Ghost Yaksha, an ancient powerhouse, had lain dormant for ten millennia before finally stirring again. Though no one knew his origins, nor the true extent of his former might, this alone suggested he was far from ordinary.

For a figure of his stature, even with his movements restricted by the altar, having meticulously prepared for ten thousand years, he would hardly be a soft persimmon for anyone to squeeze at will. Right now, he had clearly given Youxiang and Xiaozǐ a lesson on what it meant to be old and cunning—the elder knows best.

This was now a massive problem... Facing encirclement by over a hundred Yōkai, Xiaozǐ and Youxiang felt an immense wave of pressure.

Not a single one of these spirits was weaker than them, and coupled with their sheer numbers, the gap in strength was starkly evident. “Be careful!

They’re charging! Do not separate!” Facing this despair-inducing situation, although Xiaozǐ and Youxiang felt heavy-hearted and a primal fear surfaced, they had no intention of giving up.

Noticing the Yōkai’s feet beginning to move, they shouted in unison. The two stood back-to-back, perfectly still, their gazes locked onto the horde of spirits.

“Roar!!!” As an enraged and frenzied roar erupted from the center of the Yōkai mass, the hundred-plus spirits surged forward like a swarm of locusts, launching a fierce assault upon the pair. There was no time for hesitation, no room for choice; at this moment, they could only fight.

Fortunately, almost all of these hundred-plus Yōkai were melee specialists. Even the few capable of ranged combat possessed insufficient destructive power, resulting in no Yōkai employing ranged attacks across the entire battlefield.

Had they utilized long-range area-of-effect bombardments, it was likely that Xiaozǐ and Youxiang would have been pulverized in a single exchange. Even so, this battle was exceptionally arduous for them.

As the first few attackers closed in, they felt an unparalleled sense of oppression. The first to be assaulted were Youxiang’s opponents: one was the Bear Yōkai who had previously ambushed her, and the other, a Leopard Yōkai capable of three stages of transformation.

The former possessed boundless strength, while the latter moved with lightning speed. This combination of power and velocity made it nearly impossible for Youxiang to catch her breath upon initial contact.

Just managing to evade the Bear Yōkai’s blow, the Leopard Yōkai immediately unleashed his peak velocity, a flash of lightning that resulted in an instant spray of blood. Youxiang was wounded once more.

But this was not the end, because in that brief exchange, the other Yōkai had already surged forward. At this moment, Youxiang felt like an MT absorbing all the hate; all the focus of the attack zeroed in on her.

Even with an iron will, she felt close to breaking. In less than a single round, she sustained at least a dozen wounds, yet she gritted her teeth, refusing to yield an inch, stubbornly holding her line...

because behind her was Xiaozǐ, whose defense was completely exposed. Any single attack from those Yōkai could prove fatal to her.

Therefore, no matter how ferocious the assaults from the front, she could not retreat an inch! Similarly, Xiaozǐ endured pressure no less intense.

Having lost Sukima as her trump card, her combat effectiveness was drastically lower than Youxiang’s, yet she faced just as many enemies, each one stronger than her. Every attack required her full might to repel, the hardship of which defied description—yet, she held them back!

With herself as the boundary, no matter how fierce the incoming attacks, no matter the pain and pressure her body endured, she did not allow a single strike to pass through. In that instant, Xiaozǐ and Youxiang performed a miracle, for they completely blocked countless attacks from opponents vastly superior to them.

If this wasn't a miracle, what was? Yet, this miracle was not unprompted.

It was like an elderly person lifting an immovable car to save their grandchild trapped underneath; like a mother diving into certain death in a blazing fire only to successfully rescue her child; like a dying animal challenging and defeating a fierce predator that attacks its young... When humans—no, when any living creature possesses something absolutely vital that they must protect, when they resolve to sacrifice their lives to shield that most precious thing, they unleash the most formidable power, creating miracles that should have been impossible!

The same applied to Xiaozǐ and Youxiang. In the heat of that battle, their focus was sharper than ever, their minds fixed on a single thought: to block every attack coming from the front, allowing not a sliver to reach what was behind them!

