Tang Xiao Qi held the Dragon Clan's treasure, the "Sea-Stabilizing Pearl," spiritual energy flowing through his body as he connected his aura with Mu Xue beside him, Ao Qin, Third Senior Sister Liu Yun, Zhao Tiezhu, and Second Senior Brother Luo Feng whose soul resided in a special magical artifact. Together they formed an integrated whole. Before them, the Gui Xu Sea Eye spun like a massive, continuously rotating deep-blue vortex, devouring all surrounding light and sound. Even space itself showed signs of distortion and shattering. Violent spatial turbulence cut like invisible blades against anything daring to approach. Had the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl not emanated a soft blue halo forming a stable barrier, everyone would have been torn apart by this terrifying force.
"The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's duration is limited. We must quickly find the entrance and determine the demonic entity's exact location." Prince Ao Qin's expression was grave. Dragon Clan reverence for the Gui Xu Sea Eye was etched into their very bloodline.
Xiao Qi nodded. The jade pendant at his chest transmitted a continuous, clear burning sensation, guiding the direction. He drew a deep breath, extending his Soul Transformation stage's vast spiritual sense carefully forward, attempting to pierce through that chaotic spatial barrier. Where his spiritual sense reached, nothing but shattered law fragments and annihilating energy turbulence existed. An ordinary cultivator here would be destroyed in an instant.
"Follow me!" Xiao Qi called out, manipulating the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's light barrier like steering a tiny boat, recklessly charging into the terrifying Sea Eye vortex.
In an instant, heaven and earth spun. The surrounding scenery became grotesque and bizarre—no longer deep seawater, but a twisted, colorful void passage. Time and space had lost their logic here. Everyone felt as if they had crossed infinitely vast distances in an instant, yet also as if merely standing in place. The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's barrier trembled violently, emitting an unbearable buzzing sound.
Who knows how long passed—perhaps just an instant, perhaps a long year—when the chaotic scene ahead suddenly transformed completely.
The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's barrier broke through the final spatial membrane. A completely different world presented itself before everyone.
There was no concept of up or down, no sun, moon, or stars—only an eternal, oppressive dimness. In the distance, points of ghostly fire-like faint starlight glowed, bringing no warmth but instead adding layers of eeriness. And right at the center of this void, an incomparably vast creation quietly floated, unfathomable in description.
It was a... nest?
Completely constructed from what seemed like living, constantly writhing pitch-black substance, its surface covered with twisted, vein-like pulsating demonic patterns, emanating concentrated demonic energy thick enough to induce nausea. Demonic energy rolled and surged around the nest like a materialized black tide, forming natural defensive barriers. The nest's form was extremely irregular, as if formed by forcibly mixing countless shattered worlds, twisted laws, and endless grudges into a temporary yet stable fortress. Its scale rivaled a floating continent. Standing before it, everyone seemed no larger than dust motes.
"Void Demon Nest..." Xiao Qi murmured, eyes sharp as blades. The Purification Essence within him agitated unprecedentedly, as if encountering a natural enemy. The jade pendant burned hot, a green lotus phantom flickering behind him, emanating pure white light, forming a stark contrast with that overwhelming demonic energy.
"What terrifying demonic energy! Even more pure, even more... profound than what we sensed at the Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh!" Third Senior Sister Liu Yun gripped her sword tightly, the blade humming with her master's fighting spirit, yet for the first time, extremely grave expression crossed her face. The demonic energy quality here far exceeded any previous encounter.
Zhao Tiezhu's muscles were taut, golden light faintly rippling across his body surface as the "Vajra Demon-Subduing Divine Art" spontaneously operated to its extreme. He muttered, "Gosh, this thing looks sinister! Is the old demon boss hiding inside?"
Mu Xue said nothing, but cold qi swirled around her, ice crystals condensing in the void, making her beautiful features appear even colder. She extended her delicate finger, pointing toward a certain direction of the demon nest: "The demonic energy fluctuation there is most subtle, but also most powerful, carrying a kind of... slumbering rhythm."
Second Senior Brother Luo Feng (soul state) attached to the special compass artifact immediately busied himself. Countless runes on the compass lit up, rapidly scanning and analyzing the demon nest's structure and energy flow. "Energy readings are off the charts! Structure is exceptionally complex, with multiple high-energy reaction sources inside. One of them... is extremely terrifying, far beyond the Nascent Soul level. That should be the demonic entity's main body! It's indeed recovering strength here! Looking at the demon nest's stability and energy absorption rate, it's recovering faster than we anticipated!"
