"My lord, this black energy will be fully formed in a day, and the cultivation world will be ours for the taking!" The evil cultivator handed the furnace in his hand to Qi Chong as if presenting a treasure.

During these few days, he ravaged countless places with bloodshed, committing the most extreme acts of cruelty, leaving countless innocent souls in the furnace.

The time it took for the black energy to form has finally been brought forward to the present.

"The malevolent energy refined from mountains of corpses and seas of blood is enough to devour everything in the world." Qi Chong looked at the furnace in his hand, his eyes blazing with fanaticism.

"I'd like to see what methods those people in the cultivation world can use to stop me now!"

"Chen Sangri? Ha, I don't believe your flames can clear away evil!"

Qi Chong had naturally seen Chen Sangruo's fiery performance just now, and he already had the answer in his heart, so he was more composed.

This is something they spent ten thousand years refining in the furnace.

Besides those corpses filled with endless resentment, there were also countless extremely yin and evil objects created by their evil cultivation.

With the passage of time, it can achieve effects even more powerful than evil spirits, leaving the cultivation world utterly powerless against it.

“I’ve changed my mind.” Qi Chong stroked the furnace, a smile curving his lips. “I don’t even want to give them a single day more.”

He couldn't wait to kill the Five Divine Beasts and those remnants of the Ninghua Sect, especially that Shen Sangruo!

Qi Chong's resentment was beyond control, driving him to break Shen Sangruo's neck.

"Although the evil energy hasn't fully formed yet, it's enough to give those people a hard time." The hidden evil cultivator's tone was somewhat obsequious. "We'll rely on this evil energy to fight our way out, and I don't think those people will be able to handle it."

Qi Chong's smile was enigmatic as he raised an eyebrow at the hidden evil cultivator. "Who said I was going to use my nascent evil energy? This time, the attack must be fatal; there can be no more mishaps."

"Why not just kill a few more people and completely ignite this evil spirit?"

"Your Majesty is wise." The hidden evil cultivator was still flattering him when he suddenly met Qi Chong's gaze.

The hidden cultivator was taken aback by the gaze and realized something was amiss. "...Master?"

Before he could utter another word, the corpse was already being put into the furnace by Qi Chong.

Even in death, the hidden evil cultivator couldn't understand why he was killed by Qi Chong.

He did so much; if he hadn't escaped and killed so many people, how could the evil energy in the furnace have taken shape?

He originally thought he could dominate the cultivation world with Qi Chong, but in the end he was discarded after being used.

Resentment and bitterness were etched on the face of the hidden evil cultivator; such intense negative emotions were the perfect catalyst for evil.

Once it falls into the furnace, it becomes a frenzy of evil energy.

Qi Chong's good mood vanished, his eyes filled with disdain for the hidden evil cultivator.

"For a lowly figure among evil cultivators to reach such a near-divine level of cultivation, I have already given you far too many benefits."

He chose the reclusive evil cultivator back then simply because he valued his ability to conceal himself.

Now that he has served his final purpose, why should he keep him around?

"Even an ant wants to share the spoils of victory with us, ha!"

The other near-divine heretical cultivators remained silent, naturally looking down on this hidden heretical cultivator as well.

Not to mention, over the years they've allocated countless resources to him in order to cultivate hidden evil cultivators, so they've long disliked him.

The furnace heated up rapidly in Qi Chong's hands, and after killing dozens more evil cultivators, the evil energy was finally catalyzed to full maturity.

Qi Chong gripped the furnace and launched the final attack.

"You all retreat first, go and evacuate the people nearby, retreat as far as you can," Immortal Lord Changli said to Chen Sangruo and the others.

“Once that black energy spreads to your area and comes into contact with you, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Even he struggled to cope, let alone those whose cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul to early Divine Transformation stage.

"Then what about you, Master? Aren't you going to retreat?" Su Xiyu asked worriedly.

Shen Sangruo also said, "The black energy in the hands of the evil cultivator is too strange. Why don't we all retreat first and think about how to deal with it?"

“Yes, Master, let’s try to outmaneuver them first. We’ll eventually find a way.” Song Weiyan stared intently at Immortal Lord Changli.

Given the prophecy of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master that they would either die or be injured, they were genuinely worried that something might happen to Immortal Lord Changli and his companions.

The unease in their hearts was spreading rapidly, and they seemed to have a premonition.

This time is different from before; the ending predicted by the Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion is truly about to come to pass.

Immortal Lord Changli and the others may never return.

Qingluan Fairy shook her head. "No, we have to stay. We have to protect those evil cultivators."

"The black energy is spreading. If we don't keep an eye on those evil cultivators and let them run rampant in the cultivation world, the cultivation world will truly descend into chaos." Daoist Wuwei stroked his beard, his expression unusually serious.

Upon hearing this, the crowd, who were about to offer further advice, swallowed the words that were on the tip of their tongues.

Even though the outcome was already predetermined, they still stood at the forefront without hesitation.

As for Immortal Lord Changli and Daoist Wuwei, they were like this ten thousand years ago, and they are the same today, ten thousand years later.

"We're tied up at the front, so we'll have to rely on you to figure out a solution to the black aura," said Immortal Lord Changli.

"We all believe in you, and we believe you will find that turning point." It was rare for Fairy Qingluan to speak so frankly.

His gaze unconsciously fell on Shen Sangruo, "Especially you, Sangruo."

Her abilities are evident to all in the cultivation world.

He has repeatedly saved situations from dire straits, always coming up with unexpected yet remarkably effective ideas.

"I will." Shen Sanruo nodded, gripping the feather fan with unusual force. "You must hold on until we come up with a solution."

If her cultivation level were higher, and the effect of the flames were stronger, would the black energy be unable to function?

Seeing her condition, Immortal Lord Changli patted her shoulder and said, "You have done your best. Don't push yourself too hard."

"I know, Master." She lowered her eyes, concealing the resentment in them.

Her flames are clearly a powerful weapon against evil spirits, and currently the only means to clear away the black energy, yet their effect is so minimal.

This is more painful for her than not seeing any hope at all; how can she accept this?

"You all need to take good care of your junior sister, and don't let her put all the pressure on herself." Immortal Lord Changli greeted Ye Huai and the others again.

The Taoist Master Wuwei sighed. Sang Yatou was just too demanding of herself; she had been living a very tiring life these past few years.

The elders from other sects were also talking with their younger relatives, cherishing every moment.

This may be the last time they see each other; after this, it will be a separation of life and death.

Shen Daochen carefully moved out of the crowd, his every move awkward, looking at Shen Sangruo with a pleading and longing expression.

Second update! Thank you all for your support! *tweets*

(End of this chapter)