Seeing the Guardian Sword Domain being compressed amid frantic platinum flashing, demonic tentacles and curse ripples eroding it like bone-decaying gangrene, the Soul-Eroding Banner's strange demonic sounds drilling into his mind like an awl, continuously assaulting his Sea of Consciousness, Tang Xiao Qi knew he could no longer passively defend. A fierce light flashed in his eyes—that risky plan to use their own strength against them instantly crystallized!
He fiercely bit the tip of his tongue; the sharp pain cleared his soul. The Golden Core within him spun madly at unprecedented speed. The vast spiritual power was no longer used to maintain the crumbling Guardian Sword Domain but instead poured like a river breaking its dams, entirely into the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword in his hand!
"Screech—!"
The Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword emitted a high-pitched tremor like a phoenix's cry. Upon the crimson sword body, dragon patterns and phoenix shadows seemed to come alive. Southern Ming Departing Fire intertwined with Nirvana true intent, erupting into dazzling red-gold radiance! Scorching heat instantly swept out, burning the approaching demonic tentacles with sizzling sounds as they rapidly withered.
But this was not his killing move!
Just as the sword momentum accumulated to its peak, Xiao Qi didn't slash this sword toward the three demonic cultivators. Instead, his form executed an extremely awkward, strange half-spin, sending the red-gold sword radiance that had gathered most of his spiritual power and contained ultimate incineration and rebirth meaning, fiercely and precisely chopping toward—behind him, that massive Bagua pill furnace with the Chaos Pill Fire burning at its bottom!
"You seek death!" The banner-wielding demonic cultivator first froze, then roared in rage and shock. He thought Xiao Qi was desperate, wanting to destroy the furnace and perish together, or trigger an uncontrollable explosion. The other two demonic cultivators also intensified their attacks, demonic qi and curses surging like wild waves.
However, Xiao Qi's sword target was not the furnace body itself, but between the furnace and the Chaos Pill Fire cluster at its bottom—that layer invisible to the naked eye yet truly existing, formed by ancient arrays, a weak balance restriction!
"Boom!!!"
The red-gold sword radiance like a red-hot branding iron fiercely struck that invisible balance restriction! The restriction instantly emitted intense light, trying to resist, but this power driven by Xiao Qi with all his might and containing Nirvana true intent extremely cunningly impacted a key node of the restriction's operation!
"Crack..."
A slight yet heart-palpitating shattering sound rang out.
That balance restriction which had lasted for eternal ages, firmly imprisoning the Chaos Pill Fire at the furnace bottom, was torn open by Xiao Qi's all-out sword strike—an insignificant crack, yet enough to change the tide of battle!
"Buzz—!"
The always-quietly-burning Chaos Pill Fire, that fist-sized chaotic-colored flame cluster, the moment it lost the restriction's completerestraint, suddenly trembled! An indescribable terrifying aura, as if capable of melting heaven and earth, returning all things to primordial chaos, like a slumbering primordial beast opening its eyes, explosively erupted!
The first to bear the brunt was not Xiao Qi, nor the three demonic cultivators, but the closest object—the Bagua pill furnace acting as the container!
That pill furnace cast from dark red divine metal, indestructible, was struck by this uncontrolled chaotic aura. The furnace body instantly turned completely red, issuing groans of unbearable burden. Countless mysterious runes on its surface frantically flickered, as if it would completely melt the next moment!
And Xiao Qi, the moment he chopped that sword, had already used the recoil force to shrink his Guardian Sword Intent and Purification Origin to the extreme, tightly protecting himself. Simultaneously, he employed the "Wandering Dragon Nine Transformations" body technique, sliding like a loach, with almost predictive timing, narrowly avoiding the pill furnace's first chaotic energy surge and the fatal attacks from the three demonic cultivators, his form ghost-like appearing in another corner of the Pill Refining Room.
Those three Situ family demonic cultivators were not so fortunate.
They completely hadn't expected Xiao Qi to be so insane as to disturb that terrifying-looking chaotic flame! When the Chaos Pill Fire's terrifying aura swept out like a tsunami along with the furnace's chaotic energy flow, the sneers on their faces instantly transformed into ultimate terror!
