Chapter 438: Empress's Illusion, Ghost Beast Possession, Rampaging Giant, One Ajie

"The Grand Void Clan?""An Illusory Image?"

Xu Xiaoshou turned his head, clearly seeing the fear in Xin Gugu's eyes.

"What is an Illusory Image?" he asked in a low voice.

"Strictly speaking, an Illusory Image is a type of spiritual technique," Xin Gugu explained. "But unlike ordinary spiritual techniques, this one can only be cultivated if granted by others. And anyone capable of granting an Illusory Image must be at least a Grand Void expert!"

Xu Xiaoshou was equally startled. The Grand Void? He knew that the Sovereign stage was divided into three realms: Dao Realm, Dao Severing Realm, and Grand Void Realm. Because the gap between these three realms was so vast, the "Sovereign" mentioned by common folk usually referred specifically to the Dao Realm. Even within the Dao Realm Sovereign, there could be a world of difference.

It went without saying how powerful a Dao Severing expert was. To be honest, the only Dao Severing expert Xu Xiaoshou had definitively seen was Cen Qiaofu. What he witnessed that day, the old woodcutter had only displayed a fraction of his abilities. As for others, like Night Guardian, Xu Xiaoshou also felt they were Dao Severing, but he had never seen them in action.

Now, the concept of an "Illusory Image" could involve a Grand Void level expert? Xu Xiaoshou felt his mouth go dry. He had some confidence in dealing with Sovereigns. If he encountered a Dao Severing expert, he might immediately turn and run. But a Grand Void... what was he supposed to do with that? They weren't even on the same level!

"No, there's still hope!""An Illusory Image is just that, an image. It's something granted by a Grand Void, not the Grand Void expert themselves. We still have a chance..."

Xin Gugu shook his head with a bitter smile. "There's no chance."

Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily stunned. "How strong is an Illusory Image, exactly?"

"Those who control an Illusory Image can wield one-tenth of a Grand Void expert's power!" Xin Gugu stated firmly.

"One-tenth?" Xu Xiaoshou felt a surge of joy, but seeing the grim expression on the other man's face, he realized his understanding was likely flawed again. "What exactly does 'one-tenth' mean?"

Xin Gugu looked at him and sighed deeply. "One-tenth of a Grand Void's power can instantly defeat a Dao Severing expert and instantly kill a Sovereign. What do you think 'one-tenth' means?"

Xu Xiaoshou gasped. At that moment, as he looked at Zhang Taiying slowly ascending, he felt as if he was witnessing a saint descending to the mortal world. Zhang Taiying's body, already shattered and less than a third intact, was clearly still unconscious. Yet, the gradually rising ethereal figure behind him seemed to be holding Zhang Taiying's entire being aloft.

"An Illusory Image..." Xu Xiaoshou unconsciously swallowed. As Zhang Taiying ascended and the ethereal figure solidified, he could clearly see the true form of the Illusory Image behind him. It was a giant, towering Asura apparition with three heads and six arms, wielding halberds and sabers, with fierce, wide-open eyes, radiating monstrous evil. It was as if it had descended from the heavens. The surging, irresistible might of the Saint Path emanating around it made anyone who saw it instantly feel a sense of submission, incapable of any thought of resistance.

"Is this an Illusory Image?" Xu Xiaoshou murmured.

"If I'm not mistaken, this should be the 'Empress Apparition' from the Chao Luo Heavenly Palace of the Great Yuan Prefecture," Xin Gugu said, equally awestruck. "With this, we can somewhat infer the power behind Zhang Taiying."

"Great Yuan Prefecture, Chao Luo Heavenly Palace?"

"Yes," Xin Gugu nodded. "It's not a power from Tiansang County, nor even from the Eastern Heaven Realm, so it's natural you haven't heard of it."

Xu Xiaoshou silently agreed. He gazed at the three-headed, six-armed, mighty apparition and couldn't help but ask, "So, the Empress Apparition, is she... a woman?"

Xin Gugu was immediately shocked. "Brother, what kind of question is that at a time like this, your focus..."