This conviction stemmed from their souls, and the power released by this conviction came from the person behind them. They prioritized the other’s safety above their own, thereby gaining the strength to accomplish the impossible.

Simultaneously, they completely trusted each other. Thus, no matter how vicious the attacks from behind, no matter how many times their bodies screamed warnings about assaults from the rear, they never looked back, keeping their eyes fixed forward until the very end.

Without a shadow of doubt, both believed the other would guard their back perfectly! It was this absolute trust, this absolute bond, that allowed them to create the miracle unfolding now.

And in this moment, the miracle continued. After all, among these Yōkai, there were no powerful ranged damage dealers.

So, despite their large numbers, constrained by the area's size, only a mere dozen or so could launch an attack simultaneously. In other words, although Xiaozǐ and Youxiang faced over a hundred enemies, the actual pressure they endured came only from a dozen or so, though these dozen could change at any second.

And though the battle raged on, leaving them covered in wounds and rapidly depleting their stamina, their morale remained utterly unshaken; if anything, they grew fiercer with every clash... Gradually, they shifted from mere desperate defense to fighting with increasing ease.

It could be clearly seen that within a two-meter radius centered on the two of them, no Yōkai attack could penetrate. These two meters seemed an insurmountable chasm; no matter how numerous the spirits or how swift their attacks, they could never breach that two-meter limit, stopping dead at the boundary.

The Yōkai, controlled by Ghost Yaksha like puppets, attacked relentlessly, unaware of the deeper meaning. But Ghost Yaksha saw it clearly and was instantly shocked.

An Absolute Domain! How could this be?!

Ghost Yaksha perceived that during that relentless resistance, Xiaozǐ and Youxiang had unconsciously achieved the most crucial transformation: the formation of a Rule! Within their immediate reach, their own Absolute Domain had taken shape—nothing could attack it, nothing could break it.

This was their unique Rule. Though this Rule was incomplete, far from true power of Rule, one must remember it was manifested by two people acting in concert, which was far more difficult than achieving individual enlightenment of a Rule.

It required not just comprehension, but cooperation and synchronization. It could be said that the level of synchronization between Youxiang and Xiaozǐ had reached perfection!

Through this perfect synergy, they manifested the Absolute Domain. Aptitude and talent became secondary; from this moment, they had officially stepped onto the threshold of Rule!

Watching them block the ferocious onslaught of a hundred Yōkai without sustaining further injury or bleeding, even managing counterattacks, Ghost Yaksha’s teeth ground together. He had never imagined that his ultimate killing move would not only fail to annihilate his enemies but actually accelerate their growth, catapulting them straight to the realm of Rule.

“Damn it, I still underestimated you!” Earlier, Xiaozǐ had displayed wisdom unmatched by ordinary people, along with stunning analytical and judgmental capabilities—he hadn't given it much weight. Later, Youxiang unleashed peerless momentum and a soul as vast as the sun—he still hadn't taken it seriously.

But now, he had to admit he had misjudged them. These two girls were certainly not to be measured by common standards.

After all, even he had never heard of anyone entering the domain of Rule at such a tender age. Two people achieving perfect synchronization to wield Rule simultaneously was pure fantasy.

While there might have been some element of coincidence involved, there was no denying the immense potential of these two. At least in Ghost Yaksha’s view, Xiaozǐ and Youxiang were geniuses appearing perhaps once in a thousand years.

If such talents were allowed to grow unchecked, in a few decades or centuries, they could easily become regional overlords, perhaps even contend for the pinnacle of power. “Therefore, you must die here!” With this thought, a ruthless glint flashed in Ghost Yaksha’s single eye as he spat out cold, unforgiving words.

Though evil, he wasn't the type who couldn't tolerate others surpassing him. He didn't automatically seek to eliminate every genius who showed superior talent.

But now, the two sides were enemies locked in mortal combat; it was either one’s life or the other’s. Thus, the more outstanding Xiaozǐ and Youxiang proved themselves, the heavier his murderous intent became.

Moments later, Ghost Yaksha suddenly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the sky, a strange curve on his lips. “Heh heh, it seems time for this show to draw to a close.” As Ghost Yaksha finished speaking, the world abruptly shifted.

