161: Chapter 161 What is Torture?

Nirvana Hall.

Time seemed to have frozen.

A sense of unprecedented fear surged from the depths of the Demon Phoenix's Soul.

That was... the aura of death.

True, absolute death, where both form and spirit are extinguished!

"No... impossible..."

The Demon Phoenix's voice trembled.

She couldn't understand how a Middle Stage Yuan Emperor Yinglong could unleash such a terrifying attack.

Even a full-strength strike from a true Quasi-Emperor would barely be like this, right?!

Furthermore, once this level of energy fluctuation detonated...

The entire Phoenix Ruins would be blasted into fragments!

Even the surrounding area for a thousand miles outside would be turned into scorched earth!

"Madman! You fucking madman!"

The Demon Phoenix shrieked, turning to flee.

But as soon as she rushed to the hall entrance, she stopped abruptly.

Because outside the hall...

The sky had changed.

The originally dark red fiery sky was now completely enveloped by Heavy, lead-gray thunderclouds.

Within the clouds, countless purple bolts of lightning, as thick as water barrels, wove through like mad Dragons, emitting deafening roars!

Rumble—!!!

A bolt of lightning struck down, slamming heavily against the fiery barrier on the perimeter of the ruins.

The barrier trembled violently, and countless cracks appeared on its surface!

"Is this... a Heavenly Tribulation?!"

The Demon Phoenix's pupils shrank.

No, that's not right. It's not a Heavenly Tribulation.

It's... a Yinglong Divine Ability!

She snapped her head back to look at Ling Tian, who was still frantically devouring Star Power inside the hall.

The Yinglong governs wind and rain, and controls the weather!

This guy was actually using a Yinglong Divine Ability to manipulate the weather and Seal the ruins!

"He wants to trap me here to death!"

The Demon Phoenix instantly understood Ling Tian's intent.

The thunderclouds outside were prepared specifically for her!

What does the Demon Race fear most?

Lightning! Heavenly Might! The power of supreme Yang and rigidity!

Every one of these purple lightning bolts contained majestic Heavenly Might, possessing extreme restraint against the Demon Race!

If she dared to rush out, she would definitely be blasted into ashes!

"Damn it! Damn it!!"

The Demon Phoenix was both shocked and furious.

She was trapped.

Inside the hall, Ling Tian was charging up a Supernova Fission Blast capable of leveling the ruins.

Outside the hall, there were sky-filling thunderclouds that restrained the Demon Race.

A dilemma!

"Must stop him!"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed the Demon Phoenix's eyes.

As long as she shattered that Star Gathering Array Formation Plate and cut off the source of Star Power, Ling Tian's charging would be interrupted!

Although Ling Tian might have other tricks after being interrupted, it was at least better than watching this "bomb" take shape!

Thinking of this, the Demon Phoenix no longer hesitated.

She flapped her wings, turning into a streak of dark red light, rushing straight toward the Star Gathering Array Formation Plate in the center of the hall!

Her speed was extreme!

However, just as her sharp claws were about to touch the Formation Plate, Ling Tian raised his head.

Those dark golden Dragon eyes looked at her coldly.

Hum—!

An invisible force spread from Ling Tian.

That was... the might of the Yinglong!

Combined with the Dragon Might of the [Destruction Monarch], it reached an inconceivable level under the triple attribute boost of the reverse scale!

The Demon Phoenix felt as if she had suddenly crashed into an invisible wall!

Her movements stagnated instantly!

Although it was only for a brief moment, it was enough.

Ling Tian swept his Dragon tail, knocking the Formation Plate behind him to protect it.

At the same time, the speed at which he devoured Star Power increased even more.

"You—!!!"

The Demon Phoenix was so angry that her demonic flames surged violently.

She lunged again, this time holding nothing back, as dark red demonic flames turned into countless tentacles, wrapping toward the Formation Plate from all directions.

At the same time, her main body bypassed Ling Tian and dove straight for the back of the Formation Plate!

A feint!

However, Ling Tian did not fall for it at all.

He didn't even bother to deal with those tentacles.

He simply spread his Dragon wings, like two giant shields, completely protecting the Formation Plate beneath him.

He let the Demon Phoenix's attacks land on his Dragon wings.

Sizzle—!

The Dragon wings were torn, and blood splattered.

