Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil in the Cultivation World Chapter 857 - 432: Fate’s Blessing, Emperor’s Judgment! (Part 2)

The demon had believed this to be one of its most guarded secrets, hidden from all eyes.

To its horror, this mortal cultivator had seen right through the deception.

An overwhelming sense of shock and dread washed over it.

The creature unleashed a deafening roar, struggling to break free, yet it found its movements completely paralyzed by an unseen weight.

Guided by the radiant sword light, the old sword scar began to vibrate violently. Like a spark hitting a powder keg, it immediately triggered the demon's long-dormant internal traumas.

Boom—

A peerless sword intent was awakened, as if an ancient Sword Immortal had returned to life. This devastating power erupted from within the Soul-Devouring Demon’s very core.

A scream that seemed to shatter the heavens rang out as the demon's physical form began to disintegrate.

Cracks first spider-webbed out from the sword mark, racing across its hide until the entire body shattered like fragile glass.

Fragments of gore and dark demonic qi exploded outward. Under the brilliance of the golden light, the demonic qi hissed and evaporated, vanishing like frost beneath a midsummer sun.

In a mere heartbeat, the Soul-Devouring Demon was erased from existence.

With the demon’s fall, the celestial disturbances calmed. The golden radiance dimmed, and the mystical scroll of rivers and mountains faded away. Only Jiang Fan remained, standing resolute as the Human Emperor Sword continued to pulse with light.

He stood there, cloaked in the sovereign majesty of the Human Emperor.

“Is it over? Did the Soul-Devouring Demon truly perish just like that?”

Watching this unfold, the Array Spirit Burial stood frozen in disbelief, unable to process the sight before it.

It had spent countless ages and exhausted its very essence trying to keep this monster sealed and prevent it from ravaging the world.

It had even steeled itself for a final, suicidal sacrifice moments ago.

No matter the cost, it had been prepared to die to keep the Soul-Devouring Demon imprisoned.

Yet, this human cultivator had arrived out of nowhere and ended the threat with a single, decisive strike.

The demon's body had been reduced to nothing but dust.

The thick, oppressive demonic qi in the air was rapidly thinning.

It felt as though an eternal burden had finally been lifted from its shoulders.

The spirit felt a wave of relief, yet it was also tinged with a sense of bewilderment; the conclusion seemed almost too abrupt.

“It should be gone for good,” Jiang Fan remarked, his voice low and serious.

“However, I cannot take all the credit.”

“The creature was already suffering from catastrophic internal wounds.”

“If that dormant, invincible sword intent hadn't been triggered, killing it might have been impossible.”

Jiang Fan spoke with gravity. He had felt the terrifying potency of that sword intent—a force capable of rending the very heavens.

Despite the passage of eons, that intent had lost none of its edge.

In truth, his strategy had relied entirely on detonating that ancient power and the injuries already present within the beast.

Had he faced the Soul-Devouring Demon in a fair, direct confrontation, he would have been no match for it.

He estimated that within a few passes, he would have been slaughtered and devoured by the ancient entity.

This was simply the reality of their power gap.

After all, he was merely a cultivator at the Ninth-Layer of the Nascent Soul stage, while the demon’s original strength occupied a realm beyond common imagination.

Striking while the enemy was at its absolute nadir to secure a kill was nothing short of a miracle.

Without identifying that critical vulnerability, victory would have been an impossibility.

“The Human Emperor Sword’s might is truly tied to the fate of the Human Race.”

“Though the destiny currently held by the Primordial Talisman Sect is limited,”

“When channeled through the Human Emperor Sword, it allows for a strike equivalent to the Divinity Transformation stage.”

“If that destiny grows, the resulting power will be even more frightening.”

Jiang Fan narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

Gripping the Human Emperor Sword, he felt a surging, boundless energy coursing through him.

Even after unleashing such a devastating attack, he felt no exhaustion.

Instead, he felt capable of repeating that strike several more times.

This was the benefit of the destiny’s augmentation.

He understood this wasn't his innate strength, but power borrowed from the destiny of the Heavenly Dao.

This was the true sensation of being a chosen of destiny.