The clear sky was instantly swallowed by dark clouds, countless shadowy masses churning and rapidly converging toward the center. Simultaneously, as these dark clouds appeared, the Yōkai attacking Xiaozǐ and Youxiang suddenly froze in place, then simultaneously looked up at the sky and opened their mouths.

Immediately, a mist the same color as the overhead clouds billowed out, drifting upward toward the sky. “What...

what is happening?” The bizarre actions of the Yōkai caused Youxiang and Xiaozǐ to stop short, their eyes wide with disbelief. During the intense fighting just moments ago, their minds had been completely focused on survival, unaware of external happenings.

But they could easily guess this strange occurrence was tied to Ghost Yaksha, and instinctively turned to look at him. To their astonishment, Ghost Yaksha mirrored the actions of the Yōkai.

He stood motionless, staring upward, his eyes vacant, as if petrified. “Strange, is that… the soul?” Youxiang frowned after watching for a moment.

“What did you say? Soul?” Xiaozǐ looked over reflexively.

Youxiang nodded. Though bewilderment flickered in her eyes, her tone was firm.

“Yes, I don’t know why I know this. But the mist emerging from the Yōkai’s mouths, and the dark clouds in the sky—they are souls.” “Souls?

Why would souls manifest in such a physical form? And from these signs…” Xiaozǐ’s brow furrowed deeply as she murmured, her gaze unconsciously drifting back to the surrounding Yōkai.

She noticed with alarm that once the last wisp of mist left their mouths, their bodies instantly turned to stone. Then, a gentle breeze blew, and they crumbled into fine stone dust scattering across the ground.

“This?!” A terrible thought suddenly struck her, causing her face to drain of color as she cried out, “No! Stop him!

He’s going to absorb those souls!” Before the words fully left her lips, she was already rushing toward Ghost Yaksha. Youxiang didn't understand why Xiaozǐ was so alarmed, but she never doubted her words.

In an instant, she too surged toward Ghost Yaksha, both launching fierce attacks simultaneously. However, just as they reached Ghost Yaksha, he abruptly drew his gaze from the sky, looking at them with a triumphant smirk.

“My apologies, you’re too late.” Boom! In that instant, the dark clouds above descended like a massive vortex, completely blocking Xiaozǐ and Youxiang’s incoming attacks.

Blinded momentarily by the dark cloud, the two instinctively retreated rapidly. When they looked again, Ghost Yaksha was already enveloped within the mass of dark clouds.

“It’s over,” Xiaozǐ whispered, despair creeping into her voice at the sight. “What… what exactly is happening?” Youxiang, the only one still struggling to grasp the situation, couldn't help but ask upon seeing Xiaozǐ’s expression.

Xiaozǐ took a deep breath to steady herself, then explained, “You know his goal: to restore his strength using the life force of the Yōkai in the valley. We thought that since the altar was destroyed, he couldn't achieve it, but I didn’t expect…” Xiaozǐ didn't finish, but Youxiang wasn't foolish.

Hearing this, she gasped, “Could it be—he’s absorbing those souls?!” “Precisely!” The voice that answered was not Xiaozǐ’s, but Ghost Yaksha’s, emerging from within the dark cloud. “Whether Yōkai, human, or beast, the soul is their fundamental core.

As long as the soul exists, even if life perishes, they will not be completely erased from this world. Conversely, once the soul is destroyed, even if the body remains, it is nothing more than a walking corpse.” “I need to recover my strength, and the absorption of souls is indispensable.

The souls of the thousand-plus Yōkai outside, and the souls of the hundred-plus Yōkai here—these are the keys to my reawakening!” “But the altar was clearly destroyed! How can you still absorb these souls?” Xiaozǐ challenged loudly.

“Hmph!” Ghost Yaksha glanced sideways at her. “Trying to pry information from me again?

But since things have come to this, I don’t mind telling you. The altar’s function was purely for fixation—to stabilize my existence and prevent these souls from scattering externally.

The entity actually responsible for soul absorption is myself… After all, manipulating the mind and soul has always been my specialty.” Xiaozǐ’s heart jolted. “So, the altar’s role wasn’t that significant?

