But suddenly...!
The turbulent black sphere fell still again, as immovable as a great mountain.
"How can this be???"
’Is the Snake Demon’s soul consciousness power stronger than all of ours combined?’
’Impossible. This is absolutely impossible!!!’
Over a dozen Rank Three Demon Spirits, four or five Deep Mountain Great Demons, and the White Demon King and Saint Peng King within—their combined power was enough to shatter the heavens and shake the earth. Yet this black sphere, like a Dark Abyss, remained unbroken. It continued to float in the air, blocking everything.
The sight stunned the Great Demons. Even the three Deep Mountain Demon Kings inside the Demon King’s Castle watched in awe.
It was one thing for the White Demon King and Saint Peng King to be outmatched by the Snake Demon before. But now, even with over a dozen Rank Three Demon Spirits and four or five Deep Mountain Great Demons joining them, they still couldn’t prevail.
Just how powerful was that snake’s soul consciousness power?
Even Demon King Liu, the former strongest expert of the Yaoling Mountain Range at Rank Three Peak, was likely far inferior.
And he truly was inferior. Demon King Liu had already been eliminated by Tu Xiao’an. Moreover, during his clash of Primordial Spirits with Demon King Liu, Tu Xiao’an had devoured a great deal of his opponent’s Soul Power.
It was no exaggeration to say that Tu Xiao’an’s current soul consciousness power was significantly stronger than Demon King Liu’s had been at the time of his attempted possession.
This was why Tu Xiao’an’s defense had yet to be broken, despite the combined assault of all the demons.
"Since you dare attack this Snake King, then don’t blame me for being merciless. You can all come inside," Tu Xiao’an’s cold voice echoed.
A bizarre wisp of Dark Flame suddenly dragged the Black Bear Demon into the Dark Abyss. Immediately after, the Flower-patterned Leopard Demon and the Scorpion Beauty were also completely engulfed by the Dark Flame.
The Demon Spirits hovering around the massive black sphere were all horrified. Seeing this, they knew something was terribly wrong. They had just turned to flee, but it was too late. Tendrils of Dark Flame surged out and sucked all dozen-plus Rank Three Demon Spirits inside.
In an instant, all the Demon Spirits who had been unleashing their soul consciousness power outside the massive sphere vanished, pulled into Tu Xiao’an’s Dark Abyss.
Upon entering the Dark Abyss, so pitch-black one couldn’t see their hand in front of their face, the demons immediately began to beg for mercy in terror. "Lord Snake King, spare us! We were forced into this!"
Even though Tu Xiao’an the snake had only just attained his new rank, in the eyes of the demons of the Yaoling Mountain Range, he had already ascended to the same status as a Deep Mountain Demon King.
His Dark Ability was so potent that even the White Demon King would be screaming for help if he were trapped inside, to say nothing of mere Demon Spirits like them.
The White Demon King’s voice rang out. "You worthless lot, what’s there to panic about? It’s better that you’re in here. Join me and we’ll shatter this black sphere from the inside!"
The White Demon King’s voice calmed the other demons slightly. ’That’s right,’ they thought. ’There are so many of us. What is there to fear?’
’If that snake wasn’t relying on the bizarre nature of his Dark Power, he’d be no match for the White Demon King. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he fight a fair and open battle?’
"Let’s stick together! Don’t give that snake any chance for a sneak attack!"
Although it was pitch-black within the Dark Abyss, the Demon Spirits were smart enough to converge on the White Demon King’s position, trying to form a united front.
’A sneak attack?’
Tu Xiao’an sneered. ’Would he even need to?’
"My esteemed guests, welcome to my Dark Abyss. Rest assured, I will give you all the special treatment you deserve. Do enjoy yourselves."
’What is this snake planning? What kind of trick is he up to now?’
’He can’t possibly be thinking of killing all of us, can he?’
