Chapter 316: Salvage of Life

Although Anhai King's face was cold, he stayed put and didn't make a move.

Zhenwu King calmly said, "Old Ancestor Poison Dragon has transformed into a poisonous pool, covering hundreds of miles with black water. If we charge in, we'll be at a disadvantage. We should simply remain here and defend, letting them come to us. If they don't make a move, once the treasure appears, Junior Brother Meng will lead us to seize it immediately. If they do attack, they'll have to actively assault my Zhenwu Domain."

The black water churned, engulfing the large mountain and, naturally, Meng Chuan and his companions. The black water corroded the Zhenwu Domain. Within this invisible domain, a 'Yin-Yang Disc' materialized, slowly rotating and providing an impenetrable defense.

"This domain is somewhat interesting," Old Ancestor Poison Dragon said, watching this scene.

"Attack," Blood Shura said instead.

Both moved instantly. Old Ancestor Poison Dragon's figure instantly merged into the endless black water, which immediately surged and violently encircled Meng Chuan and his two companions.

"Just stay by my side," Zhenwu King instructed.

"Yes, Senior Brother," Meng Chuan nodded.

"Roar!" From the turbulent black water, which stretched for hundreds of miles, a black water poisonous dragon suddenly coalesced. This dragon, formed of black water, let out a deafening roar and charged into the Zhenwu Domain.

It possessed immense strength, an immortal body, and extreme toxicity. It directly opened its gaping maw and lunged towards Meng Chuan, Zhenwu King, and Anhai King. "Whoosh!" From that gaping maw, a blood-red figure rushed out, and a blood-red blade light flashed.

"I'll block Blood Shura," Anhai King declared, then immediately moved to confront the blood-red blade light. Old Ancestor Poison Dragon could transform into a black water poisonous pool, making him virtually immortal. His venom was feared even by Demon Sages, and Anhai King's physical body was vastly inferior to a Demon Sage's. While Anhai King couldn't be killed, he might be poisoned to death if he wasn't careful. Understandably, he was unwilling to face Old Ancestor Poison Dragon.

"Rumble!" Zhenwu King stood his ground. With a mere wave of his palm, a colossal, hazy gray hand materialized within his domain to confront the poisonous dragon. Blood Shura and Anhai King also engaged in combat.

The Zhenwu Domain maintained a five-mile radius, keeping out the ordinary black water. Only the poisonous dragon's body and Blood Shura's true form could penetrate it. Three Great Demon Kings were hiding in the distant void.

It was Fire Phoenix and her two companions. "On one side, Zhenwu King and Anhai King, and on the other, Old Ancestor Poison Dragon and Blood Shura?" Fire Phoenix felt somewhat resentful.

"Didn't I escape when Old Ancestor Poison Dragon tried to refine me?" Ox Demon King countered. "The three of us, working together, have a good chance of seizing the treasure."

"We need to outwit them. Let them fight each other first; it would be even better if one or two of them died," Demon Dragon Great Demon King chuckled. "Sister Fenghui's movement technique is supreme among Fifth-Heaven Demon Kings, faster than many Demon Sages. Relying on our speed, we might be able to snatch the Origin Treasure."

"I hope they both suffer heavy losses. When we find an opportunity, we'll snatch the treasure," Fire Phoenix also stared into the distance. "An Origin Treasure... it's worth fighting for." All three of them were peak Fifth-Heaven Great Demon Kings, each with their own specializations. Their combined efforts indeed rivaled a Demon Sage.

"What potent venom, it can still infiltrate without any medium," Zhenwu King marveled to himself. He employed his palm techniques, suppressing the fierce poisonous dragon and preventing it from approaching within a one-mile radius. With a wave of his hand, Zhenwu King guided the venom together, fearing it might affect Meng Chuan. "This venom, I don't even dare to put it into my spatial wristband," Zhenwu King said. With another palm strike, he sent the venom flying away.

"Zhenwu King, you've already been poisoned." The poisonous dragon laughed loudly from a distance, "Let's see how long you can last."

