Chapter 310 Just Hold On Tightly

"Holy crap, someone's crazier than me?" Aota paused for a moment, then charged forward with his large blade.

In that split second, the Tree Demons and ghosts had already attacked everyone. In close quarters, the bold win, and everyone refocused on the immediate threat.

"Let's move!" Aota bellowed.

"Don't charge in, hold the line! Aota, Mo Tong, stay with the team!" Xue Zhiyu shouted, raising her staff high. The thick soul crystal on it shone brightly, instantly covering the surroundings with frost—Frost Surge!

Clear snow crystals quickly formed at her feet and rapidly spread forward, covering the ground within a radius of dozens of meters with a thick layer of ice.

Several Tree Demons slipped and tumbled, pushed forward by the horde behind them. The airborne ghosts also decelerated a bit. Next came Badeluo's Winter Frost. With a swing of his huge tusk club, a frost wave surged out, merging with Xue Zhiyu's frost to unleash a blizzard that momentarily slowed the charge of the Tree Demons and ghosts.

At this moment, the Tree Demons were rolling and thrashing, while the ghosts in the air collided chaotically, with those behind pushing those in front.

Crash...

The Tree Demons and ghosts rolled forward in layers.

"Unbreakable!" Tatashi lifted his massive shield, and a wide ice wall instantly rose before them, firmly blocking the rolling horde. Immediately after, a sword beam swept across.

The sword beam, spanning seven to eight meters, instantly sliced a large number of Tree Demons in half. The severed bodies kept crawling on the ground, but with their legs separated and movements slowed, they were no longer a significant threat.

The physical attack would've missed the flying ghosts, but the frost energy from Xue Zhiyu and Badeluo had partially solidified their bodies. As the sword beam passed, even the ghosts were swept down in large numbers.

Hei Wukai's Yecha Wolf Fang Sword.

That sword strike was just a casual move to slightly relieve the pressure on Rose and the Frost Spirits. He stood still, eyes locked on the Tree Demon's core.

Even a kid knows to take out the leader first, but it requires waiting for the right moment.

At this moment, the vanguard of the Tree Demons and ghosts clashed with the disciples from both sides.

Old Wang and Hei Wukai stood their ground, and Ye Dun's side was also at ease.

"Kill!"

The fighters led the charge, while the Thunder Mages from the Sakuman Temple, led by Gule, became the main force attacking from the rear. Along with Thunder Mages from several other Holy Sanctuaries, a dozen of them summoned lightning together. Storm clouds formed, and lightning bolts hammered the Tree Demon horde. Both ghosts and Tree Demons feared lightning strikes, and now they were being swept down and electrocuted in large numbers. Smoke filled the air, reeking of burnt wood. Rather than retreating, they pushed forward, holding the line against the onslaught.

Xiao Bang was also in this large group. He'd spotted Wang Feng upon arrival, but since their meeting at the Fortress of Blades, his master had not contacted him. Unsure of his master's thoughts, he dared not approach him recklessly, but his attention remained fixed on his master, the person he revered most in his life.

Seeing Hei Wukai take the lead and engage in battle with the Tree Demons and ghosts, while his master stood back with arms crossed, not participating...

After a brief pause, Xiao Bang got it. His master probably wasn't interested in such matters. After all, for someone who could instantly kill a quasi-dragon-level succubus, this was likely not even a minor event. But as his master's disciple, how could he fall behind at such a time?

Time to show his master what he's learned!

A glint of determination flashed in Xiao Bang's eyes. He clenched his fists tightly, and a golden inverted triangle mark, rotating within a circle, instantly appeared between his fists, resembling two small golden shields. He leaped high, vaulting over Tatashi's ice wall, and threw a punch through the air.

Boom!

The golden fist, two to three meters wide, smashed into the Tree Demon horde like a giant's punch. While its effect on the ghosts was limited, the Tree Demons were instantly blasted away, its power not much weaker than a Skyburst Grenade.

"Kill!"

The Nine Gods were not idle either. In fact, compared to the League of Blades, they were even more at ease.

Princess Snow Cang controlled the battlefield with ice, leading a dozen ice mages. A vast expanse of snow and icy wind firmly halted the advance of the ghosts and Tree Demons.

On the ground, the Steel Demon Kaiser charged into the Tree Demon horde like a war chariot.

The Tree Demons employ a variety of attack methods, from tearing to biting. Their branches, hard as steel, can sprout thorns at will, easily piercing flesh like razor-sharp swords. Yet, they fail to penetrate Caesar Mo's ironclad skin.

Clang, clang, clang—the relentless clanging continued...

