186: Chapter 186 Thunderous Retribution, Extreme Demon Sea—Exploring the Demon's Throat!

The night in Zhenhai City was completely shattered by a sudden thunderous operation.

Not long after Zhou Heng and his four teammates took refuge in the safe house, a piercing alarm siren tore through the night sky within the Demon Slaying Division Branch!

Powerful auras erupted one after another, soaring into the sky, as countless elite members of the Supervision Department and the Law Enforcement Hall, clad in black uniforms, swarmed out in full force!

Led by Blood Diamond and Platinum-ranked captains, they surged forth like a black torrent, splitting into several streams and charging straight toward the various Liu Family enterprises within the city!

"By order of the Director! The Liu Family is suspected of colluding with the myriad races and plotting against fellow comrades! All assets are to be sealed immediately! All core members are to undergo investigation! Those who defy the order shall be executed!"

The icy proclamation echoed through the night.

The Liu Family's Trading Houses, Docks, mines, Mansions... were almost simultaneously surrounded by heavy forces!

Formation lights flared, sealing off the interiors from the outside!

Those who resist will be killed on the spot!

The City Defense Forces also mobilized simultaneously, blockading main streets and placing the entire city under martial law!

That night, countless factions in Zhenhai City were jolted awake, peering through their windows in terror at this sudden, drastic upheaval.

The once illustrious Liu Family, a deeply entrenched tree that had dominated Zhenhai City for decades, was being uprooted at a visible pace!

"The Liu Family... is finished!"

"My heavens! The Demon Slaying Division is really playing for keeps this time!"

"I heard it's because they colluded with the Shadow Heart Clan and even tried to assassinate that wind and thunder god of war, Zhou Heng, from the Donghuang First Team!"

"Serves them right! Traitors to the race deserve worse than death!"

Discussions surged amidst the undercurrents, but more prevalent was a reverence for the Demon Slaying Division's iron-fisted methods and contempt for the traitors!

For any force daring to collude with the myriad races and endanger humanity's foundation, the Eastern Radiance Empire's stance had always been zero tolerance!

Director Yue Chenyuan's thunderous actions were precisely the embodiment of this will!

Inside the safe house, Zhou Heng and his four teammates received real-time information from the outside world via their tactical watches.

"Tsk tsk, Director Yue's efficiency... is top-notch!" Zhou Heng clicked his tongue, watching the constantly updating arrest and seizure information on the screen.

"Just a few hours, and the Liu Family's leaky ship is already sinking. Seems our 'big gift' pleased the Director quite a bit."

"The crime of betraying the race is unforgivable!" Ji Cang's tone was icy, laced with intense killing intent.

Born into the Ji Family, he placed immense importance on loyalty and honor, harboring the deepest hatred for such treacherous scum.

Lu Chenxin also wore a solemn expression: "Eradicating this tumor is immensely satisfying. I just never imagined the Liu Family would dare to be so audacious."

Chen Ye remained silent, but the chill in his eyes conveyed his stance.

Bai Qianer's small face was pale, more from lingering fear: "Thankfully, Brother Zhou Heng was formidable and saw through their plot, otherwise..."

"Otherwise, the news would be reporting our obituaries right now."

Zhou Heng chimed in, his tone light but his gaze sharp.

"So, showing mercy to enemies is being cruel to oneself. From now on, when we encounter scum like this, we kill one whenever we see one!"

He took out the spoils scavenged from Liu Cunzhi and spread them on the table.

Several high-quality pills for healing and recovering yuan energy, some rare mineral materials,

and a jade pendant carved with water ripple patterns, which seemed to be a decent defensive artifact.

The [Omniscient Eye] swept over them:

[Clear Spirit Recovery Pill]: Quickly restores vitality and yuan energy, suitable for Transcendent Realm use.

[Azure Sea Tide-Born Pendant]: Infusing yuan energy can activate an 'Azure Wave Shield,' capable of blocking attacks below Transcendent Five-Star level.

