The World-Purifying Green Lotus's ultimate purification light, like the first morning ray at creation's beginning, gently yet irresistibly cleansed the entire Demon Palace's grand hall. That "Oblivion Demon Embryo" condensed from the Demonic Lord's mad counterattack, along with the remnant Demonic Lord will within, before this transcendent purification power that surpassed this realm's laws, completely melted and disintegrated like ice and snow under the blazing sun, leaving not a trace.
The blood pool evaporated dry, resentful souls delivered, demonic patterns extinguished, filth all gone.
Inside the grand hall, an unprecedented cleanliness and peace reigned. Even the air became fresh and pure, containing faint vitality and spiritual energy, a stark contrast to the previous scene like a nine-hells purgatory.
Mu Xue, Ao Qin, Zhao Tiezhu and others bathed in this pure aura, their injuries healing rapidly, spiritual power filling up, dao hearts clear. They looked at Tang Xiaoqi hovering in the air, flowing with introverted green light, their eyes filled with the relief of surviving calamity and ineffable reverence. This battle that seemed impossible to win had finally concluded in such a nearly miraculous way.
However, Xiao Qi's eyes, deep as green pools, did not relax due to the demon embryo's dissipation. Instead, he slightly frowned. Having merged with the Green Lotus origin, his perception was deeply connected with this world's purification laws. He clearly sensed that the most fundamental "evil" originating from the universe's dark side had not been thoroughly eradicated.
The Demonic Lord's shadow, demon body, and demon embryo that manifested externally were all just carriers of its power and will—branches and leaves. The true root source, that core origin condensed from the world's darkest negative emotions, still... existed.
Right at the original location where the "Oblivion Demon Embryo" had completely dissipated, at the bottom layer of space, as if stripped of all disguise and protection, a point of extremely deep, extremely pure... darkness slowly emerged.
This was not physical darkness, but a "concept" condensation—the ultimate embodiment of "void," "chaos," "destruction," "hatred," "fear," "despair"... all negative existences.
It was only fist-sized, constantly twisting and changing form, with no fixed appearance. Sometimes like churning dark clouds, sometimes like a ferocious ghost face, sometimes transforming into countless tiny struggling screaming arms. It radiated no energy fluctuations, made no sound, but its very existence emanated a soul-freezing, absolute "evil" and "oblivion" intent.
This was the Demonic Lord's... origin core!
It was the true foundation of its crossing realms, attempting to devour the lotus seed to complete itself and achieve perfect form!
All the previous demonic energy, demon body, and demon shadow were just external manifestations derived from this origin core. Now, under the World-Purifying Green Lotus's ultimate purification that stripped away all falsehood, all externals were forcibly purified and stripped away, finally exposing this most core, most essential, and most stubborn "evil source" under broad daylight!
It quietly hovered there, like a hole leading to ultimate void. Even the purified pure spiritual energy around it was slightly twisted and avoided under its influence.
"What... what is that?" Zhao Tiezhu's voice was hoarse. Even with his body cultivator's utmost yang and firm qi and blood, the moment he sensed that dark existence, he couldn't help but produce a fear and rejection from life instinct.
"It's the Demonic Lord's... root." Mu Xue's usually cool voice carried unprecedented gravity. The crystal staff in her hand trembled slightly, as if instinctively resisting that dark existence's presence. "All external demonic energy and forms have been purified, but its 'essence'... remains."
Crown Prince Ao Qin's dragon pupils contracted, the azure pupils reflecting that twisting darkness. He said gravely: "This thing... gives me a feeling even more... ancient, more pure than the previous Demonic Lord shadow. It seems... cannot be eliminated by conventional power."
Second Senior Brother Luo Feng's soul body fluctuations also transmitted tension: "Energy detection completely ineffective! It's as if it doesn't exist in this dimension! Yet its 'presence' is so strong! Xiao Qi, be careful! This thing is bizarre!"
Xiao Qi hovered in the air, calmly gazing at that exposed Demonic Lord origin. He was not surprised. Having merged with the Green Lotus origin, he had anticipated this. The World-Purifying Green Lotus's power could purify all derived "filth," but this body as the "source of all evil," its very existence perhaps had already touched some underlying rules of the universe's yin-yang balance.
Purification light could strip its branches and leaves, weaken its power, but to thoroughly "eliminate" this conceptual aggregate representing the universe's dark side was perhaps... not easy.
That twisting dark origin seemed to have "realized" its absolutely disadvantageous situation. It no longer attempted to condense form or launch attacks, only quietly hovering, constantly changing, emanating that suffocating oblivion aura, as if silently declaring—even if losing everything, its "existence" itself was eternal.
Xiao Qi slowly raised his hand. In his palm, that miniaturized twelve-grade green lotus appeared again, slowly rotating, radiating pure purification dao rhyme.
He could feel the Green Lotus origin "longing" to contact and purify this ultimate darkness.
But at the same time, an intuitive sense was also reminding him—this final step might be... completely different from all his previous battles.
This was no longer a contest of power, but... a collision of origin concepts.
Purification versus oblivion? Or... inclusion and transformation?
He gazed at that Demonic Lord origin, lost in deep thought. The ultimate outcome perhaps lay in his next choice.