Countless wooden thorns pounded his iron skin, clanging loudly but leaving neither damage nor a single scratch. With a nonchalant swing of his HexSky Mace, he cleared a swath of Tree Demons. The airborne wraiths also tried to attack him, attempting to pass through his body to consume his spirit and soul. But the iron skin was no ordinary armor; the wraiths couldn't breach it, rendering them powerless...

Long Feixue hovered motionless in the air, quietly observing the Tree Demons' weaknesses and biding her time.

These small Tree Demons and wraiths were just a warm-up, not even the vanguard. The three groups, undeterred by these small Tree Demons and wraiths, pressed forward swiftly. The real battle would commence once the three sides entered the main Tree Demon's attack range.

Whoever advanced first might gain the upper hand, though they risked becoming stepping stones for others, testing the waters and paving the way.

Yet, judging by the current pace, Nine Gods, with more experts and manpower, was clearly outpacing the divided Holy Sanctuary forces...

Huh?

He turned, drawn by three peculiar figures.

Three figures, entirely cloaked in black, strode directly toward the main Tree Demon body, ignoring all else. The small Tree Demons and airborne wraiths not only didn't hinder them but even parted ways, creating a path through the onslaught.

Are they from Dark Demon Island?

Long Feixue's eyes flickered. How had they managed that?

They advanced unhindered, as if taking a leisurely stroll through the forest, untouched by the surrounding chaos.

"Thunder Ghost," Momosang, towering and imposing, his eyes gleaming from within the black cloak, said, "I can only get you in. The rest is up to you!"

"Hey, this thing's no pushover..." Thunder Ghost de Broglie's eyes gleamed with excitement. After being on Dark Demon Island for so long, everything felt new. This was a true ghost-level Tree Demon, and hunting such a high-tier creature was a first for him. "I'll do my best!"

No sooner had he spoken than the three of them had bypassed the wraiths and small Tree Demons, stepping into the main Tree Demon's attack range.

At that moment, the previously inert, seemingly lifeless Tree Demon's massive ghostly face suddenly opened its eyes.

The dense tentacles atop the tree crown suddenly glowed with an eerie light. This time, it wasn't a mere slap like before against Long Feixue and Hei Wukai. The tentacles opened their mouths, and the ghostly light gathered within.

In an instant, thousands of light points lit up in the air, followed by a simultaneous barrage.

Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Dense ghostly soul bullets, like energy bullets from a rune gun, rained down on the Dark Demon Island trio.

"Hmph!" Momosang's eyes flashed with a sharp light. From under his black cloak, a large hand emerged, holding a soul-summoning lantern connected to an iron chain.

"Soul Guide."

A cold, ghostly voice from the underworld. With a wave of his hand, the lantern suddenly lit up with a green light, fiercely sweeping around.

"Thousand Banner Soul Lantern!"

A massive green lantern shadow suddenly illuminated, enveloping the three of them.

Woo, woo, woo, woo...

The lantern shadow was adorned with countless bells, holes, and banners, emitting ghostly wails and howls that summoned souls.

The wraiths and Tree Demons around them, which had previously avoided them, seemed collectively bewitched, swiftly pouncing toward the three.

But it wasn't an attack. Instead, their bodies attached to the lantern shadow, piling up layer by layer.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Energy bullets rained down from above, but they exploded on the stacked Tree Demons and wraiths. There were many energy bullets, and the Tree Demons and wraiths were also numerous, continuously being attracted by the soul lantern, effectively turning the enemy's own weapons against them.

Everyone around who was still engaged in fierce battles with the Tree Demons and wraiths was stunned. What kind of move is this? One guy is taking on everyone!

"Jiang! Jiang!"

The demonic visage of the Tree Demon grew even more ferocious.

Swish!

Countless tentacles shifted slightly to the side, and the two large eyes on the demonic visage bulged, suddenly unleashing two thick, arm-sized energy beams.

The beams were incredibly fast, far surpassing ordinary lightning techniques. In an instant, they struck the stacked Tree Demons and wraiths.

Boom!

The energy exploded, instantly vaporizing countless Tree Demons and wraiths. The blast was as powerful as the city's defensive rune cannons!

At the center of the explosion, a glowing green iron chain shot up, latching onto a tentacle, pulling the soul lantern that enveloped the three from Dark Demon Island into the sky, completely unscathed by the beam's explosion.

From the shadow of the soul lantern, a bolt of lightning flashed.

"My turn to strike!" de Broglie's eyes flashed with lightning as he flicked his finger.

Whoosh!

A lightning spear shot out, followed by a barrage of them, streaking in a continuous line.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Lightning crisscrossed, light and shadow danced.

The Tree Demon's face was wide open, and the surrounding tentacles quickly tried to intercept, but they were no match for the lightning spears' speed.

Bang bang bang bang...

Countless lightning spears struck the face, but they shattered like fragile needles, leaving it completely unharmed!

