In the Crystal Palace, Demon Cultivators recruited by the Flood Dragon King spread out, scrounging around the vibrant, multicolored hall.

"This place is really grand."

Looking at the spotless wall beside him, a shabbily dressed Demon Cultivator with a wooden stick in hand cracked a yellow-toothed smile and even stuck out his tongue to lick the crystal wall.

"Hmm, the taste is spot on! Sweet!"

"Tuck away that disgusting enthusiasm of yours. I swear I want to tear you apart alive."

Frowning at the yellow-toothed Demon Cultivator beside him, a burly Demon Cultivator, his skin embedded with dark green iron armor plates and his face tattooed with ancient Talisman Scripts, clenched his fists.

"I'll do as I please. If you have the guts... Hm? Isn't that up ahead..."

Shaking his head, his eyes rolling back, the yellow-toothed Demon Cultivator suddenly narrowed his eyes, spotting a figure at the end of the corridor.

"Chase!"

The tattooed-face Demon Cultivator also saw Qi Xiu, who had transformed into a paper ghoul, and uttered a low shout.

The two instantly turned into a black cloud and pounced with a ROAR.

The paper ghoul, wandering aimlessly through the Crystal Palace, heard the noise. It turned stiffly, its creepily smiling face seeing the black cloud rushing over, and without haste, it pulled out a Talisman Script.

Black Water Talisman

The Talisman Script suddenly turned into a mist, wrapping the paper ghoul as it swiftly flew away.

Zigzagging all the way.

The paper ghoul, under the cover of the Black Water Escape Light, lured the two Demon Cultivators straight to the alchemy room.

"Here they come."

Sensing the rapid return of the paper ghoul, Qi Xiu murmured.

BANG!

The door was smashed open. As the paper ghoul entered the alchemy room, a vast surge of black cloud rolled in with it.

"Hahaha, little brat, let's see how you..."

The rampant, arrogant laughter was smothered by a Magic Sword wielding swirling blue Southern Bright Separation Fire. With an expressionless face, Cheng Junie pierced through the yellow-toothed Demon Cultivator's neck and twisted his wrist.

The Southern Bright Separation Fire suddenly burst forth, engulfing the yellow-toothed Demon Cultivator's body. He didn't even utter a shriek of agony before instantly turning into a wisp of smoke that dissipated.

This was a normal Dao-Entering Realm cultivator...

Filled with unspoken reflection, Cheng Junie instinctively glanced at Qi Xiu. This guy truly did not fit the word "normal."

"Blood-Stained Great Cultivator, this blue fire... Are you Cheng Junie!?"

As his comrade was swiftly cut down in a blink, the tattooed-face Demon Cultivator's complexion dramatically changed, recognizing Cheng Junie at a glance.

"Don't look at me. Your opponent is him."

Sheathing his Magic Sword, Cheng Junie silently moved to the door, blocking the only path of escape.

"Him?"

Just as he was about to focus on the unimpressive young Daoist, a pitch-black hand suddenly covered the tattooed-face Demon Cultivator's mouth from behind.

A calm and gentle voice echoed in his ear.

"Take deep breaths, deep breaths. Dizziness is normal."

"I'll 'deep breathe' your mo—"

Furious, the tattooed-face Demon Cultivator's iron armor suddenly began to wriggle like a living thing, his veins bulging as he seemed about to expand massively.

But before the tattooed-face Demon Cultivator could finish his foul curse, a terrifying suction force violently erupted from Qi Xiu's hand.

In just a flash, the tattooed-face Demon Cultivator turned into a flayed skin, the anger on his face still vividly portrayed.

Two hundred Mixed Primordial Beads meant two hundred times the suction force.

When Qi Xiu only had a few Mixed Primordial Beads, he could chase a group of patrolling sea yakshas alone.

Now, his Star Absorption Skill had become so formidable that even Qi Xiu himself could not estimate its power.

Even the Southern Bright Separation Fire Magic Sword, personally crafted by Cheng Junie, lost most of its primordial energy after a mere touch from Qi Xiu.

Not to mention these mere Dao-Entering Realm cultivators.

However, this Taoist Method is too cruel and defies the natural order. Unless necessary, Qi Xiu did not wish to reveal it in front of others. He only used it now because he had already exposed it previously to Cheng Junie.

