Chapter 1082: Contention

All eyes instantly focused on the two demon kings. Everyone watched intently.

The Flood Dragon King summoned his golden spear, which resonated with the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle's shell, making him feel completely secure.

Flames and the blood-red crystal wall intertwined. The blood-red crystal wall seemed to melt, about to be pierced by the flames created by the Heavenly Phoenix Plume. It appeared as if the two demons were about to escape through the wall using the Heavenly Phoenix Plume.

Just then, the smile on the Flood Dragon King’s face suddenly froze, replaced by shock and anger.

"Who!" the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle roared.

Before he finished speaking, the two demons felt a sudden darkness before their eyes.

*Bang!*

The turtle shell vibrated violently. The Nine-Life Mystic Turtle’s face turned pale, and he spat out blood.

At this moment, a slender, fair hand, seemingly emerging from thin air, appeared on the turtle shell without warning. The shell's mystic light dimmed, and cracks appeared.

Then, the Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul slowly materialized, its gaze cold, tinged with a hint of greed and madness, which sent a shiver down the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle’s spine.

Simultaneously, a roar came from behind—the Flood Dragon King’s furious cry.

Beside the Flood Dragon King, Mo Qingzhu appeared without any warning, her expression blank, staring fixedly at him. She grabbed out with a large hand, and true demonic energy surged forth.

Mo Qingzhu and the Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul coordinated perfectly. The Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul crushed the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle, while Mo Qingzhu went directly for the Flood Dragon King.

Mo Qingzhu used some unknown secret technique, and a rustling sound emanated from the true demonic energy. Countless black chains were born within the energy, coiling like snakes, darting flexibly, and engulfing the Flood Dragon King.

At this time, the distant illusory figures of the Ancient Demon’s Divided Body and Qingzhu slowly faded away.

The human masters present had all encountered the Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul and knew the demon’s formidable power. They had been secretly vigilant, ready to assist each other if needed. The Grand Shamanic Priest and Old Demon Fang had also been warned during their secret discussions with the human cultivators.

Only the Flood Dragon King and the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle, unaware of the true situation, received no warning about the Ancient Demon’s strength. They had to divert some of their attention to guard against the immortal cultivators, never expecting the Ancient Demon to be so fast and terrifyingly powerful.

The Flood Dragon King was not entirely unprepared. He and the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle had communicated secretly, having already unleashed his golden spear and donned his golden armor, ready with his Flood Dragon Clan divine abilities.

Although there were many immortal cultivators present, their cultivation was at most equal to his. With him and the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle defending together, even if besieged, they could at least hold out for a while.

The power of the Heavenly Phoenix Plume had already been activated. In the next moment, they would be able to break through the blood-red crystal wall and escape to safety.

It was impossible for anyone to stop them.

Yet, an unexpected turn occurred at the very last moment.

Upon seeing Mo Qingzhu so close, and encountering her blood-red eyes, the Flood Dragon King felt a sudden chill in his heart. As one of the top experts in both realms, he felt an ominous premonition he hadn't experienced in ages.

True demonic energy closed in.

*Boom!*

Golden light burst forth, and thousands of spear shadows exploded, a shimmering expanse of gold. The Flood Dragon King struck with all his might, his golden spear merged with the great divine ability of the Flood Dragon Clan, like a golden sun, possessing unparalleled power.

However, as the spear shadows plunged into the true demonic energy, they instantly dimmed.

*Swish, swish, swish...*

Innumerable chains instantly filled the Flood Dragon King's vision. The spear shadows were torn apart by the connecting chains, scattered in an instant, their offensive easily nullified.

The true demonic energy engulfed the golden spear, rolling forward.

The Flood Dragon King's face changed completely. If he insisted on activating the Heavenly Phoenix Plume, he would likely die at Mo Qingzhu's hands.

And the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle was in dire straits at that moment, unable to offer him any help.

The Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul, after consuming three Nascent Souls, had once fought three late-stage Nascent Soul masters on Yitian Peak. Although it had paid a considerable price to activate the grand formation and destroy the altar, dealing with the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle, who was only at the peak of the mid-stage Transformation, was more than enough.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Dull thuds continuously emanated from the turtle shell, so rapid that they could easily be mistaken for a single sound. The delicate-looking jade hand felt like a death knell in the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle's heart.

*Crack!*

The turtle shell shattered instantly. This was a manifestation of the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle’s great divine ability, not his actual shell, but it possessed extremely strong defensive power, and it had been shattered by the Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul.

Fragments flew off, reverting into Xuanwater power, forming a great river that crashed towards the Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul.

*Rip!*

The great river was torn apart directly by the hand.

*Thump!*

In the nick of time, the turtle shell on the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle’s back appeared in front of him, finally blocking the Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul’s hand. The turtle shell was the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle’s life essence, and it indeed possessed extremely strong defensive power, not being shattered by the Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul. However, the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle’s situation did not improve in the slightest.

His blood and qi surged within him, his true essence stagnated, shocked by the terrifying power of the Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul. Then, a figure flashed before his eyes, and he was greatly alarmed, thinking, "This is bad."

Just then.

A green light suddenly shot out from an oblique direction, emitting astonishing fluctuations that sent another jolt through the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle.

At the same time, the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle heard a voice transmission from Fairy Nangui.

"The Flood Dragon King has no chance of survival! Seize the Phoenix Plume, and all past grievances will be forgotten!"

As the Flood Dragon King summoned the Heavenly Phoenix Plume and the Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul launched its attack, the Demon Lord and others also moved, simultaneously rushing towards them.

However, they were not necessarily there to rescue anyone.

The Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul had left a deep impression on them, and Mo Qingzhu, controlled personally by the Ancient Demon's true form, was certainly even stronger. The Flood Dragon King served as a test stone, confirming this.

The Heavenly Phoenix Plume was the only hope of leaving this place, and everyone was fixated on this treasure; at the very least, it couldn't fall into the Ancient Demon's hands.

The Grand Shamanic Priest and Old Demon Fang were naturally included.

Spirit Pearl and the Demon Lord had already formed an alliance.

Fairy Nangui and the old man also reacted swiftly, but unlike the Demon Lord and others, they did not directly charge forward.

The old man ignored his injuries and forcefully activated the Ritual Yuan Great Art, causing his cultivation to surge dramatically, comparable to Fairy Nangui’s. This came at a greater cost; the old man coughed up a mouthful of blood before stabilizing himself.

The two jointly activated the Demon Suppressing Stele.

During this time, the Demon Suppressing Stele had recovered some of its power, and when activated by the combined strength of two great cultivators, its power surpassed what it had been before!

*Whoosh!*

The Demon Suppressing Stele traversed through space, launching a surprise attack on the Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul. Their choice differed from that of the Demon Lord and others; they aimed to save the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle and then cooperate with him to seize the Heavenly Phoenix Plume. The Nine-Life Mystic Turtle was closest to the Flood Dragon King, giving him an advantage and a greater chance of success.

The Four Saints Palace had retreated from the world, resting and recuperating in a secret realm within the storm belt on the edge of the North Sea's Rain Desert. The Nine-Life Mystic Turtle’s cave was located in the Rain Desert.

This demon had a deep connection with the Four Saints Palace and had once received its protection.

However, after the decline of the Four Saints Palace, the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle broke free from its control and now dared to collude with the demon race of the Demon Sea and infiltrate the Seven Kill Hall.

At a moment of life and death, if the Nine-Life Mystic Turtle wasn't a fool, he would know what to do.

*Bang!*

The Demon Suppressing Stele arrived instantly. The Ancient Demon’s Divided Soul, caught off guard, sensed the danger and was forced to abandon its pursuit, dodging aside.

The Nine-Life Mystic Turtle escaped danger, gaining a moment to breathe, and also saw the Flood Dragon King’s predicament.