Passing through that violently fluctuating, seemingly about to completely annihilate starry sky entrance, everyone felt heaven and earth spinning, their bodies being crazily torn and squeezed by violent spatial power. When that suffocating pressure suddenly lifted and solid sensation returned beneath their feet, they had already returned to that white jade square connecting to the Ten Thousand Laws Hall.
However, the scene behind them made their hearts and gallbladders turn cold.
That originally hovering at the square's end, magnificent and solemn Ten Thousand Laws Hall, was now wrapped by countless thick spatial cracks, the hall body violently twisting and collapsing, issuing deafening roars. Even more terrifying, a thick ink-like demonic energy emitting nauseating evil aura was like a geyser surging out from the hall depths, accompanied by the demon Void Nightmare's rage-filled and unwilling vague roars, rapidly polluting and eroding the surrounding spiritual energy and space!
The Ten Thousand Laws Hall, along with the starry sky small world within it, was accelerating its fall into the abyss of destruction! And this wave of destruction was rapidly spreading along the starlight corridor toward the square and even outer areas!
"Quick! Leave the square! Retreat to the corridor!" Mu Qingfeng forcefully endured the discomfort from crossing the spatial passage and internal organ shock, roaring hoarsely. He saw clearly that this square bore the brunt, soon to be completely swallowed by the collapsing Ten Thousand Laws Hall and overflowing demonic energy.
Qingxu Temple's people didn't dare neglect, supporting injured fellow disciples, madly rushing down the starlight corridor they came from. The Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land led by Mu Xue also quickly withdrew. The Flaming Sun Sect and Shadow Snake Pavilion people were even more sorry, scrambling to be first, only hating that their parents gave them two fewer legs.
However, the speed of destruction was faster than they imagined!
Just as most people had stepped onto the starlight corridor, not yet running far—
"Rumble!!!"
A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering loud sound, the Ten Thousand Laws Hall's massive palace gate along with half the front hall, under the tearing of countless spatial cracks and impact of internal demonic energy, suddenly exploded! Countless stone fragments and building debris burning with demonic flames, like a meteor shower, wrapped in thick demonic energy, covering the sky and ground smashing toward the square and corridor areas!
Even more, several black tentacles condensed from pure demonic energy, like demon claws from the abyss, reached out from that collapsing hall depth, crazily grabbing at the fleeing cultivators! These tentacles not only had tremendous power but also carried strong corrosive and soul-eroding effects. Once entangled, the consequences were unimaginable!
"Careful!"
"Block them!"
Screams, exclamations, spell explosion sounds instantly rose together! Several Flaming Sun Sect disciples and rogue cultivators falling behind were instantly entangled by demonic tentacles, dragged into the collapsing hall shadows, leaving only short and tragic screams.
Chaos! Extreme chaos!
To live, everyone madly rushed forward, not hesitating to push aside and knock down the "companions" blocking the way! Human ugliness was fully exposed under the threat of death.
Qingxu Temple's team because of previously covering the rear, was also in a relatively rear position at this moment, instantly bearing huge pressure. Above was the whistling fall of demonic flame stone fragments, behind was the surging demonic energy wave and life-demanding tentacles, ahead was the crowding and trampling, self-concerned other cultivators.
"Form formation! Defend above and behind!" Mu Qingfeng's eyes about to split, standing out with Liu Yun once more, their sword radiances interweaving into a net, struggling to chop apart the larger falling stone fragments and constantly hacking at the pursuing demonic tentacles.
But the demonic tentacles were endless, the stone fragments falling like rain. Their spiritual power was being consumed rapidly, the defense line in imminent danger. One Qingxu Temple disciple couldn't dodge in time, hit on the back by a demonic flame-attached stone fragment, immediately vomiting blood and heavily injured. Another disciple was grazed by a demonic tentacle on the arm, the entire arm instantly turning black, issuing painful groans.
Seeing the team was about to be slowed down, then completely swallowed by the demonic tide—
"Big Brother! Third Senior Sister! You take people and go first! I'll cover the rear!"
