Chapter 1964: Descent Meanwhile, Ji Xiaoxi looked at the lake with her tear-stained face. The lake had turned purple, and its water rose up to form the shape of an altar. Yao Fang lay on the altar with bulging eyes and a gaping wound on her neck. She was dead. Her blood filled the altar, and it dripped into the lake. With each drip, the lake grew even more purple. Shadowmoon Lake felt like a gigantic purple eye; its color was so penetratingly deep that it evoked fear. In contrast, the eye in the sky was just a reflection of the lake. Upon hearing Lu Bei’s prayer, the lake began to bubble. A terrifying will was attempting to descend upon the land. Even a whiff of its aura made Ji Xiaoxi’s body turn cold, making her feel frightened and enraged. She wanted to avenge Yao Fang, but her poison didn’t work on these monsters. She was tightly wrapped in a spiderweb cocoon, unable to invoke the flying sword Zu An had given her. Thanks to Zu An’s defensive talismans, the cocoon couldn’t harm her, but those wouldn’t last. Lu Bei was extremely excited when he sensed the aura from the lake. He prostrated on the ground once more and exclaimed, “Lord War Priest, please descend upon this world. There’s a brand new world here for you to feast on!” “Not enough blood…” said a hoarse voice that sounded like fingernails scratching glass. It was jarring and fear-inducing. Lu Bei hesitantly looked at the cocooned Ji Xiaoxi and said, “Milord, that young miss is on close terms with the human powerhouse. Keeping her alive might be beneficial to our future plans…” The hoarse voice interjected before he could finish his sentence, “Fresh blood. I want more fresh blood…” Lu Bei clenched his jaws. A Heart-Devouring Demon Spider burst out from his chest and dragged Lu Bei’s corpse up onto the altar. Soon, fresh blood seeped from his wounded chest. The ritual should be almost completed. We have already offered the War Priest plenty of fresh blood from different living beings. Upon receiving another offering of fresh blood, the lake began to bubble. Ji Xiaoxi’s face turned pale. In the giant eye projected in the sky, she saw a colossal being attempting to cross through space to descend upon thee world. The Heart-Devouring Demon Spider was overjoyed, saying, “This lowly one respectfully welcomes the descent of Lord War Priest!” Some time passed, but there was no response from above. The Heart-Devouring Demon Spider looked up and saw that the War Priest was unable to breach the space between them. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚 “Are there still not enough sacrifices?” the Heart-Devouring Demon Spider wondered as it turned its gaze to Ji Xiaoxi. It figured that the descent of the War Priest had to take precedence above all things else. As long as the War Priest successfully descended, this new world would be theirs. Lord War Priest will reward me for being the meritorious subject who aided him in his descent. Now that our chief is dead, with Lord War Priest’s help, I might be able to grow into the new chief. Hardening its determination with that thought, it maneuvered its threads with its limbs to toss Ji Xiaoxi’s cocoon into the lake. It wasn't strong enough to breach Ji Xiaoxi’s defensive talismans, but once she was inside the lake, those wouldn’t be enough to stop their War Priest. As Ji Xiaoxi came closer to the purple lake, she could feel an overwhelming demonic aura seeping out from within. It gripped her with absolute fear, freezing every thought in her mind. “Big brother Zu…” she murmured as tears streamed down her eyes. “I’m here, Xiaoxi. Don’t be afraid,” a gentle voice echoed. Shortly after, Ji Xiaoxi felt herself falling into a warm embrace. She opened her eyes and saw a familiar face. For a moment, she fell into a daze, murmuring, “Is my life flashing across my eyes right now?” As a physician, she had witnessed patients who saw their lives flash across their eyes before taking their last breath. They would see those whom they had wanted to see and achieve what they had wanted to do. It was as if they were in a sweet dream. Is this my final wish while my real body is melting down in that purple lake? “I arrived late, Xiaoxi. You must have been scared,” Zu An apologized. Another familiar voice harrumphed in dissatisfaction. “Preposterous! How can the last thing on your mind in the face of danger not be me, your father, but that stinky brat?” Ji Dengtu’s eyes were wide with anger. It’s no wonder they say daughters are betrothal gifts to others. My daughter hasn’t even fully grown yet, and she’s already siding with another man! “Ah!” Ji Xiaoxi snapped out of it as soon as she saw her seething father, and her face turned bright red. I’m really in big brother Zu’s arms, and he and father heard me calling out his name! How embarrassing! Wuuu… She would have dug a hole and dove right in if she hadn’t been cocooned. Zu An glanced at the cocoon. A flicker of flame sparked on his finger, and in a flash, it reduced the cocoon to ashes. Ji Dengtu was initially worried that the flame would hurt Xiaoxi, having personally witnessed what it was