I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night

"If the Kurong Saint Master dies, the contract disbands on its own, and these evils, having lost their sacrifices, will surely be dissatisfied and likely to erupt into chaos overnight."

"In the past, the Withered Glory Sacred Land seemed stable and prosperous, but in reality, it was achieved through sacrifices."

"However, once this stability loses control, the ensuing chaos will inevitably be terrifying."

"We originally planned that after executing the Kurong Saint Master, we could relocate about half of the populace to nearby sacred lands."

"But now, estimating that if the evils riot overnight, less than a tenth of the people will survive!"

"The order from the Holy Alliance is to preserve the lives of the Human Clan as much as possible. Preferably let the Kurong Saint Master surrender, but alternatively to forcibly kill... yet we must ensure the survival of half the population."

"Now, we can at most ensure the survival of one-tenth of the population, which cannot be accounted to the Holy Alliance."

The white-robed scholar murmured, "Commander, perhaps we should report to the Supreme Pavilion first, and then make a decision?"

"No need to report!"

The Commander, with a cold gaze, said deeply, "Even if everyone within the Withered Glory Sacred Land must die, the Kurong Saint Master cannot be spared today!"

He raised his hand slightly, saying, "Wait for the Supreme Elder to arrive..."

Within the Sacred Land.

The Kurong Saint Master stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent.

He appeared to be in his forties, with handsome features and an arrogant look on his brow.

Behind him lay corpses numbering in the hundreds.

These were the ones who did not submit to his control and had vain hopes of surrendering to the Holy Alliance.

All others had already knelt, not daring to resist.

"Saint Master, how could the mere strength of our Withered Glory Sacred Land withstand the entire Holy Alliance?"

"If the Demon Suppression Department cannot break through, the Holy Alliance will undoubtedly order the surrounding sacred lands to come and assist in jointly crusading against our Withered Glory Sacred Land."

"Dozens of generations of lineage and longstanding doctrines, how can they be abandoned today?"

"..."

The Kurong Saint Master waved a hand.

The elder who was speaking behind him turned into dust.

Without changing his expression, he said blandly, "Dozens of generations of lineage, yet unable to produce a dominant existence; all ancestors are merely mediocre and incompetent. Such doctrines, what use are they to keep?"

"I am the Kurong Saint Master, the most talented person in the thousands of years of the Withered Glory Sacred Land."

"As long as I'm here, the Withered Glory Sacred Land will inevitably surpass all previous generations, reaching unprecedented heights of prosperity."

"You all are short-sighted, unable to discern high from low, mere mediocrities!"

The Kurong Saint Master snorted coldly, his expression unchanged.

With a great enemy before him, there was a danger of toppling.

But he felt no hint of unease.

In his eyes, there was only extreme coldness.

"..."

The Supreme Elder of the Withered Glory Sacred Land slightly closed his eyes and sighed.

This child's natural ability was extraordinarily uplifting.

But what made him known as the most talented person in the history of the Withered Glory Sacred Land was his unmatched compatibility with the 'Withering and Flourishing Saint Technique,' surpassing his predecessors.

When such a talent emerged in the Withered Glory Sacred Land, it was thought that it heralded the prosperity of the ideology, gathered from fortune.

Now, it seems instead to be the source of disaster!

His compatibility with the Withering and Flourishing Saint Technique surpasses that of any previous predecessors.

From a young age, he received endless favor and infinite praise, adored by all, which led to supreme arrogance, looking down on all beings, even scorning his ancestors.

Although born of the Human Clan, he looks down upon all humans throughout history, blindly arrogant, comparing himself to an Immortal God!

"Does the Supreme Elder not obey?"

The Kurong Saint Master turned his head slightly, saying indifferently, "Do you all think this is my downfall? The highest level of Withering and Flourishing Saint Technique, only I have comprehended it throughout the generations; how could you all possibly understand it..."

——

The night had not yet ended.

Within the Large-scale Pure Land.

Shangguan Youqi slightly closed his eyes, murmuring, "Wildfire cannot destroy it completely, the spring wind brings it back to life..."

"One withers, one flourishes, life and death interchange."

"Did the Kurong Saint Master really reach such a level?"

"Before the first Human Emperor, there was also only one Saint Master who practiced the Withering and Flourishing Saint Technique to such an achievement."

"At that time, he was proclaimed unprecedented, and for several thousand years afterwards, there were almost none to follow."

"Such a figure has appeared once more in the present world?"

He showed a thoughtful expression and suddenly remembered something, giving Lin Yan a deep look.

"You can chant about the Withering and Flourishing Saint Technique all you like, but why do you keep sneaking glances at my master?"

