Although the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu had stopped its screech, Cao Yun and Hongyu could still hear it buzzing in their very soul. Despite his current cultivation, even Cao Yun didn't want to face such an abomination. Matriarch Huang Yufeng had slain one of those things with the help of Huang Liyue. Honestly, by using his asura cultivation and his Qi cultivation, Cao Yun estimated that he was close to the strength of those two combined. But this Nine-Headed Bird of Chu was a problem to him. Indeed, a Nine-Headed Bird of Chu specialized in soul attacks. Soul attacks were Cao Yun's trump cards. Among all his strengths, his soul was probably the strongest. After all, he had the Weaver of Souls' 'Sealing the Seven Demons in the Nine Peak' and his Drop of Wrath which he had turned into his own Po.

Against the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu, Cao Yun's soul wouldn't be as effective. On the other hand, it also meant that Cao Yun didn't fear the bird's attacks as much either. However, Cao Yun had two huge disadvantages. First of all, he had to protect Hongyu during the fight since he simply couldn't put her on the ground in this Ghost Energy infested place, in her current condition. Moreover, this Ghost Energy was his second problem. The Nine-Headed Bird of Chu was extremely fond of Hun. As such, Cao Yun was convinced that this place would give it an advantage.

With all that in mind, Cao Yun didn't hesitate very long. He immediately flew higher and higher. The farther he was from the Ghost Energy near the ground, the closer he was to the Sun and its light, the smaller the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu's advantages would be. At the same time, Cao Yun circulated all of his cultivation. It was a huge show of strength, in the hope of deterring the demonic beast.

Honestly, if Cao Yun could get some materials from the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu, he would be delighted. But if he could escape a terrifying fight, he would feel even better. Unfortunately, the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu didn't let its prey leave. It had chosen Cao Yun and wanted to devour him, no matter what. To be fair, with Cao Yun's soul cultivation, he was an absolute delicacy for the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu. And, most likely, the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu had been the absolute sovereign of this land for a few years already. Thus, it didn't fear any enemy. Since such a delicacy had gone to all the trouble of coming directly into its territory, the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu couldn't let him go without taking a bite.

Cao Yun's skin had turned completely red blood, his hair was white. All around him, a vibrant vitality was spreading further and further. High in the sky, the seven Piercing Stars shined through the gloomy and cold atmosphere of this cursed land. In their center was the Heart Constellation, shining with a bright red and pulsating like a living heart. Around Cao Yun's body, there was also a very faint golden hue, especially behind his head. From his spatial ring, he took hundreds of swords out. Behind him, they were forming large concentric circles moving at different speed and in different directions. Some swords were facing the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu already.

In Cao Yun's hand was his 'Tainted Heavenly Pillar'. As he was circulating his Spear Heart, the spear appeared to be large enough to connect the earth and the Heavens. However, it was covered in blood that always seemed to flow all over it. A powerful killing intent was also spreading both from the weapon and from Cao Yun himself. Thanks to his 'Weeping Asura', his eyes were full of wrath and blood. Anyone who looked at them would see an absolute monster hardened on countless battlefields. Life was nothing more than wheat they could reap in an instant.

Finally, he also mobilized his Black Heart Flame. In his sea of consciousness, his Rune of Fire was acting up, just like his Five Aspects and his Nine Soul Peaks. Everything was bathed in blood and fire as his Turbid Demons were already visible, chained to Axiu Qian, the manifestation of Cao Yun's Drop of Wrath. In the physical realm, that eerie black flame appeared all around Cao Yun's spear. Here and there, one could see images of terrifying scenes emerging from memories consumed by the Black Heart Flame.

In fact, Cao Yun had already used 'Living Death' to turn some of his Po into Death Energy and strengthen his Black Heart Flame. Now, he could control it even better than before. At the same time, it was slightly more powerful as well.