You could still recover without it?” Ghost Yaksha shook his head. “You are clever, little one, but still too naive.

The altar was the single most critical component for my revival. Without it, everything is moot.

However, after ten thousand years of preparation, the altar itself acquired sentience. Even though you destroyed it, it did not lose all function; simply put, its inertia remains.” “Of course, with the altar destroyed, even if inertia persists, its efficacy is greatly reduced.

As I said, the altar’s purpose was to keep the souls contained here. Originally, if the altar hadn't been broken, I could have absorbed the highest-purity souls from those Yōkai, allowing me to recover at least over half of my peak strength.

But because of you, the purity of the souls has drastically decreased, meaning the results I achieve are less than half of what they should have been… This, is all your fault!” As he spoke, a chilling light shot from Ghost Yaksha’s eyes. Xiaozǐ and Youxiang shivered under his gaze, feeling as if needles were pricking their skin.

Then, Ghost Yaksha continued, “Of course, your transgressions don't end there. Because you attempted to sabotage my revival, forcing me to use the Yūkon-jutsu technique, both my own soul and the souls of the Yōkai have been further depleted...

Combining these factors, even if I absorb every soul here, I will, at best, only recover one-sixth of my strength.” “One-sixth?” Xiaozǐ and Youxiang had no idea how powerful Ghost Yaksha was at his peak, nor what one-sixth of that power meant. But a simple calculation suggested it was still far beyond their current ability to resist.

As Ghost Yaksha was about to regain his mobility, Xiaozǐ and Youxiang knew they could not linger. Although the spatial tremors had ceased, the feeling of restraint remained—whether it was a lingering effect from Ghost Yaksha or a backlash from the shattered altar, it completely neutralized Xiaozǐ’s Sukima, leaving them helpless to escape as they watched Ghost Yaksha absorb the numerous souls, steadily regaining his might.

Not long after, the dark cloud enveloping Ghost Yaksha finally dissipated. But this was not good news for Xiaozǐ and Youxiang, as it signaled Ghost Yaksha had finished absorbing and was fully revived.

Clack! The moment the dark cloud vanished, as anticipated, Ghost Yaksha took a step forward.

But he didn't strike immediately. Instead, he spread his hands, tilted his head back toward the sky, and sighed contentedly, “Ten thousand years have passed; this day has finally arrived.

The feeling of moving freely is glorious; it wasn't a waste of my long preparation.” Seeing him finally able to move, the faces of Xiaozǐ and Youxiang fell drastically. Though they didn't feel the terrifying oppressive aura from the initial confrontation, the sense of danger was overwhelmingly strong, causing their bodies to issue instinctive warnings as they involuntarily backed away.

But before they could retreat more than a few steps, Ghost Yaksha’s gaze landed on them. He grinned widely.

“Now, let’s settle the score between us. I forgot to mention something earlier.

Although you did many things that cost me dearly, there is room for compensation. After all, one of you possesses an incomparably unique soul, and the other holds the most immense soul.

The weight of both your souls far exceeds the capacity I just absorbed. So, if you offer up your souls, I might forgive you.” “Been trapped underground for ten millennia and now your brain’s gone addled?

Asking us to offer our souls—that’s a pipe dream!” Upon hearing this, Youxiang sneered coldly. Perhaps feeling cheerful from his successful resurrection, Ghost Yaksha didn’t take the barbed words to heart.

He chuckled, “My principle is simple: if you won’t give it to me, I’ll take it myself. And once I obtain what I desire from you, regardless of whether it was willingly given or forcibly taken, I will count it as your offering.

Thus, saying I’m dreaming is incorrect.” “Furthermore, from our previous skirmish, I have clearly seen your potential. From this moment on, I will no longer treat you as common sprites, but as opponents on the same level.

Therefore…” As Ghost Yaksha uttered this, a tightness gripped the hearts of the two girls. If he still regarded them as arrogant pests, it meant he might not fight with his full strength, and even if they were weaker, there would still be a chance of victory.

But now, Ghost Yaksha explicitly stated he would treat them as equals—meaning, short of overpowering him with raw strength, they had no other path to victory! The two tensed, meticulously tracking every move Ghost Yaksha made, but just as they braced themselves, they realized that before he could finish speaking, he had vanished from his spot, leaving no trace.