Xiao Qi's gaze was heavy as he carefully studied this Void Demon Nest. He discovered the demon nest wasn't completely stationary, but extremely slowly absorbing some invisible energy from the void—perhaps the power of space itself, perhaps more distant stellar energy—to nourish itself, repairing the demonic entity's damaged origin. Those pulsating demonic patterns on the nest's surface resembled breathing, flickering in rhythm with the demonic entity's slumbering pace.
"We cannot let it continue recovering." Xiao Qi's voice wasn't loud, yet carried unquestionable resolve. "We must find a way in, interrupt its recovery process, even... give it a severe blow while it slumbers!"
"How do we get in?" Ao Qin frowned. "The demonic energy barrier outside the demon nest is incredibly thick, and I can sense extremely dangerous spatial restrictions within. Charging through forcefully will definitely wake the demonic entity and trigger the most fierce counterattack."
Xiao Qi contemplated briefly, tip of his finger condensing traces of chaotic power. He carefully probed this thread of power toward the demonic energy barrier surrounding the demon nest. Where the chaotic power touched demonic energy, rather than triggering violent reaction, it dissolved like a drop of water into the sea, silently eroding a tiny area. Though instantly filled by more demonic energy, it did briefly open a negligible gap.
"Chaotic power is effective!" Xiao Qi's eyes gleamed. "Demonic energy is essentially also a form of energy, and chaos encompasses all things, can also decompose all things. If we push all out, we might forcibly tear open an entrance, but the disturbance will certainly be huge."
Just then, Second Senior Brother Luo Feng suddenly exclaimed: "Wait! Something's coming out!"
From the demon nest's surface, several pitch-black openings opened. Dozens of bizarrely shaped demons composed of pure demonic energy flew out. Some resembled bats but had three pairs of fleshy wings and sharp bone spurs; some like twisted shadows with no fixed form, constantly transforming in the void; others like spliced-together monsters, radiating violent auras. These demons were clearly on routine patrol. Their crimson eyes scanned the void, quickly locking onto the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's light barrier—this clump of "foreign matter."
"We've been discovered! Prepare for battle!" Xiao Qi called out. The Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword appeared in his hand instantly, blade crimson-red, faintly carrying dragon roars and phoenix cries.
The patrol demons emitted silent screams in the void where sound couldn't travel, but their berserk intent could be felt through spiritual sense. Like sharks scenting blood, they charged fiercely toward the squad. Their speed was extremely fast, seemingly unaffected by the void environment. Their attack methods were also bizarre and varied—some spat corrosive demonic flames, some released mental impacts, some directly wielded demonic energy-congealed claws to tear.
"Freezing Ten Thousand Li!" Mu Xue struck first. Her delicate hand waved, extreme cold qi swept forth, instantly freezing over a dozen demons at the front into ice sculptures, which then shattered into powder in the void.
Third Senior Sister's sword light was like a dragon. Each strike precisely targeted the demons' core demonic energy nodes, sword intent erupting to completely purify them.
Zhao Tiezhu was like a human-shaped war dragon, charging directly into the demon swarm, fists and legs flying, golden light flashing as demons were shattered by his powerful blows.
Ao Qin controlled water dragons, condensing huge ice crystal water dragons in the void to sweep across the area.
Xiao Qi didn't go all out. While slaying demons approaching him, he carefully observed these demons' composition and action patterns, simultaneously sensing the demon nest's reactions after being attacked.
The battle ended quickly. The dozens of patrol demons were cleared completely. But the demon nest showed no larger disturbance—only that terrifying slumbering intent seemed to slightly fluctuate, then recover stability.
"It seems these are only the lowest-level guards." Xiao Qi sheathed his sword, brow slightly furrowed. "The demonic entity appears to be in a critical phase of deep recovery. As long as no direct threat reaches the demon nest's main body or itself, it won't easily awaken. This is our only opportunity."
He gazed again at that vast, like a slowly pulsating heart, demon nest, his resolve firm.
"We must find a relatively safe path, or create an opportunity, to sneak in. The demonic entity's lair is right before us. We absolutely cannot let it escape again!"
The Void Demon Nest—this ultimate threat—finally revealed its hideous appearance to the expedition squad. The true final battle had not yet begun, but that suffocating pressure already shrouded everyone's hearts.