Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1354: Demonic Abyss

Both Gao Changkong and Lancelot's expressions soured. Another contender had arrived, poised to claim the spoils. Worse still, with the Lord of the Charnel Ground's presence, any division of the loot would undoubtedly be dictated by his will.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground, however, didn't immediately advance. He positioned himself on a higher vantage point, his voice resonating outwards. "Your Grand Priest is no more! The Demon Kingdom ceases to exist from this very moment!"

His words, though spoken with a seemingly gentle tone, carried throughout the ancient city of the Demon Kingdom, reaching every inhabitant. This was a manifestation of his 'Six Senses Dharma Gate' ability, a powerful form of tongue sense.

The Demonic People, who had been gripped by terror and unease, heard the Lord of the Charnel Ground's proclamation. Many witnessed the Grand Priest's severed head clutched in his hand, and their resolve shattered. They fell into despair, clutching their heads and wailing in anguish. Some succumbed to overwhelming grief, coughing up blood, while others wept tears that bled.

From the upper levels, the residents of the Demon Kingdom began a grim exodus, lining up and leaping to their deaths, their final moments a cascade of lives ending like dumplings tossed into a vast, unforgiving pot.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground remained unmoved, devoid of any pity. The doctrines of his esoteric sect dictated that the Demonic People were the very source of the Snowy Region's calamities and needed to be purged entirely.

Only after this grim declaration did the Lord of the Charnel Ground turn his gaze towards Zhang Yi and his companions. He offered a subtle nod. "Everyone, your efforts have been commendable!"

Lancelot, crossing his arms, let out a cold sneer. "Hardly. Just ensure you don't try to claim the treasures here. You know precisely why we are present."

The Lord of the Charnel Ground's eyes flickered towards the Nine-Story Demon Tower. "Indeed? You have not yet acquired the treasure within its walls?" he inquired with visible surprise.

The Divine Source, essentially a sacrificial spirit, exerted an irresistible pull on superhumans. Being so close, its potent aura had been palpable to them all. The Lord of the Charnel Ground found it perplexing that these three groups were confronting each other here, rather than seizing the prize within.

Upon hearing this, Gao Changkong, Lancelot, and the others turned their gazes to Zhang Yi, their eyes burning with a mixture of fury and hatred.

At that precise moment, Zhang Yi's voice cut through the tension. "No, I've already taken it."

These words struck everyone present, eliciting expressions of sheer astonishment and disbelief directed at Zhang Yi.

"What did you just say???"

A sudden, fierce gust of wind swept in from nearby.

"Whoosh—"

A colossal, winged Cat Demon soared towards Zhang Yi. Perched upon its back was the adorably unwieldy Totoro, clutching a black earthenware jar to its chest and presenting it to Zhang Yi as if it were the greatest treasure.

Even through the vessel, the palpable power that sent tremors through one's very soul commanded everyone's rapt attention.

Zhang Yi casually pocketed the jar, then offered Totoro a smile and a pat on the head. "Good baby, excellent work!"

The assembled group stood utterly frozen. They had intently guarded the entrance to the Nine-Story Demon Tower this whole time and hadn't witnessed a single soul entering. Furthermore, the tower's formidable defenses, capable of withstanding even a full-power assault from an Epsilon-level superhuman, seemed to have been bypassed with impossible ease.

How had this gargantuan feline and the fluffy creature managed to infiltrate the sacred structure? They remained unaware that back within the purple pyramid deep beneath the Qinling Abyss, Totoro had successfully pilfered the sacrificial spirit right under Bai Longzi's watchful nose. The mere Nine-Story Demon Tower of the Demon Kingdom was hardly a challenge in comparison.

While Totoro's direct combat prowess might not be exceptional, its unique talents in 'excavation' and acquisition were unparalleled.

Gao Changkong, Lancelot, and the others, snapping back to reality, fixed their gazes upon Zhang Yi, their eyes conveying a predatory hunger.

"Despicable! You conniving fiend!" Lancelot bellowed, his voice thick with rage. "You feigned madness earlier, all as a ploy to secretly dispatch your subordinate to abscond with the treasure from within the demon tower ages ago!"

They had been teetering on the brink of madness, thanks to Zhang Yi's manipulations moments before. Now, the crushing realization dawned: Zhang Yi had masterfully deceived them all.