"Eighteen left."

After obliterating the tattooed-face Demon Cultivator's flayed skin, Qi Xiu's hands vibrated with lightning, cleansing them.

Extravagant!

Glancing at Qi Xiu using Thunder Magic to wash his hands, Cheng Junie played with a ball of Southern Bright Separation Fire at his fingertips.

"The Dao-Entering Realm isn't the problem. Never mind twenty, even forty would be the same. The key still lies with those six Blood-Stained Great Cultivators."

The Blood-Stained Realm grants the ability to cheat death. Even Cheng Junie and Qi Xiu couldn't kill them quickly. Unable to achieve a swift kill means other Blood-Stained Great Cultivators might be alerted and arrive. Once more than three Blood-Stained Realm cultivators arrive, they would be in trouble.

"Let's deal with the small fry first."

With the paper ghouls' perfect disguises, Dao-Entering Realm Demon Cultivators wandering in the Crystal Palace were lured one by one into the alchemy room.

Facing the Blood-Stained Realm Sword Cultivator Cheng Junie and Qi Xiu, who could not be measured by Dao-Entering Realm standards, these Demon Cultivators had no chance of resistance.

They were swiftly slain, every last one!

After incinerating the last two bodies of Dao-Entering Realm Demon Cultivators, Cheng Junie looked towards Qi Xiu.

This unusual young Daoist stood with his hands behind his back, surveying the alchemy room, seemingly assessing something.

Activating the Observing Qi Skill, Qi Xiu scanned the entire Crystal Palace's aura from the alchemy room.

In his vision of interwoven black and white, pillars of aura rose from the ground in the Crystal Palace like towering trees, blooming with splendid light of various colors.

Just as I expected. Besides treasures like the alchemy room, this Crystal Palace also hides forbidden lands with extremely fierce power.

Qi Xiu firmly memorized these pillars of aura and began to plan his next step.

From the beginning, he had no intention of confronting those six Blood-Stained Realm Demon Cultivators head-on. Killing these minor Dao-Entering Realm cultivators was the first step. The purpose was to sever the limbs and senses of these six Blood-Stained Demon Cultivators, preventing them from controlling the entire Crystal Palace. Now, the first step has been completed. Next is to use the power of this Crystal Palace to play a grand game of chess with these six Blood-Stained Realm cultivators.

「 」

"Everyone is gone."

At the entrance of the Crystal Palace, an imposing figure clothed in golden armor sat firmly. His body was as massive as a small hill and emitted a strong deathly aura, blocking every path leading out of the Crystal Palace.

The ceaseless sound of crunching echoed from his mouth.

Arriving beside the Golden Armored Corpse Demon Nie Biao, a man entirely shrouded in a black robe, with only his head exposed, spoke in a hushed tone.

"It seems these two cultivators of the Righteous Path are rather extraordinary."

Chewing on a piece of white bone, Nie Biao slowly lifted his head, his crimson vertical pupils inspiring fear.

"Let those worthless fools die for all I care. Tell Zhu Yi, Liu Chang'an, Song Hehua, and that baldy to search inch by inch for me. I refuse to believe they can hide underground forever."

"Understood."

Nodding, the black-robed man dissipated into black smoke and vanished on the spot.

"Heh, Dragon Palace..."

Spitting out the finely crunched bone fragments in his mouth, Nie Biao pulled a grotesque, incessantly cursing skull from a pocket by his side and tossed it into his mouth.

CRUNCH, CRUNCH...

The unsettling sound of chewing rose once again.

「 」

"This is the place."

Standing before a pitch-black gate engraved with countless ancient characters and a Dragon Claw at its center, Qi Xiu's eyes shone with a purple light as he scrutinized the gate.

"What is this place?"

Frowning at the pitch-black gate, Cheng Junie instinctively felt threatened. Behind this gate must lie something extremely dangerous and terrifying.

"Dragon Pool."

Reflected in his pupils was a pool of bones, each radiating a treasured light and fully jade-like. Qi Xiu's gaze turned solemn.

These bones have been buried here for at least tens of thousands of years. The Dragon Origin that Tai Yin spoke of is hidden here. However, entering this place will require some effort.

