Chapter 126: Battle Against the Evil Clan!
A dark, sinister voice reverberated across this stretch of heaven and earth. Within Xin Kui's eyes, boundless evil qi suddenly erupted and surged forth.
The vegetation on the ground where he stood, under the erosion of that evil qi, rapidly withered and died. All life force was domineeringly stripped away.
Even the spiritual energy in that area gradually turned gray and ashen. The stench of death permeated the air.
"Such formidable evil qi!"
Witnessing the power of evil qi for the first time, Medusa and Zi Yan marveled, their gazes also sharpening. That evil qi was simply far too overbearing—even the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was polluted and eroded by it.
If it were to invade the human body, how much destruction would it wreak?
At this thought, deep caution and wariness filled the two women's eyes. It seemed these Extraterritorial Evil Clans were even harder to deal with than they had imagined. In battle against them, the first priority was to guard against their strange evil qi invading the body.
"Soul-Devouring Hand!"
With a cold shout, Xin Kui extended his pallid palm. In his palm, wicked demonic markings seemed to surface. In the next instant, surging waves of evil qi howled forth like billowing smoke. In the blink of an eye, it coalesced into a terrifying hundred-zhang giant hand that blasted the air apart, roaring straight toward the three.
Facing Xin Kui's attack, Medusa and Zi Yan exchanged a glance. In the next instant, vast spiritual energy erupted from within the two women. Immense spiritual energy swept outward like a storm at that moment.
But the Xin Kui across from them, facing that powerful spiritual energy pressure, merely revealed a cold sneer. He roared: "Mere Fleshly Tribulation—you think you're worthy of contending against me?!"
"Die for me!" The demon-marked giant hand blotted out the sky, howling toward them, as if seeking to crush all three to death in a single grip.
"Roar—"
Sensing the terrifying power of that giant hand, though the trio's expressions remained unchanged, caution filled their hearts.
A peculiar, strange roar rang out, spreading across the entire battlefield. Everyone felt a prickle at the back of their necks, as if an ancient primordial beast stood right beside them.
Dark clouds suddenly roiled into the sky. A nine-colored pillar of light shot up from the earth. Then, before the crowd's eyes, an enormous Nine-Colored Giant Python, a full thousand zhang in length, slowly materialized. Its colossal body was half-hidden within the black clouds, like a soaring dragon.
"Nine-colored..."
"A Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python!"
Gazing at that giant python, beautiful yet brimming with coiled, rugged power, everyone couldn't help but stare blankly. For a moment, they even forgot the dire straits they were in.
"A Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python! Then who are you two?" Huo Du, locked in battle against seven Flame Demon clansmen alone, saw the heaven-spanning giant python and was the first to snap out of his shock. Curious, his gaze shifted toward Jiang Yun and Zi Yan.
From the very first encounter, he had sensed these people were no simple figures. Now, with a Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python revealing itself, his instincts had indeed not been wrong. He was now even more curious about Jiang Yun's identity. Perhaps these three were the key to breaking this deadlock.
The sudden development indeed startled Xin Kui. Even within his own clan, the Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python was a name of resounding, awe-inspiring renown, having brought no small amount of trouble to their Sacred Clan.
But sensing its mere Fleshly Tribulation strength, Xin Kui roared: "So what if it's a Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python?! I just happen to be lacking a snakeskin belt—you'll do perfectly!"
"Boom—"
From within the black clouds, a giant tail suddenly blasted down furiously. A Heaven-Devouring Python at the Fleshly Tribulation had strength directly rivaling the Divine Soul Tribulation. As its attack descended, it seemed as if the very heavens were collapsing.
"Snakeskin belt? Your skull wouldn't even be worthy of being used as a lamp in my eyes!" Just as the crowd's gazes were drawn by the Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python, an icy voice rang out. Dazzling purple light swept outward.
A Purple Crystal Battle Spear lunged across the sky like a giant dragon. The spiritual energy upon it was concentrated to the extreme. Spear gleams flickered. The surrounding space was torn into rift after rift by its razor edge.
The battle spear, carrying a fearsome force, vanished abruptly and reappeared just as abruptly right before Xin Kui's eyes. The terrifying force wind shook the surrounding mountains into rubble.
"Petty tricks!" Sensing the sharpness of the spear tip, Xin Kui reacted swiftly. With a cold snort, he rapidly thrust out a palm.
"Boom—"
The purple battle spear rebounded backward, falling into Zi Yan's jade-like hand. Her dragon eyes swept over, her icy gaze locking onto Xin Kui, whose eyes were equally cold.
"True Dragon Clan!"
Staring at the red mark on his palm, Xin Kui's expression was unsightly as he looked at Zi Yan, who was like a goddess of war. Gritting his teeth, he ground out the words one by one.
"So what if it's a True Dragon? Have the divine beasts that have fallen beneath our clan's iron hooves been few?!"
