83: Seeking help

Shen Xiaochuan lay prone on the tree, watching the bone fortress in the distance.

It was very dangerous there, and he had to call for help quickly.

He sent a message: "Emergency assembly! Blue crystal core discovered at coordinates [758, 2569]. It will only remain for three hours, come quickly!"

He also attached a blurry screenshot.

After sending the message, he turned off his phone and stuffed the communicator into his pocket.

His faith points were still rising, increasing by 1 point per second; in eight more minutes, he would be able to summon Dian Wei.

He wasn't in a rush.

With more people, he wouldn't need to shoulder the burden alone.

In less than two minutes, someone replied in the group chat.

"I'm in Skydome City, my teleportation scroll is ready." It was Huang Lu.

Then White Snow Princess replied: "Coordinates locked, arriving in ten seconds."

Zhang Heng also replied: "You nouveau riche finally realized you should call for help? Wait for me."

Chen Zhanbei only sent a nodding emoji without saying anything.

But Shen Xiaochuan knew he had set off too.

Shen Xiaochuan put away his phone and looked down at the base of the tree.

The black mist had already covered the path Green Tie had taken.

He pricked up his ears, listening to the movements around him.

The first beam of white light lit up beside the altar.

Huang Lu landed.

She was wearing a dark red battle robe with her hair tied back.

She scanned her surroundings, walked to the tree, looked up, and called out: "Shen Xiaochuan?"

Shen Xiaochuan raised his hand to signal her to stay quiet, then pointed ahead.

Huang Lu looked in that direction, and her expression changed.

She didn't speak again, crouching down beside the tree with her hand pressed against the summoning Formation Plate at her waist.

A second beam of light flashed, and White Snow Princess arrived.

She wore a silver-white dress and held an Ice-Snow Bow in her hands, landing without making a sound.

She looked around, her gaze resting on the fortress, and frowned.

"So many demons?" she asked in a low voice.

Shen Xiaochuan nodded and abruptly drew his demon-breaking blade.

The cracks on the blade emitted a faint glow.

"Over a hundred elite-grade demons, and three excellent grade leaders on the roof.

We can win by brute-forcing it, but I need to save my strength to deal with the source of pollution behind."

White Snow Princess said: "Control the scene first, then kill them one by one."

The third beam of light descended, and Zhang Heng arrived.

He wore a cyan-grey mage robe and was carrying a packet of talisman papers.

"You really dared to watch this place alone for an entire night."

"No one is more familiar with this place than I am," Shen Xiaochuan said.

"You've come at the perfect time.

I'll take on the three leaders, you guys clear the minions.

Whoever acts first will be at a disadvantage."

Chen Zhanbei was the last to arrive.

He had dual blades on his back and walked toward the flank as soon as he landed.

"I've already circled to the back.

Wait for my signal."

Shen Xiaochuan looked at Huang Lu: "Can you control the field?"

Huang Lu sneered, pressing both hands onto her Formation Plate, which lit up with a strong light.

"I've been ready for a long time, just waiting for this moment!"

She let out a low shout: "Summon—Nico!"

The Formation Plate emitted a green light, and a semi-transparent figure appeared.

It was an elven girl, floating in the air barefoot, surrounded by halos of ice and fire, her eyes closed and long hair flowing.

"Nico, obey my command," Huang Lu said.

"Target area, prepare your skill."

Nico opened her eyes; her pupils were blue and white.

She raised her hand, and the sky changed.

The clouds descended, and it began to snow.

The wind stopped, and even the spores hung motionless in mid-air.

The demons in front of the fortress looked up at the sky.

"Winter's Arrival," Huang Lu commanded.

Nico pressed her hands downward.

Boom!

A frost storm descended, and within two hundred meters centered on the gate, everything froze.

The ground cracked, and the black mycelium became brittle.

Dozens of demons tried to run, but their feet were frozen, and they couldn't move.

One demon roared and raised its bone blade to hack at the ice.

Before the blade could fall, its entire arm was covered in frost and couldn't move.

More demons were trapped, roaring loudly.

White Snow Princess immediately took action.

She drew her bow, cold air emitting from the arrowhead, and fired a single shot that turned into hundreds of arrows, flying out in a fan shape.

Three demons standing together were pierced through the chest, their bodies freezing into ice sculptures before they fell.

Zhang Heng scattered his talisman papers; seven yellow talismans burned in the air, landing to form a protective shield that enclosed the four of them.

Ice shards and black mist slammed against the shield with a crackling sound.

