His fingertips traced the ancient patterns on the treasure box, the Soul Devouring Venerable muttering incantations under his breath, black demonic energy coiling around the box like a living thing, clashing fiercely with the golden light emanating from its surface.
With a sizzle, the pages of the canon flipped open on their own, lines of golden ancient script flying out from the book, condensing in the air into a massive rune that radiated a heart-stilling sacred pressure.
“Break!”
The Soul Devouring Venerable roared sharply, slamming the sacrificial canon against the boulder with his right hand.
The golden rune collided instantly with the demon-suppressing runes on the boulder, and in the moment their powers intertwined, the entire divine capital trembled violently, the ground splitting into deep fissures, debris falling like raindrops.
The demon-suppressing runes on the boulder began to twist and shatter, the golden light being devoured bit by bit by the black demonic energy.
Moments later, with a thunderous boom, the boulder exploded apart, revealing the bottomless Nine Nether Abyss below.
A bone-chilling cold surged up from the abyss depths, accompanied by eerie howls that raised the hairs on one’s neck, the demon souls suppressed for ten thousand years stirring in agitation.
The Soul Devouring Venerable peered down into the abyss, where a massive golden light barrier floated in the centre of the Nine Nether Abyss, covered in primordial runes, countless black shadows madly battering against it from within, each impact causing the barrier to shudder violently, the golden light dimming slightly with every strike.
“That’s the seal!”
The elder on the right of the Unrivalled Duo shouted excitedly, “The divine kingdom’s ancestors exhausted their lifeblood to lay down this seal, as long as we break it, the hundred thousand demon souls can all emerge!”
The Soul Devouring Venerable sneered coldly, raising the sacrificial canon once more.
This time, he no longer suppressed its power, the golden light erupting like a blazing sun, illuminating the entire Nine Nether Abyss.
Ancient characters from the canon flew out one after another, shooting towards the golden light barrier like golden swords.
With each character striking the barrier, the primordial runes upon it dimmed by a fraction, cracks spreading in their wake.
“By the name of I, the Soul Devouring Venerable, borrowing the power of the sacrificial canon, unbind the seal, release the demon souls!”
The Soul Devouring Venerable’s voice echoed through the Nine Nether Abyss, carrying an irresistible majesty.
As the final character landed on the barrier, a crisp cracking sound rang out, the golden light barrier instantly covered in fractures, then shattering with a resounding crash.
An even denser cold and demonic energy erupted from the abyss depths, countless black demon souls surging forth like a tidal wave, howling as they rushed towards the sky.
“One thousand, two thousand, fifty thousand…” The elder on the left of the Unrivalled Duo counted the demon souls, his voice growing ever more agitated, “Venerable Lord! Already fifty thousand demon souls have emerged! And more are coming out!”
The first demon souls to burst forth were enormous in size, covered in bony spikes, their eyes like blood-red lanterns, fangs protruding from their maws, exuding a suffocating killing intent.
Upon landing, they dropped to one knee before the Soul Devouring Venerable, their voices hoarse yet reverent: “We pay respects to the Venerable Lord!”
The Soul Devouring Venerable nodded in satisfaction, his eyes brimming with smug triumph: “Rise! From this day forth, you are under my command, follow me to trample the Sixfold Heaven, make all cultivators submit at my feet!”
“As you command!” The demon souls roared in unison, their voices shaking the Nine Nether Abyss to its core.
Then, more demon souls poured out from the depths.
Some wielded bone staves, capable of unleashing eerie curses; others were lithe and agile, flitting about like phantoms; still others were diminutive in form, yet able to infiltrate cultivators silently, devouring their souls from within.
The black demon souls surged forth endlessly, soon filling the skies above the entire Nine Nether Abyss, then spreading towards every corner of the divine capital.
When the hundred thousandth demon soul flew out from the depths, the entire divine capital was utterly shrouded in blackness.
This demon soul differed from the others, its body emanating golden demonic energy, eyes deep black, form resembling a human yet bearing a pair of enormous black wings.
