The internal strife in the Situ Ancestral Land had settled. Thescent of blood still lingered in the air, and the lingering demonic energy, under the remaining might of the Demon-Suppressing Nail and the purification efforts led by Grand Elder Situ Ming, was being gradually dispelled. However, Tang Xiao Qi's heart had already flown back to that northwest wasteland being ravaged by demonic disasters.
He deeply understood that the changes in the Situ family had likely already been transmitted through some channel. The situation on the Northwest front would not improve because of his victory here; instead, it might worsen because Situ Ming's plan was frustrated, causing the forces behind the scenes to act desperately and intensify their attacks.
"Grand Elder, the follow-up affairs here will be entrusted to you. Stabilize people's hearts as quickly as possible, repair defenses, and send capable personnel to secretly monitor channels that might connect with the Shadow Snake Pavilion and demonic cultivation families." Xiao Qi seriously instructed Situ Ming.
Situ Ming's expression was solemn. After this ordeal, he seemed several years older, but his eyes were more determined: "Fellow cultivator, rest assured! This old man pledges with my life that the Situ family will be incompatible with the demonic path from now on! I will immediately arrange for clan elders skilled in formations to bring some resources and accompany the fellow cultivator to the Northwest, assist the Alliance, and reinforce the earth vein seals, to atone for past sins!"
This was exactly what Xiao Qi needed. The Situ family's inherited formation knowledge was crucial for repairing the damaged ancient seal in the Northwest.
Without much delay, Xiao Qi brought the perfectly repaired Demon-Suppressing Nail and three Golden Core early-stage elders with the highest formation attainments selected by Situ Ming. Through the secret transmission formation mastered by the Situ family, they directly teleported toward the Northwest.
After several rounds of disorienting ultra-long-distance teleportation, the group had already appeared at a secret location outside Black Rock Fortress on the Northwest border.
Upon arriving, a dense, suffocating demonic energy rushed to meet them. It was even thicker and more violent than when they left! The sky was covered with low-hanginglead clouds, like congealed filthy blood. Even the wind carriedsharp scream like crying vengeful spirits. On the distant horizon, one could vaguely seerushed toward the skysky'sdemonic light and flashes of spiritual technique explosions. Fierce battles were clearly still ongoing.
Xiao Qi's spiritual sense immediately spread out, like an invisible radar scanning Black Rock Fortress and the surrounding defense lines. The situation was indeed not optimistic!
The seal crack area they had temporarily reinforced before was now surging with demonic energy. The spiritual light chains had dimmed significantly, clearly on the verge of collapse under continuous demonic energy impacts and possiblesabotage in secret! More earth vein fissures had been torn open, like wounds on the earth, continuously gushing jet-black demonic energy.
And Ao Zhan, Ling Shuang, and others Xiao Qi had sent back to report to the Alliance were now leading surviving members of the Demon-Sweeping Squad and some of Black Rock Fortress's garrison forces. Outside that area, they were constructing a precarious defensive line, engaged intragically fierce'stug of war with the tide-like rushing demonic beasts!
The quantity and quality of demonic beasts were far more terrible than before! Among them were even several massive demonic beasts with auras comparable to Golden Core middle-stage. Their forms wereferocious, some covered with bone armor burning with black flames, some were compound-eyed monsters that could spray corrupting spiritual light. They brought enormous pressure to the defense line.
Ao Zhan had manifested part of his Dragon true form, dragon scales shattered, covered in blood, yet still roaring while fighting a three-headed demonic lizard. Ling Shuang's sword energy remainedsharp and fierce, but her face was pale, clearly having consumed massive spiritual power. Shadow, Hui Ren, and others were all wounded, desperately holding on in the demonic tide. Even Su Zhi responsible for logistics had to pick up a magical artifact to apply protections on the wounded, her expression solemn.
The entire defense line, like a small boat in a storm, could be completely swallowed at any moment!
"A True Lord! Lord Tang the True Lord has returned!" A sharp-eyed garrison soldier spotted Xiao Qi and the others' figures, letting out a cry like one experiencing rebirth.
The desperately holding Ao Zhan, Ling Shuang, and others heard this, their spirits immediately lifted!
Xiao Qi's gaze swept across thetragically fierce battlefield, his eyes'cold light burst forth. He showed no hesitation, speaking deeply to the three Situ elders beside him: "Three elders, please immediately proceed to the seal crack core, assess the damage, and prepare for repairs! I will handle this!"
"Understood!" The three elders understood the urgency. They immediately transformed into three streams of light, rushing toward the seal core area where demonic energy was most violent. They held the Situ family's formation boards and special talismans. Upon arrival, enduring demonic energy backlash, they began urgently reinforcing the precarious temporary seal, delaying demonic energy leakage.
Xiao Qi took one step, his form like teleportation, directly appearing at the forefront of the defense line, in the area where several Golden Core middle-stage demonic beasts were raging!
He didn't even take out the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword. He simply highly raised the repaired Demon-Suppressing Nail in his hand!
"Demonic beasts! Do not be arrogant!"
A clear shout, like thunder from nine heavens! The vast Green Lotus core power was injected into the Demon-Suppressing Nail without any reservation!
"Buzz---!!!"
than in the Situ Ancestral Landwheneven more brilliant,even more condensed'sdark gold divine light, like a second sun, rose forcefully above the Northwest wasteland! Sacred, dignified, suppressive, the vast Dao rhyme swept outward like a tsunami!
Where the divine light touched, thoselow-grade demonic beasts like snowmen thrown into hell, instantly vaporized, dissipated! Even those powerful Golden Core demonic beasts let out painful, fearful screams. Their surrounding demonic energy likelike hot oil was poured on, violently boiling, dissolving, their movements becoming slow and stiff!
This sudden sacred brilliance and terrifying suppressive force not only instantly reversed the local battlefield situation but also acted like a cardiac stimulant, injected into the hearts of all Alliance cultivators desperately holding on!
"It is the True Lord! The True Lord has returned with the divine treasure!"
"Kill! Follow the True Lord and sweep away the demonic beasts!"
The originally low morale instantly surged! Ao Zhan and Ling Shuang's pressure greatly reduced. They seized the opportunity to counter-attack. Sword light and dragon shadows crisscrossed, beginning to clear those demonic beasts weakened by the divine light.
Xiao Qi held the Demon-Suppressing Nail, like an anchoring pole in the sea, standing firm in the battlefield center. The divine light continued shining, purifying demonic energy, suppressing demonic beasts. His cold gaze looked toward the seal core where demonic energy surged, then at the three Situ elders desperately repairing.
Two-pronged approach! On one side, use absolute power to clear demonic beasts and stabilize the defense line; on the other, use the Situ family's formation inheritance to fundamentally repair the seal and cut off the demonic energy source!
The Northwest battlefield, because of his return and the Demon-Suppressing Nail's appearance, had reached a critical turning point!