Boom!
Lady Water Mirror unleashed the power of her Great Dao Destiny Imperial Seal to clash head-on with the Three-Eyed Demon Lord's Overwhelming Evil Might of the Great Demon in mid-air.
Both grunted simultaneously, forced back by each other's formidable power.
"Hee-hee-hee-hee!"
The Three-Eyed Demon Lord, fearless and utterly arrogant, laughed uproariously and shouted, "Little lass, today this lord will let you witness his Di Sha Crimson Eye!"
As his words fell, the third eye on the Demon Lord's forehead, which had remained closed all this time, abruptly snapped open. It was a pair of blood-red pupils burning with crimson flames, appearing like the eyes of hell, sending chills down one's spine.
Whoosh!
A concentrated beam shot forth from the Three-Eyed Demon Lord's Di Sha Crimson Eye. Lady Water Mirror across from him inwardly cried out 'not good!' The moment she realized it, she immediately felt unwell. Then, as if plummeting into the abyss of hell, her soul was engulfed in flames.
Yes!
Her soul!
The flames were invisible and intangible, like infernal fire, directly burning Lady Water Mirror's soul. She could neither block, defend, nor escape.
"Ah—!" Lady Water Mirror let out a cry of agony, her hands clawing wildly, legs kicking frantically, expression twisted in a grimace. Her physical body contorted, her consciousness blurred. The pain emanating from her soul made her wish for death.
Everyone knew the Three-Eyed Demon Lord was born with an abnormal feature—three eyes—and moreover, possessed the legendary Di Sha Crimson Eye. It was said the Di Sha Crimson Eye was especially terrifying, containing Di Sha Crimson Flames, a crimson fire born from the hellish miasma. It directly burned the soul. Never mind those who hadn't tempered their souls; even those who had might not withstand this crimson fire born from hellish miasma!
Lady Water Mirror was not only a Great Emperor bearing the Heavenly Destiny but also a powerful expert with profound cultivation. She had tempered her soul, and for a very, very long time at that. Yet even so, now enveloped by the Di Sha Crimson Flames, her soul still could not endure.
Many had thought the legends about the Three-Eyed Demon Lord's Di Sha Crimson Eye might be somewhat exaggerated. Only now, witnessing Lady Water Mirror's miserable state with their own eyes, did everyone realize the Three-Eyed Demon Lord's Di Sha Crimson Eye was even more terrifying than the legends suggested.
After unleashing it, Lady Water Mirror couldn't even block it. Even her Great Dao Destiny Guardian, as her consciousness blurred, began flickering in and out of existence.
"Hee-hee!
Little lass, since you've delivered your Great Dao Destiny right to my doorstep, this lord won't stand on ceremony!
Hee-hee-hee-hee!
After this lord seizes your Great Dao Destiny Heart, I'll go claim the Seven-Colored Lotus!
Hee-hee!"
Hearing that the Three-Eyed Demon Lord actually intended to seize Lady Water Mirror's Great Dao Destiny Heart, Eastern Peak Great Emperor, Pure Robe Bodhisattva, Lord Lingyin, and the others felt their scalps go numb, unable to suppress a sharp intake of cold breath.
Seizing a Great Dao Destiny was not a rare occurrence.
Since ancient times, it had happened frequently.
However, most of the fights over destinies involved snatching from those who had not yet integrated the Great Dao Destiny into themselves or had not yet nurtured a Great Dao Destiny Heart. Because once a Great Dao Destiny Heart was nurtured, one became a true Great Dao Destiny Bearer, acknowledged by the Heavenly Dao. Whoever dared seize it would undoubtedly be defying heaven to alter fate, transgressing against the Heavenly Dao—an unforgivable heavenly crime, condemned to suffer the Great Dao's judgment for eternity, a pursuit unto death.
No one had expected the Three-Eyed Demon Lord would dare so blatantly attempt to seize Lady Water Mirror's Great Dao Destiny Heart.
Though Da Xing the Mad Monk had long guessed the Three-Eyed Demon Lord might have his sights set on Lady Water Mirror's Great Dao Destiny, seeing him seize it so brazenly still filled him with shock. He inwardly thought, 'This brat Three-Eyed Demon Lord's guts are truly enormous!'
On the battlefield.
