allonlinenovel Chapter 197 Core Stolen
Chapter 197 Core Stolen
Chapter 197 Core Stolen
“If you want our things, then come and take them if you can!” Jiang Jingzhi replied without fear, his voice firm and powerful.
His eyes revealed a confidence and determination, as if to tell the other party how foolish their provocation was.
The battle was about to break out. One of the henchmen rushed forward, brandishing his broadsword and slashing fiercely at Jiang Jingzhi.
Jiang Jingzhi remained calm and easily dodged the attack with a slight sidestep. Then, with a flick of his wrist, his longsword shot towards the henchman's chest like a silver lightning bolt.
The henchman turned pale with fright and hurriedly used his broadsword to defend himself. With a clang, sparks flew as Jiang Jingzhi's sword was blocked, but the powerful force made the henchman's arm go numb, and he almost lost his grip on his weapon.
Xu Xiaoxiao was not to be outdone. She let out a delicate shout, and a powerful blade aura instantly erupted from her spirit sword.
She moved like a swallow, weaving freely among the henchmen, each swing of her sword bringing forth a flash of cold light.
Caught off guard by her attack, the henchmen retreated in disarray. One of them tried to sneak up on Xu Xiaoxiao from behind, but she noticed him keenly.
Xu Xiaoxiao turned around abruptly, and with a swift swing of her spirit sword, a sharp blade of energy ripped a large gash in the henchman's clothes, scaring him so much that his face turned pale and he quickly retreated.
Mu Zhusheng silently cast rune spells on the side. He chanted incantations and quickly formed hand seals, sending runes flying from his hands toward the enemy.
Some of these runes transform into a binding force, slowing down the enemy's movements; others unleash powerful attacks, exploding among the enemy and causing chaos.
One of the henchmen was hit by the rune and immediately felt unable to move, forced to watch helplessly as he became a sitting duck for everyone.
The ferocious creature circled in the air, searching for the best opportunity to attack. It spotted a lone henchman, swooped down, and viciously clawed at the man's shoulder. The henchman screamed and fell to the ground, leaving several deep bloody gashes on his shoulder.
The battle was extremely fierce, with both sides exchanging blows and refusing to give an inch. Jiang Jingzhi and his companions gradually gained the upper hand thanks to their superb martial arts skills and tacit teamwork.
The henchmen began to show signs of defeat, and their fear grew stronger.
"Retreat!" Seeing the situation was bad, the big man knew he had met a tough opponent today. He shouted and led the remaining henchmen to turn and run. They ran in a sorry state, as if a flood or ferocious beast was chasing them.
"Trying to run? Not so easy!" Xu Xiaoxiao wasn't about to let them go. She was about to chase after them when Jiang Jingzhi stopped her.
"Don't pursue a defeated enemy too far. Our goal is not to get entangled with them," Jiang Jingzhi said earnestly.
Although Xu Xiaoxiao was somewhat unwilling, she still heeded Jiang Jingzhi's advice. She put away her spirit sword, clapped her hands, and her face was filled with the joy of victory: "Today was really enjoyable. I didn't expect to encounter such an interesting battle."
Mu Zhusheng also put away the runes and breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, everyone is alright, but this secret realm is really full of dangers, so we should still be careful."
The ferocious creature flew back to Jiang Jingzhi's shoulder, proudly shaking its wings as if showing off its achievements. Jiang Jingzhi gently patted its head: "You were a great help this time too."
As they continued walking, they noticed a strange change in their surroundings. The previously stable Phantom Demon Realm was now violently turbulent, as if stirred by an invisible hand. A pungent, fishy smell filled the air, and the earth trembled, emitting a muffled rumble.
Jiang Jingzhi was startled. He immediately circulated his spiritual power and released his divine sense without reservation, trying to find the root cause of this sudden change.
His divine sense spread rapidly throughout the entire demon realm like an invisible wave, leaving no corner untouched. However, when his divine sense touched the core of the demon realm, he felt an unusually empty void.
"Not good!" Jiang Jingzhi's expression changed drastically, and he cried out, "Someone has taken the core of the Phantom Demon Realm!" His voice was filled with shock and worry, because he knew the importance of the Demon Realm's core to the entire secret realm.
Once the core is seized, the entire Phantom Demon Realm will be like a building without a foundation, destined to collapse.
At this moment, the surrounding scene became even more terrifying. Dark clouds rolled in the sky, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and thick bolts of lightning, like sharp blades, slashed fiercely at the earth.
Huge cracks appeared on the ground, spewing out scorching magma that instantly swallowed everything around it. Distant mountains began to sway precariously, and boulders rained down, crashing onto the ground with deafening roars.
"There's no time to explain, we must leave here immediately!" Jiang Jingzhi knew the situation was critical and there was no room for hesitation.
