Chapter 1013: 妖·巫

The Nine Phoenix King sat cross-legged on a rock, her hand seals constantly changing, streams of light dancing at her fingertips.

A moment later, the streams of light intertwined, transforming into a palm-sized colorful phoenix that seemed alive, looking around gracefully.

The colorful phoenix circled above the Nine Phoenix King's head, scattering specks of light with each beat of its wings.

The Nine Phoenix King looked up slightly, gazing into the phoenix's eyes. Her lips moved, performing an obscure secret art, then she extended a finger, forced out a drop of essence blood, and lightly touched the colorful phoenix.

The moment her finger made contact, the essence blood merged into the phoenix's body.

The colorful phoenix stiffened, suddenly retracted its wings, and transformed into a ray of brilliant light that flew into the center of the Nine Phoenix King's brows.

The colorful phoenix entered her body.

The Nine Phoenix King's head shot up. Her body trembled, and her delicate face twisted into an expression of pain. Then, a muffled groan escaped her throat, and her aura suddenly erupted.

The Flood Dragon King was already prepared; he waved his hand, sending out a golden light that formed a barrier, sealing off the entire mountain hollow.

The next moment, the muffled groan transformed into a clear phoenix cry.

Swoosh!

A pair of wings unfurled from her back.

The Nine Phoenix King floated in mid-air, turning her head to gaze in the direction of the immortal restriction, strange light swirling in her eyes.

The armored strongman and the other demons suppressed their curiosity, silently observing the Nine Phoenix King's actions.

Soon after, the Nine Phoenix King slowly exhaled and turned her head to nod at the Flood Dragon King.

The Flood Dragon King's expression relaxed, and he finally spoke to the armored strongman: "Brother Hei, there's no need to worry. Nine Phoenix and I are fully prepared. There's a true feather of the Heavenly Phoenix within the immortal restriction. Once those cultivators enter the inner hall, we can use the power of the Heavenly Phoenix's true feather to secretly open a passage within the immortal restriction and enter."

"A true feather of the Heavenly Phoenix?"

The armored strongman was startled by this, utterly shocked. "Could it be the legendary ancient Heavenly Phoenix's natal true feather? The Demon Sea is so rich, yet you can still find such a treasure?"

The Flood Dragon King smiled faintly. "It might not be a true feather of the Heavenly Phoenix itself, but that remnant feather indeed carries a trace of spatial power similar to that of a Heavenly Phoenix. We can use it to meet us and sneak inside when the Seven Kill Hall emerges on its own and the immortal restriction shows a flaw. This treasure is a prized possession of the Phoenix clan, the only one in the entire Demon Sea. I can't tell you how much effort it took to persuade the Phoenix clan to entrust this Heavenly Phoenix true feather to Nine Phoenix and bring it to Canglang Sea."

The armored strongman exchanged glances with the other great demons.

"Did you bribe cultivators to place the Heavenly Phoenix true feather inside beforehand?" the armored strongman asked, puzzled.

The Flood Dragon King nodded.

"If we were to break through the restriction holding the Heavenly Phoenix true feather and activate the immortal restriction, it would cause the restriction to vibrate, alerting the human cultivators inside. If we attract those top human experts, our situation would become dangerous.

"During the last opening of the Seven Kill Hall, Nine Phoenix ventured in and placed the Heavenly Phoenix true feather into the immortal restriction in advance, which also alarmed quite a few cultivators. Now, we only need to activate the power of the Heavenly Phoenix true feather to bring us in, and the commotion will be much smaller.

"For this, the various clans of the Demon Sea did not hesitate to sacrifice their clan's Holy Sons, and my own son was among them. Having paid such a high price, I naturally would only proceed if I had a certain degree of confidence.

"Meeting you fellow daoists in Canglang Sea is also an unexpected pleasure. If we succeed, I will have hope of achieving the Divine Transformation stage, and you fellow daoists will also gain immense benefits.

"Why then would we still fear cultivators or hide in the barren depths of the sea?"

The Nine Phoenix King's eyes dimmed as she recalled the incredulous looks of those juniors twenty years ago when they learned the truth, including Caiyi, whom she had watched grow up.

