“Fellow Daoist Han, prepare your Thunder Summoning Technique first. When we signal, unleash the Evil-Warding Divine Lightning,” commanded Six-Legs, his robes fluttering as he hovered at the center of the massive formation, his tone brooking no argument.
Han Li nodded, his hands forming a seal. Golden arcs immediately coiled around his body, and a layer of lightning surged forth before exploding into a golden halo with a thunderous roar. Golden runes danced in the air as the halo condensed into a golden sphere, floating gently above his palm. Han Li ceased further incantations, simply holding the sphere aloft while observing coldly.
Meanwhile, Six-Legs, Mu Qing, and the others began their assault on the barrier. Chanting incantations, they directed the high-tier demons below to activate their artifacts, causing the formation to instantly transform into a colossal black hole. Countless strands of spiritual energy from the surroundings converged violently upon Six-Legs and Mu Qing. In moments, the two were enveloped in radiant, multicolored auras, their forms shimmering like deities.
At the same time, the white-haired beauty stood at the forefront of eight shadowy figures. She clasped her hands together before parting them, revealing a small, pitch-black bell in her grasp. The bell appeared ancient, its edges even slightly chipped. The two blood-robed figures positioned themselves—one atop the shoulder of the Purple Blood Puppet, the other leaping to the head of a newly assembled giant metal puppet. The Purple Blood Puppet let out a low growl, its hands rubbing together before manifesting a massive, ten-zhang-long violet-red blood axe. The axe gleamed ominously as the puppet raised it high, aiming at the water ahead. The metal puppet, under the blood-robed figure’s command, likewise lifted its colossal blade, its surface shimmering with an eerie black glow.
With a deafening boom, Six-Legs finally struck out with a single palm. A black beam erupted from his hand, far thicker than the one he had unleashed in the spatial tunnel. The sheer force of the beam distorted the surrounding space, warping it like crumpled fabric. The beam plunged into the water below.
The seemingly stagnant Netherworld River initially showed no reaction, but as the black beam continued pouring into it, ripples began to spread. Soon, the water swirled violently around the beam, spinning faster and faster until a thunderous roar filled the air.
Mu Qing joined the assault. The golden flower beneath her feet spun rapidly, absorbing much of the nearby radiance before swelling in size. It transformed into a massive golden dharma wheel, hurtling forward with a howl of wind and thunder. The wheel, several zhang in diameter, sliced into the water with a golden flash, cleaving the swirling surface apart with a resounding crack.
A white void slowly expanded around the beam, but the trembling water around it threatened to collapse the passage at any moment. Two more attacks followed—a violet-red axe shadow and a black blade arc—roaring in to join the assault. Under the combined might of these strikes, the Netherworld River was finally split open, forming a canyon-like passage tens of zhang high and over a dozen zhang wide.
Yet, at that moment, strange gurgling sounds emerged from the surrounding water. Glittering black threads rose from the depths, wrapping around the canyon. To everyone’s astonishment, the threads weakened the combined attacks of the demon kings—beams, wheels, or blades—all faltered under their touch.
“Fellow Daoist Han, why hesitate? Strike now!” Six-Legs’ cold voice rang out from within his radiant aura. The spiritual energy gathered by the formation was rapidly depleting as it fueled his black beam. Mu Qing, controlling the golden wheel, faced the same issue. Clearly, these techniques demanded immense mana, unsustainable even with the formation’s aid.
Han Li took a deep breath. With a flick of his fingers, the golden sphere shot skyward as a streak of light. Simultaneously, he pointed with his other hand, releasing a massive golden rune. A thunderclap echoed as dark clouds gathered overhead, revealing a golden sun amidst the tempest. A destructive aura surged from the clouds as lightning crackled across the sun’s surface, accompanied by deafening thunder.
With a solemn expression, Han Li chanted an arcane incantation and pointed at the water. The golden rune flashed, and a thick golden beam, wide as a water vat, erupted from the sun, striking the river. Upon impact, the beam exploded into golden lightning arcs that radiated outward, obliterating the black threads wherever they touched.
Encouraged, Six-Legs and the others redoubled their efforts. The white-haired beauty, who had remained passive until now, let out a piercing shriek. The eight shadowy figures behind her linked their ghostly auras, channeling them into her. Though these armored ghosts were only at mid-to-late Void Refinement stage, their combined power was formidable. A colossal ghostly apparition flickered above the woman as the black bell in her hand expanded to several zhang in size. With a tap of her finger, the bell tolled, releasing a black wave that surged toward the canyon, solidifying into a dark barrier that held the water at bay, forming a stable passage.
As Six-Legs and the others pressed forward, the barrier extended deeper into the canyon. Han Li, though amazed, focused on countering the black threads, continuously summoning golden beams from the sun above. Despite the increasing distance, he managed to guide the lightning arcs to destroy the threads, though he couldn’t precisely target the far end like the others.
After a quarter-hour, a muffled boom echoed from the canyon’s far end. “We’ve broken through!” Mu Qing exclaimed joyfully, recalling her golden wheel, which reverted to a giant flower beneath her feet. The others also withdrew their techniques, relief evident on their faces.
“Good. This passage will last several hours—enough for us to cross. But stay vigilant against the Netherworld’s creatures. Let the low-tier demons enter first. Their survival depends on luck. Order them to flee forward with all their might,” Six-Legs declared, his green eyes gleaming as he surveyed the lesser demons.
Han Li, having dispersed his Thunder Summoning Technique, frowned in surprise. By then, the puppets and ghost soldiers had gathered at the entrance, arranged in two rows along the edges, while the low-tier demons were herded into the center by their superiors. Tens of thousands of beings packed the passage tightly.
At the demon kings’ command, the ghost soldiers and puppets advanced first. The ghostly figures, now free of their concealing black winds, revealed their true forms—skeletal warriors clad in gleaming half-armor, wielding halberds and tridents, their flesh desiccated like mummies, their skulls wreathed in green ghost-fire. They moved silently, exuding an eerie chill.
Han Li, standing behind Mu Qing, narrowed his eyes. The Netherworld was already teeming with ghosts—why had Six-Legs and the others crafted so many more? There must be a deeper scheme here.
Soon, the low-tier demons were ordered into the passage. Six-Legs and the high-tier demons remained outside, watching coldly. The moment the lesser demons entered, silver threads shot from the black barrier, targeting them exclusively while ignoring the puppets and ghosts. The massacre had begun.
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