After Junior Brother Zhang Ming departed, Senior Brother Mu led the remaining nine, advancing with even greater vigilance toward the core region of the secret realm. Everyone was on high alert, their spiritual senses extended, attuned to every rustle of wind or grass. The faint demonic aura and subtle scent of blood lingering in the air acted like an invisible alarm bell, ringing incessantly in everyone's hearts.
After advancing for roughly half an hour and passing through an area of bizarre rock formations and complex terrain, the sounds of intense combat suddenly erupted ahead—the explosive collisions of spiritual energy, intermingled with the savage howls of demonic arts!
"Something's happening!" Senior Brother Mu immediately raised his hand, signaling the team to halt. Everyone quickly took cover, using the terrain for concealment.
Xiao Qi quietly extended his spiritual sense forward. Several hundred zhang ahead, in a relatively open depression, a brutal siege was underway.
The ones being surrounded were five cultivators wearing earthy-yellow monk robes. Judging by their attire, they were disciples of the "Vajra Sect." The Vajra Sect was renowned for its body-refining techniques; its disciples possessed formidable physiques and immense strength. Yet at this moment, these five Vajra Sect disciples appeared utterly disheveled, each bearing injuries. They stood back-to-back, forming a small defensive formation, their bodies enveloped in an interwoven glow of Buddhist light and earthy-yellow spiritual radiance, struggling desperately to hold on.
Surrounding them were eight demonic cultivators from the Shadow Snake Pavilion! These eight coordinated seamlessly: two wielded filthy blood-red banners, constantly shaking them to release eerie bloodlight that weakened spiritual energy and corroded the mind; three unleashed various insidious demonic arts—corrosive black water, sharp bone spikes, mind-bewitching demonic sounds—which surged like tidal waves, relentlessly bombarding the Vajra Sect's defensive circle. The remaining three prowled the periphery, waiting for an opening, like venomous snakes seeking flaws in the defense.
On the ground lay the corpses of two Vajra Sect disciples, their vital essence dried up, their deaths identical to those seen before. The remaining five were at the end of their rope; their defensive Buddhist light flickered precariously, their bodies marred by demonic qi erosion, wounds blackened and festering, their auras feeble.
"They're friends from the Vajra Sect!" Third Senior Sister Liu whispered urgently. "They won't last much longer!"
Senior Brother Mu's gaze swept sharply across the battlefield as he swiftly assessed the situation. "The demonic cultivators have the advantage in numbers and are assisted by formations. A head-on assault is unwise. We must catch them by surprise, disrupt their formation, rescue them, and retreat immediately!"
He quickly assigned tasks: "Liu Yun, take two and attack from the left flank—target those two banner wielders, disrupt their spells at all costs! Junior Brother Li, take one and feint an attack from the right, draw the attention of those three prowling demonic cultivators! Xiao Qi, along with Junior Brother Wang and Junior Sister Sun, follow me in a frontal assault—drive straight into the core and link up with the Vajra Sect daoists!"
"Move out!"
The command given, everyone shot forward like arrows from their hiding places.
Third Senior Sister Liu took the lead, her figure swift as lightning. Her longsword bloomed with a clear, cold sword aura, carrying an unstoppable momentum as she charged straight at the two demonic cultivators shaking the blood banners on the left flank. The two disciples behind her also attacked simultaneously, swordlight and spells flying together.
On the right, Junior Brother Li and his companion shouted loudly, unleashing formidable techniques to create a huge commotion, successfully drawing the attention of the three prowling demonic cultivators outward.
Meanwhile, Senior Brother Mu let out a low roar, his aura surging. A simple, heavy ancient sword appeared in his hand, its blade shimmering with a solid, earthy-yellow sword radiance, steady as a mountain, crushing everything in its path as he fearlessly charged into the densest part of the demonic cultivators' defense on the frontal line. Xiao Qi and the other two disciples followed closely. Xiao Qi still gripped his black wok, not yet drawing the Crimson Flame Sword.
The sudden arrival of the Qingxu Temple team was like cold water poured into boiling oil, instantly shattering the battlefield's balance.
"Who's there?!"
"It's people from Qingxu Temple! Be careful!"
The demonic cultivator ranks erupted into chaos. They clearly hadn't expected another fresh force lying in ambush nearby—and one that struck directly at their vital points!
On the left flank, Third Senior Sister Liu's sword aura had already arrived, forcing the two banner-wielding demonic cultivators to interrupt their spells and hastily defend, drastically reducing the banners' weakening effect.
On the right, Junior Brother Li's feint successfully tied down the three prowling demonic cultivators.
On the frontal line, Senior Brother Mu's powerful, overwhelming sword strike shattered several incoming demonic arts like rotten wood, forcibly tearing a breach in the demonic cultivators' encirclement!
"Fellow daoists of the Vajra Sect! Follow me to break out!" Senior Brother Mu's voice boomed like a great bell as he shouted toward the struggling Vajra Sect disciples inside the circle.
The five Vajra Sect disciples, already in despair, were instantly invigorated by this heaven-sent rescue. Roaring, they mustered their last reserves of strength and desperately charged toward the gap Senior Brother Mu had opened.
