Beneath the Everlasting Earth Palace, Xiao Xuefeng was protecting Yong Ke while Director Hua turned toward Feng Yingyue. Thankfully, her disciple was painfully aware of the situation. Even though she was dying to go help her Dao partner, she knew that she would only be a hindrance. Instead, she went to Ren Chao, Mei Hua, and Sun Liao. Obviously, when Cao Yun was quite literally thrown through the ground, up toward the surface, the integrity of the sealed room collapsed. All the array formations sealing the cultivation chamber had been shattered, and cracks had appeared on several walls. As such, the door leading to the group was almost blown open.
Ren Chao had fires in his eyes. He wanted to go help his friend, but he was the weakest of the group and knew how powerless he was. Seeing him like that, Feng Yingyue decided not to tell him about the details of the attack. If Ren Chao knew that Cao Yun had mainly failed because of the armor he had forged for Emperor Weide, she didn't know how he would react.
On the other hand, Mei Hua and Sun Liao were calmer, but Feng Yingyue knew they were just better at hiding their turmoil. Moreover, Sun Liao was the only one of the group who could actually help Cao Yun by taking over the array formations. Unfortunately, doing so would eventually reveal him. At the moment, Cao Yun was trying to pass himself off as a demon sent by Empyrean Asura. If his comrades had not known about Cao Yun, they would have believed that he was actually a demon. Honestly, there was almost nothing left of Cao Yun in his current appearance.
In the cultivation chamber, several guards suddenly burst in, led by Jian Zhenli. The general immediately went to Yong Ke's side. Seeing Xiao Xuefeng and Director Hua near her, he was reassured. Jian Zhenli's mission was very clear. He had to protect Yong Ke until her sacrifice for Emperor Weide's breakthrough. However, he saw a strange light in Yong Ke's eyes. There was worry for her father, of course, but also a curiosity he didn't recognize. The young woman was looking up, trying to see the fight.
On the surface, Cao Yun and Emperor Weide were floating above the Imperial City. All around them was pure darkness as Sun Liao's array formations had completely isolated the Imperial City. In particular, the Everlasting Earth Palace was within the very last line of defense. In other words, no one would be able to break in for days. In reality, it would take months, as it would take some time to call for reinforcements and bring them here to break through all the defenses. Of course, a simpler solution was to kill Cao Yun or to wrestle back the control of the array formations. Unfortunately for Emperor Weide, only Sun Liao was competent enough to do so since he had explained to his brother in detail how to take over the array formations.
All the guards were busy dealing with smaller effects of the array formations as well as with Cao Yun's flying sword. Knowing that he couldn't keep them away for very long, Cao Yun had focused on disrupting their battle formation. Hopefully, he would have enough time to kill Emperor Weide. Even if he couldn't flee after the battle, he didn't care. Right now, Cao Yun was absolutely focused on his current predicament. Sadly, he knew that he couldn't use his most powerful martial arts. Indeed, his 'Azure Dragon's Seven Piercing Stars' would be recognized as a human martial art. Besides, his 'Three Storms' could be traced to the Cao family. In both cases, this would raise too many questions.
Since the assassination had failed, Cao Yun had to be careful not to reveal who he was. He could still salvage the operation if he killed Emperor Weide under the guise of an assassin sent by Empyrean Asura. Apparently, Emperor Weide himself believed it to be the case.
With his 'Dark Abyss Wrathful Serpent Spear' in hand and his Spear Heart pushed to its limit, Cao Yun truly looked like an evil god. He was the most powerful 9th-grade Accomplished Demon on the entire Piaolu planet apart from Empyrean Asura himself. No one would have ever thought that he could be human in any way. Most of his own Po had already been turned into Death Energy, and he was emanating a large amount of Evil Qi. In fact, he had more Evil Qi than Qi. As such, it was corroding the air around him. All those negative emotions were also fueling his Black Heart Flame that had taken on the shape of an Ebony Snake Dragon coiled around his spear.
