Chapter 318

Chapter 318: The End of the Nine Battles Tribulation

If only two people re-entered the Abyss of the Buried Immortals, they would almost certainly be swallowed by death.

The dark vortex within was unavoidable. It demanded a sacrifice of life and blood to pass through. How could two people possibly survive that?

Historically, only a handful had boarded the ship and returned alive.

Yaoruoxian’s move was, without question, a killing blow.

This technique had completely shed her ethereal grace. It was now purely demonic, a method of sacrificing both her enemy and herself.

Zhang Yang was shaken by this challenge.

He noticed something.

While others fall from grace to become mortal, Yaoruoxian had descended to the mortal realm to become a demon.

Those who emerged from the Demon Sword Forbidden Area were indeed unmatched in their demonic nature. Not only were they martial arts prodigies, but their intellect and boldness were equally terrifying.

Such an opponent was utterly fearsome. Even the moon-returning dragon and Jin Zhihong, when looking at this devastatingly beautiful woman, felt not only awe but also a sense of dread, and primal fear.

Zhang Yang’s breathing quickened. A surge of excitement welled up within him.

How could he counter this move?

Admit defeat in the final battle?

Impossible.

Throughout his journey, he had never known the meaning of defeat.

And after enduring so many trials, he could not simply surrender, not now, not ever.

But if he refused to admit defeat, did that mean he must follow Yaoruoxian back into the Abyss of the Buried Immortals?

He knew that if his realm and cultivation were not strong enough, re-entering the abyss would pose even greater danger.

So, entering again was not an option either.

He found himself at a crossroads caught between choices. But soon, Zhang Yang realized it wasn’t truly a contradiction.

His swirling emotions gave way to expanding thoughts, his mind breaking free of the battle’s rigid frame, reaching outward, seeking a way through.

A faint smile formed on his lips as he looked at Yaoruoxian, saying nothing.

She remained calm, as always, indifferent to all beings including herself.

She could give everything, but she could not afford to lose this tribulation.

Zhang Yang and Yaoruoxian locked eyes, neither making a move, as the Ghost Ship of the Buried Immortals soared through the giant doorway under the final push of the headless monk.

That moment of breakthrough marked the beginning of their entry into the Abyss of the Buried Immortals.

And for the first time, they saw the world outside.

“Go!”

Jin Zhihong leaped out without hesitation.

Nie Bahuang followed closely behind.

As Jin Zhihong’s feet touched solid ground and the warmth of sunlight bathed his skin, he finally understood what the White Jade Skeleton on Ghost Island had once said:

“To yearn for sunlight is truly beautiful.”

“Su Guanchao welcomes the Pavilion Master back safely!”

Behind him, the gathered talents of the Butian Pavilion, along with more than a thousand Butian Guards, all dropped to one knee and shouted in unison:

“Welcome back safely, Pavilion Master!”

Jin Zhihong couldn’t help but show a hint of relief; the experiences from this journey would remain unforgettable for a lifetime.

In truth, he doubted that without the headless monk’s intervention, they would have ever known when or if they could return. Even surviving the Despair Reef, the Heavenly Waterfall, and the Haunting Bridge would have been far from guaranteed.

They had set out with over a hundred people.

Now, only the two of them had returned.

Even Yuan Chimuyu and Qing Xie, rising talents who once had the potential to become top experts of the Western Desert had perished along the way. How could this not fill them with grief and unease?

Jin Zhihong stood under the sunlight, feeling as if he had survived a brush with death. He turned to look back.

He saw the moon-returning dragon and Liu Yuewu also stepping down from the Ghost Ship of the Buried Immortals.

The two of them landed with the same emotional weight as Jin Zhihong, their hearts unsettled, sighs caught in their throats.

“Gu Jianyun leads the Eight Hundred Flying Moon Riders, welcoming the Prince back safely after overcoming the trials of the Abyss of the Buried Immortals!”

The young man at the front shouted the words loudly and clearly.

