Pathway

Whatever or whoever killed the death-eater by the entrance, had been inside too.

The chamber seemed void of any other living creature until they turned to the other side of the colossal lair. They nearly jumped off their skin, save for Liu Luiyang who continued to observe calmly. There, reclining on the dais, was an extremely huge death-eater. That one was totally different from the massive one by the entrance. The dark colour of its scale was gleaming with gold radiance. Although, there were many deep slashes and wounds on it, the death-eater was still giving off immortal danger signal.

Ju Feng recognized it immediately. The same death-eater that almost cut off his head with its giant claws. Oh, that answered the two questions that had been bugling his mind. He now knew that the Conchi guardian was here at the cave, and that the mist was the same mist he first entered. That means the first tunnel could've led to the Death-Keep tunnels. The tree didn't tell him that. He could've easily died entering the tunnels. 

As Ju Feng was pondering, the death-eater raised its head and leered at them, one by one until it reached Ju Feng. In its eyes was the recognition of the one who woke it up from its deep slumber. The one it could taste the death-aura emanating from him. It had almost got him, but he had managed to escape its attack somehow. Then, the cursed guardian had prevented it from chasing the boy. It had underestimated the guardian's power, almost to its peril. Now, it could guess it had to be a treasure guardian at the cosmic level of power. Many of its members had died, and knew It had something to do with the crazy young mortal.

"Death-Walker."

It's eyes rested on Ju Feng with burning anger.

"At long last."

Immediately, the demigods stepped back except for Liu Luoyang. He continued to watch the death-eater with furrowed brows. Only one type of death-eaters could speak the Ortal language. A primal death-eater. A death-eater who had gained complete sentience or awareness after many millenia of absorbing spiritual energy. This was a death-eater that could claim divinity. A true immortal danger.

It was a crossroad. They looked at one another and they all nodded their heads in agreement to engage. No turning back and no running, for now.

Kang Ya's bronze breast-plate started to give of faint blue-white glow. Soon, the fiery glow covered her body like an armor. In a swift movement, she produced a bronze bow and fired a runic arrow at the death-eater.

"Breath of fire, flames of destruction."

The arrow burst into flames as it neared the death-eater. From where they were standing, the orhers could feel the burning and destructive power of the arrow. Swiftly standing up, the deayh-eater raised its massive claws that was roiling with immense dark energy. The arrow collided with it, creating a deafening sound before dissipating. But, the effect could stil be seen on its claws and scales that were glowing in red light.

"Do you think you are a match for me, demigod?"

The death-eater asked, making a gurgling sound of a laugh.

Fan Xinyi quickly flung her hands and tens of poisoned needles, flew straight at the death-eater.

"Fangs of death, a rotten world."

The needles hummed as they sped towards the death-eater. Sizzling in dark green glow, the needles combined together to form one needle. The dark green needle began to expand as it continued streaking forward. The rot and death aura coming from the needle was exceedingly overwhelming. The things around the needle appeared to suffer from it as they turned rotten green.

The death-eater's golden glow became thicker, and the roiling dark energy also became stronger. It formed a barrier with his giant claws. The impact from the collision was astonishing. Green glow covered the body of the death-eater for an instant before vanishing. The golden glow returned to its scale.

"Now, I look forward to killing you all. You little, disgusting demigods."

Fang Zedong looked at the new blade in his hand and shook his head. It was no heavenly sword like the black largesword of his family whic was already broken. It was only a worldly sword. How could a worldly sword do much damage to a primal death-eater? He didn't even have any more sword-seals on him. He would still do his best. And if it got out of hands, he would simply disappear with his teleportation seal. He raised his sword, pointing the sharp tip upward.

"From the heavens above, the forged steel descend."

An enormous largesword made of pure metal essence energy appeared above the death eater. The death-eater could feel the pressure of the descending sword. It knew the demigod's attack was weaker than the previous two. Hence, it raised only one massive claw hand. Although the impact was incredible, the essence sword was easily blocked.

Ju Feng was still thinking about what to do when the death-eater attacked like lightning. It moved with so much speed that it look like a phantom lightning. It attacked all of them at the same with one swift move. The other three demigods anticipated the attack, thus, they were ready. Only Ju Feng was caught a bit off-guard. The attack threw him backward a few yards where he was sprawling on the floor.

Definitely the fight was too much for him. He watched the three of them as they exchanged blows with the death-eater, but knew they were loosing. Despite its weakened state, the death-eater was much more stronger than the three. He quickly decided to join them, at least, he had to try. Even with the good intention, he was careful not to get in their way.

