85: The entrance to the Demon Realm is blocked by Soul-Devouring Vines.

At the entrance to the Demon Realm at Hai Shi, the night was thick as ink. A dense, black Devilish Qi permeated the air, bone-chillingly cold. Even the moonlight was completely obscured, leaving only a dead silence and darkness. The Alliance Grand Army arrived here in a mighty procession. Hundreds of Disciples stood in neat formation, clad in improved anti-demonic equipment. Spiritual power circulated around their bodies, forming faint spiritual light barriers to resist the invasion of Devilish Qi. Though in a dangerous situation, their morale remained high, and their eyes were filled with resolute Battle Intent.

Lu Chen stood at the very front of the Team, clad in his holy spirit battle armor and wielding his demon breaking sword. The holy spirit token floated in his palm, emitting a faint sacred golden light that collided with the surrounding Devilish Qi, creating subtle energy ripples. He looked up to see the entrance to the Demon Realm ahead covered by a dense mass of black vines. The vines were as thick as bowls, their surfaces covered in tiny barbs that glowed with an eerie light. The vines intertwined and coiled, forming a massive vine wall that completely sealed off the Demon Realm Entrance. A faint black mist constantly emanated from the vines. This mist contained a strange power that devoured spiritual power, precisely the Spirit Devouring Vine hinted at by the Precognition and Sensing Art.

"These are the Spirit Devouring Vine. As expected, they are strange. They can emit mist that devours spiritual power, making ordinary attacks completely ineffective," Lu Chen said with a solemn expression. Under his spiritual sense's investigation, he could clearly feel the Evilpower contained within the Spirit Devouring Vine. Any spiritual power that approached would be rapidly devoured, and a forceful attack would only make the vines grow thicker.

Yu Lan stood beside Lu Chen, her myriad manifestations pendant at her neck glowing with a faint green light, continuously sensing the aura of the Spirit Devouring Vine. She softly said, "The Spirit Devouring Vine feed on spiritual power. The denser the Yin-evil Qi, the more vigorously they grow. Only objects of extreme Yang can completely suppress them. The yang flame flowers we brought contain pure extreme Yang spiritual power, which can burn away the vines and clear a path."

Elder Li Ping stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the Alliance Disciples behind him. He announced loudly, "Everyone prepare! Lu Chen and Yu Lan are responsible for clearing the Spirit Devouring Vine and opening the path. Disciples of Hundred Herbs Valley, prepare for treatment. If any Disciple is corroded by Devilish Qi or vines, treat them immediately. The remaining Disciples, be on guard against sneak attacks from Demonic Cultivators!"

"Yes!" The Alliance Disciples responded in unison, preparing themselves. The Hundred Herbs Valley Disciples took out healing pills and Purification Talismans, while the other Disciples held their weapons, vigilantly watching the surrounding darkness, their spiritual senses fully extended, not missing any slight movement.

Lu Chen no longer hesitated. He took out a jade box containing yang flame flowers from his Storage Pouch and slowly opened it. As soon as the jade box opened, a pure Yang-attribute spiritual power surged out, colliding violently with the surrounding Devilish Qi, emitting a "sizzle" sound. The surrounding temperature also instantly rose by several degrees. The yang flame flowers were entirely crimson, with faint flames burning on their petals. Even after leaving their swamp environment, they still emitted boundless extreme Yang power.

Lu Chen activated his Fire Control Art, converting his internal spiritual power into flame power, and lightly tapped the yang flame flower. The yang flame flower instantly burst forth with dazzling red light, the flames on its petals becoming even more intense. Countless tiny crimson pollen scattered out, ignited by the flames, forming a scorching rain of fire that shot towards the Spirit-Devouring Vine wall ahead.

The moment the fire rain landed on the Spirit Devouring Vine, a fierce burning sound erupted. The Spirit Devouring Vine, scorched by the extreme Yang flames, let out painful "hissing" sounds. Black sap oozed from the vines, emitting a pungent, burnt smell. The black mist on the vines was rapidly dispelled by the flames, and the originally thick vines gradually withered and shriveled under the scorching, losing their ability to devour spiritual power.

"It's effective!" A hint of joy flashed in the Alliance Disciples' eyes as they all held their breath, watching the fire rain slowly burn away the Spirit Devouring Vine.

Seeing this, Yu Lan immediately activated her Bloodline Power, pushing the power of her myriad manifestations pendant to its limit. The jade pendant burst forth with a dazzling green light, and a gentle purifying power spread out like a tide, covering the burning vines. This purifying power not only accelerated the dissipation of the residual Yin-evil Qi from the vines but also prevented the vines from growing back, completely eliminating the hidden danger.

Lu Chen continued to activate his Fire Control Art. The flames of the yang flame flowers grew stronger, and the fire rain continuously fell on the vine wall. The originally impenetrable vine wall was gradually burned away, creating an opening several feet wide. Pure Yang-attribute spiritual power overflowed from the opening, colliding with the Devilish Qi of the Demon Realm, forming a faint spiritual light barrier that temporarily blocked the influx of Devilish Qi.

"Push harder, let's completely open up the path!" Lu Chen shouted loudly, injecting more spiritual power. The flames of the yang flame flowers instantly surged, and the fire rain poured down like a waterfall. The opening in the vine wall grew larger and larger, quickly creating a path wide enough for several people to walk side-by-side, leading directly into the interior of the Demon Realm.

Just then, an Alliance Disciple who had approached the path first suddenly trembled, his body going limp and falling down. His eyes were tightly shut, and his breathing was erratic, clearly having been corroded by the residual Devilish Qi and falling into a coma.

