The world turned illusory.
Gu Qingshan, Xie Shuangyan, Mu, and all the spirits of the Dust-Sealed World were trapped in place, unable to move.
"My spells won't work!" Dead Fatty shouted.
"Our attacks have all ground to a halt—Lady! What do we do?" Cai Zang called out to Sacrificial Dance Lady.
"I've never seen..." Sacrificial Dance Lady shook her head and fell silent.
Mu lowered his head and looked at the Destroyer of All Things in his hand. The spear's multicolored radiance had completely faded, leaving it utterly powerless.
"Remarkable... I've never seen power at this level," Mu murmured.
Gu Qingshan furrowed his brow. "But... if the demons can prevent all of us from attacking, they should have conquered the Primordial Era long ago. All life would have turned to ash. There's no way they'd still be fighting us now."
He instinctively glanced at Xie Shuangyan.
—She had come from countless ages ago and had witnessed many of the demons' methods. She had to know something.
Xie Shuangyan sighed. "This is probably some kind of assassination technique used by the demons. It can't harm us, but... Gu Qingshan, we can't protect you."
As soon as she finished speaking, the mangled arm exploded, turning into a cloud of blood mist.
Flickering, strange runes flashed rapidly in the blood mist, unleashing an indescribable surge of magic.
Rows of glowing words appeared before Gu Qingshan:
``` "Nine Faces Insect Demon has performed some unknown, evil sacrifice."
"Nine Faces Insect Demon is selecting your karmic counterpart."
"The karmic counterpart must have participated in many of your affairs and must have influenced one of your decisions in order to form a karmic connection with you."
"When the karmic counterpart is destroyed, you will suffer the same fate."
"Warning!"
"This is the ultimate power of Nine