Chapter 183

Shiran, aided by the Patrol Order, carefully sensed and indeed, beneath the golden light point, deep within the altar, lurked a mass of dark energy as profound as an abyss, its nature similar to demonic qi but purer and nobler, bearing a will that lorded over all beings. That feeling faintly resembled the memory of the demonic claw that destroyed stars in her mind!

"The 'Reappearance of the Demon Claw' recorded by the Blazing Sun Envoy……could it refer to this?" Shiran's heart trembled.

As the three observed the altar, pondering how to enter, a sudden change occurred!

At the altar's summit, where the golden light point resided, suddenly burst forth dazzling, blinding golden light! Within the golden light, a vague phantom, composed purely of energy, slowly emerged. The phantom's face was indiscernible, only vaguely revealing a humanoid figure in ancient robes, seemingly holding something in his hands, emanating warm and vast energy, utterly incongruous with the altar's gloomy and strange aura.

Simultaneously, the slumbering demonic energy mass deep within the altar, seemingly awakened by this golden light, began to churn violently! A terrifying will, like a tide, surged forth from the altar's depths, instantly enveloping the three!

"Ant……dare disturb this seat's slumber……"

Low, hoarse, as if from the Nine Nether Hells, the voice directly echoed in the three's seas of consciousness! Accompanying this voice, the transparent light membrane on the altar's base violently undulated, strands of thick, almost substantive demonic qi separating from the membrane, forming dozens of huge, ferocious black demonic claws, covering the sky and lunging at the three! Each claw contained terrifying power enough to crush Golden Core cultivators, as well as invasive demonic intent!

Before the attack even arrived, the immense pressure already made Shiran's breath halt, Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue instantly turned deathly pale, as if facing a great enemy!

This was absolutely not comparable to the lifeless Resentful Spirit Warship; this was a living, terrifyingly willful demon lord! Its power level far surpassed any enemy they had encountered before!

"Retreat!" Gu Yusheng roared, his Bright Moon Sword Intent exploding fully, attempting to sever the demonic claws' lock-on.

Mei Ruoxue also pushed her Xuanbing Domain to the extreme, cold qi attempting to freeze the demonic claws.

But those demonic claws seemed to ignore the sword intent and cold air, their speed unimpeded!

At the critical moment, the Patrol Order in Shiran's sea of consciousness went berserk, no longer a desire for the energy source, but a fierce reaction like facing an arch-nemesis! A vaster, older stream of information, accompanied by vast energy, forcibly surged into her consciousness.

"Detected high concentration of 'Void Annihilation Demonic Qi'……determined as 'Patrol Hunt' target……"

"'Blazing Sun Envoy' final guardianship agreement triggered……temporary permissions unlocked……"

"Granted temporary permission: Initial Patrol Purification Mode (Fragment)……"

Shiran felt a sudden inspiration; she did not retreat but stepped forward, raising her radiant Patrol Order high, pouring all the recently influxed energy and will into it!

"In the name of Patrol, annihilate the illusory!"

She gave a clear shout, her voice carrying an unprecedented dignity and solemnity.

The Patrol Order erupted with unprecedented light, no longer silver-white nor pale gold, but a pure, almost capable of cleansing all cosmic defilement, blazing white light! The light descended like a blazing sun, instantly dispelling the gloom and demonic aura around the altar!

The black demonic claws that had lunged, upon contacting this blazing white light, like snow meeting the sun, emitted piercing shrieks, rapidly melting and evaporating!

The terrifying will deep within the altar let out a furious roar: "Patrol power?! Impossible! The Patrol Envoys of this realm have all long perished!"

The blazing white light, centered on Shiran, formed a huge halo, shielding the three within and slowly advancing toward the altar. Wherever the light passed, demonic qi retreated, even the sticky, dark red seawater seeming to be purified somewhat.

Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue stared in shock at Shiran standing at the halo's center, holding the token, like a goddess. They could feel that at this moment, Shiran's aura had completely merged with the Patrol Order, emanating a lawful power they could not comprehend, lofty and supreme.

"Now!" Shiran's voice carried a hint of fatigue but was extraordinarily resolute, "This purification mode won't last long! To the altar!"

Without hesitation, Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue guarded Shiran left and right, the three becoming three streams of light, braving the blazing white purification halo emanating from the Patrol Order, breaking through the residual demonic qi's obstruction, straight for the towering black altar's summit!

