Chapter 557: Mutual Destruction, A Palm Sinks the Sea

Chapter 557: Mutual Destruction, A Palm Sinks the Sea

On Mystic Rock Island, an awe-inspiring battle was unfolding.

Perhaps this description is a bit exaggerated.

But for the Crab and Turtle clans, it was undoubtedly a battle of utmost importance.

One clan sought an opportunity for their race to rise, aiming to forcefully seize the fourth-level spirit vein. The other clan fought for their survival, protecting their homeland and refusing to yield their territory.

This battle was destined to erupt from the moment the five great clans of the Crab Demons began to break through the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation on the first small island. It had dragged on until this very moment, exhausting all the strength of the Ring-headed Turtle clan.

An ancient Ring-headed Turtle emerged from the base of a mountain in the center of Mystic Rock Island.

With turbid eyes, he gazed in all directions, and his majestic divine sense permeated the land he had lived in for over a thousand years, stirring up waves of sorrowful emotions in his heart.

His clan was not one for conflict.

Even when they produced a Human Transformation Period Demon Emperor, they merely lived peacefully within the Mystic Rock Sea.

The native demons within the sea, big and small, were rarely forcibly managed as long as they didn't affect the Ring-headed Turtle clan's way of life. At most, they were kept as vassals.

But this benevolent approach ultimately led to the current situation—a battlefield strewn with corpses, blood flowing like rivers!

"It should still be in time!" he muttered.

Looking at the surviving members of the Ring-headed Turtle clan, his gaze shifted to where Luo Chen had departed. That human cultivator had indeed bought them some extra time.

However, it could only go so far.

He glanced back at the mountain behind him, and his gaze finally settled on the five escaping lights from outside the island and the demonic clouds rushing towards him from all directions.

"Come!"

"Let me fight for my clan one last time and leave a glimmer of hope for the Ring-headed Turtles of Mystic Rock Island."

As he spoke to himself, his body began to swell and expand.

The smooth, bone-like plates on his abdomen shone like mirrors, while his shell on his back was rough and rocky.

Circle after circle of patterns covered his entire body, resembling the growth rings of a tree, signifying the countless trials and tribulations he had endured throughout his life.

In a moment, a massive turtle, nearly eighty to ninety zhang in size, crawled onto Mystic Rock Island.

At first glance, it looked like a small piece of land! Just then, five powerful attacks arrived simultaneously.

Golden light, green sleeves, poisonous mist, spider webs, and raging fire descended from above.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The deafening explosions reverberated throughout the island.

Smoke and dust filled the sky, billowing upward.

When the dust settled, the ancient turtle, Helo, stood tall on the battlefield, unmoving.

Suddenly!

The body that resembled a small piece of land began to rise slowly.

His massive body was supported by four thick, horn-like legs, firmly planted on the ground.

A bright yellow aura enveloped him, accentuating his unwavering and solid as a rock demeanor.

Upon seeing the bright yellow aura, everyone's hearts sank with a profound sense of heaviness.

Especially the five clan leaders, their faces changed instantly.

"Demon Emperor's aura!"

"This is the aura of the Mystic Rock Demon Emperor. Could it be that the Mystic Rock remnants are on Helo's body?"

"It must be so. Only then can we explain how he dares to take our combined attack head-on without any defense!"

"This is troublesome. I didn't expect Helo to dare desecrate the old ancestor's remnants. What audacity!"

The one who spoke was Jin Hun, usually known for his composure.

At this moment, with victory within reach, how could they hesitate?

Moreover, with five against one, the advantage was theirs!

In terms of living strength, with the complete defeat of the Ring-headed Turtle clan and the self-detonation of numerous Third Stage Demon Kings, the high-end combat power had diminished. The five great clans could now easily gather several dozen Third Stage Crab Demon Kings.

Today, they would grind this old turtle down, even if it meant grinding him to death.

For this, the Tyrant Crab clan was willing to pay any price!

Before taking action, Jin Hun glanced at the other four demons.

"At this point, you must also be prepared to give it your all!"

Chi Yan snarled and stepped forward.

Nine Claws opened his mouth, and a poisonous claw slowly emerged, exuding a chillingly sinister aura.

Green Sleeve hesitated, undecided.

Zhu Xiang shook his head and looked at Jin Hun, "This battle may come at a cost. The Green Emperor's clan has few Demon Kings, and if we lose too many, our clan's strength will surely decline in the future..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

But everyone knew what he meant.

