As soon as his feet touched the ground of the demon world, Lu Xian immediately felt his chest tighten. The demonic aura here was so dense and thick, it was as if the air he breathed was mixed with blood and poison. Every breath felt labored, yet it also ignited a wild fire in his veins.
Before him, Qin Chang'er and Nie Yuan stood waiting.
"Lu Xian, you've finally made it in." Qin Chang'er greeted him with a relieved smile despite her pale face.
Lu Xian simply nodded in response and smiled faintly. Without further ado, the three of them resumed their journey.
For Lu Xian and Qin Chang'er, their goal was clear: to find the nest of the dragon guarding the estuary. As for Nie Yuan, his eyes always glinted with mystery—he was still searching for the mysterious treasure he believed was hidden in the depths of this demon world.
The further they walked, the more bizarre the atmosphere became. A thin black mist slowly appeared, obscuring their vision. Faint rustling sounds could be heard amidst the darkness. It was as if thousands of eyes were watching their every step.
"Is... the demon army hiding?" Qin Chang'er whispered.
Lu Xian frowned, but didn't answer.
Soon, the fog thickened until they were only a few steps away. And beyond the fog… a large shadow slowly emerged. A giant cave loomed before them, resembling a dragon's mouth made of black stone. From within emanated a scorching heat mixed with the stench of blood—the lair of the dragon guarding the estuary.
Lu Xian's eyes flashed. "There it is! The dragon's lair—" He almost ran forward, but Nie Yuan grabbed his arm.
"Wait. Don't be hasty." Nie Yuan's tone was sharp. "Do you think the demons will let us touch that lair so easily? It could be a trap."
Lu Xian halted his steps. Despite his turmoil, he knew Nie Yuan was right. Qin Chang'er simply stared at the lair unblinkingly, her mind busy trying to figure out how she could retrieve the dragon egg and hand it to Lu Xian.
But before they could get close, the boiling fog thickened and then stirred as if alive. From within the fog, hundreds of terrifying silhouettes emerged. These demons were different from the ones they had fought before. Their bodies were larger, their skin covered in dark, gleaming scales, and their eyes radiated soul-piercing blue flames. Their auras were much heavier, comparable to cultivators in the Core Formation realm.
"Everyone stay alert," Nie Yuan warned. His hand was already gripping a spear.
The demons stood in a circle, surrounding them. Not a single one moved. They simply stared with hatred, waiting for the trigger to strike.
Silence… a deathly silence.
Suddenly, without warning, Lu Xian's sword shifted and scraped the ground. The sound of metal scraping rang out. Instantly, the demons howled in unison—and attacked!
The black mist shattered, and the giant bodies leaped like shadows of hell. Qin Chang'er quickly formed a barrier, Nie Yuan slashed with his spear, while Lu Xian leaped forward, slashing his sword furiously. The battle broke out.
However, this time it was far more difficult. The demons' attacks were coordinated, attacking in formation, as if possessing a warlike intelligence. Blood splattered, and booming sounds filled the air. Wounds began to appear on Lu Xian, Nie Yuan, and Qin Chang'er's bodies.
"Arrghh!" Qin Chang'er screamed as she was grabbed by one of the four-horned demons. She tried to break free, but the demon's grip was too strong.
"Senior!!" Lu Xian tried to advance, but a flurry of attacks prevented him.
Nie Yuan held Lu Xian back, then shouted loudly amidst the chaos.
"Lu Xian, listen to me! Fighting isn't just about strength. You're too hasty. Use your mind. Find an opening. Use your composure to kill the demon!"
Those words stabbed into Lu Xian's heart. He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. His heartbeat slowed. His eyes sharpened, following his enemy's every move.
With one steady step, he slashed swiftly, stabbing at a weak spot in one of the demons' neck. In an instant, black blood spurted, and the demon fell. His confidence returned.
"That's right…" Lu Xian muttered. "Besides relying on strength, composure is also crucial in combat."
With a new rhythm, Lu Xian moved like a shadow. One by one, the demons fell under his slashes. Finally, only one remained—the one still clutching Qin Chang'er's body.
Lu Xian advanced to slash it, but suddenly… an unknown attack shot out from the darkness. The sharp light pierced the demon's body, causing it to wail before falling dead, releasing Qin Chang'er.
Lu Xian and Nie Yuan looked at each other, shocked.
"Who did it…?" Nie Yuan muttered.
However, there was no answer. They could only assume it was a blessing from the heavens. However, behind the mist, Su Baijun stared coldly at them, concealing his presence.
After the demons fell, Lu Xian and Qin Chang'er immediately moved to the dragon's nest. Inside, they saw a dragon egg the size of an adult human, glowing a fiery red, while its mother lay soundly asleep beneath the black mist.
Slowly, Lu Xian touched the egg. But suddenly—an alarm sounded, like the tolling of hell's bells. The sound shook the demon world.
Before them, the ground shook, and a demon royal palace slowly emerged. Giant black doors opened, revealing a figure seated on a throne: the Demon King.
His eyes radiated golden-red flames, his figure towering in black robes covered in ancient symbols. His voice echoed, filling the entire valley.
"Who... dares to infiltrate the demon world and steal my dragon egg?"
Lu Xian immediately stood in front of Qin Chang'er, his sword gripped tightly. But when he turned around, Nie Yuan was gone. Either he disappeared, or he left them.
The Demon King slowly descended from the steps of his throne. "Intruders… how dare you desecrate my sacred ground."
He swung his hand, and a wave of energy as powerful as a hurricane struck. Lu Xian blocked it with his sword, but his body was sent flying, blood spurting from his mouth.
"Cultivator… Nascent Soul!" Lu Xian was shocked.
The Demon King's attacks were relentless, continuing to pound Lu Xian until his body collapsed, his sword slipping away. Qin Chang'er tried to advance, but a demonic army appeared and held her back.
The Demon King grabbed Lu Xian's sword and raised it high. "Now, die by your own weapon, you puny human."
Just as the tip of the sword was about to pierce Lu Xian's abdomen, the sky shook violently. From above, a giant hurricane swirled, bringing with it a dazzling golden light.
"Sun… Storm!" one of the demonic army shouted in panic.
Without a second thought, the Demon King halted his attack. He and his entire army retreated, fleeing the all-devouring storm.
However, Qin Chang'er, in the chaos, was swept away by the demon army.
"Senior!!!" Lu Xian shouted, but his body was blown away by the solar storm.
It was dark. Everything was upside down. His consciousness was fading.
When he opened his eyes several hours later, he was floating in a sea of golden light. Before him stood a giant, shining figure, its body like a blazing sun, unable to be looked directly at.
The figure opened its mouth, its voice booming like thunder.
"Welcome to the Sun Domain, young cultivator..."