Chapter 1865: The Strike of the Demonic Pill

As the battle situation within Zixuan changed, the surrounding cultivators all looked puzzled, clearly astonished by the shift in Three Realms Island's strategy.

Based on the preceding situation, Three Realms Island had no need to change their approach. By fighting steadily and securely, they could have captured Zixuan, potentially achieving a record of zero casualties, much like their previous assault on Baiyue, without incurring significant losses.

But they chose otherwise. Abandoning their original defensive positions, two thousand cultivators, led by three late-stage Moonfall cultivators, formed three long columns and charged into the enemy ranks.

Not only were the watching cultivators bewildered, but the Zixuan demon cultivators were equally stunned. No one had anticipated that Three Realms Island would make such a surprising choice.

Consequently, after the three columns launched their attack, a wider area saw a greater number of casualties. Previously, enemy fatalities were mainly attributed to the three late-stage Moonfall cultivators, but even with their immense power—slaying Star Constellations as if slicing through mere weeds—their efficiency was still limited.

Now, however, the situation was different. With Three Realms Island's entire army unleashed, Zixuan was unable to cope, and in a single moment, hundreds of Star Constellations met a gruesome end.

"They're using offense as a defense! Three Realms Island wants a swift conclusion, to prevent any unforeseen complications!" someone exclaimed, discerning Three Realms Island's intent.

After all, complications arose during their last assault on Baiyue, even leading to the appearance of a Sunblaze guardian. If the Battle of Baiyue could draw the attention of Sunblaze cultivators, then today's attack on Zixuan likely means the eyes of all five Sunblaze guardians of Myriad Forms Ocean are converging here.

Should any Sunblaze cultivator intervene unfairly, it would be problematic for Three Realms Island to manage. Although the likelihood of this was small, it was a possibility they had to guard against. Therefore, even knowing that a steady approach would secure Zixuan, Three Realms Island could not afford to let the battle drag on.

An aggressive push, however, was different; it could significantly reduce the time needed for this conflict.

To the observing cultivators, Three Realms Island's three columns indeed resembled three powerful torrents, sweeping everything before them wherever they passed.

The fearless tenacity of the Zixuan demon cultivators seemed utterly fragile and futile in the face of such an absolute disparity in power.

What astonished the cultivators even more was that while the resilience of the Zixuan demon cultivators had already been impressive, the ruthlessness of Three Realms Island's cultivators seemed to surpass even that.

Not a single one among these thousands of cultivators on both sides showed fear of death!

Until now, the general impression of Three Realms Island's cultivators had been fixed at the period of their assault on Baiyue. However, that battle had proceeded so smoothly for Three Realms Island that it hadn't truly showcased their courage or fearlessness. Afterward, as Three Realms Island prospered, its cultivators were more commonly perceived as merchants—especially Tang Jun, who always wore a friendly smile when making acquaintances, which only reinforced this misconception.

Only now, having personally witnessed this astonishing battle, did the cultivators of Myriad Forms Ocean realize that Three Realms Island's cultivators were not harmless merchants. They were a group of ruthless assailants who, if you dared to offend them, would come to your doorstep, killing, burning, and utterly destroying you!

Even if you boasted Zixuan's formidable reputation!

Indeed, if they weren't such a lawless bunch, how would they dare to attack a spiritual island like Zixuan?

The fierce battle raged on, and the Zixuan demon cultivators were suffering horrific casualties. Zixuan had initially possessed a numerical superiority, with twice the number of cultivators as Three Realms Island's forces. However, as the battle continued, the numbers on both sides had already equalized, and Three Realms Island's cultivators had even slightly surpassed them.

Faced with the unrestrained slaughter by Three Realms Island's three columns, the Zixuan demon cultivators attempted to organize resistance. However, even when they managed to gather, without a Moonfall cultivator to lead them, they were no match for Three Realms Island.

A sense of despair began to fester and spread. The fearless bravery of the Zixuan demon cultivators seemed to undergo a subtle shift.

"Go! Everyone, go!" A leonine roar suddenly echoed, reverberating through the heavens.

The observing cultivators immediately turned their heads, looking towards the tumultuous, boiling sea of blood, realizing it was Lionheart shouting.

Confined by Ma Shangsi's Blood Sea Art, Lionheart remained unable to escape. Although he was unaware of the precise details of the battle outside, he could still sense it with his spiritual perception.

Too many Zixuan demon cultivators had died!

He was the sole Moonfall cultivator on all of Zixuan Island, and he was trapped here. The main island was utterly incapable of resisting Three Realms Island's powerful assault.

If this continued, the Zixuan demon cultivators would likely be completely annihilated!

Their only option was to flee, saving as many as possible, for even being relentlessly pursued was better than being completely wiped out. That was why he issued his desperate command.

The Zixuan demon cultivators were already struggling to hold their ground, their initial fighting spirit having been eroded. Now, with the Great Island Master's order, many demon cultivators hesitated no longer, scattering in all directions to flee.

"Kill! Don't let a single one escape!" Luan Xiao'e snapped, her eyes, usually those of a dignified and imposing woman, now burned with the fire of hatred.

Wei Po was a cultivator from her Jade Spiral sect, who had only just managed to ascend to the Moonfall stage in Myriad Forms Ocean, only to be devoured alive by Lionheart. Her hatred for Zixuan was the most profound.

The three columns suddenly dispersed, reforming into scattered formations, pursuing the escaping Zixuan demon cultivators in all directions.

Zixuan was finished!

