Chapter Fifteen: Sword Gate's Fang Jiange

Ting Lanyue was the first to break free. She immediately flipped over and leaped up, saying, "Back then, the ancestors of my Dating Clan and the elders of Sword Gate opened up the Great Wilderness together. We deeply understood the terror of the Heavenly Phenomenon Mother and left behind records about her! I've read those records; this Heavenly Phenomenon Mother is a demon god, not an ordinary living being! These demonic races want to awaken the Heavenly Phenomenon Mother. We must inform the higher-ups of Sword Gate no matter what, otherwise, things will spiral out of control!"

Zhong Yue handed her another sickle to control. The two of them swiftly cut through the spider silk binding everyone. Just as everyone was about to leave, He Chengchuan quickly said, "Conceal the bodies!"

Zhong Yue immediately came to his senses. This path led to the demonic race's lair. If people discovered so many Abyssal Demon corpses on the ground, they would definitely know someone had escaped. They needed to bury the bodies to buy themselves more time to flee!

Senior Brother He is also someone who has been through countless battles; his mind is meticulous, Zhong Yue thought.

Everyone immediately buried the numerous Abyssal Demon corpses on the spot, identified their direction, and quietly fled towards the entrance of the Demon Ruins.

There was no distinction between day and night within the Demon Ruins. The sky was always a hazy gray. Zhong Yue and the others hid and dodged, avoiding demonic tribes one by one, getting closer and closer to the entrance of the Demon Ruins.

Ahead, a Sword Gate stood tall. That was both the entrance and exit to the Demon Ruins. Two Sword Gate Elders guarded the gate. As long as they reached it and passed through that Sword Gate, they would be safe.

Whoosh--

Everyone let out a long sigh of relief. Now, only a few miles remained to exit the Demon Ruins and escape with their lives.

He Chengchuan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his mind relaxing. "As long as we escape the Demon Ruins, we'll be safe. We can report to the higher-ups of Sword Gate, and it should still be in time to save our fallen Senior Brothers!"

Many disciples from the Upper Court nodded in agreement. Suddenly, a voice filled with strange demonic power clearly entered their ears, and a charming laugh followed, "You actually managed to escape to here; your luck is incredibly good. But not a single one of you will get away. How can you talk about saving people then?"

Everyone's expressions changed drastically. They looked up and saw a woman standing at the entrance of the Demon Ruins. While she was said to be a woman, she did not have a human head but the head of a large elephant. Her long trunk swung back and forth, and she had two long tusks!

A Heavenly Elephant Demon Race!

The Heavenly Elephant Demon Race was the highest-ranking demonic race in the Sword Gate Demonic Ruins. This race had poor reproductive capabilities and was few in number, but they were all incredibly powerful. Ordinary Heavenly Elephant Demons were no weaker than Mutated Abyssal Demons in strength!

And at the feet of the Heavenly Elephant Demon woman lay more than ten corpses. They were likely Upper Court disciples who had escaped the demonic race's encirclement and painstakingly fled here, only to die at the hands of this Heavenly Elephant Demon woman before this Sword Gate!

"Demonic Race Qi Refiner!" Ting Lanyue whispered.

"Qi Refiner?"

Everyone's hearts leaped in shock. The demonic race had actually left a Qi Refiner to guard this place, and it was the most powerful Heavenly Elephant Demon Race in the Demon Ruins!

Ting Lanyue's voice held a hint of despair, "With a Qi Refiner guarding this place, there's no way we can leave alive..."

"The little human girl has some insight. You can actually tell that I've already achieved Qi Refinement."

The Heavenly Elephant Demon woman's small eyes revealed surprise, and she laughed, "Now, you can make your move. I'm not very interested in eating people, but I am very interested in killing them."

Ting Lanyue gritted her teeth and whispered, "All you Senior Brothers, we have no choice but to fight with our lives. If even one person can escape, that's one!"

Everyone fell silent. Zhong Yue also took off his Mysterious Iron sickle and silently wiped it. Qi Refiners sensed Spirit, their souls becoming one. Souls were also called primordial spirits, incredibly powerful. The gap between them and a Qi Refiner was unimaginable. The chance of winning this time was probably not even a sliver.