As that destiny accumulated, the protection and power it granted would only become more formidable.

Because of this, he could not permit the demonic forces to weaken the Human Race.

To do so would be to allow his own foundation of power to be eroded.

“After so many years, the Soul-Devouring Demon is finally slain. This is truly wonderful.”

“Our long vigil has finally been rewarded by meeting the Child of Destiny of this era.”

“Fortune is truly on our side.”

At that moment, a new voice entered the conversation.

A green Wooden Sword manifested before Jiang Fan, hovering in the air. Its surface was etched with intricate, glowing green runes, and it radiated a subtle yet sharp Sword Aura, marking it as a Divine Sword.

It observed Jiang Fan with a mix of excitement and deep emotion.

“And who might this be?” Jiang Fan asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Ah, this is another artifact tasked with keeping the Soul-Devouring Demon in check—the Divine Wood Sword.”

“For countless centuries, it was the combined effort of myself and the Divine Wood Sword that kept the demon bound.”

“Without its assistance, the prisoner would have broken the seal long ago.”

The Array Spirit Burial explained with a sigh of relief.

“Since the Soul-Devouring Demon is dead, our duty is fulfilled,” the Divine Wood Sword stated solemnly.

“This Secret Realm now belongs to you.”

“All the ancient treasures stored within this world are now yours to claim.”

“I only hope that by inheriting these riches, you will work to purge the demons from the Void Realm.”

“Indeed, these items are useless to us now,” the Array Spirit Burial added happily.

“As the wielder of the Human Emperor Sword, you are likely the Child of Destiny for this age, carrying the will of heaven and earth.”

“With these treasures, your strength will grow like a tiger growing wings.”

“Reaching the Divinity Transformation stage will surely be within your grasp.”

The spirit was genuinely pleased. The treasury had originally been intended to lure cultivators to help cleanse the Yiling Secret Realm, but with the Soul-Devouring Demon gone, the threat was neutralized.

No new demons would be spawned here.

With time, the remaining minor threats would be easily handled.

Thus, keeping the treasures served no purpose, and giving them to Jiang Fan was the best course of action.

“Treasures? Where exactly are they located?” Jiang Fan asked, stroking his chin.

He suspected that the true opportunity he sought lay within the Yiling Secret Realm’s vault.

“They are kept in the deepest chambers of the palace on this island,” the Divine Wood Sword replied.

“Follow me; I shall lead the way.”

Boom—

Suddenly, a flash of insight pierced through Jiang Fan’s consciousness.

“Be warned: demons are masters of deception and notoriously difficult to kill. A demon may appear dead, yet they possess countless ways to endure—the Soul-Devouring Demon is no different.

In the Ancient Era, it survived a lethal blow from a Sword Immortal by sacrificing a false body. It has employed the same trickery here.

While it appeared to have only just escaped the seal, it actually severed a fragment of its soul eons ago to slip past the barrier.

Using powerful illusions, it rewrote the memories of the Array Spirit Burial and took the form of the Divine Wood Sword’s Artifact Spirit to slowly regain its strength. If you follow it, you will walk straight into a lethal ambush.

Fate Warning One: You remain oblivious and follow the Divine Wood Sword into the vault. You are caught in the Soul-Devouring Demon’s trap and killed, your soul becoming nothing more than sustenance for the monster.

Fate Warning Two: Utilize the power of the Demon-Vibrating Bell to strike the Divine Wood Sword with Demon-Vanquishing Power. Though the Soul-Devouring Demon lives, it is currently just a frail soul fragment. The bell’s power will be enough to destroy it.

Your sudden attack will catch the demon completely off guard. It will never suspect that you have unmasked it. You have only one opportunity. If the Soul-Devouring Demon escapes now, it will vanish forever.

You will never find it again, as it will hide in the shadows, devouring souls in secret until it grows strong enough to bring ruin to countless lives.”

As the message faded, Jiang Fan’s eyes sharpened. He had never imagined the Soul-Devouring Demon was still alive, hiding right under the nose of the Array Spirit Burial by masquerading as a holy artifact spirit.