Anyone who would see Cao Yun in this form would probably cower in fear. Only a few cultivators on the Piaolu planet could hope to exchange even one move with him when he was going all-out like that. When it came to actually fighting him, it was only a handful. But that didn't scare the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu. In fact, it enticed him even more. It could taste Cao Yun's soul as his spiritual senses had spread far. Although it realized that the fight would be terrible and it could very well die, the giant bird was optimistic about its chances. Besides, the reward was absolutely worth it. If it could devour this human and digest his soul, the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu had some hope of breaking through. It might actually become an Immortal Beast.

Just like humans and demons, demonic beasts could not cultivate beyond a certain limit since the Forsaken Dao Era. This limit was having nine demonic cores. If a demonic beast was able to step into this realm, it became an Immortal Beast. As it was nearing its limit, the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu could feel that progressing further was almost impossible. There was some kind of barrier preventing it from breaking through. To be fair, it was also a problem of resources. At its current level, finding anything that could give it the energy it needed was extremely difficult. Even without this blockage, it wouldn't have been able to break through before decades or centuries. But with such a powerful soul in front of it, the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu couldn't resist.

Just like Cao Yun, the giant bird went all-out as well. Thousands and thousands of skulls appeared, chained down to its huge body. Its wings spread and formed a monumental shadow. However, this shadow wasn't cast downward, it was cast upward into the skies. That eerie shadow wasn't natural, it was in fact a thin but opaque layer of Ghost Energy intertwined with Evil Qi. Supported by the soul-devouring bird, it was strong enough to resist the light and heat from the Sun, especially in this place. Indeed, from the ground, Ghost Energy was being mobilized. It naturally rose in the air and amplified the bird's technique. At the same time, the air was saturated with Evil Qi. In other words, the bird had a limitless amount of energy to keep this cover up during very long periods of time.

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That being said, Cao Yun's Heart Constellation was still able to shine through this thin layer of Ghost Energy. Although it couldn't dispel it completely, neither could this layer conceal the Azure Dragon stars.

While the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu was benefiting from the reserve of Ghost Energy and Evil Qi, Cao Yun was benefiting from the reserve of Death Energy and Evil Qi. Evil Qi and Qi were almost the same thing for Cao Yun. And with his understanding of 'Death Verses', he could also control Death Energy. In fact, his Black Heart Flame was devouring the Death Energy in the air. Thus, Cao Yun had a limitless amount of fuel. All of the swords behind him had some sparks from the Black Heart Flame.

In the dark and ominous sky, there were two tyrants controlling both aspects of death. Cao Yun was using Death Energy and the death of the body, while the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu was using Ghost Energy and the death of the soul. In other words, one was Po and one was Hun.

Before the fight even began, Cao Yun could hear an ominous mantra echoing in the air. The Insight Writings of his 'Death Verses' were resonating with something in the cores of the demonic beasts before him. Both of them felt as though they had literally crossed into the realm of the dead. They completely forgot that they were even alive. Death was obeying their command. Of course, neither of them had a perfect understanding of the Dao of Death. But apparently, their mastery over it was high enough that it manifested itself around them. Any mortal would have kowtowed and begged those gods of death for mercy.

The Nine-Headed Bird of Chu didn't have a main head, each of its nine heads was important. Each one had a core. But one of them seemed to resonate strongly with Cao Yun's 'Death Verses'. Around it, Cao Yun could sense a faint sickly yellow hue that was somewhat familiar. He had a good idea what it was, but now wasn't the time. Before thinking about his rewards, he had to win the fight and slay the demonic beast. Now, it was clear that only one of them would survive. Cao Yun diverted some of his spiritual senses to send Hongyu as far away from him as he possibly could. Hopefully, she would recover from the soul piercing screech and find some safe place to wait for the end of this fight.

Suddenly, the thousands and thousands of skulls moved. They formed swarms of skulls, all connected to the bird through chains. Those swarms flew toward Cao Yun from different angles. Without hesitation, Cao Yun sent his own swords to meet them. When they collided, Ghost Energy and Death Energy exploded. There were sparks of yellow flashes as well as bone dust flying all over the place. Cao Yun's Black Heart Flame exploded within his swords.

