89: The core of the Demon Palace, the Holy Spirit Mirror

At the Chen hour, the Demon Palace Core was dimly lit but exuded a solemn and mysterious aura. The ceiling was inlaid with several huge luminous pearls, emitting a faint, ethereal glow that illuminated the scene within the hall. In the center of the grand hall stood a high altar. Above the altar, an ancient mirror floated in mid-air. The mirror was entirely silver-white, its frame intricately carved with sacred holy spirit runes, and its surface shimmered with a faint golden light. Even unactivated, one could feel the immense purifying power it contained, a supreme treasure for restraining Demonic Cultivators—the holy spirit mirror.

Around the altar, three Holy Spirit Guards statues, several zhang tall, stood silently. The statues wore silver-white battle armor, held ancient longswords, and had solemn expressions. Faint sacred spiritual light enveloped their bodies, subtly resonating with Lu Chen's holy spirit battle armor and holy spirit token, exuding an inviolable deterrent force. The floor of the hall was covered with complex Formation runes, where Devilish Qi and sacred power intertwined and clashed, forming subtle energy ripples. These were clearly the remnants of Formations left by the Holy Spirit Guards when they sealed the Demonic Cultivators in ancient times.

As the Alliance members stepped into the Demon Palace Core, their gazes were instantly drawn to the holy spirit mirror on the altar, their eyes filled with gravity and anticipation. But at this moment, a black figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the altar, Devilish Qi swirling around him, his aura steady and immense. It was the Demon Lord of the Demonic Cultivator Alliance. In his hand, he held a broken token fragment, whose aura matched the two fragments in Lu Chen's possession. He had clearly collected two of the three key fragments, needing only the last one to activate the mirror or the associated Seal.

"I didn't expect you to break through the Nine Demon Formation and enter the Demon Palace Core. You do have some skill." A hint of surprise flashed in the Demon Lord's eyes, quickly turning into intense killing intent. His Devilish Qi surged, and the pressure of his Golden Core Stage cultivation erupted without reservation. "Unfortunately, the holy spirit mirror is destined to be mine. Today, all of you will be buried here, becoming sacrifices for me to control the mirror!"

Lu Chen stepped forward, his holy spirit battle armor glowing with golden light. The demon breaking sword was in his hand, and the holy spirit token floated above his shoulder. Sacred power and demon-breaking power fused, creating a sharp contrast with the Demon Lord's Devilish Qi. He said in a deep voice, "Demon Lord, you collude with Demonic Cultivators and endanger the Cultivation World. Today, we will use the power of the holy spirit mirror to thoroughly purge you and restore peace to the Cultivation World!"

"Purge me? With just you?" The Demon Lord's lips curled into a sneer. He raised his hand, and his surrounding Devilish Qi condensed into several black demonic blades, which shot towards the crowd. "The holy spirit mirror contains ancient Holy Spirit Power. Only by collecting all three fragments of the Demon Palace key can it be fully activated. I already have two. As long as I kill you and seize the last fragment, I can control the mirror. Then, the entire Cultivation World will submit to me!"

"Attack! Stop him from seizing the mirror!" Lu Chen commanded loudly, taking the lead and leaping forward, charging fiercely towards the Demon Lord. The demon breaking sword erupted with dazzling golden-green spiritual light, and a sword energy imbued with Holy Spirit Power struck directly at the Demon Lord's chest. Chu Feng, Zhao Feng, and others also launched their attacks, various spiritual lights continuously assailing the Demon Lord. The hall instantly erupted into fierce spiritual power clashes.

The Demon Lord showed no fear. His surrounding Devilish Qi condensed into a solid black defensive barrier, blocking all of the crowd's attacks. At the same time, he quickly formed hand Seals. The Formation runes around the altar suddenly glowed with black spiritual light, and several black chains emerged from the ground, wrapping towards the crowd. "This Demon Palace Formation has long been under my control. Today, I'll let you experience the might of an ancient demonic Formation!"

Seeing this, Lu Chen immediately activated the holy spirit token. The sacred golden light surged, and a golden spiritual force swept out, severing all the incoming black chains. He leaped onto the altar, just about to ascend and seize the mirror, when the Demon Lord suddenly teleported onto the altar, placing his hands on the edge of the holy spirit mirror, attempting to forcibly activate it. At the same time, he roared at Lu Chen, "A descendant of a Holy Spirit Guard traitor, daring to covet the holy spirit mirror? Back then, your ancestor betrayed the Holy Spirit Guards and helped my Demonic Cultivators escape. Today, I will complete his unfinished work and overthrow the Cultivation World!"

