Chapter 1226: Interception

Breaking through the strange swamp's obstruction, the Demon‑slaying Alliance did not pause, like a spear wedged into the demon realm, continuing to press toward the interior of the Ten Thousand Souls Mountain range. The surrounding environment grew ever more perilous, demon clouds pressed overhead, the mountain ridges' outlines twisted and deformed in the mist, like a lurking giant beast.

The demonic aura and resentful thoughts in the air were almost solidified, continuously battering the halo of the "Ice‑Heart Pure Spirit Formation", emitting a sizzling corrosive sound. The atmosphere within the squad was taut to the limit; each person gripped their implements, their spiritual consciousness projected at full force, vigilant for attacks that might arise from any direction.

Han Wuxian flew at the front of the squad, Chaotic Returning to Void Qi forming an invisible shield around him, keeping the densest demonic aura out. His complexion remained somewhat pale; the successive battles and deep use of the Great Dao's primal power had drained him far beyond ordinary expectations. Yet the light in his eyes grew sharper, like a honed divine weapon, staring at the darkest, most demon‑filled region deep within the mountains—there lay the gate of the Nether Sect.

"Alliance leader, the terrain ahead narrows into a sky‑thin canyon; demonic aura density is abnormal, there may be an ambush," Xiao Ran rode his sword forward, reporting in a low voice. His sword core was clear, and his sensing of qi flow was especially acute.

Han Wuxian nodded slightly; he also sensed the cold breath in the canyon, like countless poisonous snakes watching. "Relay the order: contract the formation; cultivators above the Refinement Void stage follow me at the front, the rest take the middle, Wang Gu Zhu and Elder Li hold the line, proceed cautiously."

The command was swiftly issued, the army's formation shifted like a compacted arrow, carefully steering into the perilous place known as the "Weeping Demon Gorge".

The canyon's sides were sheer, dark‑red cliffs that cut like knives, soaring into the clouds, leaving only a thin line of dim sky at the top. Inside the gorge, the light was dim, jagged rocks protruded as if countless demons bared fangs and claws. Even more unsettling, the cliffs were studded with countless pallid skulls, their eye sockets flickering with ghostly green fire, emitting faint, weeping‑like soul sounds that intertwined into a maddening demonic chorus.

The radiance of the Ice‑Heart Pure Spirit Formation was further compressed within the gorge; its halo flickered, clearly bearing immense pressure.

Just as the army pressed into the middle of the gorge, a sudden anomaly erupted!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The cliffs on both sides of the gorge suddenly exploded with countless holes, and streams of black shadows surged out like specters! These were not the earlier Desire Puppets or swamp giants, but genuine Nether Sect cultivators! Clad in black robes, their faces hidden in hood shadows, they were enshrouded in dense Nether ghost‑qi and desire‑laden demonic thoughts, their eyes wild and blood‑thirsty.

"Kill! Offer blood‑food to the master!"

"Devour their souls!"

Shouts of killing and demonic howls instantly filled the entire gorge! Countless Nether ghost‑fires, bone‑eroding demonic thunder, and soul‑snaring chains poured down from both sides like a torrent, all aimed directly at the Demon‑slaying Alliance below!

"Enemy attack! Defend!" Xiao Ran barked, and the Sword Pavilion disciples instantly formed a sword formation, countless sword‑yangs soaring skyward, colliding with the descending demonic spells in a thunderous clash, erupting a deafening roar!

Qinglin's long spear whirled like a wheel, the emerald life force transformed into a massive light shield, protecting an area and completely blocking and purifying the incoming ghost‑fire and demonic thunder. Practitioners of the Flowing Cloud Alliance employed the Flowing Cloud Body Technique, darting within the cramped space; their implements radiated light as they engaged the descending Nether Sect disciples in close combat. The Xunfeng Valley disciples then activated wind‑type spells, forming fierce wind‑blade storms that shredded approaching foes.

Cultivators of the Celestial Craft Sect hurriedly deployed various mechanical puppets and defensive arrays, reinforcing the precarious joint shield. The Hundred Herb Valley disciples, under Wang Tie's command, transformed the vitality of medicinal pills into streams of green light, injecting them into the injured or mana‑depleted comrades.

In an instant, the entire Weeping Demon Gorge turned into a bloody slaughterhouse! The glow of spells, the clash of weapons, dying screams, demonic roars… all sounds mingled, spiritual qi and demonic qi collided and annihilated each other, painting the gorge like a furnace of torment!

