Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
Inside the Trial Space, colossal stone Puppet statues, each a hundred feet tall, gathered in the center, their massive feet stomping down fiercely, creating thunderous roars that caused the entire space to crack, sending rubble and dust flying.
Under the siege of these behemoths, a tall figure, his body engulfed in towering Devilish Qi, weaved through them. His movements were incredibly strange and swift, each movement accompanied by a surge of Devilish Qi and the distortion of space, as he repeatedly dodged the attacks of the giant Puppets.
The Undying Demon Lord waved his hands, and a stream of Undying Demon Qi surged out like a sharp blade, colliding fiercely with the Puppet’s giant foot.
“Boom!” With a loud bang, the Undying Demon Lord was sent flying like a black cannonball, and the stone Puppet’s giant foot cracked and disintegrated into countless fine grains of sand.
The Undying Demon Lord stabilized his body in mid-air, and the Undying Demon Qi on his body surged, instantly healing his injuries. However, the heavily damaged stone Puppet, under the effect of the formation’s power, restored itself to its original state.
At the same time, one stone Puppet after another surged from all directions, each emanating a heavy and terrifying Aura.
A chilling glint flashed in the Undying Demon Lord’s eyes. He took a deep breath of Devilish Qi, and his figure instantly vanished from his original spot. When he reappeared, he was already atop a stone Puppet’s head. He clasped his hands together, and Devilish Qi condensed into a black demonic bead, which he slammed fiercely onto the stone Puppet’s head.
“Bang!” The stone Puppet’s head instantly exploded, turning into countless rubble and dust. However, the other Puppets seemed unaffected and continued to charge towards the Undying Demon Lord.
The Undying Demon Lord frowned, knowing that these Puppets, under the amplification of the great formation here, had an endless supply of power, seemingly inexhaustible.
Such opponents, even for a strong individual like him, were troublesome. If he couldn't find Li Mu soon and end this endless trial, even he would be exhausted to death by these Puppets’ incessant attacks within this trial formation.
“Where in the world is that damned guy hiding?”
The Undying Demon Lord looked around, his gaze like a torch, trying to find Li Mu’s trace amidst the chaos. However, there was no one else in the Trial Space except for the constantly approaching stone Puppets.
Over half a month, the vast majority of the trial participants in the Trial Space had been annihilated by him, yet he still couldn’t find Li Mu.
Knowing that he possessed a spatial Magic Treasure, it would be quite difficult to dig him out if he were to hide completely.
A wave of irritation surged in the Undying Demon Lord’s heart. Where was that guy hiding? He must be hiding in some corner, coldly watching this battle, right?
The pressure within the Trial Space grew heavier and heavier, as if even the air had become dense. The Undying Demon Lord’s expression remained stern, but his eyes darted around, contemplating a countermeasure.
Just then, a gigantic foot suddenly slammed down from above the Undying Demon Lord’s head, carrying a world-destroying Aura. The Undying Demon Lord snorted coldly, his figure instantly vanishing from his original spot. When he reappeared, he was at the side of the giant foot, throwing a fierce punch at it.
“Boom!”
With a loud bang, the entire Trial Space trembled. The Undying Demon Lord’s body swayed slightly but he quickly regained his footing. The Puppet, on the other hand, was knocked back a few steps, clearly having suffered a considerable impact from the blow.
The Undying Demon Lord sneered, his figure vanishing again from his original spot, leaving behind trails of afterimages flickering in the space, constantly attacking the giant Puppets that came close, like a fierce storm.
…
Inside the Painting World Treasure Mansion, the atmosphere was quiet and solemn. Li Mu sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed, as if isolated from the outside world. In reality, his Divine Sense was attached to a scouting Puppet, silently observing every move outside.
Ever since Li Mu discovered a way to replenish the Earth Elemental spiritual Qi for the Earth Elemental Condensing Body Talisman, he decisively used a Puppet substitute for the trial. As for his true body and Xue’er, they were hidden within the Painting World Treasure Mansion, preparing to wait out the end of this Legacy trial.
However, just when Li Mu thought everything was under control and victory was within his grasp, an unexpected discovery shattered his plans.
The Undying Demon Lord, that terrifying Devil Head who had supposedly fallen, was still alive and had appeared in this Trial Space. Li Mu’s heart instantly churned with turbulent waves, filled with immense shock.
Although the Undying Demon Lord’s figure and appearance had changed greatly, the lingering Undying Demon Qi and the terrifying scenes of him slaughtering Refining Void cultivators one by one allowed Li Mu to instantly recognize his true identity, confirming that the opponent was indeed the Undying Demon Lord.
Deeply aware of the Undying Demon Lord’s terror and the horrifying scenes of him slaughtering Refining Void cultivators one by one, which were like a nightmare deeply etched in Li Mu’s mind, the substitute Puppet hid even deeper, not daring to show its face easily, for fear of being detected by the Undying Demon Lord.
