The black crocodile let out a furious roar, swinging his massive spiked club with a sudden motion that caused it to expand tenfold in size.
Countless afterimages of the club materialized in layers, transforming into a swirling black demonic wind that engulfed the entire area within a radius of several acres.
Deafening explosions erupted, and from within the black wind, the mangled corpses of demonic beings began to rain down.
Though these horned demons were not weak in cultivation, they were clearly no match for the black crocodile. The moment they engaged, many were instantly annihilated.
Yet, despite this, these high-ranking demons showed no fear, displaying no intention of retreat or escape.
Though the black crocodile’s abilities far surpassed these demons, it seemed he had already fought too many battles in succession, leaving his magic power nearly depleted. After exerting his full demonic strength for a while, he soon found himself struggling to sustain his energy.
Though his spiked club remained ferocious and unstoppable, beads of sweat began to appear on his grotesque face.
By the time a third of the surrounding demons had been slain, the black crocodile’s movements began to slow, and he could no longer completely fend off the attacks. Dark orbs of energy struck his body repeatedly.
These black orbs possessed an unknown power—upon contact with his demonic armor, they dissolved straight through, offering little resistance.
In an instant, explosions erupted across the black-armored giant’s body as several bursts of black light detonated.
With a furious roar, the black crocodile staggered under the force of the blasts, yet he stubbornly remained in front of Baohua, refusing to yield.
Given the formidable physique of his evil dragon lineage, ordinary flying blades or swords should have been unable to harm him. Yet, under the relentless assault of the black orbs, his flesh split open, and blood sprayed in all directions.
Seeing this, Baohua’s expression darkened further, yet strangely, she remained behind the black crocodile, watching idly with no intention of intervening.
After what felt like an eternity, the black crocodile finally struck down the last of the horned demons, seemingly exhausting the last of his magic power. With a final swing, he discarded his spiked club and collapsed, plummeting downward like a bloodied corpse.
Baohua sighed softly before flicking her sleeve.
With a soft *whoosh*, a stream of pink light surged forth, effortlessly catching the falling figure and suspending him midair.
A few silver runes flickered within the light, and the black crocodile’s body rapidly shrank, transforming into a miniature crocodile barely an inch long—its body pitch-black, covered in wounds, and unconscious.
The pink light retracted, and Baohua tucked the tiny crocodile into her sleeve before raising her head and speaking calmly:
“You two have been watching for quite some time. Isn’t it time you made your move?”
“Hmph, I knew we couldn’t hide from your senses, you wretched wench. For this day, I sacrificed all five hundred of my demon soldiers—every last one of them. But now, you stand alone, without a single ally. That price is more than enough.”
As soon as the words were spoken, ripples appeared in the void above, and two figures emerged—an elderly woman and a burly man.
The old woman, clad in red robes, glared at Baohua with venomous hatred, her voice dripping with malice.
These two were none other than the infamous demon ancestors of the demon realm—Tianqi and Heyan.
Their powers were unfathomable, and their mastery of joint combat techniques was renowned throughout the demon realm, their cruelty and ruthlessness nearly matching that of the three great progenitors.
Even other demon saints kept a wary distance from them.
Yet today, for some reason, Baohua’s whereabouts had been exposed, allowing the two to track her down and send wave after wave of minions to wear her down.
Baohua, wary of their lurking presence, had refrained from acting recklessly to avoid revealing any weaknesses, leaving the black crocodile to fight alone.
After several intense battles, the black crocodile had finally exhausted his magic power, leaving Baohua completely isolated.
Only then did the two demons reveal themselves.
“Fellow Daoist Baohua, it has been many years. Your grace remains as captivating as ever,” Tianqi remarked, his gaze lingering on her with a hint of admiration.
“Fellow Daoist Tianqi, your temperament has changed greatly—no longer the fiery temper of the past. I must congratulate you; your cultivation has clearly advanced,” Baohua replied, studying him with mild surprise, though she paid no heed to the old woman.
