Translator: CinderTL
"Hehehehe..."
Gong Niang forced a smile, the scar on her face writhing like a centipede, adding to her already monstrous appearance. "Die, all of you!"
She knew she had no chance in the Holy Son Competition. Her trump card had been destroyed, she was severely injured, her subordinates had suffered heavy losses, and her personal strength was weak. How could she possibly turn things around?
If that was the case, then no one would live!
If I'm going to hell, I'll drag all of you down with me!
Gong Niang reached up to touch her disfigured face, Mengdie's face flashed through her mind, and endless hatred surged within her. Her only regret was that she hadn't been able to drag Mengdie down with her.
"Mengdie! Even as a ghost, I won't let you go!"
"Chirp chirp~~"
Suddenly, a piercing, high-pitched screeching filled the air. Faint at first, it grew louder as Bloodthirsty Demon Bats awoke from their slumber, their cries merging into a chorus like cicadas.
Though they resembled bats, these creatures were entirely different species.
Xiang Tan's heart pounded with terror. Mechanically, she raised her head to look at the opening in the stone pillar. One by one, Bloodthirsty Demon Bats peered out from the hole, their presence sending shivers down her spine.
"Run!"
Someone shouted, frantically fleeing deeper into the dense forest. This cry seemed to serve as a signal for the bats to attack. A massive swarm of Bloodthirsty Demon Bats rose into the air, their dark red flesh membranes forming a vast, bloody net that plunged the world into shadow.
"Hahahaha..."
Gong Niang looked up at the sky filled with bats and laughed maniacally, her shrill laughter momentarily drowning out their screeching cries.
The sound of their wings beating was deafening. Junior Sister Chu's hand trembled, unsure whether to continue saving Xu Sanyan or abandon him and flee for her life. Her eyes instinctively turned to Xiang Tan, seeking guidance.
Xiang Tan's decisive actions in recent encounters had already earned her a measure of respect from Junior Sister Chu.
Xiang Tan gritted her teeth and forced out a single sentence through clenched jaws: "Save Senior Brother Xu!"
If Xu Sanyan died, they would all eventually meet the same fate. They had no choice but to risk everything on this gamble.
"Right!"
Junior Sister Chu nodded firmly, clearly realizing the urgency. She worked frantically to control the binding ropes.
Faced with the threat of a sky filled with Bloodthirsty Demon Bats, few could think clearly. Survival was an instinct, even for Cultivators. They were still human.
As everyone scrambled to escape, only a few remained rooted to the spot. Gong Niang, severely wounded and with her heart already dead, simply wanted to perish with them.
Xu Sanyan, Chi Yu, and the Jin Brothers were lost in the flames of lust, unable to break free. Junior Sister Chu was fully focused on controlling the binding belt, unable to divert her attention. Only Xiang Tan moved freely, standing guard beside Junior Sister Chu to protect her.
"Squeak—"
A piercing cry echoed through the air. Xiang Tan looked up to see a bat several times larger than an ordinary Bloodthirsty Demon Bat soaring overhead. Its long-atrophied eyes were now empty sockets, yet they remained fixed on the pool of blood below.
"The Bat King..."
Xiang Tan swallowed hard, her grip on her sword trembling slightly. Just then, Junior Sister Chu finally pulled Xu Sanyan out of the yin fire's embrace, swiftly cradling him in her arms without looking back. "Senior Sister, hurry! Run!"
At that moment, the countless Demon Bats seemed to receive a silent command. Like a torrential downpour, they plunged from the sky, their exposed fangs radiating a chilling aura as they descended upon everyone.
Though Bloodthirsty Demon Bats were only second-tier demonic beasts, corresponding to Inner Qi Realm cultivators, their sheer numbers were overwhelming. The most conservative estimate placed their numbers at over ten thousand, but the actual figure was likely far higher.
Gong Niang's shrill laughter seemed to have angered the Bat King, as the majority of the Bloodthirsty Demon Bats swarmed towards her.