Lady Water Mirror's soul was being burned by the Di Sha Crimson Flames. Her soul grew weaker, her physical body more contorted, her consciousness increasingly blurred, and her Great Dao Destiny Guardian grew fainter. Just as the Three-Eyed Demon Lord was about to charge forward to finish her, someone rushed over.
It was a woman.
A woman holding a whisk.
None other than Water Moon Bodhisattva.
She wielded her Great Pure Great Still Empty Gate Whisk, attempting to stop the Three-Eyed Demon Lord.
Purple Poison Ghost Emperor, who had been locked in combat with Water Moon Bodhisattva moments ago, now found himself free. He initially intended to seize this chance to retreat and observe covertly before deciding his next move. After all, he knew Eastern Peak Great Emperor, Pure Robe Bodhisattva, Da Xing the Mad Monk, and most intimidatingly, the Nether Emperor Gu Qingfeng were still present. However, just as he prepared to retreat, he suddenly noticed that the radiant light surrounding Qingqing atop the Seven-Colored Lotus was growing increasingly sacred and pure, and Qingqing herself was becoming more and more pristine.
He realized Qingqing was not only merging with the Seven-Colored Lotus but seemed on the verge of succeeding.
He could wait no longer!
If he waited any longer, all would be lost.
With this thought.
Purple Poison Ghost Emperor took a deep breath and charged directly forward.
The Seven-Colored Lotus was enveloped by an array formation—specifically, the Star-Moon Illusion Array personally laid by Lady Water Mirror.
Moreover, Lady Water Mirror herself served as the array's eye.
As long as Lady Water Mirror lived, the Star-Moon Illusion Array would not collapse.
While this ensured the Seven-Colored Lotus was firmly guarded, it had one drawback: the weaker Lady Water Mirror became, the weaker the Star-Moon Illusion Array would grow, precisely because she was the array's eye.
Now, with Lady Water Mirror's soul enduring the burn of the Di Sha Crimson Flames, her physical body contorting further, her soul weakening, and her consciousness blurring, the Star-Moon Illusion Array was also severely affected, flickering in and out like her Great Dao Destiny Guardian.
Though within the array, Centrifugal Immortal, Old Master Kaishan, and the others desperately defended it—their strength perhaps not weak—unfortunately, the one barging into the array was Purple Poison Ghost Emperor. Coupled with the array's instability due to Lady Water Mirror's condition, they were utterly powerless against him.
Below, Eastern Peak Great Emperor, Pure Robe Bodhisattva, and Lord Lingyin saw Purple Poison Ghost Emperor charging toward the Seven-Colored Lotus. All three grew restless. If Purple Poison Ghost Emperor could see Qingqing was nearly successfully merging with the Seven-Colored Lotus, naturally they could see it too. However, Da Xing the Mad Monk and Gu Qingfeng remained motionless, making them dare not act rashly.
Watching Purple Poison Ghost Emperor already breach the array formation, just a step away from the Seven-Colored Lotus, Eastern Peak Great Emperor and the other two could sit still no longer, each more anxious than the last. With a whoosh, Pure Robe Bodhisattva took the lead, charging forward first. The moment Pure Robe Bodhisattva moved, Eastern Peak Great Emperor also charged forth. Lord Lingyin did not delay either, closely following.
Members of the Longevity Pavilion, Purple Mist Immortal Realm, and a group of Buddhist Arhats under Pure Robe Bodhisattva all surged forward.
The already teetering Star-Moon Illusion Array could no longer hold under the intrusion of Purple Poison Ghost Emperor, Eastern Peak Great Emperor, Pure Robe Bodhisattva, Lord Lingyin, and the others. With a thunderous boom, the array formation instantly collapsed. Centrifugal Immortal and Old Master Kaishan were affected, sustaining severe injuries as they plummeted downward.
The opportunity had arrived!
Purple Poison Ghost Emperor, Eastern Peak Great Emperor, and Pure Robe Bodhisattva vanished in a flash, reappearing almost simultaneously beside the Seven-Colored Lotus. All three struck out at once, each attempting to seize the lotus.
Suddenly!
A gust of wind swept in.
It was a clear breeze, a still breeze, a gate-of-emptiness breeze.
As this wind arrived, it was like Buddhist chants descending to liberate all living beings.