Chapter 127: Battle Against the Evil Clan!

The ground around him, along with certain plants, began to wither under the influence of the malevolent energy, swiftly stripping away all vitality. Even the spiritual energy within the area gradually turned gray, with a deathly aura permeating the environment.

"What terrifying evil energy!"

This was the first time Medusa and Zi Yan witnessed the power of such malevolent energy. They both gasped in astonishment, their eyes narrowing as that oppressive energy not only contaminated but also eroded the spiritual energy of the world. What kind of destruction could it cause if it entered the human body?

With that thought, the two women's eyes were filled with deep caution and dread. It seemed that these foreign evil clans were even more challenging to deal with than imagined. When engaging them in battle, the first priority would be to guard against their strange and invasive malevolent energy.

"Soul-Devouring Hand!"

With a cold shout, Xin Kui extended his pale palm. Evil patterns seemed to emerge from his palm, and the next instant, torrents of evil energy roared out like billowing smoke, quickly forming a terrifying hundred-zhang-large hand. It shattered the air, howling toward the three of them.

Faced with Xin Kui's attack, Medusa and Zi Yan exchanged a glance. The next moment, vast spiritual energy erupted from their bodies, sweeping out like a storm.

However, facing the strong spiritual energy, Xin Kui only sneered coldly, shouting, "Just mere physical hardships, and you dare to challenge me?"

"Die!" The massive demonic hand roared, as if it was going to crush the three of them in one blow.

"Roar—"

Though their expressions didn't change, the three of them were filled with caution in their hearts as they felt the terrifying power of the hand. A strange roar echoed across the entire battlefield, making everyone feel as though a primeval beast was right beside them.

Suddenly, dark clouds rolled across the sky, a nine-colored light pillar shot up, and amidst everyone's gaze, a gigantic nine-colored python, over a thousand-zhang long, gradually emerged. Its enormous body was hidden among the clouds, resembling a soaring dragon.

"Nine-colored..."

"Nine-colored Swallowing Python!"

Seeing the python that was both beautiful and robust, everyone was temporarily stunned, forgetting the perilous situation they were in.

"A Nine-colored Swallowing Python? Who are you?" One man, who had been fighting seven Flame Demon commanders, first snapped out of his shock when he saw the enormous python. His gaze turned curious as he looked at Jiang Yun and Zi Yan. From their initial encounter, he had sensed they were not ordinary. With the Nine-colored Swallowing Python now appearing, his curiosity about Jiang Yun's identity grew, thinking they might hold the key to breaking the deadlock.

The unexpected turn of events startled Xin Kui. Even within his clan, the Nine-colored Swallowing Python was a formidable entity that had caused significant trouble for their holy clan. However, sensing the one before him had only physical hardships, Xin Kui roared, "So what if she is a Nine-colored Swallowing Python? She can become just another snakeskin belt for me!"

"Boom—"

From within the dark clouds, a massive tail suddenly lashed out. The physical form of the Nine-colored Python's tail carried power almost approaching the divine spirit realm. As it struck, it felt like the sky itself was falling.

"Snakeskin belt? I'll behead you and light a lamp with your head!" As the crowd's focus was drawn to the Nine-colored Swallowing Python, a cold voice rang out. Brilliant purple light spread out as a purple-crystal battle spear, glowing intensely with spiritual energy, tore the air and left cracks in the space around it.

The spear vanished as suddenly as it appeared right before Xin Kui. The fierce momentum shattered the nearby mountains.

"Petty trick!" Sensing the sharp edge of the spear, Xin Kui reacted swiftly, coldly snorting as he slapped his palm forward.

"Boom—"

The purple spear was knocked back into Zi Yan's jade hands. The cold eyes of the dragoness locked onto Xin Kui, who also returned a frosty stare.

"A true dragon!"

Staring at the red mark in his palm, Xin Kui's face twisted as he spat, "So what if you're a true dragon? How many divine beasts have fallen under our clan's iron hoofs?"

Surprised, Xin Kui's face darkened. The malevolent energy around him had reached extreme levels, and his eyes gleamed with deadly intent. Clenching his fist, a black long knife appeared in his hand. The knife exuded a chilly aura, with dark red patterns looking like fresh blood continuously dripped, spreading an ominous force.

Boom!

Xin Kui stomped the ground heavily. The air exploded beneath his feet, and his figure appeared before the three with astonishing speed. The black knife angled viciously towards their necks.

"Hmph—"

Zi Yan snorted coldly. Facing Xin Kui's full-force strike, she did not retreat. Her massive dragon claw gripped the heavy spear tightly, and with a shake, the purple-crystal spear thrust out. With purple light blooming, ancient dragon shadows seemed to appear within the spear's glow, exuding extreme dominance.

Clang!

The spear tip struck precisely, both weapons clashing with a burst of ripples, which caused the surrounding air to explode layer by layer.

Zi Yan's face darkened. She could sense the immense energy within the opponent's blade. Despite pushing her power to the limit, she still couldn't shake it off.

The force from the spear tip almost made the spear fly out of her hand. The opponent's strength was beyond her expectations.

Buzz—

At that moment, a clear sword hum resonated through the heavens and earth. A strikingly bright sword light radiated from behind Zi Yan. The sheer brilliance of it seemed capable of piercing the very heavens.

Feeling the sharpness of the sword light, Xin Kui's eyes flickered. Black mist enveloped him, and he vanished mysteriously.

"Playing with space?" Zi Yan coldly laughed, and her spear abruptly swung towards a specific location.

"Medusa's Stare!"