"Ahem," Xu Xiaoshou cleared his throat, examining the tangible energy swirling around the Empress Apparition. "I meant, this power..." He had never seen anything so terrifying; a mere breath could solidify into a power akin to immortal energy. Xu Xiaoshou keenly sensed that this power originated from the same root as spiritual essence, but its status was countless times nobler. Compared to it, the spiritual essence flowing in his own body was like sewage in a ditch compared to a snow spring on a heavenly mountain. They were completely different classes!

"That is Grand Void Power," Xin Gugu said, knowing what Xu Xiaoshou was thinking. "After breaking through the Dao Severing Realm, one's cultivation begins to shift towards the Saint Path. The spiritual essence, which was a qualitative transformation of spiritual energy, undergoes a second metamorphosis at this point, forming 'Grand Void Power.' Grand Void Power is the strongest energy below Saint Power. At this stage, cultivators are already interacting with the Saint Path itself. How could ordinary people possibly defeat a Grand Void expert, who is akin to a half-saint?" Xin Gugu's words were filled with bitterness.

Xu Xiaoshou, however, ignored the stinging in his eyes and stared intently at Zhang Taiying beneath the Illusory Image. Indeed, this man had summoned the terrifying Illusory Image at a crucial moment. But similarly, a mere Sovereign's power and body seemed completely unable to bear such dreadful energy, which had already touched the Saint Path. At least, Xu Xiaoshou witnessed firsthand that the Illusory Image did not appear instantly but slowly accumulated and evolved. Otherwise, Zhang Taiying, who summoned it immediately, wouldn't have been blown to pieces, leaving only scattered fragments.

"There's still hope!" Xu Xiaoshou stated firmly. If Zhang Taiying were still conscious at this moment, Xu Xiaoshou would surely face a terrible end. But no matter how strong the Illusory Image's power, what real harm could it inflict if its controller was unconscious?

"You still want to continue?" Xin Gugu was shocked. "Even if Zhang Taiying is unconscious and can't attack, with the Illusory Image's protection, we can't harm him at all."

"How do you know if you don't try?" Xu Xiaoshou clenched his fists.

"Try what?!" Xin Gugu panicked. "Once the Illusory Image fully forms, it only needs a single breath to communicate with the Saint Path, and Zhang Taiying's injuries will heal instantly! At that point, a single flick of his finger will send us both to meet the King of Hell. At a time like this, instead of thinking about turning and running, you want to act reckless?"

Reckless? It seemed fine to Xu Xiaoshou. He felt that his greatest mortal enemy was right before him, just one more strike away from defeat. Crucially, this person was temporarily unconscious. If he still didn't dare to act at a time like this, what kind of Xu Xiaoshou would he be? He might as well be called Xu Little Chicken!

"Xin Gugu, activate your domain and stop them." Xu Xiaoshou ordered.

"Stop who?" Xin Gugu was bewildered. The guy was unconscious; who was there to stop?

"Are you stupid?!" Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but curse. "The explosion was so loud just now, do you think everyone in the City Lord's Mansion is deaf?"

"You mean..." Xin Gugu finally understood. Xu Xiaoshou clearly had no intention of ending things here and leaving. He wanted to continue fighting!

"Damn it!" Xin Gugu cursed inwardly. He felt that if it weren't for the scruffy uncle's instructions and the Greedy God's hiding place, his first action would be to twist Xu Xiaoshou's head off. This was absolute madness! Xu Xiaoshou knew the explosion would attract people, yet he refused to give up?

Despite his internal cursing, the moment Xu Xiaoshou decided to act, Xin Gugu still unhesitatingly joined him. "Blood Sea Summon!" With a wave of his hand, the dried, dark red bloodstains beneath the ground began to bubble once more. In an instant, the blood sea reappeared! Xin Gugu soared into the air, facing the Illusory Image imbued with Grand Void Power, and fearlessly released the meditation staff in his hand. Invisible shackles shattered, like heavy chains wrapped around him breaking apart. At this moment, Xin Gugu's hair flew wildly, and his aura surged.

"Blood Prison Cage!" With a soft cry, the vast blood sea below suddenly churned with towering waves. The next second, the surging blood sea tide enveloped them, transforming into a spherical domain, directly surrounding the three individuals in the Sea of Flowers.