But Ling Tian didn't even frown. He just kept devouring.

"Damn it! Madman! Madman!!"

The Demon Phoenix was completely enraged.

She held nothing back, condensing all her demonic flames into her claws, forming a dark red giant sword a hundred meters long, and slashed fiercely at Ling Tian's head!

Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao!

If you don't protect the Formation Plate, I'll cut off your head!

See if you want the Formation Plate or your life!

However, facing this sword strike capable of cleaving mountains, Ling Tian's reaction stunned the Demon Phoenix again.

He didn't dodge. He didn't even... defend.

He just tilted his head slightly, letting the giant sword slash into his shoulder blade.

Puchi—!!!

The giant sword embedded deeply into the Dragon scales, stuck in the bone.

Blood gushed out like a waterfall.

But Ling Tian only let out a muffled grunt, his devouring of Star Power not stopping for even an instant.

As if the body being slashed wasn't his own.

Demon Phoenix: "..."

She really couldn't understand it anymore.

What on earth was this Yinglong thinking?!

To charge up this strike, was he even willing to throw his life away?!

"What... what on earth do you want to do?!"

The Demon Phoenix asked hoarsely.

For the first time, in the face of an opponent whose Realm was lower than her own, she felt... fear.

Not fear of power, but fear of this suicidal madness.

Ling Tian raised his head and looked at her. His gaze was calm, yet it sent a chill down the Demon Phoenix's spine.

"Kill you."

Two words, simple, direct.

The Demon Phoenix fell silent.

She finally understood that this Yinglong was determined to perish with her.

No, not perish together.

It was... trading life for life.

Using his own severe injury, or even death, in exchange for her complete annihilation.

"Why?!"

The Demon Phoenix didn't understand.

"I have no grievances with you! Why would you go to such lengths?!"

"For those ant-like members of the Human Race?!"

She couldn't figure it out.

In her view, Ling Tian possessed such terrifying talent and potential, and his future achievements would be limitless.

Why go to such lengths for an unrelated Human Race faction?

Ling Tian did not answer. He just continued to devour Star Power.

The starlight on the Formation Plate grew dimmer and dimmer, because the speed at which he devoured was too fast, and the Formation Plate couldn't keep up with the supply.

But it didn't matter.

Because at this moment, thick beams of starlight began to fall from the thunderclouds in the sky!

That was... the weather manipulated by the Yinglong Divine Ability, drawing Star Power directly from above the Nine Heavens!

The Star Gathering Array was just an initiator.

Now, the initiator had lit the powder keg.

Ling Tian no longer needed the Formation Plate.

He raised his head, aimed his Dragon mouth at the firmament, and began to devour the Star Power descending from the sky directly!

Boom—!!!

A massive amount of Star Power, like a galaxy pouring backward, rushed frantically into his body!

The [Five Elements Destruction Furnace] operated madly, compressing and refining the Star Power, injecting it into that pitch-black ball of light.

The ball of light became increasingly solid and Heavy.

The surrounding space began to distort, and even fine black cracks appeared.

That was... the sign that space could no longer bear the weight of the ball of light!

The Demon Phoenix watched this scene, her heart pounding wildly.

She knew she couldn't wait any longer.

If she waited any longer, once this ball of light took shape, she would undoubtedly die!

"Want to kill me?"

A hint of madness flashed in the Demon Phoenix's eyes.

"It's not that easy!"

She suddenly opened her beak and spat out a large mouthful of Origin demon blood.

The next moment, the entire Nirvana Hall began to collapse!

No, not collapse. It was... sacrifice!

The Demon Phoenix was sacrificing the Origin of the Phoenix Ruins to forcibly increase her own strength, preparing to resist Ling Tian's attack head-on!

Rumble—!!!

Throughout the ruins, countless crimson crystals shattered, and the fire Origin within them was forcibly extracted, turning into crimson torrents that surged into the Demon Phoenix's body!

The Demon Phoenix's aura surged again!

Although it was only temporary, and the price was huge.

After the short burst, she would fall back to the Yuan Emperor level, or even collapse directly.

But as long as she could survive, any price was worth it!

"I want to see whether you blast me to death first, or I tear you apart first!"

