37: Successfully won, no solution

"How... how could it be so fast?!" Xue Yun's crimson pupils suddenly constricted to pinpricks, and a strong, metallic sweetness surged in his throat!

The piercing scream of that ice-cold Saber, tearing through the air, seemed to still echo in his ears—

Pfft!

A head, covered by a ghastly helmet, had already shot into the sky!

The headless corpse crashed into the mud, splashing large amounts of dirty water.

However, Xiao Zhuo's wrist, gripping the Saber, tensed even more, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's.

The panel showed no kill notification, and he understood: for a Nightmare-rank Demon, only by destroying both its head and its core primordial elixir simultaneously could it be instantly killed!

The Saber light flashed again! Like a silver serpent dancing wildly, tearing through the rain!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The four limbs of the Xue Yun Demon's corpse were severed in response!

The cuts were smooth, and black blood didn't even have time to spray!

Blood Escape!

A sudden change occurred!

The severed limbs and torso suddenly exploded, transforming into a thick, pungent, and strongly corrosive bloody mist, which, like a living entity, enveloped Xiao Zhuo, who was standing close by!

"Hmph! A dying struggle!" A cold, mocking sneer appeared on Xiao Zhuo's lips.

Buzz!

The silver thunder armor covering his body suddenly blazed with lightning!

Countless dazzling silver-white electric arcs wildly crackled and jumped, emitting crackling explosions!

As soon as the man-eating bloody mist touched the lightning, it let out countless shrill screams like a baby crying!

Chichich—!

Large swathes of bloody mist instantly evaporated under the lightning's purification!

The remaining bloody mist, like a startled swarm of snakes, hastily rolled back, rapidly converging and wriggling ten zhang away, barely re-forming into the appearance of the red-haired man, but his aura was weak, and his figure was much more ethereal.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhuo frowned slightly.

Capture alive? This demonic creature could regenerate through blood, so ordinary slashes were indeed difficult to restrain.

A sense of difficulty welled up in his heart.

However, as his Divine Sense swept keenly over it, Xiao Zhuo's lips slowly curved into a cruel arc—the newly re-formed Xue Yun's aura had actually weakened by more than 30%!

Clearly, the power of the lightning had caused severe damage to his Blood Demon Origin!

"Demon, let's see how many more times you can escape!" Xiao Zhuo coldly shouted, and the azure light around him flared again, his figure, like an arrow shot from a bow, shot towards the greatly weakened Xue Yun!

"Roar!" Xue Yun was terrified and desperate, turning to flee as a streak of blood light!

"Hahahaha! Where do you think you're going!" Xiao Zhuo's loud laughter shook the heavens, and the meteor iron Saber in his hand surged with lightning!

On the Saber's body, threads of destructive silver lightning wildly jumped and converged!

"Shocking Thunder Awakening · Dragon Transformation!"

One Saber strike!

Roar—!!!

A silver Dragon, formed from pure lightning, with ferocious scales and claws, roared out!

The dazzling lightning illuminated half of the rainy night, making it as pale as day! The Dragon's might was immense, rushing straight towards Xue Yun!

Xue Yun was scared out of his wits, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes!

He gritted his teeth fiercely, and one of his arms instantly detached from his body, exploding in mid-air into a thick, viscous crimson blood curtain, meeting the lightning Dragon!

"Pfft!"

The blood curtain was like thin paper, instantly pierced and vaporized before the lightning Dragon, which contained the power of lightning purification!

The lightning Dragon's momentum did not decrease, and it opened its massive mouth, formed of violent lightning, swallowing the terrified and desperate Xue Yun whole!

"Ah ah ah—!!!"

An inhuman, mournful wail instantly broke through the pouring rain!

Inside the lightning Dragon's belly, dazzling electric light wildly flickered and exploded!

A burnt smell mixed with a sulfur-like demonic aura permeated the air.

Xiao Zhuo's figure flickered, and he was already beside the lightning Dragon.

Through the translucent lightning Dragon body, Xue Yun's body could be seen rapidly dissolving and shrinking under the violent purifying power at a visible speed, with large plumes of black smoke rising.

The effect was surprisingly significant!

A hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Zhuo's eyes.

This move, "Lightning Dragon," was a flash of inspiration for him, an extreme sublimation of the Saber Intent of "Shocking Thunder Awakening" from the Eight Directions Demon Slaying Saber, specifically designed to counter such filthy evil demons!

The power of lightning was indeed the bane of demons!

With a thought, the massive lightning Dragon instantly contracted and transformed into a spherical lightning cage, about ten feet in diameter and densely covered with electric arcs, firmly imprisoning the almost lifeless Xue Yun, who had been refined to only a quarter of his original size!

The violent lightning continued to burn, preventing any recovery or unusual movements.

Xiao Zhuo's feet flashed with azure light again, and he shot back into the cave like a streak of light.