Simultaneously, the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu breathed fire toward the young man. Its fire was as dark as the Black Heart Flame. In response, Cao Yun used his 'Azure Dragon Through the Seven Storms'.

'Dragon Swimming Against the Storm'!

Cao Yun moved faster than lightning while stabbing with his spears. Each time he stabbed, it created small storms. Powerful gusts of wind pushed against the black flames of the giant bird while bolts of lightning tried to pierce through it, attempting to reach the demonic beast. However, it was also exceptionally fast despite its large body. Its heads were also extremely agile and could cover all of its blind spots. As such, despite Cao Yun's movements all over the place, all of his attacks were met with a new breath of dark flames.

The howling wind colliding with this black flame sounded like the scream of the Azure Dragon. In the sky, the Heart Constellation was shining so bright that the black shadow covering the Sun had turned dark red instead of pure black.

Cao Yun had some knowledge of Ghost Energy and the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu had some mastery of Death Energy. But against their opponent, it was too meager to matter. Cao Yun could only rely on Death Energy and the giant bird only had Ghost Energy at its disposal.

All around Cao Yun and the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu, wails, moans and lamentations could be heard. The Ghost Energy and Death Energy were clashing, causing many dark memories to erupt. Ghosts were born and destroyed any second. The battlefield was hell. Cao Yun's spear attacks had created dozens of small storms all around the large bird that was now completely engulfed in its own dark flames. From this mass of darkness assaulted by the storms, chains and skulls emerged, trying to bite directly into Cao Yun.

'Axiu Qian's Blood Wrath'!

Instead of dodging everything, Cao Yun flew forward and punched one of the skulls. It was as large as Cao Yun himself and was completely deformed. In fact, it seemed to be a strange mixture between skulls of different species, including humans. Cao Yun's fist pierced through the skull, breaking all of its face. Without stopping himself, Cao Yun flew forward and seized the chain attached to it. This chain was pure Ghost Energy. In fact, it was exactly what he was trying to achieve with his Death Energy. However, he had not enough time to study it. Cao Yun wrapped it around his arm and pulled with all of his strength.

From the ball of black flames, Cao Yun heard a powerful screech. Then, the chain went taut as a tremendous strength was resisting Cao Yun's pull. He almost felt as though his shoulder had come out of its socket. But his muscles were sturdy enough to hold strong. Hundreds of skulls converged toward Cao Yun. All of the swords behind his back went toward those skulls. Many explosions shook the skies.

'Dragon's Tail Sweeps the Sky'!

Cao Yun swept with his 'Tainted Heavenly Pillar'. Its spear seemed to be as vast as the sky itself and collided with many skulls. Each one was broken into tiny fragments. Under the wind pressure created by the spear alone, even those fragments were reduced to dust and then nothingness as they were swallowed by the incredible gust of wind generated. Cao Yun was the center of the storm.

Once again, Cao Yun pulled as much as he could. Finally, a tiny part of the Nine-Headed Bird of Chu emerged from the ball of black flames. Without any hesitation, Cao Yun flew toward it and stabbed with his spear. Although he had no idea what part of the creature it was, Cao Yun used all of his strength and his spear stabbed through the flesh of the bird. Thick and black blood spewed from the wound.

As Cao Yun's spear was still plunged into the flesh of the demonic beast, one of its heads emerged from the black flames. Taking advantage of the fact that Cao Yun hadn't taken his spear out yet, the head tried to bite the young man's shoulder off. From 'Dance of Slaughter', Cao Yun used 'Breaking the Formation'. Before the head could bite his shoulder, Cao Yun lessened his grip on his spear to allow more movement. Then, he slammed his own shoulder into the head. Some of the bird's teeth exploded but still pierced Cao Yun's skin.

'Dyeing the Ground'!

As the head was on the young man's shoulder, his own arm was within its gaping mouth and stabbed upward.

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