In the banquet hall, despite Fu Yinhong's three pleas, Night Guardian remained unmoved. As a Red Robe, burdened with the heavy responsibility of breaking the spiritual array in the White Cave, his primary mission was this task. Under different circumstances, he would indeed help with matters concerning the City Lord's Mansion. But the current situation was unstable. His duty was clearly to ensure the safety of the old spiritual array grandmasters who were currently studying the array. Even if the sky fell, this task was more important!

Just then, Night Guardian's nose twitched twice. "That stench..." A nauseating, indescribable smell assailed him, and Night Guardian's expression immediately changed. He sharply looked in the direction of the Sea of Flowers. He discovered that after the first domain explosion, a second domain had formed there!

"Double domains?""A clash between two Sovereigns?"

Night Guardian's eyebrows furrowed. He didn't care about a clash between Sovereigns. However, the repulsive stench of a demonic beast, stemming from a fated connection, stirred him. "One of the combatants is a demonic beast?"

At that instant, the previously restless murmurs of panic in the banquet hall suddenly quieted as if doused with ice water. Silence fell. Killing intent! The fierce, tangible, icy killing intent made everyone present's hair stand on end. Even grandmaster peak experts, under the overwhelming pressure of this mighty killing intent, bent at the knees and collapsed to the ground.

"Senior!" Fu Yinhong was instantly thrown back by the invisible aura. She cried out in confusion, which finally brought Night Guardian back to his senses.

Night Guardian looked back. The ruins of the banquet hall, which should have been littered with debris, had been completely leveled under his formidable killing intent! The faint dust swirling in the air, and the horrified expressions of the silenced crowd, caused Night Guardian's aura to falter.

"My apologies.""I lost control."

He glanced back at the four spiritual array grandmasters. With a raise of his hand, the four were immediately awakened from their decryption progress, looking bewildered. Four red jade stones flew out, landing in the hands of the four spiritual array grandmasters.

"Put the matter of breaking the spiritual array aside for now.""Now, my primary task has arrived."

After speaking and lowering his gaze, Night Guardian's figure instantly shattered into starlight, disappearing before the horrified eyes of everyone present.

At the same time, Liu Jing, who had been searching more than ten miles outside the City Lord's Mansion, received a message from Fu Yinhong and immediately led her team back. A vast army of black-armored forbidden guards returned to the City Lord's Mansion from all directions.

"Qiu Xuan, this is your dereliction of duty." Liu Jing's beautiful eyes glared as she glanced at Qiu Xuan, who held a black snake spear. If he hadn't tried to curry favor and insisted on joining her search, perhaps such an incident wouldn't have occurred in the City Lord's Mansion at this moment.

"My fault..." Qiu Xuan also felt lingering fear from the terrifying explosion. He didn't understand. Old Man Feng and others were still in the City Lord's Mansion, and the person who stole the "Heavenly Pivot Disk" had likely already escaped. How could such a commotion still happen?

"Luring the tiger away from its mountain lair?" Qiu Xuan clenched his snake spear. This was a heavy blow! It could be said that the moment the explosion occurred, the City Lord's Mansion had completely lost face!

However, what shocked the two Yin-Yang Protectors even more was that when they rushed back and approached the City Lord's Mansion, they nearly got lost mid-air.

"What is this?!" Liu Jing's face turned pale with shock. As far as the eye could see, there were no towering palace walls, no elegant pavilions or waterside structures... only ruins! Centered around the Sea of Flowers, apart from areas far away and forbidden zones specifically protected by special spiritual arrays, more than half of the City Lord's Mansion... was completely obliterated! The ground was covered in scorched marks!

"This..." The Yin-Yang Protectors, who had been inwardly scoffing at the thought of anyone daring to attack the City Lord's Mansion, almost fell out of the sky on the spot. This wasn't a matter of daring or not daring anymore. At first glance, this was an annihilation!

"It's over. If Chief Fu finds out about this..."

At this moment, two rushing sounds came from a distance. Qiu Xuan immediately turned his head in alert, but then froze completely.