This thought dawned on everyone watching. Although it had been anticipated to some extent when the battle was halfway through, the actual emergence of such a result still felt utterly surreal.

A high-tier spiritual island, with only half the enemy's forces, had captured a top-tier spiritual island!

Furthermore, the time taken this time was even shorter than the previous assault on Baiyue; a decisive outcome was achieved in less than half a day!

Such a preposterous feat, even after witnessing it with their own eyes, they could barely believe it.

Just then, a staggering and terrifying energy aura suddenly erupted from one direction. Everyone instinctively turned their heads to look, and when they pinpointed the source of that energy, they were all astonished.

It was the direction where the sea of blood had spread out, and within it, Lu Ye, Ma Shangsi, and Lionheart—the three great Moonfall cultivators—were locked in combat.

The sudden surge of energy was terrifyingly violent. Although it had not yet reached the Sunblaze tier, it was undoubtedly at the absolute pinnacle of the Moonfall tier!

"Lionheart has unleashed his demonic core!" someone exclaimed in horror.

Such a massive energy fluctuation could not be achieved through ordinary means. The only possibility was that Lionheart had unleashed his demonic core, which he had cultivated for millennia!

It was a desperate, last-ditch effort from a top-tier late-stage Moonfall cultivator.

It was difficult to fathom what had happened within that sea of blood to drive Lionheart to such an extreme!

Almost as that person's words fell, a point of golden light suddenly erupted within the boundless sea of blood. The golden glow amidst the crimson was blindingly brilliant.

The next instant, the golden light suddenly swelled and expanded, as if a sun had burst open!

Terrifying energy swept outward in all directions, rupturing the vast sea of blood, leaving a massive chasm. Within the golden illumination, Lionheart's twisted body outline was faintly discernible.

There was no sign of Lu Ye and Ma Shangsi. The master and servant had retreated far away after realizing that Lionheart had unleashed his demonic core. This was their opponent's desperate, last-ditch effort, and even Lu Ye dared not underestimate it in the slightest.

Furthermore, Lu Ye activated successive Guardian Spirit Runes to shield himself.

The sea of blood was in turmoil, and Ma Shangsi cried out in alarm, then began to cough violently, clearly wounded by Lionheart's terrifying strike.

Several Guardian Spirit Runes on Lu Ye's body also successively shattered, and this was even with the Blood Sea providing protection, underscoring the horror of Lionheart's attack.

Yet his eyes were exceptionally bright, for he knew this was Lionheart's final strike. For demonkind, unleashing one's demonic core is a measure taken only in dire necessity; after such an attack, one is inevitably severely weakened!

Without waiting for the terrifying energy aftershocks to settle, Lu Ye lunged towards Lionheart.

However, before he reached him, he saw Lionheart turn his head and look at him, his face ashen, gritting his teeth and snarling, "The vengeance for today shall be repaid a hundredfold in the future!"

As he spoke, a thick purple light suddenly enveloped his body.

Lu Ye's figure suddenly accelerated, and with a single leap, he arrived at Lionheart's position. Spiritual energy surged on his Panshan Blade, and channeling all his might into the blow, he unleashed a ferocious downward slash!

This strike, however, struck empty air. The burly Lionheart suddenly vanished just before the long blade descended.

The flesh and muscle on Lu Ye's blade-wielding right arm tore open, a consequence of having exerted himself to the utmost and overtaxing his arm. Yet he appeared oblivious to the pain, closing his eyes as his spiritual perception surged, carefully probing his surroundings!

The sea of blood receded, and Ma Shangsi rushed to Lu Ye's side, wiping fresh blood from the corner of his mouth as he asked, bewildered, "Where is he?"

Such a large Lionheart, he couldn't simply vanish without a trace.

"A Teleportation Talisman!" Lu Ye opened his eyes abruptly, turning to look in a specific direction. "Over here!"

As his words fell, he ignited a drop of essence blood, enveloped in a crimson aura, and sped off in pursuit.

Ma Shangsi was momentarily stunned, then followed immediately. But having just been struck by the aftershocks of Lionheart's demonic core attack, his qi was unstable, and he was in no state to keep pace. Lu Ye's crimson light quickly vanished from his sight. With no other option, he turned to pursue the scattering Zixuan demon cultivators.

In previous years, Western Square Inch Mountain had passed through Myriad Forms Ocean and forged agreements with numerous factions to exchange for various resources needed by the Little Folk.

While Zixuan Island wasn't particularly interested in magical artifacts and similar items, they were quite interested in spiritual talismans and had, of course, conducted exchanges with the Little Folk.

The Teleportation Talisman on Lionheart was crafted by the Little Folk, its teleportation range and activation speed both superior to talismans refined by other cultivators.

However, Teleportation Talismans have a significant drawback: once activated, the destination is largely unpredictable.

These talismans are mostly used as last-resort life-saving measures. The Crimson Talisman Lu Ye still possessed was a Teleportation Talisman for escape, and as a Crimson Talisman, its effects were undoubtedly superior to Lionheart's.

Normally, if Lionheart activated a Teleportation Talisman to escape, even with his considerable abilities, Lu Ye couldn't possibly know his destination or direction. Lionheart would then simply need to find a hiding place to make a clean escape.

However, during the preceding battle, Lionheart had suffered countless wounds at his hands, and remnants of Tusk Force lingered within each of them.

Lu Ye indeed didn't know where Lionheart had been teleported, but as long as the distance wasn't too great, he could detect the Tusk Force with his Panshan Blade and thus locate him!

Unless Lionheart died, Wei Po's death would remain unavenged. How could he allow Lionheart to continue living?