Chapter 174

Shi Ran, Gu Yusheng, and Mei Ruoxue all changed expression at the same time.

That surging evil will was bone-chillingly cold, carrying ancient desolation and pure destructive desire; merely sensing its presence caused the three's spiritual power circulation to stagnate, their souls seeming to freeze. The secret realm's originally dark-red sky grew even deeper, like congealed blood; the earth trembled, cracks spread, and distant mountains groaned under the strain in the warped air.

The fervent sacrificial chant grew louder and louder, like myriad wronged spirits wailing in unison, resonating with the awakening of some terrifying presence deep in the secret realm.

"Not good! Looks like they succeeded, at least awakening something extremely terrible!" Gu Yusheng forced down his surging qi and blood, his face grim. As a sword cultivator with keen spiritual sense, he could feel that the will contained terrifying power enough to crush a Golden Core and heavily wound a Nascent Soul.

Mei Ruoxue gripped the Youge Sword tightly; the blade hummed, emitting a biting icy aura to counter the external evil pressure, but her pallid face showed she was under immense strain. "We must stop them! If that so‑called Holy Demon fully descends or escapes this place, the consequences are unthinkable!"

Shi Ran felt the most complex. When the evil will swept over, her internal Dao of Extinction faintly sent a ripple of "pleasure," as if encountering tasty food; the demonic intent grew more active, restless, possessing both an instinctive fear of being suppressed by higher demonic nature and a greed to devour and replace; while the Nirvana Flame was suppressed in this dead‑magic domain, its light slightly dimmed, yet it stubbornly guarded her meridians and soul, dispelling the invading negative emotions.

The three powers, stimulated externally, accelerated their circulation, forming a more dynamic balance within her.

"No time to wonder what they're up to; the priority is to interrupt the sacrifice, or… deal with the awakened thing!" Shi Ran's eyes sharpened; she instantly decided, "Your injuries aren't healed—recover here first, I'll scout ahead."

"Impossible!" Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue said in unison.

Gu Yusheng urged: "That aura is at least Spirit Transformation level; going alone would be too dangerous!"

Mei Ruoxue also said: "One more person means more strength; though wounded, we can still fight!"

Shi Ran looked at their determined eyes, knowing she couldn't persuade them. After a brief pause, she hesitated no longer: "Alright! Then we'll go together, act as circumstances dictate! Hurry to recover; I'll lend you a hand."

She placed her palms on their backs again; this time, besides pure Nirvana vitality, she carefully controlled a faint trace of the Extinction Dao's rhythm, blending it into the vital force. This was not destruction, but using the power of "termination" to accelerate the termination of residual alien demonic erosion and stubborn dark wounds within them.

Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue shuddered all over, feeling a cool power with a strange "erasive" effect sweep through their meridians; the previously hard‑to‑dispel yin‑cold demonic qi melted like snow in sunlight, and their recovery speed surged severalfold! Both were shocked, gaining a deeper appreciation of Shi Ran's cultivation.

After a moment, though still far from peak condition, the two had recovered seventy to eighty percent of their combat strength.

"Go!"

The three no longer hesitated, turning into three streaks of light that rushed toward the direction from which the sacrificial chant came and the source of the evil will.

The closer they got to the secret realm's center, the thicker and purer the demonic qi in the air became; chaotic negative energy nearly condensed into substance, continually striking their protective auras. Gu Yusheng's azure sword aura and Mei Ruoxue's icy shield flickered, obviously struggling to hold.

Seeing this, Shi Ran's thought moved; her Dao of Extinction slightly spread, forming an invisible field around the three. As the surging demonic qi and negative energy entered the field, their violent attributes were quickly "dissolved" and "soothed"; though not fully absorbed or blocked, the pressure dropped sharply, making Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue suddenly feel relieved.

The two's gazes at Shi Ran grew more complex, gratitude mixed with indescribable shock. Such means had already surpassed their understanding of power.

After advancing several dozen li, a broader, more ruined square came into view. The square's floor was laid with black giant stones, etched with a vast, complex blood‑colored formation that now emitted a faint red light, continually drawing demonic qi from the earth's veins… and the remaining vitality and soul power from the mountain‑like piles of corpses around the square!

Those corpses included the black-clad cultivators and demonic beasts slain earlier by Gu Yusheng and his companions, but far more were the bodies of people wearing simple garb, with dark skin, clearly members of the Southern Border Wu tribe! They had been brutally slain to serve as fuel for the sacrifice!

In the center of the plaza stood a broken statue a hundred zhang tall, its appearance hideous, neither human nor beast, with multiple pairs of twisted wings and countless waving tentacles; just a single glance made one dizzy and unsettled the mind. At the base of the statue, nearly a hundred remnants of the Netherworld Sect clad in blood-colored skull robes knelt on the ground, fervently chanting ancient incantations. The leader was an old man wearing a dark red robe and holding a white bone scepter; his aura had clearly reached the peak of late Nascent Soul, only one step away from attaining God Transformation.

