The altar thoroughly collapsed, the nine layers of stone platforms turning into countless meteor fragments wrapped in rune fragments, falling toward the endless starry sky abyss below. That pure light source that once hovered at the peak had vanished, replaced by thick, substantive demonic energy surging out from the massive void crack at the altar's core!
The demon Void Nightmare's remnant soul that had been sealed for eons, though not completely breaking free (the most core seal still seemed to be functioning, restricting its main body's complete descent), its terrifying will and partial power had already like a flood breaking through a dam, poured out, filling this starry sky hall on the verge of collapse!
"Roar—!!!"
No longer whispers, no longer temptation, but the most primitive, most violent angry roar! This roar directly acted on the soul, making all cultivators frantically fleeing feel their sea of consciousness like being hit by a heavy hammer, their vision blackening, their escape light wavering, many directly falling from mid-air, life or death unknown.
"My lotus seed! My essence! Xu Zhan!! And that little bastard!! You dare... you dare thus!!!"
Void Nightmare's roar shook space. From that cracked void gap, two completely condensed from demonic energy, crimson and massive eyes suddenly opened, filled with endless malice and madness, dead locking onto that figure being protected by Qingxu Temple's people, rushing toward the starry sky entrance—Tang Xiao Qi!
It had plotted for eons, endured and laid plans, watching the ripe "fruit" about to be in hand, could not only make up for its defects but could rely on the complete World-Purifying Green Lotus power to reach an unprecedented realm! But now, not only did Xu Zhan that damned ant with complete soul scattering as the price cut off its last leverage method, even that remaining key essence was "bound" to that little bastard in a way it couldn't understand, couldn't take!
The cooked duck, flew away right at its mouth! And in a way it completely couldn't accept!
This was not just the failure of a plan, but the ultimate provocation and trampling of its dignity as an ancient demon!
Heaven-filling rage instantly swallowed the little reason remaining in Void Nightmare's remnant soul.
"For me... keep him!!!"
Accompanying this hysterical roar, two orders, like invisible demonic thought ripples, instantly transmitted out!
One, transmitted toward the Silver-Faced Envoy and his subordinates hidden in the starry sky edge shadows, just preparing to take advantage of the chaos to withdraw!
The Silver-Faced Envoy was just feeling a trace of luck at his previous judgment (waiting for the right moment), after all, the altar's collapsing might was too terrifying. However, the demon lord Void Nightmare's rage-filled and unquestionable will, like a red-hot iron clamp, ruthlessly branded into his soul!
"At any cost! Capture that kid! Take back the essence imprint! Otherwise... soul scattering!"
The Silver-Faced Envoy's whole body shook violently, his face beneath the mask instantly pale. He could feel the demon lord's undisguised killing intent. If he dared disobey, immediate death and dao dissolution would follow!
"Yes... yes lord!" He didn't dare hesitate in the slightest, a ruthless light flashing in his eyes, roaring at his subordinates: "Demon lord orders! Target Tang Xiao Qi! Kill!!"
The five Shadow Snake Pavilion elites also knew it was time to fight for their lives. The Shadow Evasion instantly released, demonic energy all over their bodies exploding, like five black poisonous arrows leaving the bowstring, no longer concealing but with the fastest speed and craziest posture, straight pouncing at Qingxu Temple's team! Their target was only one—at any cost, capture or kill Xiao Qi!
And the other demonic thought was even more insidious and vicious! Void Nightmare's remnant soul's powerful temptation power, no longer scattered, but concentrated, like an invisible plague, precisely projected toward those fleeing Flaming Sun Sect disciples whose minds were already lost to fear, especially... Young Master Yan Feng!
"Kill him! Take the imprint on him! That's power more precious than the inheritance! Get it, and you can surpass everyone, become a true favored child of heaven! The Flaming Sun Sect will rule supreme under your hand!!"
The tempting and inciting demonic sound, like the devil's raving, madly echoed in Yan Feng's and his confidant elders' minds, instantly amplifying their inner greed for power, jealousy toward Xiao Qi, and hostility toward Qingxu Temple to the extreme!
Yan Feng was already extremely unwilling due to the inheritance falling through. Now invaded by the demonic sound, his eyes instantly turned crimson as blood, his breathing heavy, his reason almost completely submerged by burning greed!
"Power... power surpassing everything!!" He suddenly turned his head, staring dead at Xiao Qi, his face revealing a ferocious and crazy smile, "Tang Xiao Qi! Hand over the item!!"
He completely ignored the collapsing starry sky and surging demonic energy, roaring at the equally tempted elders and disciples beside him: "Flaming Sun Sect obeys! Block Qingxu Temple! Capture Tang Xiao Qi! The imprint on him is the true treasure!"
Saying so, he actually turned direction, bringing a group of fallen Flaming Sun Sect disciples, like hyenas pouncing on prey, fiercely crashing into Qingxu Temple's team from the flank!
Ahead was the starry sky entrance with chaotic energy and unstable space; behind were Shadow Snake Pavilion demonic cultivators frantically chasing; on the flank were tempted Flaming Sun Sect disciples ambushing!
Qingxu Temple's group instantly fell into unprecedented desperation!
Mu Qingfeng's face was iron-dark. He hadn't expected the demon to be so vicious, nor the Flaming Sun Sect to be so不堪, easily tempted to turn traitor!
"Form circle formation! Defend! Assault toward the entrance!" he remained calm in danger, roaring hoarsely, his sword radiance transforming into layered light screens, protecting the team's rear, blocking Shadow Snake Pavilion demonic cultivators' first wave of attack.
Liu Yun's sword light like a dragon, met the Yan Feng rushing from the flank, sword qi and flames madly colliding, issuing deafening roars.
Xiao Qi was protected in the formation, watching enemies surging from all directions, feeling the jade pendant at his chest transmitting increasingly clear heat warning due to Void Nightmare's rage, and that vast power temporarily still unable to completely control contained in the imprint. He tightly gripped the Crimson Flame Sword in his hand.
His father's vengeance, the demon's hatred, the enemy's encirclement... all the pressure in this moment transformed into the battle will burning in his eyes.
The demon is enraged? Then let it be even more enraged!
He took a deep breath, channeling his just-stabilized peak late Foundation Establishment spiritual power to the extreme, the Crimson Flame Sword showing dark golden flowing light, preparing to welcome this sudden crazy encirclement from both righteous and demonic paths!