Chapter 296: Chapter 296: Breaking into the Demon-locking Tower, The Millennial Evil Beast
The others did not immediately reply.

Yunhua Zhenren glanced at Madam Lady Gaolan and, after a moment of hesitation, asked, “What dangers lie within the Nine-Layered Demon-Sealing Tower?”

At that question, the others also took interest.

If the dangers were not significant, Luo Cheng wouldn’t possibly share such a splendid treasure with the major powers.

“The Nine-Layered Demon-Sealing Tower is used to suppress demonic beasts, and its interior is filled with Evil Qi. If one is tainted by the Evil Qi, it’s very easy to deviate and fall into madness.”

Luo Cheng did not hide the crisis.

He shifted his tone and lifted the Treasure Bead, saying, “However, we have the Purification Bead, which can shield us from the Evil Qi, allowing us to make it to the ninth layer smoothly.”

Gong Qingqiu asked, “Aside from the Evil Qi, there should be other dangers, right? Like those demonic beasts that have been suppressed over the years.”

Luo Cheng put away the Purification Bead and nodded towards Gong Qingqiu, saying, “You’re worthy of being an Elder of Misty Sect, meticulous and thorough in thinking. The demonic beasts inside the Nine-Layered Demon-Sealing Tower have been suppressed for nearly a thousand years, and most have already perished, turning into Evil Qi.”

“This Evil Qi will control the carcasses of the demonic beasts to attack us, but their strength is far from what it was when they were alive.”

“Starting from the second layer, each layer is home to a Demon General, and the higher it goes, the more powerful they are.”

“The demonic beast on the ninth layer has already reached the peak of a High-Rank Demon General, not much different in power from the Fanged Mad Pig and Dual-winged Giant Crocodile that Sect Master Ye killed a while ago—extremely terrifying.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd’s expressions changed.

“Too strong, we can’t beat it,” the Fifth-Layer Element Gathering Realm Elder who had previously agreed, waved his hands repeatedly, regretting his quick commitment.

“Don’t rush,”

Luo Cheng waved his hands and smiled, “That’s all from a thousand years ago. Having been suppressed for a thousand years, the demonic beast’s strength should have only two or three tenths left. Even if it bursts out suddenly, it would only be about fifty percent of its peak stage strength. With several of us Sect Masters joining hands, we can definitely kill it.”

“That makes sense,” Liu Yuzhi muttered.

“Let’s get this clear, if there is real danger and we can’t win, we must prioritize fleeing. We can abandon the treasures, but we must save our lives,” the Fifth-Layer Element Gathering Realm Elder spoke again.

“Of course,” Luo Cheng nodded in agreement.

After a short discussion, most of the Sect Master-level powerhouses agreed to take action.

In the end, only Gong Qingqiu had yet to express her stance.

Everyone looked at her, waiting for an answer.

At her seat,

A pale golden Elixir appeared in Gong Qingqiu’s palm, invisible to everyone else except her, very secretive.

“Since everyone is willing to take action, how could I not participate?”

Ultimately, she also agreed.

The crowd all let out sighs of relief.

Although Gong Qingqiu was currently only at the Fourth Layer of the Element Gathering Realm, she was a seasoned Talisman Master. If she could prepare more Middle Grade Talismans, the role she could play would be even greater than that of Fifth or Sixth Layer Element Gathering Realm’s.

…

The banquet ended quickly.

Beneath the night sky,

Shi Lei, Mo Ying, and the other disciples gathered around Gong Qingqiu.

“Elder, are you truly planning to take action?”

“Could there be any danger?”

The disciples were worried.

“I have the backup plan left by the Sect Leader; even if the demonic beast on the ninth layer is still at its peak, it might not be a match for me. Don’t worry,”

Gong Qingqiu appeared rather composed.

In order to accumulate more Fifth Grade Magic and Auxiliary Cultivation Methods for the Sect, even if she had to take risks in the Demon-locking Tower, what of it?

Everything, was for the sake of the Sect!

…

The desolate Barren Desert,

Bang!

Hu Feifei shattered the skull of a High-Rank Demon General with a staff blow, causing it to collapse onto the ground, convulsing, as countless scorpions crawled out of its body, spreading out like flowing sand.

“Yuck, so disgusting!”

Hu Feifei ascended into the air with a look of disgust.

“Pack up its remains into a storage ring.” Ye Feng tossed out a bunch of storage rings.

Along the journey, Ye Feng had crafted many Lower Grade storage rings with the Refining Furnace, filling most with various demonic beasts’ carcasses, enough to feed Misty Sect’s Spiritual Beasts for a decade.

Bang, bang, bang!

Hu Feifei smashed the remains of the demonic beasts, tossing them into the storage rings.

Miles away,

Deep beneath the Barren Desert,

“Some powerful entities are slaying their way here from Mystique Kingdom, many War Generals have been eradicated; the opponents must have at least Demon King level combat power, could it be Divine Wind Sword Sect’s Supreme Elder?”

“Impossible, could our plans have been discovered?”

“Quickly inform the Demon King!”

Anxious conversations echoed in an Underground Palace.