Inside the cave, the Sheep-Headed Demon, relying on its powerful regenerative ability, had already healed most of the terrifying wounds on its upper body, and its grotesque head had reattached, but its aura was equally weak.

"Despicable Human Race! How dare you ambush your Grandpa Sheep! I will definitely..." Yang Mianmian (Sheep Mianmian) saw Xiao Zhuo return and shrieked, feigning ferocity but inwardly timid.

Chih! Chih! Chih!

Responding to him were three merciless, chilling Saber lights! The sheep's head was once again cleanly split in two!

Xiao Zhuo's thoughts stirred slightly, and a majestic wind Origin power materialized out of thin air, forming an invisible large hand that firmly grasped Yang Mianmian's still twitching corpse.

Triumphant Return

Returning to the valley, Xue Yun in the spherical lightning prison had been further weakened, with most of his demonic body turned to ashes.

Xiao Zhuo waved his hand to dispel the remaining lightning, and a condensed golden True Essence large hand appeared, firmly grasping the weak and shrunken Xue Yun, now like a child, in his palm.

With azure light flowing around him, Xiao Zhuo, using one True Essence large hand to restrain the two demons, as if carrying two chickens and ducks ready for slaughter, shot into the sky, instantly tearing through the dark rain curtain, and sped towards Yuyang Mountain!

A faint golden halo of Protective Aura spread around him, isolating the cold rainwater.

The straight-line speed of Azure Light Evasion was simply abnormal!

Just one incense stick later, Xiao Zhuo's figure, like a meteor, streaked across the dark clouds above the Yuyang Sect, accurately landing in front of the brightly lit Zhenyang Hall plaza!

Buzz!

A vast and gentle aura was already waiting outside the hall.

Sect Master Xuan Qing stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering.

"Senior Martial Uncle! I have not failed my mission!" Xiao Zhuo smiled brightly, pushing forward the True Essence large hand restraining the demons, while quickly calculating in his heart: This time, the credit is considerable, I wonder if I can ask the Sect for some Cultivation Technique rewards?

Although his Revered Master was good, he couldn't always milk the same sheep... For him, Attribute Points were fundamental, and various high-level Cultivation Techniques were the best carriers to unleash the power of Attribute Points!

For ordinary people, cultivating one or two Martial Skills was already the limit, but he, with his panel, could absorb everything!

"Good!" Venerable Xuan Qing's eyes showed an approving smile, and he gently waved his sleeve.

Pop!

The True Essence large hand Xiao Zhuo had condensed instantly shattered like a bubble.

The two dying demons were gently lifted by an invisible and powerful force, floating beside Venerable Xuan Qing.

The sheep-headed demon's head, though barely reattached, still showed cracks, and its sheep eyes stared fixedly at Xiao Zhuo, filled with venomous resentment and bone-deep despair.

And the red-haired child that Xue Yun had transformed into, his body curled up, trembling under the suppression of Venerable Xuan Qing's aura, unsure if it was fear or if he was brewing some new trick.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several streaks of light streaked through the rainy night, instantly landing in front of the Zhenyang Hall.

It was Li Miaoyi, Xuan Lun, True Man Xuan Wei, and Cloud Gazing Peak Revered Master Situ Ming, who had sensed Xiao Zhuo's return.

The Yuyang Sect was inclusive; although Li Miaoyi and Situ Ming were secular Disciples, their cultivation was extraordinary, and their status was no different from other Peak Revered Masters.

Xiao Zhuo silently followed behind his Revered Master, True Man Xuanlun, and once again stepped into the solemn and majestic Zhenyang Hall.

The two demons were thrown by an invisible force into the center of the cold main hall.

Facing the almost material pressure of the five Human Race Divine Sea Realm grand powerful figures, the last glimmer of hope in the two demons' eyes was completely extinguished, leaving only boundless despair.

If Xiao Zhuo had not suppressed their demonic Qi with True Essence all the way, and now they were completely restrained by Venerable Xuan Qing's power, their demonic Qi and Divine Soul, they would have already chosen to self-destruct, taking everyone down with them.

"Junior Brother Situ, I trouble you." Venerable Xuan Qing's gaze turned to Cloud Gazing Peak Revered Master Situ Ming, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable weight.

Situ Ming nodded slightly, his face serene as he walked closer to the two demons.

His gaunt fingers made a grasping motion in the air, and the Sheep-Headed Demon's large head was uncontrollably lifted, with his palm placed upon it.

A vast and boundless power of Divine Sense instantly surged into the Sheep-Headed Demon's Sea of Consciousness!

The hall was silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone held their breath.

A moment later, the Divine Sense power surging around Situ Ming slowly receded. He released his hand, and the sheep's head slumped down like mud.

Situ Ming frowned tightly, sighed, and shook his head at everyone: "There is an extremely sinister self-destruct Restriction deep within the Sea of Consciousness. Once I try to forcefully break through and search the soul, the Restriction will immediately activate, and his Divine Soul will instantly collapse and vanish."

