Xu Ping received a Life Creation Pill as a reward for his efforts. He then requested materials to enhance his Flying Sword's spirituality, hoping to strengthen his Sword Array. Senior Yun Wei Feng provided him with Black Obsidian Spiritual Ore, a rare material suited for this purpose, which Xu Ping gratefully accepted.
These accumulated resources alone are sufficient to make any cultivator at the Late-stage Nascent Soul realm green with envy and desperate. Yet, given the might Xu Ping has now exhibited, no one dares to harbor covetous thoughts easily.
With the matter of resources settled, Ancestor Yun Lan’s countenance shifted to one of profound solemnity once more. He declared in a deep, resonant voice:
"The distribution of resources has been finalized. Our next discussion must turn to the most vexing predicament: the Divinity Transformation ancient demon engaging in body-seizure!"
"A cultivator at the Divinity Transformation realm, even if merely a split soul inhabiting a vessel, possesses insights, techniques, and intentions far beyond our ordinary comprehension. The harsh lesson imparted by Old Demon Hehuan remains fresh in our minds. Now, this enigmatic female demon… their presence in our realm must signify a purpose of world-altering consequence."
Upon hearing these words, the atmosphere grew heavy, as if burdened by lead. A solitary Divinity Transformation demon possesses the power to reshape the world; the presence of two magnifies this threat exponentially. Nevertheless, despite their mounting anxieties, the assembled individuals, after an extensive deliberation, could devise no viable counter-strategy.
The affairs pertaining to the Divinity Transformation level have indisputably surpassed their current capabilities. The Outer Sea Human Race has endured relentless combat, depleting their ultimate trump cards. Yun Weifeng, in particular, had resorted to using a bloodline treasure that inflicted harm upon his Primordial Qi, leaving him utterly drained of further power.
"For the present moment, our sole viable course of action is to maintain a steadfast defense."
An elder cultivator, seasoned by numerous conflicts, emitted a sigh. "With both Fellow Daoist Yun and Fellow Daoist Xu present, and by leveraging the grand formations and the advantageous terrain, weathering this period of sealed weakness should not pose an insurmountable challenge." He continued, "Provided we endure until the seal is bolstered, they will become akin to uprooted duckweed. No matter their inherent strength, they will struggle to create significant disturbances."
What he left unsaid was the existence of a tacit understanding between the Outer Sea Human Race and the Demon Race. Should an uncontrollable catastrophe truly unfold, the Demon Race would likely not stand idly by.
The assembly concluded under a somber cloud, tinged with a fragile, almost hopeless, glimmer of optimism. Each individual departed, resolutely dedicating every available moment to recuperating from their injuries and reinforcing their defensive fortifications.
...
Meanwhile, within the most secluded depths of the Ancient Demon Hall.
A colossal altar, meticulously constructed from countless shards of obsidian-black demonic bones, stood defiantly amidst a swirling tempest of viscous Demonic Qi.
Above this imposing altar, the very fabric of space warped and contorted, manifesting a colossal, ceaselessly rotating vortex of Demonic Qi. It appeared to be a gateway, a conduit to some terrifying and unfathomable distant realm.
Standing in humble reverence before the altar were a woman of exquisite beauty and the young ancient demon, his arm still mended though his aura remained notably frail.
Crack, crack...
Buzz!
The space encircling the altar suddenly emitted a dolorous creaking sound, as delicate, black fissures began to spiderweb outwards.
The surging Demonic Qi converged with ferocious intensity towards the apex of the altar, as if paying homage to an omnipotent sovereign.
In an instant, a spectral, indistinct yet profoundly terrifying phantom materialized silently above the altar. Its appearance caused the entirety of the Ancient Demon Hall to conv Seismically, teetering on the brink of imminent collapse.
Its form was nebulous and ever-shifting, yet a pair of indifferent eyes, seemingly holding within their depths the quintessence of annihilation and cosmic disorder, was clearly discernible.
"Your Excellency!"
The beautiful woman and the young ancient demon, overwhelmed by the titanic demonic might that bore down upon them like the weight of the entire cosmos, trembled uncontrollably. They swiftly prostrated themselves in a gesture of profound deference.
"Hmm."
The phantom vocalized a syllable devoid of discernible meaning, yet it pierced through the Divine Souls of the two demons like the thunderous roar of ten thousand beasts. "This endeavor… how did it conclude?"
The female ancient demon’s countenance turned ashen, her voice struggling for utterance. "Reporting to Your Excellency… we have met with failure."
"Failure?"
The phantom’s voice betrayed no discernible emotion, yet the pervasive pressure suddenly intensified by severalfold, threatening to crush the very life out of the two demons.
The beautiful woman’s face turned deathly pale, daring not to withhold any fragment of information. She swiftly recounted the entire progression of the battle, meticulously detailing Yun Weifeng’s deployment of his bloodline treasure and Xu Ping’s peculiar, elusive combat techniques, providing a comprehensive and accurate account.
"Bloodline treasure?"
"A cultivator possessing bizarre Divine Techniques, capable of contending with your descending manifestation while merely at the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivation?"
The phantom’s voice remained eerily impassive, yet the invisible pressure palpably eased, almost imperceptibly. "That… is rather intriguing."
He appeared to harbor no anger at their failure, but rather a nascent flicker of curiosity was ignited by these unexpected developments.
"So be it. If it failed this time, then it failed. The period of sealing weakness still holds ample time. There is no need for undue haste," the phantom stated with placid indifference, allowing the two demons below to exhale a collective sigh of internal relief.
"How proceeds the accumulation of the 'lifeforce death aura' and the 'ancient demon Evil Qi' that I commanded?" the phantom inquired subsequently.
The elegant woman responded swiftly, "Reporting to Your Excellency, following numerous engagements, particularly the recent colossal blood battle, the comprehensive collection of both auras is now nearly complete."
"Sufficient for commencing the 'Erosion Realm Secret Ceremony.'
The so-called lifeforce death aura refers to the pure resentment, the lingering unwillingness, and the final vestiges of life essence that dissipate when countless beings meet their demise.
And the ancient demon Evil Qi is the volatile, chaotic, and aggressive magical energy generated during the battles and deaths of ancient demons.
These dual forces serve as the ideal offerings and activating agents for specific demonic Secret Techniques.
"Excellent!"
A slight quiver seemed to ripple through the phantom, conveying satisfaction.
Across the vast expanse of the universe, similar passage seals to this one are not uncommon.
The ancient demon clan, throughout their conquests of various lower realms, long ago devised countermeasures against such formations.
By amalgamating the two types of auras, one originating from this realm's inhabitants and the other from demonic entities, they can gradually weaken the seal's core. Although this process is time-intensive, it is considered the most secure method, yielding the highest success rate.
Through this approach, we have successfully subjugated more than one lower realm."
After a brief silence, the phantom's voice took on a more serious tone:
"Furthermore, intelligence suggests the Red Soul Clan is growing restless and may be dispatching operatives covertly to interfere. You must maintain utmost vigilance."
"Now that the auras have been gathered sufficiently, subsequent operations must be conducted with greater subtlety. Under no circumstances should we allow those Red Soul elements to sabotage our efforts at this critical juncture!"
"The Red Soul Clan?"
The beautiful woman's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this, a flicker of apprehension crossing her features.
Within the ancient demon clan itself, numerous races coexist, fostering perpetual conflict. The Red Soul Clan, in particular, stands as the bitter nemesis of her own kind, bound by a deep-seated animosity and known for their insidious and merciless tactics.
If they were indeed to intervene, the situation would undoubtedly escalate into considerable trouble.
