"Clang—" The sect leader of Tuolu Hall blocked Zhong Zi's sword, his face heavy as he surveyed the surroundings.
Before the Demon Realm's Demon Lord had even made a move, they were already struggling to hold on... How much longer until reinforcements arrived?
Beside him, the sect leader of Mie Yao Pavilion seemed oblivious to the unfolding battle, his gaze fixated on Xiao Zi's increasingly frantic attacks. His movements grew more frequent, and his spiritual energy was being depleted at an alarming rate.
Xiao Zi exchanged a glance with Zhu Que, nodding slightly. The Mie Yao Pavilion sect leader had no idea his spiritual energy was nearly exhausted. In another incense's time, he would surely perish.
But...
As more enemies fell, Jing Feng's brow furrowed tighter for reasons unknown.
He shifted his grip and cleanly severed a heavenly soldier's head. It was a smooth execution... but...
What was this strange feeling? The blade had beheaded an enemy, yet it lacked the visceral... reality of killing someone.
"Don't you think these heavenly soldiers are quite peculiar?"
Jing Feng turned his head. Jiang Ye, too, gazed at the remaining heavenly soldiers with a grave expression, even as he decapitated another.
"It's as if... we're killing something lifeless..."
Lifeless... Jing Feng nodded. That was the feeling...
But in the next moment, every heavenly soldier suddenly froze in place, their bodies beginning to tremble violently!
"What is this!" Jiang Ye and Jing Feng's expressions turned grim. Instinctively sensing danger, they retreated rapidly.
Concurrently, Xiao Zi and the others, who were engaged in battle with the two Holy Lords, abruptly turned their heads, their gazes shifting towards the heavenly soldiers.
"This feeling...? What's happening...?"
Xiao Zi stared blankly at the trembling heavenly soldiers. The extent of their shaking and the contortions of their bodies were terrifying...
"Can this posture truly be achieved by living beings...?"
The next moment, a gray spiritual energy surged into the sky, whipping up gusts of wind laced with immense spiritual power.
"Hold on tight!" Jing Feng grabbed Jiang Ye, who was nearly blown away, and stared at the group of bizarre heavenly soldiers with profound solemnity.
Each heavenly soldier emanated a strange gray spiritual energy. This energy caused the previously near-death soldiers to suddenly enter a state of frenzy.
Their wounds began to heal, and their depleted spiritual energy was rapidly replenished.
"This feeling... it is indeed wonderful." The Mie Yao Pavilion sect leader smirked, a strange gray spiritual energy also emanating from him.
"Your spiritual energy!" Zhu Que exclaimed in disbelief, watching as his nearly depleted spiritual energy was instantly restored!
Xiao Zi gritted his teeth, his purple eyes filled with grimness. How was this possible...?
It was as if everyone had ingested some miraculous elixir, instantly recovering their spiritual energy? And their wounds had healed too?
"Little fox, you're stunned, aren't you—"
A voice whispered into Xiao Zi's ear, so close he could feel the breath.
Xiao Zi snapped back to attention, his claws lashing out mercilessly, "Disgusting creature! Don't come near me!"
"Careful—!" Zhu Que's trembling cry rang out.
The Mie Yao Pavilion sect leader vanished. His claws slashed through empty air. The next moment, Xiao Zi felt a sharp pain pierce his abdomen.
He froze, slowly looking down. A sharp sword had pierced his dantian...
Blood was now seeping uncontrollably from the wound.
"There's no beast I desire that can escape—"
The sword was withdrawn. The Mie Yao Pavilion sect leader's eyes gleamed with fervent madness.
"Fox spirit—!!!" Zhu Que charged at him like a madman, his eyes a terrifying crimson!
"Don't come near!" Xiao Zi staggered, gritting his teeth, and swiftly moved away from the Mie Yao Pavilion sect leader.
Lin Ze and the people of the Demon Realm received the news and were rushing here at full speed, but...
With the enemies' ability to continuously replenish their spiritual energy and heal their wounds, how could they fight?
Everyone's attention was drawn by Zhu Que's cry. They turned to see Xiao Zi clutching his bleeding abdomen, clearly severely wounded.
"Still have the mind to be distracted?"
The Tuolu Hall sect leader extended his hands, simultaneously grasping Zhong Zi and Dong Ling's arms.
With a forceful twist, the distinct sound of dislocated bones echoed.
Zhong Zi grunted, pulling away and clutching his arm as he retreated. Dong Ling's eyes darkened. With his other hand, he counter-seized the Tuolu Hall sect leader's arm.
But the Tuolu Hall sect leader reacted swiftly. Sensing Dong Ling's intent, he quickly distanced himself.
"Are you alright?" Dong Ling retreated in front of Zhong Zi, asking in a low voice.
"It's nothing." Zhong Zi twisted his arm, quickly resetting the dislocated bone.
This is troublesome... the ability to replenish spiritual energy...
Zhong Zi looked up, his gaze fixed on the figure opposite him. "What exactly is this gray spiritual energy?"
The Tuolu Hall sect leader sneered, his smile tinged with mockery. "As the Ghost Tribe's strategist, why don't you take a guess?"
Dong Ling stood in front of Zhong Zi, his expression grave. Damn it, if this dragged on, reinforcements from the Divine Realm would arrive, and their fate would be sealed...
Long Jinhan gazed at the surging gray spiritual energy, a chilling, dark glint in his obsidian eyes.
Gray spiritual energy... it was actually...
The woman in his arms stirred. Long Jinhan looked down, his eyes falling on Bai Ran's delicately trembling eyelashes. The lotus mark on her forehead also became visible.
"Whoosh—"
Suddenly, a spiritual energy attack sliced through the sky. Long Jinhan's dark eyes narrowed, and he raised his hand, neutralizing the strike.
He turned his head. In the distance, a dense army from the Divine Realm was approaching at full speed. Elders and remaining Holy Lords led the troops, their imposing aura filling the air.
At a glance, the army seemed endless...
Long Jinhan's expression darkened. Higher up, a golden figure stood in the air, wielding a black longsword.
Jing Feng gritted his teeth, his palms slick with sweat. "The Divine Realm's reinforcements have arrived..."
"Not only that, even Mo Ze has personally come to the battlefield..." Jiang Ye clenched his fist, his eyes filled with deep anxiety.
The Demon Realm and the Monster Clan had received the news and were rushing over, but with the most troublesome Mo Ze present, could they hold out until then?
"To what do we owe the honor of the Demon Lord's visit? You should have informed us in advance." The voice of the Yaochi Palace Mistress echoed. A smile played on her lips, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Long Jinhan lowered his head, looking at the increasingly prominent lotus mark on Bai Ran's forehead, a flicker of worry in his gaze.
Why wasn't she awake yet... In the previous instances of seal removal, she would have woken up much sooner...
He ignored the Yaochi Palace Mistress, his entire attention focused on the woman in his arms.
"What a devoted lover." The Yaochi Palace Mistress seemed unfazed, her gaze lingering as she appraised Bai Ran.