Satan’s aura erupted completely. Xue Lian Xuan Nu felt the terrifying pressure emanating from Satan and dared not be careless. She immediately focused, raised her spear, and adopted a defensive stance to guard against Satan’s sneak attacks.
After all, she still had to protect Yan Dan Sheng, who had no cultivation. In such a passive situation, she had no way to launch a proactive attack against Satan.
Seeing Xue Lian Xuan Nu in a defensive posture, Satan chuckled, "Xue Lian Xuan Nu, you were never my match. Now you're carrying a dead weight. Are you sure you still want to struggle?"
"Why don't you just surrender? That way, we can both save some effort."
Xue Lian Xuan Nu gripped her Blazing Spear tightly and said coldly, "Stop the nonsense. If you want to fight, hurry up. I'll poke a few holes in you!"
"What a fiery temper, but I like it!" Satan chuckled, licking his lips. "Since you're so eager for torment, I won't be polite then… Myriad Manifestation Demonic Body!"
As Satan's voice fell, his body dissipated into mist. Then, dozens of illusions of Satan appeared around Xue Lian Xuan Nu, each illusion possessing the exact same aura as Satan's true form!
"Don't show me such stale tricks! Break!"
Xue Lian Xuan Nu clearly knew the weakness of Satan's divine ability. She immediately swung her spear, and a crimson flame ring condensed from Samadhi True Fire spread outwards, engulfing all of Satan's illusions in an instant.
Within the barrier constructed by Satan, a sea of fire raged.
But when the flame ring dispersed, Satan's illusions remained in place, seemingly unharmed.
"It's no use?" Xue Lian Xuan Nu's pupils contracted as her flames failed to consume Satan's illusions.
This Myriad Manifestation Demonic Body was Satan's signature technique back in the day. Xue Lian Xuan Nu had studied its weaknesses for years, knowing that destroying all illusions simultaneously would break Satan's divine ability.
Xue Lian Xuan Nu was not surprised that Satan could resist Samadhi True Fire.
However, now, even Satan's illusions could withstand the scorching of Samadhi True Fire… this defense was truly terrifying.
The surrounding Satan illusions looked at Xue Lian Xuan Nu's shocked expression, all smiling and giggling in unison, "Stop wasting your effort. My divine ability is no longer what it used to be; it has evolved!"
"Now, my illusions, apart from slightly weaker attack power, have abilities identical to my true form. You can't hurt me with just area-of-effect attacks!"
Xue Lian Xuan Nu gritted her teeth. Although she felt immense pressure, she maintained her composure on the surface and said coldly, "So what if it evolved? With the attacks from these illusions, I doubt you can even break through my Flame Armor."
"Who said I was going to surround you with these illusions? Isn't there a useless Yan Dan Sheng next to you?" Satan sneered. All the surrounding illusions immediately rushed towards Yan Dan Sheng!
His objective this time was to seize Yan Dan Sheng's vital blood. Fighting Xue Lian Xuan Nu was meaningless!
"Despicable!"
Seeing that Satan's target was her brother, Xue Lian Xuan Nu's expression changed drastically. She immediately raised her spear and thrust it at the Satan illusion closest to Yan Dan Sheng.
*Chii!*
The Blazing Spear pierced the chest of the Satan illusion. Xue Lian Xuan Nu immediately poured her Blazing Sun power into the illusion through the spear, instantly incinerating that illusion into ashes.
However, as soon as Xue Lian Xuan Nu destroyed one illusion, another five or six illusions simultaneously approached Yan Dan Sheng, striking the spiritual energy barrier around Yan Dan Sheng with their palms!
*Boom!*
The dark spiritual energy impacted the spiritual energy barrier. The barrier, which Xue Lian Xuan Nu had painstakingly condensed, instantly showed cracks!
Although the attack power of those illusions was less than thirty percent of Satan's true form, they were numerous. With five or six of them striking the spiritual energy barrier at the same time, even the strongest spiritual energy barrier couldn't withstand it!
"Damn it!"
Seeing that Satan was about to break through the barrier, Xue Lian Xuan Nu dared not hold back. She unleashed her internal spiritual energy without regard for the cost, thrusting dozens of times in an instant. Blazing flames coiled around the spear and shot out as dozens of flame dragons, charging towards Satan's illusions.
But just as the flame dragons were about to bite into Satan's illusions, those illusions vanished rapidly and reappeared dozens of meters away!
Xue Lian Xuan Nu's flame dragons missed their targets, transforming into scattered flames in mid-air and dissipating into scorching spiritual energy in the air.
The barrier was unbearably hot!
Satan, who had retreated to a distance, smiled at Xue Lian Xuan Nu, "Xue Lian Xuan Nu, don't you understand yet? To break my technique, you must find my true form and engage me in a fierce battle. But if you so much as divert your attention to find my true form, I can seize the opportunity to destroy your barrier and seize Yan Dan Sheng's vital blood."
"But if you never attack proactively and only defend, every time you protect Yan Dan Sheng, you will consume several times more spiritual energy than I do. I just need to keep consuming, and I can exhaust you to death!"
"This is a dead end. You have no choice but to abandon Yan Dan Sheng and flee!"
"So noisy! If you have the guts, come at me! Face me directly!" Xue Lian Xuan Nu shouted irritably, placing one hand on the spiritual energy barrier around Yan Dan Sheng and pouring her spiritual energy into it to mend the cracks.
In this desperate situation, Xue Lian Xuan Nu had become somewhat exasperated with despair!