capable of earlier. If he burns Xiaoxi’s skin, I won’t let that brat off! However, he was impressed when he saw Ji Xiaoxi emerging unscathed. That brat’s ability to control the elements has reached an amazing level. Probably only my master was capable of doing something similar. Ji Xiaoxi had been trapped in the cocoon for so long that her legs had become numb. Unable to maintain her balance, she fell into Zu An’s arms. Seeing Zu An embrace his precious daughter and stroke her back with his pig trotters, Ji Dengtu felt incredibly displeased. He had a feeling that the precious cabbage he had nurtured with great hardship for many years had just been gobbled up by a pig. You have successfully trolled Ji Dengtu for +555 +555 +555… “How did you find this place?!” the Heart-Devouring Demon Spider cried with a quivering voice. It wasn't too long since it sensed their powerful spider chief dying at the hands of this man. Zu An looked at the bubbling purple lake, paying it no heed, and asked, “Where did you monsters come from?” The Heart-Devouring Demon Spider took one last glance at the purple lake. Upon confirming that the War Priest wouldn’t be able to descend, it turned tail and fled, knowing it was no match for Zu An. The humans we previously encountered were nothing but fodder for us. Why is this fellow so ridiculously powerful? If there are many humans on the same level as him, our mission will be no different from committing suicide. As soon as the Heart-Devouring Demon Spider began to move, a flying sword suddenly swooped in and sliced its neck. The monster’s body stiffened up before its head and body dropped into the lake. The flying sword returned to Zu An’s side and reverted into a yellow talisman. Zu An passed the yellow talisman to Xiaoxi and said, “Keep it well, Xiaoxi. Use it to protect yourself in times of danger.” Ji Xiaoxi was dumbstruck. I used this talisman earlier, but I was still defeated by that monster. And yet, big brother Zu easily killed that monster with it. Ji Dengtu coldly muttered from the side, “Xiaoxi, don’t forget what I’ve taught you. You mustn’t think that a man is good just because he gives you gifts. In truth, he’s coveting something even more precious from you.” “Father~” Ji Xiaoxi coyly glared at her father. “You’re misunderstanding big brother Zu. He isn’t such a person.” Ji Dengtu was speechless. He felt like he had suffered a critical blow. Just then, a vortex started forming at the center of Shadowmoon Lake. It was initially small, but it swiftly expanded untill it encompassed the entire lake. The silhouette in the sky grew clearer, as if something was about to cross over to this world. Ji Dengtu's eyes widened in horror as he said, “This isn’t good. That demon spider falling into the lake must have completed the blood sacrifice. The powerful being from the other world is going to cross over!” Zu An was surprisingly calm as he replied, “It’s fine. I was waiting for it to come over so that I could have a good chat with it.” Ji Dengtu was speechless. Damn it. I became a foil for that brat to brag before my precious daughter. It’s an unknown otherworldly entity we’re up against here. Isn’t he afraid of screwing it up? You have successfully trolled Ji Dengtu for +66 +66 +66… All of the water inside Shadowmoon Lake converged into a hurricane that rose into the sky, as the colossal silhouette inside the water became clearer and clearer. “That monster appears to have three heads,” Ji Xiaoxi murmured. Frightened, she cowered into Zu An’s arms. Ji Dengtu was too focused on the incoming enemy to be jealous of Zu An. While Ji Xiaoxi wasn't be strong enough to perceive it, he could sense a powerful pressure that didn’t pale in comparison to his master and Zhao Han… and that wasn’t the full extent of the other side’s strength yet. He couldn’t help but look at Zu An. Acting tough, huh? Look at the trouble you’ve caused! The hurricane slowly dispersed, and a massive monster appeared. Its dark purple body was over ten meters tall, and it had three demon heads and three thick arms that brandished some kind of tools. “Ah, I’ve finally arrived in a new world. What a delicious scent!” the middle head said. “Those fools insisted on fighting over the northern seal when it’s easier to open a new route.” The right head cackled. “How is it easier to open a new route? We were lucky to have found a crack in an ancient realm, or else we would never have been able to open a new route.” The left head harrumphed. “It’s a pity the ki here is too thin to bear more of our power. Still, it sure is wonderful to have descended upon a world devoid of other fiends,” the middle head remarked with an intoxicated expression as it closed its eyes. Zu An wasn’t in a rush to disturb them, as he knew he could pick up useful information from their conversation. If anything, he hoped they would speak more. Unfortunately, the monster didn’t act as he wished. It said, “Those three measly ants there, this great one has just arrived in this world and requires some intelligence from the indigenous population. I’ll grant you the honor of serving me.”