The fleet carrying the hopes of the Three Realms did not experience the prolonged and fierce battle in the Shadow Plane as anticipated. The process was smooth and the outcome "complete" beyond everyone's imagination.
The fleet arrived at the spatial node on the edge of the Western Desert. After Tang Xiaoqi forcibly stabilized and widened the passage with his Spirit Transformation power, the massive fleet surged into that bizarre Shadow Plane with its drastically different laws. However, the formidable defenses and numerous demon armies that the demon head had allegedly built up over many years did not appear as expected. In the depths of the plane, there was only deathly silence, along with a dilapidated demon palace that seemed to have been hastily abandoned and whose structure had already begun to collapse on its own.
The search results were even more shocking. In the demon palace's core, only some pure but already inactive demonic energy remained, along with some destroyed altar foundations that seemed to be used for some evil ritual. The demon head's main body, along with its possible core subordinates, had mysteriously vanished, as if they had foreseen their arrival and already escaped through some clever ruse.
Not finding the demon head, this grand expedition seemed to have become a performance of wielding a sword against an empty city. The Alliance high command, after emergency discussions to avoid unknown risks, decided to have Tang Xiaoqi personally use the Purifying Azure Lotus power to completely purify and destroy the dilapidated demon palace and surrounding area, then ordered the fleet to withdraw.
Although the ultimate goal was not achieved, the results of "destroying the demon head's lair" and "purifying the Shadow Plane's hidden dangers" were still publicized by the Alliance as a glorious victory. After all, the demon head had lost its long-established nest, and its threat level had theoretically decreased significantly.
When the fleet returned to the Qingxu Temple airport carrying the "victorious army," they were greeted by the already prepared, tsunami-like cheers and grandest celebrations.
"Purification True Lord is divine! Sweeping away the demon den!"
"Long live the Alliance! May the Three Realms flourish forever!"
"Heroes have returned!"
Countless cultivators and civilians flooded the streets, scattering flower petals and talisman paper, deafening cheers ringing out. Major forces sent congratulations one after another, praising this as another great victory since the Demon Nest battle.
Tang Xiaoqi, as the supreme commander and core hero of this expedition, was surrounded by countless eyes filled with adoration and gratitude. Grand feasts were held at Qingxu Temple, messengers from various forces came to congratulate without end, precious treasures and rare objects piled up like mountains. He was forced to participate in several grand victory ceremonies, accepting the worship and praise of the masses.
However, beneath this extreme glory and fanfare, Tang Xiaoqi's heart held not a trace of joy, but rather an icy sense of unease, like a poisonous snake coiling around him, growing clearer and more intense with time.
It was too smooth... suspiciously smooth.
The demon head was cunning as a fox, fierce and brutal—how could it so easily abandon its nest cultivated over many years? Although the demon palace in the Shadow Plane was dilapidated, its remaining altar foundations gave him an extremely bad premonition. They were not simple defensive or offensive formations, but their structure was closer to some kind of forbidden art for sacrifice, transformation, or long-distance transmission.
Did the demon head escape in advance? Or was all this part of its plan?
Before the fanfare of celebration had fully subsided, Tang Xiaoqi quietly came to the Alliance headquarters to find Second Brother Luo Feng, who was analyzing the expedition data.
"Are there any anomalies in the data?" Xiaoqi asked directly, his brow slightly furrowed.
The Second Brother's virtual image flickered, his tone carrying a trace of confusion: "From energy residue and formation structure reverse analysis... it's very strange. Those destroyed altar foundations, their energy orientation wasn't inward defense or attack, but outward, toward the deeper layers of the Shadow Plane, or rather, toward some untraceable 'conceptual' target, performing a kind of 'separation' and 'projection.'"
"Separation and projection?" Xiaoqi's heart sank.
"Yes. It's like a snake shedding skin, or a gecko dropping its tail. It seems to have actively abandoned that portion of power and nest in the Shadow Plane, 'projecting' something more core and essential toward an unknown location."
Just then, the Heavenly Calculation Star Chart suddenly emitted an urgent and shrill alarm sound on its own!
Master Xuan Xingzi's face changed dramatically. He immediately invited Xiaoqi and the Second Brother to observe.
Only the ancient star chart could be seen: although the halo representing the Three Realms' overall fortune was much brighter than before the Demon Nest battle, beneath that halo, a thin yet profound line like an abyss, emanating an ominous blood-red glow, had somehow formed. It was like a fatal cancer lurking beneath healthy flesh, spreading and eroding at a slow but steadfast pace!
"Great ill omen... not removed!" Xuan Xingzi's voice was hoarse, carrying unbelievable shock. "On the contrary, it has become even more concealed, even more deeply rooted! This is definitely not the celestial phenomenon that should follow the demon nest's destruction and the demon head's escape!"
Xiaoqi gazed at that striking blood line on the star chart, and the unease in his heart was finally confirmed.
The triumph was a false appearance, victory was an illusion.
The demon head was not destroyed!
It hadn't simply retreated or hidden, but had completed some kind of "metamorphosis" or "transfer" in a way they hadn't yet fully understood, even more bizarre and terrifying! It had transferred the crisis from the surface to the shadows, from the material level to what might be an even more dangerous law level, or the level of the human heart!
Inside the Alliance, everyone was still immersed in "victory" joy and redistribution of power and benefits, knowing nothing of the true crisis lurking beneath the festive songs.
Xiaoqi slowly raised his head. His chaotic-colored eyes no longer held any of the gentleness from the celebration, leaving only cold sharpness and heavy worry.
The storm had not ended. It had merely changed form, hidden beneath this sky of false peace obtained through blood and sacrifice.
Undercurrents had already begun to surge. The true contest might just be beginning. And he must, within this false prosperity and hidden killer instincts, discover the demon head's true contingency plan, otherwise the Three Realms might face an era of darkness more desperate than the Demon Nest battle.