Started out getting scumbags, but then invested in the invincible Empress.

Chapter 201 Demon Clan Stronghold, Traitor!

Zhou Bai patted his chest and solemnly said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother Li, I will definitely protect my junior brothers and bring them back safe and sound."

After saying that, he and Gan Ning and the others quickly headed towards the north of the city.

"Demons..."

Li Wudao's eyes darkened slightly.

The remnants of the demon race, who had been silent for many days, suddenly revealed their whereabouts. He felt something was off, as if they were brewing something.

His intuition told him that it wouldn't be long before he and the demons would have a great battle, a fight to the death.

"The most urgent task is to improve my own strength. I still need to familiarize myself with the 'Great Cataclysm Domain,' and I also need to practice the invincible 'Immortal Severance Technique' diligently..."

Li Wudao quickly analyzed the situation and made a decision.

If he uses these two trump cards skillfully, he will have the potential to turn the tide in a desperate situation, and even have a fighting chance against a Martial Venerable.

"gone."

He called out to the green-haired turtle, then suppressed the excitement in his heart and strolled leisurely toward the inn.

........

Before they knew it, three days had passed.

In the northern suburbs of the city, in front of an abandoned City God Temple.

Zhou Bai, Gan Ning, and more than ten other Xuan Tian Sect disciples stood still, their eyes solemn as they surveyed their surroundings.

"The aura of Chang Tao and the others dissipated right here..."

As far as the eye could see, waist-high weeds grew rampantly, and under the cover of night, gusts of cold wind whistled through the dilapidated window frames.

The clay statue of the City God in front of the temple, under the pale moonlight, had empty eye sockets, giving it an eerie and somewhat unsettling appearance.

"There's a bloody smell... Something's not right here!"

One of the disciples sniffed the air, his expression changing slightly.

"They've been out of contact for two days. Could something have happened to Chang Tao and the others?"

The others looked worried, sensing that things were likely to turn badly bad.

Gan Ning suggested, "Why don't we ask Senior Brother Li what he thinks?"

"Senior Brother Li hasn't replied to me yet. He's probably in seclusion cultivating. It's best not to disturb him for now."

Zhou Bai sighed.

His eyes were fixed on the dilapidated temple in front of him, and he said in a deep voice, "We are all true disciples of the Xuantian Sect. We can't trouble Senior Brother Li with everything. That would only make us look incompetent."

"First, search the surrounding area to see if you can find any clues."

Soon, everyone sprang into action, forming pairs to conduct a thorough search.

After a long while, everyone had gained nothing.

Just then, a disciple's exclamation came from inside the dilapidated temple: "Senior Brother Zhou, there's a secret passage here!"

Zhou Bai and the others rushed over.

The broken stone statue was seen to have shifted from its original position, and beneath its base, a dark staircase leading downwards was revealed.

Everyone's expression shifted slightly.

It's quite unexpected that such a secluded and dilapidated temple would contain such a hidden passage.

"The smell of blood is so strong!"

At the top of the stairs, a pungent smell of blood, mixed with a foul stench, assaulted everyone's senses, causing them to frown.

"My identity token sensed the presence of Chang Tao and the others; they seem to be down here!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise, their face lighting up with joy.

Zhou Bai pondered for a moment and said, "Let's go down and take a look. Be quick-witted."

Whether for the safety of his fellow disciples or for any potential secrets, he felt it necessary to go down and find out.

After walking for a full fifteen minutes, the view suddenly opened up before us.

This is a man-made underground palace, covering an area of ​​several dozen acres. A dozen people can stand there without feeling crowded at all; on the contrary, it feels somewhat empty.

Everyone was surprised.

What was the purpose of building such a large underground palace beneath such a dilapidated temple?

"Everyone, hold your breath and be silent."

With the dim candlelight, Zhou Bai gave a warning and led his disciples cautiously deeper into the area.

Didn't go long.

The stench of blood was even more pungent, making one want to vomit.

"This is......."

Zhou Bai stopped abruptly, his pupils contracting as he stared intently ahead.

Not far away, a small hill made of piled-up corpses stood tall, as high as a two-story building.

The body was left there carelessly, like discarded garbage.

There were men in their prime, their muscles bulging yet cold and stiff; there were beautiful young women, their eyes frozen in deep terror.

There were also children curled up in a ball, their small bodies as pale as paper, devoid of any vitality.

Without exception, all of these people had become mummies, their blood and vital energy absorbed, piling up in a pitiful state, left to be devoured by flies and maggots.

"So all those missing people were here..."

"Such vicious methods... Demons, perhaps only demons could commit such heinous acts!"

