The silent points of light when father Xu Zhan's soul fire dissipated were like the last straw, pressing down and breaking the dam in Tang Xiaoqi's mind named reason. The explosion aftermath from the Soul-Controlling Jade and demonic entity fragment mutual destruction had not yet fully settled. That originating from the depths of his bloodline,the eternal feeling of severance transformed into heart-devouring agony, letting him let out beast-like wailing.
However, this extreme grief did not cause him to sink into degeneracy. Instead, it was like quenching tempering's blade, burning away all weakness. It left only a kind ofa resolve nearly as cold as ice, integrated with the destruction scene before one's eyes.
Father used soul annihilation to purchase not only their road of survival but also critical information concerning this world's survival. The formation eye was beneath the altar. Must reinforce the Nine Heavens Demon Sealing Formation.
"Senior Brother, Third Senior Sister" he struggled, voice hoarse and broken, yet carrying "we cannot leave, the formation eye is down there."
He ignored the intense pain from his left shoulder and right leg that nearly made himfaint again, ignored the empty feeling within his body, ignored his meridians like burnt dried riverbeds. He used all his strength, attempting to stand up from Liu Yun's support. Those crimson eyes stared.
Mu Qingfeng supported Aunt Su whose breath was faint, only kept alive by a thread offaint vitality. Hearing Xiaoqi's words and feeling beneath his feet that increasingly violentas if some ancient fierce beast was about to break through the earth impact, his face somber to the point.
Retreat was survival instinct. Staying wassurviving near death or evennine deaths with no life.
But Senior Xu's information purchased with life, Xiaoqi's resolute gaze, and being a disciple of Qingxu Temple, being a righteous path cultivator's responsibility, made him instantly make his choice.
"Yun'er. Protect Xiaoqi and Aunt Su. We're going down." Mu Qingfeng decided promptly, voice decisive. He did not hesitate. One arm tightly supported Aunt Su. Pale blue spiritual energy around him lit up again, though dim, yetextraordinarily firm.
Liu Yun did not waste words. Her phoenix eyes cold light flashed. She nodded heavily. One arm still firmly supported unsteady Xiaoqi. The other held sword, blade pointing toward where demonic energy was most abundant. Cold killing intent merged with protective will.
Just as they made their decision.
Rumble.
The demon entity's body even more desperate assault again came from the earth's depths. This time, it was not simply vibration but accompanied bya spine-chilling loud noise as if rock and formation structure were being torn apart.
The Hall of Ten Thousand Souls began its real, accelerating collapse.
That dark sky above filled with countless suffering faces' vortex wildly accelerated. Large patches ofcondensed from pure resentful force and demonic energy"the ceiling" began to flake off, fall, likea black meteor shower began. Stone pillars requiring several people to embrace around, imprisoning countless souls, let outgroans of being unable to bear, broke from the middle, toppled, smashing into the ground,stirred up sky-full of stone fragments and scattered soul lights. Surrounding walls like pushed-over building blocks, collapsed inin large areas, revealing the more profound chaotic demonic energy space behind.
The entire great hall wasghosts wailing and gods shrieking, demonic energy vertical and horizontal, gravel like rain. It was as if the end of the world had arrived.
"Go."
Mu Qingfeng roared. Braving the constantly falling gravel andviolent energy currents, he took the lead rushing toward thatin the center of the altar with cracks everywhere and demonic energy gushing. He must open the road for those behind.
Liu Yun protected Xiaoqi. Her sword light danced, smashing or deflecting the larger gravel and demonic energy masses heading toward them. She closely followed.
Xiaoqi endured body's pain and consciousness blurring. Relying on stubborn will and cooperating with Liu Yun's support, he stumbled forward. His gazealways locked onto the most chaotic area in the altar's center father's last divine thought echoing in his mind. "The formation eye is beneath the altar."
The closer to the altar, the more abundant and violent thethe gushing source demonic energy. It was like possessing life, constantly trying to wind around and erode them. Meanwhile, collapse became even more intense. Aa huge piece of roof remnant burning with black flames like a small mountain toward themfell straight down.
"Gui Water Barrier." Mu Qingfeng pushed both palms upward. A thick blue water curtain instantlyprop up attempting to block the falling debris.
Boom.
The water curtain lasted only an instant before collapsing. The debris's falling forceslightly reduced yet still carriedthe force of ten thousand jun pressing down.
"Break."
Liu Yun let out a clear cry. Sword light rose to the heavens, transforming into aan extremely condensed white thin line, precisely cutting into the debris's center.
Hiss.
The huge debris was split in two from the middle. It smashed down on both sides of everyone's bodiesthe excited air waves knocked several people askew.
Seizing this opportunity, Mu Qingfeng finally rushed to the altar's edge where the biggest crack was. That crack was several chi wide, bottomless. Dense as inksource demonic energy radiating bone-piercing chill like a well's spray gushed continuously from within.
"Below." Mu Qingfeng did not hesitate, shouting toward those behind. He then gathered Aunt Su tightly and leaped into that deep demonic-energy surging crack.
"Xiaoqi grab onto me." Liu Yun did not hesitate. She put Xiaoqi on her back. Sword intent around her rose, transforming into a protective sword aura. She fearlessly followed Mu Qingfeng leaping into thatlike a crack leading to the abyss.
Just as their figures disappeared, another huge stone pillar fell with a crash, thoroughly burying where they had stood.
The Hall of Ten Thousand Souls' collapse continued, accelerating. That demonic hall, once symbolizing the Shadow Snake Pavilion's power and criminal core, was walking toward complete destruction under its master's rage and backlash. And the four people carrying the final hope and mission, fearlessly charged into this destruction's center, toward thethe final battlefield where the demon entity's body and Nine Heavens Demon Sealing Formation connected. The unknown abyss beneath the altar.
What awaited them would be an even more dangerous situation than above, and the formation sealing core that decided everything.