Jin Hun waved his hand, "Regardless, by seizing this place, our five clans will have the chance to give birth to a Demon Emperor. Whichever clan succeeds will unify the five clans and dominate the Mystic Rock Sea. At that time, we will rise together, or fall together! Your calculations are too petty."

Ambition was laid bare, without any pretense.

Even though everyone had anticipated this, their hearts still stirred with anticipation.

The birth of a Crab Emperor, unifying the five clans.

Dominating the Mystic Rock Sea, establishing a powerful demon force in the North Sea! Only then would their clans have a chance to rise, no longer subjected to the bullying of other powerful demons or the constant threat of human cultivators hunting them without restraint.

For this future, they indeed needed to be prepared to give it their all.

Green Sleeve, who had been wavering, now had a determined look on his face.

"Then, let's fight!"

"Attack!"

Without hesitation, the five clan leaders revealed their true forms, each occupying a different direction, and began to besiege Helo, the elder of the Ring-headed Turtle clan.

With the protection of the Demon Sovereign's Remains, Hai Luo was fearless.

When the battle commenced, they fought without restraint, seeking only to inflict and receive injuries, trading lives.

One turtle against five colossal beings, they engaged in the most direct hand-to-hand combat and unleashed their most intense demonic arts, fighting without any fancy moves.

The scale of this battle was so vast that it forced the lower-tier demonic beasts to retreat from Mystic Rock Island, leaving only the Third Stage Demon Kings to spectate from the sidelines.

The most brutal and bloody battle on Mystic Rock Island was about to unfold.

...

Crack!

Perhaps the intensity of the battle had caused the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to fluctuate.

Or perhaps the heavens were lamenting the impending extinction of a clan.

As the grand battle gradually drew to a close, dark clouds gathered over the Mystic Rock Sea, casting a heavy atmosphere.

Within the oppressive cloud layer, silver serpents danced wildly, and the sound of thunder rumbled deafeningly.

The winds howled, and a storm was about to break.

The pitted and scarred surface of Mystic Rock Island, riddled with countless craters, began to flood with seawater.

The once-standing peaks now lay scattered and broken in various directions.

The five clan leaders of the Crab Demons, breathless, stood in different areas.

Their bodies were covered in wounds.

Some, like Green Sleeve, had their bodies split in half.

Even the powerful Jin Hun and Crimson Flame had their giant claws and eight legs broken.

In their hearts, they all felt a sense of lingering fear.

Hai Luo, possessing the Demon Sovereign's Remains as a protective treasure, had displayed formidable strength that instilled fear in others.

Fortunately, he focused on defense rather than offense.

Otherwise, two or three of the five demons would have surely perished in this battle.

At this moment, their gazes turned fearfully towards the center of the battlefield.

The old turtle, Hai Luo, lay motionless, its four legs broken, shell overturned, and belly plate shattered, revealing soft flesh stained red with fresh blood.

This tragic sight caused the surviving members of the Ring-Topped Turtle clan to have red-rimmed eyes, unable to hold back their tears.

Hai Luo, the clan leader, had cultivated the Mystic Turtle Return Art after reaching the Third Stage.

His current state was as good as death.

"As good as death" meant that he had not completely perished!

Jin Hun slowly spoke, "Hai Luo, if you willingly hand over the Demon Sovereign's Remains, I can leave your body intact."

A deep and heavy breath escaped Hai Luo's mouth.

He struggled to open his eyes, scanning his surroundings.

He didn't look at Jin Hun but instead gazed at the dozens of Third Stage Crab Demon Kings surrounding them, then finally, his eyes settled on the surviving clan members beneath a distant mountain.

He spoke softly, "Willingly hand it over? To whom? To you?"

Jin Hun's eyebrows furrowed. He almost immediately sensed the malicious gazes directed at him by the other four demons.

This thousand-year-old demon, facing death, was still stirring up trouble!

However, he wasn't overly flustered by this.

"Hand it over, and we'll decide who to give it to."

Hai Luo tugged at his cracked mouth, "Is the condition only to leave my body intact?"

Jin Hun coldly harrumphed, "This is already a favor due to your status as our senior. If you're still unsatisfied, I can decide to let your clan leave the Mystic Rock Sea and find another place to survive."

Upon hearing this, Green Sleeve shrieked, "Impossible! Releasing the tiger back to the mountains will bring endless future troubles."

Zhu Xiang, from the Demon Spider Crab clan, shouted, "Short-sighted! They're just a bunch of homeless dogs; what's there to fear?"

Nine Claws spoke with a sinister tone, "After all, we've been neighbors for many years. It's not good to completely eradicate them."