"Old Brother Feng?""And..." His gaze fell on the scorched, wild figure in front of Feng Ma, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets! "Chief Fu?"

Liu Jing also cried out. Such an explosion had actually brought out the missing Fu Zhi? This, this, this... How serious was this situation?!

"City Lord Fu, this is my dereliction of duty. It's all my fault for not keeping an eye on things and running off outside..." Qiu Xuan immediately tried to take responsibility. But Fu Zhi raised a hand to stop him from speaking further.

"Your dereliction of duty can be discussed later. The immediate priority is this special domain before us!" Fu Zhi silently looked at the blood-colored domain before him. To be honest, having lived for so long, he had seen special domains before. But they were always found on supreme experts from the most powerful continental forces. How could such a figure come to attack the City Lord's Mansion?

"While I was away, did that foolish son, Fu Xing, provoke a saintess from some holy land?" Fu Zhi's heart sank. Different perspectives naturally led to different observations. Others saw the City Lord's Mansion being blown up. But Fu Zhi, from this single special domain, could see that the City Lord's Mansion had been dragged into the deepest vortex of the continent!

As expected, within a few breaths, another figure with a magnificent aura rose unveiled. Fu Zhi was slightly surprised. "Brother Night Guardian?"

Night Guardian also saw the slightly familiar wild figure before him, and his surging killing intent paused. "Fu... Fu Zhi, Brother Fu?"

"It really is Brother Night Guardian?" Fu Zhi was pleased. "How come you're here?"

Night Guardian no longer felt any joy from reuniting with an old friend; he merely snorted. "Brother Fu, you're quite carefree. Unhappy with managing affairs, you simply played a disappearing act. Now, the City Lord's Mansion, as grand as it is, has rats, and you don't even know?"

"Rats?" Fu Zhi was startled. The next second, he realized what Night Guardian meant by "rats"!

"This thing..." Looking back at the blood-colored prison before him, Fu Zhi clearly understood something. "Demonic Beast Host?!"

Indeed! If it wasn't a demonic beast host, how could such a rare special domain, found in perhaps one in ten thousand Sovereigns, appear so easily before him? But...

"Fu Xing, you foolish son, what exactly do you want?!""Provoking a saintess from a holy land is one thing, but how dare you provoke a demonic beast?""Are you insane?!"

Fu Zhi swore that if Fu Xing were here now, he would beat that foolish son until he saw stars. It was bad enough that he had set up a trapping array at his own doorstep to lure him, but to actually provoke a demonic beast? Was this something a mere Tiansang County, a mere City Lord's Mansion, could withstand? That was something even the Holy Divine Temple found troublesome!

"Let's skip the pleasantries," Night Guardian said, sweeping his gaze over the four Sovereigns present and giving a slight nod. "Since this rat dares to cross the street today, it shouldn't expect to go back to its hole." He then looked at Fu Zhi. "Brother, I won't say anything more. Put aside the casualties of the City Lord's Mansion for now. From now on, you all listen to me." Night Guardian suddenly pulled out a red token and coldly commanded, "Red Robe requisition! Target: Demonic Beast Host!"

Inside the domain, Xu Xiaoshou used his spiritual essence to conjure a black-patterned bronze carving. This was a treasure he had retrieved from the top-floor magic box in the Zhang Mansion's scripture pavilion after splitting it with a single sword strike. He still remembered how a mere touch that day had plunged him into a purgatorial scene of corpses and blood. If not for Ah Jie, he might have been forced to explode on the spot by the demonic aura. But misfortune often harbored blessings. The existence of this carving also provided Xu Xiaoshou with the only way to autonomously enter his awakened skill, "Berserk Giant."

Glancing at the Illusory Image that was about to solidify overhead, Xu Xiaoshou hesitated. To be honest, things had indeed unfolded somewhat unexpectedly. He wasn't without countermeasures, but it seemed most of them were useless now. Continuing to target Zhang Taiying—whether it was right or wrong—was truly hard to say. But sometimes, didn't people live for impulse? A completely rational person, devoid of emotion and hatred, wasn't that just... bah, wasn't that just a machine?!

"Xin Gugu," Xu Xiaoshou called out.

