"What is that thing?" Shen Haoran frowned, staring at the black monster. ’What in the world is it, to make Elder Yan and Changmao lose their composure like this!’

But after Shen Haoran asked, both Elder Yan and Changmao fell silent. They didn’t speak for a long time. After a good while, Elder Yan’s grave voice finally sounded out, "He is this world’s nightmare. It’s not something I can explain to you in just a few words. Right now, you must destroy him completely, at any cost!"

’This world’s nightmare?’ Shen Haoran looked at the black monster. He suddenly recalled the Illusion Realm that had appeared in his mind when he subdued the Chaos Celestial Ladder. ’The thing that massacred all the disciples of that Sect... wasn’t it exactly this kind of creature?’

The thought of the man in the Golden Armor Battle Robe and the corpses that littered the mountainside filled Shen Haoran’s heart with grief and fury. He glared at the black monster, killing intent surging in his eyes!

At that moment, high in the air, the black-robed man seemed ecstatic upon seeing the monster. He slowly descended before it, his trembling hand caressing the Bone Spikes on its body.

"I’ve succeeded! I’ve finally succeeded! HAHA! Once I have this body, we’ll see who in this world can possibly stand against me!" the black-robed man laughed maniacally. He then grabbed the black iron chains, and a thick, chilling black qi billowed out, corroding the runes on the links.

Under the erosion of the river of time, the Sealing Power within the great Sealing Array seemed to have already been exhausted. Now, under the corrosion of the black qi, the runes on the black iron chains began to slowly fade away.

A moment later, the black iron chains, along with the Sealing Array around the four Stone Pillars, were completely corroded by the black-robed man’s black qi. Immediately after, the black-robed man transformed into a streak of light and shot into the black monster’s body.

After the black-robed man merged into the monster’s body, the great hall suddenly fell silent. The entire space became incredibly oppressive. Witnessing this bizarre scene, everyone couldn’t help but feel a chill rise in their hearts.

"We should get out of here, quickly! That black monster looks terrifying!" a female disciple said, trembling.

"Yeah, I agree. There’s something demonic about that thing. Let’s go!" another disciple chimed in. The thought of retreating had sprouted in everyone’s mind.

"Brother Shen, should we..." Shui Ruolan asked softly, looking at the motionless black monster.

"We’re leaving too. I have a really bad feeling about this," Shen Haoran said in a low voice. Although he was filled with killing intent for the black monster, Shen Haoran was keenly aware of the difference in their strength. The creature exuded an intense, oppressive aura. It possessed a level of power far beyond what he could currently handle.

"Alright!" Hearing this, the members of the Yao Sect all nodded and began to move cautiously toward the side doors of the great hall.

CLANG... CLANG...

Just then, the iron chains binding the black monster erupted with a deafening noise. Immediately after, a terrifying black qi exploded out from the monster, spreading outwards like lightning!

"Run!" Feeling that chilling black qi, someone roared, and the disciples scrambled madly for the exits.

WHOOSH... WHOOSH...

However, before the disciples could rush out, a layer of black qi bizarrely rose up, sealing off all the side doors. One disciple couldn’t stop in time and slammed right into it!

"AHH!"

A bloodcurdling scream rang out. The disciple who had crashed into the black qi was instantly obliterated, vanishing before everyone’s eyes without a trace.

Seeing this grotesque scene, everyone stared in terror at the black curtain, not daring to take another step forward.

RATTLE... RATTLE... 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Just then, the rattling of chains from behind them grew louder and more frequent. Everyone turned to look, and what they saw was a scene that would be seared into their memories forever.

The black monster, still suspended in mid-air, had Bone Spikes squirming and sprouting from all its joints. They grew longer and longer, like sharp knives. Its spine bent into an impossible arc, and its entire body was constantly expanding!

"ROAR!"

Suddenly, an earth-shattering roar erupted. A tangible sound wave spread out like lightning, making everyone’s head ring.

CRACK... CRACK...

The next moment, the black monster moved. The thick iron chains, now devoid of their Sealing Power, were torn apart with ease. Its body landed on the ground, the immense force shattering the stone tiles beneath its feet!

SWOOSH...

The instant it landed, the black monster vanished. Everyone’s pupils contracted. Then, a spray of warm blood flew through the air. By the time they came to their senses, a disciple had already been dismembered by the monster’s protruding Bone Spikes.

’So... so fast!’ Shen Haoran’s face was grave as he watched the black monster. He was shocked. ’Even my Nine Heavens Shocking Cloud Step can’t match that speed!’

The black monster extended its scarlet tongue, licking the blood from its Bone Spikes. A hint of human-like cruelty and excitement touched the corners of its mouth. The next moment, it vanished again.

"Quick, run!" Seeing the monster disappear, the disciples began to panic. But with its phantom-like speed, no one could track its movements or escape its attacks. In just an instant, several more disciples died at the black monster’s hands.

The scarlet blood seemed to excite the black monster, making it even more frenzied.

"ROAR!" The black monster roared, and a violent suction force erupted from its body. The surrounding disciples’ bodies flew toward it uncontrollably, instantly impaled on the Bone Spikes covering its body. Their blood was then siphoned through the spikes and into the monster’s torso.

’Damn it!’

The Vermilion Bird Wings reappeared on Shen Haoran’s back. He flapped them desperately to resist the violent suction, holding Shui Ruolan in one hand and Xuan Yi in the other. Meanwhile, Long Mo and Zi Mo shielded Long Zhen between them. However, Shen Haoran couldn’t save the other members of the Yao Sect; he could only watch helplessly as they were pulled toward the black monster and impaled on its Bone Spikes.

Shen Haoran and his friends watched the other Yao Sect members die so horribly, their hearts filled with grief. But they felt utterly powerless. They could barely protect themselves, let alone think of revenge.

Shen Haoran took a long look at the doorway blocked by black qi. With a resolute heart, he flapped his Vermilion Bird Wings, enveloped his entire body in Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, and charged straight at the black curtain.

BANG...

With a muffled thud, Shen Haoran slammed heavily into the curtain of black qi. The black qi splashed out in the next moment, but the curtain only trembled; it did not dissipate. Seeing this, Shen Haoran’s brow furrowed. He shot backward, intending to charge again.

However, just as Shen Haoran was about to charge, a massive force suddenly grabbed his ankle and yanked him brutally out of the air. In mid-air, he had no time to react, only managing to toss Shui Ruolan and Xuan Yi to Long Mo and the others before he was slammed violently onto the ground.

BOOM!

With a massive explosion, stone fragments flew and dust billowed. Shen Haoran’s body was slammed so hard he was embedded in the stone floor of the great hall...