The armored strongman and the other demons, having learned various secrets from the Flood Dragon King, were also greatly surprised. After a brief private exchange, he asked: "When do you two fellow daoists plan to enter?"

The Flood Dragon King glanced in the direction of the Seven Kill Hall palace. "Once those human cultivators enter the inner hall, we will act immediately. We know too little about the Seven Kill Hall, so we'll need your generous assistance then, fellow daoists."

The armored strongman said solemnly: "We have long suffered under cultivators; we will certainly give our full effort."

"Good!"

The Flood Dragon King clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his eyes glinting as he gazed at the inner hall within the immortal restriction.

The demons waited patiently in the mountain hollow.

An unknown amount of time passed.

The Flood Dragon King suddenly spoke: "Move out!"

The demons teleported a few times, appearing at the edge of the immortal restriction.

Nine Phoenix and the Flood Dragon King stood at the forefront, with the other demons following behind.

By this time, the Nine Phoenix King had revealed her true form. Her wings flapped, and she took out a magnificent phoenix feather. Flying close to the immortal restriction, she let out a series of urgent, low cries towards its interior.

Inside the immortal restriction.

The long feather reappeared, responding to the Nine Phoenix King's call and burning with intense flames.

The next moment, the phoenix feather in the Nine Phoenix King's hand shone brightly, and the Heavenly Phoenix true feather suddenly erupted in a ball of flame, dispersing the surrounding darkness.

The Heavenly Phoenix true feather embedded itself into the immortal restriction, and a strange fluctuation passed between the two feathers.

The Nine Phoenix King let out a soft cry.

The Flood Dragon King's expression shifted slightly. He led the demons to flash forward, and they were then enveloped by the phoenix feather's light.

In an instant, the demons' figures flickered and vanished, and the immortal restriction returned to its original state.

They had secretly snuck into the inner hall without anyone knowing.

"We're in just like that?"

The armored strongman was still somewhat disbelieving that they had so easily snuck into the human sacred ground.

He looked around, finding everything shrouded in darkness. His gaze shifted, falling upon the Heavenly Phoenix true feather, and he saw the Nine Phoenix King staring at the feather with an unusually solemn expression.

The Flood Dragon King asked, "How is it?"

The Nine Phoenix King replied regretfully, "The remaining power of the true feather is less than half."

At this point, without needing a reminder from the Flood Dragon King, the other demons had already spread out to survey the surrounding terrain.

Soon after, the armored strongman and the other demons returned, saying gravely: "This is a vast, desolate area. There are no living creatures, nor any traces of human restrictions or spirit arrays."

The Flood Dragon King's expression remained unchanged. After a moment of contemplation, he actually took out a finger-length piece of white bone.

Holding the white bone, golden light flickered in the Flood Dragon King's palm.

The demons exchanged glances, remaining silently in place as they watched the Flood Dragon King's actions.

Heavenly Pagoda.

Several ghostly figures silently appeared before the entrance of the Heavenly Pagoda.

Their figures paused, revealing their true forms as they looked in the direction of the Seven Kill Hall's entrance.

The leader was none other than the Grand Shaman.

To the Grand Shaman's left, an inconspicuous dried leaf cicada quietly floated in mid-air.

When the others looked at the Grand Shaman and the dried leaf cicada, their eyes held a hint of reverence.

"The human cultivators have all entered; it's time for us to act as well."

The Grand Shaman looked at the dried leaf cicada and said softly.

Old Devil Fang said nothing, disappearing into thin air as he flew first into the Heavenly Pagoda.

The trials on the Heavenly Pagoda's lower floors were nothing to them. With Old Devil Fang scouting ahead, the cultivators moved as if on flat ground, unimpeded, and reached the seventh floor of the Heavenly Pagoda.

"The humans didn't leave any contingencies here. It seems there are more attractive treasures in the inner hall for them."

The Grand Shaman said indifferently.

Old Devil Fang sneered, "Unless the Demon Lord and others personally guard this place, how could they possibly stop us? It would only be inviting humiliation!"