"Watch out!" Seeing this, Youxiang's expression changed instantly, and without thinking, she leaped forward to shield Xiaozhi.

At that very moment, she felt an overwhelmingly heavy pressure bearing down from ahead. Instinctively, she threw out her arms just as a resounding boom echoed—the invisible attack struck her the moment her defensive posture was taken, blasting her back with tremendous force.

Xiaozhi, behind her, hadn't even registered what happened before Youxiang's hurtling body slammed into her. Together, they were sent flying backward, traveling tens of meters before crashing onto the ground with a thud.

On the other side, the Demon Yaksha had materialized like a phantom where they had just stood, waving his arms with a look of disappointment. "Indeed, after being dormant for ten thousand years, even my own body feels unfamiliar. I had hoped to seize the initiative and take out at least one of you, but it seems that to achieve this goal, I must first thoroughly familiarize myself with my own form."

That previous strike had been delivered by the Demon Yaksha, who first used words to distract Xiaozhi and Youxiang before launching his attack. However, the result clearly did not satisfy him.

But the result that displeased him caused considerable shock to Xiaozhi and Youxiang. They staggered to their feet, shaking. Xiaozhi was better off since she hadn't taken the brunt of the Demon Yaksha's blow and quickly recovered, but Youxiang was different.

She had taken the full force of the Demon Yaksha's strike. Although her timely defense had blocked most of the power, the residual impact was not negligible. Forget the churning of blood and qi within her; at the very least, both of her hands were completely numb and trembling violently.

"Youxiang. How are you?" Seeing her unsteady movements, Xiaozhi asked with concern.

Youxiang forced a smile, signaling that she was fine. "I'm alright; I managed to block most of it. Nothing serious. You should know I have supreme confidence in my ability to take a hit, but... the main event is yet to come!"

Youxiang offered a comforting joke, then turned her gaze to the Demon Yaksha opposite them, her face grim.

If a single strike from the Demon Yaksha was this potent before he truly commanded his body, how much stronger would he be once he could control it freely?

Youxiang didn't know, but she knew that by then, they would have absolutely no chance of winning.

Xiaozhi nodded, watching the Demon Yaksha merely stand in place, shaking his hand, and not pressing the attack. Even a less sharp person than she would have guessed: the Demon Yaksha wasn't unwilling to attack, but incapable of it.

He had lain motionless beneath the earth for millennia. Even if his body hadn't decayed, every joint must certainly be stiff. Even after reviving, he couldn't instantly return his body to normal function. Furthermore, after this long lapse, the Demon Yaksha had clearly grown accustomed to stillness, making it impossible for him to truly master his body and truly move in a short time.

In summary, while the Demon Yaksha's power was immense, his technique was almost nonexistent.

"So, if we want to defeat him, we must do it before he fully masters his body. But he is no ordinary being; this window of opportunity won't last long. If I'm guessing correctly, ten minutes is his absolute limit," Xiaozhi said seriously. "In other words, we have to bring him down within ten minutes!"

Defeating the Demon Yaksha in under ten minutes was undoubtedly an incredibly difficult task, perhaps even demanding the impossible. After all, his strength was evident from that single blow; if he hadn't been physically stiffened, it was questionable whether Youxiang would even be alive.

But they had no other choice. If they couldn't take him down within ten minutes, after ten minutes, their demise was certain!

"The Demon Yaksha has two weaknesses. First, due to his body's stiffness, his attack range is severely limited, and his strikes will likely be straightforward, making evasive maneuvers difficult. Therefore, we must try to avoid standing on the same direct line as him. Second, since he cannot yet fully control his body, he definitely cannot unleash his true potential power. Our task, then, is to perfectly evade his initial attacks and win through speed. Finally, we must be exceptionally cautious of his mental and soul-based abilities, though we don't know if he can use them in his current state," Xiaozhi analyzed calmly.

"I understand. In short, within these ten minutes, we must go all out—it’s either his death or ours!" Youxiang nodded heavily.