"My ancestor was a Holy Spirit Guard traitor?" Lu Chen's eyes were filled with doubt, but he had no time to ponder as the Demon Lord's attack came again. He immediately activated the holy spirit token, injecting spiritual power into the three Holy Spirit Guard statues. The statues instantly erupted with dazzling sacred spiritual light, their longswords slowly raising, resonating with Lu Chen's aura, clearly capable of launching a combined attack using Holy Spirit Power.

"The Holy Spirit Guard statues can be activated?" The Demon Lord's eyes were filled with disbelief, then he roared, "The power of traitors, daring to be presumptuous in front of me!" His Devilish Qi circulated wildly, and a huge black demonic palm condensed, slamming towards Lu Chen and the Holy Spirit Guard statues.

"Holy Spirit Combined Attack!" Lu Chen shouted. The holy spirit token in his hand glowed with golden light, and the three Holy Spirit Guard statues simultaneously swung their longswords. Three golden sword energies converged into a massive sword shadow, which collided with the Demon Lord's black demonic palm. Sacred power and Devilish Qi fiercely clashed, producing a deafening roar. The luminous pearls in the hall shattered, and the Formation runes on the ground flickered erratically. The energy shockwave spread in all directions, causing everyone to stagger back.

Lu Chen, using the combined power of the Holy Spirit Guard statues, barely withstood the Demon Lord's attack, but he also felt a powerful backlash. His chest ached, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He knew that relying solely on his and the statues' power would not be enough to resist the Demon Lord for long. He had to seize the holy spirit mirror quickly and use its power to restrain the Demon Lord.

Yu Lan stood at the side of the hall, watching Lu Chen and the Demon Lord's fierce battle. The myriad manifestations pendant around her neck suddenly grew intensely hot. She could clearly feel that the base of the holy spirit mirror was carved with familiar Yu Family runes, subtly resonating with her Bloodline Power. "Lu Chen, there are Yu Family runes on the mirror's base! I can temporarily control the mirror with my Bloodline Power. You find a way to tie down the Demon Lord!" Yu Lan shouted, immediately circulating the Bloodline Power within her body. Red and blue spiritual light intertwined around her as she quickly rushed towards the holy spirit mirror on the altar.

Seeing this, the Demon Lord's eyes filled with anxiety. If Yu Lan controlled the holy spirit mirror, he would completely lose his advantage. He immediately abandoned his attack on Lu Chen, turned, and charged fiercely towards Yu Lan, his Devilish Qi condensing into a black longsword in his hand, aimed directly at Yu Lan's back. "Don't even think about controlling the mirror!"

Lu Chen seized the opportunity, immediately activated his Holy Spirit Power, and leaped forward, his demon breaking sword aimed directly at the Demon Lord's back, trying to pin down his attack. Chu Feng, Zhao Feng, and others also launched their attacks, charging fiercely towards the Demon Lord to buy time for Yu Lan. The Demon Lord, attacked from both front and back, could only forcibly circulate his Devilish Qi, simultaneously fending off everyone's attacks, his movements gradually becoming sluggish.

Yu Lan took the chance to ascend the altar, placing her hands on the Yu Family runes at the base of the holy spirit mirror. Bloodline Power continuously poured into it. The runes instantly glowed with a faint green light, fusing with Yu Lan's Bloodline Power. The mirror's golden light surged, and its purifying power greatly increased. The Devilish Qi in the hall was rapidly dispelled, and the Demon Lord's aura also became slightly chaotic.

"No!" The Demon Lord's eyes were filled with anger and unwillingness. He wanted to rush towards the altar again but was firmly held back by Lu Chen and the others, unable to get close. He watched the golden light on the holy spirit mirror grow stronger, his emotions becoming exceptionally agitated. He roared at the three Holy Spirit Guard statues, "Traitors! You are all traitors! If you hadn't betrayed the Holy Spirit Guards and privately released Demonic Cultivators back then, how could I have been trapped here for thousands of years? Today, I will have my revenge and make all descendants of the Holy Spirit Guards pay the price!"