"Yes?" Xin Gugu wiped sweat from his brow, not from exhaustion, but from panic.

"How many Sovereigns have arrived?"

"Five... wait, let me count, four."

"Four?"

"Yes."

"Has Night Guardian arrived?" Xu Xiaoshou stared intently at him.

"No." Xin Gugu's reply was without hesitation and remarkably calm. It was as if, indeed, only four Sovereigns had arrived from outside.

Yes, four plus one! The only truly terrifying one... someone who could become a Red Robe, capable of hunting demonic beasts. Starting from Dao Severing, even a Grand Void couldn't cap their power!

But what did it matter? Everyone dies eventually. Perhaps for love and hate, or for loyalty. For Xin Gugu, perhaps his initial reason for helping Xu Xiaoshou was merely for the safety of the Greedy God. Later, due to the scruffy uncle's dying instructions, he had no choice but to temporarily set aside his duties in the White Cave and separate from Jiao Tangtang. But after spending these past few days with Xu Xiaoshou, it was clear that the passion in Xin Gugu's heart had truly been ignited by him.

This was a madman! It seemed that in Xu Xiaoshou's dictionary, there was truly only forward momentum. Fear, regret... none of it existed! Besides battle, there was only more battle! However, while being reckless, Xu Xiaoshou could also have rather exquisite plans. At moments of seeking revenge, this guy could also consider everyone else, taking care of their emotions perfectly.

"Just consider it for that place, that 'stable' home..." Xin Gugu smiled with relief in his heart. He wasn't old. On the contrary, in terms of age, he was only a few years older than Xu Xiaoshou. Yet, in just these few days accompanying this ordinary guy, the surge of excitement he felt was incomparable to his past experiences of cowering like a street rat. The life Xu Xiaoshou lived, *that* was truly thrilling, *that* was life. It seemed he wasn't the demonic beast host; the other party was! And this was exactly what Xin Gugu truly wanted in his heart.

"Are you sure there are only four?" Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the golden meditation staff that Xin Gugu had released and which was now floating in the void. Then he looked at Xin Gugu's completely torn upper body, revealing muscular arms, radiating a chilling aura. Although he couldn't smell the stench Night Guardian spoke of, he could already perceive it visually.

Xin Gugu smiled and shook his head, not directly answering. "Just be happy."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded, saying no more. He used his "Perception" to look at the five individuals outside the domain, who were already channeling energy to attack. He only asked, "How long can you last?"

With a "thump," Xin Gugu's muscles instantly swelled. His neck twitched, and his face seemed to be distorting. But his eyes, burning with fighting spirit, stared directly at Xu Xiaoshou. "You should ask, how long do we need to fight side-by-side to shatter this Illusory Image!"

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. The next second, he saw Xin Gugu's body suddenly shoot up, his right hand transforming into a blood blade, striking down at himself. "Splat!" Blood splattered. The body, split in two by the strike, transformed into two blood figures. One remained in place, plunging its hands into the Blood Sea Cage, its body merging with the domain, becoming one with it. The other instantly shattered the golden meditation staff above and was then enveloped by a chilling black aura.

"Cackle, cackle, cackle..." Xin Gugu cackled hoarsely, seeming to have lost his sanity. But at this moment, his eyes, reddened again, fixed on Xu Xiaoshou.

"Fight!" With just one word, his back exploded, and a bizarre, black and red bull's head slowly emerged from it. Along with this, Xin Gugu's body grew once again, transforming into a several-meter-tall giant capable of looking down upon the world!

"Fight!" With just one word, it was as if Xu Xiaoshou's own blood was instantly ignited. He unhesitatingly withdrew his spiritual essence and tightly clenched the bronze carving in his hand. At this instant, that familiar, nightmarish demonic aura once again invaded his body. A fleeting vision of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood passed, and Xu Xiaoshou felt his clarity of mind instantly destroyed, as endless berserk will surged into him.

"Roar!" A roar, like that of an ancient savage giant, instantly shattered the ground. A berserk golden light descended like an emperor, and Xu Xiaoshou instantly transformed into the Berserk Giant, his blazing red eyes completely devoid of sanity, directly clashing his two fists together.

