

When they reappeared, they were above a mortal capital city. Looking down, the city was bustling with life. The ancient streets and alleys were filled with people, the cries of vendors echoing incessantly. The crowd was noisy and lively. Li Changsheng’s gaze, however, was fixed on a pavilion on an ancient street: the Yihong Courtyard.

At this moment, on the second floor of the pavilion, a handsome young man with a worried expression was staring blankly out the window, seemingly lost in thought.

"My lord, come and have some fun," "My lord, I have been waiting for you for so long," "My lord..."

Before long, four or five fair arms reached out, stripping the young man of his clothes, dragging him bit by bit into the depths of the room. The window of the second floor of the Yihong Courtyard closed.

Li Changsheng watched everything, a strange light flashing in his eyes. The subtle blood-red glint deep within the man's pupils and the faint, lingering demonic aura around him all served to prove that this man was none other than the seventh-generation Demon Immortal! Judging by the threads of karma, this man seemed to have lost a bet with someone, which was why he had called seven or eight ladies here. It seemed he was trying to prove something... but what did that have to do with Li?

His divine sense swept through, detecting the sensual scene in the pavilion, and Li Changsheng sneered.

"Sever!"

With a single word uttered, the seventh-generation Demon Immortal's body suddenly convulsed! His pupils constricted, and he vanished into thin air! In an instant, only... remained in the entire pavilion.

At this moment, the ancient Crab God-beast poked its head out from afar at a very timely moment...

"Ding! The destiny of the Demon Immortal lineage has been completely severed. Lin Hao's destiny value has decreased by 1000. Host has received additional destiny points."

The system's voice rang out. Li Changsheng glanced indifferently at the Crab God-beast to the east, ignored it, and turned to leave with Zhao Wan'er.

Meanwhile, in a mountain range far away, a bedraggled figure in blood-stained clothes was fleeing frantically. This person was none other than Lin Hao, who had finally regained his senses. The scene that had occurred at the bottom of the abyss was too terrifying; it was simply beyond the comprehension of ordinary people! With his Nascent Soul cultivation, no matter how he looked at it, there was no way his memory could have been faulty! He had clearly slaughtered that poisonous insect! Yet, at the time, it had resurrected! No, someone must have been pulling strings in the shadows!

Thinking this, Lin Hao's face grew increasingly grim, and his heart felt as if it were pressed under a giant boulder. He did not know why, but his path of cultivation was becoming increasingly difficult. There was even a faint, suffocating feeling.

*Rustle... rustle...*

Suddenly, a strange sound came from not far away.

"Who's there!" Lin Hao, his eyes filled with killing intent, barked hoarsely. He was now like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring! The previous events had been too bizarre, shattering his courage. As a result, he was cautious about everything, terrified of any further mishaps.

"It's me."

Following this, a woman with a beautiful face, dressed in a green shirt, stepped out from the woods not far from Lin Hao. Her eyes were like stars, her brows like dark green hills, and every movement exuded an endless gentleness. Even her voice was like vintage wine aged for a thousand years, intoxicating. This person was Qing Li!

"What happened?" Qing Li looked at the blood-stained Lin Hao, her delicate brows furrowing, her eyes filled with concern. As her melodious voice drifted out, it revealed a hint of tenderness.

"Li'er!" Seeing the woman appear, the tension in Lin Hao's brow eased slightly. He felt a wave of relief. Although he and Qing Li hadn't known each other for long, they were kindred spirits, inseparable. Throughout their journey, sleeping in the open and eating in the wind, Qing Li had never complained; instead, she had carefully planned for their future! Lin Hao was certain that even if the world turned against him, Qing Li would never leave his side! And once he succeeded in his cultivation, he would never fail her! A wife who shared his hardships must not be forgotten, especially when she was this sincere to him!

Thinking this, a gentle look appeared in Lin Hao's eyes. "Once this matter is settled, let us get married." He gently took Qing Li's hands, his eyes filled with determination. With such a wife, what more could a man ask for?

"Lin Hao, I..." Qing Li's delicate body trembled, light dancing in her beautiful eyes. Her red lips parted, just as she was about to say something, a cold wind suddenly swept through the area! A young man in black and gold embroidered robes, with an incredibly indifferent expression, appeared before them! The youth's gaze was profound, like an ancient well without ripples. His every movement exuded a nobility that stood high above all living beings!

This was Li Changsheng!

"You..." The moment Li Changsheng appeared, bloodshot veins rapidly spread across Lin Hao's eyes! That face had appeared in his dreams countless times. That face was unforgettable! That face—even if he were to be hacked into ten thousand pieces, it would not be enough to erase the hatred in his heart! Lin Hao had never imagined that the owner of that face would appear at this moment!

As his body trembled uncontrollably, he subconsciously shielded Qing Li behind him. His gaze remained fixed on Li Changsheng, his heart filled with endless vigilance.

"Long time no see. I hope you've been well." Li Changsheng's expression was calm, his voice betraying neither joy nor anger. Looking at Lin Hao before him, Li Changsheng felt a tinge of nostalgia. Although they had known each other for only a few dozen days, Lin Hao's stubbornness had left a deep impression on him. He had also gained quite a lot from Lin Hao. Upon reflection, this person could be considered his lucky star. Coming here with killing intent was perhaps a bit cruel. It would be better to offer some condolences first.

"LI! CHANG! SHENG!" Lin Hao's eyes were blood-red, his gaze fierce. He spoke through gritted teeth, and the demonic aura around him surged! Although he didn't know what trick Li Changsheng was up to, it certainly wasn't anything good! Even if he were to perish, he had to find a way to send Qing Li away...

