Xiao Qi's order was like sparks into boiling oil, instantly igniting the battle.
"Roar—!"
Those several Three-Eyed Demon Lizards struck first. Their sturdy four limbs forcefully pushed off the ground. Their huge bodies, contrary to their size, showed speed unbecoming of their mass. Like black battering rams demonic wind, they rushed toward the squad's core—Shi Yi, who was urgently surveying the sealing structure! They obviously had some intelligence, understanding to the formation master trying to repair the seal.
"Beasts, stop!" Ao Zhan roared. His figure expanded. fine blue dragon scales instantly covered his entire body. He actually partially revealed his dragon true form! On both fists, water light and lightning intertwined, transforming into two huge dragon claw phantoms, fiercely the two demon lizards at the front!
"Boom! Boom!"
Two rumbles exploded. Air waves rolled, black sand from the ground lifted several zhang high. Ao Zhan's figure, while those two demon lizards were forcibly knocked back more than ten zhang. Cracks appeared on their hard bone armor. They let out painful. Though Ao Zhan held the, his expression also grew grave. These demons' strength and defense far exceeded same-level demon beasts.
Almost simultaneously, Ling Shuang guided with his sword. "Clang" a sword cry. His back sword finally fully unsheathed! The blade was like autumn water, cold aura spreading everywhere. As he directed with his sword finger, countless ice-blue sword qi, as if having life, precisely bypassed the front Ao Zhan, like wind and rain the other demon lizards and numerous low-level demons flanking them.
Where sword qi passed, demons' movements instantly became sluggish. Thick ice crystallized on their bodies, then shattered by sword qi. Ling Shuang's swordsmanship not only had enormous power but also extremely strong control effects, effectively checking demons' tide-like assault.
Shadow's figure had long disappeared. He was like a true shadow, shuttling through the demon group. Each flash of his short blade necessarily brought a spray of black demonic blood, or severed demon tendons, or pierced their energy cores. His attacks might not be as as Ao Zhan and Ling Shuang, but efficiency was extremely high, specifically targeting demons' weaknesses, like an efficient harvester.
Monk Hui Ren recited Buddhist greetings. Buddhist light blazed around him like lighting a bright lamp in darkness. He did not actively attack but sat cross-legged near Shi Yi, palms together. Buddhist chants spread like substantial sound waves. Where Buddhist light shone, low-level demons screamed miserably, movements becoming chaotic, some even turning to ash. The chanting built a barrier in everyone's heart, effectively resisting demonic energy's spiritual erosion and negative emotion attacks.
Jing Wuxin stood on a slightly higher boulder. Her Breaking Illusion Spiritual Pupils operated at full power, continuously reporting hidden threats in the demon group—for example, several flying demon bats skilled in long-range corrosive demonic fire attacks, or several demon insects trying to burrow underground for ambush. Her early warnings let the squad timely adjust defense, resolving potential crises.
Su Zhi shuttled through the battlefield's relatively safe area. Her hand constantly scattered fragrant medicinal powder, or healing spells, treating and restoring occasionally demonic-energy-scratched or shaken team members. Her presence was like adding resilient tail feathers to this sharp arrow.
And Tang Xiao Qi was like a stabilizing pillar, floating above the battlefield center. He did not directly participate in killing individual demons but fully stimulated the Azure Lotus Domain! The hazy Azure Lotus phantom slowly rotated behind him, scattering clear radiance like rain, covering a hundred zhang range. Within this domain, demons' activity was greatly suppressed. Everyone's consumed spiritual power recovery speed increased. The demonic energy erosion effect sharply decreased. He was more like a powerful domain support, providing the entire squad a relatively favorable combat environment.
However, demons' numbers were truly too many! They seemed endless, inexhaustible, pouring from every corner of the boulder pile, from underground cracks. Mixed among them were also some newly demonized cultivators. Their eyes were vacant, deploying spells, causing considerable trouble for the demonic suppression squad. The entire boulder pile seemed to come alive, transforming into demons' nest. Crazy waves, one after another, continuously impacted the squad's seemingly solid yet actually extremely pressured defensive line.
Everyone's nerves were stretched to the extreme. Ao Zhan's dragon scales showed some blackened marks. Ling Shuang's sword qi were no longer as endless as initially. Shadow's movement also showed from sustained high-intensity activity. Hui Ren's Buddhist light range slightly contracted under demonic energy's constant erosion. Jing Wuxin's complexion was pale as paper. Su Zhi's temples also excreted fine sweat.
And Shi Yi, at the sealing crack, wasing enormous pressure. He had to ignore the deafening battle sounds around him and constant approaching death threats, pour all his focus into analyzing that ancient, complex sealing array eye. Sweat soaked his robes. His fingers rapidly moved on several key pillars and foundations, feeling remaining spiritual energy circuits, his brain, deducing repair possibilities.
"Impossible! Complete repair requires specific ancient spiritual materials and corresponding formation inheritance. We simply do not have them!" Shi Yi suddenly looked up, his face carrying a thread of despair: "Can only try temporary reinforcement! Using our existing highest-grade spirit stones and formation flags, forcibly blocking those main cracks, may temporarily slow demonic energy leakage, but will not hold long!"
"Holding for one moment is one moment!" Xiao Qi's voice came from above, steady and powerful: "What do you need? Just say it! We buy you time!"
"Need at least five supreme-grade spirit stones as energy cores. Also need you to help resist the demonic energy counterattack at the crack! That is the most dangerous place!" Shi Yi gritted his teeth.
"Alright!" Xiao Qi did not hesitate. With a wave, five supreme-grade spirit stones shrouded in spiritual energy shot toward Shi Yi. At the same time, he moved, directly standing beside the largest sealing crack, shrinking the Azure Lotus Domain, fully suppressing the pure demonic energy erupting from the crack!
"Protect Shi Yi! Concentrate defense!" Seeing this, Ling Shuang changed sword stance, from large-area clearing to precise point-killing, intercepting all demons trying to approach Shi Yi and Xiao Qi. Ao Zhan, Shadow, and others also immediately contracted their line, surrounding the sealing crack, constructing a firm defensive line of flesh and spiritual power.
The defense battle entered its most intense stage. Demons also seemed to realize their intention. Attacks became more crazy, regardless of cost. Blood dyed the black ground red. Demons' remains and shattered spiritual light scattered everywhere.
Under everyone's desperate protection, Shi Yi, demonic energy counterattack's pressure, began embedding supreme-grade spirit stones at specific positions while casting countless profound formation techniques. Spiritual light chains began winding around those damaged sealing cracks.
Success or failure, this one moment!