Chapter 100: Crisis: Comrade Falls

Moments later, the surrounding space gradually stabilized.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The cabin doors around the rest area all opened, and Lu Qingshan’s team surged out; Captain Xuan Konghou immediately retracted the rest area.

After all, the rest area was forged from F9-grade metal; even though somewhat damaged, it was still worth tens of thousands of Huan Yuan units!

In the cosmic void.

Lu Qingshan and the others scattered in all directions, releasing their rule domains to sense the enemies’ positions.

At that moment…

Nine figures swiftly appeared before Lu Qingshan and the others; four of them were clearly immortal-level demon race elites, each with a divine body no smaller than dozens of meters, the largest over a hundred meters tall.

Yet at this moment, the members of Xuan Kong Team paid no attention to these four figures radiating powerful aura—they all stared with extreme caution at the other five mechanical puppet figures.

“Worse! These are mechanical puppets commonly used by demon race elites!”

“Only demon race elites with exceptionally massive divine bodies use these—looks like we’ve run into trouble!”

“These demon race immortals outnumber us by one; we just don’t know how strong they truly are.”

“They found us without us noticing— their detectors must be far superior to ours! And since they dared come here, they clearly have some confidence in handling us!”

Having roamed the Outer Battlefield for years, the members of Xuan Kong Team were well aware that demon race elites used puppet bodies.

Thus, everyone’s faces were grim—they never expected that after deciding to return to the military base, they’d still encounter such a powerful alien enemy.

And at that moment…

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Five extremely powerful auras erupted from the other five demon race puppet bodies, and instantly five colossal demon race immortals appeared before the four demon race immortals.

Among these five demon race immortals, one was a reptilian creature over a thousand meters long, its body covered in scales; another was over two thousand meters long, its entire body bristling with sharp spines, resembling a giant rat…

The two leaders among them: one was over ten kilometers long, its body entirely clad in golden scales, its head wolf-like with a single horn, and intricate secret patterns engraved within its scaled skin; the other was a colossal serpent as towering as a mountain, twelve kilometers long, over two hundred meters thick, its body covered in blue scales marked with circular patterns, and three pairs of membranous wings on its back!

As the two leading demon race immortals appeared, two immensely powerful rule domains suddenly manifested in the void—one brimming with sharp metal energy, the other filled with endless freezing currents.

“Gold-Averse Khou!”

“Zi Qian Wan She!”

Seeing the leaders of the demon race team appear, the members of Xuan Kong Team couldn’t help but cry out in shock.

For Gold-Averse Khou and Zi Qian Wan She were both among the most powerful bloodlines among demon race royal clans; though not invincible within their rank like Star Beasts, they were still top-tier in their class.

Combined with their massive divine bodies, even stronger beings rarely dared provoke them.

“Captain!”

Deputy Captain Tie Xuehou immediately transmitted a mental message: “These must be the Bloodshed Team from the demon race camp! Their leader, Bloodshed Marquis, is said to possess Peak Marquis-level power, plus one High Marquis and three Initial Marquises—all other members are High Military Lords. We’re truly in deep trouble!”

“Damn humans!”

The leader of the Gold-Averse Khou clan, Bloodshed Marquis, spoke in flawless Human Common Tongue: “To die in my Bloodshed’s hands is the honor of your despicable kind!”

“Bloodshed Marquis!”

Xuan Konghou immediately transmitted divine power: “You know full well that if our two teams clash, the consequences will be severe! Even if your strength is greater, we are not defenseless!”

“If you push us too far, your team will suffer heavy losses too! But we don’t wish to fight. If you withdraw now, our team will offer you treasures worth one hundred thousand Dunzhu units!”

Though Xuan Konghou’s move showed weakness, such situations were common on the Outer Battlefield.

Lu Qingshan and the others had previously accepted wealth offered by alien factions when they held only slight advantage, then let them go.

Dunzhu was an extremely high-tier currency unit within demon race territory; normally, one Dunzhu unit of treasure was worth about two Huan Yuan units.

One hundred thousand Dunzhu units equaled two hundred thousand Huan Yuan units—a substantial fortune for Xuan Kong Team.

Of course, avoiding a fight with the Bloodshed Team was well worth it!

“Aren’t your human warriors supposed to be proud? Why surrender before even fighting?”

The leader of the Gold-Averse Khou clan, Bloodshed Marquis, laughed loudly: “To gain one hundred thousand Dunzhu units without fighting? What a tempting offer! But compared to that, I’d rather hear your damned humans scream in agony as you perish under my hands!”

Hearing Bloodshed Marquis’s mockery, the members of Xuan Kong Team grew furious.

