The Shadow Demon lineage's physical bodies, while not the most formidable among the ten branches of the demon race, nonetheless benefited from the demon race's innate foundation. Their physical toughness was far superior to that of ordinary races.
Yet under that single claw strike, they were as fragile as paper — shredded to pieces with effortless ease.
"Ci Yun!"
The other four immediately turned ashen, screaming hoarsely, their eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. For all the demon race's ruthlessness, they placed tremendous importance on the bonds between fellow cultivators of the same lineage.
Watching their comrade fall, the four were overcome with gut-wrenching grief. Eyes blazing crimson, they formed an instant unspoken understanding — moving as one — and launched themselves toward the massive claw.
Their intent was unmistakable: they were out for revenge.
The owner of that devastating claw was none other than Long Xiaoxuan. Having broken through to the Divine Path — aided further by the Great Luo Cloud Essence Fruit — his cultivation had advanced at a breathtaking pace, bringing new insights with every passing day.
His combat prowess had skyrocketed to the point where he could rival the Vermilion Bird herself.
In terms of sheer offensive power, even the Black Tortoise — famous for untold ages — would likely feel a twinge of envy. Had these Shadow Demon cultivators been at the Divine Path level, things would have been manageable.
But they had not yet entered the Divine Path. They were all half-divine cultivators.
Though their half-divine cultivation rivaled that of true Divine Path cultivators, they were unfortunate enough to encounter True Spirits with far more powerful bloodlines.
True Spirits at the half-divine level could likewise match human cultivators at the Divine Path. In this regard, the True Spirits' advantage over the demon race was just as pronounced.
Thus, True Spirits held a tier above the demon race — possessing an equally overwhelming advantage. The very edge the demon race enjoyed over humans was rendered completely useless.
When Long Xiaoxuan saw the four half-divine demon cultivators swarming him, he showed not the slightest fear. Instead, he fully manifested his dharma body — riding among clouds and mist, his scales brilliant and gleaming.
His dharma body whirled through the void at blinding speed.
As Long Xiaoxuan circled at dizzying velocity, shadow after shadow cascaded forth, constricting the void itself.
Seeing this, the Vermilion Bird let out a sly chuckle and called out in the ancient Beast Language: "Brother Long, save some for us!"
Long Xiaoxuan paid no heed. Once the True Dragon Domain was unleashed, he never held back. The fearsome True Dragon Domain continued to constrict the surrounding space.
The four Shadow Demon cultivators were fast as well, frantically dodging through the gaps in the True Dragon Domain, trying to reach Long Xiaoxuan's true body.
But while their speed was no match for Long Xiaoxuan's, their realm of cultivation fell far short — especially under the constraint of the True Dragon Domain. How could they hope to so much as scratch him?
At that moment, the Black Tortoise could not bear to be left out either. It surged in from a sharp diagonal, releasing wisps of eerie smoke that billowed upward.
The smoke rose like frigid air seeping from the depths of hell — enough to freeze one to the bone.
It was none other than the Black Tortoise's ultimate offensive technique: Corpse Accumulation Qi.
Dealing with Long Xiaoxuan alone was already pushing the four Shadow Demon cultivators to their limits. Adding the Black Tortoise into the fray only made things catastrophically worse.
Feeling the cold dread pressing against their backs like needles, the four Shadow Demons were seized by an inexplicable chill that swept through their entire bodies — under the open sky, in broad daylight.
Just then, a torrent of Primordial Pearl Celestial Fire from the Vermilion Bird came roaring in, engulfing one of the Shadow Demon cultivators entirely.
Such was the might of the Primordial Pearl Celestial Fire. The moment that cultivator was caught in its flames, he let out a blood-curdling shriek as his entire body ignited. No matter how he thrashed, the fire only burned fiercer.