"No—!"
The banner-wielding demonic cultivator let out a despairing scream, desperately shaking the Soul-Eroding Banner, releasing ink-thick demonic qi attempting to resist. The other two demonic cultivators also employed their demonic arts, condensing thick shields.
However, before the Chaos Pill Fire's aura containing the true meaning of "returning to origin," their pure demonic qi was like meeting its nemesis!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!
The demonic qi shields, curse ripples, and even that strange Soul-Eroding demonic sound, upon contact with the chaotic aura, melted like ice before the hot sun, rapidly dissolving and disintegrating, forcefully transformed into the most primitive, chaotic energy particles! Even the demonic qi on their bodies began to destabilize, with the terrifying sensation of being "decomposed" at the root!
"Ahhh!!"
The demonic cultivator wielding demonic tentacles bore the brunt. His released demonic tentacles instantly vaporized in the chaotic aura, and he himself was struck by the chaotic energy flow. His body-protecting demonic light shattered like paper. He let out a miserable scream, his body like a wax figure thrown into a furnace, rapidly twisting, melting, finally turning into a wisp of green smoke—not even dregs remained!
Next was the curse-wielding demonic cultivator. His white bone dagger inch by inch shattered in the chaotic aura, and he himself was eroded by invisible power, his body crumbling and dissipating like a weathered sand sculpture.
The banner-wielding demonic cultivator had the highest cultivation, and the Soul-Eroding Banner in his hand was indeed a strange treasure. Under the chaotic aura's impact, though its demonic light dimmed and cracks appeared on the banner surface, it barely held for a moment. But the fear in his eyes had reached its peak. He turned to rush toward the hall entrance sealed by the demonic array, attempting to flee.
"Want to leave? Too late!"
An icy voice sounded at his ear. Xiao Qi, who had long been ready, appeared at his side like teleportation! The Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword, carrying Southern Ming Departing Fire that purified evil, transformed into a red-gold lightning bolt, directly piercing through his crumbling demonic qi shield, entering from his back and exiting through his chest!
"Ugh..." The banner-wielding demonic cultivator froze, looking down at the sword tip emerging from his chest. His eyes filled with unwillingness and resentment as the demonic qi on his body rapidly collapsed like a deflated balloon.
Xiao Qi didn't hesitate in the slightest. His left hand formed a sword with his fingers, lightning-fast pointing at the enemy's brow! Purification Origin power like the finest surgical scalpel instantly invaded his Sea of Consciousness on the verge of collapse!
Soul Search!
Though the enemy's Sea of Consciousness had been riddled with holes by demonic qi erosion, filled with chaotic and destructive thoughts, in the instant before his soul completely annihilated, Xiao Qi still forcefully extracted some fragmented yet crucial information fragments:
"...Demon Lord... guidance... Heavenly Dao Palace core... 'Source Origin Core'... must obtain..."
"...Inside and outside coordination... 'Dark Pieces'... not just us..."
"...Stop... Tang Xiaoqi... purification... threat..."
"...Chaos Hall... is the key..."
The information cut off abruptly. The banner-wielding demonic cultivator's soul completely annihilated under the purification power's scouring, turning to flying ash together with that damaged Soul-Eroding Banner.
Xiao Qi withdrew his finger, his expression grave. Though the counter-kill was successful, the information from the soul search cast an even deeper shadow over his heart.
The demonic forces had indeed long infiltrated this Heavenly Dao Palace expedition! Their target was some core object called the "Source Origin Core" within the palace! Moreover, they still had "Dark Pieces" lurking—not just this wave of Situ family remnants! The Chaos Hall seemed to be the key location for contesting that core object!
He turned to look at the Chaos Pill Fire whose aura had turned violent due to the damaged restriction, causing the entire pill furnace to shake violently, then at the hall entrance sealed by the demonic array, knowing this place was not suitable for lingering. He must quickly subdue the pill fire, leave here, and rush to the Chaos Hall—he could not let the demonic forces' conspiracy succeed!
The crisis was far from over. The true storm was brewing in the depths of the Heavenly Dao Palace.