Though there were many details to consider, time was of the essence; they had no spare moments for further discussion. As soon as Youxiang’s numb hands regained feeling, the two dashed towards the Demon Yaksha.

The Demon Yaksha observed the resolute expressions on their faces, fully aware of their intentions.

It was through that initial attack that he recognized the undeniable flaws in his physical form. To avoid being tripped up by his own limitations, he had refrained from pressing the assault.

However, since the enemy was actively engaging, he had no intention of retreating.

"Judging by your faces, you've clearly found a chance to defeat me. But the question is, can you actually seize that opportunity?" With those words, the Demon Yaksha tapped his foot on the ground and shot forward like lightning.

So fast!

Gazing at the Demon Yaksha’s flash-of-lightning silhouette, Youxiang was greatly alarmed, as this speed surpassed her own current limits. However... baring her teeth, Youxiang pushed her speed to its maximum, fiercely charging toward him.

The training that pushed them beyond their limits—neither she nor Xiaozhi had ever skipped a session. Through repeated breakthroughs, they had finally learned that limits simply did not exist in this world; as long as one dared to surpass them, a breakthrough was inevitable!

Youxiang believed this deeply, and so, facing the Demon Yaksha’s terrifying speed, she chose a direct confrontation.

Bang!

A violent collision echoed in the air, and visible shockwaves radiated outward. Two figures suddenly materialized in the formerly empty space. As one descended, it leaned slightly backward before coming to an abrupt halt, while the other was blasted backward, flying straight out for three meters before finally landing and managing to stand unsteadily.

The former was the Demon Yaksha; the latter was Youxiang. Clearly, Youxiang had lost this exchange, but still!

I blocked him. Even though I didn't surpass my own peak limit, I successfully held him off. Good, I can do this!

Youxiang was not disheartened by this initial setback; instead, a stronger fighting spirit surged within her. Wiping the blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, she charged forward again.

At the same time, Xiaozhi had seized the opportunity to slip behind the Demon Yaksha. With a wave of her hand, countless white rays formed a dense barrage, shooting toward him.

Though the attack power didn't appear overwhelming, the sheer volume meant that if they landed solid hits, even I wouldn't fare well... I see, this little sprite is meant to distract me, creating a chance for the other sprite to land a crippling blow... Hmph, the coordination is indeed perfect, but!

The Demon Yaksha was a figure of great experience; he saw through their tactic with a single glance. He shifted his attention back to Youxiang, completely ignoring Xiaozhi's barrage.

This was not due to him underestimating Xiaozhi, but rather, given his current physical state, trying to manage both sides was clearly beyond his capabilities. Rather than dodging the dense curtain of rays, it was far more practical to focus on dealing with the more lethal Youxiang.

Swish-swish-swish-swish!

As expected, every single ray Xiaozhi fired struck the Demon Yaksha, tearing his skin, but he completely disregarded the pain. He instantly threw a straight punch, heavily aimed at the oncoming Youxiang.

Good, although Xiaozhi's attack didn't inflict massive damage, it still served a purpose; at least his speed wasn't as fast as before, and he couldn't change his attack vector. Then... Youxiang watched the Demon Yaksha's movement constantly, and facing his attack now, her mind raced. Just as their fists were about to meet, her body suddenly dropped low, narrowly evading his strike.

Trouble!

Seeing this, the Demon Yaksha's expression changed, and he instinctively tried to pull back.

But it was too late. At this moment, Youxiang exceeded her limit and accelerated again, flashing to the Demon Yaksha's flank like lightning. She clenched her fist, gathering immense demonic energy onto her hand, forming a scorching light, as dazzling as the sun.

Then... Boom!

When her fist struck the Demon Yaksha’s abdomen, a world-shaking roar erupted. Along with the sound, the Demon Yaksha’s body was hurled into the air, and the vast demonic energy exploded on his surface, creating a terrifying shockwave that violently flung him backward.

Damn it, this much attack power?!

Mid-air, the Demon Yaksha’s brow furrowed, blood faintly seeping from his lip. Previously, he thought Youxiang’s attack power was decent but still far from being able to inflict a serious wound. But this single punch gave him the sensation that his entire abdomen had been pierced... This level of power was at least four or five times stronger than what Youxiang had shown before.

