A soft crack echoed, contrasting with the silence that dominated the now dead sacred capital.

The blood orb twisted slightly, the liquid inside quickly taking on a darkened hue, shaking violently.

Under Qingyi's gaze, the orb pulsed one last time before slowly beginning to shrink, compressing all of its terrifying power into a point no more than two meters in diameter.

[Qingyi, get away, now!] Ruxue shouted in her husband's mind.

Immediately, he retreated, his body flickering before reappearing a few kilometers away.

An explosion followed his movement, a heat second only to his own flames engulfing everything around it in a sea of fire and blood.

The entire city below was reduced to dust, hundreds of thousands of years of history as the main religious center of the Church of Auranys completely erased.

When the flames and blood subsided, they revealed only a figure curled up in the middle of a huge crater.

It was clearly a male figure, perhaps no more than twenty years old.

His beauty was only a step behind Qingyi's, with similar height, powerful muscles, bluish skin, and two horns on his forehead.

"Hm..." The figure looked at his own hand, feeling the Qi and Mana running through his veins at the same time.

That was... incredible. But there was a problem.

His dantian was incomplete, and Qi leaked out nonstop. One of the basic demon seeds had not been absorbed.

"How annoying..." He growled slightly, revealing sharp, pearly teeth.

With a smooth movement, his spiritual energy ran through his body, forming light and elegant clothes, a small shockwave spreading around.

He observed that place, feeling its Qi density.

It was, indeed, miserable. But still, that wasn't necessarily bad. It was probably the perfect place to master the Aether, far from the eyes of the heavens.

He wanted to start training right away, but first he needed to take care of some annoying things.

"So you are Long Qingyi, heir to the Corruption Dragon God. I could sense this unholy aura from planets away."

The Heavenly Demon crossed his arms.

"Tell me, brat, what the hell did you do to my Dantian base? It's still alive, I know it."

"Nianxue's whereabouts are none of your concern, worm." Qingyi growled, spitting on the ground.

"Nianxue?" The Heavenly Demon's face was filled with amusement. "You gave that thing a name? Hahahaha.

Truly pathetic, giving a name to a miserable bag of energy, argh..."

He gritted his teeth, his eyes fixed on the Heaven-Defying Thunder Sword.

"I believe she is somewhere in the mind world of this cursed sword, correct? I wonder if she is still as unbearable as she was one hundred and fifty thousand years ago."

It took only a moment for the Heavenly Demon's anger to turn to sadism, his voice directed at Ruxue.

"You know, insignificant little thing, I still have the soul of your first bearer. A truly incredible woman." His lips curled. "I'm already preparing to recreate her body, and when I succeed..."

The Heavenly Demon's eyes gleamed with lust.

"You know what's going to happen, right?"

Qingyi felt his connection to Ruxue tremble, her previously calm

emotions being overtaken by violent turmoil.

She wanted to respond, she wanted to leave the world of the mind

and curse that bastard to the third generation.

But she knew that would only cause Qingyi even more trouble.

"It's okay, dear..." He spoke softly, placing his hand on the hilt of the Heaven-Defying Thunder Sword. "I'll make him pay."

"Oh..." The Heavenly Demon turned his face slightly. "How do you plan to-"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Qingyi was already upon him, his blade slicing through the air with frightening speed.

The Heavenly Demon barely reacted in time, his eyes widening as the blade grazed his face.

He immediately retreated, putting distance between them and bringing his hand to his mouth, which quickly filled with blood.

On the ground between them, the Heavenly Demon's tongue lay. [Well deserved, you filthy son of a bitch!] Ruxue shouted in Qingyi's mind, her voice clearly choked with tears.

Qingyi had many questions for her, mainly about who this original bearer was and the Heavenly Demon's interest in recreating her body. But this was not the time, and for now he would just let her enjoy that moment.

His eyes fixed coldly on his opponent.

He expected many reactions: anger, hesitation, fear, perhaps shock.

But none of them came.

The Heavenly Demon just shuddered, his tongue healing quickly as

his face filled with excitement.

"You know, kid... you have a very nice body. Why don't you give it to me, silly? I can even promise to spare the life of that insignificant little

thing you stole from me."

Qingyi was unable to stop his stomach from curling up at those

words, an intense disgust taking over his body.

He calmed his heart, closing his eyes for a brief moment before

opening them again.

"You know... I heard that you have a main wife, but that you've never touched her." Qingyi tilted his head slightly.

"When I arrive in the Celestial Heaven and take her for myself, I

wonder if they will call you the cuckold demon or the celestial

cuckold..."

He paused, his gaze running up and down his opponent.

"Why haven't you touched her yet, by the way? Are you incapable?

That would explain your interest in my body."

The smile on the Heavenly Demon's face disappeared.

His eyes turned cold and his face fell.

"I think I've shown you enough mercy." He extended a single hand, a

small cut appearing on his wrist.

From this cut, a torrent of blood flowed unceasingly, circling his hand

in three distinct jets that met in his palm.

Quickly, a handle appeared, extending until it revealed the blade of a

bloody glaive.

"I think you've misunderstood something here." Qingyi also prepared himself, Qi exploding toward the Heaven-Defying Thunder Sword.

Fire, lightning, and sword merged into one, a scorching heat dominating everything around the beautiful young man. "You are not the one showing mercy."

Without hesitation, he used the Heaven-Shattering Divine Slash.