"BOOM—" The heavens and earth trembled, and the domain shuddered violently, as if about to collapse.

Xin Gugu, who was previously struggling forward and fighting against the demonic beast form, heard this sound and could no longer suppress the raging emotions within him. "Hiss—" His body surged again, surprisingly reaching Xu Xiaoshou's height. Immediately after, an extremely piercing and shrill shriek echoed through the nine heavens!

Ah Jie stood dumbfounded at a distance. It had been repelled by the Illusory Image. After being repelled, it had obediently stood with its arms crossed, waiting for Xu Xiaoshou's next instruction. Who would have thought that after a few words between the two, they would both start transforming, becoming so incredibly tall! The surging and loud battle roars made Ah Jie's eyes glow red, and it excitedly opened its mouth...

"Ma." No reaction."Ma." Forget growing larger; it didn't even transform.Ah Jie got angry. "Mama!"

After a moment of silence... Yes, there was no earth-shattering change. The scene fell silent.

Unlike Ah Jie's playful calls, the roars and shrieks of the two giants inside the domain instantly pierced the barrier, sweeping directly towards the five individuals outside. The four Sovereigns, who had gathered their spiritual essence, felt their blood surge backward with a single roar, their immense spiritual essence nearly spiraling out of control and exploding on the spot. Just as they tried to stabilize themselves, the shriek, which directly invaded their minds, disrupted their thoughts. Now, all four were unable to suppress their inner power; with a crash, they were sent flying backward into the void, spitting blood.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

"Tsk..." Night Guardian frowned. This was the disadvantage of having no experience fighting demonic beasts. These guys simply didn't know that the moment a demonic beast host transformed, its shriek could even disrupt the aura of a Grand Void expert on the spot. At this moment, it was clearly not advisable to channel energy for an attack. But by the time Night Guardian realized this and tried to retract his power, it was already too late to tell the others. Fortunately, these guys had good foundations and could withstand the initial roar of the battle.

But... "Impossible!" Night Guardian grew even more anxious. It was precisely because of his familiarity with demonic beasts and his hunting experience that he found this so alarming. The cry of a demonic beast could only be fixed. How could a "roar" and a "shriek" occur simultaneously? What the hell... A small City Lord's Mansion actually had two demonic beasts at the same time? Night Guardian's heart turned stone cold at this moment. He turned his head to look at Fu Zhi, even feeling like pulling the old man's head off. How did he manage things? This was Tiansang City, the City Lord's Mansion under his rule, supposedly a place of peace and prosperity?

The Blood Sea Prison was like a crimson, alternate dimension. Inside and outside the domain were truly two completely different worlds. Gazing into the void, behind Zhang Taiying's closed-eyed, fragmented body, stood the "Empress Apparition" with three heads, six arms, an Asura countenance, wielding halberds and sabers. Terrifying Grand Void Power coalesced into substantial mist, lightly veiling the Empress's body like a shroud.

Beneath the Illusory Image, there were two figures. One was a towering, burly form with a bent back and hunched shoulders, bearing the head of an ancient bull, several meters tall. Its black fangs and claws were like steel blades, gleaming with a chilling sheen, desperately gripping the cracked earth. The surging demonic energy, as if possessed by a specter, added a touch of wildness and terror to Xin Gugu's menacing posture. The second was the Berserk Giant, standing shoulder to shoulder, yet completely different from the grim-toned demonic beast host. Dazzling golden light radiated like a scorching sun, steaming away the night. Its smooth, perfect, and muscular physique, its stance of clashing fists and roaring, the shimmering golden particles swirling around its body... Like a savage monk escaped from a Buddhist sect, the Berserk Giant exuded an overwhelming, imposing aura of dominance!

Almost in unison, upon sensing the suffocating pressure from above, even having lost their reason, both the demonic beast host and the Berserk Giant immediately targeted the Empress Apparition.

"Bang! Bang!" The floor shattered again. Carried by the hurricane, the two giants burst forth simultaneously, pushing against the overwhelming Grand Void Power. One raised a claw, the other a fist, soaring directly towards the Illusory Empress in the void. The energies of different colors began to intertwine as they advanced, forming a torrent that slammed directly into Zhang Taiying.

