Chu Liang and the others also breathed a sigh of relief.
But before long, their faces gradually turned pale.
Zhang Qianmo’s aura had still not vanished!
"What kind of demonic art has he cultivated?" A trace of terror finally surfaced on Song Hesong’s face.
"Fire! Use fire!" Chu Liang shouted at that moment.
Song Hesong formed a hand seal, and crimson flames appeared beneath the pile of minced flesh.
Under the intense heat, flesh and blood turned to ash. Yet, no matter how fiercely the fire blazed, one thing could not be destroyed—a purple Golden Core.
"A Golden Core? Wasn’t he at the Foundation Establishment realm? How could a Golden Core form inside him?" The scene utterly surpassed Song Hesong’s and the others’ understanding, and their expressions changed drastically.
In his fear, Song Hesong mustered all his arcane arts and launched a bombardment of attacks on the purple Golden Core.
But no matter what he tried, he could not shake the Golden Core in the slightest, nor could he store it within his storage ring.
That was because Zhang Qianmo’s aura still lingered upon it. In fact, it was growing stronger by the moment.
"You rogue cultivators, straying from the orthodox path, never study the classics.
“Even if you've learned some new methodology, you’ve achieved mere empty realms. How could you possibly compare to the true orthodox Daoist schools?"
Zhang Qianmo's cold voice emerged from the Golden Core.
The Golden Core suddenly blazed with brilliant light, forcing back the flames.
A body slowly took form within the radiance. The light condensed, transforming into robes.
"I told you I would kill you today!" Zhang Qianmo said coldly, staring at Song Hesong.
Song Hesong began to tremble uncontrollably and frantically sent more palm strikes to the ground. Amid the countless screams of mortals, streams of crimson light solidified into ribbon-like forms that surged toward Zhang Qianmo.
Then, he transformed into a streak of blood-red light and fled into the distance, leaving the paralyzed Chu Liang and the others to fend for themselves.
Zhang Qianmo took a single step, transformed into purple lightning, and appeared directly in front of the blood-red light.
Song Hesong hadn't expected such speed from his opponent and couldn't dodge in time.
The two collided head-on.
Boom!
In the violent impact, Song Hesong seemed to lose all control over his body.
Zhang Qianmo extended his right hand, seized Song Hesong by the throat, and lifted him.
"For betraying the sect, you are hereby sentenced to death!" Zhang Qianmo pronounced judgment.
A purple thunderbolt descended from the heavens, striking Zhang Qianmo with tremendous force.
Zhang Qianmo remained completely unharmed within the lightning, while Song Hesong screamed in agony and died.
Zhang Qianmo looked toward Chu Liang and the others who were currently fleeing in three separate directions.
He sneered coldly, gently pointing forth. Three purple thunderbolts fell in response.
Their auras vanished, and three black dots fell from the sky. With that, Zhang Qianmo paid them no further attention.
“To be forced into such a state... This new methodology..." He appeared to be in deep contemplation.
Then, as if detecting something, he flew down to the ground.
There, the corpse that had belonged to his junior brother had melted away like a candle.
Beneath his tattered skin, another, completely unfamiliar person was beginning to awaken.