The demonic storm that blotted out the entire sky raged more and more violently, rolling forward with a destructive force that seemed to devour all things. The fierce wind carried sharp demonic qi, tearing through the air and leaving crisscrossing black cracks in the space around Azure Cloud Sect. Countless boulders and broken trees were swept up into the storm, turning into deadly projectiles that whistled through the air, and the already damaged sect buildings crumbled instantly under the storm's wrath, reduced to piles of rubble.
The disciples and elders of Azure Cloud Sect huddled behind the tattered defensive formation, their faces filled with despair. The formation, which had been activated with all their strength, was flickering dimly, on the verge of collapse under the storm's pressure. The sect leader clutched his spiritual weapon tightly, his eyes fixed on the figure in the sky, silently praying for Chen Fan to hold on—he knew that if Chen Fan fell, the entire cultivation world would lose its last hope.
Chen Fan stood tall in the face of the oncoming storm, his body trembling with exhaustion, but his eyes burned with unyielding resolve. The golden light of the Nascent Soul realm dimmed slightly on his body, and the Chaos Root in his dantian was spinning rapidly, desperately absorbing the remaining spiritual energy between heaven and earth to replenish his depleted power. The wounds on his arms and shoulders were stinging sharply, the aftermath of the previous clash still tormenting him, but he did not take a single step back.
He gripped the Chaos Sword tightly, the sword's golden glow flickering, as if it too was feeling its master's weariness. Chen Fan took a deep breath, clearing his mind of all distractions, and merged the last trace of chaotic power and Nascent Soul energy into his sword. He knew that he could not defend passively any longer; he had to launch a decisive counterattack before the storm completely engulfed him.
"Come at me, Demon Emperor!" Chen Fan's voice was hoarse but firm, echoing through the roaring storm. He stomped his foot lightly on the air, and his body shot forward like a golden arrow, cutting through the fierce demonic wind head-on. The Chaos Sword in his hand was raised high, and the chaotic patterns on the sword lit up one by one, releasing a vast and majestic power that suppressed the raging demonic qi around him.
The Demon Emperor let out a deafening roar of rage, his blood-red eyes filled with contempt and fury. He waved his giant hand violently, and the demonic storm surged forward with even greater force, forming a huge black tornado that wrapped around Chen Fan, trying to grind him into dust. The corrosive demonic qi gnawed at Chen Fan's spiritual defense, making his skin burn with pain, and his white robe was torn to shreds by the wind, revealing the bruised and bloodstained body beneath.
But Chen Fan did not falter. He poured all his remaining power into the Chaos Sword, and the sword burst forth with a blinding golden light that cut through the darkness of the storm. "Chaos Final Strike—Split the Storm!" He roared with all his strength, slashing the sword downward with all his might.
A golden sword light that was thousands of feet long tore through the air, carrying the power to split heaven and earth, and collided fiercely with the demonic tornado. The collision was far more terrifying than the previous one—an earth-shattering explosion echoed across the cultivation world, and the shock wave sent ripples through the space itself. The demonic tornado was split in half by the sword light, and the raging storm began to dissipate rapidly, the black demonic qi fading away like receding tide.
The Demon Emperor staggered back, his huge body trembling violently, and the wounds on his chest and neck reopened, gushing black demonic blood. His demonic wings drooped weakly, and the majestic aura around him weakened significantly. He stared at Chen Fan in disbelief, his voice filled with shock and anger: "Impossible! How can a mere newly-advanced Nascent Soul mortal possess such power? You should have been crushed by my storm!"
Chen Fan slowly landed on the broken square of Azure Cloud Sect, his knees buckling slightly, and he half-knelt on the ground, leaning on the Chaos Sword to keep himself upright. He was dripping with sweat and blood, his breathing ragged, and every inch of his body ached as if it had been torn apart. The Chaos Root in his dantian was almost exhausted, and his Nascent Soul was faintly trembling, overloaded from the continuous battles. But he still raised his head, staring at the Demon Emperor with unwavering eyes.
"You are not invincible, Demon Emperor. The cultivation world will never submit to your tyranny," Chen Fan said slowly, his voice weak but full of determination. He could feel that the Demon Emperor's power was also greatly depleted, his thousand-year-old cultivation base damaged by the chaotic sword strike. This was their chance, a slim but real chance to end this disaster.
The Demon Emperor was enraged beyond measure by Chen Fan's words. He let out a shrill roar that shook the mountains, and despite his injuries, he forced his depleted demonic power to surge again. His body began to emit a dark red glow, a sign that he was burning his life's demonic essence to unleash his final, most powerful attack. He would not allow himself to be defeated by a lowly mortal—this humiliation was far worse than death.
"I will burn my demonic essence to kill you!" The Demon Emperor's voice was hoarse and filled with madness. He raised both hands, and the remaining demonic qi between heaven and earth gathered frantically in his palms, forming a small but extremely condensed black-red light ball. This light ball contained all his remaining power and his burning life force, a strike that would take both Chen Fan and himself to the grave if it hit.
Chen Fan's expression turned grave. He could sense the terrifying power of the light ball, a power that was enough to destroy both him and Azure Cloud Sect completely. He closed his eyes for a moment, calming his chaotic mind, and the Chaos Root in his dantian emitted a faint golden glow, drawing in the last wisp of spiritual energy from the surrounding mountains. He knew that this was the final moment—he had to block this strike, no matter the cost.
He stood up slowly, holding the Chaos Sword in front of him, the golden light on the sword growing brighter once again. The entire Azure Cloud Sect fell silent, all eyes fixed on the two figures in the sky, waiting for the final outcome of this battle. The fate of the entire cultivation world hung in the balance, and the final clash between Chen Fan and the Demon Emperor was about to begin.