Zhang Taiying remained with his eyes closed. His injuries were too severe. Xu Xiaoshou's "Nested Spark of 250" technique was truly something no ordinary Sovereign could withstand. Even if they did, they would end up like a "250" – completely motionless. Yet, even so, the unattended Empress Apparition still sensed the unique, intermingling torrent of power before it, a blend of yin and yang, dominance and eerie darkness.

"Buzz!" Its six arms crossed, the phantom weapons directly blocked the unconscious Zhang Taiying. The energy torrent, surging with purple-black and gold, directly struck the Asura's six arms.

"BOOM!" Accompanied by a violent roar, the heavens and earth changed color, and the void collapsed. The mere shockwaves from that single punch and claw shattered space. However, against the Empress Apparition, which possessed Grand Void Power, even with the demonic beast host and the Berserk Giant's terrifying strike, they couldn't force even a slight displacement. It was a qualitative suppression! The demonic power of the demonic beast host was strong, and the berserk energy of the Berserk Giant was also formidable. But ultimately, the original hosts of these two were merely a Sovereign... and an Innate level. How could the light of a firefly truly compete with the brilliance of a bright moon?

If Xu Xiaoshou were still conscious at this moment, he might indeed ponder fusing his own power with that of the demonic beast host. Who knows, perhaps by stacking "quantity" and "degree," he could achieve a qualitative change. Unfortunately, there was no "if."

The two red-eyed behemoths, like bulls in heat, raged when they realized that their full-force strike couldn't even lift the Empress Apparition's veil. They were utterly enraged! Hovering in the void, their four raised arms, pulled back, seemed like the calm before a storm. The next second, after the whistling of the wind, "Boom, boom, boom, boom..." Terrifying sounds of impact, as if the bell ringer of an ancient battlefield had gone mad, frantically convulsed as they struck the war drum formed by the Empress Apparition's six arms.

The previously shattered space was about to heal itself. Who would have thought that the two giants' previous strike was merely a prelude! When the drumming, as dense as a downpour, echoed in the void, the entire domain's space could no longer withstand this power. It exploded! Like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, with every punch, glistening spatial fragments were blasted out and scattered to the ground as if they were worthless.

The Blood Sea Cage trembled. Xin Gugu, in his human form, had his hands plunged into the domain wall, merged with it. His body convulsed violently with the drumming sounds, but endless eerie demonic energy surged forth, providing a spark of energy each time the domain was about to be shattered, just enough to stabilize it.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom..."

The five individuals outside the domain, having just adjusted their states and barely gathered their strength, were almost sent flying again by the frantic drumming. "What's going on?" Fu Zhi turned his head and asked. Didn't they say a demonic beast transformation only involved one roar? When he turned, he saw that even Night Guardian had been affected and was struggling to regain his unstable breath.

"This..." A hint of awkwardness flashed across Night Guardian's face.

"Mutual destruction?" Fu Zhi didn't dwell on the details, getting straight to the point.

"Doesn't sound like it," Night Guardian shook his head. From the sounds, there were indeed two demonic beasts inside, and their power was so formidable that even the domain couldn't suppress it. But... this wasn't the sound of them fighting each other! Instead, it sounded more like they were both beating a drum together? What kind of drum was so powerful that it could withstand the frantic onslaught of two demonic beast hosts? If he, Night Guardian, were to go in there, he wouldn't have that confidence either!

The crowd outside listened for a while and were truly bewildered. "No counterattacks?" There were only sounds of attack, but not a hint of resistance?

"What kind of horrific events are happening inside this little dark room..." Fu Zhi murmured, then suddenly looked at Feng Ma. "Speaking of Sovereigns..." "Are there any experts beyond the Sovereign level who have infiltrated the City Lord's Mansion?" he asked. Feng Ma pondered but had no answer.

Instead, Liu Jing, who was off to the side, suddenly seemed to recall something. "Zhang Taiying!" "It's possible Zhang Taiying is in there!"

"Huh?" Everyone was astonished.

"Are you joking? Zhang Taiying, facing two demonic beasts, wouldn't he be pounded into oblivion?" Feng Ma asked in surprise.

