Chapter 418: A Crushing Battle
"This group of Rock Demons totals twenty-four, with four of them at the Dou Zun level. You guys handle those four while I quickly take care of the rest to weaken their strength," Xiao Ze said, pointing to a cluster of Rock Demons.
"Let's start practicing our coordination now. When we reach the core area, we might have to deal with large-scale battles. We don't want to hurt our own by mistake."
Xiao Ze formed a lightning ball in his hand and threw it into the sky above the Rock Demon cluster. The ball erupted with immense power, and thunder roared as lightning bolts tore through the sky, hitting the ground with unmatched force. The bright silver lightning marked the beginning of the battle.
The lightning struck a Rock Demon standing several dozen feet tall, shattering its head. A golden flame then pierced the void, carrying the terrifying power to incinerate even Dou Qi. It hit the strongest Rock Demon in the group, leaving a deep, red, burning wound that oozed lava-like fluid. This was the formidable power of the Golden Emperor's Burning Sky Flame.
Seeing Xun'er attack, Little Doctor Fairy and the others quickly joined in. Fluttering like a butterfly, Little Doctor Fairy deftly dodged the rampant lightning. In her white dress, she seemed to dance through the silver storm, untouched by the thunder. With a gentle wave of her hand, a purple-grey poisonous mist drifted out, landing on a Dou Zun Rock Demon and corroding its body, causing it to charge at her in a rage.
Little Doctor Fairy smirked, retreating as she didn't want to fight amidst the raging lightning that affected her poison mist.
Qing Lin approached another Dou Zun Rock Demon. Her eyes, adorned with a green flower, rotated slowly, sending a strange and powerful mental impact that left the Rock Demon momentarily dazed. Seizing the chance, Qing Lin summoned a dark red energy, forming a ferocious Nine-Headed Snake that attacked the Rock Demon's vital points.
Medusa, clad in a tight-fitting red battle armor, stood amidst the lightning storm. Surrounded by a colorful energy shield, she drew her long sword, releasing a brilliant seven-colored energy that slashed at the last Dou Zun Rock Demon.
Xiao Ze remained on the mountain peak, watching as the battle concluded within a minute. The Dou Zun Rock Demons were severely injured, holding on only due to their tough bodies and the support of their link talent. In the sky, the lightning ball ceased its storm, signaling the end of the lesser Rock Demons under Xiao Ze's attack.
Xiao Ze quickly surveyed the battlefield, collecting the Rock Demon Cores from the fallen enemies using his Mirage Sea Domain. He found twenty Rock Demon Cores of various sizes and divided them into four portions. As Xun'er, Little Doctor Fairy, and the others returned with their spoils, he suggested they absorb the cores to strengthen their bodies while he kept watch.
Despite his immense physique, Xiao Ze found the cores of minimal use to himself, but he knew they could significantly enhance the others. Xun'er, having accepted the Taixu Ancient Dragon blood from Xiao Ze earlier, began the process of absorption first. Her Golden Emperor's Burning Sky Flame allowed her to refine the core's energy efficiently.
As the others began their absorption process, Xiao Ze examined the Dou Zun Rock Demon Cores. These cores had dark red patterns indicating their rank, with each line representing a star level in the Dou Zun stage. Xun'er had slain a two-star Dou Zun Rock Demon, proving the power of the core she absorbed.
Though the battle had been swift and relatively easy, Xiao Ze was concerned about the Rock Demons' link talent, which had allowed a mere two-star Dou Zun Rock Demon to reach the strength of a four-star Dou Zun at its peak. This formidable ability made him wary of the core area's potential threats.
As Xun'er finished her absorption, she noticed Xiao Ze's thoughtful expression. "Are you worried about the Rock Demons?" she asked.
"I'm concerned that their link talent might lead to a qualitative change, creating a Rock Demon with Dou Sheng-level strength," Xiao Ze admitted.
Xun'er nodded thoughtfully. "That's something only the Stone Clan, who have managed the Rock Demon Realm for so long, would know for sure. We can only hope we don't encounter such a creature."
"Let's proceed cautiously. If we encounter an invincible Rock Demon, we'll just crush our space stones and leave," Xiao Ze suggested.
"Agreed. Even hunting in the central area should provide us with enough Rock Demon Cores to significantly enhance our physiques. If we manage to get high-level cores, that would be even better," Xun'er said, smiling.
Xiao Ze nodded, thinking silently. Even if the high-level Rock Demon Cores could benefit him, he would prioritize Xun'er, knowing the greater advantages she would bring back to him through their unique bond.
(End of the chapter)