Chapter 150: Exploring the Demonic Palace and Facing the Dark Hand (Part 2)

The void twisted violently, and silver light shattered like shattered mirrors. Ye Li and Qin Yixuan were violently "thrown" out of the extremely unstable spatial passage, landing heavily in a desolate valley covered with sharp black gravel and filled with a faint smell of sulfur.

"puff--"

As soon as she landed, Ye Li could no longer suppress the surging Qi and blood within her body, nor the gray Supreme Power that was eroding her vitality like a cancer. She violently spat out a large mouthful of dark red blood, even mixed with fragments of internal organs. Her face instantly turned pale, her breath as weak as a candle in the wind, and her bones ached as if they were falling apart. Her right arm and back, which had taken the main impact of Xuan Cong's finger, were particularly piercing with pain. If Qin Yixuan hadn't supported her in time, she would have almost collapsed to the ground.

"A-Li!" Qin Yixuan's voice was tinged with tears. Her own condition wasn't good either. To protect Ye Li and force her way through the guards, she'd taken several blows from the Corrupted Claw Demon Lord, sustaining internal damage and depleting her Mystic Woman power. But she couldn't care less about herself at the moment. She immediately channeled the remaining, purest Mystic Woman divine power into Ye Li without reservation, attempting to stabilize her crippling injuries and dispel the stubborn Supreme Power.

However, Xuan Cong's power was too high. The gray energy, as if alive, wreaked havoc through Ye Li's meridians and internal organs, constantly counteracting and eroding Qin Yixuan's divine power, even devouring Ye Li's own vitality. Progress was extremely slow, and Ye Li's aura continued to weaken uncontrollably.

"Lin Feng and the others..." Ye Li opened her eyes with difficulty, her vision was blurred, and her voice was hoarse and almost inaudible.

Qin Yixuan paused, a deep sorrow flashing in her eyes. She shook her head, her voice choking with sobs, "They...are trying to buy us time..." She couldn't finish the rest of the sentence, but the meaning was clear. In that situation, facing the furious Corrupted Claw Demon Lord and the ruthless Xuan Cong, the fate of Lin Feng and the others was predictable.

Ye Li closed her eyes, the intense pain not only coming from her body but also from her heart. Lin Feng had been the first companion she had trusted and relied on since her rebirth, a veteran and pillar of Youge, and even more so, a friend... and now, to save her... Endless sorrow and a rage as blazing as magma mingled within her, threatening to consume her sanity. But she knew now was not the time to wallow in grief.

At this moment, several powerful demonic consciousnesses came from the distant sky, sweeping across the area roughly like invisible searchlights. It was obvious that the pursuers sent by the Corrupted Claw Demon Lord had followed the traces of space fluctuations and were searching here.

"They won't give up." Qin Yixuan suppressed the sadness in her heart and whispered solemnly. At the same time, she tried even harder to mobilize her divine power, trying to at least allow Ye Li to regain some mobility before the pursuers found them.

However, Xuan Cong's power was too formidable, and Ye Li's injuries were too severe, so it was impossible to see any effect in a short period of time. Despair began to spread like a cold tide.

Just when the two were about to give up hope and prepare to fight to the death, an extremely subtle knocking sound with a special rhythm was heard from the rock wall on one side of the valley - it was the highest level emergency contact code of Youge!

Qin Yixuan immediately tightened her grip on the magic weapon in her hand and protected Ye Li behind her. Ye Li also forced herself to be alert and struggled to probe outward with her spiritual sense.

A moment later, the rock wall rippled like water waves, and a cave entrance that was only wide enough for one person to pass through quietly appeared. A figure shrouded in shadows, whose aura almost perfectly blended with the surrounding demonic environment, flashed in like a ghost, and then the cave entrance quickly closed, and the rock wall returned to its original state.

The man quickly removed his hood, revealing a youthful face with a composure and determination that belied his age. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. It was none other than Sun Xiaohou! After not seeing him for a few years, he looked even more capable, his cultivation reaching the pinnacle of the Spiritual Residence Realm, just one step away from achieving the Yuandan stage. He exuded a fierce aura and composure honed in blood and fire.

"Pavilion Master! Your Excellency Xuannv!" Sun Xiaohou's eyes instantly filled with immense grief and anger upon seeing Ye Li gravely wounded and near death. However, he forced himself to control himself, lowering his voice and quickly reporting, "I, your subordinates, have been following the final orders from Chief Deacon Lin Feng to take turns guarding multiple designated rendezvous points in this area. Finally, we've arrived! Most of the Youge strongholds within the Demon City have been exposed in this operation, resulting in...exorbitant losses. However, the core intelligence network and several top-secret evacuation routes pre-arranged by Chief Deacon Lin have already been activated. Please follow me immediately. We have an absolutely safe location where we can temporarily avoid pursuit!"