"No," Fu Zhi said, sinking into thought. "When Zhang Taiying was young, he indeed ventured beyond the Eastern Heaven Realm. At that time, I remember he seemed to have had contact with people from the 'Chao Luo Heavenly Palace'."

"Chao Luo Heavenly Palace?" Night Guardian was surprised. "Those muscle-heads?"

"Yes," Fu Zhi nodded. "But deep contact should be impossible, so there's no reason Zhang Taiying could withstand the crazy attacks of two demonic beast hosts..."

Liu Jing's face flushed. Night Guardian, narrowing his eyes, agreed, "Those guys from Chao Luo Heavenly Palace are extremely arrogant; they wouldn't take a liking to Zhang Taiying. If that guy could have received a legacy, he wouldn't have ended up stuck in a mere Tiansang County..."

"Uh!" Seeing everyone's faces suddenly darken, Night Guardian paused. "I'm not targeting anyone, I mean... it's just, just..." "You know what I mean." He suddenly relaxed. The crowd was annoyed but helpless.

Fu Zhi didn't get bogged down and continued to ask, "Liu Jing, why are you so sure Zhang Taiying is in there."

"The little princess said so!" Glancing at Night Guardian's confused expression, Liu Jing explained, "Yinhong said, she said..."

"Said what?" Everyone looked at her simultaneously.

"She said... not only Zhang Taiying is inside, but Xu Xiaoshou should be there too. The commotion here is actually these two fighting?"

Fu Zhi: ??? Brother Shou? Not just him, everyone was stunned. Night Guardian was the only one who came from the banquet hall; he knew a little about the situation. But even if he had some suspicions at the time, seeing such a commotion, he no longer thought it could be something Xu Xiaoshou had caused. But if that were the case...

"Xu Xiaoshou?""Demonic beast?"

Night Guardian suddenly recalled their first meeting outside the City Lord's Mansion. And the truly distinct demonic beast aura he had smelled... "He lied to me?" If Xu Xiaoshou was a demonic beast host, then the question of why he possessed such combat power at such a young age would have a direct answer.

Fu Zhi didn't believe it. But at this moment, belief or disbelief would be revealed the moment the domain broke. If there were a spatial spiritualist, perhaps they could bypass this special domain and see the battle inside. But unfortunately, there wasn't one here.

"Brother Night Guardian, let's combine our strength. Once we break this thing, the answer will naturally be revealed!" Fu Zhi inquired.

Night Guardian slightly raised his sleeve and merely smiled faintly. "No rush.""If there are two demonic beasts inside, and also an existence whose combat power is comparable to two demonic beasts, why should we go to the trouble of breaking the domain prematurely?" He waved his hand, signaling everyone to relax. "Do you have a tea set?" "Let's drink some tea to clear our heads, then play a round. Once the black and white pieces run out of moves, won't the game be over?"

Everyone was stunned, then their faces showed sudden realization, secretly marveling at this clever move to reap the benefits of others' struggles. It was truly brilliant!

"Excellent." Fu Zhi raised his hand, and streaks of spiritual patterns shot out from it. "Brother Night Guardian is right. In that case, I'll set up a trap for them first!"

Night Guardian nodded with a smile, looking up at the moon. One night, two demonic beasts. This accomplishment... tsk, tsk!

"Boom, boom, boom..." The two giants, utterly unaware that the outside world had begun to lay down a net of heaven and earth, continued to desperately bombard the Empress Apparition before them. Indeed, their relentless attacks were completely effective. Although the Empress did not budge, the fragmented Zhang Taiying, protected within, twitched his eyelids and woke up.

"Holy crap!" The moment he opened his eyes, the ferocious demonic beast and the dazzling giant before him startled him. Zhang Taiying was completely bewildered. He felt as if he had amnesia. He felt that the previous explosion had not only blown off most of his body but also blasted out some memories that weren't his own.

"Wasn't I fighting Xu Xiaoshou?""These two... what the hell are these two things?"

It wasn't his fault for feeling a palpitation. Truly, no living being could remain unfazed when faced with such enormous creatures, two at once, appearing simultaneously the moment one opened their eyes