The purification light was like a fleeting moment of beauty, like an orchid in bloom for a brief instant.
After erupting with dazzling might, it rapidly dimmed, contracted, and finally completely sealed back into the jade pendant at Tang Xiaoqi is chest.
Only the faint purification aura not yet fully dispersed in the air, and the large swaths of scorched and deactivated formation patterns on the ground, testified that the earth-shattering scene just now was not a hallucination.
The moment the light dispersed, a vast sense of weakness like icy tides completely overwhelmed Xiaoqi.
His vision went black.
A fishy sweetness surged in his throat.
Had it not been for Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng firmly supporting him, he would have almost collapsed to the ground.
His body was completely exhausted.
Within him, spiritual energy was gone to the last drop.
His meridians felt empty and aching.
His very soul seemed to be torn, sending waves of dizziness.
That was the backlash from excessively draining his origin.
However, the crisis did not end with the light is dissipation.
Instead, because of this brief moment of silence, it became even more deadly.
You little beast.
How dare you destroy my formation.
Injure my disciples.
The Shadow Snake Pavilion elder, having steadied his stance, his shock had been replaced by overwhelming rage.
His carefully arranged Myriad Souls Devouring Spirit Formation nodes had been severely damaged.
Not only was the efficiency of drawing soul power greatly reduced, but it might also affect the Pavilion Master is grand plan.
Especially that pure purification force, which made him feel disgust and fear from the depths of his soul.
This boy absolutely must not be allowed to live.
He no longer held anything back.
His withered hand suddenly thrust forward.
The demonic energy around him converged madly, forming a sky-obscuring pitch-black giant claw.
That claw had five ferocious fingers, with countless twisted vengeful ghost images wrapped around its fingertips.
It let out earsplitting shrieks, carrying a suffocating aura of death.
It tore through the air, directly aiming to crush Xiaoqi, who was being supported by his senior brother and nearly unable to move, along with those beside him.
This attack contained his full Foundation Establishment Late Stage power, with majestic demonic might.
Obviously he intended to crush Xiaoqi and those around him to vent his anger, and completely eliminate this Purification Source that could potentially bring chaos.
Watch out.
Third Senior Sister Liu Yun let out a sharp cry.
Her sword technique guided her sword.
Her body and sword merged as one, transforming into a resolute light that actually rushed to meet that terrifying demonic claw.
She knew this attack is terror, but she knew even more clearly that she could not let this claw land.
Her sword light collided with the demonic claw, making earsplitting sounds like metal striking metal.
Liu Yun is flying sword let out a mournful cry.
Its radiance instantly dimmed.
She herself was struck like by heavy damage, spitting a mouthful of blood.
Her form flew backward, her face deathly pale.
Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng pushed Xiaoqi behind him toward Zhao Tiezhu.
He let out a low shout: Take him and run.
At the same time, his palms thrust forward.
His thick and steady earthy-yellow spiritual energy formed a heavy shield, trying to block the demonic claw is remaining force.
Zhao Tiezhu roared.
His muscles bulged.
An earthy-stone color covered his body.
He stood protectively in front of Xiaoqi, preparing to withstand the impact.
However, the demonic claw is power exceeded imagination.
Liu Yun is selfless strike only made it pause slightly.
Senior Brother is spiritual shield was like paper before the demonic claw, instantly covered with cracks.
It was about to completely shatter.
Despair permeated everywhere.
The shadow of death had already descended.
At this critical moment.
Whoosh.
A faint yet extremely clear piercing sound rang out.
Not from the demonic claw is direction, but from the shadows behind them.
A silver figure, moving so fast it exceeded the limits of visual capture, like a ghost, like quicksilver flowing under moonlight.
It appeared without any warning, precisely cutting into the battlefield, accurately appearing between that destructive demonic claw and Xiaoqi and the others.
It was a woman.
Her posture was graceful.
Her face was covered with a silver mask engraved with complex snake patterns.
Only a pair of eyes as cold as a deep pool were visible, yet they churned with complex, hard-to-read emotions.
She wore a close-fitting silver combat outfit that accentuated her smooth lines.
Her entire aura was obscure and hard to distinguish, neither purely demonic nor righteous, carrying a strange feeling that wandered between the two.
Facing that terrifying demonic claw that could crush a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, she made no unnecessary movements.
She just casually raised her right hand.
That palm was fair and delicate.
Yet her fingertips were shrouded with a wisp of dark energy refined to the extreme.
She flicked her finger.
Pop.
A soft sound, like a water bubble bursting.
That wisp of dark energy flew out from her fingertip.
It grew as it met the wind.
Instantly transforming into a curved blade as thin as a cicada is wing, yet seeming able to cut through space.
It silently sliced onto the core magical power node of the pitch-black demonic claw.
No earth-shattering explosion.
No energy rampaging outward.
That overwhelmingly powerful demonic claw, as if meeting its nemesis, was like snow hit by fire.
From the place the dark blade cut, its structure instantly collapsed.
The converged demonic energy, as if having lost its support, let out a string of tiny crackling sounds, rapidly dispersed and dissolved, turning into wisps of black smoke that ultimately vanished into nothing.
Those vengeful ghost shadows wrapped around the fingertips also let out relieved wails and perished along with it.
The entire process was eerily quiet, contrasting sharply with the demonic claw is world-shaking momentum before.
