First Signs of Demonic Activity

Chaos Lightning Evil was supremely yang and unyielding, especially effective against evil demons. The black-robed man's demonic light scattered with a single blow, and the backlash made his body falter slightly.

Though the simple Stellar Sword Formation Li Su had hastily set up was crude, it precisely blocked most of the charging demons. As sword light flowed, stellar evil power shredded and purified those demons one after another.

"Who dares meddle in this ancestor's business?!"

The black-robed man was shocked and furious, his scarlet eyes fixed on Li Su, who had appeared out of nowhere.

He had never expected someone to emerge in this desolate place and interfere, much less someone whose methods seemed tailor-made to counter his demonic arts.

The three Jade Void disciples who had been rescued were also startled and overjoyed. They hurriedly struggled to their feet and gathered behind Li Su.

The leading young woman quickly said,

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for saving us! We are disciples of Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain: Ming Xin, Ming Xing, and Ming Hui! This demon cultivator serves the Nether Blood Sea. She is cruel and bloodthirsty, so please be careful!"

The Nether Blood Sea? Demon Ancestor Luo Hou's faction?

Had they also taken advantage of the great tribulation to stir up trouble? Li Su's heart tightened. The waters of the Primordial World were growing murkier by the day.

"Jade Void Palace?" Upon hearing the name, a trace of wariness flashed through the black-robed man's eyes, only to be replaced by greed and savagery. "Hmph! Jade Void Palace again!

Perfect. Today, this ancestor will wipe you all out and use your primordial spirits and blood essence to refine my Myriad Demon Banner!"

She suddenly bit through her tongue and sprayed a mouthful of blood essence onto the black banner. At once, the Myriad Demon Banner's demonic flames surged. Countless twisted, agonized faces emerged across its surface, releasing shrill wails as its power abruptly rose to a new level!

An even thicker, more condensed pitch-black demonic spear formed, carrying bone-piercing cold and foul power as it shot toward Li Su!

This attack had nearly reached the power of a Peak Celestial Immortal!

Li Su's expression turned grave, and he did not dare be careless. His opponent's cultivation art was bizarre, her treasure vicious, and her cultivation higher than his own.

With a thought, he activated Profound Star Swirl Body Protection to its fullest while secretly urging the willow leaf Cihang Daoren had bestowed upon him!

"Go!"

The emerald willow leaf flew from his bamboo joints and instantly transformed into a gentle yet incomparably resilient green curtain of light before him!

The light curtain brimmed with vitality, yet it also carried a sacred aura capable of purifying all things.

Sizzle—!

The pitch-black demonic spear slammed into the green curtain of light, only to let out a violent corrosive hiss like red-hot iron meeting ice and snow. Its demonic qi rapidly dissolved!

The demons within the Myriad Demon Banner wailed even more miserably, as though they had encountered their natural nemesis!

Even if it was only a trace, Cihang Daoren's World-Cleansing Divine Light was far beyond the ability of such a demonic artifact to withstand!

"What? World-Cleansing Divine Light?!

How could you possess Cihang Daoren's..." The black-robed man went pale with shock. Before she could finish, the demonic spear had already been completely purified. Though the green curtain had dimmed considerably, it continued onward and swept toward her instead!

The black-robed man was terrified out of her wits. She hurriedly produced a bone shield to block it while rapidly retreating!

Bang! The bone shield shattered at the first touch of the green curtain. The curtain lightly brushed across the black-robed man's body.

"Aah—!" The black-robed man released an incomparably shrill scream. The demonic qi around her boiled and evaporated as if scalding oil had been poured over it. Black smoke rose from her body, and her aura instantly weakened by more than half. She had clearly suffered a severe wound!

She cast Li Su a venomous glare, then no longer dared to linger. Turning into a streak of black smoke, she fled into the distance in utter disarray, not even bothering to retrieve the damaged Myriad Demon Banner.

Li Su did not pursue her. Activating the willow leaf for that strike had nearly drained thirty percent of his dharma power, and the treasure excelled at defense and purification rather than raw destructive force.

There was no need to chase a cornered enemy, especially when his opponent's origins were unknown and an ambush might await.

With a beckoning gesture, he drew the ownerless Myriad Demon Banner, its spiritual light dim, into his hand. He temporarily sealed it with Chaos Lightning Evil and stored it in his storage space—the ring taken from a Fiend Blood Sect cultivator, which he could begin using after advancing to the Celestial Immortal realm.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for saving our lives!" Seeing this, the three Jade Void disciples finally breathed easy. They hurried forward and respectfully saluted Li Su.

The strength Li Su had displayed, along with the willow leaf that suppressed demonic arts, made them instinctively regard him as a senior brother within the sect who had concealed his cultivation.

Li Su came back to himself, his bamboo body swaying slightly. "No need for such courtesy, Junior Brothers and Sisters. It is only right for fellow disciples to help one another. My name is Mo Xing, and I too am a Nominal Disciple of Jade Void Palace."

"So you are Senior Brother Mo Xing!" The three suddenly understood, though their attitude remained respectful. For a Nominal Disciple to possess such strength and even receive a bestowed treasure from Martial Uncle Cihang, he was surely no ordinary person.

"What did that demon mean when she said Senior Brother Yang Jian and Senior Sister Long Ji could barely protect themselves?" Li Su asked, voicing his doubts.

Ming Xin, the leading disciple, hurriedly replied, "Reporting to Senior Brother, we had previously been ordered to investigate demonic traces around the Flowing Sand River. Then we received a transmission sword from Senior Sister Long Ji, saying that she and Senior Brother Yang Jian had discovered a fissure at Black Wind Mountain that seemed connected to the Nether Blood Sea, with a large number of demons pouring out.

"They were in the midst of a bitter battle and ordered us to quickly seek reinforcements and rendezvous at the nearby Gold Sand Market. Unexpectedly, we were ambushed by this demon along the way..."

Black Wind Mountain? A Nether fissure? Yang Jian and Long Ji locked in bitter combat? Li Su furrowed his brow. The situation seemed very bad.

The demons of the Nether Blood Sea were extremely difficult to deal with, and there was no end to them. Once they gathered in sufficient numbers, the harm they could cause would be immense.

"Where is Gold Sand Market? Are there any other reinforcements?" Li Su pressed.

"Gold Sand Market is three thousand li northeast of here. We do not know whether there are other reinforcements either. Senior Sister did not mention any in her transmission sword..." Ming Xing said anxiously.

"Senior Brother, we must hurry and seek aid! Senior Brother Yang Jian and Senior Sister Long Ji may not be able to hold out much longer!"

Li Su pondered for a moment. Whether for public duty or private reasons, he could not stand by and do nothing.

For the greater good, demons had emerged into the world and endangered all living beings. The disciples of Jade Void Palace could not shirk their responsibility.

For personal reasons, Yang Jian and Long Ji had helped him, while Cihang Daoren had shown him the kindness of bestowing a treasure.

"Then I will accompany you to Gold Sand Market!" Li Su said decisively. "How are your injuries?"

"We have taken pills and are no longer seriously injured. We can travel!" the three answered in unison.

"Good! There is no time to lose. We leave at once!"

Li Su had Ming Xin point out the direction, then immediately used his divine ability to sweep up the three of them. He transformed into a streak of inky light and raced toward Gold Sand Market in the northeast at top speed!

Along the way, thoughts churned within his mind.

The Nether Blood Sea, the demon race, the Witch-Demon War, Jade Void Palace... The vortex of the Primordial World's great tribulation was growing ever deeper, and he had already been drawn into it against his will.

Ahead lay greater challenges—or... opportunities?