Chapter 231

"This thing isn't fazed by lightning!" de Broglie was somewhat surprised. Tree Demons, being of the wood element, are usually most vulnerable to lightning techniques. Yet this thing withstood his lightning spears without a scratch. His eyes sparkled with excitement: "This bark is special. I need a sample to study. Uncle Lin is the expert at dissecting..."

"Quit messing around, Thunder Ghost!" Momosang's soul lantern enveloped the three, and the iron chain had transformed into an energy-linked soul chain, pulling them to the limit, swinging them forward like on a swing, avoiding the dense tentacles. In an instant, they were within a hundred meters of the demonic visage, while behind them, the tentacles swarmed like locusts.

Momosang shouted: "Now!"

The third person among them raised two fingers, and a runic circle materialized beneath their feet, with a continuous flow of soul power surging from within.

"Got it, got it!" de Broglie muttered, but his hands were not idle.

He lowered his hands, rubbing them together.

Zap zap zap!

A football-sized ball of lightning instantly flashed, enveloping his hands. Intense currents surrounded the lightning ball, stretching exaggeratedly in all directions.

"Let's see you withstand this!" de Broglie's eyes reflected the flashing lightning, and he grew even more excited.

With a sudden yank of his hands, the thunderball elongated into a spear of lightning, about a meter long and forearm-thick.

"Go!"

He gestured with his left hand.

Whoosh!

The lightning bolt zipped through the air, leaving a gleaming silver trail, zeroing in on the ghostly face's left eye.

The Tree Demon's ghostly face emitted an eerie glow from its eyes, and its mouth opened wide, belching forth hundreds of wraiths glowing with a sickly green light.

Unlike the typical, formless wraiths, these wraiths were armored skeletons from the waist up. They hovered menacingly in mid-air, their grotesque skulls bellowed as they brandished swords and lunged at the lightning spear.

De Broglie's hands shot apart: "Thousand Feathers! Scatter!"

The hefty lightning spear exploded into a thousand shards, like a swarm of fluttering butterflies or the down of a soaring swan.

They moved with incredible agility, darting in every direction, instantly dodging the skeletal wraiths' encirclement.

"Merge!"

De Broglie clapped his palms together, and countless thunder feathers coalesced back into the lightning spear.

The Tree Demon's ghostly face, usually impassive, flickered with astonishment.

Boom! The lightning spear hit its mark.

A massive surge of electricity erupted on the ghostly face, with residual lightning crackling around, like silver serpents writhing wildly.

But in the next instant.

Roar! The ghostly face bellowed in fury.

A dark light flared, forcefully scattering the residual lightning.

A washbasin-sized crater marred the ghostly face's left cheek, encircled by a charred black ring, stark against the face's dark glow.

"Damn, it missed!" De Broglie looked annoyed.

At that moment, the dense tentacles had caught up to the Soul Lantern.

The Tree Demon was furious; a few insignificant bugs had actually wounded it.

Now, the majority of the dense tentacles on its head were concentrated and mobilized, far more exaggerated than when it attacked Long Feixue and Hei Wukai. The attack instantly covered the area, engulfing the three along with the Soul Lantern.

But just then, Ye Dun, who had been waiting for the opportunity, had a flash of brilliance in his eyes.

The Tree Demon's attention was completely drawn to the three from Dark Demon Island, and it had mobilized a large number of tentacles for the attack, leaving other areas vulnerable.

The opportunity had come!

He was about to break away from the group and launch a surprise attack when he saw two figures, one black and one white, start moving almost simultaneously from the left and right sides of the battlefield.

Ye Dun's brow furrowed slightly, and he stopped.

Long Feixue and Hei Wukai?

This kind of unspoken understanding made Ye Dun pause, feeling quite displeased. Ye Dun was very particular about his status; the Heavenly Sword should be paired with the finest individual, that was the proper match. The Yasha Clan was too oblivious. A cold smile appeared on Ye Dun's lips. Let's see just how capable you are!

The Tree Demon and ghost army's blockade was already broken by the disciple teams, leaving only a few still surrounding the two.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Streaks of black and white light flashed by, sword light crisscrossing in their wake. No one could clearly make out their movements, but they saw the two plowing through the horde of Tree Demon ghosts like a blade through soil. Along the way, countless Tree Demon branches were severed and flung into the air. In an instant, they were within the Tree Demon's attack range.

The Tree Demon was still in a furious rage, its attention firmly fixed on the three from Dark Demon Island. The tentacles, layered and slapping, glowed with a dark blue light, pressing down with crushing force, as if to bury the three from Dark Demon Island alive.

In the next instant, a chain shot through the dense tentacles.

"Soul Guide—Void Nether Lamp!"