And that heart-pounding evil will was continuously emanating from within the statue, becoming ever clearer and more substantial. From the cracks on the statue's surface began to seep a viscous substance like black blood, and a pressure far greater than any previous demonic beast was forming.

"They are using living beings as sacrifices, trying to fully revive the demonic will slumbering within the statue, even to condense a demonic body!" Mei Ruoxue's voice was icy, filled with suppressed fury. How innocent those Wu tribe civilians are!

"We must interrupt them!" Gu Yusheng drew his Chasing Moon Sword, an azure sword rainbow shooting into the sky, its sharp sword intent ripping through the viscous demonic qi.

The appearance of the three immediately drew the attention of the Netherworld Sect.

"Stop them! For the advent of the Holy Demon!" The red-robed old man jerked his head up, mad bloodlight flickering in his cloudy eyes, and he swung the white bone scepter in his hand.

Roar! Howl!

Around the plaza, from the shadows, dozens of powerful demonic beasts of various forms surged forth instantly, among them beings equivalent to early- and mid-stage Nascent Soul, howling as they rushed to slaughter the three! At the same time, some Netherworld Sect cultivators stopped chanting, took out various yin-evil magical treasures, and released filthy blood-light, curses, and soul banners, coordinating with the demonic beasts to launch an attack.

Kill!

Gu Yusheng let out a long whistle, uniting body and sword, transforming into an azure long dragon that shot straight toward the densest concentration of demonic beasts. Where his sword light passed, the beasts howled, limbs flying apart; his fierce sword qi even crushed low-level demonic beasts outright. He was soon entangled by two mid-stage Nascent Soul bone-wing demons and a giant swamp demon whose body flowed with corrosive slime; though his sword light was sharp, he could not break through for a moment.

Mei Ruoxue, meanwhile, remained even calmer; as her Netherworld Song Sword danced, ice lotuses blossomed across the sky, and her frigid sword qi not only froze the beasts' movements but could also seal their demonic cores. Her sword stance was ethereal, often striking from unimaginable angles, each blow aimed straight at a vital point; coordinating with her footwork, she weaved through the beast horde, restraining many foes. Yet she too was targeted by three Nascent Soul elders of the Netherworld Sect and several demons skilled in long-range attack; her ice lotuses were continually shattered by filthy blood-light and curses, leaving the situation at a stalemate.

Shi Ran's situation was the strangest of all. Perhaps it was the unique aura on her, a fusion of extinction and demonic intent, that drew attention; or perhaps it was the red silk entwining her, but the red-robed old man and the two late-stage Nascent Soul guardians beside him personally brought the finest few demonic beasts to surround her.

"Strange girl, the aura on you…… is both repulsive and enticing! Sacrificing you to the Holy Demon will surely be a great merit!" The red-robed old man hoarsely laughed, pointing his white bone scepter; an extremely condensed dark-red beam, containing the laws of decay and demise, shot straight at Shi Ran's brow.

At the same time, one of the guardians produced a Myriad Soul Banner; angry yin wind howled, and countless twisted resentful spirits formed into a giant mouth that lunged to bite. The other guardian formed seals with both hands, and from the ground welled up black mire, transforming into countless ghostly hands that grabbed at Shi Ran's feet. Meanwhile, several nearby demonic beasts simultaneously spewed corrosive demonic flame and hurled bone spears.

Faced with this heaven-covering encirclement, Shi Ran's gaze sank into calm. She knew well that ordinary means could not swiftly settle these powerful foes; she had to employ her true trump card.

She traced with her left hand, drawing forth the Nirvanic Flame; pure white fire coalesced into a spinning wall of flame that blocked the resentful spirit's giant mouth and part of the demonic flame, and the purifying power within the fire caused the resentful spirits to emit shrill wails as they continually dissipated.

At the same time, dark-gold demonic intent condensed at the tip of her right hand, and she pressed down fiercely upon the ground beneath her—Extinction·Return to the Abyss! The countless ghostly hands and the surging mire, the moment they touched the dark-gold light ring, seemed to be cast into the formless Abyss, vanishing silently and without a trace, not even a vestige left behind.

As for that most dangerous dark-red beam, Shi Ran neither dodged nor evaded; a pattern of extinction flickered deep in her eyes, she raised her right hand, and lightly tapped with her index finger.

Extinction·Finger.

There was no sound, no flash of light. The dark-red beam capable of heavily wounding or even felling a Nascent Soul cultivator, the instant it touched her fingertip, was like a pencil mark erased by a rubber—inch by inch it vanished from tip to base, disappearing without a trace.

"What?!" The red-robed old man's pupils contracted sharply; for the first time, shock appeared on his face. His attack, imbued with his own Dao, had actually been resolved so lightly?

The other two guardians were likewise jolted, their offensive involuntarily stalled.

In the instant they were stunned, Shi Ran moved. Her figure seemed to merge with the surrounding warped space; the strange speed granted by her demonic intent made her like a phantom, and she instantly appeared behind the guardian holding the Myriad Soul Banner.

