Chapter 157: The Journey South and the Quest for Diamonds

The air was palpable with tension as Mei, shocked by the turn of events, stuttered, "How...how are you unharmed?"

Li Yang, with an unwavering gaze, retorted, "You'll spare yourself more pain if you tell me where the demon headquarters is."

Mei hesitated, "You're wasting your time. I'll never tell."

With a mere snap of his fingers, Li Yang ordered Ares to send surges of electric currents towards Mei. As jolts of electricity coursed through her body, her defiance was replaced with agony. "Stop! I'll talk... I'll tell you!" she shrieked.

Handing over a device to Li Yang, she gasped, "This beacon will lead you there." Before she could say more, Li Yang commanded Ares to unleash a bolt of purple lightning, instantly ending Mei's existence. With her dying breath, she screamed, "You broke your promise!"

Coldly, Li Yang responded, "Promises don't apply to the wicked." With Mei out of the equation, he examined the beacon she handed over, which pointed south.

Deciding to further investigate the village before leaving, he came across a stash of the much-sought-after Adamantine. Their shimmer and unique aura were unmistakable. Li Yang gathered them efficiently, storing them in his unique storage card.

With Adamantine in tow and the beacon as his guide, Li Yang embarked on a journey towards the demon headquarters. The path was treacherous, fraught with malevolent creatures lying in wait. Beasts with eyes that glowed menacingly, winged monstrosities that shrieked from above, and demonic entities that tried to thwart his path. Yet with every encounter, Li Yang and Ares stood undeterred.

At one point, they faced a horde of fire-breathing chimeras. Using Ares's Storm Attribute, Li Yang summoned a deluge, dousing their flames and rendering them vulnerable. With swift precision, they eliminated each one, collecting the Adamantine they guarded.

Further down, in a fog-ridden swamp, Li Yang encountered banshees. Their eerie songs tried to hypnotize him, but with Ares's sonic booms, they shattered the soundwaves, and in quick succession, neutralized the threat.

In another confrontation, a massive earth golem blocked their way. Its rocky exterior seemed impenetrable. But Li Yang, tapping into Ares's Electric attribute, targeted its pressure points, causing the golem to crumble and revealing the Adamantine embedded within.

Each encounter tested their strength and strategy, but it also bolstered their resolve. The beacon's light grew stronger as they ventured further south, signifying their proximity to the demon headquarters. After what felt like hours, the formidable fortress emerged from the horizon. Its towering walls and dark spires, bathed in an ominous glow, hinted at the challenges that lay ahead.

As Li Yang stood at the periphery, he took a moment to prepare mentally for the upcoming battle, knowing that the real challenge was just beginning.