Several superhumans glared with eyes wide enough to burst, their impulses urging them to charge at Zhang Yi for a personal confrontation. Yet, a sober assessment of their own strength led them to reluctantly desist. The object was already secured in Zhang Yi's possession; their resentment was futile.

"Your entire act just now was a sham, blast you! What part of any of this was genuine? Tell me, what exactly is real?" Gao Changkong muttered, rubbing his forehead, his brow furrowed with dark, agitated lines.

Zhang Yi simply spread his hands. "I discovered the item first, and now that it's in my grasp, it rightfully belongs to me!"

Lancelot drew a deep, ragged breath before suddenly pointing his right hand directly at Zhang Yi.

"Chaos, you have impeached my knightly honor! A duel to the death between us is inevitable, though perhaps not today!"

"We have more pressing matters that require our immediate attention."

Lancelot understood the importance of priorities.

Despite Zhang Yi's earlier humiliation of him, the item within the Nine-Story Demon Tower was not their ultimate objective.

Zhang Yi offered a slight smile. "Certainly, certainly. Should I have the leisure next time, I will be glad to accompany you."

Accompany me, my foot! Does he truly believe I have that much free time?

Zhang Yi scoffed inwardly, yet his outward demeanor remained composed.

The advantages were already secured; there was no need for outward boasting after gaining the upper hand.

His attention then shifted towards the figure of the Lord of the Charnel Ground, who maintained an air of serene composure.

"Lord of the Charnel Ground, surely our endeavors do not conclude with this, do they?"

The Lord of the Charnel Ground responded, "Our mission concerning the Demon Kingdom has reached its conclusion. Henceforth, we shall undertake a thorough purging of the Demonic People residing here."

He then abruptly altered the topic of conversation. "However, the fundamental cause remains unaddressed!"

Zhang Yi had already anticipated this very outcome.

The Demonic People, originally a native race of the Snowy Plateau Region, had been corrupted by an aberrant power, eventually transforming into a tribe that venerated the abyss.

Even after a millennium, their physical forms had continued to enlarge, yet they still communicated in a dialect closely resembling that of the Snowy Plateau Region.

Yang Xinxin had, at one point, provided him with interpretations of the Snowy Plateau's historical records pertaining to the Demon Kingdom.

According to ancient lore, their progenitor king had discovered a terrifying, bottomless chasm situated beneath the Great Snow Mountain, from which he derived his formidable power.

Since time immemorial, they had engaged in ritualistic human sacrifices as offerings to appease the deity residing within the Demon Abyss.

Having weathered numerous trials and tribulations, Zhang Yi had by now surmised the presence of an ancient subterranean civilization dwelling in this locale.

It was precisely this civilization that had been responsible for transforming the inhabitants of the Snowy Region into subservient subjects of the Demon Kingdom.

Should they not be utterly eradicated, there was a distinct possibility they might one day emerge from the Great Snow Mountain and unleash devastation upon the entirety of the Snowy Plateau Region.

This bore a chilling resemblance to the catastrophe that befell Star Island in the past.

Following the release of the toxic miasma from Mist Valley, nearly all life on the island had been extinguished, and even the marine life in the surrounding seas had not been spared.

The enigmatic and unfathomable subterranean races represented a profound menace to humankind.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground's gaze settled upon the colossal Nine-Story Demon Tower.

"The annotations left by Master Padmasambhava indicate that the Demon Kingdom established their city directly over the Demon Abyss and erected a grand altar specifically for the purpose of sacrifices."

"Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the location of the Demon Abyss is precisely here!"

As he uttered these words, he produced a yellow-green Vajra pestle. The artifact bore the unmistakable patina of immense age, etched with the ravages of time and exuding an aura of profound vicissitude.

This was the very ritual implement employed by Master Padmasambhava in bygone eras, an item that the Lord of the Charnel Ground had brought with him.

Raising his hand, an immense and resplendent golden Buddha's light surged forth from his being with violent intensity.

His youthful form seemed to expand, as he raised the Vajra pestle on high, assuming the posture of a subduing-demon arhat.

With a forceful heave, the Vajra pestle was hurled directly at the Nine-Story Demon Tower. Brilliant golden light enveloped the tower, shining with the brilliance of the sun!

A deafening "Boom—" reverberated through the air as the Nine-Story Demon Tower, its apex already partially devastated by Zhang Yi's preceding assault, began to disintegrate rapidly from its pointed summit downwards.