Chapter 2095: Massacre

Minzhuo sensed a fluctuation and looked over. On a rocky outcrop, a blurry figure appeared. The figure bowed to them from a distance without a word, then vanished into the clouds.

A chill ran down his spine; he hadn't detected the person's aura before they appeared. The fact that Zaizhen could casually dispatch an Empty Realm expert meant he surely had more than one helper, which also demonstrated the terrifying power of the person behind him. As a mere pawn sent to test the waters, he had no power to resist and was better off simply following their orders.

Yet, if that powerful entity was so formidable, why were they operating covertly from the shadows, using Zaizhen to orchestrate his actions? Did this imply their opponent was equally formidable, making the entity hesitate and resort to such clandestine methods? This deduction seemed logical. Minzhuo felt trapped between two colossal powers, knowing that a single misstep could lead to his demise and even imperil his entire clan.

He dared not defy the power behind him, but would he be safe if he incurred the mortal enmity of the demon strongholds? Probably not. The worst outcome would be him becoming the sole scapegoat. Minzhuo couldn't conceive of a way to survive this predicament; he could only take things one step at a time.

With a myriad of thoughts swirling in his mind, Minzhuo maintained a calm expression. He clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Brother Zaizhen, for considering my clan. And thanks to that fellow Daoist for the assistance. When should we depart?"

"No time to waste," Zaizhen replied. "If you have no urgent matters, Brother Min, let's depart now!"

Zaizhen stepped out of the stone pavilion. "We will follow closely behind you, Brother Min. Simply activate that spell, and we will immediately sense each other."

With that, Zaizhen's figure drifted into the mountain forest and vanished in an instant.

After a moment, Minzhuo concentrated his senses. Even Zaizhen's aura had disappeared, leaving him wondering how many experts were hidden within the dense mountain forest. He silently activated the spell and vaguely sensed Zaizhen to his northwest.

"Brother Min?" Zaizhen's questioning thought resonated.

"Nothing," Minzhuo replied.

Minzhuo deactivated the spell. Zaizhen's extreme caution further solidified his earlier assessment.

He returned to the Sacred Lake and summoned his third son, Minshu, and the elder clansmen who remained.

"I will be going out for a while," he announced. "After I leave, immediately seal off the Sacred Lake. With the ancient alliance in place, if anyone dares to openly attack our clan's Sacred Lake, seek aid from the Zhu Yan Clan; they will surely not stand idly by. If anything happens to me while I'm away, Minshu will take over. I ask all elders to assist him diligently!"

Minshu and the elders were greatly shocked. Their patriarch had just broken through to the Empty Realm (Second Level), a time when he should be leading the clan to prosperity, yet his words sounded like a final testament.

Minshu, terrified, knelt abruptly and urgently asked, "Father, where are you going? Why..."

Minzhuo waved a hand to cut him off. "I am merely preparing for the unexpected; there's no need to panic! Just remember to guard the Sacred Lake well!" he said gravely.

With that, a wisp of water mist formed beneath his feet, and he ascended into the clouds, heading east.

Minzhuo traveled alone to the Canglang Sea. Without any clan members to slow him down, he could fully unleash his movement technique, moving at incredible speed. He passed through the Holy Bath Plain, entered the sea, and islands swiftly receded beneath his feet. Having broken through to Empty Realm (Second Level), his movement speed had also transformed.

The sensation was marvelous. Minzhuo was almost lost in ecstasy; this was the realm he had dreamed of, finally attained. It would be a great pity if he were to perish and lose it so soon!

Now, the Canglang Sea was engulfed in chaos and conflict. The demon army had invaded the Canglang Sea, their previous victories boosting their morale. In contrast, the Changyou Clan's morale was at an all-time low due to repeated defeats and continuous loss of territory. Even when encountering a demon force of comparable or weaker strength, their first thought was to flee, and they would often rout shortly after engaging in battle.

Upon entering the Canglang Sea, the Flood Dragon King realized the Changyou clan members were still retreating, so he ordered the demon army to split into three divisions to eliminate as many enemies as possible.

Just as the three divisions were sweeping through the area, Minzhuo finally arrived at the Canglang Sea. Coincidentally, upon his arrival, he encountered one of the demon army divisions. It was the Golden Toad King's misfortune that this division was under his command, currently conquering territory in the southern Canglang Sea.

Starlight illuminated the land, dots of starlight gleamed on the sea, but in the distance, demonic energy soared to the heavens. A group of Changyou clan members were fleeing in panic when suddenly, a golden light shot from behind them. Inside the golden light, ripples appeared. Upon contact with one of the Changyou clan members, the person immediately stiffened, their precious armor fell off, and then their skin and bones peeled away layer by layer, resulting in a horrifying death. This person was a Core Formation Realm (Fourth Level) expert, yet they had no power to resist.

Seeing this, Minzhuo let out a cold snort and slightly hooked his finger.

*Splash!*

The seawater beneath the fleeing Changyou clan members surged, forming a perfect water wall that blocked the golden light.

