113: Infiltrate the tiger's den and join forces to eliminate the demon.

Deep within the mine pit, a chilling wind howled, and Death Qi almost materialized, thick enough to be suffocating. The gray, distorted spatial rift resembled a demon's eye, with the dark red Formation below flickering eerily. At its center, the pulsating black tumor (source core) emitted a heart-palpitating wave of pollution, even more active than yesterday.

Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan held their breath, concealing all their auras, and stealthily moved deeper into the cave like two shadows. With yesterday's experience, they avoided the remaining Restrictions that might trigger alarms, moving swiftly and silently.

However, just as they were about to approach the core area, an unexpected change occurred!

"Buzz—!"

The black tumor suddenly vibrated violently, its demonic light flaring. Several twisted, tentacle-like black shadows shot out from it, not attacking Lin Xuan or Qu Feiyan, but fiercely stabbing into several scattered white bones nearby!

The next moment, eerie green Soul Fire ignited in the eye sockets of those white bones, emitting "clack-clack" sounds, and they shakily stood up! Their aura was similar to the Demonic Puppets from yesterday, but more violent and unstable. A layer of viscous black substance rapidly covered the surface of their bones, exuding a foul aura originating from the same source as the source core!

"They are 'Void Puppets'! The source core is forcibly catalyzing guards!" Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed. Although the strength of these newly formed Void Puppets varied, there were many of them, and that black substance seemed to have extremely strong corrosive properties. They absolutely couldn't let them get close!

"I'll block them! You go destroy the source core!" Senior Sister Qu cried out, stepping forward without hesitation. A blood lotus bloomed beneath her feet with a roar, and the enchanting demonic sound resonated again, spreading like invisible ripples, impacting the fragile Soul Fire of the newborn Void Puppets!

However, these forcibly catalyzed Void Puppets seemed to have stronger resistance to Divine Soul attacks. Their movements only paused slightly before they roared and lunged again! They brandished bone claws covered in black substance, bringing with them trails ofBlood Wind (foul wind)!

"Their weakness is the source core! We must destroy it first!" Lin Xuan saw the key. His Late Golden Core Stage magical power surged, and his crimson-gold Qi and blood soared. He pointed his fingers like a sword, and an incredibly condensed Sword Qi shot straight towards the pulsating black tumor!

"Roar!"

Just as the Sword Qi was about to hit the tumor, the spatial rift violently fluctuated again. The pale bone hand, carrying the terrifying pressure of the Nascent Soul Stage, once again brazenly stretched out, grabbing at Lin Xuan's Sword Qi! At the same time, a more furious roar came from behind the rift, as if the entity behind it had been completely enraged!

"Your opponent is me!" Seeing this, Senior Sister Qu gritted her silver teeth, not retreating but advancing. The blood-red light around her burned to its extreme, and the enchanting blood lotus instantly expanded, transforming into a blood-colored barrier that forcefully blocked between the pale bone hand and Lin Xuan!

"Boom!!!"

The bone hand heavily struck the blood lotus barrier!

Senior Sister Qu was hit hard, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Her delicate body trembled violently, and the blood-colored barrier flickered, but she held on desperately, buying Lin Xuan that precious instant!

"Senior Sister Qu!" Lin Xuan's heart tightened, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes! He knew the opportunity was fleeting!

"System! Maximum power assist in locking onto the source core! Invoke the power of the chapter of the blazing sun fragment!"

[Command confirmed! Core locked! Blazing Sun power guiding in progress!]

Lin Xuan's right hand, pointing like a sword, was instantly enveloped in a layer of scorching, noble crimson-gold light. This light was not fire, but contained the supreme will to burn all evil and purify all things! He infused all his understanding of the chapter of the blazing sun fragment, as well as his wrath towards the Guixu Cult, into this single strike!

"sin-slaying—Evil-Burning!"

He let out a low roar, using his finger as a sword, drawing upon the War Intent of the Thunder Emperor sealed within the sin-slaying broken sword as a guide, and brazenly pointed the supremely masculine and rigid crimson-gold light pillar, like a sword of divine retribution, at the core of the black tumor!

This time, the black tumor could no longer move! The crimson-gold light pillar precisely struck its most violently pulsating spot!

"Screech—!!!"

A piercing shriek, beyond the limits of human hearing, suddenly erupted from the tumor! Dense, nauseating black Devilish Qi surged out like an erupting volcano, frantically trying to erode and counteract the crimson-gold light pillar! The entire cave shook violently, rock walls cracked, and the spatial rift became extremely unstable!