Thwarted time and again beyond expectation, Xin Kui's face darkened. The evil qi around him had already been cultivated to the extreme. A blood-red killing intent immediately flashed through his eyes. His hand clenched. A black long blade appeared in his grasp. That long blade radiated a bone-chilling, sinister coldness.
On the blade's body were dark-red vein patterns, as if fresh blood continuously dripped from it. A gloomy, chilling force emanated outward.
Dong!
Xin Kui stomped heavily. The air beneath his feet exploded. Yet his figure shot forward at an astonishing speed, appearing right before the three. The long blade aimed for their necks at a viciously cunning, ruthless angle.
"Hmph—"
Zi Yan snorted coldly. Facing Xin Kui's full-force strike, she did not retreat. Her thick dragon claw gripped the heavy battle spear, giving it a shake. The Purple Crystal Battle Spear thrust out violently. As purple light spread, within the battle spear, it was as if the phantom of an Ancient Dragon materialized—absolutely domineering.
Ding!
The spear tip was incomparably precise. The two weapons collided heavily at a single point. Ripples immediately spread outward from that point of void. The surrounding air exploded layer upon layer in succession.
Zi Yan's expression sank. She sensed the energy fluctuations contained on the opponent's blade body. That vast, sea-like evil qi—even as she pushed her strength to its utmost limit, she still found herself unable to shake it even slightly.
The force transmitted from the spear tip nearly made the long spear fly from her grip.
The opponent's strength somewhat exceeded her expectations.
Weng—
The clear, resonant ring of a sword echoed across heaven and earth at that moment. A dazzling sword light, so bright it stung the eyes, abruptly erupted from behind Zi Yan.
Within that nine-colored sword light radiated an indescribably sharp, fierce sword intent, as if capable of piercing through heaven and earth itself.
Sensing the razor sharpness of the sword light, Xin Kui's eyes flickered. Black mist emerged. His figure eerily vanished.
"Playing with space in front of me?" The instant the opponent vanished, Zi Yan gave a low shout. The long spear in her hand spun and abruptly smashed toward a certain spot.
"Medusa's Gaze!"
And Medusa, not a beat slower, turned her head sharply toward the same spot in space. A strange energy surged within her bewitching, alluring eyes, the eerie, demonic light within them flaring brightly.
"Ngh—"
A muffled grunt rang out. Xin Kui's figure slowly materialized at the spot in space the two women had attacked. At this moment, looking at the eerie light within Medusa's bewitching eyes, his mind spun with dizziness. When he came to, he was shocked to discover a layer of ashen-white rock had suddenly spread upward along both his legs.
Vigorous evil qi blasted through, directly reducing the spreading rock to powder.
Simultaneously, sensing the overwhelmingly domineering force wind sweeping down from above his head, Xin Kui turned and slashed out with his blade.
Clang!
Sparks flew. An extreme, ferocious force surged from the spear shaft, numbing Xin Kui's tiger's-mouth area with searing pain. His figure was sent flying backward dozens of meters before he stabilized.
"What powerful soul power!" Medusa rubbed her throbbing, swollen brow, speaking with focused gravity.
Zi Yan also tightened her grip on her long spear and nodded seriously.
"Very well. Very well. Truly worthy of the Divine Beast Clans. Mere Fleshly Tribulation, yet you've caused me so much trouble." Seeing that he had actually suffered a hidden loss at the hands of two Fleshly Tribulation fighters, Xin Kui laughed in extreme fury. Finally, his expression turned utterly emotionless. "But you won't have another chance!"
"Demon Emperor Sacred Image!"
In the sky, vast evil qi erupted violently from within Xin Kui. Then, in the air behind him, it actually coalesced into a colossal, illusory demonic shadow.
The demonic shadow was entirely shrouded in black mist. Only a pair of strange, peculiar eyes, like abyssal pits, were visible, giving off an eerie, sinister feeling. Those eyes stared at the two women from across the distance. A bizarre, oppressive might descended from the heavens!
Under this oppressive might, it seemed even the energy between heaven and earth in this area showed signs of growing chaotic.
At the same moment!
Jiang Yun's eyes flickered. Then, his palm suddenly thrust out, a finger flicking.
Spirit seal after spirit seal abruptly shot out violently, then swiftly merged into the air around him. Immediately, wave after wave of astonishing spiritual energy fluctuations swept outward.
Dazzling array patterns intertwined like serpents. The space within several hundred zhang around Jiang Yun was filled with spiritual light. The air rippled. A light array approximately a hundred zhang wide materialized around him.
The commotion on Jiang Yun's side naturally drew Xin Kui's attention. He turned his head toward Jiang Yun. Seeing those crystalline, radiant eyes, his heart couldn't help but jolt.
"Heart Eye?"
He naturally knew of the Heart Eye. He was no stranger to battling Spiritual Array Masters of the Great Thousand World and was well aware of this unique state. But all these years, he hadn't encountered a single Spiritual Array Master who had comprehended the Heart Eye state. He never expected to run into one here today.
