Beams of intense light erupted from the "Guang Chen," blasting the seven three-headed Hidden Demons ahead of them into a tumbling, weightless glide across the star-sea, like scattered feathers in the wind.

The Zac Clan had once used these very beams to destroy the wandering souls of many cultivators from the Sun Star Field and the Meteor Sea Star Field, proving that the radiant power exploding from the "Guang Chen" was formidable.

However, facing the members of the Hidden Demon Clan now, the assault did not seem to go as smoothly.

Though struck by the fierce light, none of the three-headed Hidden Demons died; they only suffered minor abrasions on their bodies.

"These Hidden Demon Clan fellows are truly formidable!" Hong Mandun marveled, "Just three-headed ones can withstand such powerful attacks. I imagine the four-headed and five-headed ones must be even stronger!"

"Didn't you claim to know a lot about the Hidden Demon Clan? Hearing you now, it seems you weren't quite as familiar with their true might?" Ji Changkong asked suspiciously.

"Heh heh." Hong Mandun gave a dry laugh. "My knowledge of the Hidden Demon Clan is limited to hearsay. In truth, I've never truly clashed with any of their members. This trip is my first encounter."

"Oh?" Ji Changkong was left speechless, muttering, "So you’re just a theoretical expert."

Hong Mandun looked somewhat awkward and embarrassed.

Bang!

A violent impact suddenly rocked the "Guang Chen." Through the crystal embedded in the disc, they could see a four-headed Hidden Demon that had somehow snuck aboard and was now straining mightily at the entrance/exit of the vessel.

All six of its auxiliary arms gripped the opening, trying desperately to rip it open wider.

This four-headed Hidden Demon exerted tremendously fierce strength. Its burst of brute force actually caused the "Guang Chen" to sway alarmingly, slowing its forward momentum instantly.

"Damn it!"

Ji Changkong cursed aloud, then glared at Hong Mandun. "Your turn to act!"

Only one four-headed Hidden Demon had managed to approach. Firing the "Ice Magnetic Ripple" just for this single one seemed a waste. Hong Mandun, possessing the cultivation of the Ten Directions Heaven Realm and wielding an incredibly sharp sword, ought to be able to swat this four-headed fiend away.

"Leave it to me," Hong Mandun smiled, showing no hesitation. He suddenly appeared near the entrance, his long sword extended. Only then did he turn back to Ji Changkong. "Open the hatch a little."

"Be careful," Ji Changkong briefly instructed, then manipulated the disc beneath him, flicking a metal latch.

Crack!

The entrance of the "Guang Chen" split open, and a stream of intensely cold air rushed in, carrying with it the rank, foul odor of the four-headed Hidden Demon.

The expert four-headed Hidden Demon saw the fissure intentionally created, and all four of its heads simultaneously displayed expressions of impatience, delight, excitement, and murderous intent. Its auxiliary arms shot out, intending to tear the opening wide enough for entry.

"Looking to die, are you?" Hong Mandun chuckled, effortlessly guiding his long sword forward until the tip rested against one of the Hidden Demon's necks.

Fssshhh!

Sparks erupted from the sword tip as a crescent of silver moonlight suddenly launched from the blade's point, directly cleaving the protruding neck of the Hidden Demon.

Thud!

One of the four heads sprayed blood, rocketing high into the void, spinning like a ball.

Caught off guard, a beam of intense light shot out and struck the rolling head with pinpoint accuracy.

The severed head exploded like a ruptured watermelon, scattering blood that misted the void like fine rain, most of which splashed onto the "Guang Chen" Ji Changkong was piloting.

Through the disc below, he clearly saw the beam originate from another "Guang Chen" in the distance—it seemed the Zac Clan members had seized the moment and offered timely assistance.

"Awooo!"

The remaining three heads of the mutilated Hidden Demon roared in frenzied anger. Seemingly ignorant of what death meant, it desperately tried to force itself into their "Guang Chen."

"Get lost!"

Hong Mandun sneered, shifting the configuration of his sword technique.

Brilliant sword light, like cascading moonlight, flooded into the torn gap of the entrance. The majority of the light converged upon the single, wounded Hidden Demon.

Blood bloomed across the demon's body like green leaves. Under the impact of the arcing blades, the Hidden Demon could no longer hold its position against the "Guang Chen." With a soul-rending scream, its body was flung violently backward into the distance.

Unexpectedly, several more intense beams of light struck the badly mauled demon. As it shrieked, its body convulsed, blood mixing chaotically with flesh, and some of the spilled blood coagulated in the void, appearing like some lethally toxic fluid.

Whoosh whoosh!

Sharp whistling sounds echoed through the void as three ripples of strangely glowing light flew out from the "Tian Chen" within their own "Guang Chen," striking the remaining three heads of the demon with deadly precision.

