184: Chapter 184 High-Rank Demon King!

Lu Yin also struck, the blade of annihilation sweeping across.

Death Soul Slash erupted, carving out a mournful sword light that instantly turned dozens of twisted creatures into ash.

"These aren't ordinary Abyssal creatures; they should be manifestations of some kind of energy aura!"

Xiao Wanguo's long spear spun in his hand, its silver light turning into a lethal vortex: "And it seems they are protecting something!"

Hearing this, Lu Yin's gaze sharpened, his vision piercing through the layers of swarming twisted creatures to look deeper into the passage.

"Correct. Deep within the passage, there should be a key object used by the Demon race to expand the tunnel."

"We need to keep going deeper."

The two exchanged a glance, an immediate understanding forming between them.

"I'll lead the way!"

Xiao Wanguo let out a long cry, his silver spear dancing like a dragon, fending off all the twisted creatures that threw themselves forward one after another.

Lu Yin nodded, following closely behind Xiao Wanguo.

He did not summon Luo Xiu, Lin Xiao, or the Legion Commander and the others right now.

After all, the path ahead was unknown, and he needed to keep some trump cards in reserve.

Who knew if the two of them entering this passage would draw the gaze of the Abyssal Demons.

If that Demon Emperor sensed their presence, exposing too much at the beginning would instead be disadvantageous for them.

The two continued deeper into the twisted dark-red passage, the pulsating veins around them becoming increasingly dense.

Xiao Wanguo's silver spear danced so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through, strangling wave after wave of attacking twisted creatures.

Silver light collided with dark-red energy, producing a sizzling sound of corrosion.

Lu Yin followed closely, the blade of annihilation swinging out from time to time, precisely slaying enemies pouncing from the flanks and rear.

His perception was fully released, staying alert for any potentially more powerful existences.

"These damn things—there's no end to them!"

Xiao Wanguo's spear pierced through three twisted creatures lunging together, and a burst of silver light completely purified them.

But more dark shadows immediately seeped out from the writhing walls, filling the gap.

"They are bred from the energy of the passage itself."

Lu Yin said in a heavy voice, his gaze scanning those pulsating veins: "Unless we cut off the energy source, they will be endless."

At the depth the two had reached now, they had already far exceeded all previous scouting teams.

Although those scouting teams were each quite capable, they were only Professionals above Level 9.

Compared to Lu Yin and Xiao Wanguo, their strength was like a firefly to the bright moon.

"These veins seem to be converging in a certain direction."

Lu Yin keenly perceived the pattern of the energy flow.

Xiao Wanguo cleared the obstacles ahead with a sweep of his spear and looked in the direction Lu Yin pointed.

He saw all the veins flowing into one direction, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.

Deep within the passage, the two discovered an even more vast space.

The veins here were as dense as a spiderweb, all surging toward a massive dark-red core in the center.

"Abyssal Erosion Core!"

That core was like a massive pulsating heart, its surface covered in twisted patterns, its dark-red glow flickering with every beat.

Countless thick veins extended out from here, yet it also seemed as if they ultimately flowed back into it.

With every pulse, a wave of heart-palpitating evil energy spread out, and the dark-red hue of the entire space deepened by a fraction.

"This is what's maintaining and expanding the passage!"

Xiao Wanguo's expression hardened; he could feel that just by standing here,

his own energy was being slowly eroded and drawn away by that invisible force field.

Just as Lu Yin and Xiao Wanguo discovered the Abyssal Erosion Core, the entire space suddenly shook violently.

The dark-red veins writhed frantically like provoked venomous snakes, and the core's pulsation frequency abruptly quickened, emitting a dull sound like rolling thunder.

"Not good, it's discovered us!"

Xiao Wanguo's face changed, and he held his long spear across his body, silver light surging to form a protective barrier.

Lu Yin narrowed his eyes; he could feel a terrifying energy condensing within the core.

That wasn't a simple defense mechanism, but some kind of conscious attack.

"Back up!"

Lu Yin shouted, while the blade of annihilation erupted with a profound black glow.

But it was already too late.

Countless tiny cracks suddenly split open on the core's surface, and dark-red energy gushed out like blood, condensing into a blurry figure in the air.

That figure gradually solidified, turning into a tall demon clad in dark-red armor.

It had a humanoid silhouette, but the twin horns atop its head and the tattered fleshy wings on its back proclaimed its essence as an Abyssal creature.

Most heart-palpitating of all were those eyes—completely pitch-black, like two black holes capable of devouring everything.

"Abyssal Demon King..." Xiao Wanguo took a sharp breath: "And a high-rank Demon King at that!"

Within the race of Abyssal Demons, the hierarchy was quite strict.

Those below Level 6 were called Demon Soldiers, and those above Level 60 were Demon Generals.

Once they reached the Awakening Level, they could be called Abyssal Demon Kings.

Demon King-level powerhouses would then be classified as low-rank, mid-rank, or high-rank based on the number of awakenings.

A typical high-rank Demon King was generally at the level of the 5th Awakening.

This level was rare even within their Demon tribes.

And once the 6th Awakening was completed, they would have the qualification to be called an Emperor.

At that point, the old Emperor and the new Emperor would engage in a duel, and only the winner would have the qualification to continue as the Emperor.

Because Abyssal Demons were an extremely warlike and brutal race, the Demon Emperors within the tribes would not only refrain from suppressing their subordinates' growth,

but would even help them improve so they could duel with themselves.

Boom!

At that moment, a suffocating pressure suddenly spread out, as if the entire space had frozen.

That demonic shadow fully solidified; it was nearly three meters tall, and its dark-red armor seemed cast from congealed blood.

It clung tightly to a knotted body full of explosive power.

The curved twin horns on its head burned with unquenchable demonic flames.

The tattered fleshy wings on its back fanned slowly, churning up a dark-red energy flow filled with the scent of corrosion.

Most heart-palpitating were those pupils—completely pitch-black, without a hint of white.

They were as deep as two abyssal entrances capable of devouring souls.

"Ants, finally some decent specimens have arrived."

The raspy, low voice rang directly in Lu Yin and Xiao Wanguo's minds, carrying a strong mental erosion.

Xiao Wanguo gave a muffled groan, silver light shining around his body to neutralize that invisible mental shock.

But his expression became even more solemn: "Careful, this guy is at least a top-tier existence among 5th Awakenings!"

Lu Yin's eyes were as sharp as knives, the black glow on the blade of annihilation flickering in and out.

"Since they've sent a Demon King of this level to guard it, it seems this core is quite important to them."

"Ants, to be able to die by my hand, Duma, is your glory!"

The Abyssal Demon King who called himself Duma let out a piercing screech.

Its pitch-black eyes locked onto Lu Yin, and it waved its arm.

A giant axe condensed from pure dark-red energy instantly formed, and with a shrill whistle that tore through space, it cleaved straight down!

Even before this axe reached them, that terrifying pressure had already caused the surrounding writhing veins to burst one after another.