Crimson Flame burst into laughter, "My clan often travels through the underground sea trenches and volcanoes. I know of a suitable place for the Ring-Topped Turtle clan to inhabit."

Green Sleeve, filled with hatred, said, "You're being generous, but my cultivation has been destroyed. If I let them return, my Azure Emperor Crab clan will suffer the most. I disagree with releasing them!"

This mother crab has lost her mind!

After obtaining the Demon Sovereign's Remains, wouldn't everything be under their control?

Crimson Flame's offer was also good. A familiar place where they could monitor the Ring-Topped Turtle clan, or even enslave and domesticate them, was not out of the question.

As Jin Hun was about to speak, his gaze fell on Green Sleeve, and he suddenly realized something.

Green Sleeve was causing trouble, not just for the Ring-Topped Turtle clan but was negotiating with them!

Just as they were internally conflicted, the old turtle, Hai Luo, sighed faintly.

"Enough!"

"The old turtle has lost three of its four legs. How can there be talk of leaving the body intact?"

"Moreover, it's better to rely on oneself than to depend on others. The future of my clan should remain in our own hands!"

Upon hearing this, the five demons' faces changed simultaneously.

Was he still going to resist to the bitter end?

Crimson Flame burst into anger, "Old fellow, facing death, can't you see the situation clearly?"

Nine Claws was puzzled, "With the Demon Sovereign's Remains revealed, what other means do you have?"

The others also didn't understand what confidence the old turtle Hai Luo still had.

As they wondered, Hai Luo spoke softly, "In my clan, not only the aged and decrepit me have reached the peak of the Third Stage!"

Seven Rings!

Unconsciously, a name surfaced in their minds.

At that moment, Zhu Xiang suddenly looked up at the sky.

Silver serpents danced, and thunder roared amidst the flashing lightning.

On Mystic Rock Island, the surging spiritual energy was in complete disarray.

Previously, they had thought it was caused by their battle.

But now, it seemed entirely different.

This spiritual energy wasn't the demonic energy they had refined but pure spiritual energy from heaven and earth.

It originated from the earth's veins and descended from the heavens.

That feeling was as if...

"Practicing the false to achieve the real, returning to the ancestral form!"

"Not good, Qi Long is forcefully triggering the Human Transformation Tribulation at this moment."

Seeing his plot exposed, Hai Luo didn't have much to worry about.

After such a long wait, all the preparations that could be made had been done, and all the efforts that could be exerted had been made.

Even his old bones were buried here.

It was time to witness the glimmer of hope.

The next moment, on the highest peak of Xuan Yan Island, a giant python suddenly burst out of the sky, coiling around the peak and soaring towards the heavens.

Upon closer inspection, it was not a giant python at all, but clearly the neck of a powerful demon!

This Huan Shou Gui, the Clan Leader Hai Luo, followed the path of the Xuan Turtle, returning to the ancestral form. The Great Elder, Qi Long, followed the path of the Cliff Snake, also returning to the ancestral form.

The former, though old and frail, had reached the pinnacle of his cultivation, but ultimately could not take that final step.

The latter, however, was a powerful cultivator of the same generation as the five clan leaders.

After years of cultivation, with the resources left behind by the Xuan Yan Demon King, he finally took that last step under the immense pressure of the clan's impending extinction.

The Thunder Tribulation arrived with a thunderous roar!

In the first round, countless thunderbolts struck Qi Long's head.

Facing this attack, Qi Long reached out and summoned a massive turtle shell, which he placed over his head.

That was his Huan Shou Gui's true form, slowly shedding during his Cliff Snake cultivation.

According to past practices, such a shell could be refined into a Lifebound Treasure with the power of the Thunder Tribulation, and even advanced to a True Artifact!

But, with just one strike—

Crack!

The indestructible Huan Shou Gui's shell shattered into countless pieces, turning into ashes that filled the sky.

Qi Long was further battered by the remaining thunderbolts, his flesh torn and his vitality severely weakened.

Seeing this, the five clan leaders, who had been terrified, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Insufficient foundation, forcing the advancement will surely lead to failure."

"Qi Long, there's nothing to fear!"

In the sky, amidst the thunderous clouds, Qi Long waited silently, then laughed bitterly as the second round of the Thunder Tribulation approached.

"Clan Leader, it seems it's still impossible!"

In the pitted battlefield, Hai Luo's heart also sank.

The Old Ancestor achieved enlightenment through the Xuan Turtle's Human Transformation, and the resources he left behind were biased towards the Xuan Turtle path.

