The tree demon's body rapidly swelled, and its already weakened power recovered at an astonishing rate.
The qi and blood energy that had originally been used to suppress it was instead devoured by it.
Its vines thrashed wildly, like black spears, stabbing madly toward the sealing array.
The sealing array's light flickered violently beneath the tree demon's attacks.
Large swaths of runes dimmed, and the array could collapse completely at any moment.
Zhao Ting watched the precarious sealing array, his heart burning with anxiety.
He mobilized his qi and blood energy, and his entire body suddenly transformed into a blood-red figure.
"Brother Zhao, you..."
"Brother Zhou, as a member of the Demon Suppressing Division, Jiang Tao is my responsibility. I was at fault for this disaster!"
"Now that the sealing array is on the verge of collapse, there's only one thing left to do... fight!"
"I hope I can buy us a little time!"
"Later... Brother Zhou, I'll leave Yunzhou City in your hands for now."
Zhao Ting's voice carried an air of resolve.
"Old Song, I'll lend you a hand."
His figure flashed like lightning as he charged toward the tree demon. He raised the long saber high, and blood-colored radiance blazed across its blade as if it were about to catch fire.
Zhou Yunxuan's heart ached.
He understood that Zhao Ting intended to use his own qi and blood as a conduit to activate a forbidden technique and make a desperate last stand.
"Brother Zhao, don't!"
But by then, it was already too late to stop him.
Zhao Ting was like a blood-red meteor, instantly breaking through the obstruction of the tree demon's vines.
He arrived before the tree demon's stump core and poured all his qi and blood energy and spiritual power into the long saber without reservation.
"Tree demon, die!"
"Forbidden Technique, Control Anomalies at Will!"
"Self-Sacrificing Slash!"
Zhao Ting roared as his entire body transformed into a fiery-red shadow that wrapped around the blade in his hand. The long saber struck down viciously toward the stump core.
This strike contained Zhao Ting's lifelong cultivation and his courage to face death without hesitation.
The light was dazzling, as if it would tear apart the darkness within the pit.
Sensing this calamity hanging over its head, the tree demon let out a frenzied roar.
A layer of black shield surged out from the stump core, attempting to withstand this fatal blow.
"Boom!"
The saber collided with the shield, erupting with an energy shockwave capable of destroying heaven and earth.
The entire pit trembled violently, as if it might collapse at any moment.
For a time, light and darkness intertwined as powerful energy rampaged through the area. Everyone was shaken by the force until their qi and blood churned.
When the light slightly faded, they saw that the black shield around the tree demon's stump core had shattered.
The long saber was deeply embedded in it, and cracks spread rapidly in every direction like a spiderweb.
The tree demon's body twisted violently as it let out a shrill scream.
Its power rapidly drained away like water bursting through a breached dam.
The originally thick vines withered in an instant and drooped weakly to the ground.
The tree demon had suffered a grievous blow. The vines that had been madly attacking the sealing array instantly lost their strength and collapsed one after another.
The tree demon's body began to sway as it let out a pained roar.
With the tree demon's power weakened, the sealing array's light stabilized once more.
The runes shone again, temporarily holding back the tree demon's power to break free.
At this critical juncture.
"Sanniang, prepare!"
Old Taoist Song had not forgotten his mission.
Suppressing the grief in his heart, he shouted loudly.
Then he opened his mouth and swallowed a pill.
In the next instant, the qi and blood energy throughout his body began to surge.
He raised his hand and struck his qi and blood energy toward the "Fire Spirit Gourd" in the air!
Du Sanniang followed close behind. The "Soul Refining Banner" began to spin, then wrapped tightly around the gourd.
"City Lord Zhou, our strength isn't enough. Quickly press this 'gourd' down and use it as the Spirit Suppressing Stone Tablet to stabilize the sealing array."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxuan knew the situation was critical and allowed no hesitation.
He circulated all the spiritual power in his body, and brilliant light flared around him.
His hands moved like phantoms. Streams of qi and blood energy flew from them like ropes, winding around the "Fire Spirit Gourd."
"Suppress it for me!"
The enormous gourd descended from the sky and fell into the pit.
Carrying powerful qi and blood energy and mysterious soul power, the gourd crashed straight toward the tree demon's core.
The tree demon seemed to sense the force of suppression. With the last trace of its strength, it condensed a layer of black shield before itself.
"Boom!"
The gourd collided with the shield, erupting with a deafening roar.
A powerful shockwave rippled outward. The entire pit trembled, and stones tumbled down from the walls.
The gourd's power was simply too great. After holding out for a moment, the tree demon's shield finally reached its limit and shattered with a thunderous boom.
The gourd continued pressing downward and slammed heavily into the tree demon's stump core.
The tree demon let out a shrill scream. Under the gourd's suppression, its body began to rapidly shrink.
Its originally thick vines withered completely, turning into drifting ash that scattered through the air.
The tree demon's form was gradually swallowed by the gourd's radiance, as if it were about to be completely suppressed.
The sealing array sensed the powerful suppressive force brought by the gourd.
Its light suddenly intensified. The runes flashed with dazzling radiance, firmly suppressing the tree demon's remaining power beneath the seal.
"Finally... did we succeed?"
Du Sanniang's face was filled with exhaustion, but a trace of relief showed in her eyes.
"We can't let our guard down yet."
Old Taoist Songhe spoke with a grave expression.
He stared at the gourd that still radiated light, and an uneasy feeling faintly stirred in his heart.
City Lord Zhou looked at the suppressed tree demon and remembered that Zhao Ting had given his life for all of this. Grief surged through his heart.
"Brother Zhao, you can rest in peace now."
He murmured in a low voice.
However, just as everyone thought the crisis was about to be resolved, the previously ethereal Fox Demon suddenly let out a sinister laugh.
"Heh heh heh... You think this is the end? How naive!"
The Fox Demon rapidly formed hand seals, chanting under her breath.
As the Fox Demon moved, the bright full moon in the sky was suddenly shrouded by a layer of black clouds, and the moonlight dimmed.
The entire Yunzhou City was enveloped by an oppressive aura, and the people all felt a wave of fear sweep over them.
"Not good! She's summoning anomalies!"
Sure enough, in the next instant, the anomalies lying in wait behind Yunzhou City began responding one after another.
Black rifts appeared out of thin air throughout Yunzhou City's streets and alleys, and strange beasts of all shapes and sizes crawled out from them.
Some anomalies resembled skeletons, their entire bodies radiating a stench of decay;
Others looked like twisted humanoids, crawling on all fours like beasts.
The moment these anomalies appeared, they surged toward the Demon Suppressing Division.
"Damn it, she wants to forcibly break through the Demon Suppressing Division's sealing array!"
Zhou Yunxuan shouted loudly.
"You stabilize the sealing array. I'll go hold back the anomalies."
With that, he flew outside.
The Fox Demon here was only a clone, which meant her true body should be somewhere in the city.
Upon hearing this, Old Taoist Songhe and Du Sanniang immediately focused their attention on stabilizing the sealing array.
Chen Song also turned and left, following Zhou Yunxuan to fend off the anomalous attacks.
Old Taoist Songhe circulated all the qi and blood energy in his body, controlling the suppression exerted by the "Fire Spirit Gourd."
He continuously injected his spiritual power into it, strengthening the gourd's suppressive force against the tree demon.
Du Sanniang controlled the "Soul Refining Banner" with all her might, driving the runes on the banner until they blazed with light and using soul power to reinforce the weak points of the sealing array.
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