Their steps drew closer to the towering gate of the demon realm, seemingly connecting the mortal realm with hell itself. The gate's walls were made of pitch-black stone, engraved with thousands of ancient symbols that radiated a blood-red glow. A terrifying aura emanated from the cracks, making the surrounding air tremble, as if nature itself rejected the presence of any living being.
Lu Xian walked at the forefront, his longsword gripped tightly, his sharp eyes staring straight at the gate. Qin Chang'er, beside him, looked alert, her hands ready to deploy a defensive formation, while Nie Yuan walked calmly, his lips curled into a thin line, as if savoring the tension.
However, just before they reached the gate, the ground shook violently. From the darkness, dozens of demon guards emerged. They were tall, with jet-black skin covered in spikes, and their eyes glowing red. Their teeth were sharp like spears, and their hands held strange weapons that seemed to be forged directly from the flames of hell.
"Lu Xian... what should we do?" Qin Chang'er's voice trembled, though her eyes remained focused.
Lu Xian took a deep breath and raised his sword. "There's no other way. Get ready, we must break through!"
Without waiting for further instructions, the guardian demons howled loudly and charged toward them. The sound of their giant footsteps, accompanied by the tremors of the ground, made the air seem to vibrate.
"NOW!" Lu Xian shouted, dashing forward like a flash of light. His sword spun, cutting off the head of one of the demons in an instant. Qin Chang'er immediately activated a defensive formation, golden light enveloping them, blocking the first wave of attacks. Meanwhile, Nie Yuan spun his spear, piercing a demon's chest and kicking it away.
The battle was fierce. The screams of demons mixed with the sound of weapons clashing and energy explosions. The bodies of the fallen demons began to pile up, but with each fall, two more appeared in its place.
"There are too many of them!" Qin Chang'er gritted her teeth. "At this rate, our Qi will run out!"
Before they could breathe a sigh of relief, the ground shook again. From the darkness, a familiar giant figure emerged—the giant demon they had seen earlier. Its body towered like a mountain, with coiled dragon-like horns and black skin that emitted poisonous fumes. Every step it took cracked the surrounding rocks.
"This demon again…" Lu Xian hissed, his eyes narrowed in fury.
With a thunderous roar, the giant demon swung its arm. A single slash split the ground, creating a small chasm that nearly swallowed them. Qin Chang'er and Nie Yuan leaped back, while Lu Xian blocked the attack with his sword, though his body was sent flying several meters.
The three of them charged forward together. Qin Chang'er cast a seal formation to bind the demon's legs, Nie Yuan thrust his spear into the giant creature's abdomen, while Lu Xian leaped into the air, slashing his sword with full energy. However, the demon's skin was so tough, their attacks left only shallow cuts.
"Impossible…! At this rate, we'll die here!" Qin Chang'er shouted, her breathing becoming labored.
Nie Yuan glanced at the slightly ajar gate to the demon realm, emitting a fiery red light. "Then… we don't need to kill him. We just need to get inside the gate! Let someone distract him!"
Lu Xian stared at the two of them, then slowly smiled. His eyes filled with sharp confidence. He raised his sword high, his aura glowing blood red. "You guys go in. I'll hold this demon back. I'll catch up with you!"
"Lu Xian…!" Qin Chang'er wanted to argue, but Nie Yuan quickly grabbed her arm.
"Trust him. If anyone can hold that demon back, it's only him," Nie Yuan said coldly, then pulled Qin Chang'er toward the gate.
Lu Xian now stood alone, facing the giant monster. He closed his eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath. "Alright, you bastard demons. If you want to die… I can use my demonic power to kill you!"
A thunderous shout erupted from his throat. Instantly, a blood-red aura exploded from his body, forming a vortex of energy that shook the air. His eyes turned fiery red, and his body became covered in black lines, a sign of the demonic power within him awakening.
With a speed impossible to follow with the naked eye, he shot forward. This time, his sword slash was no longer just an attack, but a will to tear apart destiny.
"WITH ONE SWORD STRIKE… I WILL CHANGE DESTINY!!!"
The sound of a sword slicing through the air echoed, and then a red light sliced through the giant demon's body. A moment later, the giant's body stopped moving, before finally exploding into a black, poisonous liquid that seeped into the ground.
Lu Xian stood panting, his sword still dripping with demon blood. He turned to face the now wide-open gate to the demon realm. A faint smile appeared on his face.
"It's time for me to catch up with them…"
With confident strides, he stepped through the gate, leaving the mortal world and treading the path to the demon realm.