The golden light point atop the altar drew ever closer, its warm, vast energy fluctuations growing clearer.

And deep within the altar, that terrifying demon lord's will was frantically assaulting the purification halo, trying to stop them.

The altar was towering, its entire body built of cold black stone, the stone neither gold nor jade, icy to the touch, bone-chilling, yet faintly exuding a scorching heat. Countless complex ancient runes, like living snakes, slowly wandered the stone walls, flickering uncertainly, emitting heart-pounding energy fluctuations. The higher they went, the more intense the demonic will's impact from the altar's depths became, like solid hammers continually striking their spirits and protective light.

Shiran held the Patrol Order, the blazing white purification halo like a candle in the wind, stubbornly sustaining in the demonic qi's torrent, its range compressed to barely covering a few feet around the three. The halo's edge contacting the demonic qi continually emitted a "hissing" sound of dissolution, steaming up vast black smoke. Her face was as pale as paper, her body slightly trembling, maintaining this "Initial Patrol Purification Mode" was a tremendous burden for her, every second wildly consuming her spiritual power, divine sense, even faintly touching the source of life.

"Hold on!" Gu Yusheng supported Mei Ruoxue, his Bright Moon Sword Intent transformed into layers of clear radiance, encircling the halo's exterior, assisting in resisting the demonic intent's erosion, blood already trickling from his mouth's corner, yet his eyes remained sharp as a sword.

Mei Ruoxue silently poured her Xuanbing spiritual power without reserve into the ice lotus beneath her feet, the Extreme Cold Domain contracting to the extreme, within the purification halo forming another layer of crystalline ice crystal shield, further isolating the all-pervasive demonic thought whispers.

They charged up the wide staircase, wide enough for dozens to walk abreast, the sides plunging into bottomless darkness, as if leading straight to the Nine Nether, occasionally distorted demonic shadows flashing within, emitting soul-bewildering howls.

"Ant! You cannot shake the ancient fate!" the demon lord's will from the altar's depths roared, more demonic qi being drawn from the altar's runes, forming various ferocious weapons and beast shapes, wave after wave assaulting the blazing white halo. The halo violently swayed, flickering uncertainly.

Shiran gritted her teeth, the Patrol Order's vibrations in her sea of consciousness nearly tearing her soul apart, the protective will from the "Blazing Sun Envoy" intertwining with the Patrol Order's own power, supporting her so she did not fall. She could feel the resonance from the golden light point atop the altar growing stronger, like a lighthouse in dark confusion.

"Just above!" she strained to point to the staircase's end, there lay a vast platform.

Finally, the three broke through the last thick wall of demonic qi obstruction and stepped onto the altar's summit!

The platform was vast; at its center, not the imagined throne or deity statue, but a huge, eye-shaped depression pool. The pool held not water, but a slowly rotating, profound starry vortex, countless tiny stars within birthing and dying, emanating a vast and mysterious aura. And at the very center of the "eye pool," suspended was an object——

It was a palm-sized, irregularly shaped crystal fragment, its entire body presenting a warm, pure gold, like solidified sunlight. It rotated silently, emitting a soft yet firm light, precisely this light, atop this demonic-qi-laden altar summit, had opened a relatively clean area, and was strongly resonating with the Patrol Order in Shiran's hand.

"Blazing Sun Envoy's……core fragment?" Gu Yusheng instantly understood.

However, their gaze was immediately seized by what lay beneath the fragment.

Directly beneath the golden fragment, at the vortex center of the "eye pool," a mass of thick, writhing darkness like a living thing was tightly bound by countless chains forged from golden light. The darkness continually twisted and slammed, trying to break free, each impact causing the entire altar to tremble slightly, the chains clanging, the light dimming a fraction. That low, hoarse demonic roar was precisely emanating from this dark core!

"So that's it……" Mei Ruoxue's eyes flashed with sudden realization, "This altar is a seal! The Blazing Sun Envoy's fragment is the seal's core, suppressing this demon lord!"

"Not entirely a seal." Shiran, aided by the Patrol Order, sensed more information, her voice hoarse as she explained, "The Patrol Order's transmitted information shows this is a 'Realm Junction Point,' this 'eye pool' connecting to some unknown realm or spacetime. This demon lord……is likely temporarily trapped here by ancient Patrol Envoys using this place's special environment, with their core fragments as payment. It is constantly eroding the fragment's power, trying to escape, and reversely controlling this junction point!"