Beside the Dragon Pool, built from an accumulation of white bones, lay five hollow suits of armor scattered on the ground, covered in dust and devoid of luster.

But in Qi Xiu's eyes, behind each suit of armor stood a terrifying figure with a dragon's head and a human body, eyes closed in deep slumber—Dragon Demons!

To obtain the Dragon Origin, one must bypass these Dragon Demons. But clearly, that was impossible. As soon as this gate is opened, the Dragon Demons will immediately awaken. Despite the erosion of countless years, these five Dragon Demons are still at least at the Blood-Stained Peak level. After so many years, even on the brink of dissipation, they still possess the strength of the Blood-Stained Peak. It's hard to imagine just how terrifying these Dragon Demons were in their prime.

Just as Qi Xiu was observing the Dragon Demons at the edge of the Dragon Pool, a portly figure with his hands behind his back and a beaming smile suddenly appeared not far from the two men.

"Oh dear, you two benefactors have certainly made this monk work hard to find you."

Wearing a string of blood-red Buddha Beads, Yong Jue Monk had a smile on his face.

"Be careful. This monk is from the Heart Demon Zen Monastery, proficient in the Heart Demon Skill, which triggers people's Heart Demons," Cheng Junie whispered to Qi Xiu.

With a slight nod, Qi Xiu noted Yong Jue Monk still stood at a distance, not approaching. He offered a faint smile and suddenly pulled Cheng Junie with him as they crashed through the gate before them.

Yong Jue Monk's pupils constricted. His figure flickered and he instantly arrived before the gate.

"They went in?"

Staring at the gate before him, Yong Jue Monk clearly felt the ominous presence within.

After brief contemplation, the Heart Demon Monk made no rash movements. Instead, he silently sent a message, calling forth the other four Blood-Stained Demonic Cultivators.

Demon Craftsman Cave—Zhu Yi.

Beastly Scholar—Liu Chang'an.

Insect Daoist—Hong Ning.

Poisonous Old Woman—Song Hehua.

Heart Demon Monk—Yong Jue Monk.

All five Blood-Stained Demonic Cultivators gathered at the gate of the Dragon Pool, yet none dared to step forward, showing no intention to enter.

As Blood-Stained Great Cultivators, their life essence had already undergone a significant leap. Their innate sixth sense was extremely keen and precise. The dense aura of doom and death emanating from behind the gate disquieted them. This place was, without a doubt, forbidden grounds.

"What do we do? The two cultivators of the Righteous Path have already gone inside."

Turning the Buddha Beads, Yong Jue Monk half-closed his eyes.

"I'm not going in. The stench of death is nearly clogging my nostrils," said Zhu Yi, whose bald head was embellished with seven scarlet eyeballs, shaking his head repeatedly.

"Same here," the reticent Poisonous Old Woman Song Hehua, hunched over and wearing a bamboo hat, spoke sparingly.

"Then we have no choice but to let Senior Nie decide," the black-robed Insect Daoist Hong Ning spoke indifferently.

As the five Blood-Stained Realm Demonic Cultivators debated solemnly, from behind them, in the Hunyuan Palace, existing in another Cosmic Bi, Qi Xiu and Cheng Junie, infused with a fiery surge of energy, soared skyward! They unleashed a world-shaking killing intent while preparing their most dreadful strikes!

Their gazes were firmly fixed on the five Demonic Cultivators ahead.

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

As the countdown ended, Qi Xiu suddenly dispersed the Hunyuan Palace!

The sudden appearance of the two surprised the five Demonic Cultivators.

The next second!

"Bing Fire Divine Thunder, Ninety-Nine Layers!!!"

"Southern Bright Separation Fire Great Sword Formation—Extreme!!!"

Two ultimate techniques erupted simultaneously!

BOOM—

Thunder and fire interwove, Sword Light crisscrossed!

Thunder carrying Sword Light manifested endless phenomena of destruction, cycles of life and death, sweeping across Qiankun!

The terrifying force instantly pierced through the void. An endless, scorching Divine Light, accompanied by deafening explosions like the roars of billions of demons and gods, transformed into an unstoppable, towering wave of chaos that crashed down.

It forcefully pushed the five unprepared Demonic Cultivators through the gate of the Dragon Pool!

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