The pale bone hand, sensing the source core suffering a heavy blow, let out an earth-shattering roar, attacking even more frantically. Senior Sister Qu's blood lotus barrier was on the verge of collapsing!

"Break for me...!" Lin Xuan's eyes were bloodshot. Disregarding the burning pain in his Divine Sense from activating the Blazing Sun power, he poured all his magical power unreservedly into this strike!

The crimson-gold light pillar shone even brighter, like the breaking dawn dispelling darkness! The foul black Devilish Qi rapidly melted away before the supreme masculine power, like ice and snow! At the core of the tumor, an unbearable cracking sound was heard!

"Bang!!!"

With a muffled thud, the pulsating black tumor exploded! It turned into black viscous liquid splattering everywhere, which was rapidly purified by the crimson-gold light pillar!

source core, destroyed!

The moment the tumor exploded, the pale bone hand let out a wail filled with unwillingness and fury, suddenly retracting into the spatial rift. The rift twisted violently, its light rapidly dimming, appearing extremely unstable. And those catalyzed Void Puppets, as if losing their source of power, had their Soul Fire extinguished instantly, scattering to the ground with a clatter, the black substance covering their bones rapidly shriveling and peeling off.

Inside the cave, the suffocating Death Qi and Devilish Qi began to slowly dissipate.

"We succeeded..." Senior Sister Qu breathed a sigh of relief. The blood lotus barrier dissipated. Her face was pale, her aura weak, and she could barely stand.

Lin Xuan immediately flashed to her side, supporting her swaying delicate body, and channeled a stream of pure, gentle magical power to help her stabilize her injuries. "Senior Sister, how are you?"

Senior Sister Qu leaned into his embrace, feeling the warmth and strong heartbeat from his chest, and seeing the undisguised concern on his face, she felt that the previous adventure and injuries were all worth it. She smiled weakly, her charming eyes like silk: "I won't die... just a little tired. Junior Brother Lin, this time... your Senior Sister saved you, you know..."

"Yes, thank you, Senior Sister, for risking yourself to protect me." Lin Xuan thanked her sincerely. Looking at her pale face, a feeling of pity and gratitude welled up in his heart. He took out a Medicinal Pill for healing and carefully fed it to her.

Just then, the System prompt sounded:

[Warning! Although the source core is destroyed, the spatial rift is extremely unstable and at risk of collapse! Furthermore, multiple powerful auras are rapidly approaching the periphery of the mine pit! Suspected experts from the City Lord's Mansion and Guixu Cult reinforcements!]

Lin Xuan's expression changed: "Not good! We have to leave here immediately!"

He no longer hesitated, scooping Senior Sister Qu up in his arms. Senior Sister Qu gasped, a blush appearing on her pale face, but she did not struggle. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.

Lin Xuan, holding her, transformed into a streak of lightning and rapidly fled along the way they came, heading out of the mine pit!

Behind them, the spatial rift emitted an unbearable "crack" sound, finally closing and annihilating with a roar, leaving only a continuously collapsing dark void that swallowed all the debris in the cave... Outside the mine pit, Deputy Commander Situ Yue was anxiously waiting. Sensing the violent energy fluctuations from deep within the mine pit and the rapidly approaching escape light, she immediately ordered her two confidants: "Prepare to receive them! Be vigilant of the surroundings!"

As soon as her words fell, Lin Xuan and Senior Sister Qu sped out.

"Hurry! There are pursuers!" Lin Xuan whispered.

Seeing this, Deputy Commander Situ Yue did not hesitate. She immediately crushed a Talisman in her hand, and an invisible wave spread out. At the same time, she and her two confidant guards protected Lin Xuan and Senior Sister Qu, rapidly retreating along the pre-planned escape route!

Less than ten breaths after they left, several figures emitting powerful auras (at least three Late Golden Core Stage, one Early Nascent Soul Stage) appeared at the mine pit entrance. Looking at the continuously collapsing mine pit and the lingering purified aura, the Nascent Soul Cultivator in the lead, dressed in City Lord's Mansion attire, had an ashen face.

"Damn it! They actually destroyed the 'Seed'! Pursue them! Don't let them escape!"

However, Lin Xuan and the others had already disappeared into the vast night and buildings of Tianshu City under the cover of Deputy Commander Situ Yue's arranged reception and complex alleys... leaving behind only enraged pursuers and the completely destroyed mine pit stronghold.

This time, they had temporarily thwarted an important Guixu Cult conspiracy in Tianshu City, but they had also completely exposed themselves, bringing them into open conflict with the hostile forces within the City Lord's Mansion.