The blood pool boiled, demonic creatures surged like a tide! The moment the alarm was triggered, Xiao Qi had already made his decision. The original infiltration plan had been shattered; now there was only the backup plan—to forcefully create chaos, creating an opportunity to strike directly at the heart!
"Execute the second plan, now!" Xiao Qi's divine sense cut into the other four's consciousness like a blade of ice.
Without a moment's hesitation, the five moved like gears in a precision instrument, instantly engaging.
"Tiezhu! With me! Let's draw all the attention from those cocoons and these trash mobs!" Third Senior Sister Liu Yun shouted crisply. The ancient sword in her embrace let out a dragon's cry. She transformed into a shocking sword light tearing through the darkness, not retreating but actively charging toward the densest tide of demonic creatures pouring from the openings in the fleshy walls! Where her sword light passed, dismembered limbs and collapsing demonic energy fell like harvested wheat, instantly clearing a large area and successfully drawing massive aggro from the demons.
"Hahaha! Perfect timing! Your grandfather Zhao is here!" Zhao Tiezhu burst into wild laughter. His Vajra Subduing Demons Divine Art operated at maximum intensity. His body seemed to swell another level, dark-golden skin gleaming with metallic luster. Like a frenzied ancient beast, he stomped hard on the soft membrane ground. The tremendous force made the entire chamber shake. He charged into the demon horde regardless, fists swinging wildly, bringing violent airflow that crushed nearby low-level demons into meat paste. He actively sought out the few elite hunters with powerful auras, pinning them down with the most brute-force method!
The two—one attacking, one defending; one agile, one powerful—were like two massive reefs thrown into a sea of demons, instantly creating monstrous waves! The vast majority of surging demons, as well as the monsters formed from resentful souls rising from the blood pool, were drawn to these two. The battle instantly reached white-hot intensity. Sword auras howled, fist wind surged, demon shrieks mixing with the rumble of colliding energies filled the entire chamber.
While Third Senior Sister and Zhao Tiezhu successfully drew the aggro, Second Senior Brother's "Iron Coffin" silently slid toward the shadows at the chamber's edge. Runes on the metallic rhomboid surface flickered at high frequency, powerful detection beams scanning the entire chamber's energy flow.
"High-intensity, high-stability energy source detected. Position confirmed, approximately 300 zhang directly below this chamber, protected by multiple layers of biological tissue and demonic pattern arrays... It's one of the secondary energy cores! Can serve as a demolition target!" Second Senior Brother's divine sense carried excitement. "I need time to set up the 'Chaos Annihilation Bomb.' You need to buy me at least fifty breaths!"
"Understood!" Xiao Qi responded, gaze meeting Mu Xue's.
The two exchanged no words. Their forms moved simultaneously, like two ghosts, not participating in the frontal battle but racing along the chamber's edge, using fleshy wall folds and shadows, dashing toward the massive passage at the other end—the one leading deeper into the Demon Nest!
Their target: the true core region where the Demon Lord slumbered!
However, the Demon Nest's defense mechanisms were not so simple. Although most guards had been drawn away, several elite hunters skilled in speed and assassination, as well as lurking demons capable of blending into flesh walls to attack, noticed Xiao Qi and Mu Xue's movements. They immediately disengaged from the main battle, pursuing relentlessly!
"Freeze the path!" Mu Xue didn't look back. With a wave of her hand backward, extreme cold instantly spread, condensing on the passage behind them a thick barrier covered with sharp ice spikes. It not only temporarily blocked pursuers but that bone-penetrating chill also slowed their speed.
Xiao Qi was responsible for clearing scattered obstacles ahead. With fingers like a sword, his Green Lotus Sword Aura precisely shot out, instantly purifying several lurkers that burst from the fleshy walls into ashes. His speed didn't decrease at all, gaze locked on the passage ahead radiating denser demonic aura.
Just as they were about to burst into the passage—
"ROAR!"
A roar filled with violence and destruction echoed from deep within! Immediately after, a terrifying pressure far exceeding late Nascent Soul stage swept out like a tsunami! The passage opening's flesh walls writhed violently, and a massive claw completely composed of pure demonic energy and bones stretched out, carrying the power to tear apart stars, grabbing toward Xiao Qi and Mu Xue!
This was by no means an ordinary demon, but a guard directly derived from the Demon Lord's source power!
"Careful!" Mu Xue's face paled slightly, hands rapidly forming seals. Several thick mystic ice shields instantly condensed in front of her, layered blocking before the giant claw.
CRACK! CRACK!
The mystic ice shields were as fragile as paper before that giant claw, shattering one after another! But that brief resistance bought Xiao Qi the reaction time he needed!
"Sword of Purification, slash!"
Xiao Qi's eyes blazed with green light. No more reserves. Though the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword had not been fully reforged, a brilliant sword aura condensed with Green Lotus Origin and chaotic intent burst forth, transforming into a massive green sword spanning the passage, hacking fiercely at that demonic claw!
BOOM!!!
Purification and evil, chaos and order—two completely opposing forces collided thunderously at the passage entrance! Blinding light instantly engulfed everything, violent energy shockwaveserupted violently in all directions!
When the light faded, that demonic claw had been severed in the middle, collapsing into scattered demonic energy. But Xiao Qi's purifying sword aura also shattered. From the passage depths came a grunt of pain, followed by even more violent roars of rage.
"GO!" Xiao Qi grabbed Mu Xue, taking advantage of the enemy's momentary injury. His form like lightning, he shot into the dark passage leading to the Demon Nest's deepest depths!
Behind them, Third Senior Sister and Zhao Tiezhu were still locked in fierce battle against the tide of demons, buying precious time for Second Senior Brother. Ahead, Xiao Qi and Mu Xue broke through obstructions, stepping resolutely into the dragon's pool and tiger's den where the Demon Lord's true body resided.
The plan of separate actions and creating chaos, after paying a price, had successfully advanced! The final battle stage was now before their eyes!