My kick was incredibly forceful, channeling my full cultivation.
It was aimed at killing this demonic female spirit.
But who knew, as my foot landed, it was caught firmly by the demoness's hands.
Yet, she appeared to be straining immensely, as if using her last reserves of strength.
Then, the tall demoness, speaking with great difficulty, said:
"You, you cannot kill me.
If you let me go, I, I can replenish your lifespan.
Give you, give you true longevity.
But, but if I die.
The, the Church will ensure you never find peace.
You will also, for, forever be restless..."
The demoness spoke with difficulty.
Her body was already extremely weak; another injury would scatter her soul.
I coldly snorted at her attempts at bribery and threats.
Others might have fallen for her lies.
But I paid them no mind.
I knew the malevolence of demonic arts and the ferocity of ghosts from my journey so far.
Every interaction with these malevolent demonic practitioners was a dance on the edge of life and death.
It is better not to trust than to trust blindly.
If one's will is weak, swayed by promises of profit, tempted by easy gains, or prone to hesitation, they would have died dozens of times over.
They would not have lived to see this day...
I looked into her deceptively kind eyes and spoke coldly again:
"My longevity, I will seize myself.
My life, I will fight for myself.
I need neither your offering nor your gift.
If your Church wishes to kill me, let them come.
I will let them know.
That this life of mine is not so easily taken."
As I spoke, Qing Dai, Hu San Tai Nai, the demon man from the Bottomless Cave, Old Mo, Qiu Xi, and the others had all surrounded us.
They looked at me and the demoness, the great protector of the Black Demon Cult, under my foot.
My expression turned cold, and I released the Yin and Yang energies within my dantian.
Instantly, a force of Yin and Yang erupted from my body.
Everyone around felt both Yin and Yang energies, and they all paused inexplicably.
They looked at me with a strange expression...
But my foot suddenly exerted more pressure, stomping down fiercely.
The tall demoness was at her absolute limit and could not resist.
Knowing her death was imminent, she screamed in terror:
"No..."
With a "bang,"
The tall demoness's voice abruptly ceased.
Her soul was instantly shattered by my kick, scattering into nothingness.
From beginning to end, I never even knew the tall demoness's name.
But in the end, she died by my hand.
"Protector!"
"Great Protector!"
"..."
The surrounding demonic practitioners of the Black Demon Cult cried out in shock, their grief profound and their morale plummeting.
Their sole spiritual leader was now gone.
Continuing their resistance had become utterly meaningless.
Many demonic practitioners, upon learning of the great protector's death, turned and fled without hesitation.
Although the three major forces were present,
They had not formed a complete encirclement around them.
They had a chance to escape.
"Retreat!"
"Take the news back to the Demon Court."
"Retreat!"
"..."
Voices rose from within the ranks of the demonic practitioners.
The remaining forces of the Black Demon Cult, apart from the ghost thralls and corpse thralls,
The demonic practitioners scattered.
The forces of the three major powers advanced, crushing them.
The Black Demon Cult's demonic fiends were routed like a collapsing mountain. Without the command and control of the demonic practitioners,
The ghost thralls and corpse monsters died amidst mournful wails...
Seeing everything before me, I lifted my head with ease.
At this moment, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
Though my body ached and was covered in wounds,
The sense of urgency and the pressure of life and death had receded.
The breath I had held in my chest could finally be exhaled.
I had survived.
We were finally safe.
"Hahaha! Old Qin, you did wonderfully.
We won, we won..."
Old Mo ran over, laughing heartily.
I could feel his joy, his elation.
We nodded, responding in unison:
"Yes, we won, and we all survived."
Hu San Tai Nai and the demon man from the Bottomless Cave approached at this time.
I shifted my gaze to them.
"Grandmother, Grey Immortal, thank you for saving my life today..."
After speaking, I quickly clasped my fists in gratitude.
Hu San Tai Nai smiled, her foxy features apparent:
"It's nothing, the Black Demon Cult has committed many wicked deeds.
My Hu family's intervention was merely upholding heavenly justice.
Accumulating merit for the fox clan's existence.
But if you truly wish to thank Grandmother.
Then Little Mei will need you to guide her through the trials of the mortal world in the future..."
She looked at Little Mei, who was by her side wearing a fox fur coat.
If it weren't for her running into the mountains for reinforcements this time,
The fox clan would not have arrived here.
I was very grateful to Little Mei.
Hearing this, I immediately agreed:
"Grandmother, rest assured, Qin Ze accepts this responsibility."
Hu San Tai Nai smiled slightly and nodded.
At the same time, the grey family demon man from the Bottomless Cave also spoke gruffly:
"Greetings, Young Master Qin.
I am Grey Eighteen from the Bottomless Cave, a subordinate of the Old Mother of the Bottomless Cave.
I came to assist by order of my Old Mother."
I repeatedly raised my hands in acknowledgment:
"So it is the Eighteenth Master of the Grey family from the Bottomless Cave. Qin Ze thanks you."
Grey Eighteen smiled, my words pleasing him:
"Young Master Qin need not be so formal.
The safe recovery of the Old Mother's Nine-Section Whip owes much to Young Master Qin's assistance.
You have bestowed a great kindness upon the Bottomless Cave.
We of the Bottomless Cave Grey family repay all kindness.
This time, when Young Master Qin was in trouble, my Bottomless Cave Grey family naturally offered our full support.
Fortunately, we arrived in time, hahahaha..."
Grey Eighteen laughed heartily, his words direct and without pretense.
I nodded.
Just as I was about to exchange further pleasantries,
After all, they had traveled from afar to save us, and even though we weren't close, a few polite words were certainly in order.
But as I opened my mouth, a tearing sensation and pain suddenly erupted from my left chest.
I instinctively reached to touch it.
The feeling instantly spread, causing even my soul to tremble and writhe.
I inwardly felt a sense of dread.
This was likely the curse taking effect.
I cast my gaze towards the not-too-distant figure,
A woman in white, directing the battle, Qing Dai...