[Deep Sea Profound Iron]: Excellent material for forging water-attribute weapons.

"Not a bad haul!" Zhou Heng picked up the bottle of Clear Spirit Recovery Pills and tossed it to Lu Chenxin.

"Chen Xin, you're the technical type, your consumption is high, this is for you.

Old Ji, this Profound Iron has heavy baleful energy, suitable for tempering your blade.

Ye Zi, this pendant is water-attribute, it somewhat matches your element, take it back with you. Qian'er, you take these auxiliary cultivation pills."

In a few swift moves, he distributed the spoils, keeping only some universal minerals for himself.

"I've got the Wind and Thunder Twin Wings, I'm fast, don't need these flashy things."

The others didn't stand on ceremony, knowing Zhou Heng's nature, and accepted the items.

"The Liu Family is basically dealt with, but the thorn of the Shadow Heart Clan remains."

Zhou Heng's expression turned serious.

"Based on the memory fragments from Liu Cunzhi, the Shadow Heart Clan's activities in Zhenhai City don't seem aimed solely at infiltration and sabotage. They appear to be searching for something, or... conducting some sort of ritual? That 'Soul-Devouring Demon Crystal' is very suspicious."

He pulled up a map of the sea area around Zhenhai City, pointing to a red-marked danger zone about three hundred li beyond the Dragon Ridge Great Wall.

"Here, the 'Demon Throat'.

A massive oceanic vortex perpetually shrouded in eerie purple-green mist, said to connect to the depths of the Extreme Demon Sea,

a place where high-level sea beasts frequently appear and various bizarre phenomena often occur.

In Liu Cunzhi's memories, the Shadow Heart Clan envoy 'Youying' seemed to mention this place multiple times."

On the map, the 'Demon Throat' area was labeled as extremely dangerous, a place even the Demon Slaying Division's regular patrols rarely approached.

"The Director's mission for us is to investigate Shadow Heart Clan traces. The Liu Family lead is temporarily cut, but this 'Demon Throat' location is highly suspicious."

Zhou Heng looked at his teammates. "I plan to go scout it out."

"Isn't that too dangerous?" Bai Qianer worriedly said. "That's deep in the Extreme Demon Sea, and the environment is bizarre..."

"Danger is where the value lies." Battle intent blazed in Ji Cang's eyes. "The more dangerous a place, the more likely it holds significant secrets."

Lu Chenxin pondered: "We need a meticulous plan. The environment there is very disadvantageous for us."

Chen Ye was concise: "Go."

Zhou Heng nodded:

"Of course we won't act recklessly. First, we'll use the Demon Slaying Division's authority to review all archives and recent reports on the 'Demon Throat,' preparing thoroughly.

Then, we'll leave the city under the guise of performing an outer patrol mission, detour to the edge of the 'Demon Throat' for reconnaissance, absolutely not venturing into the core area.

If we detect anything abnormal, we retreat immediately and report to the Division."

With the plan set, the five immediately took action.

Thanks to their A-level mission authority and Director Yue's special consideration, they quickly accessed detailed materials on the 'Demon Throat.'

The data showed the seawater in the 'Demon Throat' sea area was an eerie dark red, viscous like blood, emitting a low-frequency Demonic Chant that disrupted the spirit.

The purple-green mist possessed corrosive and hallucinogenic properties.

The vortex itself had immense suction power; there were records of Hegemon Realm experts disappearing after being swept in.

In the past three months, energy fluctuations in that area had been abnormally frequent, suspected to involve activity by an unknown force.

Early the next morning, while the entire city was still abuzz with discussions about the Liu Family's downfall,

the five members of the Donghuang First Team quietly left Zhenhai City, boarding a disguised High-Speed Reconnaissance Vessel and sailing into the vast Extreme Demon Sea.

