The demon nest had completely disappeared. That suffocating terrorizing pressure also receded into the distance, leaving only drifting ice crystal motes in the shattered void and faint residual destructive aura. Tang Xiao Qi, supported by Mu Xue, barely stabilized his form. His face was pale as paper, his aura weak and listless. The price of forcibly stripping the green lotus origin and splitting spiritual sense far exceeded imagination. Had his foundation not been deep, he might now be in a coma.
"We must leave here immediately." Prince Ao Qin surveyed the surroundings, dragon eyes full of vigilance. "Although the demon nest has fled, this place's spatial structure has been severely damaged and is extremely unstable. It could collapse again at any moment, or attract other dangerous existences wandering in the void."
Third Senior Sister Liu Yun nodded. She stood aside with sword in hand, sword intent somewhat dimmed from earlier consumption and spiritual impact, yet still maintaining sufficient alertness. Her spiritual sense swept across every unstable inch of space. Zhao Tiezhu breathed heavily, swallowed several healing pills. The golden light on his body surface slowly reconstituting. He muffledly said: "This damn place, every moment more is unbearable!"
Second Senior Brother Luo Feng (soul state) attached to the compass artifact, his voice weak yet clear transmitting: "The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl has been destroyed and can no longer stabilize the passage. I need to recalculate safe coordinates for returning to the mortal world, utilizing remaining Void Dragon Crystal powder and your own power to forcibly open a temporary passage. The process will be bumpy, and coordinates may not precisely match the Gui Xu Sea Eye where we came from."
"No matter. As long as we can return to the mortal world." Xiao Qi's voice was hoarse. He gritted his teeth and endured the splitting pain in his sea of consciousness as if being torn apart, and his body's empty weakness. "Begin."
Second Senior Brother said nothing more. The compass artifact floated upward. Its surface runes circulated at unprecedented speed. Those powder formed from the shattered Void Dragon Crystal were invoked, emitting the final faint spatial fluctuations. Mu Xue, Ao Qin, Third Senior Sister, and Zhao Tiezhu all simultaneously injected their spiritual energy into the compass, assisting Second Senior Brother in positioning and breaking through the barrier.
Xiao Qi sat cross-legged in void. He fully operated his cultivation method, attempting to stabilize his injuries. Simultaneously, he split an extremely faint thread of consciousness, sensing that Chaotic Green Lotus Mark he had struck into the demon nest's shell. The mark's presence was extremely faint, like a candle flame in the wind. Separated by infinitely distant spacetime and dimensional barriers, the connection transmitted faint to nearly impossible to capture, sometimes intermittent. But he could confirm: the mark had not been discovered or cleared by the demonic entity. It was like a seed buried beneath the enemy fortress's outer wall, quietly lurking.
"Found it! The spatial weak point is locked! Everyone, converge your power at one point. Follow me—break!" Second Senior Brother's voice carrying resolve.
The compass artifact erupted with dazzling light. The energy torrent converging everyone's power, like a drill, fiercely stabbed toward a certain spot in the void that seemed no different from others.
"Sssp—!"
A sound like tearing cloth. That spot was forcibly ripped open an irregular light scar. Inside the light scar was twisted rotating colorful flowing light. Violent suction emanated from within.
"Go!"
Prince Ao Qin first transformed into blue light, rushing into the light scar. Third Senior Sister's sword light followed closely. Zhao Tiezhu growled, golden body protection wrapping his entire form, and also crashed in brazenly. Mu Xue supported Xiao Qi, cold aura forming a protective layer around them. They were the last to dive into that light scar.
Just as they entered, the temporary passage violently twisted, quickly contracted, annihilated. And the void where they had originally been, having received the final power impact, underwent larger-scale collapse, completely turning into chaos.
...
Intense turbulence and spatial transition dizziness lasted who knows how long, as if being furiously churned in a washing machine. When everyone finally felt solid ground sensation, they had left that oppressive void space.
