Chapter 14546 Subduing the Holy Temple

When Ling Xiao and Dao Sha led the powerful warriors of the Batian Empire to the mountain gate, they were not greeted by the expected death battle... Hundreds of Holy Hall warriors stood in formation, their black armor frosted with white, their swords drawn, but none dared to make the first move. The only sounds in the air were heavy breathing and the hum of weapons trembling slightly.

The leader, the Holy Lord of Annihilation, was ashen-faced, his temples already frosted with white in an instant, his once majestic face now showing only a lost and dejected expression.

Behind him, the three elders, twelve protectors, and hundreds of core disciples whom the Holy Temple was so proud of were all exhausted, their spiritual energy disordered, and their eyes showed no fighting spirit, only a deep-seated despair.

The monitors failed.

That trump card, bestowed with divine power by headquarters and said to be able to dominate an entire realm, was easily destroyed. This realization was like draining all their energy and spirit, crushing even their courage to resist.

Dao Sha placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist. The Taotie pattern on the black iron scabbard gleamed coldly in the morning light, and a chilling killing intent swept over him as if it were a tangible force, causing the Holy Temple disciples in front of him to involuntarily take a half step back.

The powerful figures of the Overlord Empire behind him were also poised to strike, their spiritual energy surging and their magical treasures floating, waiting only for a command to flatten this ancient holy temple.

But Ling Xiao slowly raised his hand.

Those who surrender will not die.

The four words, like thunder rolling across the mountain peak, echoed clearly before the gates of the Holy Temple, carrying an undeniable pressure. Not only were the members of the Holy Temple stunned, but even the powerful figures from the Overlord Empire stirred, their faces filled with confusion.

"Are you sure you want to keep them? These people are all remnants of the Holy Temple, and they might cause trouble in the future. They'll be difficult to control." Dao Sha frowned, his tone tinged with confusion.

Ling Xiao calmly looked at the Holy Lord of Annihilation on the steps, his gaze as deep as a still pool, without a ripple: "I am not a bloodthirsty person. The Holy Hall is my enemy, and it is you who have provoked this trouble. But ordinary disciples and elders are just following orders and have no choice in their actions. Those who are willing to submit to me and abandon darkness for light, I can spare your lives and forgive your past transgressions."

He paused, his tone suddenly turning cold, like icicles in the dead of winter, making one's skin tighten: "But the ringleader, he must pay for his blood debt and die."

"Arrogant!" The Lord of Annihilation roared, a resolute madness flashing in his eyes. His withered hands suddenly formed a hand seal. "My Holy Hall has a ten-thousand-year-old heritage and a deep foundation. How could we bow down to a mere brat like you! Disciples, listen to my command! Form the Annihilation Immortal Slaughtering Formation and fight them to the death!"

However, his disciples looked at each other in bewilderment, hesitant to step forward, and none of them responded to his command.

"You...you dare to disobey your master's orders?" The Holy Lord of Annihilation was both shocked and furious. His blood surged and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Holy Lord,” a white-haired elder spoke tremulously, his voice filled with barely concealed fear and despair, “The Watcher… has abandoned us. Even he cannot withstand the power of that being. Even if we form an array, we will only be moths flying into a flame.”

"So what! The Holy Temple will never abandon us!"

The Lord of Annihilation roared, his hair standing on end like a raging lion, his eyes bloodshot.

His blood and qi surged, and the veins on his body bulged like the roots of an old tree. The fire of his primordial spirit burned fiercely on the top of his head, threatening to burn away all his cultivation and detonate his primordial spirit to perish together with Ling Xiao! The insane pressure of his impending death caused visible ripples to appear in the surrounding air.

But the moment he lunged forward, the blade stirred.

The moment the Xuan Tie longsword was drawn, a blood-moon-like blade light swept across the sky, the sound of it tearing through the air ripped apart the heavens, and the chill instantly froze the airflow throughout the entire mountain gate.

Almost simultaneously, a sword light suddenly appeared beside Ling Xiao... The figure of the sword demon was like a ghost, and the shadow of the green sword was like a cold star breaking through the night, intertwining with the blade light to form a deadly net.

With a sword and a blade, one hard and one soft, the moment their sharp edges intertwined, the world seemed to stand still.

The figure of the Holy Lord of Annihilation suddenly froze in mid-air, only a few feet away from Ling Xiao.

He slowly lowered his head in disbelief. On his chest, a deep, bone-revealing knife wound slashed diagonally from his left shoulder to his waist and abdomen, and blood gushed out like a fountain. Another slender but deadly sword wound precisely pierced through his heart and the core of his primordial spirit, and wisps of primordial spirit power turned into green smoke and dissipated.

"I can not be reconciled……"

Four words, filled with endless resentment and despair, spilled from the corner of his mouth. Then, his body disintegrated inch by inch, turning into countless specks of soul light that scattered with the wind, leaving not even a trace of his soul behind.

Ling Xiao stared blankly at the scene, his gaze sweeping over the silent crowd of people in the Holy Temple below. His voice, like a resounding bell cast from ice, made everyone's eardrums tremble: "Is there anyone else who wants to resist?"

Silence reigned before the mountain gate; even breathing was almost silenced. The power of the Holy Lord of Annihilation's self-destruction was still fresh in their minds, yet he had been easily obliterated by a single sword strike. Such strength far exceeded their comprehension, leaving only a deep-seated fear.

"very good."

Ling Xiao slowly took out a white jade bottle from his bosom. The bottle was carved with intricate and mysterious runes. Even before the bottle was opened, it exuded a chilling aura, which was the unique pressure of the Soul Devouring Pill.

"This contains a Soul-Devouring Pill. Once consumed, your soul will be bound to me, and your life and death will be in my hands. Those who are unwilling may leave now... But once you step out of this mountain gate, your status as a remnant of the Holy Temple will be enough to ensure your demise."

The silence lasted for more than a dozen breaths, the air so heavy it seemed as if it could drip water.

Finally, Lu Fan, one of the three elders, stepped forward first. His face was pale, but his eyes were firm as he knelt down and raised his hands above his head: "Your subordinate Lu Fan is willing to submit to the young master and swear to serve him to the death!"

With a flick of his finger, Ling Xiao sent a jet-black pill floating to Lu Fan's face. Without hesitation, Lu Fan opened his mouth and swallowed it. The moment the pill entered his stomach, Lu Fan trembled, clearly feeling a chilling power seep into his soul, yet he dared not make the slightest move.

With someone taking the lead, the remaining disciples, protectors, and elders of the Holy Temple fell to their knees like dominoes, their kowtows rising and falling in waves: "We surrender!" "Please spare our lives, young master!"

With a wave of his hand, Ling Xiao sent dozens of Soul-Devouring Pills flying, landing precisely in front of everyone. The crowd scrambled to swallow them, fearing that being a step too slow would mean certain death. Half an hour later, the remaining core power of the Silent Sanctuary was entirely under Ling Xiao's control.

Before nightfall, Ji Mingkong led his men to the scene.

This empress of the Hegemon Empire wore a golden phoenix robe, with a phoenix rising from the ashes embroidered on the hem. Her phoenix eyes conveyed both imperial majesty and a sharp insight into people's hearts.

Seeing the scene of submission before the mountain gate, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes, which then turned into a perfectly timed smile as she gracefully stepped forward: "Your Majesty's methods are superb. You subdued the remnants of the Holy Temple in less than half a day. You are truly admirable."

Ling Xiao shook his head, his gaze fixed on the depths of the sanctuary: "Subjugation is just the beginning; the real main event is the distribution of the spoils." (End of Chapter)