“Damn demon race scum!”

“Do they really think we’re surrendering?”

“Captain, fight them!”

“Since coming to the Outer Battlefield, I’ve long accepted I might die one day—but even if I die, I’ll take at least one with me!”

At this moment, every teammate—including Xuan Konghou—abandoned thoughts of a safe retreat and resolved to inflict a brutal lesson on the demon race Bloodshed Team, no matter the cost.

“Attack!”

On the other side, Bloodshed Marquis immediately ordered: “I’ll handle the High Marquis Xuan Konghou. Still, you three hold off the other three Marquis Immortals—keep the battlefield split as far as possible! Price, you and the rest quickly eliminate those Military Lord Immortals, then come assist us in surrounding the Marquis Immortals!”

“Yes, Captain!”

“Don’t worry, Captain!”

Boom! Boom! Boom…

The nine demon race immortals instantly released their rule domains and struck Lu Qingshan’s team from all directions like lightning.

“Brothers, kill!”

Xuan Konghou also transmitted a mental command: “Nightmare, your power is weakened—stay close to Thunderstorm! Others, observe carefully—first assess these demon race’s strength. If danger arises, immediately move toward us!”

Both sides moved instantly.

The opponent targeting Lu Qingshan was the reptilian immortal over a thousand meters long, its body covered in scales.

This demon race immortal was not from a royal or noble bloodline, but from the powerful Longlizard Clan.

Long ago, the Longlizard Clan was ordinary among demon race, often prey for stronger races.

Until one of them became a Cosmic Sovereign, their fate changed; later, another became a Cosmic Overlord, elevating the Longlizard Clan to high status among demon race—though still inferior to royal clans, they were now a powerful race.

Of course, the Longlizard Clan immortal fighting Lu Qingshan was only Initial Marquis-level, held low status within his clan, and possessed only ordinary techniques—he was instantly dominated by Lu Qingshan upon combat.

Fortunately, this Longlizard Clan immortal possessed immortality; even when Lu Qingshan shattered his divine body, he could rapidly regenerate.

“Captain, this opponent is quite strong!”

After Lu Qingshan shattered his divine body again, the Longlizard Clan immortal quickly transmitted: “If he burns his immortal power in desperation, he could annihilate a large portion of my immortal energy!”

“What’s to fear?”

Bloodshed Marquis immediately replied mentally: “Don’t worry—I’ll have Price come assist you once he kills those human Immortals!”

At that moment, Nightmare’s voice also reached Lu Qingshan’s ears.

“Thunderstorm, help me—I’m about to collapse!”

Nightmare was battling a demon race High Military Lord, but her divine body had lost over ten percent of its mass, weakening her significantly; her signature illusion attacks had no effect, so she was already thoroughly outmatched.

At the same time, Xuan Konghou urgently transmitted to his team: “Be careful—this Bloodshed Team is strong! We may have to flee! Tie Xue, Thunderstorm—you two are strongest—find a way to pull Nightmare and the others into your World Rings! Jingtao, prepare to burn your immortal power as rearguard!”

“Understood!”

“Understood!”

Lu Qingshan and the others nodded in response.

Immediately, Tie Xuehou erupted, cleaving his enemy’s divine body with a single axe blow, then raced toward Giant Elephant’s position to pull him into his World Ring.

Simultaneously, Lu Qingshan slashed open the Longlizard Clan Marquis Immortal’s divine body again and shot toward Nightmare’s location.

Lu Qingshan moved fastest, reaching Nightmare first—but just as he prepared to pull her into his World Ring, her enemy surged forward again.

“Think you can pull her into a World Ring? Not happening!”

The demon race immortal vibrated his divine power, disrupting the space around Lu Qingshan, making it impossible for him to continue pulling Nightmare into the World Ring.

“Die!”

Lu Qingshan surged his divine power, igniting it completely, and an immensely terrifying aura erupted from him.

In this state of burning divine power, Lu Qingshan’s aura surpassed even Peak Marquis Bloodshed Marquis by a slight margin.

Instantly, Lu Qingshan’s burning immortal energy flooded into the Purple Thunder Sword.

Whoosh!

A brilliant purple blade of light shot toward the demon race High Military Lord, completely shattering his divine body.

With no one left to block him, Lu Qingshan swiftly pulled Nightmare into his personal World Ring.

Hum!

Nearby, the demon race High Military Lord’s divine body reformed, his face twisted in terror.

“Captain!”

He retreated rapidly, transmitting to Bloodshed Marquis, who was overpowering Xuan Konghou: “I’ve lost thirty percent of my divine body!”

“Damn it!”