"How dare they commit such acts of extermination on my human territory! The demons truly deserve to die!"

The disciples were shocked, their faces filled with shock and anger.

The corpses of tens of thousands of humans, the countless blood debts, the horrific sight, no one could remain calm.

"Senior Brother Zhou, Chang Tao and the others' presence is inside. Should we continue deeper?"

Some people are unsure of what to do.

“Of course, I promised Senior Brother Li that I would bring everyone back alive.”

Zhou Bai withdrew his gaze, suppressed his anger, and continued walking with a heavy expression.

"Don't you guys think... it's too quiet?"

As Gan Ning traveled along, he sensed that something was amiss.

How come there isn't a single guard in this place? How did they manage to sneak in so easily?

It went far too smoothly.

Zhou Bai realized the problem and was about to say something when a disciple with pockmarks on his face exclaimed, "Senior Brother Zhou, look... what's that?!"

Everyone followed his gaze and their expressions changed drastically.

By the dim candlelight, with their limited eyesight, they could vaguely see a huge pool of blood at the edge of their field of vision.

In the center of the blood-red pool was an altar made of human bones.

The liquid in the blood pool was viscous and dark red, like a mountain spring, constantly seeping from the base of the human bone altar, flowing along the intricate spiderweb-like patterns on the surface and converging towards the center.

Around the altar, dozens of black-robed figures knelt devoutly like stone sculptures, muttering incantations and forming hand seals.

As a large amount of blood was injected, the entire formation emitted a deep and rhythmic pulsation, like the heartbeat of a sleeping troll, which was awe-inspiring.

Zhou Bai and the others frowned, mustered their courage and moved closer, their expressions changing again.

In one corner of the altar, three young men were chained to an iron pillar, their skin torn and bleeding profusely, with some areas even revealing their white bones. They had all fainted.

"It's Chang Tao and the others... those damned demons, they actually tortured them like this!"

Some people gritted their teeth, their eyes filled with hatred.

Suddenly, Gan Ning's pupils contracted sharply, and he said in a trembling voice, "Look at that bald man in the middle, doesn't he look like the former leader of Lieyang Peak—Cheng Yuanliang?!"

Everyone stared intently, and after confirming it, their expressions turned grim.

The fact that the Xuantian Sect, a first-rate human power, and its dignified peak master, is actually a member of the demon race is a source of shame for them.

"Hey, that young man in blue robes next to Cheng Yuanliang looks familiar... He seems to be the eldest prince of the Yu Dynasty!"

"Senior Brother Li guessed correctly. The royal family has indeed colluded with the demons behind the scenes."

"Bah! As a human, how dare you collude with the demons and prey on your own people! Even being torn to pieces would not be enough to quell my hatred!"

"The Great Yu royal family is truly despicable; tens of thousands of vibrant lives have been wasted just like that..."

Everyone glared angrily at the handsome young man standing next to Cheng Yuanliang, chatting and laughing, and muttered curses under their breath.

“These are not the main points. If I’m not mistaken, they are performing some kind of blood sacrifice ritual.”

Gan Ning coldly said in a deep voice, "If this formation is completed, it will surely bring great terror, using the flesh and blood of tens of thousands of lives as the price!"

Zhou Bai nodded in agreement, took a deep breath, and said, "Let's go back first and inform Senior Brother Li of the situation here as soon as possible so that he can make a decision."

He realized that this matter was of utmost importance, and that the disciples present alone could not change anything.

Everyone nodded solemnly, knowing that now was not the time to play the hero.

They glanced worriedly in the direction of the altar, at the unconscious Chang Tao and the other two, then gritted their teeth and turned around, preparing to return the way they came.

"boom--"

But at that moment, the young man with pockmarks on his face lost his footing and accidentally stepped on a stone, making a sound.

"Who is there?!"

At the center of the altar, Cheng Yuanliang's ears twitched slightly, his face suddenly turned icy, and his sharp gaze locked onto something instantly.

"Oops!"

Zhou Bai sensed something was wrong. After struggling for a moment, he said heavily, "You all go quickly, I'll cover your retreat!"

"No, we'll go together."

Gan Ning said anxiously.

"None of you can leave!"

Just as Zhou Bai was about to offer some advice, a cold laugh suddenly rang in his ears.

The next moment, he looked pained, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

"puff--"

A long sword pierced his abdomen from behind, and blood dripped continuously from the tip of the sword.

Zhou Bai turned his head with difficulty, looking at the young man with pockmarks on his face in disbelief, and said in a trembling voice:

"Why...?"