The Little White Ape stuck its head out, angrily saying, "My master is already married, with three children, doesn't like men, and if you have ill intentions, my mother will eventually kill you..."

"..."

Shangguan Youqi's eye twitched, and he muttered, "Just recalling some old matters."

"Since it's old business, what relation could it have with someone newly acquainted like me?"

Lin Yan turned his head, looking toward Shangguan Youqi with a calm expression.

"..."

Shangguan Youqi coughed and then said, "This Kurong Saint Master might be difficult to kill!"

His shift in topic was extremely awkward, but it was indeed effective.

The Deputy Commander whispered, "The Kurong Saint Master is certainly powerful, but as long as the Supreme Elder can penetrate the Sacred Land, my Commander has full confidence in slaying him!"

"Killing him might not be hard, but it's feared a great demon might be unleashed."

Shangguan Youqi waved his hand and said, "The Withering and Flourishing Saint Technique divides into Yin and Yang Qi, usually cultivated by a single person."

"Normally, they restrain themselves, like a withered tree."

"In battle, mana erupts, like the sun at noon."

"This spell excels most at concealing oneself, with no visible traces."

"But when mastered to the highest level, it's no longer confined to oneself; one withers, one flourishes, existing on both sides, miles apart."

"This Kurong Saint Master has signed contracts with various evil beings within the Sacred Land, and I assure you these contracts have been tampered with."

"If the Kurong Saint Master dies, this leaf withers, and the other leaf will inherit everything of his, becoming even more prosperous!"

"Among the various evil beings within the Sacred Land, one must be his vessel for rebirth!"

"And after rebirth, not only will his cultivation be retained, but he will assimilate the original cultivation of this new body, advancing further."

"If I'm not mistaken, the one marked by him with the Withering and Flourishing Saint Technique should be that ancient demon in slumber, one that breaks the Ultimate Heaven!"

Shangguan Youqi said, "Killing this ancient demon will allow the Kurong Saint Master to break the Ultimate Heaven! Killing the Kurong Saint Master will let this ancient demon break the Ultimate Heaven!"

He looked serious and said, "That's probably why he is so fearless!"

On hearing this, Lin Yan pondered and said, "Once the Heaven Gate Ancestor broke the Ultimate Heaven, suppressing an entire era, he controlled the entire Sacred Alliance..."

"So, he is certain the Sacred Alliance wouldn't dare to kill him!"

——

Heavenly Destiny City.

The Master of the Sacred Alliance slightly closed his eyes and whispered, "The highest level mastery of the Withering and Flourishing Saint Technique."

The Old Taoist's expression shifted repeatedly, and he was hesitant to speak.

The Alliance Hierarch turned his head and asked, "What's wrong?"

The Old Taoist whispered, "The Ancient Dragon Ancestor grew two eyes."

The Alliance Hierarch frowned and said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

The Old Taoist softly replied, "The two eyes reflect the same silhouette."

"..." The Alliance Hierarch frowned, "Haven't we confirmed this silhouette is our current Saint Master? Why bring it up again?"

"No, the silhouette of the Saint Master reflected in the two eyes showed different changes at the end." The Old Taoist's tone was grave.

"What changes?" the Alliance Hierarch frowned and asked.

"One is gradually withering, the other is gradually flourishing," the Old Taoist said solemnly.

"Withering and Flourishing Saint Technique?" the Alliance Hierarch pondered.

"It seems to be so." The Old Taoist nodded slightly.

"Why didn't you say this earlier?" the Alliance Hierarch said sternly.

"Even an old Taoist like me was unaware, as the Withered Glory Sacred Land has always been stable, and there were rarely significant changes worth attention,"

The Old Taoist said helplessly, "Moreover, the Withering and Flourishing Saint Technique is their Sacred Land's highest secret, only practiced by successive Saint Masters, outsiders can hardly perceive its mysteries!"

"In the past, I only had a cursory understanding of the Withering and Flourishing Saint Technique, rumored to excel in concealment and hiding, lying dormant as a withered tree in peacetime, flourishing in battle; it's a supreme combat technique!"

"Who knew its highest mastery would involve such a transformation of life and death?"

"If not for the involvement of the Heavenly Gate, and the willingness of the powers above to release secret scrolls with records from ages past, I couldn't confirm it."

The Old Taoist thus said, then fell silent again, and in a low voice asked, "Now, should we still kill Kurong Saint Master? If we kill him, a being that breaks the Ultimate Heaven will emerge..."

"Kill!"

The Master of the Sacred Alliance said solemnly, "If the task can't be accomplished, I can stake my life to ensure it, perishing together with him! This Kurong Saint Master, who colludes with the Heavenly Gate, must die!"

He said this and then added, "With His Highness and the Saint Master joining forces, I believe this can be accomplished!"