Han Wuxian was at the fiercest part of the battle; he did not immediately employ a large‑scale Returning to Void Power, as that would easily cause friendly fire. He moved like lightning across the chaotic battlefield; as his palms flickered, Chaotic Returning to Void Qi either condensed into a finger‑sword or formed a palm imprint. Each strike silently erased a Nether Sect demon cultivator along with its protective demonic light, implement, and even soul, turning them to nothingness. His presence was like a highly efficient, ruthless reaper; wherever he passed, the demon cultivators vanished, greatly easing the local pressure.

However, the forces the Nether Sect had deployed here far exceeded expectations, and they seemed bolstered by some power; demonic aura poured endlessly, their tactics were fierce and fearless of death, and even at the moment of being slain they would detonate their own demonic core, pulling nearby Demon‑slaying Alliance cultivators into the blast!

The fighting was extremely brutal; Demon‑slaying Alliance cultivators continuously fell under the demon cultivators' suicide attacks, their blood staining the gorge's floor crimson.

"We can't keep going like this! Their demonic aura seems linked to this mountain range; if we keep draining it, we'll be overwhelmed!" Wang Tie, while treating the wounded, anxiously transmitted the message to Han Wuxian.

Han Wuxian also sensed this. His spiritual awareness pierced the chaotic battlefield, sharply detecting that at the gorge's end, within a hidden demon cave, a powerful formation node appeared to be set up, continuously siphoning ley‑line demonic aura to empower those Nether Sect cultivators, and subtly gathering strength as if preparing a mightier assault.

"We must destroy that node!" Han Wuxian's gaze hardened, and he shouted to Xiao Ran and Qinglin, "Cover me!"

Before his words finished, a surge of gray light enveloped him, forming a gray lightning that tore through space, ignoring the demon cultivators and spells blocking the way, and surged straight toward the cave at the gorge's end!

"Stop him!" Among the demon cultivators, a commander clearly shouted a sharp howl; instantly, several Nether Sect elders whose aura had reached the late Refinement Void stage, along with a host of demon cultivators, rushed at Han Wuxian recklessly, hurling powerful demonic arts as if money were no object!

"Your opponent is us!" Xiao Ran let out a long howl, merging man and sword into a brilliant sword river spanning the gorge, sweeping most of the interceptors into it! Qinglin also planted his spear into the ground, forming seals with both hands; the overwhelming life force turned into countless resilient teal vines that grew wildly, entangling and binding the remaining demon cultivators.

Han Wuxian gained a brief respite, increased his speed, and instantly surged to the cave's entrance!

The demon cave was bottomless, spewing viscous, liquid‑like demonic aura; its entrance was covered with twisted runes, and an altar constructed from countless skulls slowly rotated. At the altar's center floated a pulsating black heart, condensed from pure demonic core and willful desire; it was the source powering the gorge's demon cultivators and gathering terrifying offensive energy!

"Destroy it!" Han Wuxian did not hesitate; the Returning to Void Power gathered in his palm, ready to strike down with a single palm.

At that moment, the black heart abruptly ceased beating, then violently quivered at a frantic frequency! A cataclysmic energy wave erupted instantly!

"Bad! It's about to self‑destruct!" Han Wuxian's pupils contracted sharply! If the energy gathered by that formation node exploded, its power could level most of the gorge, and the Demon‑slaying Alliance army below would suffer catastrophic losses!

In the blink of an eye, Han Wuxian made his decision. He did not retreat; instead, he lunged forward a step, arms outstretched, and Chaotic Returning to Void Qi erupted on an unprecedented scale!

A massive gray vortex, seemingly capable of containing an entire world, suddenly materialized with Han Wuxian at its center! The vortex spun wildly, generating an irresistible devouring force—not against matter, but against energy and law.

The terrifying demonic energy unleashed by the black heart's self‑destruction, capable of annihilating everything, at the moment of eruption was forcibly drawn, devoured, and erased by the gray Returning to Void vortex, as if countless rivers returned to the sea! The raging energy turbulence churned and collided within the vortex, yet could not breach the layer representing ultimate Silence Extinction.

Han Wuxian's body convulsed violently, blood constantly spilling from his mouth, as he forced himself to devour and erase such massive energy, pushing his limit to the brink! Within his sea of consciousness, the primal star core churned madly, sustaining his resistance against the onslaught of that destructive energy.

Both sides in the fierce battle below involuntarily halted, staring in awe at the god‑like figure at the gorge's end and the gray vortex that devoured everything!

What felt like a few breaths stretched into an interminably long span.