"Who’s there?" Chu Lingjun’s slender brows furrowed as she scanned the surroundings, but she couldn’t see anyone.
Long Chen’s expression was also grave. The voice just now had seemed to come from all directions, making it impossible for him to pinpoint its location by sound.
"Demonic Qi?" Xia Duoduo suddenly said. "Young master, I can feel the presence of Demonic Qi."
Hearing this, Long Chen was slightly stunned. Could there really be followers of the Demon Path here? If so, this is going to be very troublesome.
"Come here!" a hoarse and deep voice sounded again. "My food."
The next second, a powerful force enveloped both Long Chen and Chu Lingjun.
What’s happening? This power is so strong, I can’t break free! Chu Lingjun found herself completely immobilized. Long Chen, however, was entirely unaffected. Seeing Chu Lingjun beginning to sink into the ground, he quickly grabbed her. In the end, they fell into a subterranean cavern together.
The force that had bound them suddenly vanished. Chu Lingjun looked around. It was pitch-black, illuminated only by the faint light of a few candles. The surrounding walls were covered in carvings of the Demon God’s Seal. A single glance sent a jarring shock through her, making her feel dizzy and disoriented.
Chu Lingjun averted her gaze and murmured, "Where in the world are we?"
"Young master, the Demonic Qi is getting stronger," Xia Duoduo warned. "It’s highly likely a Demon will appear. You must be extremely careful."
Hearing this, Long Chen tensed and immediately relayed the warning to Chu Lingjun. "Be careful. It’s very likely we’ll encounter followers of the Demon Path here."
"Followers of the Demon Path?" Chu Lingjun’s heart skipped a beat. She looked at Long Chen in confusion. "How do you know that?"
"This is no time for idle chatter," Long Chen deflected. "Let’s figure out how to get out of here first."
As his words fell, the Blackwind Sword appeared in his hand. Seeing Long Chen’s caution, she didn’t dare to be careless either. She summoned the Gold Chant Sword, readying herself for battle at a moment’s notice.
The surroundings were deathly still—so quiet you could hear a pin drop. In the silence, they could even hear each other breathing. This sensation weighed on them with an inexplicable pressure, making them feel extremely unsettled.
They proceeded cautiously into a great hall, searching for an exit. Suddenly, the entire hall lit up. A wisp of black fog materialized in the air, coalescing into a middle-aged man who brimmed with Demonic Qi.
"A Demon?" Chu Lingjun immediately raised the Gold Chant Sword and pointed it at the man.
"Heh heh." The man chuckled. "To think that I, Zhan Jiu Chong, once a renowned Demon Lord, would now be threatened by a little girl with a sword."
"Demon Lord? Zhan Jiu Chong?" After hearing his name, Chu Lingjun froze for a moment before speaking. "You’re still alive?"
"You know who he is?" Long Chen asked.
"He was the foremost figure of the Demon Path in his time... It’s said he wasn’t from the lands ruled by the three great sects, but from the legendary God-Devil Domain. I never expected him to appear here."
"Little girl, you seem to know quite a bit," Zhan Jiu Chong said, his eyes raking over Chu Lingjun with greed. A Primordial Dao Body? "Haha, how interesting. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve tasted someone with a special physique."
Then, Zhan Jiu Chong’s gaze fell upon Long Chen. He didn’t notice anything special about his constitution, but he could vaguely sense a certain kinship from him. He found the sensation very pleasant.
"He’s just a lingering wisp of consciousness," Xia Duoduo told Long Chen. "Relax, Young Master. He might have been formidable in the past, but now he’s nothing more than that. You have nothing to fear from him."
Hearing this, Long Chen finally relaxed. He asked coldly, "Why did you bring us here?"
"To devour your souls, of course," Zhan Jiu Chong cackled. "You are both exceptionally talented. Once I devour your souls and consume your flesh, my own spirit will grow stronger. You should have no regrets dying at the hands of this lord."