Sensing the howling spiritual energy fluctuations around Jiang Yun and realizing the other was setting up a powerful array, the force of Xin Kui's attacks immediately intensified by several notches.
But Zi Yan, Medusa, and Xiao Jiu were no ordinary figures. Any single one of them might indeed be weaker than Xin Kui. But the three combined, cooperating with seamless tacit understanding, for a time, actually gave Xin Kui considerable trouble, making it hard for him to break through.
Standing at the center of the spiritual array, Jiang Yun watched the distant, fierce battle between Medusa, Zi Yan, and Xin Kui. His hand seal suddenly shifted.
"Demon Fire Divine Image!"
Between heaven and earth, vast fire-attribute spiritual energy rapidly condensed toward him. Then, above the center of the array, it coalesced into an enormous flame giant nearly a thousand zhang tall.
The flame giant's feet were planted directly into the sea of fire formed by the converging fire-attribute spiritual energy below. Its titanic, behemoth-like size made one's very soul tremble continuously.
A single punch from this giant smashing down—even a Divine Soul Tribulation expert would likely be blasted into nothingness.
This was an array Jiang Yun had modified and created based on the legacy of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint. Most of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint's Dou Techniques were Heaven Class—he still couldn't execute them on his own.
Thus, he could only rely on the power of spiritual arrays to barely cast these powerful Dou Techniques. The only downside: a slightly long cast time!
Moreover, many of the more powerful techniques required the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame's cooperation to unleash their full might.
One had to admit, the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint and the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame truly were a match made in heaven!
Although Jiang Yun could substitute the Saint Demon Flame for the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, with members of the Flame Demon Clan and Heart Demon Clan present opposite him, to prevent exposing himself, he couldn't use the Saint Demon Flame. This was essentially fighting with one arm tied behind his back!
He couldn't even use the Xie Ling Clan's divine abilities, lest he be recognized. Fortunately, he had obtained the legacy of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint. Otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to produce a powerful Dou Technique!
"Descend!"
Seeing the three clash once more, Jiang Yun looked at Xin Kui ahead. With a cold smirk, he let out a low shout. Behind him, the Demon Fire Divine Image abruptly raised its fist, as massive as a great mountain peak, and smashed it down directly at Xin Kui!
"Medusa's Gaze!"
"Ancient Dragon Roar!"
As they were forced back, Zi Yan and Medusa, with perfect tacit understanding, once more launched attacks at Xin Kui.
Instantly, the eerie, demonic petrifying divine light, mixed with a terrifying dragon roar, surged toward Xin Kui.
"Demon Emperor Hand!"
Sensing his retreat routes sealed, Xin Kui suddenly let out a furious roar. In the next instant, the demonic shadow behind him thrust out a giant hand covered in mysterious runes, carrying terrifying force as it blasted toward the fist descending from midair.
"Boom—"
The two colossal entities collided. A fearsome gale-force shockwave immediately swept outward. The surrounding space finally could no longer withstand such intense impact.
Cracking sounds rang out. Everything directly shattered into pitch-black fragments. The space here, under the clash of the two, had completely burst apart.
The terrifying impact forced Xin Kui to stagger backward. At this moment, he sensed a hollow emptiness within him—the manifestation of excessive evil qi consumption. Jiang Yun, in contrast, was different. Backed by the spiritual array, although his consumption was equally terrifying, he still had strength to spare.
"Fire Demon Halberd!"
Giving the opponent no time to recover, the Demon Saint Divine Image behind him lightly clenched its hand. The sea of flames within the array immediately churned and roiled violently. Then, a giant flaming halberd, its entire body a stark, eerie white, landed in the divine image's grasp.
The colossal divine image, wielding the massive halberd, suddenly slashed out, as if seeking to cleave heaven and earth in two.
Still unsteady, sensing the incoming halberd, Xin Kui's expression instantly changed drastically. He could hold back no longer and roared toward the distant Flame Demon commander: "You bastard! Are you done yet?!"
The distant Flame Demon commander, doing who-knows-what, had been searching around everywhere, paying no mind to the battles in the field. Upon hearing Xin Kui's shout, he couldn't help but look up and glance at the battle situation.
Then he saw the sight of Xin Kui being sent flying by a single halberd strike. He couldn't help but curse inwardly: Trash! A Sovereign actually suppressed by three—no, four ants!
With a mocking sneer, he stood atop a small hill. After sensing for a moment, he murmured to himself: "But it should be right here."
As his voice fell, he suddenly dropped to the ground. An extraordinarily pallid palm pressed against the earth. That familiar fluctuation made his heart surge with agitation. He couldn't help but raise his head and sweep his gaze over everyone present. A cold, callous face revealed a bizarre, eerie smile.
"Hahaha! Offer a tribute to our king's return!"
The Flame Demon commander let out a dark, sinister laugh. A black demonic array suddenly erupted from his palm.
Black flames continuously shot violently from the array toward the depths of the earth.
Rumble—