The help he could offer Qi Long was minimal.

If Qi Long had followed the Xuan Turtle path, to say the least, he could have borrowed the Old Ancestor's remains to endure a few more rounds of the Thunder Tribulation.

But now, even the first round was barely manageable, and with Qi Long's foundation, he would surely not survive the subsequent rounds.

"Since it's come to this, let's sacrifice ourselves to give our clan one last chance at survival!"

He murmured.

As he spoke, a bright yellow light emerged from within him, eventually transforming into a massive turtle shell that flew towards the surviving Huan Shou Gui below the peak.

Seeing this, Jin Hun exclaimed.

"Demon Sovereign's remains, Xuan Yan Armor!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already made his move to seize it.

Three other demons, Chi Yan, Jiu Zhua, and Zhu Xiang, also made their moves.

However, Hai Luo scoffed at their actions.

"You should worry about yourselves first!"

The four demons were perplexed.

Just then, the second round of the Thunder Tribulation had brewed in the sky.

Qi Long let out a piercing scream, no longer enduring the tribulation head-on. Instead, he sucked in a deep breath from below.

In that instant, dozens of auras were drawn into his body.

At this moment, all the Third Stage powerful demons of the five great clans' Crab Demons seemed to connect with him.

This was the innate demon art of the Cliff Snake Clan—'Distant Neighbors.'

Legend has it that this art, once unleashed, can merge the power of many into one, enhancing the user.

The Cliff Snake, in ancient times, was not a formidable demon beast, but it stood alongside the Xuan Turtle, Sky Wolf, and Thunder Phoenix as the top demon beasts because the rulers of this clan could absorb the power of their clansmen, merging it into their own to challenge the ancient demons!

However, this demon art must never be used during tribulation crossings.

The Thunder Tribulation is the Heavenly Dao's trial for those breaking through cultivation realms, and it does not tolerate outside interference.

With such a mix of powers, not only would the tribulation's power surge, but its range of attack would expand from one to all connected individuals.

Qi Long's abilities were not yet at that level.

But he was desperate, linking the auras of all the Third Stage Demon Kings of the five great clans on the battlefield.

As a result, the tribulation would rain down on all of them.

He would die, and the others would surely suffer as well.

The other demons, lacking insight, did not understand the true intent behind his actions.

But when bolts of lightning as thick as water buckets passed through Qi Long's body and struck the Demon Kings of the Xuan Yan Island, all the Demon Kings panicked.

"How could this be?"

"Heaven, I've just advanced to the Third Stage, and I can't resist the Thunder Tribulation!"

"Clan Leader, save me!"

Screams of agony echoed instantly.

The desperate ones tried to flee Xuan Yan Island using Escape Lights.

The powerful ones, knowing they couldn't escape, exerted all their abilities to resist the Thunder Tribulation.

Even the five clan leaders, despite their anger, had no choice but to focus on their own defenses against the tribulation, unable to assist others.

In an instant, on Xuan Yan Island, the heavenly thunder descended, and silver light flashed across the land.

The rumbling sound shook the universe.

At this point, the tribulation's strikes no longer discriminated, affecting not only the individual but also those nearby.

The entire Mystic Rock Island was shrouded in a devastating strike.

...

In the marshland, Han Zhan, who was about to leave, witnessed the course of the great battle and immediately changed his mind about leaving upon sensing the brewing Thunder Tribulation.

"Thunder Tribulation!"

Having experienced a Yuan Ying Thunder Tribulation himself and once protected his friend Cang Lang Shangren during his tribulation crossing, Han Zhan had a deep understanding of Thunder Tribulations, surpassing most others.

He had sensed something amiss during the brewing of the Thunder Tribulation.

However, he was also puzzled.

"Is the Demonic Transformation Thunder Tribulation of the Demon Race this weak?"

"It only took a day to accumulate."

"Or is it because the foundation of the tribulation crosser is insufficient?"

Driven by curiosity, he stayed.

Then he witnessed the birth of the Thunder Tribulation.

When Han Zhan saw dozens of Demon Kings interconnected by their spiritual auras, entangled by the Thunder Tribulation, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"What a brilliant strategy!"

"Unbeknownst to them, the tribulation crosser has collected the spiritual auras of all the great demons, using them as a link to borrow the power of heavenly thunder for a final act of mutual destruction."

"Not only is the strategy ingenious, but the determination behind it is also resolute!"

Amidst his admiration, a peculiar thought emerged in his mind.