Zhenwu King smiled, standing his ground: "Look at me, aren't I perfectly fine?" Traces of venom penetrated the boundless domain and reached the surface of his skin, but a gray energy flowed across his body, grinding the venom away. The Zhenwu lineage was formidable in close combat, and equally formidable in self-defense. They had developed the God-Demon system's power to an astonishing degree.

On the other side, Anhai King had a bloody wound on his chest, which was difficult to heal, leaving him somewhat disheveled. "Anhai King is in a bad situation," Meng Chuan watched anxiously.

Anhai King's eyes were cold as he drew his sword again. His 'Heavenly Tribulation Sword' was formidable; its techniques were unpredictable and its might terrifying. His swordplay completely suppressed Blood Shura, breaking through Blood Shura's blade techniques in just a few strikes. With one sweep of his sword across Blood Shura's body, Blood Shura's blood-red scales cracked, and a large wound over three feet long was inflicted. But the wound immediately healed, leaving him completely unharmed.

"Kill!" Blood Shura stood before Anhai King, continuously unleashing blade after blade, a torrent of blade light. Anhai King struck it with ten or twenty sword slashes, but it ignored them all. They were only minor injuries and instantly healed. Yet, if its blade merely grazed Anhai King, Anhai King would be gravely wounded. A single direct hit would mean Anhai King's death!

"Damn it," Anhai King cursed in anger. His swordplay was clearly superior, and its power stronger. Even within the Zhenwu Domain, he now bore three blade wounds. These were mere grazes from blade energy, yet they had gravely wounded him. All three wounds were infiltrated by an insidious power, preventing them from healing. Meanwhile, Blood Shura remained completely unharmed.

"Kill!" Blood Shura, however, was incredibly calm. Seizing an opportune moment, it finally unleashed its killing blow. In an instant, twenty percent of its internal blood energy surged into its battle blade, unleashing three blood-red blade shadows. These three blade shadows arced from different angles, encircling their target. Simultaneously, Blood Shura brought its battle blade down in a direct strike, cleaving open a half-mile-long, pitch-black spatial rift. The attack's power was clearly more than double its usual strength.

Zhenwu King saw this but was too far to intervene in time: "Junior Brother, be careful!"

"Damn it, retreat!" Anhai King knew this was a life-or-death moment. His face flushed, and he frantically flew backward.

"Boom!!!" A thick, incredibly dazzling bolt of lightning suddenly struck from two miles away. It was Meng Chuan, standing beside Zhenwu King. Meng Chuan had been constantly observing the situation on the field. Realizing the danger, he naturally had to save his fellow God-Demon. He immediately unleashed his divine ability, 'Heaven's Wrath'. Due to his elevated realm, Meng Chuan's control over lightning was even more refined. He managed to converge approximately fifty percent of his internal lightning into a single strike. The lightning was so fast that even Blood Shura couldn't react in time and was directly struck by the massive bolt. This single strike was comparable to an attack from a peak King God-Demon. Although Blood Shura's formidable Asura battle body didn't even crack a single scale from this much power, the violent lightning strike caused Blood Shura to feel a slight numbing sensation, and its movements slowed slightly.

That slight delay was all it took for Anhai King to flee and escape.

"What?" Blood Shura turned to look at Meng Chuan with some anger. A Marquis God-Demon? Ruining its plans?

"Almost, I almost died at its hands," Anhai King retreated furiously to Zhenwu King's side, filled with frustration, anger, and lingering fear. The battle just now had been truly frustrating. His higher realm was useless; his sword could only injure the opponent, who would instantly recover. Yet, the opponent's blade posed a significant threat to him.

"If not for this domain's suppression, my blade would be three points faster, and you wouldn't have escaped," Blood Shura said coldly. "If not for that bolt of lightning, you similarly wouldn't have escaped."

"The Asura lineage?" Anhai King's expression was grim. He cultivated the Great Strength Demonic Body, excelling in offense and killing. But he was completely countered by Blood Shura. This was a systemic counter.

"Junior Brother Meng, that was a good move," Zhenwu King said, exhaling in relief and praising him. Anhai King also looked at Meng Chuan, his gaze complex. He spoke in a low voice, "Thank you, Junior Brother, for your intervention." Had it not been for Meng Chuan's lightning strike just now, he truly wouldn't have been confident in escaping. This was a life-saving grace.