The Eight Hundred Flying Moon Riders responded with a sharp military salute from horseback.

They were elite warriors under the moon-returning dragon’s command, fully capable of rivaling the Butian Guards.

Gu Jianyun was the son of the man who had rebuilt the Qianmu Guards after vanishing for many years. He was recognized as a martial arts prodigy in his own right.

The moon-returning dragon turned back to gaze at the now-departing Ghost Ship of the Buried Immortals.

Before disembarking, he had sought Zhang Yang’s opinion.

Zhang Yang had told him to leave, but hadn’t left himself.

“Prince, do you think he’ll follow her back into the Abyss of the Buried Immortals to complete the so-called ninth battle?” Liu Yuewu asked softly.

The moon-returning dragon shook his head. “I don’t know.”

In truth, neither did Yaoruoxian—still standing on the Ghost Ship.

She locked eyes with Zhang Yang, showing no sign of fear or hesitation.

If anything, the prospect of not returning to the Abyss of the Buried Immortals as part of the ninth battle made her uneasy. Without that clarity, she didn’t know what path to take next.

Any alternative methods for the ninth battle?

Could she win?

Zhang Yang’s increasingly formidable abilities had shaken her confidence.

Delaying things?

She found such tactics beneath her. Her cold and proud heart, which held all beings in contempt, could not accept such an approach.

So, she had only one path forward.

And she remained calm in it.

In contrast, she was convinced that Zhang Yang could never go through the Abyss again, it would mean certain death.

For her, there was no other option.

For Zhang Yang, however, there were many. He could admit defeat. The Nine Battles Tribulation could be resolved later. After all, he didn’t have to win every round nor would he lose them all.

Thus, she was sure Zhang Yang would choose to disembark.

Once he stepped off the ship, everything could be negotiated.

Even putting oneself in a desperate situation and then finding a way to survive, that would at least offer a sliver of hope.

Her judgment had been partially correct.

Zhang Yang did disembark.

But she had also been wrong.

Because she was forced to disembark as well, caught off guard when Zhang Yang suddenly launched a devastating punch, imbued with the power of Slaughter Thunder Saint Force.

Almost instinctively, Yaoruoxian blocked the attack.

Bang!

This was their first true confrontation after both had stepped into the Ninth Level of the Ascending to Heaven Realm. Their previous clashes had been aimed more at the Hellhound.

Now, Yaoruoxian finally realized how terrifying Zhang Yang’s full-force strike could be.

Even though she had been prepared to defend, she was unable to withstand it. The blow blasted her straight off the Ghost Ship.

What was more shocking was that Zhang Yang followed through without needing her assistance to resist the deathly aura. He was directly protected by the Slaughter Sacred Thunder. With his second punch, he didn’t try to stay on the ship but instead launched himself high into the air, flying out of the Abyss of the Buried Immortals and into the distance.

The moon-returning dragon, Jin Zhihong, and the others stood before the Abyss, watching it all unfold.

They didn’t rush into battle or concern themselves with each other.

Their eyes remained fixed on the Ghost Ship on the two who had just clashed.

Then, as they saw one figure soar after the other, and witnessed the radiant Slaughter Sacred Thunder, understanding dawned.

“Of course,” the moon-returning dragon said, “if Brother Zhang disembarked, and Yaoruoxian disembarked as well, then neither of them completed the task of revisiting the Abyss of the Buried Immortals. Which means… it’s a draw. Even if Brother Zhang doesn’t formally declare this as a return to the Abyss, the fact is he came from within.”

He smiled and added, “What a brilliant move, Brother Zhang! In such a desperate situation, you found the perfect way out—ingenious.”

Liu Yuewu also sighed softly. She had seen Zhang Yang’s quick thinking time and time again, always managing to turn the tide.

Without sparing another glance at the crowd, the two of them charged toward a distant mountain, heading straight for its summit.

The Nine Battles Tribulation was over.