Even if they fought with their lives, they would likely all die here, with no one escaping!

Kid Yue, no matter what, I have to borrow your body this time!

In Zhong Yue's mind, the Kindling Child's voice suddenly came through, "If you die, I'll have to fall silent and slumber again, waiting for the next Fuxi Divine Clan to discover me. It's just that I've experienced countless years and am about to be extinguished. I can't wait any longer! Even if it exposes me, I have to make a move!"

Zhong Yue was startled and was about to speak when he suddenly heard a creaking sound. The Sword Gate was actually slowly opening!

This scene stunned everyone. They hadn't expected this. Even the Heavenly Elephant Demon woman was momentarily stunned and didn't react.

Then, from outside the Sword Gate, the voice of one of the Sword Gate Elders could be heard, "The Demon Ruins have opened. You may enter."

"Thank you, Elder."

As the Sword Gate opened, Upper Court disciples entered one after another, chatting and laughing. They were likely disciples under a Qi Refiner from the Upper Court, entering the Sword Gate Demonic Ruins for training.

As these Upper Court disciples just entered the Demon Ruins, they looked up and saw Zhong Yue, Ting Lanyue, and the others. Then they saw the Heavenly Elephant Demon woman standing before the Sword Gate, and they were stunned.

"Hurry back, Senior Brothers!"

Ting Lanyue shouted sternly, "Quickly notify the Elders! The demonic race has captured all our Upper Court disciples and is preparing a blood sacrifice to resurrect the Heavenly Phenomenon Mother..."

Before she could finish speaking, the Heavenly Elephant Demon woman's trunk suddenly expanded, instantly growing countless times larger, like a fleshy white sack, ten zhang thick. With a powerful suction, the hundred or so Upper Court disciples who had entered the Demon Ruins were pulled uncontrollably. More than ten of them were sucked into the trunk with a swoosh!

"I hate eating raw!"

The Heavenly Elephant Demon woman chewed vigorously, blood flowing from the corners of her mouth as she swallowed those more than ten people!

The remaining ninety-odd Upper Court disciples were pulled into mid-air. The Heavenly Elephant Demon woman swung her trunk, like a giant python tens of zhang long crushing them. The more than ninety people were crushed in mid-air, and not a single one escaped!

"Beast!"

The Sword Gate had not yet closed when a flash of white light appeared. The next moment, a white-robed old man stood before the Sword Gate, looking at the Heavenly Elephant Demon woman with shock and anger. His expression suddenly changed, and he exclaimed, "A Qi Refiner of the Heavenly Elephant Demon Race? How could a Qi Refiner be born in the Demon Ruins without any spiritual energy of heaven and earth? This is bad!"

The white-haired old man was one of the two Sword Gate Elders responsible for guarding the Demon Ruins. He immediately realized what was happening and shouted sternly, "Quickly sound the alarm! The demonic race in the Demon Ruins is sacrificing to heaven and earth, causing this land to give birth to Demonic Spirits!"

Outside the Demon Ruins, another Elder heard this and immediately took action. A faint bell sound could be heard, its tone melodious and deep.

"The old ghost of the human race is quite clever!"

The Heavenly Elephant Demon woman chuckled, swinging her trunk towards that Elder. She laughed, "But it's too late. The spirit of the Heavenly Phenomenon Mother is about to be awakened. Even if your Sword Gate knows, it will be useless!"

"Heavenly Phenomenon Mother?"

The white-robed Elder's expression changed drastically. Suddenly, another flash of white light appeared, and another Elder rushed into the Demon Ruins, joining forces with him to attack the Heavenly Elephant Demon woman.

Three Qi Refiners battled at this Sword Gate. Their various divine abilities were world-shattering. The Heavenly Elephant Demon woman directly merged with her spirit, revealing an anomaly of eight arms, four heads, and an elephant-headed human body, standing a hundred zhang tall, fighting until the heavens and earth cracked.

The two Sword Gate Elders also merged with their spirits. One was a divine being with bird wings, and the other was a divine being with a mystical turtle under his feet and a large snake on his back. Divine abilities erupted one after another. The power of the three Qi Refiners' divine abilities exploded, forcing Zhong Yue and the others, who were several miles away, to constantly retreat, unable to get close to the Sword Gate, and naturally unable to leave the Demon Ruins.

