Upon their return, Wang Jian and Hong Meilin wasted no time in sharing the news of their newfound alliance with their respective groups.
The weight of this unexpected alliance hung in the air as they emphasized the utmost importance of maintaining secrecy regarding the coveted Ebon Void Essence Ore.
Within the ranks of the church followers, a sense of dissatisfaction and discontent simmered, for they found themselves reluctantly tied to Wang Jian's shameless faction.
The bitter taste of this alliance lingered on their tongues, but the reality of their circumstances left them with no alternative but to begrudgingly accept this uneasy pact.
Emerging from the depths of the cave, Wang Jian swiftly took charge of the situation. He commanded the talented members of the esteemed Liu Family to position intricately crafted talismans near the entrance, ensuring that any unwanted visitors would trigger a vigilant alarm, alerting them to potential intruders.
Exploiting the full extent of their mastery in the art of illusions, Wang Jian called upon the Liu Family's expertise in wielding their enchanting talismans.
With meticulous precision, they skillfully concealed the cave's entrance, shrouding it in an ethereal veil that rendered it indiscernible to the untrained eye.
Recognizing the exceptional abilities possessed by Lady Zhuoran and Bixi Shuyan, Wang Jian entrusted them with a critical role.
Utilizing their innate talent for illusionary manipulation, enhanced by their ancestral lineage as the descendants of the illustrious Silver-Tailed Fox Race, they were tasked with erecting an additional layer of beguiling illusions.
Through their combined efforts, an enchanting mirage would cloak the cave's entrance, masking it from prying eyes and further safeguarding those rare treasures.
Thus, Wang Jian's loyal faction members and the devoted followers of the church departed from the immediate vicinity, embarking on a journey towards the heart of the dense forest.
As time passed and they established a temporary camp, Wang Jian wasted no time in implementing his merciless tactics.
He commanded his subordinates to subject the captured demons to excruciating torture, seeking to extract valuable information from their tormented souls.
Through this cruel process, a revelation came to light.
It was discovered that these demonic beings were particularly vulnerable to the effects of Sacred Attribute and Holy Qi, causing them unparalleled agony upon contact.
Recognizing the significance of this newfound knowledge, Wang Jian summoned Hong Meilin to join him in the interrogation of their primary target, Aiden.
Eager to participate, Hong Meilin harbored a deep-seated desire for revenge against this demon.
It was Aiden who had irreversibly shattered the fabric of her existence, instigating the near annihilation of their group and forcing her to seek assistance from Wang Jian's cunning embrace.
Together, they sought to extract every ounce of information from Aiden's anguished form, plunging him into the depths of torment as they unearthed the truth behind their shared plight.
"Why did the demons assault this sacred forest?" Wang Jian's voice dripped with icy disdain as he confronted Aiden.
Aiden's response came in the form of grunts and snarls, a feeble attempt to defy his captors.
Meanwhile, Hong Meilin unleashed a relentless barrage of Holy Qi-infused attacks upon the demon.
Each strike possessed a potent force, carefully calibrated to deliver agonizing pain without pushing Aiden to the brink of death.
She harbored a deep-seated rage within her, fueling her every strike, determined to make Aiden suffer to the fullest extent.
Her eyes bore a sinister darkness as she relentlessly assaulted Aiden's vulnerable form, her blows landing with calculated precision.
"Speak, you vile creature! How dare you remain silent in the face of your impending doom?" Hong Meilin's voice reverberated with a seething hatred that permeated every syllable, leaving no doubt about the intensity of her anger.
Aiden's tortured body convulsed with each agonizing blow, his resistance crumbling under the relentless assault. His face contorted in pain, he mustered the strength to plead for respite, his voice strained and filled with desperation.
"P-please... I beg of you... mercy..."
His pleas were accompanied by guttural cries, a testament to the unbearable torment he endured. With each excruciating moment, his resolve weakened, and he finally relented, his voice filled with a mix of agony and surrender.
"Arhhggh... Enough! I... I will talk... I'll reveal... everything... Hrrghh... just make it stop!"
The words escaped his lips in strained bursts, intermingled with pained groans. Hong Meilin's assault not only targeted his physical form but also penetrated deep into his very soul, leaving him no choice but to succumb to the searing pain.
Wang Jian's masterful seal on Aiden's demonic qi prevented him from using it as a shield, intensifying the excruciating suffering he experienced.
Hong Meilin, though slightly disappointed by Aiden's swift surrender, restrained herself out of curiosity. She was eager to uncover the demons' true motives for attacking the sacred forest.