The death-eater was now moving in a massive dark energy and it had already reached a stage of Shadow-Grazing. The four of them were on the floor, injured and not far from them was the death-eater who was speeding towards them. They were about to use their teleportation seals when Liu Luoyang, who had been watching and waiting, made his move.

He had been holding two concealed seals. The Gloomy-Sky seals. A pure grade luminous treasure. He activated it and threw it skyward in the direction of the death-eater and other demigods. The death-eater was about to deliver an immortal blow to Fan Xinyi when it froze. The other demigods too were frozen in place.

All their elements manifestation, disappeared.

Kang Ya's flame, Fan Xinyi's necrosim and Fang Zedong's metallisk, all vanished. The death-eater's roiling dark energy also ceased. It could sense the danger at hand. It tried to manouvre his way but the seal was already locked in. The call of terra, made the ground beneath the death-eater to rumble.

Although, they were frozen in place, they could move their eyes and their hearing was still functioning.

"Three Luminescent Light Steps, I take."

"Two Luminous Gloomy Skies, I walk."

"One Luminant Sword, I wield."

First, they heard the words of Liu Luoyang. Then, almost at the same time, they saw him in pristine white robe. His body was covered in blazing white light as he walked on lucid steps of cloud. They watched as he arrived in front of the death-eater and thrusted his radiant longsword into its mouth before cutting of its head. Its head landed on the ground and a large Sacredcrest stone rolled out.

Just like that, it was over.

Ju Feng couldn't believe what he saw. He had seen a few grand moments, but nothing compared to that. It was true power in its majestic form. And to think it was displayed by a demigod kid like himself, made him realized how little he was in the martial and mystical world. Although he took comfort from the fact that the demigods were thousands of years old, if not more. He waited patiently, hoping the demigod wouldn't decide to leave him there. He would simply die where he was, alone.

Liu Luoyang landed softly in front of them and looked at their faces with a wicked smile. He went to where Fan Xinyi was staying and waved his hand in front of her eyes. His smile continued to broaden as he saw the anger in the eyes of Fan Xinyi and Kang Ya.

"Easy now, the two of you. Just checking. Easy."

He made some hand signs and retrieved the seals. The lock on them was removed and everything returned to normal.

"How could you made fun of me?"

Fan Xinyi asked angrily as she sent a fist made of necrom essence at him.

"What's wrong with you?"

Fan Xinyi continued to glare angrily at Liu Louyang.

"You could've removed it right away instead of rubbing it in our faces. In my face!"

"I'm sorry. Fan Xinyi? "

Liu Luoyang looked pleadingly at her. The two of them, together with Kang Ya, had been preparing for this trials together. As a matter of fact, their friendship started from their childhood. Hence, they knew one another very well.

"Didn't know you could do that."

"What was that, Liu Luoyang?"

Liu Luoyang thpughtfully peered at them before answering.

"The two seals combined are total grade luminous treasure. They are my ancestral treasures. The longsword is also a high-grade luminous treasure. It belonged to my grandfather. They gave them to me like safety measures. But, the Three Light Steps, are my martial arts. Don't forget, I'm already at the Yinlong level."

"You could've killed it before all the fighting. Why didn't you? It could've killed us all?"

"Sorry about that. I had to make sure its power wasn't above the heavenly treasures. Else, the seals would've disintegrated and we would've been in a dire situation."

"Anyway, your plan paid off. It's dead and we're all safe."

"So this Sacredcrest stone belongs to one of you two, as agreed."

Fan Xinyi said as she picked up the stone. It was an epic stone. She wished it was for them, but an agreement was already made. She flicked the stone towards Fang Zedong who passed it to Jufeng.

Liu Luoyang was checking the death-eater, when he remembered something. When he was using the light steps, he had seen something like a crystal at the helm of the dais of the death-eater.

"Wait a minute."

He leapt into the air and landed behind the dais. He reached out and pried something out of the vale of the dais. A large yellow gold crystal. He examined it before giving a shrug. Didn't look like a treasure of great value, but keeping it wouldn't do any harm.

When Ju Feng saw it, his face lit up. He quickly controlled himself in order not to give it away. Liu Luoyang was holding what he was looking for. The reason why he was there in the first place. After they had searched the chamber and other parts, they found a few other treasures. But Ju Feng already knew what to do since the other group still needed one more Sacredcrest stone. He turned towards the direction of the pristine demigod who was folding his hands behind his back.

"Liu Luoyang, do you mind if I tempt you. My sacredcrest stone for that yellow gold stone you have in your hands?"