*Crack!*

The golden light shattered, but the water wall remained unmoving.

"Hmm?" The Golden Toad King in the demon army formation was startled and uncertain. The divine ability it had unleashed was difficult for even experts of the same cultivation level to handle. Who was this newcomer?

The Golden Toad King's eyes glowed with golden light as it peered out. Suddenly, it saw a figure standing atop the water wall. It hadn't even seen how the person appeared! Recognizing the person's appearance, the Golden Toad King was inwardly shocked and blurted out, "Minzhuo!" They had calculated that if Minzhuo were in the Northern Sea or the Holy Bath Plain, he wouldn't be able to arrive so quickly, which was why they had acted so recklessly.

Immediately after, the Golden Toad King noticed another anomaly: Minzhuo was right in front of him, yet in his perception, he remained very vague.

"Could it be..." The Golden Toad King's eyes widened. A terrifying possibility suddenly occurred to him, and his face filled with horror.

"Golden Toad King!" Minzhuo's voice was cold. They were old adversaries and had clashed head-on several times. Among his most formidable opponents, the demon clan's several Holy Kings were second only to Fairy Liuli, especially the Flood Dragon King and that Dragon Whale. He had tried to set traps to ambush them, but both demons were cunning and masters of self-preservation, repeatedly evading him. The Golden Toad King and other demons were surely confidants of the demon powerhouses. Minzhuo had initially planned to find a way to avoid them, to leave some room for maneuver. But now that he had encountered them directly, he couldn't ignore them; Zaizhen was still watching from behind.

Minzhuo extended his right hand and gently raised it.

*Boom!*

The elemental energy of heaven and earth surged wildly, and the sea surface trembled violently. To the terrified eyes of the demons, the water on both sides rose sharply, forming two colossal mountains of seawater in the blink of an eye. The gigantic mountains were so tall their tops were out of sight, trapping the demons within a deep valley. On both sides were smooth, towering cliffs, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure and unease.

The demons didn't yet understand what was happening, but the Golden Toad King had already revealed its true demon form and let out a furious roar. "Retreat quickly!"

The demons unleashed their various divine abilities and flew backward, but the canyon seemed endless. The Golden Toad King's true form was an enormous golden toad, its body seemingly cast from gold. Its throat pulsed, emitting a loud croak that echoed through the deep valley, momentarily overpowering the surging sounds of the water. At the same time, all the demons stiffened slightly. A golden toad's phantom appeared behind their heads, golden light enveloped their bodies, and their auras dramatically changed, as if they had become avatars of the Golden Toad King.

The Golden Toad King gathered the power of all the demon cultivators around him and lunged, attempting to escape underwater. The next moment, the Golden Toad King felt as if it had crashed into a solid wall. Terrifying pressure squeezed in from all directions.

Heavenly might! No, it wasn't merely heavenly might; it was vastly different from the heavenly might of a late-stage Soul Transformation cultivator! This feeling was as if this entire world was controlled by someone else, and he was merely a trapped beast in their grasp!

"Is this the power of a Void Refinement realm expert?" This was likely the Golden Toad King's last thought.

Minzhuo's lips curled into a cold smile, and he abruptly flipped his palm.

*Boom!*

The two towering mountains of seawater crashed together with a deafening roar, crushing the deep valley and the demon cultivators within. The force of the collision was terrifying. At the center of the impact, successive monstrous waves erupted, each higher than the last, as if they would knock the stars from the sky and merge with the Milky Way. All that could be seen was a vast expanse of churning white seawater. The seawater engulfed everything, completely obscuring the demon cultivators. Only by activating spiritual vision could one occasionally discern a splash of blood, which was immediately dispersed by the surging water. Each splash of blood signified a life extinguished.

Not a single demon cultivator emerged as the colossal waves began to recede. Only a water sphere flew out, encasing a single golden toad. The water sphere was like a cage, firmly imprisoning the severely wounded Golden Toad King. All other demon cultivators perished; only the Golden Toad King survived, motionless, carried by the water sphere to Minzhuo.

Had the full demon army been with the Golden Toad King, they might have formed a formation and put up some resistance. Unfortunately, in his efforts to eradicate the Changyou Clan, he had only kept a small elite contingent with him. Thus, when he suddenly encountered an expert comparable to the Void Refinement stage, he was captured without any power to fight back.

The Golden Toad King was certainly doomed. Minzhuo did not interrogate it. He pointed at its glabella, and a faint, illusory shadow flew from his fingertip. This was a secret technique similar to soul-searching. As the shadow entered its body, the Golden Toad King's body trembled violently like a sieve, its injuries rapidly worsened, and eventually, it completely lost all signs of life.

At this moment, the Changyou clan members who had narrowly escaped death recovered from their shock. They prostrated themselves, their faces filled with excitement and fervent adoration. "Greetings, Great Patriarch!"