"The shield is stable!" Zhang Heng shouted.

"I'll leave the advance to you."

Shen Xiaochuan didn't respond.

He was staring at the three roofs.

On each roof stood a tall figure, engulfed in black fire, with horns on their heads and holding giant axes.

These were the three excellent grade leaders, roaring and issuing orders.

One of them raised its hand, pointing toward the tree.

Shen Xiaochuan sneered and immediately crouched down.

The enemy had noticed something unusual but couldn't find him.

"They're about to counterattack," White Snow Princess said.

"You go fight the leaders, we'll clear the minions."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded.

He gripped the demon-breaking blade tightly, the cracks on the blade glowing.

The System notification rang:

【Fel Energy Perception (Passive) Activated】

【Detected three high-concentration surges of fel energy, sources: Northeast, Due South, Northwest rooftops】

He noted the locations.

Chen Zhanbei sent a signal from the side: He had already led people to block the back door and killed three reinforcement demons; their retreat was cut off.

Zhang Heng pushed the shield forward ten meters, covering White Snow Princess as she continued to attack.

She fired two more arrows, hitting the legs of two leaders respectively; the cold spread, slowing them down.

"Now," Shen Xiaochuan said.

He abruptly drew the demon-breaking blade, the cracks on the blade erupting with a strong light, his Aura overwhelming!

He kicked off the ground, rushing out from behind the tree and heading straight for the northeast rooftop.

A common demon tried to stop him but was pinned to the wall by an arrow from White Snow Princess.

Shen Xiaochuan jumped onto a crumbling wall, used it to leap up, and held the demon-breaking blade high.

The roar of the leader came on the wind, and the black fire cast shadows upon the blade.

When he landed, the first leader had already turned around, its giant axe sweeping horizontally.

Shen Xiaochuan ducked to dodge, rolled forward, and slashed at its knee.

The demon-breaking blade cut into the joint, and black blood sprayed out.

The leader roared in anger and smashed down with a backhand punch.

Shen Xiaochuan was knocked back two steps, his hand numb.

On the other side, Nico's skill was still active.

The ice grew thicker, and more demons were frozen.

Zhang Heng expanded the shield, and White Snow Princess climbed to a high vantage point to continue suppressing them.

Huang Lu stood in place, her hands maintaining the spell.

Her face was a bit pale, but her eyes were firm.

"Hold on," she said.

"Ten more seconds."

Shen Xiaochuan stood in a standoff with the leader.

The opponent was on one knee, black blood flowing continuously, still struggling to stand up.

He glanced back.

White Snow Princess had been forced into a corner by the second leader; her bowstring had snapped, and she was switching weapons.

Zhang Heng's shield had been cracked by an axe strike from the third leader, but he immediately applied a new talisman, and the shield stabilized again.

Chen Zhanbei launched a sneak attack from behind, slashing the back of the third leader, but he was flung away and crashed into a wall.

Shen Xiaochuan withdrew his gaze.

He gripped the demon-breaking blade tighter, the cracks on the blade glowing brighter and brighter.

The leader stood up, raising its giant axe, its entire body wreathed in black fire.

Shen Xiaochuan stepped forward.

The blade and the axe collided.

Sparks exploded.

With his left hand, he pulled a talisman from his bosom and slapped it onto the back of the blade.

【Strengthening Talisman: Strength +30%】 took effect.

The demon-breaking blade vibrated, and the black fire was pushed back slightly.

The leader roared, increasing its force.

The ground beneath Shen Xiaochuan's feet cracked.

He gritted his teeth and pushed back with all his might.

The leader stumbled back a step.

Shen Xiaochuan immediately pursued, slashing horizontally at its neck.

Black blood sprayed out, but it didn't kill it.

The leader reached out to grab the blade, trying to snatch it away.

Shen Xiaochuan let go and retreated, pulling out a short dagger.

He knew this blow wouldn't incapacitate it for long.

He looked up at the other two rooftops.

White Snow Princess was forced to switch to a backup weapon; the situation was tense.

Zhang Heng's shield was only half-intact, and the third leader was already charging over.

Huang Lu's lips were purple, but she was still persisting in controlling Nico.

Shen Xiaochuan looked at the demon-breaking blade.

The cracks on the blade were pointed directly at the first leader's heart.

He charged forward.

Shen Xiaochuan gripped the demon-breaking blade, his eyes firm.

This time, he would not retreat.

And as for that blue crystal core, what secret was it hiding?