Hearing his subordinate’s message, Bloodshed Marquis flew into a rage.

Even Zi Qian Wan She, a High Marquis, had not inflicted such heavy losses on Xuan Kong Team with his occasional ambushes.

Realizing this, Bloodshed Marquis transmitted to his Marquis teammates: “Since these humans seek death, we’ll grant it! Burn your immortal power—destroy them all! You weaker ones, keep your distance—don’t get caught in their self-destruction!”

“Yes!” The Bloodshed Team members responded immediately.

Then…

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The five Marquis Immortals of the Bloodshed Team instantly burned their immortal power completely; each of their auras became vast as oceans, instantly crushing Xuan Kong Team’s side.

“Are these demon race insane?”

Seeing the demon race Marquis Immortals all burning their immortal power, Xuan Kong Team’s faces turned grim.

Lu Qingshan had burned his immortal power only to rescue teammates—but these demon race?

They had no deep grudge, and Xuan Kong Team possessed no treasure of extraordinary value—so why were they fighting so desperately?

Of course, though puzzled, the members of the Xuan Kong squad immediately sprang into action.

Xuan Kong Hou and others with immortal bodies began burning their immortal divine power to resist, while those unable to burn immortal divine power—like the Giant Elephant—prepared at all times to detonate part of their immortal divine power and escape.

But at that moment, Ziqian Wanshe, its divine power ablaze, finally unleashed its full power!

“Roar!”

He let out only a low roar—and instantly, the mentalist Leng Xin, who had been fighting an elite alien military lord, was frozen solid into an ice statue.

“Leng Xin!”

Sensing Leng Xin’s life force rapidly fading, the entire Xuan Kong squad went utterly berserk.

They all wanted to rush to Leng Xin’s aid, but every one of them was held back by their own opponents.

After putting away Nightmare, Lu Qing had intended to strike again and annihilate that alien elite military lord—but seeing this, he instantly pushed his body technique to its limit and shot toward Leng Xin’s location.

Though Leng Xin had been cold when Lu Qing first joined the Xuan Kong squad, after thousands of years together, Lu Qing had long sensed the sincerity beneath Leng Xin’s icy exterior.

Now that the man was in peril, he could not stand idly by!

Unfortunately, even with his speed pushed to its peak, Lu Qing could not save Leng Xin from the grasp of Ziqian Wanshe, whose immortal divine power was ablaze.

The elite marquis-level Ziqian Wanshe merely flicked its tail—and the ice statue formed from Leng Xin shattered instantly; Leng Xin’s divine body disintegrated into countless fragments, his life force gone forever.

After all, Ziqian Wanshe himself was an elite marquis-level immortal; when he unleashed his ultimate killing technique, fused with his innate secret art while burning divine power, annihilating a mere elite military lord like Leng Xin posed no challenge.

After killing Leng Xin, Ziqian Wanshe turned and charged toward the nearby Shadow.

Shadow, who had been fighting another alien elite military lord, immediately detonated five percent of his divine body and surged toward Lu Qing’s position.

Lu Qing likewise unleashed his full speed to meet him, finally joining forces with Shadow just before Ziqian Wanshe could catch up.

But as Lu Qing tried to pull Shadow into his World Ring, Ziqian Wanshe, now nearby, unleashed a surge of divine power that disrupted Lu Qing’s attempt to absorb Shadow.

“No!”

Under Ziqian Wanshe’s interference, Lu Qing’s heart sank.

At this moment, the Longlizard marquis-level immortal who had been fighting him also charged toward Lu Qing—under the combined pressure of both enemies, Lu Qing could not possibly absorb Shadow into his World Ring.

And under the assault of these two, he couldn’t even temporarily protect Shadow!

“What do I do?”

Lu Qing’s soul spun rapidly—then, suddenly, a flash of insight struck him: “Attack Wei to save Zhao!”

Instantly, Lu Qing whispered to Shadow: “Shadow, I’ll find a way to kill one of the alien elite military lords. Seize the chance to break through toward Tie Xue—if he can pull you into his World Ring, you’ll be safe!”

After giving the order, Lu Qing—still burning his immortal divine power—shifted his form instantly and surged toward the alien immortal whose divine body he had already destroyed by thirty percent.

At the same time, Shadow reignited five percent of his divine body and dashed toward Tie Xue Hou’s position.

“No!”

Seeing this, Ziqian Wanshe’s heart jolted—he immediately whispered to the Longlizard marquis-level immortal: “You chase that elite military lord. I’ll hold off this human marquis!”

Unfortunately, though Ziqian Wanshe was an elite marquis-level immortal, his body technique could not compare to Lu Qing’s, who had created a top-tier body technique secret art.