Unhesitating, Medusa also turned her head towards the same spot. Her enchanting eyes glowed with an unusual light.

"Ugh—"

A muffled groan sounded as Xin Kui's figure faintly appeared where the two had attacked. He gazed at Medusa's glowing eyes, feeling dizzy. When he snapped back to reality, he saw grayish-white stones creeping up his legs.

Malevolent energy surged out, reducing the climbing stones to dust.

Clang!

Sparks flew. A potent force from the spear reverberated through it, causing a sharp pain in Xin Kui's hand, forcing him to retreat tens of meters before stabilizing.

"What powerful soul force!" Medusa rubbed her temples and focused her gaze.

Zi Yan also tightened her grip on the spear, nodding solemnly.

"Impressive for members of the divine beast clan, causing so much trouble despite your physical hardships." Feeling humiliated by suffering losses at the hands of two weaker beings, Xin Kui laughed in fury and spoke coldly, "However, you no longer stand a chance!"

"Demonic Emperor's Sacred Statue!"

In the sky, vast malevolent energy surged from Xin Kui's body, forming a gigantic demonic figure in the air behind him.

The demonic figure, shrouded in black mist, revealed only a pair of abyss-like eyes, exuding a bizarre aura. Those eyes stared at the two women, an unusual pressure descending from the skies, disturbing the energy around them.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yun's eyes sparkled. His hand suddenly darted out, flicking his fingers.

Multiple spiritual seals shot out, merging into the air surrounding him. Instantly, waves of spiritual energy burst out.

Brilliant array patterns intertwined like serpents. Around Jiang Yun, luminescence enveloped hundreds of zhang, forming a hundred-zhang-sized light array.

Xin Kui naturally noticed the commotion around Jiang Yun. Seeing the opponent's glimmering eyes, his heart couldn't help but shudder.

"Heart-eye?"

Xin Kui knew about the heart-eye. He had faced off against spiritual array masters from the Great Thousand World before and recognized this peculiar state. However, he hadn't met a single heart-eye spiritual array master in years, yet today, he encountered one.

Realizing Jiang Yun was setting up a powerful array, Xin Kui's attacks intensified.

Yet, Zi Yan, Medusa, and Xiao Jiu were formidable in their own right. Though individually weaker than Xin Kui, their coordinated efforts made them tough to overcome.

Standing at the array's center, Jiang Yun watched the distant battle. Medusa, Zi Yan, and Xin Kui's clashes were intense. He changed his hand seal abruptly.

"Demonic Fire Deity!"

The vast fire-attribute spiritual energy in the heavens and earth converged toward him, forming a massive, thousand-zhang-tall fiery giant at the array's center.

The giant's feet plunged into a sea of fire below, and its colossal figure induced soul-shaking fear.

Such a giant, with a single punch, could obliterate even divine spirit realm experts.

This was an array-based adaptation of techniques inherited from Nether Lotus Demon Saint. Many of his combat techniques were of the celestial level, beyond Jiang Yun's current capabilities.

Hence, he relied on the array's power for forced execution, though it came with a lengthy casting time.

Moreover, many potent techniques required Nether Lotus Demon Flame for optimal execution.

Unfortunately, Jiang Yun could not use the Saint Sky Demon Flame publicly due to the presence of Flame Demon and Heart Demon clan members, lest he exposed himself. Thus, he refrained from using the flame, essentially handicapping himself.

He couldn't even use the divine powers of the Evil Spirit clan to avoid exposure. Fortunately, he had the Nether Lotus Demon Saint's inheritance; otherwise, he couldn't utilize powerful techniques.

"Descend!"

Seeing the duo clash again, Jiang Yun coldly smiled and shouted. The fiery deity behind him raised a mountain-like fist and punched towards Xin Kui!

"Medusa's Gaze!"

"Ancient Dragon's Roar!"

In unison, Zi Yan and Medusa launched their attacks towards Xin Kui.

Bizarre petrifying light, mixed with terrifying roars, surged at Xin Kui.

"Demonic Emperor's Hand!"

Realizing his retreat was blocked, Xin Kui roared, and the demonic figure behind him extended a massive, rune-covered hand, its terrifying power colliding with the descending punch.

"Boom—"

When the two colossi clashed, an intense shockwave enveloped the surroundings. The immediate vicinity couldn't withstand the impact, shattering into desolate blackness. 

The violent shockwave forced Xin Kui to retreat, sensing an emptiness within him from overuse of malevolent energy. Meanwhile, Jiang Yun, anchored by the array, still had reserves despite the immense consumption.

"Demonic Fire Halberd!"

Giving no breathing room, the fiery deity behind Jiang Yun lightly grasped the surging sea of flames within the array, forming a colossal, bone-white halberd in its hand.

The deity swung the immense halberd, seemingly splitting heaven and earth.

Unsteady, and seeing the incoming halberd, Xin Kui's face changed drastically, shouting towards the distant Flame Demon leader, "You wretch, are you done yet?"

Exploring something in the distance, the Flame Demon leader disregarded the battle, only looking up upon hearing Xin Kui's shout. He saw Xin Kui being struck by the massive halberd, scoffing, "Useless, a supreme being against mere ants and you are losing!"

Despite the mockery, he felt an unfamiliar fluctuation upon pressing his pale hand on the ground, his cold face showing manic glee.

"Ha ha ha, prepare to pay homage to our king!"

The Flame Demon leader's sinister laughter echoed as a black magic array erupted from his palm. Black flames continuously shot deep into the ground.

Boom—(End of chapter)