He rushed to Xu Xiaoxiao's side and quickly put his arm around her waist. Feeling her body tremble slightly, he whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Immediately afterwards, he reached out and grabbed Mu Zhusheng's arm. Mu Zhusheng looked up at him, her eyes showing a hint of panic, but more so trust in Jiang Jingzhi.
Jiang Jingzhi took a deep breath, mobilized all the spiritual power in his body, and gathered it at his feet. A faint blue light emanated from his body, which was a sign of highly concentrated spiritual power.
With a low shout, the three figures vanished from their original spot and teleported towards the exit of the secret realm at top speed.
During the teleportation, Jiang Jingzhi and the others seemed to be in a distorted spacetime tunnel, with the surrounding scenery appearing as blurry images flashing by at high speed.
They could feel the powerful spatial forces tearing at their bodies, and each teleportation felt like a brush with death.
Finally, after several difficult teleportations, they saw the light ahead that symbolized the exit.
However, just as they were about to reach the exit, a deafening roar came from behind them.
Jiang Jingzhi looked back and saw that the entire Phantom Demon Realm was collapsing at an alarming speed. Huge mountains were being leveled, and lava was raging like a flood. Countless cultivators and demons were crying out in despair in this disaster.
"Quickly, give it your all!" Jiang Jingzhi shouted, using the last bit of strength to rush towards the exit with Xu Xiaoxiao and Mu Zhusheng.
The moment their feet stepped out of the secret realm, the exit behind them slammed shut, and a powerful impact sent them staggering forward a few steps.
Jiang Jingzhi and the others collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. Their faces were full of exhaustion and fear, and they were still shaken by the terrifying scene they had just witnessed.
After a long while, Jiang Jingzhi slowly stood up, looked at the completely sealed entrance to the secret realm, and frowned.
His heart was filled with doubt and anger. Who on earth was so bold as to steal the core of the Phantom Demon Realm, causing so many innocent lives to be lost? He knew that the person who stole the core must have ulterior motives and be extremely powerful.
Xu Xiaoxiao also stood up, walked to Jiang Jingzhi's side, and gently held his hand: "Senior Brother, are you alright?" Her eyes were full of concern.
Jiang Jingzhi turned to look at Xu Xiaoxiao and smiled wryly: "I was just wondering, who exactly is the mastermind behind this? And what is their purpose in doing this?"
Mu Zhusheng also came over, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "No matter who it is, since he was able to steal the core of the Demon Realm, it means that he knows this secret realm inside and out, and his strength should not be underestimated. We must be careful, because he may have another move to make."
Jiang Jingzhi nodded. He knew that Mu Zhusheng was right; this incident was just the beginning.
In the days that followed, Jiang Jingzhi and the others began to inquire about clues about the person who stole the core of the Phantom Demon Realm.
They visited town after town, inquiring with countless cultivators and demons, but to no avail.
However, they did not give up; instead, they became even more determined to find the truth.
At the same time, the entire cultivation world was thrown into chaos by the collapse of the Phantom Demon Realm. Many forces began to re-examine their positions, and various conspiracies and schemes were brewing in the shadows.
Jiang Jingzhi and the others knew that they had been caught in a huge storm, and at the center of this storm was the mysterious person who stole the core of the Demon Realm.
By chance, Jiang Jingzhi learned from a reclusive old monk that there was a mysterious dark castle in the far north.
It is said that the place is a gathering place for some evil forces, and mysterious people often come and go. Jiang Jingzhi had a thought, and he felt that this dark castle might have some connection with the person who stole the core of the demon realm.
So Jiang Jingzhi and the others embarked on their journey to the far north without hesitation, encountering all sorts of hardships and dangers along the way.
Despite the cold wind and snow, ferocious beasts, and mysterious traps, they never backed down. With their unwavering faith and tacit understanding, they turned danger into safety time and time again.
When they finally reached the far north, the sight before them was utterly awe-inspiring. The entire land was covered by a thick layer of ice, and the howling wind seemed to freeze everything in place. In the center of this icy wasteland, a black castle stood tall, exuding a mysterious and sinister aura.
“This is it,” Jiang Jingzhi said, gazing at the castle with a mixture of excitement and tension in his eyes. “We must be careful; there might be great danger lurking inside.”
Xu Xiaoxiao and Mu Zhusheng nodded, gripping their weapons tightly as they followed Jiang Jingzhi toward the castle.
As they approached the castle, a powerful restrictive force swept over them, attempting to stop them from advancing. Jiang Jingzhi and the others stopped, exchanged glances, and then each unleashed their spiritual power, trying to break through the restriction.
After a fierce struggle, they finally broke through the barrier and entered the castle. The castle was filled with a sinister atmosphere, and strange portraits hung on the walls. The figures in the portraits had ferocious faces, as if telling a terrifying story that had happened here.
