The passage seemed endless. The deeper they went, the more viscous and heavy the demonic energy became, like sinking into a swamp. The demonic patterns on the fleshy walls were no longer simple patterns but seemed alive, like countless tiny black poisonous snakes crawling across the walls, emitting irritating whispers, attempting to drill into intruders' minds.
Xiao Qi and Mu Xue had spiritual light shields protecting their bodies, blocking the encroaching demonic thoughts and whispers. But that invisible pressure still somewhat affected their speed.
Just as they passed through an area composed of hanging flesh tendrils forming a forest-like region, demonic energy churned violently once more in the void ahead!
This time, the condensation was faster, the momentum more intense!
Shadows gathered, bones connected, demonic crystals inlaid... In almost the blink of an eye, another Demon Marshal condensed! Its form was largely similar to the one just destroyed—wearing a resentful soul cloak, wielding a bone scythe—but its scarlet gaze was colder, and the energy fluctuations emanating from its body reached mid Soul Transformation! Moreover, its aura was more concentrated. Clearly it had absorbed part of its fallen comrade's source, becoming stronger!
"It's you again... The Lord's creation, deathless and undying! Intruder, this place shall be your grave!" The newborn Demon Marshal emitted an overlapping, hoarse spiritual roar. With a wave of its bone scythe, a horizontal curved blade light containing the laws of decay and withering slashed across the passage! Where the blade light passed, even the writhing demonic patterns and flesh tendrils rapidly withered and collapsed.
This strike was stronger by more than double than the previous Demon Marshal's!
"I'll handle it!" Xiao Qi stepped forward, shielding Mu Xue behind him. He knew that facing this level of law-based attack, Mu Xue's ice techniques, though capable of causing delay, could not withstand it head-on.
He took a deep breath, his gaze becoming extremely focused. Facing this approaching destructive blade light, he did not choose to use clever deflection again, nor did he condense a guardian sword to clash head-on.
Instead, he slowly raised both hands.
As he lifted his hands, centered on him, an indescribable profound aura spread. It was not powerful spiritual pressure but the beginning of a domain, an embodiment of laws!
HUM!
A clear, as if from the beginning of heaven and earth, Dao tone rang from within Xiao Qi. The next moment, a massive, semi-transparent green lotus phantom, centered on him, suddenly bloomed, instantly covering a hundred zhang radius! It encompassed Xiao Qi himself, Mu Xue, that incoming black blade light, and the newborn Demon Marshal!
This was the domain he comprehended in the void of Gui Xu, after fusing Green Lotus Origin, guardian sword intent, chaotic insights, and Buddhist-Taoist essence—the domain uniquely belonging to him—Green Lotus Sword Domain!
Within the sword domain, it was no longer the nauseating darkness and filth of the Demon Nest. Faint green lotus petals floated in the air, radiating pure and peaceful aura. The ground seemed transformed into clear water, reflecting the lotus platform phantom slowly rotating above. An aura of purification, protection, and endless vitality filled every corner of the domain.
That black blade light containing the laws of decay and withering, upon entering the Green Lotus Sword Domain, instantly dropped in speed. Its destructive energy met its nemesis, emitting sizzling sounds, continuously worn down, neutralized, and broken down by the purifying force pervasive throughout the domain. Its volume rapidly shrank, its color became dim. When it finally reached Xiao Qi, its power was less than one-tenth. Xiao Qi casually pointed with a sword finger and shattered it into nothing.
"Domain?! This is impossible!" For the first time, genuine shock and disbelief appeared in the Demon Marshal's scarlet eyes. Domains were unique spaces formed when cultivators comprehended their path to an extremely high level, drawing upon heavenly laws. Within them, the user was like a god! It could not comprehend: how could a cultivator whose power seemingly matched its own unleash such a complete domain, and one clearly capable of suppressing all evil at that!
"Within my domain, evil... shall be slain!"
Xiao Qi stood at the center of the green lotus phantom, his voice calm yet carrying the authority of laws speaking for themselves. With fingers like a sword, he pointed forward lightly.
Instantly, the entire Green Lotus Sword Domain came alive!
The floating lotus petals were no longer illusory scenery but transformed into countless refined green miniature swords containing purifying and chaotic sword intent. Like a guided swarm of bees, emitting pleasant sword cries, they shot explosively from all directions toward the Demon Marshal at the domain's center!
The clear water ground rippled with waves. Sword intent-condensed green chains burst from the water's surface, coiling like serpents toward the Demon Marshal's feet. The purifying force flowing on the chains made it emit painful shrieks.
Even the slowly rotating lotus platform phantom above shed green light threads like a heavenly net, sealing all space for the Demon Marshal to dodge!
This was no longer a single attack but the domain's suppression and destruction as a whole!
The Demon Marshal roared in mad rage, swinging the bone scythe, slashing out countless scythe shadows, attempting to slash apart this endless sword rain and chains. Each of its attacks contained powerful extinction laws, indeed capable of shattering many lotus petal swords and light-thread chains.
But within the Green Lotus Sword Domain, Xiao Qi's power seemed infinite! Those shattered petals and light threads, upon dispersing, did not vanish but transformed back into pure purifying force, merging into the domain. The next moment, new, even more lotus petal swords and light-thread chains manifested, attacking the Demon Marshal once more!
Endless vitality, cycling and repeating!
The Demon Marshal was like caught in a massive, continuously contracting millstone. Its power was being consumed frantically, while the domain's offensive grew stronger wave after wave! Its surrounding resentful soul cloak was constantly purified and stripped away. Countless gash marks from sword qi cuts appeared on its shadow body. Where the gashes were, sizzling sounds continued as pure demonic energy leaked out.
"NO! Lord Master! Save me!" The Demon Marshal let out a desperate wail. It felt true death threatening. It attempted to detonate its core for a final desperate gamble.
However, under the Green Lotus Sword Domain's absolute suppression, even self-destruction became extremely difficult!
"Destroy."
Xiao Qi uttered a single word lightly.
The entire Green Lotus Sword Domain contracted abruptly! All lotus petal swords, light-thread chains, even that massive lotus platform phantom, at this moment, centered on the Demon Marshal, collapsed together!
No earth-shattering explosion, just a light sound like a bubble bursting.
When the Green Lotus Sword Domain's phantom slowly faded, only some not-yet-fully-dissipated pure demonic energy source remained, along with the broken bone scythe remnants. That mid Soul Transformation Demon Marshal had been completely purified and annihilated, leaving not even a trace of residual soul.
Xiao Qi's face turned slightly pale. Maintaining and fully energizing the Green Lotus Sword Domain consumed him greatly too. But his eyes were bright, full of confidence. The domain's power far exceeded his expectations, undoubtedly adding an important chip for facing the Demon Lord's true body.
Mu Xue stepped forward, gazing at the dissipating demon remnants. "Your domain is beautiful, and also... terrifying."
Xiao Qi gathered in his aura, his gaze once again casting toward the passage's end where darkness gaped like a bottomless abyss.
"Let's go. It's time to meet the main antagonist."
The two moved again, transforming into beams of light, shooting into that final destination. The passage's end was not far. That terrifying pressure from the Demon Lord's true body, like a cosmic black hole devouring everything, was clearly perceptible.