"Quick, end this swiftly."
Jiang Linglong knew there was no time to delay. With a resolute command, she led the group deeper into the Demon Lair.
"Stop them!"
The Demon Lair Lord, seeing their intent to suppress the Nether Spring, issued an urgent command.
The sheer number of demonic cultivators in the Demon Lair was staggering—tens of thousands gathered there. Their sheer volume made the battle arduous for everyone. Seeing the path ahead blocked, Jiang Linglong raised her hand and unleashed the Flame Thunder God Net.
The Flame Thunder God Net was the lifebound treasure of the previous sect master of Qingyang Sect, a mid-tier four-level treasure. This treasure, designed for large-scale attacks, housed hundreds of Flame Thunder Bolts. With a single sweep, Jiang Linglong deployed it across a hundred-mile radius.
"Boom!"
In an instant, the dense Flame Thunder Bolts filled the subterranean world. The crackling sound of thunder resounded as countless demonic cultivators were reduced to charred remains. Thousands of low-level demonic cultivators perished in an instant.
"Clang—"
Seeing Jiang Linglong carve a path forward, Elian seized the opportunity, merging with his sword. His Fiery Void Sword charged forward, slaying countless demons with each strike.
This sword strike was majestic, its brilliance piercing through the darkness of the Demon Lair, tunneling through hundreds of miles of demonic stronghold.
Following closely behind, the group surged through, forcing the demonic cultivators into retreat and driving straight toward the depths of the lair.
"Master Zhang, I'm here to assist you."
At that moment, another explosion resounded.
Daoist Taicang emerged from another passageway, forcing an elder in a blood-red robe into a frantic retreat before joining the assault on the Demon Lair Lord and Old Demon Yan.
With Taicang's aid, Master Zhang expression lit up with a trace of relief.
Just as he was about to speak, his face shifted slightly in alarm. "Daoist Taicang, where is your junior sister, Daoist Taiching?"
"Have you figured it out? Too late now."
Suddenly, Daoist Taicang sneered. A black abyssal demonic sword materialized as he slashed toward Master Zhang.
Everyone's faces turned pale with shock. At some unknown point, Daoist Taicang had begun cultivating Abyssal Demon Qi and had even broken through to the late Golden Core stage.
In an instant, the tides of battle turned. Daoist Taicang's sudden betrayal caught everyone off guard.
"Ah—!"
Master Zhang, now besieged by four Golden Core demonic cultivators, including two late-stage ones, was grievously injured in the chaos. His arm was severed in a sudden attack.
In the critical moment, the Celestial Sky Sword released a burst of its power, shielding Master Zhang and helping him escape.
By this point, Jiang Linglong and Lingji Fairy turned back in haste, intercepting the demonic cultivators to shield Master Zhang.
"Quite the strategy."
"Ha ha ha... cough, cough."
Master Zhang laughed bitterly, coughing up blood.
At that moment, he finally understood why Daoist Taicang had been so eager to push for an assault on the Demon Lair. It had been a setup from the very beginning.
Elian and the others pieced together the truth. The reason the Yan Kingdom's cultivators refused to provide support became clear—Daoist Taicang had orchestrated it.
The timing of the Demon Ape King's transformation into a demonic being was no coincidence; it was meant to keep the Purple Abyss Furnace occupied.
This intricate plan, involving the Demon Ape Mountain, the Demon Lair, and even Blackhawk Ridge, was clearly beyond the capabilities of the Demon Lair alone. The shadow of the Green Flood Dragon Sovereign loomed large over these events.
Even if the Green Flood Dragon Sovereign hadn't directly intervened, it was evident that one of the demon sovereign's subordinates had orchestrated this grand scheme.
"One thing I don't understand," Master Zhang said, suppressing his injuries as he gazed at Daoist Taicang with frustration.
"How did you hide your demonic aura from the Radiant Heaven Mirror and the Celestial Sky Sword?"
Demonic treasures were highly sensitive to demonic qi. A Golden Core stage demonic cultivator like Daoist Taicang would normally stand out like a beacon.
Now assured of his victory, Daoist Taicang wasn't in a rush to act. Stroking his beard, he spoke with pride, "I am a dual cultivator of the righteous and demonic paths. For centuries, I have refrained from using demonic techniques to harm others, leaving no trace of resentment or aura."
"For hundreds of years, I've used Daoist techniques to suppress the Abyssal Demon Qi, and the treasure bestowed upon me by the Demon Sovereign further conceals my demonic aura. Naturally, I can avoid detection by those treasures."
With this, everyone fully understood.
The mastermind behind this plot was likely the Green Flood Dragon Sovereign. Since the Ripple Lake demons were bound by their treaty to avoid direct conflict with Chu Kingdom, they had employed demonic cultivators as their agents to circumvent the agreement. This strategy also kept them from facing the Ji Clan directly.
"The demon sovereign's schemes are truly extraordinary."
Master Zhang sighed, a trace of defeat flashing in his eyes.
This battle had drawn half of Chu Kingdom's elite forces, along with two critical refining demon treasures. If these were lost in the Demon Lair, Chu Kingdom's destruction at the hands of the demonic cultivators would be inevitable.
"Ha ha ha!"
The Demon Lair Lord's sinister laughter echoed.
"Do you think this plot was devised solely by the Green Flood Dragon Sovereign?"
"Let me enlighten you. This plan was also orchestrated by the Black Fiend Ridge of Heavenly Spine Mountain Range."
"The Black Fiend Patriarch and the Demon Sovereign have promised us treasures to aid our ascension to the Nascent Soul stage if we destroy Chu Kingdom."
"Collaboration between demon beasts and demonic cultivators... the combined machinations of the demon sovereign and the demon lord."
"Impressive, truly impressive. What an honor for Chu Kingdom's cultivation world."
Master Zhang laughed bitterly. The Celestial Sky Sword radiated sword intent, while his eyes burned with unyielding resolve.
Jiang Linglong stepped forward, a sacred and illusory Radiant Heaven Mirror appearing behind her.
"Let's see if you can destroy us here, or if we'll flatten your Demon Lair."
The battle erupted, a clash of unparalleled magnitude.
The Radiant Heaven Mirror illuminated the dark abyss, radiating sacred light that seemed poised to suppress this demonic stronghold entirely.
Facing such power, the four Golden Core demonic cultivators wavered momentarily. Yet, prepared for this, Daoist Taicang summoned seven black skulls, each shrouded in dense demonic qi.
"The Seven Fiendish Demon Skulls!"
The crowd recoiled in horror, recognizing the artifact's origin.
This treasure, once wielded by the Black Fiend Patriarch, was forged through the sacrifice of seven late-stage Golden Core cultivators and the blood sacrifice of countless mortals.
Though the Radiant Heaven Mirror's holy power surged to counter the artifact, the Seven Fiendish Demon Skulls unleashed a torrent of demonic power, forcing the mirror into a stalemate.
Elian's expression grew grim as he observed the Radiant Heaven Mirror faltering under the overwhelming demonic energy.
Master Zhang, noticing the perilous situation, called upon the Celestial Sky Sword. "Ancestor, lend me your strength to slay these demons!"
"Clang—"
...
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