The western reaches of the Abyss Domain.
Blood Bat Continent.
Above a sprawling demonic city, the heavens churned. Endless Demonic Energy surged toward the sky, condensing into layers of pitch-black clouds that pressed downward like a doomsday curtain—threatening to collapse at any moment and annihilate everything beneath them.
A thunderous roar exploded.
At the heart of the whirling black clouds, a colossal demonic silhouette—tens of thousands of feet tall—stood suspended in the air. Three heads, eight arms, and an armor of writhing blood-red radiance… Its overwhelming blood fiend aura rolled out like a tidal wave.
Wherever its aura swept, every extraterritorial fiend—along with the entire city—was reduced to nothing but drifting ash.
That terrifying fluctuation spread for hundreds of thousands of miles. Countless fiends trembled uncontrollably beneath the oppressive might, their bodies quivering like prey caught before a primordial beast.
Then—
A tear split across the sky.
From the pitch-black spatial fissure, a figure stepped forth—holy and sinister flames coiling around his body like twin serpents. The moment he emerged, his brow furrowed sharply.
His pressure descended.
"Holy Demonic Hand."
He raised his palm.
White and black flames surged outward like a storm, sweeping across the heavens and earth. They spiraled into a massive vortex—within which a titanic demonic palm condensed in an instant.
The palm descended.
It tore through layer after layer of demonic barriers, punching straight through the blood giant's chest with a thunderous explosion.
A shriek tore the sky.
The blood phantom writhed, its countless fused souls screaming in agony, its frenzied power growing even more violent… yet the black-white holy flames only burned hotter, enveloping the titan whole.
Inside the flames, thousands of howls rang at once. It was the sound of innumerable souls wailing together.
Even the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor paused—his pupils tightening.
This… wasn't Liu Xi.
The blood giant's body shattered from within. Countless fragmented demonic souls spilled out, melting in the saintly flames like wax. As the torrent of souls dissolved, the giant collapsed entirely.
Only a single, weakened remnant soul floated weakly within the fire.
Its blood-red eyes flickered with the faintest sliver of clarity. Staring at the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor, it trembled, lips parting with immense struggle:
"…Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor… my lord… be careful…"
The last syllable barely left its mouth—
Then it vanished, burned into nothingness.
One of Liu Xi's failed demonic energy constructs. Nothing more.
The Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor's expression darkened. Someone had used this as a smokescreen… while the true culprit had already slipped away.
That someone was unmistakable.
Suddenly—
The black clouds above began to thicken.
Silhouettes emerged one after another, demonic might stretching across the heavens like a suffocating net.
Seven Heavenly Demon Emperors.
Twenty-four Profound Demon Emperors.
Thirty-six Abyss Demon Emperors.
Their combined pressure sealed heaven and earth completely. Even a fly could not escape this domain.
This was the net he prepared for Liu Xi.
But Liu Xi had already moved.
And he had moved first.
"Lord Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor…"
A trembling voice rose behind him.
The Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor's lips curled into a cold, vicious smile.
"Interesting… truly interesting. All these years, only I have schemed against others. Yet today, someone dares scheme against me."
...
Meanwhile, deep within the Abyss Domain—
The Ten Thousand Demon Hall.
In the frigid, oppressive palace complex, Liu Xi—disguised beneath torrents of Demonic Energy—walked calmly through the heavily guarded grounds.
Thanks to the Nine-Turn Profound Art and Soul Control, his aura now rivaled a Profound Demon Emperor's. No guard questioned him. Wherever he passed, demon generals and demon kings bowed deeply, moving aside with utmost respect.
He strode straight toward the forbidden depths.
Two Abyss Demon Emperors barred his way before the towering obsidian gates.
One stepped forward, bowing slightly, though tension flickered in his eyes.
"Honored one… without a command token from the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor, none may enter the treasure vault."
Liu Xi's eyes turned icy.
A wave of oppressive demonic might burst forth.
The two Abyss Demon Emperors stiffened at once—fear written plainly across their faces.
Liu Xi's voice was cold and disdainful.
"Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor commanded me to retrieve an item to hunt down the fugitive. This is not something the likes of you need to know."
Before they could react—
Azure flames swept outward.
Two muffled explosions rang.
Their bodies were instantly consumed.
Liu Xi stepped past the falling remnants of ashes.
Before him stood the giant black gate—the one radiating a faint pulse of power that tugged at his spiritual sense.
The source he had sensed since entering the palace.
"The War God's Remains… are behind this door."
He pressed his palm forward.
Azure flames roared out, engulfing the gate entirely.
The saintly demonic barriers cracked and melted under the devouring blue light. A narrow passage finally opened—just as alarm sirens erupted throughout the palace.
Liu Xi frowned.
"No more time. That puppet won't fool the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor for long… and now it certainly can't."
He slipped inside.
The treasure vault opened before him—hundreds of floating spheres of dim light filled the vast space, each containing an ancient artifact.
His sleeve swept outward.
A vortex of devouring force erupted from within—an evolving sleeve-world.
One by one, the floating treasures were ripped from their stands and dragged into the pocket space.
Then—
A flicker of golden light caught his eye.
A sphere pulsed with divine brilliance. Sitting within was a colossal, golden humanoid silhouette—majestic, unmoving, yet exuding a terrifying pressure even through death.
Liu Xi's heart tightened.
"Found it."
The War God's remains.
He seized the sphere.
No hesitation.
"It's time to leave before that old monster rushes back and blocks every exit."
...
When the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor and the assembled elites finally returned to the Ten Thousand Demon Hall—
The treasure vault had been emptied.
Every artifact was stolen.
Every defense is broken.
The Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor nearly vomited blood.
He had dragged Liu Xi into the Abyss Domain and failed to capture him.
And now—
He had lost treasures collected over tens of thousands of years.
A total, catastrophic loss.
(End of Chapter)
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