Crack crack crack!

All three heads of the three-headed Hidden Demon detonated, mixing brain matter and blood that filled the star-sea before them.

Ji Changkong, controlling the disc, was sharply startled. He could clearly sense that those three beams of intense light were also "Ice Magnetic Ripples," only these were more focused and efficient, rather than diffuse.

Astonished, he immediately manipulated the disc, causing the entrance/exit of their "Guang Chen" to seal shut.

"Let's go!" Hong Mandun suddenly cried out, sounding extremely urgent. "Three more four-headed Hidden Demons are approaching, and there are about a dozen three-headed ones nearby. It looks like they've changed targets and plan to keep us here."

"Damn it, we’re really unlucky!" Ji Changkong swore, then took a deep breath. "It seems we have to use the 'Ice Magnetic Ripple.' Get down first; I want to feel around a bit more to see if that Corpse Demon and its master are in the vicinity. If they are, hitting them too would be best."

"I hope you can manage that. That Corpse Demon seemed unharmed earlier," Hong Mandun replied with a wry smile.

"Even if the Corpse Demon wasn't killed, it was certainly injured by the 'Ice Magnetic Ripple.' No matter how powerful a creature is, repeated severe injury eventually leads to death. There is no such thing as absolutely undying existence," Ji Changkong stated confidently.

Having meticulously practiced the Orion Cult's Nebula Soul Refining Art, he deeply understood this principle. His own divine soul, while capable of splitting in moments of danger, weakened slightly with every division. If he split his soul over ten times in quick succession, his soul power would be exhausted. Without the protection of soul essence, a subsequent severe blow could truly obliterate his soul if the splitting technique was unavailable.

Even the Ghost Demon King, reputed to be undying, would grow weak after repeated heavy assaults. If attacked continuously before he could recover his strength, and if the Ghost Demon King refused to flee, his only path would be death.

If one attempt can't blast the Corpse Demon away, then two, three, or ten times!

Ji Changkong held this thought firmly, forcing himself to calm down and use his spiritual sense to search for the Corpse Demon’s location.

A faint wisp of corpse aura drifted from a group of Hidden Demons nearby. They were engaging the Zac Clan members stationed on a dead star.

"...Too far away."

After a moment of hesitation, Ji Changkong steered the "Guang Chen" suddenly toward that dead star—a direction opposite to their intended escape route.

"Kid, are you insane?" Hong Mandun immediately yelled.

"The Corpse Demon is near. Every bit of damage we inflict is worth it," Ji Changkong replied distractedly, not looking back, and accelerated the "Guang Chen" in that direction.

"Eh!" Before they could draw closer, the Corpse Demon’s aura actively surged toward them.

Within the faint haze, a desiccated ghostly shadow flashed, moving with extreme speed, seemingly ready to materialize on their "Guang Chen" the next second.

Not good!

Ji Changkong didn't pause to think, activating the "Ice Magnetic Ripple" at maximum speed.

Surging magical power poured out from the hexagonal artifact below, channeled through small iron tubes to every aperture on the exterior of the "Guang Chen."

Fssshhh!

First, icy mist billowed outward, followed by the strange ripple impact. Wherever the ripple passed, the dozen or so approaching Hidden Demon members instantly vaporized, their bodies turning gaseous and vanishing rapidly.

Even the four-headed Hidden Demon only managed to persist for an extra second before it, too, was annihilated, body and spirit turning to nothingness.

The ghostly shadow within the faint mist was seared as if by fire under the "Ice Magnetic Ripple," finally being fully revealed.

The dried-out Corpse Demon, wrapped in thick corpse aura, actually withstood the "Ice Magnetic Ripple." Apart from extensive burns scarring its flesh, the Corpse Demon showed no further signs of injury.

Where the Corpse Demon stood, tendrils of smoke gathered in the void. Under the influence of the "Ice Magnetic Ripple," a slender figure slowly became visible as well.

When the alluringly beautiful woman of the Purgatory Ghost Clan was completely revealed from the mist, the surrounding Hidden Demons suddenly shrieked and prostrated themselves, treating her as if she were a deity.

This woman's gaze was calm. Strange symbols and glyphs danced around her body like sprites. When the "Ice Magnetic Ripple" washed over her, it was entirely repelled, unable to even graze her skin.

She stared intently at the "Guang Chen" ahead, her eyes flashing with a strange light, seemingly pondering something.

"Hurry and go!" Ji Changkong’s face changed drastically. He commanded the "Guang Chen" to flee at top speed toward the location where the Zac Clan forces were gathered, hoping to use their strength to hold off this bizarre woman for a moment. (To be continued. For the next chapter, please log in for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!) F

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