"What a ruthless method! So decisive even against their own kind!" Li Miaoyi praised softly, but her tone carried a hint of solemnity, her delicate brows furrowed.

Situ Ming said nothing, raised his hand, and made another grasping motion.

The shrunken Xue Yun, like a child, was levitated before him, and he likewise placed a palm on his crown.

An even purer and stronger Divine Sense power once again surged out, like a trickling stream, carefully probing into the depths of Xue Yun's Sea of Consciousness.

Time passed slowly.

Situ Ming's expression grew increasingly solemn, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead.

Finally, he slowly withdrew his hand, and the Xue Yun child fell to the ground, his aura even weaker.

"How is it?" True Man Xuan Wei couldn't help but ask.

Situ Ming was silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over everyone, then he slowly spoke, delivering a surprising conclusion: "The Divine Soul Restrictions of these two demons... are not the same!"

Seeing everyone's eager gazes, he explained in a deep voice: "The Sheep-Headed Demon has a typical self-destruct Restriction, which activates upon touch, leading to instant death. But this fiend (pointing at Xue Yun)..." He paused, "The Restriction in his Sea of Consciousness is an extremely robust 'Guardian Restriction'; its purpose is not self-destruction, but to prevent external soul-searching! The demon who set this Restriction, his Divine Sense cultivation... is even above mine!"

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly solidified.

"Guardian Restriction? Does that mean... it can be broken?" Li Miaoyi keenly grasped the key point.

Situ Ming smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Theoretically, yes. But this Restriction is exceptionally solid and profound. Even if I poured all my effort into slowly eroding it with painstaking Divine Sense, it would probably take more than a month to break open a tiny crack!"

"A month?!" True Man Xuanlun slammed the table, abruptly rising, his face filled with frustration, "The opportunity will be long gone! Hundred Demon Mountain isn't deaf or blind; if they don't catch anyone for so long, even an idiot would know something's wrong! By then, let alone a surprise attack, I'm afraid that Old Demon Yin Yue will come knocking on our door!"

Xuan Lun's words were like a bucket of cold water, and the hall instantly fell into a suffocating silence.

Hope, which had just ignited, was extinguished by cruel reality.

Everyone's face was clouded with gloom, at a loss.

"Senior Martial Uncle Situ," a clear voice broke the silence. Xiao Zhuo stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Situ Ming, "I wonder... if there are other methods to bypass or break this Restriction more quickly?"

Situ Ming looked at Xiao Zhuo, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. He first nodded slightly, then slowly shook his head.

"Situ Ming! Just say it clearly! Nodding and shaking your head, you're killing me with suspense!" Xuan Lun was already anxious, and seeing his old friend act this way, he urged him impatiently.

Situ Ming glanced at Xuan Lun, his expression still calm, and slowly said: "There is... indeed a method. I possess a Divine Sense secret art, originating from a Secret Realm, called True Explanation of Soul Refining. If one can Cultivate it to Perfection, a Divine Ability recorded within it might be able to ignore such Guardian Restrictions and directly access core memories!"

He paused, his tone filled with deep helplessness: "However, this secret art is profound and obscure, exceptionally recondite. I have studied this explanation for over twenty years, day and night without ceasing, yet even now, I have barely touched the threshold of Minor Achievement... far from being able to cast that Divine Ability. Therefore... alas, it is also a lamentable situation."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhuo's eyes instantly burst forth with astonishing brilliance!

A soul-searching Divine Ability that ignored Guardian Restrictions!

This was simply the best solution to the current predicament!

But the light quickly dimmed again.

Situ Ming had made it clear that this was a secret art he obtained from exploring a Secret Realm, not something belonging to the Sect.

It would not be easy to request it!

However, True Man Xuanlun, who had been observing his beloved Disciple's expression, had a glint of shrewdness flash in his eyes!

He had personally witnessed Xiao Zhuo's almost Prodigy-like speed in Cultivation Technique cultivation!

Spirit Concealment Art, such a profound secret art, achieved Major Achievement in a single day!

What kind of talent was this!

True Man Xuanlun's thoughts raced, his lips moved slightly, and an invisible True Essence sound transmission quietly entered the ear of Venerable Xuan Qing, who was seated at the head.

On Venerable Xuan Qing's unruffled face, his eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.

He was silent for a moment, then his profound gaze slowly turned to Situ Ming, his voice steady but carrying an invisible pressure, ringing clearly in the silent hall:

"Junior Brother Situ, can your True Explanation of Soul Refining... be passed on to the Disciples of our Sect for Cultivation?"

As soon as these words were uttered, all eyes in the hall simultaneously focused on Situ Ming!

The candlelight flickered without wind, casting swaying shadows on everyone's faces.

The air, it seemed, had solidified.