Xiao Qi stayed close to Senior Brother Mu's side, swinging his wok so densely that it repelled several attempts of corrosive black water and bone spikes. The strange shockwave force caused the attacking demonic cultivators' qi and blood to churn, leaving them startled and uncertain.
In the chaos, one Vajra Sect disciple lagging behind was struck in the back by a cunning strand of demonic qi. He cried out in pain and collapsed, black qi rapidly spreading from the wound.
"Junior Brother Zhang!" A burly Vajra Sect disciple at the forefront glared with eyes wide in rage, wanting to turn back and rescue, but was blocked by more demonic arts.
Xiao Qi's eyes narrowed. Changing his footwork, he instantly dashed to the side of the fallen Vajra Sect disciple. With one hand holding the wok to deflect incoming attacks, his other hand swiftly pressed against the demonic qi‑eroded wound on the disciple's back.
He activated the "Basic Purification Art," simultaneously drawing a wisp of purification essence from the jade pendant!
A soft, pure white light emerged from his palm, quickly enveloping the vicious wound.
"Hiss…"
Like cold water splashed into hot oil, the stubborn demonic qi that ceaselessly eroded vitality began to emit faint sizzling sounds under the illumination of the purification white light. Its spread abruptly halted and started to visibly recede. The blackness of the wound rapidly faded; though still a mangled mess of flesh, the lethal demonic qi erosion had been suppressed!
The pained, twisted expression on the Vajra Sect disciple's face eased considerably. He looked at Xiao Qi with shock and gratitude.
"Go!" Xiao Qi hissed, pulling him up and shoving him toward a Qingxu Temple disciple who had come to assist.
The whole process occurred in the blink of an eye.
"Purification Power?! It's that kid!" Among the demonic cultivators, someone recognized Xiao Qi's method and roared in anger and alarm. Clearly, news of Xiao Qi killing their comrades near the Heritage Hall and possessing purification power had spread among the demonic cultivators!
This momentary distraction gave the Qingxu Temple and Vajra Sect disciples the perfect opportunity.
"Retreat!" Seeing the rescue accomplished, Senior Brother Mu showed no desire to prolong the fight. At his command, the earthy‑yellow sword radiance swept horizontally, repelling pursuers as he led the group swiftly away from the battlefield, rapidly retreating along the planned escape route.
The demonic cultivators wanted to give chase but were delayed momentarily by the rearguard attacks of Third Senior Sister Liu and Junior Brother Li. Coupled with their wariness of Xiao Qi's strange purification power, they were ultimately a step too slow, forced to watch helplessly as the group vanished into the complex stone forest.
Successfully shaking off pursuit, they stopped in a concealed mountain hollow. The Qingxu Temple disciples immediately set up simple warning and concealment arrays.
The five rescued Vajra Sect disciples, along with the one whose demonic qi had been temporarily suppressed by Xiao Qi, slumped to the ground, breathing heavily, their faces filled with relief at having survived disaster.
"We thank the daoists of Qingxu Temple for saving our lives!" The burly Vajra Sect disciple at the forefront struggled to his feet and solemnly bowed to Senior Brother Mu, Xiao Qi, and the others, his voice hoarse but sincere. "If not for your timely intervention, we would surely have met our end today!"
His gaze lingered especially on Xiao Qi, full of gratitude. Xiao Qi's purification of the demonic qi earlier had been like timely aid in a snowstorm.
Senior Brother Mu waved a hand. "We are all righteous paths; watching over and aiding each other is our duty. How are your injuries?"
Mention of injuries darkened the expressions of the Vajra Sect members again. Most were wounded by demonic qi; though temporarily suppressed, the demonic qi was stubborn. If not expelled promptly, the consequences would be severe. Especially the disciple Xiao Qi had aided—though the demonic qi erosion was checked, his injuries remained grave.
Xiao Qi stepped forward and said to the burly disciple, "Senior Brother, if you trust me, I can help purge the residual demonic qi from all of you."
The burly disciple was overjoyed upon hearing this. "We'd be immensely grateful, daoist! Our Vajra Sect will never forget your great kindness!"
Without further words, Xiao Qi proceeded to purge the demonic qi from each of the five Vajra Sect disciples. With his earlier experience, his control over purification power was even more adept. Though the drain was still considerable, the effects were remarkable. After the gentle white light washed over them, the demonic qi in their wounds was completely purified. Though their physical injuries still required recuperation, at least the danger of demonic qi eroding their foundations was avoided.
Witnessing Xiao Qi's miraculous method, not only the Vajra Sect disciples, but even some Qingxu Temple comrades revealed looks of astonishment.
From this battle onward, Qingxu Temple and the surviving five Vajra Sect disciples temporarily formed an alliance. And Xiao Qi's "special technique" capable of purifying demonic qi left a deep impression in everyone's hearts, becoming an important trump card in this makeshift team.
The shadow of the demonic cultivators still loomed, but the power of unity also let everyone glimpse a sliver of hope to pierce through the darkness.