"Be careful!" the red-robed old man exclaimed.

But it was already too late. Shi Ran's palm lightly pressed against the guardian's back heart.

Nirvanic·Ignite Demon.

Not healing, but reversal! The pure Nirvanic life-force she forcibly poured into his body was, for a demonic cultivator practicing yin-evil arts, nothing short of a deadly poison! The guardian's body jerked rigidly, his eyes bulged, and countless strands of pure white fire instantly appeared on his surface; the demonic qi within him, like a fuel depot ignited, erupted in flames from inside out.

Ah——! A piercing shriek cut off abruptly; a late-stage Nascent Soul demonic guardian, right before everyone's eyes, turned into a roaring white-gold torch, and in just a few breaths was burned to nothing, not even his Nascent Soul escaping.

Instant kill!

The entire field fell silent! Whether it was Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue locked in fierce battle, or the Netherworld Sect cultivators and demonic beasts, all were stunned by this horrifying scene.

The red-robed old man was both startled and furious: "What…… what exactly are you, monster?!"

Shi Ran gave no answer; her gaze locked onto the red-robed old man and the other guardian, as well as the statue behind them that continuously oozed black substance, its aura growing ever more terrifying.

Your turn.

Her voice was calm, yet it carried a chilling killing intent. Her figure vanished again, and dark-gold light streamed across the battlefield; wherever it passed, demonic beasts scattered and vanished, while low-level Netherworld Sect cultivators died on contact.

The red-robed old man bellowed repeatedly, joining forces with the remaining guardian and several of the strongest demonic beasts, unleashing every bottom‑box demonic art and evil method in an attempt to block Shi Ran. For a moment, filthy blood flooded the heavens, ghosts wailed and gods howled, and curses surged like a tide.

However, Shi Ran's power was too strange and mighty. The Dao of Extinction could be called the bane of all techniques—most attacks near her lost power greatly or even vanished outright; the Nirvanic Flame could both heal her and purify or burn demons; and demonic intent granted her extreme speed, toughness, and a certain control over demonic qi.

She was like a walking god of death and life in the mortal realm, stirring up a bloody storm in the Netherworld Sect's ranks.

Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue felt their pressure greatly lessen and their spirits rise; their sword light and ice lotuses grew brighter, they began a counterattack, clearing the surrounding demonic beasts and cultivators.

Seeing heavy casualties among his subordinates, the sacrificial formation's light dimmed due to Shi Ran's interference, the statue's revival process seemed affected, and the red-robed old man went completely mad.

You forced me to do this! With my soul, I respectfully summon the Holy Demon to descend into this body!

He thrust the white bone scepter into his own chest, blood spurted out and merged with the formation beneath his feet. His aura instantly surged, breaking through the Nascent Soul shackles, reaching the early Divine Transformation stage, but the price was his body rapidly withering, the madness in his eyes swallowed by pure darkness.

Roar——!

The statue violently trembled, a condensed black light pillar shot out from it, pouring into the red-robed old man's body. His body began a horrifying metamorphosis: skin split, bone spurs and scales grew, his skull twisted and deformed, with a tearing sound two pairs of tattered flesh wings sprouted from his back! He was being assimilated and possessed by the demonic will within the statue.

And that Divine Transformation aura, like a tangible mountain, crashed down upon the three of them!

Not good! He's forcibly drawing the demon into his body!" Gu Yusheng exclaimed, his face paling. "Divine Transformation is a qualitative leap, utterly incomparable to Nascent Soul!"

Mei Ruoxue also sensed the deadly threat, her Youge Sword humming incessantly.

The red-robed old man, having undergone initial mutation—or rather, the Holy Demon incarnation—lifted his eyes, now filled only with pure malice and chaos, locking onto Shi Ran, who posed the greatest threat to him.

Ants…… annihilation!

It let out an inhuman roar, and with a single movement it crossed the distance, a massive claw covered in black scales and entwined with viscous demonic flame swooped down toward Shi Ran from above! Where the claw wind passed, space rippled, as if about to be torn apart.

This claw contained the power of Divine Transformation law, far beyond any previous attack!

Shi Ran's pupils contracted slightly as she felt an unprecedented pressure. She dared not delay; the threefold power within her body spun wildly at an unprecedented speed.

Annihilation Domain, open!

Centered on her, an invisible field expanded; within it, the atmosphere of all things withering permeated. The demonic claw that entered the field visibly slowed, its demonic flame and scales showing signs of decay.

Nirvanic Fire, protect my true self!

Pure white flames erupted from her body, forming a fiery armor; its scorching, vital aura opposed the external deathly demonic intent.

Demonic Will, attach!

Dark-golden patterns surfaced beneath her skin, granting her greater strength, speed, and an odd ability to pierce defenses.

She thrust both palms forward; her left hand condensed the Annihilation Dao into a grayish palm print, while her right hand transformed Nirvanic Fire into a white-gold fist surge, both meeting the terrifying demonic claw simultaneously!

Boom——!!!