197: The hunt begins, in the Azure Realm.

Blood Refining Star Domain.

This was a dead and desolate region of space. Due to years of being tainted by Devilish Qi, the stars here took on an eerie dark red hue, as if they had been soaked in blood.

At the center of the Star Domain, a deep blue planet was approaching the end of its life.

This planet was named the Tianlan Realm.

Once, it had possessed a brilliant cultivation civilization and had birthed Soul Transformation Stage Cultivators. But now, it had fallen to become a sacrificial offering for the Demon Race.

Massive black tentacles, constructed from pure Devilish Qi and flesh, extended from the Void Realm like the most malicious parasites, rooting themselves deeply into the core of the Tianlan Realm.

The planet's Origin, Spiritual Veins, and even the life essence of all living beings were being continuously drained by these tentacles, then gathered above in the starry sky.

There, a terrifying demon god ten thousand zhang tall, his entire body burning with black flames, sat upon a throne piled high with countless skeletons.

He was the Dominator of this Star Domain, the Integration Stage Devil King—Demon King Fenyang.

Demon King Fenyang enjoyed the pure energy extracted from the Tianlan Realm. Transformed through his demonic body, this energy would eventually condense into the "Power of Finality" to be offered to the Devil Emperor.

But at this moment, his mood was not particularly pleasant.

"A bunch of useless trash!"

He looked down at a Soul Transformation Stage demon general kneeling before him, his voice filled with tyrannical rage.

"That fool Blood Slaughter has lost contact. Lord Youying went to investigate personally and has also disappeared without a trace! Now, even the resource planets guarded by Ghost Bat, Fenrir, and the others have lost contact one by one! Can any of you tell me what on earth is going on?"

The demon general trembled in fear, his voice quivering as he said, "Devil King, please appease your anger! According to... according to some remnants who escaped back, it seems there is a group of mysterious human Cultivators. They... they call themselves the 'Chu Family Bandit Gang,' and they are elusive, specifically targeting our strongholds for looting..."

"Chu Family Bandit Gang?" Demon King Fenyang chewed on the name, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes. "A mere few human ants dare to be so arrogant? What is the level of their strongest combat power?"

"It's... it's said to be the Great Perfection of Soul Transformation Stage, but their methods are very strange, and their combat power far exceeds those of the same level..."

"Great Perfection of Soul Transformation Stage?" Demon King Fenyang laughed in extreme anger. "A bunch of insects who haven't even reached the Void Refining Realm dare to pluck hair from a tiger's head! It seems I have been silent for too long, making these lowly races forget the majesty of my Star-Devouring Demon Clan!"

He was about to order the mobilization of a fleet to wipe out this so-called "Chu Family Bandit Gang" when his expression suddenly shifted.

His massive Divine Thought sensed a faint spatial fluctuation approaching the Blood Refining Star Domain.

"Oh? Some mice have delivered themselves to my door?"

A cruel smile spread across Demon King Fenyang's lips. He didn't make a sound; instead, he restrained most of his aura, pretending to still be focused on devouring the Tianlan Realm, looking completely defenseless.

He wanted to see which blind fool dared to intrude into his territory.

A moment later, a ripple in space spread through the Void Realm not far from the Tianlan Realm.

The figures of Chu He and his group of seven appeared from within.

When they saw the blue planet before them, pierced by countless black tentacles and heading towards death in agony, even the Chu siblings—who had undergone a year of hellish training and developed extremely resilient Heart-Natures—couldn't help but have flames of anger flare in their eyes.

"Beasts!" Chu Batian cursed through gritted teeth.

"So this is the Star-Devouring Demon Clan..." Chu Tian gripped the Dragon Spear in his hand, killing intent boiling in his grey-gold eyes.

Although they had wiped out Demon Race strongholds before, most of those were built on dead planets or meteorites. This was the first time they had personally witnessed a vibrant world being devoured alive.

This visual impact was far more shocking than any verbal description.

"Husband, is there still hope for the Tianlan Realm?" Su Qingxue asked, unable to bear the sight of the countless fading points of life on the planet.

Chu He's Divine Thought swept across the entire Tianlan Realm, and he shook his head gently.

"It's too late. Over seventy percent of its world Origin has been devoured, its core is shattered, and its Laws have collapsed. Even if we drive away the Demon Race now, it will completely disintegrate into cosmic dust within a hundred years."

Hearing this cruel answer, everyone felt a weight in their hearts.

"However," Chu He changed the subject, his gaze shifting to the ten thousand zhang tall demon god sitting on the bone throne, "though we cannot save this world, we can avenge it. Furthermore, the remaining Origin power of a world on the brink of destruction is a decent 'nutrient' for us."

His gaze had already fallen on the distant World Tree.

"Alright, let the sentimentality end here." Chu He's voice returned to its calm state. "Your 'examiner' has been waiting for quite some time."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately focused their minds and locked their gazes onto Demon King Fenyang.

"Early Body Integration Stage, with a floating aura; looks like he's a fraud." Chu Batian curled his lip. After a year of "fatherly love" baptism, his vision had reached an absurdly high level. In his eyes, the aura of this Devil King was quite a bit weaker than his father's Early Body Integration Stage Clone.

"Don't be careless," Chu Tian reminded in a deep voice. "Father's Clone wouldn't strike to kill, but he will."

"Understood!"

The five siblings quickly dispersed, forming a profound Five Elements Battle Formation.

This was a battle formation Chu He had custom-built for them during training, based on their respective abilities. Chu Tian was in the center for the main attack, Chu Batian was in front as the shield, Chu Lingxi roamed the perimeter, Chu Ce set up formations in the rear, and Chu Yuning was responsible for support and debuffing.

With the five of them working together, their auras were linked, and their combat power was far more than doubled!

"Are you ready?" Chu He asked them one last time.

"Father, don't worry!" the five shouted in unison.

"Go."

Receiving the order, five streaks of light, like five sharp arrows leaving a bow, tore through the Void Realm and charged fiercely toward Demon King Fenyang on his skeleton throne!

"Hahaha! It really is you little mice!"

Seeing the five charging at him, Demon King Fenyang finally stopped pretending. He suddenly stood up from his throne, his terrifying Integration Realm pressure sweeping out like a tsunami as he laughed wildly, "You refused the path to Heaven and barged into Hell! Today, I'll let you witness the might of a Devil King!"

He extended a giant claw burning with black demonic flames and slammed it down hard toward Chu Batian, who was at the very front!

"Come on then!"

Chu Batian didn't retreat; instead, he advanced. With a roar, his body swelled to a thousand zhang, and the sky-opening tyrant axe in his hand lit up with a brilliant divine light as he swung it against the sky-blotting demonic claw!

"Tyrant Axe! Heaven-Rending!"

The hunt has officially begun!