First Appearance of Sage's Traces

Three sword-lights, sharp and peerless, contained pure and vast Jade Clarity Celestial Light. They managed to sever more than half of the Golden Immortal-level Demonic Qi beast claws!

A roar of shock and rage echoed from the Demon Realm. The remaining half of the demonic claw violently retracted into the demonic clouds, churning restlessly. It was clear the attack had been heavily wounded.

Li Su seized this opportunity to steady himself, suppressing his surging Blood Essence, and looked towards the three unexpected reinforcements.

All three female Immortals wore moon-white daoist robes, their sashes fluttering, exuding an unparalleled celestial grace.

The one leading them, with a beautiful face but a stern brow, held a celestial sword radiating flowing azure light. Sword Qi surrounded her fiercely, revealing a cultivation at the late True Immortal stage!

The two behind her, one cradling a zither and the other holding a golden lamp, were both experts at the mid True Immortal stage.

The aura, the attire, the fighting style... Li Su instantly recalled the records of powerful figures from the Intercepting Sect in the Kunlun Scripture Repository, especially the female experts...

"Are you perhaps the Three Xiao Ladies from Three Immortal Island?"

Li Su suppressed his surprise and quickly bowed respectfully, "This junior, Mo Xing, a Nominal Disciple of Jade Void, thanks the three Ladies for your timely rescue!"

The sword-wielding female Immortal at the front was none other than the leader of the Three Xiao, Yunxiao Niangniang!

Her gaze swept over Li Su. Seeing that despite his bamboo demon form, he possessed a profound foundation, pure daoist rhyme, and the aura of a Jade Void Palace token, and had survived the Golden Immortal demonic claw attack, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She nodded slightly, "So you are from Jade Void.

There's no need for such formality. Exterminating demons is our duty."

The one behind her cradling the zither was Bixiao Niangniang. Being slightly impatient, she spoke, "Eldest Sister, what's there to say to this bamboo spirit!

Hurry and ask about the whereabouts of Junior Brother Yang Jian and Junior Sister Long Ji! Their soul lamps in Kunlun have dimmed to the extreme!"

Qiongxiao Niangniang, holding the golden lamp, also frowned, "Exactly!

We were sent by our Master, Tongtian Jiaozhu, to provide support and investigate. We didn't expect the demonic threat here to be so severe! Could Junior Brother Yang Jian and the others have...?"

Tongtian Jiaozhu? Li Su's heart trembled. So they were powerful figures from the Intercepting Sect! And sent by Tongtian Jiaozhu himself?

It seemed this matter had already alarmed a Sage!

Yunxiao Niangniang waved her hand, stopping her two younger sisters, and looked gravely at the churning Demon Realm ahead, stating in a deep voice, "This Demon Realm has already taken shape, connecting to the Underworld. It is no ordinary place.

The demon who attacked just now was likely 'Li Mo', one of the four demon generals under Blood Sea Old Ancestor, Beng Tu!

His strength is comparable to a peak Golden Immortal, and he is extremely ferocious. Junior Brother Yang Jian and Junior Sister Long Ji are trapped within, their situation must be dire."

She looked at Li Su, "Young friend Mo Xing, you seemed to be attempting to enter the Demon Realm just now? Do you know anything about the situation inside?"

Li Su quickly recounted what Ming Xin had told him and his own findings.

"Soul communication interrupted, aura vanished... I fear they've been dragged into the core of the Demon Realm, or perhaps..." Bixiao's face paled, she didn't dare to finish.

The golden lamp in Qiongxiao's hand flickered, shining towards the Demon Realm, but it was fiercely blocked by the dense Demonic Qi, making it difficult to penetrate.

"Eldest Sister, this Demon Realm barrier is too formidable. If we force our way in, we might also get trapped!"

Yunxiao Niangniang's delicate brows furrowed, clearly finding the situation troublesome.

Though the three sisters were powerful, facing a Demon Realm of this scale, especially with a potential Demon Lord residing within, they couldn't guarantee a safe retreat.

Just then, from within the Demon Realm, the roar of the demon general Li Mo, Beng Tu, sounded again, filled with fury and killing intent: "Three Xiao! You three bitches dare to come and die! Perfect, your ancestor will capture you all and offer you to the Demon Ancestor!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The demonic clouds churned violently. This time, they directly condensed into three equally massive demonic Qi claws, each grabbing towards the Three Xiao Ladies and Li Su! Their power was even greater than before!

"Presumptuous demon!" Yunxiao Niangniang's phoenix eyes flashed with ferocity. The Azure Phoenix Sword in her hand let out a clear cry, its light splitting into thousands, forming an arcane sword formation to meet the incoming demonic claws!

Bixiao Niangniang sat down cross-legged, the zither on her lap. Her ten fingers plucked, and clear, resonant notes filled the heavens and earth, transforming into countless tangible sonic blades that sliced through the Demonic Qi and disrupted the mind!

Qiongxiao Niangniang raised the golden lamp in her hand high. The lamp flame surged, emitting a golden light that dispelled evil, attempting to disperse the demonic clouds and illuminate the path ahead!

The three sisters cooperated seamlessly, instantly engaging the three demonic claws. Celestial light and demonic Qi clashed fiercely, explosions echoing incessantly. For a time, they fought to a standstill!

As for the claw that lunged at Li Su, he once again withstood it with his newly comprehended "Buzhou Mountain Suppression" divine ability combined with Profound Star Swirl Body Protection. Although he was still shaken, his Blood Essence surging, he was much more composed than before, his strength clearly having increased significantly.

"Oh? You bamboo spirit have some skill!

Your physical body is actually this strong? Once your ancestor captures you, I'll have a good time torturing you!" The demon general Li Mo, Beng Tu, seemed to have developed a greater interest in Li Su, his attacks becoming even more ferocious.