The reconnaissance vessel cut through the waves, gradually distancing itself from the Dragon Ridge Great Wall. The surrounding scenery began to change.

The sky grew gloomy, the color of the seawater deepening from azure blue, eventually turning into an unsettling dark red, like diluted blood.

The air was permeated with a faint, cloyingly sweet and decaying scent.

"We've entered high-risk waters." Lu Chenxin looked at the constantly fluctuating data on the detector, his expression grave.

Zhou Heng stood at the bow, his [Omniscient Eye] activated, gazing into the distance.

In his field of vision, where the sea met the sky ahead,

an endless expanse of churning, surging purple-green mist lay sprawled across the sea surface like a colossal monster,

deep within the mist, the faint outline of a massive, light-devouring dark vortex was discernible—that was the 'Demon Throat'!

Even from this distance, a palpably oppressive, heart-gripping sense of dread washed over them.

The dark red seawater was viscous as paste, the vessel's hull moving through it with noticeably increased resistance.

Even more unsettling was a low, chaotic, seemingly countless wailing souls' 'Demonic Chant' sound,

beginning to seep relentlessly into everyone's minds, attempting to disturb their mental state.

"Channel your energy to protect your minds! This Demonic Chant is strange!" Zhou Heng warned,

simultaneously circulating his Wind and Thunder Sacred Origin Essence; the phantom of the [Eye of Thunder Punishment] in his Sea of Consciousness faintly vibrated, dispersing those negative mental influences.

Ji Cang shielded himself with baleful energy, Lu Chenxin maintained his Sword Heart Clarity, Chen Ye operated his Icy Heart Technique, Bai Qianer guarded with her Illusory Light Butterfly Dance; each resisted the Demonic Chant's invasion, but their expressions were grim.

This environment was extremely unfavorable for sustained combat and mental focus.

The reconnaissance vessel cautiously approached the outer region of the 'Demon Throat.'

Zhou Heng's [Omniscient Eye] acted like an advanced radar, continuously scanning everything around them.

[Detecting high-concentration corrosive energy mist...]

[Detecting intense spatial distortion field...]

[Detecting faint but abnormal spiritual energy residue... suspected Shadow Heart Clan shadow energy fluctuations! Direction: southeast flank of the Demon Throat!]

"Found something!" Zhou Heng's gaze sharpened as he pointed toward a direction in the mist,

"There are traces of Shadow Heart Clan activity over there! Very faint, but unmistakable!"

"Let's go check it out! Stay alert!" Ji Cang tightened his grip on his sword hilt.

The reconnaissance vessel adjusted its course, silently gliding toward that area.

As they drew closer, the surrounding purple-green mist grew denser, visibility plummeting drastically,

the dark red seawater seemed to writhe like a living thing, and the eerie Demonic Chant grew clearer, disturbing their minds.

Just as they were about to reach the predetermined reconnaissance point, suddenly!

*Gurgle—!*

The seawater ahead violently exploded!

A massive, lizard-like, dark red sea beast with three ferocious heads burst forth from the water!

It radiated a savage aura, its six crimson eyes fixed intently on the reconnaissance vessel!

[Target: Three-Headed Corrupt Blood Drake]

[Realm: Fourth Rank Lower Tier (Equivalent to Transcendent Realm)]

[Status: Corrupted by Demon Throat energy, frenzied, mentally chaotic]

[Skills: Corrupt Blood Breath, Deathly Bite, Frenzied Charge]

"It's a mutated sea beast from the Demon Throat! We've been spotted!" Lu Chenxin shouted.

"Perfect timing! Just in time to stretch our limbs!" Far from being alarmed, Zhou Heng grew excited instead,

"Brothers, make it quick! Don't make too much noise!"

The Wind and Thunder Twin Wings instantly unfurled, the godfall spear already in hand!

The Donghuang First Team faced their first encounter in this bizarre sea area!

And deeper within, the 'Demon Throat' vortex watched it all like a cold, indifferent eye...