Lu Qing’s form flickered repeatedly—and suddenly he stood before the alien elite military lord who was preparing to detonate part of his divine body and flee.

“Die for Leng Xin!”

Lu Qing’s will shifted—he accelerated the burning of his immortal divine power and slashed again with his sword toward the alien marquis-level immortal.

Boom!

Infinite power erupted—the alien marquis-level immortal, sensing the terrifying might within Lu Qing’s blade, felt utter despair.

“I refuse to die!”

With a final cry in the alien common tongue, the alien elite military lord chose to detonate himself.

But at that moment…

Xue Sha Hou, who had been overpowering Xuan Kong Hou, flickered forward and slammed a claw toward Lu Qing.

Xue Sha Hou was a peak marquis-level powerhouse, still burning his immortal divine power—this single strike could severely wound an ordinary low-rank marquis-level immortal.

“Perfect!”

“Sacrifice one elite military lord to eliminate a human warrior equal to an elite marquis—worth it!”

Though Xue Sha Hou might not kill Lu Qing outright, to the other alien warriors, even if Lu Qing survived this blow, he would surely be gravely wounded.

Once weakened, Lu Qing would be easy prey for their combined assault—and they could kill him before reinforcements from the human race arrived.

And once Lu Qing was dead, the rest of the human warriors would be even more vulnerable.

“Incredible power!”

Feeling the overwhelming force of Xue Sha Hou’s strike, Lu Qing—still burning his immortal divine power—showed no panic. He immediately activated his ultimate attack technique: “Heavenly Thunder Break.”

Even with the technique and his weapon to block it, his divine body exploded instantly.

When he reformed his divine body, he had lost six percent to Xue Sha Hou’s full-force blow—plus the three percent already lost from burning divine power—he had lost nine percent total.

“What?”

“Impossible?”

Seeing Lu Qing’s divine power showed no significant drop, the alien immortals were stunned.

“Elite marquis-level—this damned human is definitely an elite marquis-level immortal!”

Ziqian Wanshe’s face darkened.

At that moment, Tie Xue Hou and Jing Tao Hou coordinated perfectly and pulled Shadow into his World Ring.

Fearing Lu Qing’s counterattacks and the Xuan Kong squad’s potential self-destruction, the aliens quickly recalled their other elite military lords.

Now, only nine marquis-level immortals remained in the surrounding void: five from the Xue Sha squad, four from the Xuan Kong squad—plus their massive divine bodies, the aliens held a clear advantage.

“Captain, what do we do?”

Ziqian Wanshe quickly whispered to Xue Sha Hou: “The Xuan Kong squad clearly has three elite marquis-level combatants. Should we keep fighting?”

“Of course!”

Xue Sha Hou declared: “We have one more warrior than them, and our divine bodies are far larger. If we hold on a little longer, they’ll break!”

After saying this, Bloodshed Marquis directly charged toward the direction where Lu Qingshan was.

Xuan Kong Hou tried to intercept him—but was blocked by Ziqian Wanshe; Jing Tao Hou remained locked in a back-and-forth battle with an alien low-rank marquis-level immortal; Tie Xue Hou, despite his elite marquis-level strength, was held fast by a massive low-rank alien marquis-level immortal; and Xue Sha Hou, alongside the Longlizard marquis-level immortal, now surrounded Lu Qing together!

This was the hard-won understanding of the Xue Sha squad—they had clearly identified Lu Qing, whose divine body was severely damaged, as the breakthrough point of this battle.

Seeing Lu Qing surrounded by Xue Sha Hou and the others, Xuan Kong Hou and the others grew frantic—but they were all pinned down, unable to spare a single moment to help.

Fortunately, Lu Qing’s bizarre body technique allowed him to hold his own against the two for now.

But as the battle continued, Lu Qing’s divine body kept burning…

91%, 90%…

89%, 88%… 81%, 80%…

As his divine body dwindled, Lu Qing’s uncanny speed began to slow—and as his speed dropped, he started taking hits from Xue Sha Hou and the Longlizard immortal, accelerating his divine body’s loss…

Once Lu Qing’s divine body fell below 80%, his weakened power made it nearly impossible to resist the two alien immortals’ combined assault!

“He’s failing!”

Sensing Lu Qing’s aura weaken further, Xue Sha Hou’s face broke into a grin: “Push harder—we’ll kill him soon!”

But at that moment, a black streak shot toward them from afar!

The black streak landed before Lu Qing and others, resolving into the figure of a human warrior clad in black armor, his face marked with mysterious green patterns!

(End of Chapter)