As if to confirm her words, the bound dark core suddenly erupted with stronger demonic qi, a voice full of allure and authority directly echoed in the three's souls' depths:

"Foolish juniors! Do you know, suppressing me is cutting off this realm's last vitality! 'Void Annihilation' approaches; only by merging with my path can one gain eternity! That Patrol path has long been a dead end! Look at your so-called Blazing Sun Envoy—where is he now? Merely a broken fragment!"

The demonic sound poured into the ears, carrying power that pointed directly at the Dao heart. Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue both had their spirits violently shaken, involuntarily arising in their minds were the myriad hardships and confusions of the cultivation path, as well as fear of the unknown "Void Annihilation."

"Cease confusing hearts!" Gu Yusheng roared, his Bright Moon Sword Intent slashing toward his own distractions, his eyes regaining clarity and resolve.

Mei Ruoxue's entire body grew colder, the Ice Heart Decree operating to the extreme, freezing all demonic thoughts.

Shiran, protected by the Patrol Order, suffered the least direct influence, but she could feel the Patrol Order in her hand issuing an unequivocally resolute "hunt" command toward the demon lord, while simultaneously filled with complex emotions of "mourning" and "inheritance" toward the Blazing Sun Envoy's fragment.

"We must reinforce the seal, or……utterly purify it!" Shiran gazed at the dark core bound by golden chains, then at the Blazing Sun Envoy's fragment hovering above. She could feel the fragment's power, after long ages, had been eroded by demonic qi by over half, its light far less blazing than recorded in the information stream.

"How to do it?" Gu Yusheng spoke concisely, he could see Shiran's state was extremely poor, the purification halo already tottering.

"Have the Patrol Order……touch the fragment……guide Patrol power, inject into the seal……" Shiran said with difficulty, this being the most direct method transmitted by the Patrol Order.

At this moment, another change occurred!

The demon lord seemed to sense their intent, the bound dark core suddenly contracted, then violently expanded!

"Boom——!"

A terrifying demonic energy burst, far surpassing before, erupted, countless golden chains snapping inch by inch in piercing shatters! That mass of darkness instantly broke free of most bonds, condensing into a substantial, horned, blurred-faced huge demonic phantom, hovering above the eye pool! Although a few of the thickest golden chains still coiled around the phantom's limbs, restricting its movement, the pressure it emitted had already become earth-shattering!

"Hahahaha! Imprisoned for myriad ages, today at last I gain freedom!" the demonic phantom laughed madly, its sound waves shattering the altar platform into cracks, "You shall be the first blood offering after my escape!"

It extended a demonic claw, partially bound by chains, lunging toward the hovering Blazing Sun Envoy fragment! To seize or destroy this core would utterly shatter the seal!

"Stop it!" Gu Yusheng hesitated not, his body becoming a sword rainbow, displaying his strongest sword technique "Bright Moon in the Void," his entire self merging with the Bright Moon Sword, like a true bright moon colliding toward that demonic claw!

Mei Ruoxue also struck at the same time, her Xuanbing spiritual power unleashed without reserve, transforming into nine ice-crystal phoenixes that cried out as they lunged at the demonic shadow, their extreme cold capable of freezing the void.

"A mantis trying to stop a chariot!" the demonic shadow sneered, another relatively free demonic claw swinging casually, vast demonic qi surging forth like a tsunami, instantly shattering the nine ice phoenixes; Mei Ruoxue was struck hard, spitting blood as she flew backward. At the same time, the claw reaching for the fragment collided violently with Gu Yusheng's sword-formed moon.

"Clang——!"

The sound of metal on metal echoed through the universe! Gu Yusheng's sword light only blocked the demonic claw for an instant before shattering with a boom; he was knocked back from his sword-light state to his original form, his long sword wailing as he fell, drenched in blood, his breath instantly weakening.

The gap between Nascent Soul and Spirit Transformation (assuming the demonic shadow's power now approaches Spirit Transformation) is like a heavenly chasm!

The demonic claw merely paused slightly, then continued reaching for the Sun-Chaser's fragment!

At the critical moment!

"Now!" Shi Ran's eyes flashed with a hint of resolve. She no longer maintained the flickering purification halo, but instead poured all her remaining power, along with her own essence-blood and soul, into the Patrol Heaven Order!

"With my blood and soul, I bear the Patrol Heaven's will! Order, ignite!"

