Mu Hongchen was still shaken. She steadied her heart and spirit, activated her Mysterious Skill, and reignited the light of the Heart Protecting Lamp. With a trace of worry, she said, "I didn’t anticipate this ’Hooking Injury Resentnt’ to be so powerful. In just a day, half the lamp oil is already consud. I wonder how much farther we have to go ahead."
Zhang Yan silently calculated for a mont and then smiled, "We are quite fortunate. The Demon Storage happens to be drifting in this direction. If we head there now, we should be able to reach it within an hour."
Mu Hongchen was overjoyed and said, "If that’s the case, we shouldn’t delay."
Zhang Yan nodded, spread out his sword light, tore through the dense Netherworld Qi, and took off in flight. Qi Yelan and Hu Jue, upon hearing this, mustered their energy and followed suit.
After flying for nearly an hour, Zhang Yan noticed a streak of white light coming toward him and heading directly into his hold. He realized it was Zhi Ma returning. Allowing the creature to nestle into his Ganoderma Bud, he casually flicked his sleeve and tucked it away. At this mont, Mu Hongchen softly gasped beside him, unable to suppress the joy in her voice.
In front of them floated a square-shaped Flying Pavilion, ten zhang tall. The structure was entirely black, with the ridges of its roof adorned by carvings of fierce, unknown beasts, their forms nacing and savage, as if they were alive. Though untold years had passed since its erection, it still exuded a bloodthirsty aura. The pavilion was divided into six layers; it had doors but no windows and drifted through the Netherworld Qi, radiating an unparalleled sense of desolation.
Mu Hongchen observed clearly. The doors of this Flying Pavilion were wide open and completely unguarded. She could even see shelves against the walls holding books and golden artifacts. At the center of the first layer stood a jet-black stele inscribed with talisman seal script, clearly the control core of the Demon Storage’s Prohibition. Seizing this stele would an the Demon Storage was entirely under their control.
Seeing the Demon Storage within reach, her heart surged with excitent. The plans she had previously concocted to break through the Prohibition seed unnecessary now. It was astonishingly effortless, almost like taking treasure without resistance. Thrilled, she leaped forward, charging toward the pavilion’s entrance, only for her expression to change before she reached inside.
A flash of silver light—out shot a long spear from within. Red light imdiately surged from her veil to shield her, but this strike was heavy and unyielding, shaking the brilliance into disarray with crimson sparks scattering all around. Her figure wavered as she hurriedly stepped back several paces, alard, and lifted her gaze.
Erging from the doorway was a cultivator with a wooden expression and a body reeking of Death Qi. He stood entirely naked, hair disheveled, skin shimring faintly with silver light, though its form was sowhat unstable. In his hand, he held a Ghost Head Long Spear, stepping forward one step at a ti, yet halting at the edge of the Flying Pavilion without moving further.
Mu Hongchen retreated to Zhang Yan’s side, tightly furrowing her brows underneath her veil, and spoke gravely, "Daoist Zhang, this demon’s form is already visible and has reached the realm of rging the virtual into reality. It must be a visible demon. Could it be that this is a guard left behind by the Demon Storage Master?"
Zhang Yan shook his head and smiled lightly, "Not necessarily. Perhaps the demon found this place suitable for cultivation and is rely trespassing here, like a sparrow usurping a magpie’s nest."
Mu Hongchen froze, carefully pondering his words, and nodded in agreent, "Listening to you, fellow Daoist, it does seem plausible. Daoist Zhang, your cultivation is profound. Would you mind standing guard for us? I’ll lead the two junior sisters to test its strength."
Zhang Yan smiled faintly and said, "Certainly!"
Mu Hongchen took a deep breath, finally uttered incantations under her breath, and raised her jade-like arm to offer the Heart Protecting Lamp up into the air. Instantly, the fla soared, its brilliance expanding sharply, illuminating everything within thirty zhang in vivid clarity. She shouted, "Junior sisters, follow to surround the foe!"
With that, she was the first to charge forward, red light rising above her head in a column ten zhang tall. Like a wildfire, it spun in the air before sweeping toward the demon.
The demon’s eyes flickered with green light, yet he stood motionless. His palm gathered a blob of black Qi, and as the red light approached, he struck directly against it. Mu Hongchen felt her Mysterious Skill ripple violently, seeming on the verge of dissipating. Alard, she struggled to stabilize it and dared to contend with the demon, only to discover that the force was unbearable. Her figure trembled, and ultimately, with her chest tightening, she had no choice but to retreat outward.
Qi Yelan, by now, had also charged forward. Above her head hovered a purple Mysterious Skill shaped like blooming flowers. She seized an opening and prepared to descend upon the demon, but the demon didn’t spare her a glance, sweeping his spear sideways. Instantly, a howling wind pierced the air, rushing toward her.
Though Qi Yelan rarely engaged in combat, she had been able to maintain composure at first. But witnessing the fierce montum of the enemy, she imdiately panicked and lost her bearings. Barely managing to lean sideways, the spear’s shaft struck her shoulder with a loud "bang." Even with her Mysterious Skill protecting her, her shoulder still shattered. She cried out pitifully and fell backward.
Hu Jue remained at a distance. She removed the silver ring from her arm and hurled it toward the demon. The demon’s spear moved in a flash, sweeping through the air and striking continuously, deflecting the silver rings one after another. Then, with a lightning-fast strike, he unleashed a beam of silver light straight at her face.
Hu Jue never anticipated such a move and instinctively let out a startled cry.
Zhang Yan watched from nearby and smirked. A ray of sword light shot out from his forehead, slashing toward the incoming silver light. The clash resounded like tal colliding, and the silver light fell to the ground.
Qi Yelan, lying on the ground and enduring imnse pain, had just reached for her Healing Pills when sothing dropped in front of her. Glancing at it, she saw it was a silver dal radiating Spirit Light, likely the artifact the demon had just unleashed. She thought to herself, "Senior Sister claid the armor and Divine Weapon, but I have no suitable weapon. This artifact appears to be a low-grade Spirit Artifact. That demon seems unaware of its true value—how fortunate for ."
She stretched out her hand and picked up the silver dal.
...
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to cast recomndation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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