175. TodayTomorrow
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Back at the eerie Yu Shui Lake...
"I fear that the Demon King is somehow awakening!" Luoyin explained to Old man Bao and Kai Zhen.
A cold laugh resounded then, and the ground ruptured right at the heart of the red formation.
A pale and lifeless Zhurong Fen emerged and rose up to float in place, hanging there limply as if invisible strings were holding up a soulless puppet.
The floral tattoo on her arm glowed brightly, and the petals peeled away into real petals which moved to swirl around her.
But then Zhurong Fen's body began to contort, and her skin grotesquely bulged and expanded. Veins and strains of muscle crawled over the limp body which creaked sickeningly as the bones were broken to realign and expand, till a large black figure was formed, an evil sneer on his face.
He was humanlike in overall form, but not in much else, with pure black skin, thicker than an elephant's, and patterns which resembled scales.
His ribs were large and protruding, with a pulsing purple heart at the center.
His torso and thighs were massive and muscular, he had deathly sharp claws and feet, with wicked looking spikes lining his calves and forearms, and two large and ridged horns morphed out of his head, curving outwards.
The true devil had indeed awakened!
"Filthy little creatures..." The Demon King said with a sneer, his deep voice echoing across the entire city as he rose into the air in a black cloud, growing much bigger as he did.
A collosal throne made of gigantic skulls and bones manifested in the air, and the now larger-than-life demonic entity appeared seated atop it, looking down on the entire city as if it were merely a circle of ants he had discovered.
"Hmph." He scoffed calmly. "Introducing myself again... I'm Yu Wang. Demon King, and ruler of all Three Realms."
Luoyin stood frozen in place at the sight, and beside him, Kai Zhen and Old man Bao wore identical expressions of worry.
From which angle did one begin fighting this monstrosity?
The aura emanating from the demon king was a thousand times more powerful than any they had ever felt, making even the Eternal Tier feel like an uncertain match.
Around the city, the immortals could see this giant manifestation and their hearts were filled with immense fear.
Meanwhile the Eternal Tier demons all fell to their knees, bowing their heads to the ground in reverence.
"Hail the Demon Lord's return!" They chorused from all around the city, causing the Immortals to stagger.
"Is there still any hope for the three realms...?" The Medicine Deity wondered aloud, but the Plague Deity who stood near him, could only shake her head...
Yu Wang sneered down at Luoyin.
"Yin Xiaolong, you were right." Yu Wang spoke. "The 'disguised oriole' indeed got the upper hand, but what use is all that now?"
He pointed one giant finger at Luoyin. "In my current form, it simply does not matter whether you're some magical or divine oriole... I can crush you at any time!"
He suddenly fisted his hands and an impossibly dark aura descended on the entire city, shattering several layers of ground and causing massive quakes.
One of the earthquakes sent buried lava shooting upwards and raining down on the city, adding to the chaos as the Eternal Tier demons rose to counter-attack with renewed vigor.
Luoyin, Old man Bao, and Kai Zhen leapt into the air, and Luoyin swivelled, easily evading a hit.
He shielded himself against the flying bits of lava and debris, but he froze when he felt something large crash into Yinying's shield, reminding him that Weiyan was still in this city!
~"Laoying!"~ Luoyin instantly reached out to Yinying. ~"What is happening! Where is Weiwei!"~
Surprisingly, it was Weiyan's voice which answered.
~"We're safe over here in Laoying's bell! Please let go of worry and protect yourself!"~
~"Yanyan...!"~ Luoyin could not help the warm flood of relief coursing through him, but before he said anymore, a large boulder came flying towards him and he narrowly evaded it.
"Xiaobai! You can sense both Xiaoyan and your shadow tiger, so you'll know if they're in danger! Put your mind on this battle!" Kai Zhen admonished.
"Umh!" Luoyin nodded and swiftly jumped into action, heading right for the gigantic demon in the sky...
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Meanwhile, the entire city was being destroyed, but the Immortals were not backing down, and even the Swallows remained, determined to stay and fight to the last.
"We're not very strong, but running away is pointless!" Yan Lutian pointed out.
"Yes! Even if we could escape this city, would we run to our families? How long can we keep them safe under such a tyrant?" Another Swallow asked.
"Hmph! Demons grow to new heights of power by swallowing others! Under the reign of such a King, won't they chase us to the furthest corners of the world!"
"Hao!" Weiyan turned to face them. "We heard the demon king call himself 'ruler of three realms'... so if he isn't stopped now before his rule is firmly established, then there'll indeed be nowhere to run!
"It's a choice between possibly dying here today, or definitely dying tomorrow!"
"It's a choice between possibly dying here today, or definitely dying tomorrow!" Weiyan stated.
"Well said!" Yan Lutian stepped forward and offered a small bow. "Cousin, do you have any ideas?" He rubbed his nose awkwardly. "I hate that fellow, but there's no denying his genius..."
Weiyan couldn't resist a small smile. "Our levels are indeed too low to face the demons head on, but we can help minimize losses on our side!"
She held out a hand and a near endless flow of Luoyin's talismans flew out!
Worried for her safety, Luoyin had been stuffing an unreasonable number of his talismans into her qiankun ring for months!
The talismans floated in bundles to the Swallows who scratched their heads in confusion.
"Everyone has two tasks!" Weiyan continued.
"First, Stay alive! At our level, our deaths would only burden the hearts of the seniors fighting... There are at least five teleportation talismans in each pile... Don't hesitate to use them in danger!
"There are also talismans to help you withstand powerful aura, and talismans to hide your own aura, making you unnoticeable and untraceable....
"Second, follow the stronger immortals at a safe distance, causing as much chaos as possible for the demons!
"These talismans are mostly traps... Useless when facing such powerful opponents directly, but timed right, they can create an opening for the Seniors.
"So hide yourselves! Strike from the shadows when least expected!" She ordered. "Play dirty in the worst ways possible and do all you can to trip those demons at any opportunity!"
"Hao!" Yan Lutian clapped. "This is no time for honourable fights!"
He mentally snorted, 'Hmph! That fellow indeed rubbed off on her!'
He would never admit it aloud, but he had long repented off his obsessive love for Yan Liwei, and a part of him- a very small part!- even admired Yin Xiaolong!
"Let's move out!" He said aloud to the other Swallows, and they promptly vanished, leaving Weiyan and Yinying within the golden bell shield.
Weiyan sighed in the silence.
Her brief glimpse of the past had revealed a troubling secret behind the demon King's identity...
The vision had been interrupted by the city's destruction, but the little she had seen made one thing clear...
The demon king was far too powerful for the present Immortals to defeat, and his original identity might even harm Luoyin!
To give them and Luoyin a fighting chance, she needed to find out more about the demon king and how he had been sealed in the past!
So she turned to Yinying with a resolute look...
"No, I'm NOT leaving your side!" Yinying declared with a heavy emphasis, as he recognized this determined look!
Wasn't this the same as Caoyang, when Liwei (Weiyan) had sent him to Bailong, leaving herself at the mercy of Tianlong and Fei Yun?!
But surprisingly, Weiyan grinned at him.
"L- Laoying, I was simply going to request..." She cupped her hands and bowed. "Please guard me while I meditate!"
The vision came from somewhere within her...
She intended to pull it out!
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