Annihilation: Return to Nothing!
Xuan Qing's cold voice rang through the deathly silent void of the secret realm like a proclamation of death. Centered on her, a domain of absolute "nothingness" rapidly expanded!
The five fierce attacks rushing toward her—the Demonic cultivators' devouring black light, Hou Yi's space-rending arrows, and Kuafu's earth-shaking charge—silently collapsed and vanished the instant they entered the Domain of Annihilation, like snow meeting the blazing sun. They failed to stir even the slightest ripple!
Nor did it stop there. The Domain of Annihilation seemed to possess a life of its own as it continued spreading toward the three Demonic cultivators and two great witches!
"What?!"
"Not good! Fall back!"
The five powerful figures' expressions changed drastically. Feeling the ultimate nothingness within that domain—a force that made even their origins tremble—alarms blared wildly in their hearts! Without hesitation, they retreated at top speed, each using their own methods to resist the invisible erosion.
Hou Yi fired nine arrows in succession, each carrying the power to shatter space, attempting to tear open the domain. Yet they vanished like stones sinking into the sea. Kuafu's massive shield burst with an earthen-yellow glow, forming a heavy barrier, but the barrier rapidly melted beneath the Power of Annihilation. The three Demonic cultivators were in an even worse state. Before true annihilation, their devouring Demonic Arts were like minor sorcery before true witchcraft; they were completely suppressed, and their demonic aura scattered!
In a single exchange, five mighty experts had been forced back together, left in dire straits!
Xuan did not spare them so much as a glance. All her attention was focused on that pulsing dark-purple crystal. She extended her pale hand and gently pressed it against the crystal's surface.
Bzzzz—!
The crystal shook violently, erupting with an even more dazzling purple radiance. A savage devouring will tried to resist, even turning to devour Xuan instead! This was the lingering instinct of the Devouring Demon God!
"Hmph." Xuan snorted coldly. The silver-white light in her right eye completely enveloped the crystal as purer, more fundamental Power of Annihilation poured into it.
Devouring and annihilation—two laws that both embodied ultimate destruction—began their most direct clash and erosion!
But Xuan's Power of Annihilation was clearly superior! The dark-purple light dimmed at a visible rate, while the savage will within the crystal was forcibly suppressed and erased! At last, the crystal stopped pulsing, became docile, shrank to the size of a fist, and fell into Xuan's palm.
The entire process had taken only a few breaths!
Li Wuyang, watching from the side, was utterly dumbfounded. He knew Xuan was formidable, but he had never imagined she would be this formidable! Facing two great witches and three clearly powerful Demonic cultivators at once, she had seized the treasure with such casual ease! Her strength was probably at least at the quasi-sage level, wasn't it?!
The five experts steadied themselves and stared at the crystal in Xuan's hand, their faces incomparably grim. Their eyes, however, were filled with deep apprehension, and none dared step forward again. The power Xuan had displayed just now was utterly beyond their comprehension.
Hou Yi put away his divine bow and cupped his hands solemnly. "Fellow Daoist, my Witch Clan discovered this object first. It is of vital importance to our clan. Please..."
Xuan cut him off directly. Her gaze remained fixed on the crystal, and her tone was indifferent. "This object has no destiny with you. It... is mine."
Her tone carried an unquestionable certainty, as though she were merely stating the most basic fact.
Hou Yi and Kuafu frowned deeply. The Witch Clan was straightforward by nature, but they were not fools. Xuan's strength was unfathomable, and trying to seize it by force was clearly unwise. Hou Yi said in a deep voice, "Your strength is exceptional, Fellow Daoist. We admire it. But this object is tied to matters of great importance. It is a legacy of the Chaos Demon Gods. If you take it rashly, Fellow Daoist, you may invite disaster upon yourself."
Xuan finally raised her head. Her mismatched eyes swept over Hou Yi and Kuafu, then glanced at the three Demonic cultivators watching like tigers eyeing their prey. A faint, mocking curve touched her lips. "Invite disaster upon myself? My origin is annihilation itself. What fire could possibly burn me?"
Her words shook everyone present to the core! Her origin was annihilation itself? Could she be...
Xuan no longer paid them any attention and turned toward Li Wuyang. The three Demonic cultivators exchanged looks. They seemed unwilling to accept this, but in the end, none dared make a move. They turned into three wisps of black smoke and quietly fled. Hou Yi and Kuafu exchanged a glance as well. Knowing that nothing more could be done, they cupped their hands toward Xuan and Li Wuyang before leaving helplessly.
Only Li Wuyang's group and Xuan, holding the crystal, remained in the void.
Li Wuyang stepped closer and curiously examined the dark-purple crystal. "Xuan, what exactly is this? Is it important to you?"
Xuan stared at the crystal, and an exceptionally complex emotion appeared in her eyes—sorrow, nostalgia, and a trace of... filial longing? Li Wuyang had never seen such an expression on her face before.
"This is a trace of the origin core Uncle Devouring left behind..." Xuan spoke softly, her voice faint and distant. "During the Heaven-Opening Tribulation, he protected me... and was wounded by the intent of the Pangu Axe. In the end, he fell. I never expected a trace of his origin to drift here and give birth to this Devour Origin Core."
Li Wuyang held his breath. Uncle Devouring? The Heaven-Opening Tribulation? The intent of the Pangu Axe? Xuan truly was an existence from the same era as the Chaos Demon Gods! And from the sound of it, she had been the one they protected?
"You... you're also a Chaos Demon God?" Li Wuyang asked carefully.
Xuan fell silent for a moment. She nodded, then shook her head. "I am the Myriad Manifestations Annihilation Demon God... but I am incomplete. Most of my origin and memories shattered and scattered during the Heaven-Opening Tribulation. The current me is more like a reincarnated remnant soul carrying the Source of Annihilation..."
She caressed the Devour Origin Core in her hand and continued in a low voice, "Uncle Devouring's origin may be able to help me... recover some of the things I lost."
Li Wuyang finally understood. The "truth" and memories Xuan had been pursuing had been hidden within the legacies of these Chaos Demon Gods all along! To her, this Devour Origin Core was undoubtedly a crucial key!
Seeing the rare vulnerability and confusion on Xuan's face, a surge of protectiveness rose in his heart. He patted his chest—though it might not be of much use. "Don't worry! I'll help you find them from now on! We'll find all the treasures those demon god uncles and aunties left behind!"
Xuan glanced at him. The complex emotions in her eyes gradually receded, and her usual coolness returned, though she seemed... just a little gentler? She put away the Devour Origin Core and said lightly, "Let's go. This is not a place to remain for long. Refining this object requires an absolutely safe environment."
Li Wuyang nodded. He knew that obtaining such a great treasure would surely draw even more covetous eyes. The two swiftly left the Chaos Secret Realm and returned to the outside of the Guixu Sea Eye.
However, just as they broke through the sea surface, they sensed several powerful auras rapidly approaching from different directions toward their location!
Clearly, the commotion within the secret realm had still attracted unwanted attention!
(End of Chapter Thirty-Seven)
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