Li Su's pressure increased greatly, and he could only rely on his formidable defensive power to maneuver, barely escaping danger.

Yunxiao Niangniang, seeing this, flickered her sword light, forcing back the demonic claw before her, and shouted to Li Su, "Young friend, this place is not suitable for lingering!

This Demon Realm has already taken shape, and it's not something we can break through alone! We must report back to our sect as soon as possible and ask our Master or Martial Uncle to decide! We will hold off this demon for you, you leave quickly!"

Li Su, though unwilling, knew Yunxiao's words were true. Forcing his way in would only be suicide.

However, just as he prepared to retreat, an unforeseen event occurred!

From the deepest part of the originally churning Demon Realm, a strange fluctuation, completely out of place with the surrounding Demonic Qi, suddenly emanated!

The fluctuation was extremely faint, yet it carried a trace of purity, loftiness, and a... Sage Dao aura that seemed transcendent!

Although it was only a fleeting moment, everyone present clearly felt it!

The offensive of the demon general Li Mo, Beng Tu, suddenly halted. He looked towards the depths of the Demon Realm with shock and uncertainty.

The faces of the Three Xiao sisters also changed. They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"That is...?" Bixiao exclaimed.

"Impossible! How could there be Sage Dao aura in the depths of the Demon Realm?" Qiongxiao also cried out.

Yunxiao Niangniang's eyes flickered rapidly, as if she had thought of something. Her tone became extremely solemn, "Unless... there's a Sage-level existence that has already infiltrated it, or... the formation of this Demon Realm itself is a trap set for Sages?!"

As soon as she said this, everyone felt a chill down their spines!

A trap set for Sages?! Who had such great means? Demon Ancestor Luo Hou? Or...

And that trace of Sage aura... whose was it? The one trapped? Or the one who... set the trap?

Li Su's heart churned like a stormy sea. Could the disappearances of Yang Jian and Long Ji be related to a power struggle at the Sage level?

Just as everyone's minds were shaken by this sudden turn of events, and their offensive momentum slowed for a moment--

Whoosh!

An extremely faint, yet incredibly familiar Jade Clarity Celestial Light, like a candle flame in the wind, suddenly shot out from an inconspicuous crack at the edge of the Demon Realm. It managed to condense into two incomplete characters in the air:

"Retreat... quickly..."

Immediately after, a hand covered in silver armguards, yet stained with purple demonic blood, shot out from the crack. It forcefully pushed out a figure in white robes, looking weak and unconscious. Then, under a powerful surge of demonic energy, the crack instantly sealed and disappeared!

The figure pushed out was none other than Princess Long Ji! Her face was as pale as paper, and she was unconscious. Her celestial light was dim, clearly indicating severe injuries, but thankfully, she was still alive!

And that hand... that silver armguard... Li Su and Yunxiao recognized it. It was Yang Jian's armor!

"Junior Brother Yang Jian (Brother Yang Jian)!" they exclaimed simultaneously!

Yang Jian was still alive! And he was at the edge of the Demon Realm! He had risked his life to send Long Ji out!

"You're asking for death!" Demon General Li Mo, Beng Tu, roared furiously. One demonic claw lunged towards the unconscious Long Ji, while the other slammed fiercely towards the just-sealed crack, clearly intending to capture Yang Jian completely!

"Don't even think about it!" Yunxiao Niangniang reacted extremely quickly. The Azure Phoenix Sword transformed into a sky-shattering rainbow, slashing directly at the demonic claw reaching for Long Ji! Bixiao and Qiongxiao also unleashed their full power, their zither music and golden light erupting, attacking Beng Tu!

Li Su's eyes were bloodshot. He charged towards Long Ji recklessly, simultaneously activating "Buzhou Mountain Suppression" with all his might, smashing it towards the demonic claw striking at the crack!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Several deafening explosions erupted almost simultaneously! Energy storms swept in all directions!

Yunxiao's sword strike repelled the claw reaching for Long Ji. Li Su's "Buzhou Mountain Suppression" also met the other demonic claw in a mutual destruction, but he was also seriously injured by the backlash, with more cracks appearing on his bamboo body.

As for the demonic claw that struck at the crack, although it was interfered with by Bixiao and Qiongxiao and couldn't achieve its full purpose, its terrifying power still penetrated the nearly sealed crack and blasted into the Demon Realm!

Faintly, a suppressed groan seemed to come from the other end of the crack...

The crack completely disappeared.

"Junior Brother Yang Jian!" The three Xiao sisters' faces turned deathly pale.

Li Su caught the unconscious Long Ji, feeling the chaotic demonic energy and weak life force within her. Anxious, he quickly placed the willow leaf gifted by Cihang Daoren on her forehead, using his life force to protect her heart and Primordial Spirit.

"Go!" Yunxiao Niangniang made a decisive choice. Her sword light swept out, protecting Li Su and Long Ji. "We can't stay here! Return to Kunlun!"

The three sisters unleashed their full power, forcing back Demon General Li Mo, Beng Tu, and transformed into three sky-shattering rainbows. They took Li Su and Long Ji and instantly fled a thousand miles away!

Behind them, they heard the unwilling roar of Demon General Li Mo, Beng Tu, and the violent churning of demonic clouds. However, he did not pursue, as if something more important in the depths of the Demon Realm was holding him back.

They traveled at full speed until they could no longer sense the terrifying aura of the Demon Realm. Yunxiao slightly slowed down, but her expression remained extremely solemn.

She glanced at the unconscious Long Ji and Li Su, and said gravely, "Return to Kunlun immediately! This matter must be reported to Master (Master Tongtian) and Martial Uncle Yuanshi at once! The Primordial World is about to face a major upheaval!"