It turned out that when Lin Feng decided to sacrifice himself to cover the retreat, he had already passed the final rendezvous mission and several backup, absolutely safe, secret locations to Sun Xiaohou, who had been ordered to lurk outside the Demon City and provide support, through Youge's highest-level, one-way, and extremely secret soul branding communication method. This was the last chance for Ye Li to survive, paved by Lin Feng's life.

A desperate escape! Ye Li and Qin Yixuan were overwhelmed with mixed emotions, a mixture of grief for the sacrifices of Lin Feng and the others, and a surge of gratitude for this hard-earned chance of survival. Led by Sun Xiaohou, the two utilized the intricate underground passages excavated by Youge, which were intricately entombed with multiple concealment formations, as well as camouflage props Sun Xiaohou had prepared that perfectly simulated the aura of low-level demons. After several twists and turns, they carefully avoided several waves of aerial and ground search teams and finally arrived at an ancient, long-abandoned mine located hundreds of meters underground, nearly a thousand miles outside the Rotten Claw Demon City.

This place had been secretly transformed by the Youge into a relatively complete secret base, complete with independent air circulation, water supply, multiple defenses, and early warning formations. Inside, dozens of Youge's core members were already anxiously waiting. Most of them were experts in intelligence analysis, medical treatment, formation maintenance, and resource management. While their individual cultivation wasn't top-tier, each one held a resolute gaze, expressing absolute loyalty to Ye Li and the Youge. Upon seeing the Pavilion Master return gravely injured, their eyes reddened as they sprang into action, their best healing elixirs, and experts skilled in stabilizing formations and treating internal injuries, all ready in place.

For the next seven days and nights, the atmosphere within the base was tense and oppressive. Qin Yixuan, regardless of her own personal loss, continued to channel the Mysterious Lady's divine power to expel the Supreme Power from Ye Li. The physicians and alchemists of the Nether Pavilion concocted a variety of precious spiritual fluids and elixirs, treating both internally and externally. The formation masters continuously reinforced the base's defenses, disrupting outside investigations. Ye Li, relying on her unwavering willpower and the protection of the shards of the Samsara Mirror, fought a desperate battle against the destructive energy within her body.

Finally, after everyone's tireless efforts, at dawn on the seventh day, the stubborn gray Supreme Power was gradually forced out and purified. As the last wisp of gray energy dissipated from Ye Li's fingertips and vanished into nothingness, she suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood and collapsed as if exhausted. However, her breathing had finally stabilized. Although she was still weak and her injuries were far from healed, she was at least safe and had regained some basic mobility.

After this battle, Youge's power in the Demon Realm suffered its heaviest blow since its founding, losing numerous loyal core members, including Lin Feng, and its strength was drastically reduced. However, its efficient execution, rigorous organization, fearless loyalty, and ability to adapt in critical moments, despite the desperate situation, deeply impressed Qin Yixuan. She realized that the force Ye Li had single-handedly founded had already, unnoticed, grown into a dark force with an iron will, capable of taking root and playing a key role in a dangerous place like the Demon Realm.

After regaining consciousness, Ye Li caressed the jade slip left by Lin Feng, which contained the final summary of Youge's intelligence in the Demon Realm and its future development plan. Her eyes were filled with unwavering sorrow and a murderous intent that was almost tangible. "Xuan Cong... the Corrupted Claw Demon Lord... the 'Heaven-Stealing Plan'... I, Ye Li, have memorized this blood debt! I will make you pay... a hundredfold!"

She looked at Sun Xiaohou and the other Youge members standing by, their eyes also burning with the flames of revenge. Her voice was hoarse but filled with unquestionable determination: "From today on, Sun Xiaohou will temporarily assume the position of Chief Deacon of Demon Realm Affairs. Consolidate all remaining forces, transition to a deeper, more dispersed state of dormancy, and activate the 'Hibernation' plan. Our core objectives remain unchanged: continue to investigate all connections between the 'Heaven Stealing Plan' and the Silent Soul Abyss at all costs. At the same time, gather all intelligence on Xuan Cong and the Corrupted Claw Demon Lord, awaiting the opportunity to strike back!"

"Yes, Master! We will do our utmost, even at the cost of our lives!" Sun Xiaohou led all the members of the Youge within the base, kneeling on one knee. His voice, deep but like an oath, echoed through the deep mines. Beyond the flames of revenge, their eyes shone with a resolute determination to carry on the legacy and rebuild Youge.