Through the scouting Puppet’s perspective, Li Mu watched from afar as the Undying Demon Lord battled the giant stone statues. Those giant stone statues were like ancient guardians, majestic and towering, each emanating an ancient and mysterious Aura. However, in the face of the Undying Demon Lord’s towering Devilish Qi, these stone statues seemed vulnerable.
The Undying Demon Lord was agile, his Devilish Qi towering. Every attack carried world-destroying power, and the giant stone statues crumbled one after another under his attacks, turning into a pile of ruins. However, the Undying Demon Lord seemed unsatisfied; his eyes were filled with ferocity, and his Divine Sense repeatedly swept around, as if searching for something.
Seeing this, a chill ran down Li Mu’s spine. He knew that the Undying Demon Lord was coming for him.
Li Mu controlled the scouting Puppet with his Divine Sense to retreat deeper, while at the same time, his mind raced, contemplating countermeasures.
This trial was to obtain the legendary Dao Monarch Legacy, but at this moment, survival had become the top priority. Erasing the golden talisman and withdrawing from the Trial Space was not impossible, yet it seemed it wouldn’t guarantee his life.
Once he exited this Trial Space, it was inevitable that the Undying Demon Lord would follow suit, perhaps also withdrawing from this space to continue pursuing him. It would be better to use this trial formation to eliminate the Undying Demon Lord.
In his current state, as long as he remained hidden, the Undying Demon Lord would have to constantly endure the relentless attacks of the formation Puppets. Should he wait until the Undying Demon Lord was greatly exhausted, then seize the opportunity to act?
The Undying Demon Lord was able to pursue him here, so he must have some reliance. This was a good opportunity to resolve this trouble, and he couldn’t afford to retreat in the slightest.
Li Mu took a deep breath, his eyes flickering with determination. Weighing the pros and cons, he had made his decision: he would utilize the advantages of the trial formation to exhaust the Undying Demon Lord’s power as much as possible, then seek an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, seven days had passed. Within the Trial Space, the activity range of the stone Puppets was compressed to the extreme. Their size rapidly shrank, and their attack power became even stronger. Originally a hundred feet tall, they had shrunk to about ten feet, their material changing from crimson sand to green profound rock, and their speed and attack power had increased by dozens of times.
Under the collective assault of eighteen stone Puppets, the Undying Demon Lord’s face was ashen. His Undying Demon Qi was constantly being depleted, and the wounds on his body grew more numerous. Each time he was struck by a stone Puppet, he would let out a painful roar. However, the Undying Demon Lord did not give up. His eyes gleamed with a frenzied light as he brandished his monstrous Devilish Qi-infused giant claws, stubbornly resisting the stone Puppets, attempting to break through their encirclement.
Li Mu, hidden in the shadows, silently observed the battle. He knew that although the Undying Demon Lord’s power was formidable, after seven days of consumption, he had very little left. This was the moment to deliver a fatal blow; he absolutely could not allow him to easily escape the trial formation.
Li Mu took a deep breath, manipulating nine substitute Puppets to prepare for a formation attack. However, just then, the Undying Demon Lord suddenly let out a roar. The Devilish Qi on his body instantly surged, forming a black whirlwind that swept up the surrounding stone Puppets and substitute Puppets.
Li Mu’s heart tightened. He hadn’t expected the Undying Demon Lord to have such a powerful trump card and tried to temporarily halt his attack. However, the black whirlwind was too powerful. Several substitute Puppets were swept in and instantly lost contact.
“I found you, you hiding rat! You finally showed yourself!”
The black Devilish Qi whirlwind suddenly dispersed, and the Undying Demon Lord emerged from it. His Undying Demon Qi was almost completely depleted, but his eyes gleamed with joy. Looking in the direction of “Li Mu,” a cruel smile curled on his lips, as if he had already seen the dawn of victory.
Li Mu’s heart tightened. He took out the Myriad Swords Mountain and suspended it above his head, emanating a sharp Sword Intent.
Seeing this, the Undying Demon Lord laughed up to the sky, his laughter full of disdain: “You think you can contend with me with this Dao Artifact? Naive and ridiculous!”
Before he finished speaking, the Undying Demon Lord sneered and fiercely waved his hands. Countless black Devilish Qi surged again, transforming into countless sharp demonic blades, sweeping towards Li Mu.
Li Mu’s expression was solemn. He silently recited an incantation, activating the power of the Myriad Swords Mountain. The Myriad Swords Mountain instantly erupted with dazzling light, and countless Sword Qi soared into the sky, colliding with the Undying Demon Lord’s demonic blades.
The roaring sounds shook heaven and earth. Black Devilish Qi and endless Sword Qi intertwined, forming intense energy fluctuations. Li Mu stood at the center of the storm, but protected by the Sword Qi released by the Myriad Swords Mountain, he was temporarily unharmed.
What a powerful Dao Artifact, to possess such strong protective abilities for its master.
Seeing this, a hint of surprise flashed in the Undying Demon Lord’s eyes, but it was immediately replaced by an even stronger killing intent.
