Chapter 424 - 236: Suppression

The blackness on Kang Tai’s skin gradually receded under the illumination of the golden light, revealing his original flesh tone. The eerie and powerful aura surrounding him also began to weaken.

Lan Liu, having just taken an attack from Lin Tianhao, was already gravely injured. The intense pain contorted her face in agony, making it impossible for her to even stand.

Though Lan Liu’s arm wasn’t directly severed, the flesh had burst open, leaving it drenched in blood.

The pungent stench of blood surged into Kang Tai’s nose, and a sudden wave of clarity returned to his mind amidst the excruciating pain.

...

When Lan Liu locked eyes with him, she suddenly felt her heartbeat slow by half a beat. An unspeakable terror engulfed her like a flood; it was as though death itself was staring into her soul. A chill crept up from the soles of her feet, reaching the crown of her head.

Words of confrontation stuck in Lan Liu’s throat, unable to be spoken. In that moment, she noticed the pain in her arm seemed to have lessened somewhat; she immediately sprang up, intending to flee. However, Kang Tai was faster. With a swift blow of his large hand to her leg, he sent her crashing back to the ground.

Kang Tai grabbed Lan Liu’s hair, his face twisted into a horrifying grin.

"Brother Kang, no, no!"

Lan Liu’s heart was in frantic panic, pleading desperately.

But Kang Tai’s gaze remained unchanged. His mouth unhinged as he lunged toward her throat to bite.

"Help me!"

Lan Liu’s heart sank to despair, her eyes desperately looking toward Lin Tianhao and Gu Sheng in the distance.

Yet Lin Tianhao, severely injured, was drained of all his strength from his last attack. He couldn’t even stand, let alone rescue her.

As for Gu Sheng, his eyes remained tightly shut. He was chanting the "Heart Sutra" ceaselessly, and as he did so, the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell’s mark on his forehead grew more distinct, with its golden light growing increasingly intense.

Black smoke rolled off Kang Tai’s body, his skin visibly returning to normal at a startling speed.

As blood entered his mouth, however, the fading of the blackness across Kang Tai’s skin began to slow significantly.

"Crack!"

"Huff!"

The blackness on Kang Tai’s skin suddenly began surging back with renewed vigor. The speed at which the golden light dissolved decreased drastically, and the pain in Kang Tai’s mind lessened by a significant margin. His gaze gradually regained clarity.

Kang Tai cast a venomous look at Gu Sheng, whose eyes were still shut, enveloping him in a murderous aura.

"Today, all of you must die!"

Kang Tai let loose a furious roar and channeled all of his strength toward breaking the seal of Demonic Qi that Zhao Honglie had left on his Dantian.

The seal Zhao Honglie had placed was designed to restrain the Demonic Qi within his body, preventing detectable abnormalities under normal conditions. However, for combat purposes, it could easily be shattered by Kang Tai himself with just a light push of force.

The seal fractured, and an overwhelming surge of Demonic Qi erupted instantly.

Demonic Qi enfolded Kang Tai, his body undergoing another transformation as two fleshy lumps emerged from his back.

"Bang!"

The lumps burst apart, revealing a pair of bone wings. Kang Tai’s body swelled several sizes, his aura becoming far more terrifying than before.

The Demonic Qi clashed fiercely against the golden light, accelerating its dissolution. However, Kang Tai no longer felt the searing pain from before, regaining full control over his body.

"Die!"

Kang Tai launched forward, a dagger in his hand slashing down toward Gu Sheng.

The black blade gleamed ominously—its power capable of overwhelming both the Gale Nine Swords and the Yellow Dragon Breaking Formation Spear. If Gu Sheng were struck, he would undoubtedly be cleaved apart.

Though Lin Tianhao wished desperately to assist, his exhaustion rendered him immobile. He could only shout anxiously, "Junior Brother Gu, dodge quickly!"

Sadly, Gu Sheng was in an extraordinary state. While his mind remained conscious, he could only see the "Heart Sutra" before him and had entirely lost control over his body, remaining oblivious to external dangers.

"Boom!"

Just as the black blade was about to split Gu Sheng in two, an intense surge of golden light condensed into the ethereal shadow of the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell around Gu Sheng’s body. The clash against the blade produced crisp chimes.

"Buzz!"

The ghostly image of the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell emitted a muffled resonance as runes swirled across its surface. A more potent golden light erupted, striking Kang Tai and sending him flying backward.

Kang Tai hit the ground, the Demonic Qi enveloping him igniting like a blazing inferno. It churned violently, diminishing rapidly.

"How... How can you wield the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell!?"

After awakening his demonic powers, Kang Tai had once inquired Zhao Honglie about the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell.

Zhao Honglie had explained that the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell was of extraordinary rank, impossible to activate unless surpassing the Marrow Refining Realm.

Yet the shadow of the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell surrounding Gu Sheng, along with its dazzling golden light, clearly demonstrated that Gu Sheng had managed to activate the bell!

Though bewildered, the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell’s overwhelming restraint toward Demonic Qi evoked deep fear within Kang Tai. He dared not linger any longer and immediately attempted to flee.

The shadow of the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell covering Gu Sheng sprang out, precisely encasing Kang Tai within its confines.

Though merely a shadow, the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell was incredibly solid. No matter how Kang Tai struck or pounded against it, he could not make it budge even the slightest.

Inside the bell’s shadow, a brilliant golden flame suddenly erupted.

The searing blaze caused Kang Tai to unleash blood-curdling screams. The powerful, sinister Demonic Qi on his body ignited like dry wood, burning uncontrollably.

After a minute, the shadow of the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell dispersed, leaving behind only a puddle of black blood upon the ground. Kang Tai was nowhere to be seen.

The "Heart Sutra" in Gu Sheng’s mind vanished abruptly. Overwhelmed by extreme pain, Gu Sheng’s head throbbed violently. Without even opening his eyes, he passed out completely.