…

The next morning,

Behind the hills of Biyue Villa.

A party of several hundred people converged beneath the Nine-Layered Demon-Sealing Tower.

“Today, only the sect leaders and other powerful experts need enter, the rest of our friends may watch the spatial projection on this wall,”

Luo Cheng clasped his hands together, projecting a light screen onto one of the walls of the Demon-locking Tower.

“Let’s go!”

With a shout from Luo Cheng, who led the way,

Gao Lan, Gong Qingqiu, Yunhua Zhenren, along with the remaining sect leaders marched shoulder to shoulder, entering the first layer of the Demon-locking Tower under the watchful eyes of everyone’s anticipation.

From the outside, the Nine-Layered Demon-Sealing Tower didn’t seem very large.

But upon entering the first layer, everyone discovered it was a Miniature Cave Heaven World – hundreds of meters in diameter and reaching a height of a hundred meters.

“Inside are nine Miniature Cave Heaven Worlds, vast and stable in space, where you can act freely without worrying about blowing up the Demon-locking Tower,”

Luo Cheng reminded everyone.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a fierce wind swept through the first layer.

A swath of black qi swept in, transforming into the face of an evil beast, opening its maw wide as if trying to swallow everyone whole.

“Scram!”

Luo Cheng took out a Purification Bead, and the hideous face was instantly dispersed by the light, emitting a trembling wail.

“Is that the Evil Qi?” Yunhua Zhenren inquired.

“Big brother-in-law guessed right, that is indeed Evil Qi. Everyone, use your True Yuan to protect your bodies. Do not let the Evil Qi invade, and always keep your minds clear,” Luo Cheng reminded them once more.

“Understood.”

Everyone responded in unison.

“The entrance to the second layer is here,” Luo Cheng led everyone to the deepest part of the first layer.

There was a stone staircase there leading into the air.

As everyone ascended, they found the staircase to be on the verge of collapse.

“This place is indeed a bit eerie,” mumbled an old man at the sixth layer of Element Gathering Realm, thinking himself lucky for the company. Had he been alone and faint of heart, he definitely would have turned and fled.

“Temple Chief Tu, do not worry,” Gaolan said softly.

“Heh heh, just a passing sentiment, why would this temple chief worry?” the elder known as Temple Chief Tu beamed with manufactured bravado in front of the lady.

Seeing this, everyone rolled their eyes.

The space on the second layer was the same as the first.

A massive corpse lay on the ground, taking the shape of a tiger, ten meters long, and even in death, it emitted a formidable pressure.

Zoom!

A large swath of Evil Qi merged into the tiger-shaped corpse.

Its eyes burst into frigid light, as if coming back to life, it lunged at the crowd.

“Everyone, activate the Purification Bead together to erase the consciousness of the Evil Qi. Then we can sweep through to the ninth layer,” Luo Cheng tossed the Purification Bead into the air, making it float in midair.

Each person released a streak of True Yuan to boost the power of the Purification Bead.

Hum!

The bead, bolstered by strength, began to contort, turning into a glowing armored warrior wielding a longsword, suddenly slashing out a blinding sword light.

“Aooh…”

The tiger-shaped corpse was cleaved in two, and the Evil Qi within was shattered into countless wisps of black smoke, quickly dissipating and hovering beneath the ceiling of the second layer.

“The Purification Bead also has this effect; it’s strong!”

Everyone exclaimed in admiration.

“If it were not so, why else would I seek everyone’s help? As long as we work together to activate the bead, we can easily sweep through the rest of the way,” Luo Cheng said, full of confidence.

…

Indeed, as Luo Cheng had said,

All working together to control the Glowing Armored Warrior that the Purification Bead had become, they let it lead the charge against the enemies, easily crumbling the consciousness bodies formed by the Evil Qi.

In less than half an incense stick of time, they reached the ninth layer.

“Roar…”

A deep roar echoed.

Everyone looked toward the sound to see at the deepest part of the ninth layer seven stone pillars, each three meters in diameter, were connected to iron chains piercing through the body of a huge humanoid demonic beast, suppressing it mid-air.

The sound just now was emitted by this demonic beast.

“Hehehe, a thousand years have passed, and now people have come to deliver themselves to me—it truly comforts this general!”

The Demon General emitted a chilling, hoarse voice, as if resonating in everyone’s minds, sending shivers down their spines.

Clang!

The Demon General tugged at the iron chains, his previously curled-up body slowly stretching out, revealing his true form.

Although humanoid in appearance, he was covered in dark green, standing about five meters tall, with a pale gold curving horn on his head that extended to his back.

His arms and legs were thick and muscular.

Despite being suppressed for a thousand years, this demonic beast was still powerful, giving the feeling as though it was a seventh layer Element Gathering Realm behemoth.

“You wretched creature, still alive after a thousand years of entrapment, what exactly are you?” Temple Chief Tu demanded sternly.

“Insects, seeking death!” the Curved Horn Demon General glowered at Temple Chief Tu, “How dare you address this general so, once I break free, you will be the first to die!”

An intimidating aura burst forth with howling sounds, causing Temple Chief Tu to break into a cold sweat and subconsciously take a half step back.