He glanced at the Black Scaled Python, trembling and lying on the ground.

"Black King, I have a task for you. If you complete it perfectly, your master will surely reward you generously."

Black King lifted his head, "What task?"

Han Zhan explained the task in detail.

Upon hearing the task, Black King shook his head nervously, his eyes filled with fear.

"I'll die."

"Don't you want the top-grade Emperor's Essence?" Han Zhan smiled and said, "Your Devouring Demon Art is activated by the Emperor's Essence, which stimulates your power from the mixed bloodline. If you complete this task, you can have as much Emperor's Essence as you want."

Black King was slightly tempted, but the thought of the impending danger made him hesitate.

"Go ahead and do it. With me and your master here, you won't die. There will also be a reward for you later."

"Is my master here too?" Black King was astonished.

Han Zhan smiled slightly, "You don't think that with such a commotion on Mystic Rock Island, he wouldn't notice, do you?"

Upon hearing that Luo Chen was nearby, Black King gritted his teeth.

"Alright, I'll do it!"

...

As the demon crossing the tribulation perished, the heavenly Thunder Tribulation also dissipated on its own.

The dark clouds shrouding the sky gradually dispersed, leaving only a torrential downpour.

Under this massive Thunder Tribulation, Mystic Rock Island, already battered by the previous battle, sank further into the sea by hundreds of zhang. A massive influx of seawater flooded the land.

The surviving Demon Kings on the island were all in disarray, each filled with terror.

Fortunately, the Thunder Tribulation finally dissipated.

This meant that the battle had finally come to an end.

Seven Rings had attracted the thunder with his body, but his tribulation crossing failed.

Helo fought valiantly against the clan leaders of the Five Clans, but under the cover of the Thunder Tribulation, he also perished.

Among the Five Clan Leaders, the most deeply entangled, Green Sleeve, met his end, and Nine Claws fell.

The three surviving demons were severely injured, their auras withered to the extreme, and most of their cultivation was stripped away, making it difficult to recover to their peak even after hundreds of years of arduous cultivation.

The number of surviving Demon Kings was only a mere dozen or so.

It was evident that the Ring-Topped Turtle Clan's mutual destruction technique had failed.

Or perhaps, it wasn't a complete failure.

Zhu Xiang struggled to keep his eyes open, gazing at the seawater flooding in from all directions and the sparsely scattered surviving Demon Kings of the Five Clans.

The layout of the fourth-stage spirit vein land had been destroyed, and with the Demon Race's capabilities, it would likely take thousands of years to repair it."

With the Five Clans' strength greatly diminished, they might not be able to contend with the great demons from other seas crossing over.

It could be said that this was a mutual loss and a mutual destruction.

"Helo, Seven Rings, how ruthless you are!"

As Zhu Xiang perceived the situation around him, Jin Hun shouted from the side.

"Golden Claw, lead the way and capture the Demon Emperor's Remains!"

From a depression, a golden light suddenly burst out of the water, heading straight for the collapsed majestic peak.

At the same time, Jin Jia, another surviving great Demon King of the Tyrant Crab Clan, and five Third Stage Demon Kings, disregarding their injuries, followed Golden Claw.

At this moment, the seven demons moved simultaneously, intending to seize the Mystic Rock Demon Emperor's Shell floating above the surviving Ring-Topped Turtles.

However, before they could get close,

A terrifying devouring force emerged from the depths of the earth.

It had beaten them to it, swallowing the golden yellow light into its belly.

Golden Claw immediately sensed the familiar aura.

"Evil Python, how dare you!"

Black King feared nothing, swallowed the Mystic Rock Demon Emperor's Shell, and swam into the depths of the sea.

The seven powerful Tyrant Crab demons were about to intercept him, but in an instant, their souls were shaken, and they felt an awe-inspiring aura descending from above.

The seven demons looked up simultaneously and saw a shadow resembling a Fire Phoenix standing in the air, pressing down with a single hand.

Immense and mighty spiritual power was condensed within, surrounded by endless azure flames. A giant palm print, hundreds of zhang in size, had been gathering power for a long time before it finally slammed down.

Boom! The already precarious Mystic Rock Island couldn't withstand this final blow, collapsing like a camel under the last straw.

The island began to sink with a rumbling sound.

The seven demons at the center of the Azure Emperor's giant palm attack let out miserable screams.

A voice came from above.

"Thank you, fellow cultivators, for offering the treasure!"

The voice echoed boundlessly, lingering in their ears even as it came from the distant horizon.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end