*Puchi!*

Just as Lin Hao was thinking, the sound of flesh being torn rang out. Lin Hao's whole body shuddered, his pupils constricting violently! He looked back. At this moment, Qing Li was holding a dagger, having stabbed it through his chest from behind! This dagger was one he had obtained in a secret realm and given to her! And Qing Li, the smile in her eyes was just right, her appearance still as gentle as ever. It was as if this event, for her, was a matter of course!

Looking at the completely unfamiliar Qing Li before him, Lin Hao's body trembled continuously, and bloody tears streamed from his eyes! "Why..." The trembling voice escaped his lips, his eyes filled with infinite sorrow. He had trusted her so much; why was this the result? Lin Hao felt as though everything was turning pitch black. The world seemed to be shaking and collapsing.

"The majesty of my master is not something an ant like you can fathom. Go in peace." The smile in Qing Li's eyes remained unchanged, her expression full of gentleness. As her crisp voice rang out, the dagger in her hand erupted with blue light! Lin Hao's life force rapidly drained away!

"Sever." Li Changsheng said calmly, a single word escaping his lips.

Behind him, the Styx manifested. As the threads of karma appeared, a series of crisp snapping sounds echoed. The threads of karma above Lin Hao's head all snapped! He vanished into thin air! He had been wiped out of existence!

"Ding! Lin Hao's state of mind has been damaged. Additional destiny points awarded to the host."
"Ding! Lin Hao has perished. Additional destiny points awarded to the host."

Ten times the initial destiny value? Noticing the destiny points awarded after Lin Hao's death, a smile appeared on the corners of Li Changsheng's mouth. Chu Tian's twenty thousand destiny value had rewarded him with two hundred thousand points. Lin Hao's ten thousand had rewarded him with one hundred thousand. He wondered how many destiny points Wang Yu of the Land of Ultimate Immortality possessed...

"Qing Li pays her respects to the Master." As Li Changsheng pondered, Qing Li was already kneeling before him. Her expression was respectful, her voice pious, almost fanatical. When the second seal of the Styx was broken, as a slave of the Styx, she naturally shared the same perception as Li Changsheng. Knowing that her master was becoming increasingly powerful, she was naturally overjoyed.

"This matter is concluded. Follow me." Li Changsheng's expression remained calm. After giving a light command, he flicked his large sleeve. Sweeping Qing Li up and holding Zhao Wan'er by her slender waist, he took a step. His figure vanished instantly!

When they reappeared, they were above the Immortal Forest Sect!

"Greetings, Master!" Following this, two figures flew out in a hurry from the main hall of the Immortal Forest Sect, bowing respectfully to Li Changsheng. These two were Liu Ruyan and Xiao Tianding.

*I almost forgot about him...* Noticing the grievance in Xiao Tianding's expression, Li Changsheng coughed dryly, feeling a bit guilty. "I bestow upon you the Ancient Realm cultivation."

Without delay, as his voice sounded, the Styx behind him trembled! A pure, boundless spiritual energy surged toward Xiao Tianding! Xiao Tianding's cultivation climbed rapidly: Spirit Refining Peak... Law-Passing... Void God... Immortal Realm... Immortal Realm Peak... until it reached the Ancient Realm!!

*BOOM!!!*

As a thunderous roar erupted from within Xiao Tianding, his entire body was enveloped in a brilliant white light! His cultivation broke through!

*Whoosh...*

A cold breeze whistled by, and signs of gathering dark clouds appeared above. However, two breaths later, the endless clouds paused in a bizarre fashion and then directly dissipated...

"This..." Xiao Tianding, seeing the clouds gather and realizing the lightning tribulation was about to manifest, felt tense. But when he saw the tribulation dissipate, he was instantly dumbfounded.

Only Li Changsheng looked at Xiao Tianding with a hint of strangeness. As far as he knew, whenever an Immortal broke through, it would inevitably trigger a heavenly tribulation, regardless of whether they were a mortal-path, earth-path, or heaven-path immortal. All would trigger a tribulation to temper their immortal veins. A mortal-path immortal was one who had opened fewer than thirty-three immortal veins. Such cultivators usually had low fortune and average strength. The tribulation would not be severe. When breaking through, Heaven would acknowledge the difficulty of cultivation but would still send down two bolts just to make a point. Seeing someone like Xiao Tianding, who couldn't even trigger a tribulation, was a first for Li Changsheng.

"How many immortal veins have you opened?" Li Changsheng asked after a brief pause.

"What... opening immortal veins...?" Hearing Li Changsheng's question, Xiao Tianding was confused. Doubt flashed in his eyes, and he stood there, bewildered.

*An Immortal Realm cultivator who doesn't understand opening immortal veins???*

Seeing this, Li Changsheng's mouth twitched. He spread his divine sense, probing into the man's body, and only then did he understand. This fellow had only opened a single immortal vein! A single immortal vein... that was likely the only one in the entire Qingling Realm... With such aptitude, being able to reach the Immortal Realm—that 2000 destiny points was truly well-earned...

He wondered how many veins Wan'er would open when she underwent her tribulation? Thinking this, Li Changsheng couldn't help but look at Zhao Wan'er in his arms, falling into deep thought. With the Land of Ultimate Immortality hidden, Zhao Wan'er's tribulation would likely rely on her own strength to forcibly seize the immortal energy from the tribulation to open her veins. This move was somewhat risky. Moreover, Wang Yu was very likely acting as the proxy for the will of the Land of Ultimate Immortality. This added many variables. He needed to plan carefully for her...

As for directly charging into the Land of Ultimate Immortality and seizing control of that place, Li Changsheng had considered it. He had even wanted to act on it many times. However, ever since he had seized over a thousand immortal veins and the Land of Ultimate Immortality had fled, he had been unable to find it. Even with the Styx in complete control of the entire Qingling Realm, it was difficult to detect the presence of the Land of Ultimate Immortality. This matter would require long-term planning.