At that moment, a streak of cold light cut through the air. A gleaming blade flew like a shooting star, severing the right hand of a demon soldier. As the blade whirled back, a thunderous roar echoed across the mountains. Yuan Qingshan fell from the sky, but in the instant before touching the ground, a firm arm caught him.
"Are you alright?" The voice was deep and steady, carrying an authority that could not be defied.
Wuchensi lifted his small head, staring at the figure before him. The elder had an aura of transcendent cultivation, his face gentle yet commanding. White whiskers framed his chin, his long eyebrows like silver threads swayed with the wind, and his Daoist robe shimmered with faint spiritual light, resonating with the rhythm of the world.
The demon soldier's eyes widened in disbelief. Attempting to escape as a gust of demonic wind, he barely moved before a bolt of heavenly lightning shot from the elder's fingertip, instantly reducing him to ashes.
The elder raised his gaze to the remaining demon soldiers, who were still rampaging through the battlefield, and spoke in a low voice, "If the demons think they can slaughter the fleeing villagers of Daoyuan Mountain, today they will meet their end."
Wind whipped through the mountains as the elder waved his sleeves, lifting Wuchenzi and Yuan Qingshan into the air. Their bodies glided like streaks of light above the blazing ruins. Below, the village lay in chaos, collapsing houses scattered like fallen chess pieces, and the demon soldiers screamed in panic, unable to reach those now suspended above.
Trees swayed violently, branches and leaves blackened by the flames, and the cries of terrified animals echoed through the valley. The elder's gaze was sharp, his sword flashing with streaks of lightning. With each swing, dozens of demon soldiers were swept up into the blinding interplay of sword and thunder, their blood splattering across the scorched earth.
A demon soldier charged from behind, hoping to catch the elder off guard. In the blink of an eye, the sword's shadow streaked across the space, striking with the precision of lightning. The soldier's shoulder split open, blood spraying as he was hurled back, limp and lifeless.
"Crack!" Another soldier attempted to surround him, transforming into a gust of demonic wind, but the elder merely pointed a finger, and a bolt of heaven-sent lightning shattered the wind and annihilated the demon's body. The smoke and fire illuminated the valley, revealing shattered limbs and splintered bones scattered across the scorched ground.
The elder moved with the swiftness of the wind, his sword like a dragon weaving through the air. Each strike was accompanied by a flash of thunder, sending the demon soldiers flying like leaves in a storm. Wuchenzi's small fists clenched tightly, his heart pounding in terror and awe. For the first time, he witnessed a true immortal in combat—the overwhelming might that seemed capable of tearing the world apart.
The demon soldiers, panicked and desperate, swung their weapons frantically, but each attack was met with invisible walls of force, failing to land a single blow. Within moments, hundreds of demon soldiers were either obliterated or forced into retreat. Blood stained the remnants of the village, and the flickering flames cast harsh shadows over the battlefield.
The elder sheathed his sword slowly, the thunderlight fading. He looked at Wuchenzi and Yuan Qingshan, his expression solemn yet calm. "Remember this. Though few remain in the village below, the people of Daoyuan Mountain will always have those who watch over them."
The valley was left in smoke and ruin, the surviving demon soldiers hiding in the shadows, their blood-red eyes burning with the promise of vengeance.