Tang Xiaoqi's cry of "Father," laden with a hundred years of longing and infinite emotion, struck like ice thrown into boiling oil within this deathly silent, desperate demon palace hall. Xu Zhan's brief moment of struggling clarity in his eyes, though quickly submerged by demonic energy, was like lightning cutting through absolute darkness—illuminating Xiao Qi's final hope, and thoroughly enraging that supreme being controlling everything.
"Futile struggle."
The demonic lord's constantly twisting shadow-form emitted an even clearer, even icier whisper. This whisper was no longer merely the transmission of thought, but truly triggered the pervasive demonic path laws within the demon palace hall. Every syllable carried the power to shake divine souls and erode dao hearts.
As these words fell, the shadow's writhing suddenly stopped. At its core, two points of darkness so deep they seemed capable of devouring all light slowly "opened."
Those weren't eyes, but two holes leading to boundless void—pure malice condensed. When these two points of darkness "gazed" at Tang Xiaoqi—
BOOM!!!
An indescribable, irresistible, unimaginable terrifying pressure, like the entire heavens collapsing, crashed down! This pressure wasn't merely energy impact, but carried the demonic lord's true body that originated from the universe's dark side, existing for countless tens of thousands of years—its ancient will, and its absolute power level surpassing this realm's beings' understanding—Nascent Soul Grand Perfection (possibly touching even higher levels)!
Pressure like hell!
Instantly, the demon palace hall's space seemed to solidify. The churning blood pool stagnated; countless resentful souls' wails were forcibly cut off; even the pervasive demonic energy seemed to become heavy as lead and mercury.
"Ptooey—"
Zhao Tiezhu at Xiao Qi's side first bore the brunt. He groaned. This body strong enough to hard-fight demon statues, under this pure will and law-level pressure, was like fragile glass—unable to bear the weight. Blood unconsciously dripped from his mouth corner. His burly frame slightly hunched, only able to rely on stubborn willpower to hold on desperately.
Liu Yun's delicate body trembled violently. Her fierce sword qi, under this absolute power gap, was like a dying candle in wind—flickering. Her fingers gripping the sword whitened from overexertion. Her cool face revealed, for the first time, undeniable terror.
Mu Xue's ice-crystal staff emitted tiny "crack" sounds. The jewel sealing a miniature snowfield in the staff head's radiance dimmed drastically. Her surrounding cold air was forcibly driven back into her body by this pressure. Her beautiful face lost all color. Only those clear eyes stared at that shadow, refusing to submit.
Crown Prince Ao Qin let out a low dragon cry. His azure dragon pupils' golden light flashed. He tried resisting with true dragon majesty, yet that origin from life-level and power essence's vast gap made his dragon might like a stream joining the sea—instantly devoured and annihilated. His surrounding water-blue spiritual light violently fluctuated. Draconic scale phantoms flickered in and out. Obviously bearing tremendous pressure.
The weakest, Second Senior Brother Luo Feng—just a soul body possessing a puppet—couldn't even let out a groan. The puppet shell's surface runes instantly dimmed by half. Soul body fluctuation became extremely weak, as if the next moment it would be shattered completely by this pressure!
Even Xiao Qi, bearing the World-Purifying Green Lotus seed's vitality and dao heart firm as steel, under this pressure like the entire universe's dark side pressing down, felt his divine soul about to split. His surrounding bones emitted creaking sounds, as if about to be crushed into powder! His internal spiritual power circulation became extremely sluggish. The Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword's radiance dimmed.
This was the demonic lord's true strength?! Simply one thought's glance, one pressure release, nearly wiped out this "Dawn" squad composed of Nascent Soul True Lords and top experts!
At this center of despair-inducing pressure, those two deep darkness "eyes" remained firmly locked onto Xiao Qi. Within were no anger, no killing intent—only a gaze like appreciating his carefully nurtured for a hundred years, about-to-be-harvested, perfect artwork... sarcasm and greed.
"You've finally arrived..."
The demonic lord's voice rang out again, carrying ancient, indifferent rhythm, directly branding itself upon everyone's souls.
"Carrying abundant vitality, pure source, and... perfect maturity."
Its "gaze" seemed to penetrate Xiao Qi's flesh, sea of consciousness, directly "seeing" the jade pendant at his chest resonating intensely with the lotus seed's main body, seeing the lotus seed vitality already cultivated to peak state within.
"Crossing realms to search, long years of waiting, meticulously designed cultivation... all, for this moment."
The demonic lord shadow slightly fluctuated, seeming to reveal "satisfied" emotion.
"No need to struggle, no need to fear. Merging with This One, becoming part of This One's perfect demonic body, is you, and the seed within you... supreme honor."
Its words were filled with absolute confidence and control, as if stating an already-destined, unchangeable fact.
"Abandon that insignificant resistance, open your body and heart. You will become part of something greater, transcending this small world's constraints, witnessing the universe's ultimate mysteries..."
The seductive whisper like demonic sound filled their ears, constantly striking and undermining everyone's hearts. That pressure also carried attack directly pointing to dao heart flaws, amplifying each person's inner fear, greed, and confusion.
The demonic lord had no rush at all to immediately destroy them. In its eyes, these intruders, especially Tang Xiao Qi, were merely "provisions" about to be devoured. It enjoyed this process of controlling everything, watching ants struggle—enjoying the final "seasoning" before harvest.
Pressure like hell, demonic sound eroding bone.
The "Dawn" squad fell into the most lethal crisis since their formation! Not merely absolute crushing in power, but cruel test of will and dao heart!
Xiao Qi clenched his teeth desperately. Even his gums seeped blood from overexertion. Under that terrifying pressure like the entire universe pressing down, he difficultly, inch by inch, straightened his almost-bent spine.
He raised his head. Red eyes met those two deep darkness. Despite body trembling, divine soul wailing, his gaze, like steel tempered through billions of times, showed no submission—only burning to extremity anger and resolve!
"Container? Honor?"
He spoke. Voice hoarse and broken from immense pressure, yet carrying utterly unyielding will!
"You... DREAM!!!"