They cautiously explored the castle, each step filled with vigilance. Suddenly, a low laugh came from ahead: "I didn't expect you to actually have the guts to follow us here." As the laughter rang out, a figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
Jiang Jingzhi and the others looked closely and saw that the person in front of them was tall, with a cold face and a powerful aura. In his hand, he was holding the core that once belonged to the Phantom Demon Realm.
"Are you the one who stole the core of the Demon Realm?" Jiang Jingzhi glared angrily and questioned loudly.
The man gave a cold laugh: "That's right, it's me. Now that you're here, don't even think about leaving alive."
As he finished speaking, the Demon Realm Core in his hand suddenly emitted a bright light, and the entire castle began to shake violently.
After a few moves, Xu Xiaoxiao and Mu Zhusheng coughed up blood and collapsed against the wall in the distance. Jiang Jingzhi pressed his sword against the ground and also suffered internal injuries. This person was so powerful that he defeated them in just three moves.
The man slowly walked up to Jiang Jingzhi and said, "You're not bad, kid. You can withstand three of my moves. You can be used by me." With that, he grabbed Jiang Jingzhi's arm and disappeared from the castle together.
Xu Xiaoxiao's consciousness sank and floated in the darkness. In the midst of the chaos, she only felt something wet gently licking her cheek, again and again, with a warm touch.
Her eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and it took a lot of effort to slowly open them. The glaring light made her squint instinctively.
Before her eyes were rough cave walls, and the air was filled with a damp smell. She moved her body, but gasped in pain. It felt as if all the muscles in her body had been broken apart, and every muscle was screaming in agony.
Only then did she realize that she was lying on soft wolf fur. Looking down, she saw her spirit pet, Lanxing. When Lanxing saw that she had woken up, its azure eyes were filled with joy, and it made a low whimper.
"Blue Star..." Xu Xiaoxiao called softly, her voice hoarse. She forced herself to sit up and then noticed Mu Zhusheng not far away.
Mu Zhusheng leaned against the cave wall, her eyes closed, her face as pale as paper, and large beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. She was clearly enduring great pain while healing.
Xu Xiaoxiao looked around. There were only the two of them and Lan Xing in the cave, but her senior brother Jiang Jingzhi was nowhere to be seen.
Her heart sank suddenly, as if she had fallen into an endless abyss, and an ominous premonition surged into her heart.
"Where is Senior Brother...?" she murmured to herself, her voice trembling slightly.
She struggled to stand up, but her legs were weak, and as soon as she exerted any force, she fell forward uncontrollably.
Seeing this, Lan Xing quickly shielded her with his body to prevent her from falling to the ground.
"Master, don't move around, your injuries haven't healed yet," Lan Xing said anxiously.
"No, I have to go find my senior brother," Xu Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with determination. "He must have been kidnapped by that bad guy. I can't just stand by and watch him be in danger."
As she spoke, she tried to get up again, but her weak body wouldn't obey her commands. She had only managed to prop herself up halfway when she fell heavily back down. This time, the fall was extremely hard, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.
Lan Xing felt extremely distressed and gently nuzzled Xu Xiaoxiao's face with her head, comforting her, "Master, don't worry. Senior Brother is so powerful, he will definitely be alright. You are so badly injured right now. If you push yourself too hard, you will not only fail to save Senior Brother, but you will also put yourself in danger. Let's go find him together after you have recovered, okay?"
Xu Xiaoxiao listened to Lanxing's words, her heart filled with worry and resentment, but she also knew that what Lanxing said made sense, and now her second senior brother had also suffered a heavy blow.
She gazed at the sky outside the cave, tears welling in her eyes: "Senior Brother, where are you? You must be safe and sound..."
She took a deep breath, endured the pain in her body, sat cross-legged, and began to heal herself by circulating her spiritual energy.
She knew that only by recovering her strength as soon as possible could she save Jiang Jingzhi. Lan Xing stayed by her side, watching her surroundings warily, and occasionally brushed Xu Xiaoxiao with her tail, as if giving her strength.
On Mu Zhusheng's side, after a difficult period of breathing, he slowly opened his eyes. He saw that Xu Xiaoxiao had woken up, struggled to get up, and said with difficulty, "Junior Sister, you're awake... Senior Brother... has been captured by that mysterious person. We must find a way to save him."
Looking at Mu Zhusheng's equally haggard face, Xu Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously: "Second Senior Brother, we will definitely rescue Eldest Senior Brother. No matter what the cost, I will not give up."
The cave was filled with a heavy atmosphere, but Xu Xiaoxiao and Mu Zhusheng's eyes burned with unwavering conviction. They knew the road ahead was fraught with danger, but for Jiang Jingzhi and for the truth, they were fearless.