Bright sunlight, slightly salty sea breeze, and the sensation of soft sand beneath their feet instantly pulled their senses back to reality.
They landed on an uninhabited seaside beach. In the distance stretched endless blue sea. Seabirds flew across the sky. The rich heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, though incomparable to some cave heaven blessed lands, was nevertheless thousands of times more comfortable than that dead void.
"Pfft!" Zhao Tiezhu was the first unable to hold on. He collapsed directly onto the sand, gasping heavily. His injuries were slowly recovering under the spiritual energy's nourishment, but his expression remained pale.
Third Senior Sister Liu Yun using her sword as support, stabilized her form. She quickly scanned the surroundings, confirmed there was no danger, then only then breathed a sigh of relief. But the fatigue in her brows could not be concealed.
Prince Ao Qin manifested human form. His face somewhat pale as well. He gazed at Xiao Qi, whose aura was the most faint: "Xiao Qi, your injuries..."
Xiao Qi supported by Mu Xue, slowly sat on a reef. He shook his head, indicating he could hold on. He took out several pills emanating rich medicinal fragrance, swallowing them, closing eyes to regulate breath. The pills entering his abdomen, transforming into warm currents nourishing his damaged meridians and sea of consciousness. His pale face finally regained some color.
Mu Xue stayed by his side, quietly guarding his cultivation, also regulating her own over-consumed spiritual energy.
After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Xiao Qi only then slowly opened his eyes. Though still weak, his eyes had recovered clarity and steadiness.
"We... have succeeded half." He spoke, voice still somewhat hoarse, yet carrying a kind of calm analysis. "Although we failed to destroy the demonic entity, even couldn't prevent its escape. But we confirmed its lair's existence—that Void Demon Nest. We witnessed its guardian force, understood some of its abilities. Most importantly..."
He spread open his palm. Though his palm held nothing, everyone understood his meaning.
"...we left a trump card. That mark is our key to finding it next time."
Second Senior Brother Luo Feng's voice transmitted from the compass artifact, carrying a trace of exhaustion, also a trace of excitement: "Exactly! Although the process was dangerous and the price considerable, we obtained crucial intelligence and strategic initiative! The demonic entity doesn't know we've marked it. It only thinks it successfully escaped tracking. And we can use this time to digest this expedition's gains, enhance our strength, and research how to use that mark for precise positioning and the next expedition!"
"Next time, we absolutely won't let it escape again!" Zhao Tiezhu clutched his fist, said muffledly, eyes burning with fighting spirit.
Third Senior Sister Liu Yun nodded: "This battle with the Void Demon Dragon deepened my understanding of sword Dao. I need closed-door meditation to digest." Her gaze swept across Xiao Qi and Mu Xue. The meaning was clear—everyone needed time to recover and enhance.
Prince Ao Qin meditated: "Upon returning to the Dragon Palace, I will report in detail to Father King about this expedition. There may be treasures or classics in the Dragon Clan's secret collection that can assist with locating void coordinates, or dealing with space traversal. I will do my utmost."
Xiao Qi gazed at everyone. Although each bore injuries and unstable qi, their eyes were full of determination and perseverance. He drew a deep breath, sensing the mortal world's warm sunlight and sea breeze. The frustration from the demonic entity's escape was gradually replaced by a deeper, more resolute determination.
"Everyone, our return to the mortal world is not retreat, but for a stronger counterattack next time. The demonic entity conceals itself, granting the Three Realms precious breathing room. We too."
He gazed toward the distant horizon, as if piercing through infinite space to see that demon nest hidden somewhere in the void depths.
"Planning for the long term. When we are fully prepared, that shall be the day the demonic entity meets its end!"
Sunlight fell upon the beach, illuminating this group of warriors who had just returned from the void's forbidden lands. They bear wounds, also hope and clearer objectives. The temporary retreat is for more thorough victory to come. The Void Demon Nest's threat hangs like a sword above, but also becomes the greatest motivation driving them ceaselessly forward.