All those sonic waves struck the void, detonating one after another like towering waves crashing against the shore, and the already-distorted sky erupted with a heaven-shaking boom.
Several long white streaks instantly appeared across the demonic patch out of thin air. Then, as the sonic waves continued to barrel through, another crisp sound rang out — like glass shattering.
Those white streaks split into countless white threads that spread rapidly in every direction, and then the entire sky cracked completely apart.
Pitch-black demonic qi surged down like floodwaters bursting through a colossal dam, pouring from the sky in a torrent and forming a vast, ink-dark demonic sea in the blink of an eye, spreading outward in all directions at inconceivable speed.
Dense clusters of enormous demon bats rushed down amid the torrent, each letting out sharp shrieks.
Crimson light churned across their bodies, and from a distance, it looked as though countless blood-red flames had appeared within the demonic sea, shooting outward in every direction.
Even more alarming, from deep within the demonic patch — which had now transformed into a colossal black vortex — faint but horrifying roars could be heard, and it seemed that even more demonic beasts were about to swarm into the Spirit Realm.
"They've broken through — the demon race has confirmed its invasion of the Spirit Realm. Our mission is complete, begin the teleportation at once!" The golden-armored giant in the distance finally snapped back to awareness from the shattering of the demonic patch and shouted in panic to the old man.
His voice had dropped to its lowest possible volume.
"Teleport immediately — return at once!" The short, wizened old man was equally horrified, but he issued the command without a moment's hesitation. His hands immediately began forming seals, firing one incantation after another into a small formation array beneath his feet.
The several black-armored guards behind him also hurried forward, flickering to the old man's side and casting spells to assist.
A low hum instantly emanated from beneath the golden flying vessel, and hundreds of runes materialized below, spinning around before coalescing into a milky-white light formation.
The other flying vessel had already activated even earlier.
The entire vessel was beginning to emit a blinding golden radiance amid the flickering light formation, looking as though it could teleport away at any moment.
The golden-armored giant standing on the golden vessel let out a long breath at the sight, and the tension in his expression finally eased.
But just then, a shrill voice suddenly rang out from the sky above the forest where they were hidden: "It seems my luck is rather good. I've barely entered the Spirit Realm, and I've already found two Void Refining cultivators. A fine warm-up for this Lord!"
The moment they heard this voice, both the giant and the old man were startled, and they simultaneously looked toward the source. High in the sky, no more than thirty-odd zhang above the two golden vessels, a figure had appeared at some unknown point — an exceptionally ugly youth, dark and gaunt, with a pair of bat wings sprouting from his back.
The youth's features were hideous, his eyes a deep jade green. The pair of bat wings on his back were actually thirty percent larger than his own body, making him bear a striking resemblance to those crimson demon bats — but the aura radiating from him was thousands of times more powerful.
"No — it's a high-ranking demon!"
Both Heavenly Guards — the giant and the old man — instantly recognized the ugly youth's identity and were struck pale with shock.
Moments ago, they had been focused entirely on the dramatic changes at the demonic patch, yet the youth had somehow slipped to a position directly above them without either of them sensing a thing.
But they were Void Refining existences after all, and almost simultaneously with their shock, they struck without hesitation.
One slapped his own forehead, and over a dozen small silver swords shot out, trembling as they transformed into a dozen silver arcs of light and slashed wildly toward the youth.
The other raised a single hand, and a five-colored ring roared into the air. With a flash, it split into countless ring-shaped projections of five colors, shielding both golden vessels at once.
With their first exchange, one attacked while the other defended — their coordination was flawless, clearly born of having fought side by side more than once.
For them, the thought of actually defeating a high-ranking demon was never on the table; they only needed to stall the enemy's assault for even a moment.
But the bat-winged youth high above simply bared his teeth in a sinister grin, revealing rows of small, needle-sharp fangs. Facing the dozen-plus dazzling silver arcs of light, he didn't dodge or evade — he simply opened his mouth.
A golden wave of sound sprayed forth and, upon scattering, swept every single sword-light into its current.
A startling sight appeared!
The dozen-plus sword-lights let out a mournful wail, their silver glow flickering and dimming as they reverted to their original form as small swords. Then, tumbling and spinning within the rolling sound waves, they fell from the sky one after another.
The golden-armored giant's face drained of color in an instant.
He had just lost his spiritual connection to these dozen-plus swords — weapons he had painstakingly cultivated for thousands of years. But before he could even begin to cast a spell to reassert control over his natal flying swords, the ugly youth above flapped the bat wings on his back.
A thunderous roar of wind and lightning erupted!
The youth's figure blurred slightly and then vanished from his spot in eerie fashion. The next instant, he reappeared in a flash directly above the two golden vessels, close enough to touch, and without hesitation threw two punches at the sky full of ring-shaped projections.
"Boom!" "Boom!" — two dull impacts. The fists, glowing faintly with crimson light, smashed through the dense web of ring projections and scattered them to nothing.