Although the demonic whispers at the sealing crack had receded, those full of malicious intent and temptation still lingered in Xiao Qi's consciousness sea, preventing his heart from settling. The demonic entity's main body was sealed, yet still had such influence, projecting thoughts through earth vein crevices across endless space directly into his heart. This undoubtedly sounded a heavy alarm. The current demonic disaster was far deeper and more troublesome than anticipated.
Just as he was concentrating on vigilance, assisting Shi Yi with final seal reinforcement while being alert to possible demonic thought invasion or demon beast counterattacks, another rarely used, simply styled messaging jade talisman in his embrace suddenly, without warning, slightly heated and transmitted a unique, carrying faint soul fluctuation vibration.
Xiao Qi's heart stirred. This talisman was left to him by Aunt Su before she left Qingxu Temple to travel. She had said that unless it was extremely important or urgent intelligence, this talisman would not be used to contact him, to avoid exposing each other's whereabouts or having certain existences intercept messages.
He immediately separated a thread of spiritual sense, carefully probing into the talisman.
What came through the talisman was not clear speech but a specially encrypted, intermittent, seemingly desperately avoiding some kind of detection soul thought, full of urgency and gravity:
"Xiao Qi. it's me. hearing news of northwestern demonic disaster, my heart is uneasy. used some old connections to investigate in secret."
".Shadow Snake Pavilion. those haunting remnants. have not completely quieted. they are secretly gathering, with several. long-recluse ancient demonic cultivator families. frequent contact."
".those families, with ancient heritage, mastering some. forbidden secret arts communicating with and even utilizing earth vein yin evil. I suspect. northwestern earth vein seal loosening, demonic energy leaking. not at all caused by accidental geological changes. very likely. they are, coordinating from within and without."
".their target. probably not merely releasing demonic energy to create chaos. more like executing some. larger plan. your situation there, very likely. is a lure, a 'conspicuous target' to draw Alliance attention."
".be careful. guard against! Their true target. perhaps. elsewhere! Within the Alliance. also need to be vigilant."
The message ended abruptly. Clearly, Aunt Su, in an extremely dangerous or restricted environment, forcefully transmitted this, unable to continue long.
Xiao Qi withdrew his spiritual sense. His expression instantly became extremely grave, even more grim than when facing the demonic whispers just now.
Aunt Su's warning was like a flash of lightning, splitting open the fog in his heart!
Shadow Snake Pavilion remnants! Ancient demonic cultivator families! Forbidden secret arts communicating with earth veins!!
All clues instantly connected!
No wonder this demonic energy leak was so strange, able to precisely find and exploit the ancient seal's weak points! No wonder the demonic energy carried an indescribable "artificial" trace! So there really was a black hand behind it!
These hidden dark demonic forces, not simply wanting to release demonic energy for destruction. They had countless connections with the sealed demonic entity, might even be its loyal servants! They used some secret arts to artificially create or expand earth vein seal cracks, release demonic energy, create the northwestern border's huge crisis, attracting the Alliance's, especially his "Purification True Lord" attention, firmly to this place!
And their true target, what was it?
Was it striking east while attacking west, taking the chance to launch attacks in other regions where Alliance defense was weak? Or. for the demonic entity's main body sealed by Azure Lotus? Did they want to use the opportunity when Alliance forces were tied up to try rescuing or strengthening the demonic entity's seal?
Or. both?
Moreover, Aunt Su's last words "within the Alliance. also need to be vigilant" made his heart shiver even more. Could there also be their spies in Alliance upper levels, or. internal traitors who had been tempted or bribed?
Thinking about this, Xiao Qi felt cold air rise from his feet to his crown. He had originally thought finding the seal crack and repairing it would curb the demonic disaster. Now looking, this was merely the tip of the iceberg! What they were desperately repairing here might only be one deliberately exposed link in the enemy's plan!
"True Lord? What happened?" Shi Yi finished the last reinforcement talisman, looking at Xiao Qi's suddenly changed expression, asked puzzled. Ao Zhan, Ling Shuang, and others around also sensed Xiao Qi's aura fluctuation, all casting questioning gazes.
Temporary reinforcement was complete. Those main cracks were temporarily sealed by spiritual light chains. Demonic energy leakage rate decreased by over eighty percent. Though unable to last long, it at least bought precious time for subsequent thorough repair. Surrounding demons, having lost continuous demonic energy supply from the source, also became restless and anxious. Assault obviously weakened.
Xiao Qi took a deep breath, forcing himself to. He could not let himself. Aunt Su's warning was crucial, but currently, the northwestern crisis was not completely resolved. This must be cleaned up before they could turn attention to that potential, larger conspiracy.
His gaze swept everyone, he said heavily: "The seal is temporarily stabilized. This place's demonic energy leakage has been controlled. Immediately clear remaining demons. Then we must quickly return to Black Stone Fortress, no. directly return to Alliance headquarters! There is more urgent situation requiring report!"
He did not explain Aunt Su's message content in detail, but the gravity and urgency in his tone let everyone realize there was probably something even more serious than the immediate demonic disaster happening.
"Yes!" Everyone's hearts were full of doubts, but out of absolute trust in the Chief Patrol Demon Envoy, they immediately obeyed.
Ao Zhan, Ling Shuang, and others burst forth with powerful combat strength again, like tigers entering sheep pens, beginning to clear those remaining demons whose demonic energy source had been suppressed and became chaotic and greatly weakened.
Xiao Qi stood in place, spiritual sense spread out again, carefully perceiving this area. Under the Azure Lotus Domain's purification, the air's demonic energy concentration was slowly decreasing, but that source from deep earth veins, temporarily sealed, was still like a toxic tumor, lurking in the depths. And Aunt Su's warning was like a sword hanging over his head, letting him not dare slightest slack.
". where is the true target?" He looked toward the southeast, the direction of Alliance headquarters and Central Prefecture heartland, his gaze full of worry and determination.
Must quickly end the battle here and send intelligence back! A more thrilling contest surrounding conspiracy and protection had already begun.