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Leimen's attack was once again blocked by the combined efforts of several sword saints. Despite the loss of one sword saint, the formation was originally designed to work in pairs, so there were still two pairs that could mobilize the stellar energy and unleash powerful attacks. However, what troubled everyone was that the shattered hell space mirror, which had been mostly destroyed by the dying counterattack of the Divine Knight, was gradually reappearing around Leimen. Massive stellar energy was being banished to the hell realm again. Although everyone already knew that these portals only allowed energy to pass through—remnants of the Great Demon King's scheme to banish enemy energy attacks and extract hell's power—the sight of those vaguely visible, bizarre creatures gathering on the other side still sent chills down their spines.

"We can't let him keep summoning these hell gates, or he might actually get away!" cursed the Black Ice Demon Knight under his breath. At that moment, he was the weakest among them, but instead of targeting him first, Leimen focused on executing elaborate techniques to kill any of the other sword saints, as if the Black Ice Demon Knight wasn't even worth his attention. This disdain only strengthened the Black Ice Demon Knight's resolve. He suddenly shouted at the other sword saints, "If any of you survive, don't forget your promise—"

Before he finished speaking, he had already plunged the Frostgrieve Demonic Sword deep into his own body. A deep sigh, or perhaps a sound of resentful gnashing, emanated from him. When the Viking guardian looked up again, his eyes were completely filled with an eerie green light. The muscles on his cheeks had begun to wither, and he looked like a living skeleton. Yet, the more his body deteriorated, the more violent and icy his aura became, surging to a level almost comparable to the Supreme Dragon Saint in an instant.

This display of power forced Leimen to turn his attention to him. However, Leimen wasn't surprised, only shaking his head slightly as he said, "Hmm? Is today a gathering of ultimate sacrificial techniques? So even the Black Death Ascension Curse has made an appearance."

The Black Death Ascension Curse was an extremely vicious spell from the Viking Empire's dark magic system. It involved directly injecting refined dead souls into a living person, devouring their essence and spirit, turning them into a living dead under the caster's control, and allowing them to surpass normal human limits and unleash greater power. However, the Black Ice Demon Knight's situation was slightly different. He had directly channeled the most malevolent spirits from the underworld, which were sealed within the Frostgrieve Demonic Sword, into his own body. Since he had already fused with the sword, these spirits did not erode his mind. But even so, his life force was instantly drained with no chance of recovery.

Transformed into a living dead warrior, the Black Ice Demon Knight roared and swung his leaden grey demonic sword, aiming for Leimen's neck. The sword carried an intense cold death aura, as if the lamenting souls of thousands of dead were gathered in its blade. The sheer intensity of the sword's deathly aura made even the other sword saints hesitate.

Yet Leimen was not afraid. As the Frostgrieve came at him, he did not retreat, but instead danced his Soul-Devouring Sword in a defensive pattern. A series of clashing sounds echoed as the Black Ice Demon Knight failed to land a hit. Despite his greatly enhanced strength, he was still no match for Leimen's transcendent skill. Leimen not only countered his attacks but also wounded him several times. With his free hand, Leimen deflected the other sword saints' attacks with a flurry of strikes, all while emanating a golden battle aura.

"Sss... Frostgrieve Heavenly Dance..." The now voiceless Black Ice Demon Knight activated the Frostgrieve Demonic Sword's power with a hoarse incantation. He suddenly spun rapidly, and the Frostgrieve blazed with intense light, forming a swirling sphere of blades. The frigid death qi shot out like water, scattering wildly.

The random sword qi did nothing to Leimen, but the sight of it made Leimen's expression change. He quickly forced the other four sword saints away and drew his sword, thrusting it directly at the Black Ice Demon Knight, who had turned into a spinning ball of swords in the air. The Frostgrieve was now moving so fast, supported by the Black Ice Demon Knight's burning life force, that it was nearly invisible. When the Soul-Devouring Sword entered the grey sword light, a sharp sound pierced the sky, like the noise of an expert elf using a circular saw to cut through steel. The two swords clashed thousands of times in an instant.

The frenzied power of the Black Ice Demon Knight could not withstand Leimen's precise swordsmanship. After a few moments, the Soul-Devouring Sword broke through the Frostgrieve's defense and cut the skeletal warrior in half in mid-air. However, the Black Ice Demon Knight had achieved his goal. The hell space mirrors protecting Leimen from stellar energy constraints had been completely shattered by the scattered sword qi. With a twisted smile on his withered face, the Black Ice Demon Knight crumbled into ash, following the Divine Knight into oblivion.

"Now!" Seeing that Leimen was once again trapped by stellar energy locks due to the sacrifices of the two sword saints, the Sword Saint and the others did not miss their chance and immediately lunged forward.

"Foolish. You really think this is enough to stop me?" Although Leimen's movements slowed due to the stellar energy's stagnation, he could now draw upon abundant stellar energy. He had no fear of the remaining four damaged sword saints. Charging forward again, he unleashed a barrage of deadly techniques. Though he had already killed two sword saints, they were not the ones he truly sought, due to reasons known only to him. Now, even though the task wasn't fully complete, the stellar energy in the sky was already descending through the towering light pillar. Leimen had no choice but to use various dangerous sword techniques, trying to kill the remaining sword saints and then find a way to break the formation and escape.