All those elements, combined with Cao Yun's blood-red skin, white disheveled hair, and black eyes, made him definitely look like an evil demon god. The very air of the Imperial City seemed to be poisoned by his sheer presence. Besides, the environment he had created with the array formations was a bubble of pure darkness that still seemed to strangely emit light. Indeed, although the Everlasting Earth Palace was surrounded by opaque night, it was as lit as if the Sun were at the zenith.
On the other hand, Emperor Weide looked righteous and noble. His robe was torn apart around his right shoulder, giving it the aspect of a monk's kasaya. Under this torn cloth, he had bright armor that looked like it was made of gold. Cao Yun knew perfectly what this armor was since Ren Chao had forged it. Unfortunately, he knew that even his strongest attacks wouldn't be able to easily rupture it. Of course, the impact itself would harm Emperor Weide, but it would take too much strength to seriously injure him, let alone kill him.
Above and behind Emperor Weide, three large imperial seals were floating in the air. All around them, Cao Yun could perceive a holy atmosphere. It was as if Emperor Nuwa was physically present but distant. Imperial decrees were being chanted in a melodious voice. Emperor Weide himself was clad in a righteous light of pure gold while he was brandishing his spiritual weapon in his left hand. Immediately, Cao Yun could tell that Emperor Weide was right-handed. Although the difference wouldn't be much, his inability to fully use his right arm would lower his fighting capability. Because Emperor Weide hadn't practiced the blood cultivation of a demon like Cao Yun, it would take him a long time to heal his injury. Most likely, he wouldn't be able to use his right arm at all during this fight, or barely. Hopefully, it would be the case. Otherwise, it would mean that the fight had been going on for way too long.
Although they weren't moving at the moment, the fight had already begun. Their very minds were clashing against one another. Cao Yun was still circulating 'Weeping Demon'. While the young man's eyes were full of wrath and hate, Emperor Weide's face was fierce but serene. He was following the righteous path and would exterminate all heretics and demons for the sake of all mankind. Emperor Weide wasn't acting out of self-interest but out of pure altruism. Of course, this feeling was driving Cao Yun even madder. His Flying Poison was so enraged that it was becoming hard to control, even for Cao Yun.
Within their seas of consciousness, shadow and blood were fighting against a golden hue permeating all things good and pure in this world. Under this golden light, the world itself was ordering Cao Yun to die for the greater good of all beings. In Cao Yun's mind, it felt as if the universe, the Dao itself, was commanding him to simply cease to exist. A lesser cultivator might have actually killed himself under such pressure. Compared to what Cao Yun had felt the last time he had seen Emperor Weide fight, the emperor had improved a lot. To be fair, he had been through war and had cultivated a lot in order to become a Sage. There was no doubt in Cao Yun's mind anymore. Emperor Weide could become a Sage if he absorbed his sister's Soul Embryo. He couldn't let that happen, no matter what.
Apart from their minds and wills, their spiritual senses were also clashing. In other words, their very souls were fighting each other. On that front, Cao Yun had a small advantage thanks to his Death Energy and his Evil Qi. Despite Emperor Weide's strength and fortitude, he had almost no knowledge of the Dao of Death. As such, he had to expend even more strength than usual just to fend off this assault. Unfortunately, Cao Yun could tell that Emperor Weide had more stamina than he did. At this rate, it was hard to tell whose soul would fail first.
Anyway, this fight wouldn't be decided through a simple staring contest. Both warriors tightened their grip on their weapons. Each one was ready to strike, but they were also studying their opponent's every movement. Even the most insignificant movement could reveal something about their martial arts. At their level, their entire body was in harmony with their martial arts and their weapon. Unfortunately, Cao Yun was also at a disadvantage here. First of all, he couldn't use his most powerful techniques without risking being discovered. More than that, Emperor Weide had all the time in the world, while Cao Yun had to act before the imperial guards were free from the array formations and his flying swords.
The strange silence and calm between the two men were torn apart in an instant.