If this child cannot be eliminated as soon as possible, he will certainly become a major hidden danger in the future!
A strong sense of crisis surged in the Undying Demon Lord’s heart. He no longer hesitated, forming hand seals and muttering incantations. An even more powerful Devilish Qi began to emerge from his body.
Li Mu felt the power fluctuations of the Undying Demon Lord unleashing a killing move. His heart sank, and he pushed the substitute Puppet’s true essence to its limit, fully integrating it with the power of the Myriad Swords Mountain.
In an instant, the Myriad Swords Mountain released ten thousand Spirit Treasures, which merged with its main body. The light was dazzling, transforming into a giant sword that emanated sharp Sword Qi. It vanished in a flash, slashing towards the Undying Demon Lord with extreme speed.
The giant sword broke through the air, carrying a world-shaking Aura, directly charging towards the Undying Demon Lord.
A ruthless glint flashed in the Undying Demon Lord’s eyes. He clasped his hands together, and Devilish Qi madly converged, forming a gigantic black orb of light that fiercely collided with the giant sword.
“Boom!” With a loud bang, the entire space trembled. The black demonic orb and the giant sword exploded with brilliant light the moment they collided, and intense energy fluctuations spread out, tearing cracks in the surrounding ground.
With a “Pfft” sound, Li Mu’s body was heavily injured by this force, retreating dozens of steps. His body then disintegrated, turning into pieces of broken wood that fell off.
The Undying Demon Lord floated in the air, staring intently at Li Mu, knowing that it was merely a substitute Puppet and that the true body had not yet appeared. He released his Divine Sense, as if searching for something.
Suddenly, the Undying Demon Lord’s eyes lit up, as if he had discovered something. His figure instantly rushed towards the disintegrated substitute Puppet, reaching out to grab a small, verdant green bead. Just then, the verdant green bead released an endless suction force.
With a “Whoosh,” the Undying Demon Lord’s figure vanished from his original spot.
In the Painting World Treasure Mansion, within a vast and boundless bamboo forest, Li Mu floated in the air, his expression as calm as still water. Beside him, Xue’er accompanied him, and to his left and right, Xiaowa and Crimson Flame revealed their true forms. Their gazes were fixed on the Undying Demon Lord opposite them, their killing intent palpable.
“Hahahaha, so this is the Heaven-Opening Treasure where you hide. It’s indeed good, and now it belongs to me.” The Undying Demon Lord’s arrogant laughter echoed through the bamboo forest. His figure was disheveled, and as soon as he appeared, he suffered the suppression of the Treasure Mansion’s power, yet his eyes gleamed with greed and excitement. He looked around, his gaze finally settling on Li Mu opposite him, a cruel smile curling on his lips, his heart overflowing with irrepressible joy.
He had finally found the location of this kid’s true body. It was worth expending eighty percent of his power to stage a bitter performance, intentionally revealing a flaw to lure Li Mu’s substitute Puppet to appear, and then tracking it to the Painting World Treasure Mansion. It was all to find Li Mu’s true body, and it was all worth it.
“Do you think this Heaven-Opening Treasure can trap me? Today, I shall show you what a Demonic Domain is!” The Undying Demon Lord roared, and Devilish Qi surged around him like boiling dark magma, sweeping in all directions.
Li Mu’s expression remained unchanged, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes. He quickly formed hand seals, fully injecting spiritual Qi into the Painting World Treasure Mansion. Immediately, the entire Painting World Treasure Mansion surged with a mysterious and powerful force. Countless bamboo leaves suddenly fluttered up, transforming into sharp green Sword Qi, enveloping the Undying Demon Lord’s Demonic Domain.
“Hmph, petty tricks!” The Undying Demon Lord scoffed, dismissing them. As Devilish Qi surged, he easily shattered the green Sword Qi one by one. However, he soon discovered that these Sword Qi seemed endless; whenever he destroyed a batch, a new one would emerge.
The Undying Demon Lord finally realized that this Heaven-Opening Treasure was not as simple as he had initially thought. Its foundation within this space was incredibly powerful, something he couldn’t easily shake. However, the Undying Demon Lord was, after all, a Body Integration strong individual. With a thought, he immediately employed other offensive techniques.
Just then, Li Mu suddenly felt a strong sense of crisis coming from behind him. The next moment, a Clone of the Undying Demon Lord suddenly appeared.
“Be careful!” Xue’er exclaimed, releasing her Illusory Spirit Treasure and casting an illusion. At the same time, a stream of Crimson Flame spewed from Crimson Flame’s mouth, directly rushing towards the Undying Demon Lord. Xiaowa also transformed into a streak of light, attacking the Undying Demon Lord from the side.
Facing these attacks, the Undying Demon Lord completely ignored them, his face contorted in a ferocious expression. His eyes were only on Li Mu, focused solely on killing him. Undying Demon Qi condensed into a gigantic black demonic claw, carrying destructive power, and clawed down towards Li Mu’s head. (End of this chapter)