With a chilling tone, she demanded, "Then speak before my patience runs thin!"
Aiden, fearing another onslaught, hastily began to spill the beans, his words tumbling out in a rush, "It's because... because of those Elemental Sparks... the ones infused with the power of laws."
Wang Jian scoffed with a roll of his eyes, dismissing Aiden's words. "You think we're fools? The Empire has long been aware of the Elemental Sparks and their law-infused might within this sacred domain. However, their value is limited for demons and humans alike. At best, they provide rudimentary insights into the laws, with slim chances of reaching the King Realm."
He continued, a cold yet serious gaze fixed upon Aiden, "Furthermore, using these Elemental Sparks triggers a prolonged hibernation period, during which they gather enough essence to be useful to an expert. The Butterfly Spirit Race utilized them by stimulating the essence through the Queen's Bloodline. Without their queen, the demons hoarding these sparks gain little advantage."
Wang Jian paused, his eyes filled with intensity, "And here's the clincher. You demons made no attempt to locate the hideout of the Butterfly Spirit Queen and her comrades. This suggests that their interest lies not in the Elemental Sparks, but in something far more significant, something of immense value to your demon kind."
As Wang Jian concluded, a sharp gleam illuminated Hong Meilin's eyes. She unleashed a volley of Holy Arrows, striking Aiden with precision, and growled with fervor, "You deceitful demon! How dare you lie to us! Prepare to be skewered into pieces!"
Aiden's anguished howls filled the air, his eyes welling with tears, unable to withstand the relentless assault.
"Stop! Stop, I beg you! Arghhh! I'll tell the truth! Just please...!" Aiden's plea echoed, tears streaming down his face.
Wang Jian raised his hand, signaling Hong Meilin to halt. She obeyed, but her glare pierced Aiden with a potent warning, conveying the dire consequences of falsehood.
"...You're onto something, human. The demons' motive isn't solely the Elemental Sparks or the forest's rare resources, though they're no doubt alluring," Aiden admitted, his voice laden with gravity. "...The real reason my Oceanic Storm Tempest Devil Clan targeted this forest was because one of our clan members sensed the presence of our ancestral totem here."
"The Ancestral Totem?" Wang Jian and Hong Meilin's eyes widened in astonishment, their curiosity piqued by this revelation.
"Tell us more," Wang Jian commanded, his voice firm and earnest.
Aiden's recount began, his words carrying the weight of history. "In the ancient conflict between demons and humans that once ravaged this realm, the humans emerged victorious. However, the turning point came when the demons began to fracture, engaging in internal strife."
"Sensing their impending defeat, many esteemed demon experts foresaw the need to empower future generations. They embedded seeds of power within their personal totems, treasures of supreme demonic essence and the pure bloodline of the many powerful devil clans. The ancestral blood of the experts belonging to those great devil clans, with its unparalleled purity, possesses the ability to awaken the true potential of any demon who absorbs it."
Aiden continued, his voice brimming with urgency, "The Ancestral Totem hidden within this region belongs to the ancestor of the Oceanic Storm Tempest Devil Clan. It is our clan's birthright, and acquiring it is of utmost importance to us."
Wang Jian's eyebrows furrowed, his sharp intellect quickly grasping the significance of the Ancestral Totem.
"It all makes sense now," he exclaimed, a glimmer of realization lighting up his eyes. "No wonder the Emperor Realm experts of the Oceanic Storm Tempest Devil Clan are closely monitoring this situation. It's crystal clear."
His focused gaze locked onto Aiden, a sense of urgency emanating from his every word. "So, enlighten us. Where exactly can we locate this elusive Ancestral Totem? If your clan members can sense its presence, there must be some leads to follow."
Aiden's smile waned, frustration etching lines on his face. "Unfortunately, it's not as simple as that," he confessed, his voice tinged with disappointment.
He continued, his tone earnest, "We did manage to pinpoint the location of the Ancestral Totem, but impenetrable seals stand in our way. Even the combined might of dozens of King Realm experts in my clan failed to make a dent. It's highly likely that an Emperor Realm expert was behind these formidable barriers."
Wang Jian's eyes narrowed, a glint of determination flickering within them.
"So, how do you demons plan to break those seals?" he inquired, eager to explore possible solutions.
Aiden's expression turned resolute as he revealed their plan.
"Our clan has already dispatched a message, seeking the aid of the Sinister Nether Curseweaver Devil Princess. She possesses an extraordinary weapon that was excavated from another Ancestral Totem site—an Ancestral Devil Weapon capable of shattering any seal weaker than its power."
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