A resolute roar rang out, it was Tang Xiao Qi! He suddenly stopped his retreating steps, instead going against the flow, rushing to the team's very rear!
He saw clearly, if no one stayed to block for a moment, buying time for the team to leave this most dangerous area, everyone would die here! And he, possessing purification power, having some restraining effect on demonic energy, was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate!
"Xiao Qi! Don't!" Mu Qingfeng anxiously stopped him.
"Go!" Xiao Qi didn't look back, his voice decisive. He took a deep breath, a crazy light flashing in his eyes, no longer carefully trying to control, but... forcibly channeling the essence imprint power in the jade pendant at his chest!
Even if only a thread could be channeled, even if suffering backlash!
"Weng—!"
Pure and vast purification light once again bloomed centered on him! This time, the light was no longer soft, but carrying a majestic, evil-purging awe-inspiring presence, transforming into an arc-shaped light wall, temporarily blocking between Qingxu Temple's team and that surging demonic energy wave!
"Hiss hiss hiss—!"
Demonic tentacles hitting the purification light wall issued intense melting sounds, their forward momentum pausing! The falling demonic flame stone fragments were also weakened and purified of most their power by the light wall.
Xiao Qi stood behind the light wall, his body violently trembling, blood constantly spilling from his mouth. Forcibly channeling power far exceeding his own realm placed huge burden on his meridians and Golden Core. But he grit his teeth, the Crimson Flame Sword swinging repeatedly, chopping apart the stone fragments and tentacles that slipped through, dead nailed in place, not retreating a step!
"Go!!" he roared again.
Mu Qingfeng looked at Xiao Qi's resolute back, looked at that purification light wall constantly rippling under the demonic tide's impact, seemingly about to shatter at any moment, tiger eyes containing tears. He knew this was not the time to hesitate.
"Qingxu Temple! Full speed retreat!!" he let out a grief-filled angry roar, together with Liu Yun, protecting the remaining disciples, madly flying down the corridor.
Mu Xue in the withdrawal looked back once at that youth figure alone covering the rear, a complex, hard-to-describe light flashing in her cold eyes, but she knew she was powerless at this moment, only able to accelerate leaving.
With Xiao Qi's rear guard blocking, Qingxu Temple's main force finally broke away from the most dangerous area, rushing to a relatively safe position in the corridor's middle section.
And Xiao Qi, after holding for over ten breath, that purification light wall finally reached its limit, shattering with a boom! He himself also received strong backlash, spraying out another large mouthful of blood, his aura instantly wilting.
The demonic energy wave losing obstruction, swallowed toward him with even fiercer posture!
Looking at that sky-covering, ground-hiding darkness, a bitter smile appeared on Xiao Qi's face. Exhausted, he seemed powerless to turn things around.
However, just as he was about to close his eyes and wait for death, a green shadow like lightning darted from the side, suddenly crashing into him, while a not strong but extremely pure spiritual energy poured into his body, pulling him to roll toward an inconspicuous, crack-filled branching corridor!
It was the rabbit spirit! It had somehow separated from the team, actually risking its life at this moment to turn back and save him!
"Squeak squeak!" The rabbit spirit called anxiously, pulling at his clothes, pointing toward that branching path.
Xiao Qi didn't have time to think much, borrowing the rabbit spirit's crashing force, lifting his last thread of spiritual power, executing "Wandering Dragon Nine Turns," following the rabbit spirit, narrowly avoiding the demonic energy's main force frontal impact, falling into that dark and narrow branching path.
The demonic energy wave boomed past the main corridor, swallowing everything behind.
And Xiao Qi and the rabbit spirit's figures disappeared into that crack-filled branching path depth leading who knows where.
Later when Xiao Qi recalled this secret realm scene, he gifted the rabbit spirit a seven-character quatrain.
"Seven-Character Quatrain: Gift to the Rabbit"
"Spirit eyes cunning and good at finding treasures, together experiencing danger and deep friendship. Don't say the immortal path is lonely, by the wok a shadow always follows you."
Note: Embodies the deep friendship between Xiao Qi and the rabbit spirit transcending master and pet, warm and touching.