The Demon Phoenix roared toward the sky, dark red demonic flames shooting into the sky, transforming into a Demon Phoenix phantom hundreds of meters tall!

The phantom spread its wings, covering almost the entire Nirvana Hall!

The terrifying demonic might made the thunderclouds outside the ruins churn violently!

Inside the hall, Ling Tian looked at the Demon Phoenix, whose aura was skyrocketing, his eyes still calm.

Even... a little amused.

Too naive.

The power of the Supernova Fission Blast depends on two factors.

One is the amount of energy he injects.

The second is the degree of compression.

Right now, what he needs most is time!

A sharp glint flashed in Ling Tian's eyes.

While continuing to devour Star Power, he split a portion of his focus to begin manipulating his Yinglong Divine Ability.

Summoning wind and rain!

Manipulating the weather, guiding the lightning!

Outside the ruins, the lead-gray thunderclouds began to rotate, forming a huge vortex.

In the center of the vortex, countless purple lightning bolts gathered, transforming into a lightning pillar a thousand meters thick, which slowly descended, enveloping the entire Nirvana Hall!

Seal!

Using the power of lightning, build a lightning barrier around the perimeter of the Nirvana Hall!

In this way, the Demon Phoenix inside the barrier could completely forget about running away.

She would be trapped in the barrier and forced to take this Supernova Fission Blast head-on.

"Hmm?"

The Demon Phoenix also noticed the abnormality of the lightning pillar.

She looked up outside the hall, her expression changing suddenly.

"Don't even think about it!"

She flapped her wings, intending to rush out of the hall and escape before the lightning barrier took shape.

However, how could Ling Tian let her succeed?

"Want to run?"

He made a move as if to spit out the bomb in his mouth!

The Demon Phoenix's heart skipped a beat, and she was forced to dodge.

But it was this momentary delay.

Boom—!!!

The lightning barrier took shape!

A thousand-meter lightning pillar descended from the sky, like a giant cage, enclosing the entire Nirvana Hall within it.

On the surface of the lightning pillar, countless purple electric snakes wove, emitting an aura that destroyed everything.

The Demon Phoenix tried to charge the barrier.

Sizzle—!

As soon as she touched the lightning pillar, her demonic flames were dissipated by the violent lightning power, and she screamed as she was sent flying back.

She couldn't get out.

She was completely trapped here.

"Damn it! Damn it!!!"

The Demon Phoenix roared frantically, her claws tearing the ground wildly, leaving deep trenches.

She had never felt so humiliated.

Clearly stronger than the opponent, yet trapped by this almost shameless method and left waiting for death!

Moreover, this process of waiting for death was the most tormenting.

Ling Tian was still charging up.

The ball of light was becoming more and more solid, and the energy fluctuations it emitted were becoming increasingly terrifying.

The Demon Phoenix could feel that death was approaching step by step.

But she couldn't do anything.

Attack Ling Tian? That guy didn't care about the injuries at all and just kept charging up.

Destroy the barrier? The power of lightning restrained the Demon Race; she couldn't break out.

Run away? There was no way to escape.

Wait for death? Not reconciled!

The Demon Phoenix felt like she was going crazy.

Time passed, minute by minute.

One hour...

Two hours...

Three hours...

Ling Tian had been charging for ten whole hours!

Ten hours!

The Demon Phoenix attacked Ling Tian frantically more than once, yet the opponent just stubbornly endured it without dying!

No matter how serious the injuries were, this guy just wouldn't die!!

From the initial anger and madness, to the later fear and despair, and finally to... numbness.

She had given up struggling.

More terrifying than death was the process of waiting for death.

These ten hours were the most tormenting moments the Demon Phoenix had experienced in over ten thousand years.

Every minute, every second, felt like being tormented in a frying pan.

She had finally broken free from the Phoenix Will, gained self-awareness, and possessed infinite possibilities.

She didn't want to die.

She still wanted to live, still wanted to become stronger, and still wanted to rule this world.

So, she gave up wasting her energy.

She just waited for Ling Tian to finish charging, waiting for that destructive strike to descend.

And then... take a gamble.

Gamble that her Late Stage Quasi-Emperor strength, combined with the blessing of the ruins' Origin, could withstand this strike.

As long as she could survive without dying, once Ling Tian fell into a period of weakness, she could counter-kill him!

This was her only hope.