"Oh no, a Disciple has been corroded by Devilish Qi!" Medicine Dust, the Valley Master of Hundred Herbs Valley, changed his expression. He immediately led several Hundred Herbs Valley Disciples forward, took out a Purification Talisman and placed it on the forehead of the unconscious Disciple, and then fed him a Purification Pill. A moment later, the unconscious Disciple slowly opened his eyes, the Devilish Qi in his body completely purified, and his breathing gradually returned to normal.

"Thank you, Valley Master, for saving my life," the Disciple quickly got up and thanked him, his eyes filled with lingering fear.

Medicine Dust waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing. The Devilish Qi of the Demon Realm is extremely corrosive. Even with anti-demonic equipment and purification power for protection, you must be careful and not negligent."

Subsequently, several other Disciples were corroded by the residual Devilish Qi due to approaching the edge of the path. Fortunately, the Hundred Herbs Valley Disciples treated them promptly, and they were all fine. Seeing this, Lu Chen immediately had Yu Lan increase the output of her purifying power to completely clear the residual Devilish Qi around the path. At the same time, he instructed the Disciples to form a formation, look out for each other, and slowly pass through the path.

Chu Feng stood on the side of the Team, his spiritual sense fully extended, and suddenly noticed something unusual at the roots of the Spirit Devouring Vine. He quickly walked to the edge of the vine wall and carefully observed the roots of the withered vines, discovering some strange black runes carved in the soil at the roots. The runes were very similar to those on the Blood Shadow Sect's altar before, emanating a dense Yin-evil Qi.

"Brother Lu Chen, look here," Chu Feng shouted loudly, pointing at the runes at the roots of the vines. "These runes are from the same source as the Blood Shadow Sect's altar runes. It's clear someone deliberately arranged them here to nourish the Spirit Devouring Vine and prevent us from entering the Demon Realm."

Lu Chen quickly walked forward, looking at the runes at the roots, his eyes filled with solemnity: "Blood Shadow Sect runes? Could it be that remnants of the Blood Shadow Sect are still alive and have joined the Demonic Cultivator Alliance, deliberately arranging these runes here to obstruct us?"

Elder Li Ping also walked forward, carefully identifying the runes, and nodded, saying, "Indeed, they are Blood Shadow Sect runes. It seems Mo Qianchou might truly not be dead, and the remnants of the Blood Shadow Sect have not been completely annihilated. They are colluding with the Demonic Cultivator Alliance, intending to stop us from entering the Demon Realm and seizing the holy spirit mirror."

Everyone's hearts grew a few shades more vigilant. The appearance of the Blood Shadow Sect remnants meant that the danger of their trip to the Demon Realm had increased. They not only had to face the obstruction of the Demonic Cultivator Alliance but also had to guard against sneak attacks from the Blood Shadow Sect remnants.

Lu Chen raised his hand and waved. The demon breaking sword glowed with a faint silver light, and a sword energy containing demon-breaking power went straight for the runes at the roots. When the sword energy landed, the runes were instantly completely shattered, and the residual Yin-evil Qi was also purified by the demon-breaking power. "These runes have been cleared. Let's quickly pass through the path and enter the depths of the Demon Realm to avoid any further complications."

Everyone nodded. Elder Li Ping led several Disciples into the path first. Lu Chen and Chu Feng guarded the two sides of the Team respectively, while Yu Lan stayed in the middle of the Team, continuously releasing purifying power to protect the Disciples from Devilish Qi corrosion. The Alliance Grand Army systematically passed through the path at the Demon Realm Entrance and slowly advanced towards the depths of the Demon Realm.

After passing through the path, everyone officially entered the Demon Realm. The sight before them caused everyone's hearts to sink. The depths of the Demon Realm were desolate, the ground covered with black cracks, not a blade of grass grew. Dense black Devilish Qi floated in the sky, unable to be penetrated by sunlight. The entire world was shrouded in a dead silence and darkness. Occasionally, the roars of Yao Beasts could be heard from afar, emanating a chilling ferocity.

Lu Chen took out the Fragment of the Demon Domain Map and, comparing it to the scene before him, said in a deep voice, "According to the map, our current location is the Demon Realm Wasteland. After traveling tens of miles forward, we will reach Black Wind Cliff and rendezvous with the Alliance Disciples who previously investigated here. After that, we will proceed together to the area where the Demon Palace is located."

Everyone nodded, adjusted their formation, and continued to advance towards the depths of the Demon Realm. Lu Chen walked at the very front of the Team, the golden light of the holy spirit token always enveloping him, vigilantly probing the surrounding movements. However, his mind was always on the Blood Shadow Sect runes at the roots of the vines. The remnants of the Blood Shadow Sect joining the Demonic Cultivator Alliance was no coincidence; there must be a deeper conspiracy between them. Perhaps the Blood Shadow Sect's forbidden arts were somehow related to the Demonic Cultivator Alliance's scheme. This trip to the Demon Realm was destined not to be peaceful.

After the Alliance Grand Army left, several black figures slowly emerged from the darkness at the Demon Realm Entrance. They were the remnants of the Blood Shadow Sect. They looked in the direction the Alliance Grand Army had departed, their eyes filled with gloom. One of them whispered, "The Alliance has entered the Demon Realm. Immediately send the message to Demon Lord, let him prepare. We must prevent them from seizing the holy spirit mirror."

After speaking, the black figures quickly disappeared into the darkness, speeding towards the depths of the Demon Realm. Although the Spirit Devouring Vine at the Demon Realm Entrance had been cleared, the clandestine actions of the Blood Shadow Sect remnants and the layers of obstruction from the Demonic Cultivator Alliance awaited the Alliance Grand Army ahead. A more dangerous confrontation was about to unfold in the depths of the Demon Realm.