The Lord of Void and Real-Chapter 1696 - 1692: Thunderous Baptism by Fire

"Booming rumble"

Suddenly, the sound of thunder rang out, and within the dark clouds, two gigantic vortices formed. Two colossal fox claws shot forth from within, not attacking anyone, but instead, like two massive pillars, they positioned themselves on the left and right sides of the valley entrance.

Immediately after, an enormous green fox head emerged from the dark clouds, its blood-stained maw blocking the valley entrance entirely, sealing off everyone’s path forward.

"No wonder those old foxes from Qingqiu didn’t come out themselves. They deliberately let us slay those fox spirits, allowing their residual souls to ascend into the air to be absorbed by this fox spirit," Lu Huaming exclaimed angrily.

"When we finally were about to leave the valley, this fox spirit made its move. We’re almost depleted, while its strength soars from absorbing so many fox spirit remnants. At this rate, we stand no chance," Bai Xiaotian said, unable to hold back his frustration.

Upon hearing this, the cultivators from various sects, whose heroic fervor had been ignited earlier, felt it dim considerably. After sensing the overwhelming breath of the fox spirit ahead, far surpassing the Taiyi middle stage, their hearts sank into despair.

"Lu Daoist, Bai Daoist, where are the elders of your sects? At this point, don’t hold back anymore. If they don’t come forth now, we’re really going to face total annihilation," shouted an elder of the Xuanhuo Sect loudly.

The other cultivators immediately snapped to attention, shouting urgently as well.

The reason they dared to join this risky mission was their belief that sects like the Tang Dynasty Government and Hua Sheng Temple would never let a mere few disciples lead the charge in such a dangerous campaign against an entire race.

They had always assumed that elders from the Tang Dynasty Government, Hua Sheng Temple, or even Demon King Fort and Heavenly Palace were lurking in the shadows, waiting to step in when the disciples faced mortal peril.

But how could they have known that even if such reinforcements did exist, they were now genuinely unable to come to their aid?

Lu Huaming, having already heard news from Shen Luo, was naturally aware that neither his Master nor the National Master could spare a hand. He couldn’t reveal the grim truth and could only say:

"Fellow cultivators, it’s not yet the end of our resources. Have all of you lost your fighting spirit already?"

"Lu Daoist, can’t you see? The fox spirit blocking our path is at the Taiyi middle stage. Even combined, we are not its match. How are we supposed to fight it?" The others had entirely lost hope.

"Whether we can win or not, we won’t know until we try." Shen Luo snorted coldly and said.

"Exactly." Jiang Shentian echoed immediately.

Seven Kills remained silent but stood resolutely beside Shen Luo with his spear.

These outstanding young cultivators knew well that at this moment, someone needed to step forward and lead, or everyone would succumb to despair and end up as lost souls in the fox spirit’s maw.

As they spoke, the group had already closed the distance to the valley entrance by less than a hundred feet.

The enormous fox spirit’s mouth suddenly illuminated with a green flame, erupting like a dam-breaking tide. The flame transformed into a straight beam of fire, rushing toward everyone.

"Booming rumble"

The sound of thunder erupted through the valley as the green flame swept forth, shattering the void in its wake.

Seeing this, everyone was struck with fear, feeling the shadow of death looming overhead.

"Lotus Wonderful Method, Indigo Blue Sea." At that moment, Nie Caizhu led the Mount Putuo disciples forward with a sharp cry.

Before the Mount Putuo disciples appeared streaks of azure light. A surge of freezing energy instantly soared, followed by a gigantic wave of water shooting skyward, rushing toward the fiery beam.

The blue wave surged upward and collided with the green flame. In the instant they met, the freezing power sealed the flames.

However, within mere breaths, the green flame broke free from the frozen wave, surging once more toward the group.

"Vajra Guardian, Great Compassion Palm."

Immediately, a series of Buddhist chants rang out. Golden palm prints flew forward, converging into a mountain-sized golden seal that collided with the green flame beam.

"Boom!"

The golden palm seal shattered into pieces with an explosive sound, yet the green flame, though dimmed significantly, pressed onward relentlessly.

"Sweeping Thousands of Troops." At that moment, a fierce shout sounded.

Lu Huaming led the Tang Dynasty Government disciples forward with their swords. Streaks of sword light pierced the sky, shooting upwards to a height of ten feet before transforming into countless raindrops of sword energy, slicing into the flames.

A storm of densely-packed collisions erupted, with countless sword lights intertwining and slicing the green flame beam into scattered fragments, turning it into dispersed fireballs.

Even the most disheartened among the group found themselves spurred into action, striking the remnants of the flames until they were extinguished.

Yet, as soon as they managed to fend off this attack, an even more despairing sight emerged before them.

The enormous fox head blocking the exit revealed a vast green vortex spinning furiously within its blood-stained maw. A massive, irresistible suction force surged outward.

The valley was instantly swept into chaos, filled with flying sand, whistling winds, and panic.

Those who had been charging toward the valley entrance now scrambled to retreat, seeking to escape the pull of the vortex.

The sheer number of people made escape chaotic; those in the front turning back were blocked by those in the rear, leaving the group in disarray.

"No, no..."

A desperate scream rang out as a disciple from the Xuanhuo Sect lost their footing. Pulled into the vortex by the suction force, they hurtled uncontrollably into the giant maw and were instantly torn to pieces, their Divine Soul unable to escape.

A furious roar followed, and the suction at the Taiyi-level fox spirit’s mouth intensified, pulling three more cultivators to their deaths.

As the suction force grew ever stronger, the entire allied army began inching closer to the valley entrance as a group.

It would take only moments before all of them were swallowed by the fox spirit.

"What do we do? I don’t want to die..." someone shouted in panic.

"Someone save me! Tang Dynasty Government, Hua Sheng Temple elders, where are you..."

"It’s over. We’re finished..."

Amidst the chaotic cries, the group was now less than ten feet from the fox spirit’s maw.

The closer they drew, the stronger the suction became, pulling them closer to their doom. Even Jiang Shentian and Seven Kills could do nothing to turn the tide.

Just then, a slender figure suddenly flew out from the crowd, placing herself between everyone and the frontlines. Her presence emitted waves of peculiar energy, creating a water-like fluctuation in the air.

In the eyes of the group, they felt as though time had slowed; only one figure, flashing with lightning beneath her feet, moved swiftly toward the slender silhouette.

"Thanks for your effort..."

Shen Luo spoke softly to Nie Caizhu, who was radiating her time manipulation power, before raising his hand. The Destruction Mingwang Yan Armor appeared before him, and he gripped the Sun Battle Axe in one hand, brandishing it downward toward the fox spirit.

The battle axe immediately erupted with radiant light. Flames as bright as the sun surged forward, hurtling toward the giant fox maw.

The fox’s twin Eyes of World Destruction flared with purple light, releasing thick bolts of lightning that intertwined with the raging flames, all rushing toward the fox spirit’s maw.

As the attack reached its target, the two forces collided.

Lightning and fire, booming thunder resounded through the heavens and earth!