Chương 168: Into the Demon's Lair

Five Days Later, cultivators from the Zhou, Fang, and Zhang families began to assemble in silence. Joining them were established clans from Qingtai City, each boasting Tier 2 cultivators at the peak stage. The total number of Tier 2 cultivators had now surpassed fifty. The Fang and Zhou families each contributed ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, the weakest among them at mid stage. The Jin family was also present, and Jin Guang stood among their ranks.

As he gazed up at Huaijin, who stood high above alongside the Tier 2 cultivators, his heart was consumed by endless regret. But now, words were meaningless. All that remained was the faint hope that Jin Chenpeng might yet ascend to Purple Mansion Realm. The White Bone Demon Cave's location had already been pinpointed. It lay deep within the Purple Dusk Mountain Range. Two hours later, the allied cultivator army from Qingtai City arrived silently at the cave's entrance. Huaijin scanned the distance.

The area surrounding the demon cave was ringed by towering, jagged peaks. Due to the constant leakage of demonic qi, spirit beasts had grown exceedingly scarce in these parts. The White Bone Demon Cave was well hidden. But demonic cultivators, by their very nature, could not stay concealed forever. Their atrocities always left traces. In this world, no secret remained buried for long. Fang Jisheng took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the restriction shimmering at the cave mouth.

The Silver Void Seal materialized in his palm. Spiritual power from his eighth-level cultivation surged, driving the seal to its utmost limit. High above, a silver light seal over thirty meters across coalesced in an instant. Raw, devastating energy radiated from it. Boom! The silver seal crashed down upon the cave entrance's restriction. The impact instantly alarmed two Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators.

Two streaks of light shot outward, but the moment they beheld the scene in the sky, their faces went pale, and they scrambled to flee. Too late. Two sword lights arced through the air, and both demonic cultivators dropped dead on the spot. The other Tier 3 cultivators followed up with their own attacks. Huaijin struck out as well! In less than three seconds, the restriction at the White Bone Demon Cave's entrance shattered into nothing.

"Kill them all!" Fang Jisheng led the charge, Silver Void Seal in hand, and plunged straight inside. The other Tier 3 and Tier 2 cultivators surged after him, spirit artifacts drawn, charging fearlessly into the darkness. The White Bone Demon Cave was a realm unto itself. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Jagged black rock formations jutted out in every direction like fangs, while wisps of demonic qi coiled through the air.

Eerie winds howled through the tunnels, carrying faint cries of ghosts and wolves. The ground was stained a deep crimson, littered with pale, grim skeletons, some still bearing fresh streaks of blood. Demonic cultivators were scattered throughout, in the midst of refining their spirit artifacts. When they glimpsed the overwhelming tide of cultivators pouring in, panic seized them. They loosed sharp whistles, warning their brethren deeper within. Some demonic cultivators charged headlong at the invading army.

Others, without a moment's hesitation, turned and fled. The Tier 3 upper grade Demon-Seeking Mirror, originally from the Heavenly Crane Sect, was now in Fang Jisheng's grasp. Boom! Driven by his eighth level cultivation, the mirror blazed to life. A torrent of blazing light erupted from its surface, scattering the surrounding demonic qi in all directions. The entire White Bone Demon Cave was lit up as bright as day.

Several Tier 2 demonic cultivators shrieked in agony, blood spraying from their mouths as the light seared their flesh. The Demon-Seeking Mirror was not merely a tracking tool, it was a devastating area-of-attack spirit artifact. The purifying light energy within it was death to demonic cultivators.

"We have only two hours. Fight fast, fight hard!" Fang Jisheng's voice cut through the chaos like a blade. He pressed forward, Demon-Seeking Mirror in hand, advancing deeper into the cave. He paid the lesser demonic cultivators no further mind. —— Every Tier 2 cultivator who entered had taken a Body-Protection Pill beforehand. The pill wrapped them in a faint, shimmering shield that blocked demonic qi from seeping through their pores and damaging their meridians. The protection would last only two hours.

For Purple Mansion cultivators, the demonic qi inside the cave posed little threat. But for Foundation Establishment cultivators, it was lethal. Even those at the late stage Tier 2 had to remain constantly on guard. Within these tunnels, however, demonic cultivators moved like fish in water, swift, deadly, and utterly at home. The two sides clashed in a brutal melee.

Ning Nanzhi, fighting alongside Zhang Lixian and the others, advanced in a steady formation, cutting down Tier 2 demonic cultivators one after another. Huaijin, meanwhile, shot forward like a thunderbolt, the Blood Dragon Sword in his grip, racing toward the cave's depths. The true prizes, the three Purple Mansion demonic cultivators, awaited him there.

"Insolent fools! You're courting death!" In less than a quarter of an hour, Huaijin and his companions had nearly reached the middle section of the cave. The three Purple Mansion demonic cultivators had received word and emerged to meet them. The enemy had stormed their lair. Battle was the only answer. The one at the forefront was a gaunt, withered figure covered in purple markings. A skeletal purple creature hovered beside him, and in his hand he gripped a white bone spear etched with violet runes.

"Zigu Bone Demon, you've actually reached the late Purple Mansion Realm?" Fang Jisheng's voice carried genuine shock.

"Heh. Did you think I was as pathetic as you?"

"To break through to the late stage, I devoured quite a few mortals, I'll have you know." Zigu Bone Demon's tone was dripping with arrogance. He wasted no further words, his bone spear shot straight for Fang Jisheng. The two late stage Tier 3 powerhouses clashed head-on. Though Fang Jisheng held a one-level advantage, the demonic qi saturating the cave worked like a potent elixir for Zigu Bone Demon, amplifying his strength tremendously. The two were evenly matched, locked in a stalemate.

The remaining two Tier 3 demonic cultivators also defied the intelligence reports. Chigu Bone Demon, expected to be at fourth level, had already broken through to the fifth. Yangu Bone Demon, originally at the third level, had advanced to the fourth, entering the mid stage. These demonic cultivators advanced far too quickly. It was clear they had sacrificed countless mortals in recent months. Their power was built on mountains of bones and rivers of blood. Demonic cultivators, all of them deserved death.

Chigu Bone Demon faced two opponents: Fang Xinjin at the sixth level and Zhou Yueze, also at the same level. Zhou Yuelong had stayed behind to guard his family's interests. Yangu Bone Demon, at the fourth level, was up against Fang Xingjin at the third-level and Zhou Sinuo at the first level. Zhou Sinuo was a newly promoted Purple Mansion cultivator of the Zhou family. By the original plan, the Qingtai City forces held a clear advantage. But now, the demonic cultivators had surpassed every expectation.

In addition to Fang Xingjin and Zhou Yuezi, there was also Huaijin. Yangu Bone Demon, however, showed no trace of contempt. Huaijin's reputation had spread wide, and as a demonic cultivator of Qingtai City, Yangu Bone Demon knew exactly who he was.

"Boy, you're only a Foundation Establishment ant, yet you dare step onto a Tier 3 battlefield? Aren't you afraid to die?" Yangu Bone Demon fought three opponents at once, yet still found the breath to taunt him. Huaijin's expression remained serene. Spiritual power surged through his meridians. In his dantian's, the lightning seed churned, coalescing with endless fire-thunder.

A thirty meters tall crimson thunder palm imprint materialized in the air above him, its terrifying lightning force blasting the surrounding demonic qi into oblivion.

"Bing Yang Thunder Palm!" Huaijin's voice was low and steady as he brought his palm down. Vast waves of lightning power cascaded outward in all directions, searing the darkness itself.