The Bloodthirsty Demon Bats plunged into the Deep Blue Realm, and countless yin fires attached themselves to the bats. The flames then vanished, leaving the afflicted Bloodthirsty Demon Bats instantly drained of all strength, plummeting straight down.
Wave after wave of bats surged forward, but the yin fire, though widespread, was ultimately limited in number. Under the relentless assault of the Bloodthirsty Demon Bats, the flames were finally extinguished, leaving a thick layer of corpses covering the ground.
Gong Niang was soon swallowed by the swarm, along with the still-unconscious Chi Yu, the Jin Brothers, and the few corpses scattered around the high platform.
Xiang Tan's forehead was beaded with fine sweat. She swung her longsword tirelessly, expending Spiritual Power without restraint to fend off the relentless onslaught of bats. Junior Sister Chu, burdened with Xu Sanyan's body, found her movements restricted, leaving Xiang Tan to bear the brunt of the pressure.
Junior Sister Chu was at a loss for words. She couldn't understand why Xu Sanyan, despite his seemingly slender frame, felt so incredibly heavy.
Though a few hundred pounds wouldn't faze a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it still hampered her movements.
"Aaaah!"
A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air from afar, followed by an eerie silence. Xiang Tan knew someone's Spiritual Power had been exhausted, leaving them to be devoured by the Bloodthirsty Demon Bats.
She was nearing her limit too.
As a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator with limited Spiritual Power, and having already fought through a previous round of combat, only a thin layer of Spiritual Power remained in her Qi Sea. She could hold out for at most another quarter of an hour.
But when she looked up, the surrounding Bloodthirsty Demon Bats stretched as far as the eye could see, an endless swarm that offered no hope.
"Senior Sister, think of something! I can't hold out much longer!" Xiang Tan's heart raced with anxiety when she heard Junior Sister Chu speak first.
Junior Sister Chu had expended a great deal of Spiritual Power when she used her binding belt to rescue Xu Sanyan. After fighting her way here, she was now at the end of her rope.
"Sigh..."
Xiang Tan sighed deeply in her heart, despair etched across her face. She could only hope her death wouldn't be too painful.
She was just a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator, the lowest of the low in the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect, only slightly better than a servant or Outer Sect Disciple. And even that advantage was limited.
She had to sell her body for meager benefits, barely managing to protect herself from humiliation.
As for the position of Holy Son, she had never dared to dream of it. She only hoped to earn enough merit to secure a follower's quota, to survive this Ten Thousand Demons Mountain and walk out alive. That would be enough.
This situation was already a dead end for Xiang Tan.
She even thought that even if Xu Sanyan woke up now, it wouldn't make a difference. There were countless Bloodthirsty Demon Bats swarming them, with the Bat King lurking nearby, ready to strike. How could Xu Sanyan possibly protect them?
Could he truly save them?
Or... would he even try?
Despair filled Xiang Tan's beautiful eyes as she murmured, "If there's an afterlife, I don't want to cultivate anymore. I just want a peaceful life, with loving parents."
The path of Cultivation... was simply too difficult.
Xiang Tan recalled the humiliations she had endured over the past few decades in her quest for immortality. A wave of sadness washed over her. What exactly was she cultivating for?
When she was in the Inner Qi Realm, she was bullied by those in the Celestial Being Realm. After finally reaching the Celestial Being Realm, she was bullied by those in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
She had exhausted every means to reach Foundation Establishment and become a Cultivator, believing she had finally transcended the mortal realm and would no longer be subjected to such indignities. But to her dismay, she found herself still at the very bottom of the hierarchy.
What was the point of living forever if life was like this?
Xiang Tan forced a bitter smile. Her Spiritual Power was completely depleted. She watched the approaching bats calmly, slowly closed her eyes, and loosened her grip on her longsword, letting it fall to the ground.
She had completely given up. If she was to die, so be it.
Suddenly, she felt a large hand rest on her head. A deep voice rumbled in her ear, "Follow me closely."
(End of the Chapter)
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