She burned herself! The Patrol Heaven Order erupted with its final, most blazing ray of light—no longer pure blazing white, but tinged with a hint of blood-red! The token flew from her hand like a reverse meteor, arriving ahead of schedule, and in the instant before the demonic claw touched the fragment, it violently collided with that warm golden shard!

"Hum——!"

Without a heaven-shaking explosion, only a strange humming, as if from ancient primordial times. When the Patrol Heaven Order touched the Sun-Chaser's fragment, the two seemed to blend like milk and water, rapidly fusing! A Patrol Heaven power far greater than before, vast, pure, and radiating majestic heavenly might, like a dragon slumbering for myriad ages, suddenly awakened!

The newly fused token, now one size larger, presented a dark gold hue overall, with more complex and ancient sun-moon-star patterns appearing on its surface; at its center, a point of blazing white light pulsed like a heart.

"No——! Complete Patrol Heaven coordinates?!" the demonic shadow let out a terrified shriek, sensing a deadly threat from the newborn token!

The newborn Patrol Heaven Order needed no control from Shi Ran; it rose on its own, a condensed pillar of dark gold light as solid as substance, like a spear of judgment, instantly locking onto the demonic shadow and shooting down with a boom!

"Patrol Heaven Slays Demons! Purify and Annihilate!"

The dark gold pillar ignored all of the demonic shadow's defenses and demonic qi, piercing directly into its core! The demonic shadow emitted a piercing, agonized wail as its massive body, within the light pillar, melted like snow under a scorching sun, rapidly dissolving and purifying! The golden chains entwined around it also seemed to receive endless power, their light blazing like red-hot iron bands, sinking deep into the demonic shadow's body, binding it tightly and dragging it toward the eye-pool vortex!

"I am not resigned……utter annihilation approaches……you……will all be buried with me……" the demonic shadow gasped, just before being fully dragged into the vortex, uttering a final, venomous curse.

Finally, with a roar of reluctance, the demonic shadow was completely dragged into the "Eye Pool" depths' starry vortex, vanishing from sight. The countless golden chains followed it into obscurity, the eye pool returned to calm, though the rotating stars within seemed to have dimmed considerably.

The dark gold Patrol Heaven Order hovering above the eye pool gradually had its light gather inward, slowly descending, drifting back into the hand of the already exhausted, fallen Shi Ran, whose breath was faint. The token felt warm and moist to the touch, as if alive, and a bond far tighter and deeper than before—one that reached into the soul—formed between it and her.

The altar's summit returned to deathly stillness.

Only the slowly rotating starry eye pool and the three people fallen to the ground remained, bearing witness to how fierce the battle just fought had been.

Gu Yusheng struggled to sit up, ignoring his own severe wounds, first coming to Mei Ruoxue's side and pouring pure spiritual power into her body to protect her fading pulse.

Mei Ruoxue slowly regained consciousness, exchanged a glance with Gu Yusheng, took out her cherished life-preserving spirit pill, and fed it to Shi Ran.

After a long while, Shi Ran slowly regained consciousness, her eyes dim yet carrying a trace of the clarity that comes from releasing a burden. She looked at the dark gold Patrol Heaven Order in her hand, sensing within it the vast power that seemed available at any moment yet lay still like the sea, as well as a clearer fragment of information about the "Patrol Heaven Path" and the "Void Annihilation Calamity."

"We……succeeded?" she asked weakly.

"Succeeded." Gu Yusheng nodded firmly, looking at Shi Ran, his gaze complex—filled with admiration and also concern. He knew Shi Ran's final act of burning her essence-blood and soul came at a great cost.

Mei Ruoxue gazed at the now-calm eye pool and said softly: "The demon lord has been resealed, but……his last words……"

"Void Annihilation……" Shi Ran murmured, the fragments of information transmitted by the Patrol Heaven Order showing this word appearing with extremely high frequency, carrying a sense of imminent great peril. She lifted her gaze beyond the altar to the dark red, dead Sea of Buried Stars, and further to the purple-black sky, feeling no ease in her heart, only a heavy weight.

Though the demon lord is temporarily suppressed, the Sun-Chaser's fragment's power is exhausted—how long can the seal last? And what exactly is "Void Annihilation"? How does it relate to the demonic calamity ravaging this realm?

Her path home now seems, at this moment, to have become tightly entwined with the fate of this world.

?? Writing along, I suddenly thought of that Gao something who died young—she still thinks China is as it was a hundred years ago? Let her have her Spring and Autumn dream!!! Our family's affairs have nothing to do with her!