Feeling the surging dark power erupting from Zhan Bulasi, Ye Jingyu’s heart lurched. It seemed the gulf between a Demon Lord and a Demon Monarch was indeed vast. Black Nether Tyrant, let alone that ancient existence who had lived for tens of thousands of years—his true strength was likely unknown even to himself. But just Zhan Bulasi, in this moment, exhibited a power that was enough to make one’s heart palpitate.

He repeatedly waved the Chi You Banner, cloaking himself within the great formation. He certainly didn't want to test the Demon Lord’s desperate counterattack with his own body. Let Black Nether Tyrant handle that; wasn't his role just to wave the banner and shout some encouragement? It was his own fault for being an ancient monster who had lived for millennia!

While Ye Jingyu was unnerved by Zhan Bulasi’s strength, Black Nether Tyrant paid it no mind. A cold smile playing on his lips, he lunged forward, claws aimed directly at Zhan Bulasi’s torso.

Seeing Black Nether Tyrant reaching for him, Zhan Bulasi contorted his features into a savage grin. His pair of pale hands suddenly shot out ten black claws, each an inch long, radiating faint, chilling light. These too were aimed squarely at Black Nether Tyrant’s heart.

It had to be admitted, Zhan Bulasi’s speed, with his power fully unleashed, had reached an astonishing level. He managed to narrowly evade Black Nether Tyrant’s swipe, and his sharp talons ruthlessly tore into Black Nether Tyrant’s chest. A colossal surge of dark energy burst forth completely, the sheer force blasting a bloody hole right through Black Nether Tyrant’s sternum.

Yet, there was no hint of elation on Zhan Bulasi’s face; the savage look from a moment ago had entirely transformed into stark terror. This was because someone had suddenly appeared behind him—a man with a cascade of long, purple hair. It was none other than Black Nether Tyrant, and the one whose heart he had ripped open was merely an afterimage.

“You think you are strong? Let me tell you, before me, you are utterly insignificant!” Black Nether Tyrant’s chilling voice resonated, immediately followed by him raising both hands to grip Zhan Bulasi’s pair of blood-gold wings. With a brutal yank, a sound of tearing—Shua—echoed out, and Zhan Bulasi’s seemingly resilient wings were utterly ripped away by Black Nether Tyrant. Golden blood erupted from Zhan Bulasi’s back like a geyser.

A wretched scream tore from Zhan Bulasi’s throat. The life source of the Blood Race resides in the heart; as long as the heart remains intact, they can perpetually regenerate. However, the source of their true power lies in those blood-colored wings. Now, with his blood wings brutally shredded by Black Nether Tyrant, the pain was akin to having both arms ripped off—a torment almost impossible to bear.

Agonized shrieks continuously pierced the air. But as his golden blood sprayed forth, the twelve shadowy figures lurking in the shadows immediately lunged forward. The vital blood essence of a Demon Lord realm entity—this was a massive tonic.

One of the phantoms darted the fastest, arriving before Zhan Bulasi in the blink of an eye. It opened its massive maw and began sucking the golden blood into its form.

“Quickly, little sprout from the Black Nether clan, kill him and seize his heart core! This is a great tonic! When I regain my true form later, you will certainly be rewarded!” the phantom urged Black Nether Tyrant while voraciously gulping down Zhan Bulasi’s vital essence. Although these phantoms retained only primal combat instincts and much of their memory was lost, their thought processes remained intact. They had clearly heard every word Black Nether Tyrant spoke when he recounted that ancient myth.

These phantoms were beings of equal stature to Zhu Rong, thus naturally addressing Black Nether Tyrant as a mere ‘little sprout.’

Hearing this voice, both Ye Jingyu and Black Nether Tyrant were momentarily stunned. This was a female voice. Among the Heavenly Witches of the Primordial Era, which one was female? Could it be Nuwa? But hadn't Nuwa already gone to the Abyss, her fate unknown? Moreover, the Twelve Heavenly Witch Extinction Grand Array forged by the Chi You Demon God condensed the twelve mightiest Heavenly Witches who had fallen in the Demon Realm.

However, Zhan Bulasi, upon hearing that statement, was on the verge of tears, not from fear, but from sheer terror.

She intended to consume his heart core! Swallowing his vital essence was one thing, but now she wanted his heart core? In all the Three Realms, only the Zombie lineage specialized in devouring the heart cores of their own kind.

Yet, the aura emanating from this phantom was not the chilling coldness associated with Zombies; instead, it carried a very pure Yang energy. But to Zhan Bulasi, this presence felt even more terrifying than encountering a Zombie—it was the dread one feels upon meeting a natural predator! What was this thing inside the great array? Why hadn't he encountered it sooner? If he had met it earlier, would he have rushed out to slay Yan Senxu?

Zhan Bulasi was consumed by regret. He had already exerted almost all his power, yet he was still no match for Black Nether Tyrant. This fact alone spoke volumes about Black Nether Tyrant’s might.

At this moment, Medusa also burst into the great array, catching the phantom’s words just as they were spoken. While she didn't understand why the phantom would utter such a thing, she realized she had missed the optimal chance to slay Zhan Bulasi. If she didn't declare her stance now, what would happen if Black Nether Tyrant decided to hold her accountable later?

Her figure flashed, and she instantly materialized before Zhan Bulasi. She extended her right hand, that hand smoother and more delicate than white jade, and pressed it directly onto Zhan Bulasi’s chest.

A surprisingly frail little hand pierced straight into Zhan Bulasi’s chest as easily as slicing soft tofu, snatching out his golden heart.

“You…” Seeing Medusa actually strike him at this critical juncture, horror flashed across Zhan Bulasi’s eyes. He truly hadn't anticipated that even Medusa would intervene—truly kicking a dog while it was down.

But with his wings torn off by Black Nether Tyrant, more than half his power had drained away. How could he possibly resist Medusa’s grasp now? He could only watch helplessly as Medusa pulled out his heart.

Upon seeing the gleaming golden heart, the phantom flew toward it with crazed intensity, instantly swallowing the core whole. However, it did not inflict even the slightest injury upon Medusa. The other phantoms showed no inclination to fight for it either, focusing solely on snatching the vital essence spraying from Zhan Bulasi’s wounds...

As for Zhu Rong, whose form was now clearly visible, his gaze was fixed upon Zhan Bulasi’s body, appearing to contemplate how to devour him whole in one bite.

“He is mine! None of you dare fight me for him!” Seemingly noticing Zhu Rong’s stare, the phantom who had swallowed the heart core roared, and streaks of blood-gold light began to surge within its body as its figure slowly materialized and became distinct...

(My head has been fatigued; I will post this chapter now, and the remaining two will be written and updated tomorrow morning!)

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