Did they perhaps conceal their strength until now? No, that was absolutely impossible; in such a situation, holding back their power would have been suicide. Then... I see. Not only did they step across the threshold of the rules in the previous exchange, but their fundamental strength has also increased by several tiers?

Surpassing in battle, breaking through mid-combat—from mere ants at the start to reaching a level where they can severely injure me in moments—what terrifying growth capability is this? What frightening potential!

Indeed, if they are allowed to continue growing, their future achievements will be limitless!

At this moment, the Demon Yaksha finally felt fear toward Youxiang and Xiaozhi. He began to dread the magnitude of their future accomplishments, possessing such heaven-defying growth ability. He even had an ominous feeling... he might very well become their stepping stone!

"Absolutely not!"

The Demon Yaksha gritted his teeth, suddenly halting his momentum in mid-air and dropping rapidly to the ground.

He had endured for ten thousand years, schemed for ten thousand years, and painstakingly prepared for ten thousand years. Now that he had finally returned officially, how could he tolerate becoming a stepping stone for others!

The instant he landed, the Demon Yaksha made no pause. He forcibly suppressed the trauma in his body and darted toward Youxiang like lightning.

Simultaneously, Xiaozhi and Youxiang exerted their utmost effort. Xiaozhi was responsible for long-range barrage suppression, while Youxiang served as the close-range primary attacker.

Although Xiaozhi’s raw power was far less than the Demon Yaksha’s, her ability was terrifyingly effective. Even constrained by the Gap, she surpassed her own limits, using the Gap for small-scale releases of barrages. The damage inflicted by this dense storm of rays on the Demon Yaksha was growing stronger with each impact.

Under her restraint, the Demon Yaksha was like a man with one hand and one foot tied down.

On the other hand, Youxiang, with her limit-breaking explosive power, truly displayed her potential in this increasingly fierce fight. Almost every attack brought a severe injury to the Demon Yaksha.

Together, the two completely suppressed the Demon Yaksha.

But the Demon Yaksha, an ancient powerhouse, was clearly not easily defeated. Recognizing the danger of his predicament, he decisively abandoned all defense and relentlessly assaulted Youxiang, trading injury for injury.

In such an intense battle, within just a few minutes, both sides suffered countless wounds, their bodies dripping blood—even Xiaozhi was no exception. After all, the Demon Yaksha was not comparable to the previous wave of yokai; he was not only powerful in close combat but equally formidable in ranged attacks.

This mutual, life-or-death struggle continued for some time until all three were beginning to sway, and even the force of their attacks had significantly diminished. This was most evident in Xiaozhi and Youxiang.

Although Youxiang claimed strong endurance, she was still very young. Her relatively immature body clearly couldn't compare to a seasoned veteran like the Demon Yaksha. As her wounds worsened and blood loss increased, her consciousness was nearing the breaking point. The only thing keeping her fighting was an unyielding will.

While Xiaozhi suffered fewer blows than Youxiang, her resilience was also inferior, and her condition wasn't much better.

Gradually, the advantage they once held began to tilt back toward the Demon Yaksha.

No, if this continues, we will surely die. He should also be at his limit, just like us. Since that’s the case, we must take one final gamble!

The last remnants of her clarity made Youxiang understand the extreme danger of their situation. She let out an instinctive shout. Though she spoke no extra words, she conveyed her intent to Xiaozhi.

Xiaozhi's expression shifted upon hearing the shout, then she nodded firmly. She swept her hands forward, and instantly, countless rays appeared around her. As they shot forward, they began to writhe like insects, finally coalescing into a sharp spiral that shot rapidly toward the Demon Yaksha's head.

This was the strongest offensive technique Xiaozhi could muster in her current state—the Nest of Light Moths!

Though the attack had not yet reached him, the Demon Yaksha felt an immense threat from behind. He instinctively turned back, and his face instantly turned ashen... Xiaozhi had previously only used barrages to hold him, never unleashing an attack with true lethal force. But now, the intensity of this spiral light nest far surpassed the total of all the barrages she had released before.

