You Can't Take It Away

At this moment, the expanse of the great river in Cangzhou had been ravaged beyond recognition.

The once somewhat orderly river now lay in ruins, its currents altered by the aftershocks of the battle between man and demon.

The turbulent waters surged chaotically, yet even they could not fill the massive craters left behind by the clash.

Xu Yuan could no longer maintain his composure, realizing that Chu Xingchen truly cared nothing for Baxia's fate.

And to his utter disbelief, the Karmic Nascent Soul could even transform into such a state!

This man… this sword…

Xu Yuan assessed the dwindling blood energy within the Dragon-Slaying Sword, then cast his gaze toward Chu Xingchen’s calm eyes.

Without the sword, whether he could defeat this brat or not, Baxia would be beyond his reach.

"Go!"

Xu Yuan flung the Dragon-Slaying Sword into the air, and in an instant, it streaked toward Chu Xingchen like a crimson beam.

At the same time, Xu Yuan’s form shifted, revealing the massive figure of a turtle. Unlike before, when he was clad in black armor, now only swirling gusts of demonic wind formed his shell.

When a demon reveals its true form, wielding weapons becomes cumbersome, but they can still be controlled through spiritual sense.

Though this meant the Dragon-Slaying Sword would lack Xu Yuan’s demonic energy, weakening its power, it also freed Xu Yuan’s true body.

Chu Xingchen watched as the crimson Dragon-Slaying Sword lunged from his left, while Xu Yuan, wreathed in demonic winds, charged from his right.

He had fought Xu Yuan in his turtle form before. While the creature’s defensive prowess was undeniable, its offensive capabilities left much to be desired.

Only that cursed sword was troublesome—its attacks were devastating, enough to shake even a Nascent Soul’s Dharma Form.

Chu Xingchen focused most of his attention on the approaching Dragon-Slaying Sword.

His Nascent Soul Dharma Form raised the flowing water sword in its left hand to meet the strike.

This time, the Dragon-Slaying Sword lacked its previous sharpness. Instead of cleanly severing the watery blade, it locked in a stalemate.

Meanwhile, Xu Yuan closed in. The Dharma Form’s right-hand sword, now wreathed in a coiling water dragon, slashed toward him.

A torrential surge of sword energy, carrying the river’s might, transformed into a roaring dragon that barreled toward Xu Yuan’s imposing figure.

But there was no earth-shattering collision.

Xu Yuan seemed to disregard the water dragon entirely, charging straight for Chu Xingchen.

A frown creased Chu Xingchen’s brow. What was this shell-less turtle planning? Was he so desperate that he’d stake his life on a reckless assault?

The Dharma Form’s right sword shifted into a defensive stance.

In the next instant, Xu Yuan reached the water dragon.

His expression remained eerily calm as he extended a forelimb and pressed it against the surging dragon.

Just as Chu Xingchen expected some profound technique—

Xu Yuan’s left forelimb exploded into a mist of blood upon impact.

There had been no resistance. He had taken the full brunt of the attack with his bare flesh.

Yet his speed never faltered.

In a flash, Xu Yuan shot past Chu Xingchen, lunging straight for Baxia, who was already halfway into the sky.

Chu Xingchen reacted swiftly. The watery sword unleashed a flurry of razor-sharp energy, slashing toward Xu Yuan’s back.

Still, Xu Yuan ignored it, enduring the strike head-on.

The demonic winds shielding him were torn apart, revealing the grotesque sight of a shell-less turtle.

Chu Xingchen’s sword energy was merciless. Without its shell, Xu Yuan’s back split open in a gaping wound, blood gushing forth.

But Xu Yuan never slowed. He crashed into Baxia, pinning the struggling beast, and sank his jaws deep into its neck.

A mournful howl echoed across the land.

At the same time, the Dragon-Slaying Sword disengaged, veering sharply toward Xu Yuan.

Chu Xingchen finally understood—Xu Yuan had no hidden tricks left. He was gambling with his life.

This was, perhaps, his final chance.

The Nascent Soul Dharma Form surged forward. The right sword swung to intercept the Dragon-Slaying Sword, while the left unleashed another slash toward Xu Yuan.

Still biting Baxia’s neck, Xu Yuan violently twisted the beast’s body, using its back as a shield against Chu Xingchen’s lethal strike.

Meanwhile, the Dragon-Slaying Sword underwent a sinister transformation.

Its once-vibrant crimson glow darkened into an abyssal hue, nearly black, and its speed multiplied.

It streaked past the watery sword’s interception like a fleeting shadow, leaving only a faint afterimage.

Before Chu Xingchen could react, the blade pierced through both Baxia and Xu Yuan, who clung tightly to the beast.

A sinister red aura erupted from the sword, staining Baxia’s body.

The creature convulsed in agony, limbs thrashing wildly as the dark energy spread like wildfire through its veins.

Simultaneously, the golden stele on Baxia’s back blazed with radiant light.

Xu Yuan reverted to human form.

His left arm was now a bloody stump, and a gaping hole marred his right chest.

Summoning the Dragon-Slaying Sword to his side, he fixed Chu Xingchen with a cold stare.

With the deed done, Chu Xingchen wasted no time. The Nascent Soul’s twin watery swords crossed in a decisive slash toward Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan summoned the remnants of his demonic winds and raised the Dragon-Slaying Sword to meet the strike.

"Boy, you’ve clearly never staked your life on a gamble," Xu Yuan said calmly, his right hand feeding a faint green energy into the sword, which devoured it greedily.

Chu Xingchen intensified the spiritual energy in his blades, pressing down with crushing force.

Xu Yuan sneered. "The world thinks you righteous, but tell me—how are your actions any different from mine?"

"Or perhaps, you’re even worse."

"You knew Baxia was hidden within the imperial seal. That means you knew my plans."

"I am a demon. The enmity between our kinds is ancient. But you? You watched as your own people suffered, content to let them fall so you could pluck the ripest fruit."

"And now you posture as a saint. How laughable."

Chu Xingchen’s expression remained unmoved. "First, I truly didn’t know. Second, you manipulated hearts for your gain. I had no part in it."

"Everyone seeks profit. But in Bingzhou and Chizhou, I acted in earnest, doing all I could to save lives and end the chaos."

"Baxia was never my aim. In the beginning, I only sought to rescue an old monk who vanished while distributing porridge."

"I didn’t stir the nation’s fate, bringing ruin to the innocent. I didn’t lead demons to their doom, knowing their kingdom was doomed from the start."

"And in the end, I don’t seek this fortune for myself."

"You committed atrocities for your prize. Does stopping you make me your equal?"

"Today, Baxia’s fate is mine to decide. Even if it means scattering its essence to the winds, you won’t take it!"

"A final gamble?!"

"You’re a shell-less turtle, more toad than warrior. You dare speak to me of staking your life?!"