Minzhuo's expression, however, was somewhat grim at this moment, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He had just soul-searched the Golden Toad King, intending to gather information about the demon powerhouses, but unexpectedly, the demon knew nothing. Among the demon race, only the Flood Dragon King and the Dragon Whale Great Sage should have been able to firmly suppress the Golden Toad King. Within the demon sea alone, the Golden Toad King's status was second only to the Flood Dragon King, yet it had apparently never been summoned by the true power.

"Could it be that only the Flood Dragon King is aware?" Minzhuo discovered that the Flood Dragon King had already broken through to the late stage of Soul Transformation, which was likely related to that demon powerhouse. If that demon powerhouse only intended to remain behind the scenes and cultivate a single demon cultivator or a single clan, then it would make sense. Moving forward, sparing the Flood Dragon King's life might leave him a slim chance for maneuver. Minzhuo mused to himself, deciding not to inform Zaizhen of this discovery.

The soul-search revealed that the Flood Dragon King had divided his army into three divisions, and the Golden Toad King had further dispersed his subordinate demon soldiers into several contingents. There was also the Phoenix King leading another division. Openly letting the Flood Dragon King go was out of the question, but he could stall for time. Zaizhen had ordered him to kill indiscriminately, but not that he must slaughter every single demon expert.

Minzhuo turned and flew towards another demon contingent. Wherever he passed, he was unrivaled. The sea was stained with blood, countless bodies lay dead, and the demon clan suffered heavy casualties.

***

A spiritual island somewhere in the Canglang Sea. Two demon Marquises and the Black Lion Great Sage were on the island, accompanied by Silu. They had come to select a location for building altars and discovered that the most suitable place was neither the Flood Dragon clan's territory nor Tianxing City, but this unnamed spiritual island. This conveniently saved them the trouble of infiltration. The three demons had begun preparations years ago, and later, Silu emerged from seclusion and came here at Qin Sang's request to assist them in building the altars. The three core sub-altars had all completed their first two levels, and the third level was nearing completion. The timing of the demon clan's rebellion was perfect. Next, after Qin Sang cleared out dissidents, they could begin constructing the remaining sub-altars. Ordinary sub-altars would be much simpler; Silu would not need to personally oversee them. They could be assigned to various clans and sects, and the altars would soon spread across all regions, forming a grand altar array.

At this moment, Silu sat alone on the altar. The three demons could not intervene. The Black Lion Great Sage was out on patrol, and the two demon Marquises stood guard by the altar. They also had some knowledge of the outside situation.

"The Flood Dragon King can be considered a formidable figure, but unfortunately, he encountered the Great Master," Marquis Gui remarked.

Marquis Luo showed his agreement. The Flood Dragon King's stratagems were undeniably precise and ruthless, and crucially, his talent and disposition were top-notch. Had he been born in a grander world, he might have become a powerful overlord.

"Some of the clans originating from the demon sea seem to have very unusual bloodlines."

The Flood Dragon King's rapid breakthrough to the late stage of Soul Transformation was partly due to the Azure Spirit Qi and partly related to his bloodline.

"Indeed," Marquis Gui nodded. "Although the bloodline power in their bodies is now extremely thin, tracing their origins, they should all be quite significant. It's unclear how so many clans gathered in a single minor world. Furthermore, the Storm Realm's peculiarities extend beyond just this..."

Marquis Gui had traveled in Zhongzhou for many years, and many of his observations indicated that the Storm Realm was extraordinary. When he learned that the Storm Realm also had a Ziwei Palace, Marquis Gui was even more shocked, secretly wondering why the Great Master had traveled millions of miles to return.

Just as they were discussing, Silu on the altar suddenly awoke, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. His figure flickered, and he flew into the air, gazing westward.

"Senior Silu, what happened?" the two demon Marquises hastily asked, catching up.

Silu gazed for a moment and said, surprised, "An Empty Realm (Second Level) expert is making a move. It seems to be using the Changyou Clan's divine abilities..."

"What?"

"An Empty Realm (Second Level) expert? Did the Changyou Clan patriarch break through?" The two demon Marquises were startled by this news and quickly thought of a possibility.

"Perhaps..." Silu paused in his speech. A round mirror flew from his sleeve. The mirror's surface reflected light, enveloping them and the island, sealing off their auras. After pondering for a moment, Silu said, "I will now cast a spell to contact Brother Qin. Do not go out."

It must be the demon clan's attack that angered the Changyou Clan patriarch, who was now slaughtering them. Although those being slaughtered were demon sea cultivators, Silu knew that Qin Sang intended to demote other demon cultivators to demon soldiers after eliminating the ringleaders and making an example of them, to serve as a force guarding the Dao field in the future. The Changyou Clan patriarch was essentially slaughtering Qin Sang's future demon soldiers!

However, the Changyou Clan patriarch breaking through at this moment was undoubtedly a significant variable. Silu's eyes flickered. He knew that Qin Sang had been deliberately avoiding making a move. Whether the Changyou Clan patriarch could be killed, and how to kill him, required extreme caution.

Returning to the altar, Silu sat cross-legged and activated a spiritual talisman.