Even the Demon Yaksha couldn't guarantee his survival if he took a hit from this attack.

"At the final moment, you've decided to stake everything? I absolutely will not grant your wish!" Without the slightest hesitation, the Demon Yaksha indeed withdrew his attention from Youxiang, simultaneously erecting a defense, attempting to block the Nest of Light Moths.

After all, Youxiang was already severely injured, and her attack power was greatly reduced; even if she hit him again, it would at most worsen his injuries. But if he were hit by Xiaozhi's attack, he might die. The choice between the two was obvious.

But what shocked the Demon Yaksha was that just as the spiral light nest was about to make contact, the light rays suddenly transformed, dispersing into a white butterfly before dissolving into the air with a swish.

"This is?!" The Demon Yaksha froze for a moment, then his face changed drastically... Tricked, it was bait!

Indeed, this Nest of Light Moths was bait—a form of illusion, really. Given Xiaozhi's current state, there was no way she could muster such a powerful attack. Creating this false image was purely to divert the Demon Yaksha's attention so the true killing blow could achieve maximum impact.

A fully rational Demon Yaksha might not have fallen for the ruse, but in his current state, his consciousness was slightly muddled, making it impossible for him to discern truth from falsehood.

The suddenly awakened Demon Yaksha immediately realized where the true killing move originated and frantically turned back, but it was too late... By this time, Youxiang held an umbrella in her hand. She gripped the handle, the tip pointed at the Demon Yaksha's chest, condensing all her vast demonic energy into that single point.

"It's over. The final strike, Point-Blank Dual Cannon—Illusory Wind and Moon!"

Youxiang was not holding the umbrella itself; the umbrella had been transferred to her hand by Xiaozhi through the Gap in that split second. The reason for using the umbrella was that a magic cannon fired from its tip possessed superior penetration and explosive force.

As her determined words faded, a terrifying beam of magic shot out from the umbrella's tip, rushing forward like a torrent, instantly piercing the Demon Yaksha's chest and soaring into the sky. Immediately following this, another cannon blast erupted. The unparalleled explosive force instantly pulverized his internal organs, simultaneously throwing Youxiang backward onto the ground, where she gasped for breath violently.

When the magic cannons ceased, the world fell utterly silent. The Demon Yaksha stared blankly at his chest, seemingly unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Youxiang struggled to prop herself up, gazing at him, and smiled, "We... we won."

The Demon Yaksha finally came to his senses and let out a heavy sigh. "I didn't expect you to create a miracle once again. Yes, you indeed won this battle. You young ones are truly formidable, but it is regrettable... you won the battle, but you must pay with your lives."

"What did you say?" At his words, Xiaozhi and Youxiang’s expressions turned cold simultaneously.

Then, they watched in horror as the shattered chest and abdomen of the Demon Yaksha began to regenerate. In mere moments, he was perfectly restored.

"This... how is this possible?" Youxiang and Xiaozhi stared, dumbfounded, their faces a mask of despair. All their effort, all their persistence—they never imagined the Demon Yaksha possessed regenerative abilities. Was all their struggle pointless?!

The Demon Yaksha stood in place, looking at them, and stated calmly, "I slept beneath the earth for ten thousand years; having regenerative ability is quite normal, isn't it? Otherwise, my body would have long since rotted away... Of course, the stiffness of my body is also true, because my regeneration cannot be controlled automatically; it only activates upon receiving a fatal wound. I told you this as a reward for your determined efforts up until now. Now, I shall take your souls."

As he spoke, the Demon Yaksha slowly walked toward Youxiang.

Youxiang stood frozen, staring blankly, despair etched on her face.

However, just then, a figure suddenly appeared between the two. A light voice drifted from that person. "Indeed, lasting this long against a figure like him, you both worked very hard. Even I must look upon you with new respect. It is therefore time to grant you some rewards."

Seeing the sudden arrival opposite him, the Demon Yaksha instinctively frowned. "Who are you?"

But Youxiang and Xiaozhi, upon seeing the person, first paused, then their faces broke into sheer ecstasy, their voices choked with near-tears as they cried out in unison, "Master!"

The newcomer was Lin Luo! (To be continued)