The green energy chain turned white, seemingly endless, with a weight-shaped tip. It soared and latched onto a massive tentacle atop the Tree Demon.

Crack!

The white iron weight, linked to the soul chain, coiled tightly around the tentacle, then retracted, hauling up a massive white soul lamp that encased the three from Dark Demon Island.

The white lamp, nearly transparent, rose swiftly, but Momosang's eyes narrowed sharply.

Two thick rays shot from the ghost face's eyes, striking the Void Nether Lamp.

Momosang's Soul Guide Lamp had three forms. The Thousand Banner Soul Lamp could deflect energy attacks, while the Void Nether Lamp drew people into the void soul realm, rendering them visible but untouchable, nearly immune to physical attacks, though its energy defense was weak.

Crash!

The rays struck true, shattering the Void Nether Lamp instantly. Three figures burst from the shattered lamp.

At that moment, the black and white figures closed in almost in unison.

Hei Wukai on the right, Long Feixue on the left—their eyes met, and soul power surged. Their speed skyrocketed in an instant.

The Tree Demon's focus and hatred were fixed on Dark Demon Island. Having just launched an attack, its huge eye sockets were still filled with thick dark light, residual energy spilling out from the depths, making it difficult to see. Suddenly, it felt two attacks coming at high speed from left and right.

In panic, it quickly closed its eyes, and thick bark instantly covered the two eye sockets. And the next second...

"Slash!"

Long Feixue's entire body seemed to transform into a huge, blazing white sword, razor-sharp, slashing into the eye socket covered by the bark.

Hei Wukai's sword shadow was like a ferocious, roaring black dragon, its domineering force charging headlong.

The bark defense was too hasty, and the two attacks were overwhelming. In an instant, shattered bark flew everywhere, accompanied by the Tree Demon's terrifying and pained roar.

Jiang Ang!

The dark light and spiritual awareness in the eye sockets were instantly obliterated by the two sword qi, and the ghost face roared in agony, the massive trunk trembling slightly.

Success.

But there was no joy in Hei Wukai and Long Feixue's eyes, only a flash of vigilance. They could feel the Tree Demon's life force rapidly waning, but what followed was an even more powerful energy eruption.

The Tree Demon's once dark blue light suddenly turned blood red. On its main trunk, the clearly visible blood-red veins spread like blood vessels and meridians, rapidly extending along the trunk and reaching every tentacle.

"Retreat!" Hei Wukai shouted, leaping back explosively, while warning Mo Tong and the others who were about to charge.

On the other side, Long Feixue silently drifted away.

The Tree Demon was clearly at its last gasp, and they only needed to retreat out of its attack range to wait for its death. But the next second...

The Tree Demon went wild!

Boom! Crash! Roar!

The ground shook and roared, with huge cracks splitting wildly in all directions. Its massive body, over a hundred meters tall, suddenly surged upward as a huge root, thick enough to need ten people to wrap around, burst from the cracked ground and tightly gripped the cracked surface.

The root became the Tree Demon's leg. With a powerful tug, the ground cracked even faster. Beneath the main trunk, huge chunks of dirt and rocks were flipped over, followed by the emergence of a second, then a third root...

Dozens of roots, like dozens of legs!

Each one stretched tens of meters, with the thickest needing dozens to wrap around, the thinnest several. They glowed with an eerie red light, with visible veins and lines.

The outer disciples had just escaped smaller Tree Demons and wraiths. Seeing this strange sight, everyone froze. Many tried to run, but the ground cracked faster than they could escape.

"Aah!"

"Whoa!"

Many screamed in terror. Dozens fell into the cracks before they could escape.

The cracks seemed endless, glowing red like molten lava below. The screams of those who fell quickly vanished, as if they had been incinerated by the lava.

"Holy crap!" Old Wang was momentarily stunned, then felt the ground shake and his legs split apart. A massive crack appeared right beneath him, forcing him into a split, and he instantly plummeted down!

A delicate hand caught him just in time.

"Grab on!" Xue Zhiyu shouted urgently, reaching out to pull Old Wang.

With her left hand, she held onto Wang Feng, while her right gripped the tail end of her staff, the other end of which was held by Tatashi.

Tatashi's right hand clung to the cliff-like crack, channeling soul power, while his left hand yanked forcefully: "Up!"

Xue Zhiyu and Wang Feng were flung high into the air like a tossed ball.

Old Wang feared nothing but heights. At high altitudes, his vision spun and his head grew dizzy.

The fall had terrified him. Now, with the wind whistling past his ears and the sensation of soaring through the clouds, his hands flailed wildly, grabbing onto whatever they could and clutching it tightly. Though his cheek pressed against something soft and warm, he was too panicked to notice, only holding on for dear life...

"Wang Feng, it's okay."

After a long while, he finally heard someone whisper softly.