"Elders of Sword Gate?"

Suddenly, rolling demonic energy surged forth. Tendrils of demonic energy shot out like black tentacles, sizzling and piercing. An Elder was caught off guard and was hit by a strand of demonic energy. He immediately felt his vital blood constantly draining. His heart was filled with alarm; his flesh and blood seemed to be melting in that black demonic energy!

The rolling demonic energy in the distance transformed into demonic clouds, and a person stood atop them, clad in a black robe, their face obscured. They laughed, "Elders of Sword Gate, your qi and blood are so potent, worthy of beasts cultivated for decades. You are prime offerings for the sacrifice!"

Tentacles flailed, dancing around another Sword Gate Elder, striking and stabbing continuously. In moments, the Sword Gate Elder grunted as a demonic tentacle pierced his chest, his vital essence draining away madly.

"Who are you?" The two Sword Gate Elders cried out in shock and fury.

"That's not something you need to know?"

The black-robed Qi Refiner cackled. In an instant, the two Sword Gate Elders shriveled, their souls completely drained, leaving behind only withered bones!

"With the vital essence of these two Sword Gate Elders, it's enough to awaken the Spirit of the Heavenly Phenomenon Mother!"

The black-robed Qi Refiner roared with laughter, flickered, and vanished. His voice echoed from afar, "My children, obey! Slay all the human sacrifices on the altar for a blood ritual!"

Seven li outside Sword Gate, Zhong Yue, He Chengchuan, Ting Lanyue, and the others were in despair. He Chengchuan murmured, "The two Elders are dead..."

"Heh heh, the little human brats are hiding here."

Suddenly, a massive shadow fell over them. Zhong Yue looked up and saw the Heavenly Elephant Demon Race woman transform into an elephant-headed demon god with four heads and eight arms, standing before them!

The Heavenly Elephant Demon Race woman spoke from all four mouths, her voice rolling like thunder, "Capturing you little brats from the Demon Ruins is secondary. Our main objective was these two Sword Gate Elders. With their vital essence, the Spirit of the Heavenly Phenomenon Mother can recover to its full power!"

"How could the demons of the Demon Ruins possibly know these two Elders were guarding here? Could it be..."

Zhong Yue's expression shifted slightly. He looked up and asked, "Did someone tell you about the Elders? Do we have a spy from the demonic race within our Sword Gate?"

"The human mind is indeed sharp!"

The Heavenly Elephant Demon Race woman showed a look of admiration. She swung her elephant trunk and laughed, "Unfortunately, you're all going to die..."

Zhong Yue's face darkened. He thought, Xin Huo will probably have to possess me to act...

Before the Heavenly Elephant Demon Race woman's trunk could descend, a blood line split open on her forehead, and a sword light shot out from her head like a startled swan!

Swish!

The brilliant sword light stretched for several li. Then, the sword light retracted. The Heavenly Elephant Demon Race woman's elephant eyes widened, and her corpse crashed down with a thunderous boom, shaking the very earth!

A white-robed Qi Refiner walked through the air, stepping slowly. He looked towards the deepest part of the Demon Ruins, where blood mist churned above the demonic altar. Within the mist, it seemed as though divine demons dwelled, their colossal forms flickering in and out of sight.

The demons of the Demon Ruins had gathered nearly a thousand disciples from Sword Gate's Upper Court and were sacrificing them all like livestock to the Heavenly Phenomenon Mother!

"Fu Shan, bring me my sword!"

The white-robed Qi Refiner said calmly. Then, with earth-shattering roars, Zhong Yue, Ting Lanyue, and the other Upper Court disciples looked on as a mountain-sized, colossal turtle slowly moved past them. Where it walked, the earth cracked, and mountains rose and fell!

Strapped to the colossal turtle's back was a dazzling sword light.

"The Heavenly Phenomenon Mother from ten thousand years ago?"

The white-robed Qi Refiner opened his palm. The dazzling sword light soared into the air and landed in his hand. The immensely large turtle seemed relieved, its movements immediately becoming much faster.

"Sword Gate's Fang Jiange requests a duel with the Heavenly Phenomenon Mother!"