164: What do you really want?

His withered fingers flipped quietly within his wide sleeves,

A pitch-black jade talisman carved with hideous demonic patterns appeared in his palm.

This was their Demon Sect's Emergency Transmission Talisman, capable of instantly notifying all Demon Sect forces blocking other paths outside the Ten Thousand Miasma Valley!

"Crack!"

Xue Li didn't hesitate, exerting force with his five fingers, instantly crushing the jade talisman to pieces!

An extremely subtle yet specially vibrating Demonic Thought instantly pierced through the chaotic energy of the battlefield, shooting towards the outside of the valley!

"I can only hope that the reinforcements from the other routes arrive as soon as possible!"

Xue Li felt ruthless in his heart, "This immense merit of rescuing the Saintess, it seems it will be difficult for my nephew and me to keep it all to ourselves!

As long as we can rescue the Saintess, sharing some of the merit is better than failure!"

While struggling to control the Ghost King Phantom to resist the Asura Puppet, he anxiously waited for the signal from the reinforcements.

"What exactly does he want?"

Xin Yuelan's thoughts spun rapidly, recalling every detail of being 'confined' by Yao Delong's side these past few days.

This guy clearly had countless opportunities to kill her,

Or take her to the Heavenly Demon Sect to extort sky-high resources. But he didn't!

He just kept her by his side, sealed her cultivation, and made her a 'maidservant' who served tea and water.

Although hateful, he didn't truly mistreat or humiliate her. What was he after?

Something on her body? Xin Yuelan immediately dismissed the idea.

Except for this Heaven-Grade Weapon Medium Grade protective treasure armor, the 'Shadow Demon Armor,' which she wore close to her skin and was difficult to strip away,

All her storage Magic Treasures, Medicinal Pills, Spirit Stones, and even some secret Demon Sect tokens,

Had long been stripped clean by Yao Delong. Could it be for this treasure armor?

But although this armor was good, its value was far less than the bounty he could get by exchanging her.

Could it be... for her person?

Xin Yuelan's gaze subconsciously swept over Lin Qingxue, who stood nearby holding a sword, cold as an immortal.

In terms of looks, Lin Qingxue had icy skin and jade bones, with an otherworldly temperament,

Compared to her, the bewitching and demonic Saintess, they were like the spring orchid and autumn chrysanthemum, each with their own merits.

And after spending so much time together day and night, Yao Delong was clearly not the type of person who lusted after beauty.

"He has a secret... a secret that requires me to be alive!"

Xin Yuelan was certain in her heart. Once this thought arose, she instantly grasped the key!

Yao Delong had gone to great lengths to keep her by his side; he must have a scheme!

And this scheme could likely only be realized if she was alive!

Seeing the stalemate in the field, Xue Li's forehead was sweating, Xue Jiu and the other two were in grave danger,

And Liu Tiezhu's side was about to completely break the Demonic Array. Xin Yuelan knew she couldn't wait any longer!

Once the Yin Yang Sect reinforcements arrived, or once Yao Delong completely dealt with Xue Jiu and the others, she would once again be fish on a chopping block!

She took a deep breath, a hint of determination flashing in her red pupils, and suddenly took a step forward,

Her cold and majestic voice pierced through the intense roar of battle, echoing through the valley:

"Everyone—STOP!!!"

This shout contained her majesty as the Saintess, carrying an unquestionable power.

Both sides in the heat of battle paused.

Xue Jiu and the other two felt as if they had been granted a general amnesty, immediately pulling back and retreating to open up some distance,

Their faces showing the shock of having survived a disaster, warily staring at Yao Delong, whose aura was as deep as an abyss and wide as the sea.

Yao Delong narrowed his eyes slightly and did not pursue. With a thought,

The Asura Puppet that was fighting the Ghost King Phantom also suddenly threw a punch that forced its opponent back,

Its massive body silently retreated to Yao Delong's side, its crimson crystal eyeballs coldly scanning the scene.

Liu Tiezhu also took the opportunity to hack away the entangled Demonic Cultivators with his axe, quickly merging with Lin Qingxue to protect Yao Delong's other side.

In the valley, the intense battle stopped instantly, leaving only the aftershocks of the energy collisions and heavy breathing.

The dark purple Demonic Miasma continued to roll, but the atmosphere became incredibly heavy.

Xin Yuelan stood behind Lin Qingxue's icy blue sword light, her white hair fluttering slightly in the Demonic Miasma,

Her red eyes looked directly at Yao Delong, her voice carrying a hint of suppressed anger and inquiry:

"Yao Delong! What exactly do you want? Just say it!

You can't possibly really take me back to the Yin Yang Sect and hand me over to those hypocritical Elders of yours, can you?"

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of mockery and certainty:

"You're keeping me because you must have some plan! What do you want?

Or rather, what is there on my body that you absolutely must have?"

Yao Delong met Xin Yuelan's gaze with a calm look, his thoughts spinning.

This Demoness was indeed sharp, actually guessing that he had other motives.

He truly couldn't hand her over to the Sect, at least not now.

He needed to figure out the secret behind her abnormal cultivation!

Just then, Lin Qingxue's cold voice quietly entered Yao Delong's ears, carrying an imperceptible hint of relief:

"Senior Brother, I have already used a Secret Talisman to send word back to the Sect, stating that we encountered a Demon Sect ambush and the situation is critical!

The Sect replied that reinforcements are already on their way and can arrive in half an incense stick's time at the earliest!"

Yao Delong felt reassured and nodded slightly.

On the other side, hearing Xin Yuelan's questioning, an imperceptible look of joy flashed across Xue Li's withered face.

The Saintess is stalling for time! She must have sensed that I crushed the transmission talisman and knows that reinforcements are coming!

As long as we stall for a bit longer until the Demon Sect experts from the other routes arrive, the situation will surely be reversed!

"Hmph, kid, Your Highness the Saintess is asking you a question!"

Xue Li spoke raspily, his tone carrying a hint of deliberately manufactured toughness,

"If you're smart, follow Your Highness the Saintess's meaning and state your conditions! Otherwise, once our Sect's reinforcements arrive, none of you will escape even with wings!"

He This statement seemed to be helping with the questioning, but in reality, he was hinting to Yao Delong that they also had a trump card and were also stalling!

Both sides had their own hidden agendas, their gazes clashing in the air, an invisible contest unfolding in the silence.

The atmosphere in the valley was as stagnant as iron, and the dark purple Demonic Miasma rolled silently, as if brewing the next even more violent storm.

Xin Yuelan's question, "What exactly do you want?" was like a stone thrown into stagnant water, stirring the deepest desires in Yao Delong's heart.

He had naturally also guessed that Xue Li had already contacted the Demon Sect's ambushing forces on other paths.

Time was also pressing for him! He had to pry open the Demoness's mouth during this brief stalemate!

Yao Delong's sharp gaze swept over Xue Li's withered, gloomy, and implicitly anxious face,

Then glanced towards the valley entrance where the miasma was churning in the distance.

He took a deep breath, as if he had made a decision, and said deeply to Xin Yuelan:

"Since Your Highness the Saintess is so straightforward, then This Yao, will not beat around the bush either."

He took a step forward, ignoring the instantly wary gazes of Xue Li and the others,

Walking straight to the edge of Lin Qingxue's icy blue sword light, only a step away from Xin Yuelan.