Cao Yun's spear stabbed directly toward Emperor Weide's heart. It took the shape of a large dragon. But this dragon was only made of bones. Black bones surrounded by evil flames. The Seal of Crushing Duty flew forward to encounter the spear. The head of the spear collided with the carved seal. For an instant, all sounds were muted from the world. The next moment, a terrible sound wave shattered all windows and glass. It even cracked the ground and a few walls.
Down below, Yong Ke could hear it as it rattled her bones. Even Jian Zhenli was scared by such tremendous power. Clearly, two late cultivators were giving it their all. In truth, this was just one move. It was hard to tell whether the Everlasting Earth Palace would stay standing at the end of such a cataclysm.
The Seal of Crushing Duty wouldn't budge, but the 'Dark Abyss Wrathful Serpent Spear' wouldn't stop. Chains from the seal erupted and surrounded the skeleton dragon. However, the Black Heart Flame consumed those chains and traveled back toward the seal itself.
Suddenly, the sound of metal scraping against metal filled the air. The spear changed its course. With a powerful rotation, the butt of the spear hit the seal, sending it flying away. At this very moment, a sword went straight for Cao Yun's neck. Before it even hit, the young man could feel his throat being sliced open. His vertebrae were already separated, and his head was falling from his bloody neck.
'Fate-Splitting Truth'!
With his shallow understanding, Cao Yun could feel some traces of the Dao of Space, maybe even the Dao of Time mixed in with it. No matter what happened, Cao Yun would never be able to dodge this attack. Once it was unleashed, it always struck true. In fact, mastering the Dao of Space or the Dao of Time would have allowed him to alter this technique. Still, using his understanding of array formations, and thanks to 'Daydreams on the Heidai Peak', he could still see through it a little bit.
From behind Cao Yun, hundreds of swords flew to his side. The young man had to kill the momentum of his own spear. He felt a heavy toll on his muscles as he stopped his spear. Then, he focused his efforts on his flank. The swords he had summoned all shattered under Emperor Weide's sword. At the very last moment, the shaft of Cao Yun's spear found itself in the way. The two weapons collided, and Cao Yun was pushed away. Using Emperor Weide's own strength, Cao Yun spun his spear and his entire body. The young man passed right under the sword and slashed with his spear toward Emperor Weide's legs.
'Mandate-Carrying Step'!
With a single step, Emperor Weide disappeared from Cao Yun's field of view. He couldn't deceive Cao Yun's spiritual senses, though. The emperor had ascended higher. But he was now in a perfect position to unleash yet another attack on the young man.
'Sword of Unified Heaven'!
This time, the heavens were falling on Cao Yun. At this moment, he felt the concept of Wind mixed in with the attack. Thankfully, Cao Yun knew much more about Wind. As it turned out, Cao Yun knew more about the concept of Wind than Emperor Weide himself. Altering the technique as much as he could, Cao Yun used 'Azure Dragon Tears the East Sky'.
The skeleton dragon took a strange bluish hue for an instant. Try as he might, Cao Yun couldn't fully suppress that 'Azure Dragon's Seven Piercing Stars' within his technique. A black pillar of pure hatred soared through the skies. It flew straight toward the falling heavens. The bones of the dragon became a large pillar that supported the heavens before they could crush Cao Yun. Then, Cao Yun even pushed back. A storm formed around his terrible spear. Everyone could hear the wails of pain and torment. Damned souls were begging for mercy from the heavens while the dragon was grinding them to get stronger and stronger.
The Black Heart Flame of Cao Yun erupted with more and more strength. For the first time, Emperor Weide felt a familiar touch within this fire. He had recognized the Solar-Orchid Flame. Instantly, he understood what had happened to his 5th Imperial Brocade Guards. This young demon had slain them all and stolen the imperial flame left behind by Emperor Nuwa. Emperor Weide sensed that this demon had brought it to new heights. Strange ideas began to bloom within Emperor Weide's mind. However, the threat that this demon represented was much higher than he had initially thought, he had to finish this fight as fast as possible.