Chapter Forty-Two: A Fight to the Death

"Everyone, stop talking and listen to me."

"The situation is critical. I need to break through to the rank of a Third-Tier Great Demon. It won't take long, but you must hold them off for me."

"We have already been discovered. They will probe our formation; when it activates, catch them off guard!"

Jiang Xuan's voice suddenly resonated within their minds. The subordinates were startled, but they managed to keep silent.

"Big Brother, why are you breaking through at a time like this? You must be joking!"

"Exactly! We've only just reached the Great Demon stage; it's impossible to break through in just an hour or two!"

"According to the original plan, can't we just fight them?"

Huazui spoke first, and the other subordinates began to murmur as well. The presence of telepathy certainly made communication much easier.

"Silence! Silence!"

"If we could win, do you think I'd be wasting my breath with you?"

"Damn it, follow orders! No one is allowed to die! Do you hear me?"

"Understood, Big Brother! Our lives are yours to command anyway, aren't they?"

Though blunt, Huazui's words were true. Subconsciously, Jiang Xuan felt the weight on his shoulders grow heavier.

"Remember what I said! Your lives are your own!"

Leaving them with those words, Jiang Xuan focused his attention ahead.

"What is happening? Is it absolutely necessary to break through right now?"

The Empress, sitting beside Jiang Xuan, was equally confused. With life and death at stake, her tone carried an involuntary trace of resentment.

"We cannot defeat these two."

"To survive, I must do this."

Jiang Xuan's gaze was heavy. He had already sensed that one was a dog demon and the other a bear demon. Although their true strength was unknown, he trusted the system's judgment. If he did not reach the Third-Tier Great Demon level, they were doomed to total annihilation.

"I will fight to buy you time," the Empress said after a long silence, her red lips parting.

"You are my woman; you cannot die."

"I am the Empress, and the Empress alone—I am no one's woman!"

"Tell me your name."

Jiang Xuan caught her off guard with the unexpected question. The Empress stiffened, clearly surprised. After waiting for a long time, the Empress remained silent, and Jiang Xuan could only sigh.

Below.

The dog demon snorted coldly, his eyes fixed on the bushes ahead. In an instant, spiritual energy erupted like a laser, and the bushes before them burst into a towering blaze!

Following that, several manifestations of spiritual energy in various shapes and colors unleashed a fierce assault, surging from the ground toward the two Sixth-Tier Great Demons!

"Cheap tricks! How laughable!"

"Brother Cai! Wait!"

"Kill!"

Above the dense forest, hidden within the lush, sky-shielding canopy, a dozen figures transformed into giant eagles and dove straight down!

The dog demon, who had just stepped forward, became the target. In a blink, terrifying power, like Mount Tai collapsing, crashed down upon him!

At the same time, Jiang Xuan, perched on a branch, fled several miles away to a towering tree. He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. Only one thought filled his mind: to break through as quickly as possible!

A second of hesitation could mean the death of his subordinates!

Explosions echoed incessantly in the distance. The forest, where visibility had been barely a few meters, suddenly opened up. The battlefield shifted rapidly from the ground to the air, a dark mass of demonic creatures everywhere!

Under the warm sun, blood gushed from several holes in the dog demon's body, his eyes turning a violent crimson!

Nearby, the bear demon, harassed by the giant eagles, swung his massive paws and let out roars that shook the very soul!

"Target the softest one first! Finish off that dog demon!"

"Do you think I don't know that? The bear's roar is disrupting our movements! We can't land a single hit!"

"Imperial Hegemony Technique! Dragon Emperor Sword!"

Suddenly, a white dragon swept across the sky, piercing through the roars that filled the void, and lunged at the severely wounded Sixth-Tier dog demon!

"What a white worm! Let me crush you!" The bear demon roared, his hill-like paws sweeping across the sky!

"Great Evil Return!"

"Quick! Now!"

The Demon Lord's words became law; the surge of sinful emotions caused the bear demon's paw to freeze in mid-air!

With Su Feng shooting out like an arrow, the rest of the subordinates followed closely behind, their killing intent locked onto the dog demon!

"Tell me, have you all misunderstood something?"

"A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Just you lot? You think you're worthy?"

Suddenly, the dog demon's eyes widened, and from his gaping maw, he spat out several blade-like teeth! Each tooth was as thick as a century-old tree root, hurtling through the air like boomerangs!

"Do not retreat! Charge!"

"I will tear a path to survival for you all!"

"Evil Runs a Thousand Miles!"

As the words fell, the demonic creatures surrounding the bear demon quickly moved away, entangling themselves with those terrifying blades!

Piercing cries of agony rang out, yet Xiao Cui and the others grew even more excited!

"The Demon Lord has blocked the attack for us! Charge!"

"Kill! Ram into him!"

"You all! You are truly courting death!"

In the blink of an eye, the dog demon vanished from his spot. When he reappeared, blood sprayed—with a single claw, he left deep gashes on Lan Bao, from which blood gushed like a fountain!

The other subordinates did not stop. The dog demon, unable to defend against everything, was struck repeatedly by the giant eagles! The crisp sound of shattering bones and the gruesome sight of flying flesh were unfolding right before them!

"Brother Cai!"

The bear demon finally reacted, his mountain-sized body appearing instantly in front of the thin man. With a massive swipe of his paw, he slammed Lan Bao into a deep pit dozens of feet wide!

"Defend! Dragon Elephant!"

"Dragon Emperor Sword! Return!"

The Empress had transformed into human form, her exquisite face filled with rage. Her judgment just now had actually been slower than Xiao Cui and the others! Otherwise, the Dragon Emperor Sword would not have returned empty-handed!

The Dragon Emperor Sword, with a dragon tail for a hilt and a dragon head for the guard, was gripped tightly in her hand. One strike tore through the firmament, turning into a white line that pierced the bear demon's abdomen!

The white dragon's gaping maw tore at the bear demon's innards as a frantic roar descended from above!

The bear paw fell with incredible speed! There was nowhere to hide!

"Hundred Evils Condense! Get out!"

Suddenly, the Empress was struck as if by lightning, her entire body sent flying! In her vision, a giant black eagle appeared where she had been.

As the bear paw landed, the bear demon was shocked!

"This feeling..."

Looking down, the black eagle had turned into black mist, embedded deep into the earth!

"Pfft!"

"Demon Lord!"

"Human Emperor Sword!"

In the air, a giant sword fell from the clouds, pointed directly at the bear demon's head!

The Empress, wielding the Dragon Emperor Sword, charged out once more!

"Damn it! That guy is coming up again!"

"Qiao'er! Quickly, stop him!"

"Don't let me down!"

Just as the subordinates prepared to join the Empress in fighting the bear demon, the dog demon burst upward from the ground again!

Qiao'er spread her wings and dove down!

The next second, both her wings were torn apart, and the dog demon did not pause for even a moment.