The battle inside Xiao Yicai's cave was fierce.
Boss Nian, one of the Demon Sect's veteran leaders, stood his ground against three powerful opponents....Qi Hao, Fa Xiang, and Zeng Shushu.
Even with the three of them attacking together, they could not bring him down. His combat experience was deep, his cultivation formidable.
What was even more terrifying was that he hadn't even used his true trump card yet...his magical treasure, the Red Demon Eye, which he had spent three hundred years nurturing.
For now, he fought bare-handed, relying on his centuries of accumulation, yet still held the upper hand.
Suddenly, the Wild Dog Taoist rushed in carrying a body. His face was pale with panic.
"Boss! Jiang Lao San is dead!"
Boss Nian froze.
"What? Lao San is dead?"
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Jiang Lao San, while weaker than him, had cultivated for over a hundred years and was the sole disciple of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect's vampire ancestor.
His strength was notorious, his demonic techniques cruel and bizarre.
How could this man—who had survived countless killings...be slain so easily by a few young disciples of the righteous sects?
But the sight before him allowed no denial. The Wild Dog Taoist laid Jiang Lao San's body down, and even Boss Nian felt a chill crawl up his spine.
The corpse was horrifying.
Jiang Lao San, who had spent his life sucking the essence and blood of others, had himself been drained dry.
His body was shriveled like dead wood, as if every last drop of vitality had been stolen away.
The Wild Dog Taoist's voice trembled.
"Boss… the fog was too thick. I didn't see how he died. But… it was strange, very strange. Look at him. He was sucked dry!"
Boss Nian's heart sank. This was no ordinary death.
He looked at the disciples of Qingyun, Fenxiang, and Tianyin Temple ahead of him. His side had lost a major fighter.
Now it was only him and the Wild Dog Taoist left. Even with his formidable cultivation, numbers were against him.
He gritted his teeth. No use fighting head-on. Better to retreat, lure them into the ambush at Dead Soul Abyss, then destroy them one by one.
Decision made, he shouted:
"Retreat!"
With a leap, he dashed toward a side path.
The Wild Dog Taoist, cradling Jiang Lao San's corpse, glared viciously at the righteous disciples.
"You bastards… just wait!"
Then he turned and fled after Boss Nian.
Qi Hao's eyes lit up.
"They're running! This is our chance—let's finish the Demon Sect scum once and for all!"
With his Ice Sword in hand, he charged forward, hot with murderous intent.
Behind him, Lu Xueqi, Fa Xiang, and Zeng Shushu looked to Zhang Xiaofan.
Zhang Xiaofan gave a calm nod. He summoned the Liuhe Mirror, sending out a ripple of light to scout ahead. With him leading the way, the four followed Qi Hao.
At a fork in the road, they encountered reinforcements: Fa Shan of Tianyin Temple, Li Xun of Fenxiang Valley, and Yan Hong.
The eight strongest young disciples of the three sects were now gathered.
"Light ahead!" Qi Hao shouted suddenly.
A pale glow spilled from the end of the path. The eight quickened their steps and emerged from the tunnel.
Before them stretched a vast cavern.
At its entrance stood a massive stone tablet. Carved upon it in ancient, jagged characters were three words:
Dead Soul Abyss.
Behind the tablet yawned a cliff so deep that no bottom could be seen.
A gloomy, sinister aura surged upward like poisonous miasma. Even standing at the edge made their hearts pound with unease.
Fa Xiang's expression grew solemn.
"Dead Soul Abyss… A forbidden place of the Blood Refining Hall. Countless evil spirits linger here. Everyone, be on guard."
"Hmph!" Qi Hao snorted coldly. His eyes gleamed with killing intent.
"Perfect. We'll slaughter every last Demon Sect rat right here. Not a single one shall escape."
His arrogance made Zhang Xiaofan frown. This guy really thinks too highly of himself.
Still, the eight gathered here were indeed the elites of their sects.
Their combined power was formidable enough to rival even veterans like Boss Nian.
Zhang Xiaofan, however, was not truly focused on Boss Nian.
His thoughts were on the Blood Refining Hall's sacred site.....the Blood-Dripping Cave, hidden beneath Dead Soul Abyss. There, the legendary Heavenly Book awaited.
That was his true goal.
If necessary, he wouldn't mind even being trapped down there with Bi Yao. It might even deepen their bond. He could always find a way out later.
The truth was, he had been holding back this entire time.
If he unleashed his real strength....his Shangqing realm cultivation and swordsmanship....even Boss Nian would not survive more than a few moves. The Wild Dog Taoist and the others would be nothing before him.
But if he revealed his true power too early, the enemies would scatter, and he would lose his chance to enter the Abyss for the Heavenly Book.
So he chose to "slack off," letting others take the spotlight.
Besides, this was also an opportunity for Lu Xueqi.
Talented though she was, she needed real combat experience to refine her edge. Watching her grow was, in its own way, part of his plan.
Suddenly...rumble!
A massive boulder plummeted from the cave ceiling. It fell so swiftly that even Lu Xueqi, sharp as she was, had no time to fully react.
Her hand flew to her sword hilt...but before she could draw, a shadow moved.
Zhang Xiaofan stepped forward. His fire stick blazed with sudden light, striking upward. The falling boulder shattered into fragments mid-air.
Lu Xueqi glanced at him, her eyes flickering with gratitude. She gave a small nod, then placed her hand firmly on the Tianya Sword.
But the danger wasn't over.
The shattered fragments suddenly reformed, wrapped in yellow light, merging back into a giant rock.
It whirled violently, then crashed downward, enveloping both Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi.
"Xiaofan! Junior Sister Lu!" Zeng Shushu cried in alarm.
The boulder exploded apart with a thunderous crack.
From within the smoke, a blue radiance burst forth.
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