This sudden change made everyone freeze.
The Shadow Snake Pavilion elder is rage froze, transforming into disbelief and shock.
He stared fixedly at that suddenly appearing silver figure.
His pupils contracted sharply: Silver Mask Emissary.
You what do you mean by this.
Senior Brother, Third Senior Sister, and Zhao Tiezhu were also completely stunned.
This woman, clearly a high-ranking Shadow Snake Pavilion member called the Silver Mask Emissary, why would she save them.
And, the strength she displayed, casually resolving a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator is full-force attack, her strength was profound, far exceeding that elder.
And Xiaoqi, who was being supported by Zhao Tiezhu and barely maintaining consciousness, when he clearly saw those eyes gazing at him from behind the silver mask, his heart jumped violently.
Those eyes were very familiar, yet very strange.
Familiar was that hint of complex emotions in the depths of those eyes concern, worry, guilt, and a profound sadness, vaguely matching some vague fragments from his dreams.
Strange was the coldness and detachment covering the outside, and her identity as a Shadow Snake Pavilion emissary.
Aunt Su in Xiaoqi is mind, this title involuntarily surfaced.
This was a title he had heard from the old surviving servant of Xu Lan Mountain Manor, belonging to his mother is younger sister.
Could it be her.
That person said to have long been missing, even possibly perished his aunt.
The Silver Mask Emissary in other words Aunt Su, did not pay any attention to the elder is questioning.
Her gaze passed over everyone, finally landing on the weak and exhausted Xiaoqi.
That gaze was like substance, carrying a heart-penetrating power, lingering for a moment on his pale face, floating aura, and the jade pendant still faintly warm on his chest.
The complex emotions in her eyes deepened, but after just a moment, she forcibly suppressed them, returning to an icy composure like a still deep well.
She slowly turned her head, facing the uncertain Shadow Snake Pavilion elder.
Her voice was cold, without any emotion, yet carrying unquestionable authority: This boy, and the Source Seed on his body, are items personally named by the Pavilion Master.
Elder Feng, your task is merely to guard the formation eye.
Who authorized you to act on your own and try to destroy it.
If the Pavilion Master is great plan is damaged, can you bear the responsibility.
The withered elder called Elder Feng is face immediately became extremely ugly.
He opened his mouth, wanting to explain the formation damage from that purification force.
But under the Silver Mask Emissary is cold gaze, feeling the spiritual pressure emanating from her that far exceeded his own, he ultimately swallowed his words.
He reluctantly lowered his head: Yes this subordinate was reckless.
However, they destroyed the formation.
The formation matter I will handle myself.
Aunt Su cut him off, her tone permitting no argument.
Take your people, immediately repair the damaged formation patterns, stabilize the soul power.
Leave this to me.
Elder Feng clenched his teeth.
He glared fiercely at Xiaoqi and the others, especially that who caused him to suffer a loss.
But ultimately not daring to disobey the Silver Mask Emissary is orders.
He waved his hand,, reluctantly retreated, beginning to busily repair those formation nodes damaged by the purification light.
Until Elder Feng and the others had retreated to a certain distance, Aunt Su.
She did not approach.
She just used that cold voice, quickly and lowly transmitting her voice.
That voice directly sounded in the minds of Xiaoqi, Senior Brother, and Third Senior Sister, carrying urgency: If you do not want to die, leave immediately.
Along the northwest direction, that dry riverbed.
When you reach the three-way fork, choose the left.
You can temporarily avoid the outer patrol teams.
Remember, the Demon Rune Valley is merely a decoy.
Their true target is far more terrible than you imagine.
Qingxu Temple may also not be safe.
Return to the sect quickly, but trust no one.
Find the Temple Master, or your Master, and be very careful.
Go, quickly.
After the transmission, she did not look at them again.
As if that assistance and warning had never happened.
The silver figure flashed, like merging into the shadows, disappearing behind the ruins.
Only the survivors at the scene, full of shock and confusion, remained.
Senior Brother and Third Senior Sister exchanged glances, both seeing shock and gravity in each other is eyes.
This Silver Mask Emissary is words true or false.
Why did she save them.
That sentence Qingxu Temple may also not be safe what does it mean.
But at this moment, clearly it was not time for deep thought.
Elder Feng and the others had retreated, but the crisis was not over.
They must leave this dangerous place as quickly as possible.
Go.
Senior Brother made a decisive decision.
He again supported the weak Xiaoqi.
Zhao Tiezhu lifted Xiaoqi onto his broad, solid back.
Third Senior Sister forcefully suppressed her injuries, sword in hand leading the way.
The four, following the direction indicated by that mysterious Silver Mask Emissary, without any hesitation, raised their speed to the extreme, rushing toward the northwest corner of the Demon Rune Valley.
Xiaoqi lay on Zhao Tiezhu is wide, solid back, feeling the jolting.
In his mind though, he kept replaying those complex eyes and that urgent warning.
Aunt Su.
Silver Mask Emissary.
mother is younger sister.
Shadow Snake Pavilion.
crisis at Qingxu Temple.
countless questions tangled like a mess.
He vaguely felt that he had touched just the tip of a massive conspiracy.
And that Aunt Su, who had suddenly appeared, saved them, then quickly left, was like a guide standing in the mist, or perhaps another deeper mystery.