Everyone present was surprised. So, there was such a history between the Demon Lord and the Holy Spirit Guards. The three Holy Spirit Guard statues also seemed to sense the Demon Lord's anger, their sacred spiritual light becoming even more blazing. They once again swung their longswords, hacking fiercely towards the Demon Lord.

Lu Chen looked at the agitated Demon Lord, gradually understanding. The Demon Lord's true identity might be deeply connected to the ancient Holy Spirit Guards, perhaps even being a core Demonic Cultivator who participated in the rebellion back then. He no longer hesitated, circulating all the spiritual power within him. The holy spirit token and the demon breaking sword simultaneously erupted with dazzling golden light, and a massive sword shadow imbued with Holy Spirit Power and demon-breaking power condensed, thrusting fiercely towards the Demon Lord.

"Today, I will end you completely!" Lu Chen shouted. The sword shadow, carrying an unstoppable might, struck directly at the Demon Lord's chest. The Demon Lord wanted to resist but was held back by the Holy Spirit Guard statues' attacks, unable to evade. He could only forcibly circulate his Devilish Qi, condensing a final defensive barrier.

"Boom!" The sword shadow shattered the defensive barrier and fiercely pierced the Demon Lord's chest. Sacred power surged into the Demon Lord's body along the sword shadow, rapidly purifying his demonic core and vitality. The Demon Lord let out a tragic scream, his body slowly collapsing, Devilish Qi constantly escaping from within him, gradually becoming weak.

Lu Chen put away his demon breaking sword, looking at the fallen Demon Lord with a solemn expression. At this moment, a tattered booklet fell out of the Demon Lord's Storage Pouch. Lu Chen picked it up and saw "Holy Spirit Combined Attack Technique" written on the cover. It detailed how to use the Holy Spirit Guard statues and one's own Holy Spirit Power to launch combined attacks, greatly enhancing combat strength. It was precisely the complete method for the attack he had inadvertently triggered earlier.

Yu Lan stood on the altar, having temporarily controlled the holy spirit mirror. The golden light on the mirror's surface grew even more intense, and the Devilish Qi in the hall was completely purified. She looked down at the mirror's surface, which suddenly lit up, reflecting a blurry image—in the image, a Cultivator in Holy Spirit Guard battle armor colluded with Demonic Cultivators, betraying the Holy Spirit Guards and releasing the Demonic Cultivators from the Seal. The Cultivator's face bore some resemblance to the Demon Lord.

"Could what the mirror reflects be the Demon Lord's true identity?" Yu Lan's eyes were filled with surprise. She turned to Lu Chen. "Lu Chen, the mirror seems to be able to reflect the true identity of Demonic Cultivators. The Demon Lord's true identity might be an ancient Holy Spirit Guard traitor!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen's heart sank. The Demon Lord was actually a Holy Spirit Guard traitor, which undoubtedly revealed a hidden past from ancient times. He looked at the dying Demon Lord on the ground, then at the holy spirit mirror on the altar, his eyes filled with determination. The holy spirit mirror had been temporarily controlled, and the Demon Lord was severely wounded. Victory seemed assured, but he knew that things would never be that simple. Since the Demon Lord could become the leader of the Demonic Cultivator Alliance, he must have a backup plan, and the true power of the holy spirit mirror, as well as the complete truth of the ancient Holy Spirit Guards' betrayal, might have only just begun to unfold.

A sudden rush of footsteps came from outside the hall. Clearly, the demonic Cultivator patrol team had detected the fierce battle inside the hall and was rushing towards the core area. Lu Chen immediately shouted, "Chu Feng, Zhao Feng, you lead everyone to block the demonic Cultivator patrol team. Yu Lan and I will stay in the hall to completely control the holy spirit mirror and explore its true power!"

Chu Feng, Zhao Feng, and the others immediately responded, turning and rushing out of the hall, preparing to resist the demonic Cultivators' attack. Lu Chen walked onto the altar, coming to Yu Lan's side, and looked at the floating holy spirit mirror, his eyes filled with solemnity. The mirror's power was far from fully activated. To completely control it, they might still need to collect the third key fragment, and whether the fragment in the Demon Lord's hand held other secrets—everything awaited their exploration. The confrontation in the Demon Palace Core was far from over; ancient secrets and the truth of the mirror were about to gradually emerge in this conflict.