The White Demon King, completely unafraid of a sneak attack from Tu Xiao’an, calmly gave his orders. "Don’t panic! Everyone, release your soul consciousness power together! Even if we can’t shatter this Power of Darkness, we can force open a passage to escape!"
"As you command!"
The demons focused their minds and calmed their spirits, raising their hands above their heads. A mysterious power erupted from them, forming a vast white flame that shot skyward.
As every Demon Spirit followed suit, a miraculous scene unfolded. A pillar of light shot straight up, causing the Dark Abyss to tremble once more. An opening was torn in the darkness above, like a skylight being thrown open.
Faint light pierced the once pitch-black Dark Abyss. It grew steadily brighter until the entire space was illuminated, and their vision was restored.
"Haha, we did it! Your Majesty is wise!"
The White Demon King smiled. ’They couldn’t shatter the black sphere, but concentrating the Soul Power of so many demons on a single point to open a passage was still quite easy.’
"Wonderful! This Bird King was about to suffocate in here!"
From the moment the Saint Peng King entered Tu Xiao’an’s Dark Abyss, he had felt like a bird trapped in a cage—an utterly unbearable feeling.
"I’m leaving first!" The Saint Peng King spread his six pairs of wings and soared upward, aiming to burst through the skylight.
Suddenly, Tu Xiao’an’s icy voice rang out once more. "Trying to leave? Shouldn’t you ask for permission from your host first? How rude. Get back down here!"
The Saint Peng King had just shot upward when a roaring Fire Dragon, wreathed in monstrous flames, met him head-on, brutally forcing him back down.
’Trying to leave? Did you think it would be so easy?’
"Damn you, snake! If you have any guts, come out and face this Bird King one-on-one!" The Saint Peng King was so furious he could have coughed up blood. It was utterly humiliating.
"Fine!"
For the first time, Tu Xiao’an’s figure appeared within the Dark Abyss. Manifestations of five different Elements erupted from his body in a dazzling, multicolored display. As the demons stared, their expressions shifted from shock to utter despair.
A playful smile hung on Tu Xiao’an’s demonically handsome face. With a light wave of his hand, the skylight they had fought so hard to open sealed shut. Once again, the world became pitch-black.
"Since you’ve already come inside, you may as well leave your Lifebound Golden Cores behind," Tu Xiao’an’s magnetic voice declared out of the darkness. "Behold my ultimate technique! With heaven and earth as the furnace, and creation as the craftsman... Celestial Furnace Alchemy!"
RUMBLE...!
Within the Dark Abyss, rivers of fire surged forth. The scorching flames instantly filled the entire space, which now resembled a gigantic Alchemy Furnace.
AHH... AHH... AHH...!
Instantly, the Demon Spirits with weaker cultivation began to wail in agony. The scorching flames trapped and incinerated them. Worst of all, the flames contained a hint of Celestial Power, something the Rank Three Demon Spirits were utterly unable to withstand.
CRACKLE... SIZZLE...!
But something even more terrifying was yet to come. Amidst the sea of flames, lightning flashed and thunder roared. One after another, bolts of Thunder Shock materialized and rained down, impossible to defend against.
In a flash, the Dark Abyss had truly become an Abyssal Hell. The Demon Spirits trapped inside were burned alive and struck by lightning, helpless as caged animals.
"That snake... he really wants to kill us all!"
"Your Majesty, save us! We don’t want to die!"
The faces of the White Demon King and the Saint Peng King were ashen. They shielded themselves with their Demon Qi as they watched the endless flames and the raging thunderstorm. Who wouldn’t be terrified by such a display? Even the two of them had lost their composure.
’The Snake Demon’s methods are too horrifying.’
’A Celestial Furnace?’
’That damn snake... is he trying to refine all of us? To smelt out our Lifebound Golden Cores?’
’Trapped in here were a Deep Mountain Demon King, a Demon King, four or five Deep Mountain Great Demons, and over a dozen Rank Three Demon Spirits.’
’Such immense ambition. Such terrifying methods.’