Heyan, infuriated by the slight, struck the void with her cane, producing a thunderous boom as she snarled, “Baohua, drop the act. Your cultivation hasn’t fully recovered—how could you possibly stand against the two of us? If you know what’s good for you, kneel and kowtow. If I’m feeling merciful, I might grant you a clean death.”
“So, Fellow Daoist He still holds a grudge from the past and seeks vengeance today. Tianqi, do you share her sentiments?” Baohua remained unperturbed, idly stroking a strand of her hair as she countered.
“My next heavenly tribulation approaches. There is something of yours that I require,” Tianqi stated bluntly, making no attempt to conceal his intentions.
“You want my Lightning Warding Talisman,” Baohua deduced instantly, her sharp mind piecing together his motive.
“Indeed. With this treasure, I may have a chance to survive my next tribulation. I hope you will oblige,” Tianqi replied, his tone steady but his gaze growing colder.
“You wish to borrow it? That can be arranged. However, this treasure has been with me since my ascension—I cannot simply hand it over. How about this: if you can withstand a single strike from me, I will lend it to you for ten thousand years. What do you say?” Baohua smiled faintly, her tone disarmingly casual.
“You want me to take a strike from you?” Tianqi’s pupils constricted sharply.
Heyan, who had been glaring at Baohua with venomous hatred, suddenly paled, her expression shifting to one of alarm.
*Has her magic power truly recovered? Was this all a ploy to lure us out?*
The two demons couldn’t help but entertain the thought.
For a moment, neither dared to respond.
“What’s the matter, Fellow Daoist Tianqi? Are you afraid?” Baohua’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she chuckled lightly.
“Very well! Let me see what new abilities you’ve cultivated over the years to boast so boldly!” After a moment of deliberation, Tianqi’s eyes flashed with resolve as he accepted the challenge.
“Be careful, Senior Brother. I’ll stand guard,” Heyan muttered reluctantly, her expression flickering between emotions.
Tianqi nodded and stepped forward, his figure blurring before reappearing a dozen yards away, standing firm in the void.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood motionless, waiting for Baohua to make her move.
The white-robed woman curled her lips into a faint, enigmatic smile. She raised a delicate hand and exhaled softly, releasing a pink sphere of light.
At first glance, the sphere appeared ordinary, but upon closer inspection, it was composed of countless tiny pink runes. It hovered briefly before settling gently into her palm.
With a light tap of her finger, the sphere burst apart, scattering the runes like swirling petals that danced brilliantly around her.
At the center of the explosion, a streak of emerald flashed—and in her palm, a tiny green sprout emerged, rapidly growing into a half-foot-tall sapling before expanding further at a visible rate.
In moments, a towering emerald tree had formed in Baohua’s hand, its lush canopy casting a shadow over her graceful figure.
The tree’s roots fused with her palm, seemingly drawing upon her magic power.
“The Profound Heaven Sacred Tree! You’ve fully merged with it? Has your power truly recovered? Have you mastered *that* technique?” Tianqi, who had been composed moments ago, now looked ashen-faced. Heyan, standing behind him, was equally horrified.
“Wouldn’t you like to find out for yourself?”
“**Profound Blossom Realm!**”
With a low chant, the emerald tree shimmered, its branches suddenly sprouting countless pink buds that bloomed in unison, filling the air with an intoxicating fragrance.
Even more astonishingly, the tree’s color shifted from emerald to pink in the blink of an eye.
The void resonated with ethereal chants as the surroundings transformed into a sea of pink blossoms, stretching across a thousand feet—a realm unto itself.
“Damn it! She’s truly mastered the Profound Heaven Divine Domain! We must flee!” Tianqi’s composure shattered as he erupted into a streak of crimson light, fleeing at full speed.
Heyan was no slower, slashing her cane through the air to tear open a spatial rift before darting inside.
Both abandoned their earlier bravado without hesitation.
“Thinking of leaving now? A bit late, don’t you think?”
Baohua’s voice was icy as she reached toward the tree, plucking a massive pink blossom and tossing it leisurely into the void ahead.
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