"Hahaha! How bold! I'd like to see how long you can last!" Satan seemed to enjoy this turn of events. He laughed heartily, and the surrounding illusions once again bypassed Xue Lian Xuan Nu and fiercely struck the barrier around Yan Dan Sheng.
*Boom!*
Just like last time, Xue Lian Xuan Nu destroyed one of Satan's illusions, but five or six illusions simultaneously attacked the spiritual energy barrier protecting Yan Dan Sheng, causing the just-repaired barrier to crack once more!
Xue Lian Xuan Nu launched a full-scale attack on Satan's illusions again, but Satan's illusions employed the same tactic, once again evading Xue Lian Xuan Nu's attack!
"Hahaha! It's useless! Xue Lian Xuan Nu, as long as you protect Yan Dan Sheng, I will always be invincible!"
Satan roared with laughter and attacked Yan Dan Sheng again. Xue Lian Xuan Nu could only passively respond.
Although Xue Lian Xuan Nu could destroy Satan's illusions, she could only destroy one at a time, while Satan had four or five illusions simultaneously attacking the spiritual energy barrier each time.
Every time Xue Lian Xuan Nu repaired the barrier, she had to expend four to five times the spiritual energy compared to Satan. Repeatedly, Xue Lian Xuan Nu's face turned pale, clearly indicating excessive spiritual energy consumption.
Seeing Xue Lian Xuan Nu struggling more and more, Yan Dan Sheng emerged from his grief of being abandoned by the Shadow Hall. He quickly advised Xue Lian Xuan Nu, "Sister, you'll definitely lose if this continues. Don't worry about me; fight Satan with all your might. That way, you'll have a sliver of hope."
Xue Lian Xuan Nu refused without a second thought, "No, if I leave, you'll surely die!"
Yan Dan Sheng anxiously said, "Sister! I'm a cripple now. You don't need to risk your life for me. It's not worth it! If this continues, we'll both die!"
"Shut up! You just watch carefully. I'll do as I please!" Xue Lian Xuan Nu rebuked Yan Dan Sheng and continued to pour her spiritual energy into the spiritual energy barrier to repair it.
She knew very well that she had no chance of winning if she continued like this, but this was also the only way she could save Yan Dan Sheng!
She needed to stall for time, waiting for Ye Ling to arrive!
Unfortunately, fate was not on her side.
Just as Xue Lian Xuan Nu was once again pouring her spiritual energy into the spiritual energy barrier, Satan quietly appeared behind her and struck her fiercely with his palm!
Satan's palm was clearly premeditated, and the dark light surging from his palm even caused space to distort!
Satan sneered, "Little girl, your back should never be exposed to the enemy!"
Sensing the danger from behind, Xue Lian Xuan Nu had no time to resist. She could only hastily protect her vital meridians with spiritual energy, preparing to withstand the blow!
*Bang!*
Satan's palm landed squarely on Xue Lian Xuan Nu's back, directly breaking her spine!
"Pfft!!!"
Xue Lian Xuan Nu spat out a large mouthful of blood. Her aura instantly dissipated, and the spiritual energy barrier around Yan Dan Sheng shattered!
"Sister!!!"
Yan Dan Sheng tried to rush forward to support Xue Lian Xuan Nu, but two of Satan's illusions suddenly appeared behind him, pinning him to the ground, rendering him unable to move!
Xue Lian Xuan Nu collapsed in front of Yan Dan Sheng, blood flowing from her seven orifices, her consciousness becoming blurred.
Although she had protected her vital meridians with spiritual energy, Satan's palm had still shattered her internal organs. Now, she was barely clinging to life and could no longer exert spiritual energy.
Satan walked forward, stepped on Xue Lian Xuan Nu's head, and chuckled, "This time, I originally only intended to seize Yan Dan Sheng's vital blood. I didn't expect you, a fool, to actually dare to risk your life to protect your useless brother."
"Now, both your and your brother's vital blood will belong to me. My breakthrough to the Emperor Realm is just around the corner."
Yan Dan Sheng struggled desperately, glaring at Satan, and roared, "Satan! Come at me! Let go of my sister!"
Satan looked at Yan Dan Sheng mockingly, clicking his tongue and sighing, "Tsk, tsk, tsk… Yan Dan Sheng, the way you struggle is truly like a dog."
Saying that, Satan pressed down harder with his foot on Xue Lian Xuan Nu's head, even crushing half of Xue Lian Xuan Nu's face into the dirt.
Seeing Xue Lian Xuan Nu being tortured like this by Satan, Yan Dan Sheng's eyes instantly turned red, and he roared, "Satan! I will kill you!"
"Kill me? With your current state?" Satan's eyes were filled with mockery. "With your current uselessness, I don't even need to act personally. Any little ghost from hell could torture you to the point where life is worse than death."
"I'm particularly curious now, what exactly happened to you to make you fall to this state."
Yan Dan Sheng glared hatefully at Satan, gritting his teeth, "Satan, you will eventually become like me!"
He shouted hoarsely, "Your Majesty! I know you are nearby! I offer my soul to you! Please return my power to me!"
"Your Majesty?"
Upon hearing Yan Dan Sheng's words, Satan's pupils contracted slightly, and he exclaimed in shock, "You colluded with the Demonic Palace?"
"I don't like the phrase 'colluded with the Demonic Palace'."
At this moment, Ye Ling's voice sounded from behind Satan, causing Satan to tremble all over!