Chapter 772 - 767: Demon Throat
The method Salacia used involves cultivating gigantic Tree-men by utilizing the life cycle of the Five Elements.
This is similar to how Bai Pu previously used the principle of "Wood Generates Fire" to cast low-level magic, Fire Bomb, at the Bone Dao’s exit in the Corruption Forest, igniting plants to cause a large fire and driving away the One-eyed Mushroom Demons.
Both use relatively low power to leverage stronger and greater destructive forces.
However, doing so exceeds the power control limits of the Awakened, making it hard to be used effectively in combat.
Bai Pu ignited a large fire but couldn’t control the flames with his power.
Salacia was the same; the Tree-men she cultivated would become incredibly powerful, but also very unstable and would slip out of her control.
In fact, isn’t Leia doing the same? She used bombs to destroy the Miasma Spring’s geomancy, causing destruction far beyond her level, but the collapse direction and pattern of the geomancy would not be controlled by Leia.
However, Leia could calculate the geomancy and "predict" the general direction of its collapse, using her wisdom to compensate for her lack of control.
Bai Pu’s team, without Leia’s group invisibility, almost brazenly advanced upriver towards the Miasma Spring’s source.
This was precisely Rein’s goal. Creating such a big commotion would lure the Guardian Demon General Mo Hou of the Miasma Spring to attack. When that happens, they could lead Mo Hou away, and Leia could calmly set up at the Miasma Spring five kilometers away.
Of course, dealing with Mo Hou required careful consideration.
Even if they could kill it, they shouldn’t do so lightly.
Because Mo Hou is the Guardian Demon General of the Miasma Spring; its death might cause unpredictable chain reactions. Given Emperor Qing’s powerful control over the Corruption Forest, stronger demons would soon arrive.
And Leia needed a massive amount of time to calculate the geomancy!
Rein explained these important points to Bai Pu one by one.
On the contrary, Salacia, with her rich experience, was already well aware of this.
Unexpectedly, on the way to the Miasma Spring, they didn’t encounter any sign of demons.
Not even a single wandering demon appeared!
"We’re almost at the Miasma Spring’s source."
Everyone was wrapped in faint energy protection to resist the invasion of miasma. Bai Pu said in a deep voice, "Logically, we should have run into a patrol team of demons, but until now, nothing. Rein, what do you think?"
"When something abnormal happens, there must be something strange." Rein frowned, "I’m afraid that Demon General Mo Hou plans to gather forces to ambush us..."
Before Rein could finish, they suddenly saw a large number of withered leaves floating in the dark river ahead, carried by the miasma.
The turbid miasma above the spring turned blood-red in an instant!
This blood-red fog, seemingly alive, coiled and intertwined, sweeping up numerous withered leaves, coalescing into a tall demon entirely composed of dark red leaves.
A buzzing noise emanated from its mouth:
"Humans! Your flesh will nourish the soil of the Corruption Forest!"
In the miasma, hordes of demons charged out under the lead of the Red Leaf Demon!
There were swarms of demon beasts with spore infestations, Flower Demons, Tree Demons...
Leading them, the Red Leaf Demon extended its arms, and a blood-red circle of light, mingled with shadows of withered leaves, expanded over the entire battlefield.
[The Red Miasma Domain of Demon General Mo Hou affects you, causing a continuous 125 points/sec of poison attribute damage. Within the range of the Red Miasma Domain, your physical ability consumption rate is doubled.]
"This is Mo Hou! He really gathered an army, great!"
Rein excitedly transmitted his voice: "Let’s fight and retreat, leading Mo Hou and its demon legion away to facilitate Leia’s infiltration into the Miasma Spring’s source!"
Saying so, Rein swung his warhammer, immediately smashing a charging Wolf Demon to death.
He convincingly acted startled: "Go quickly! I’ll cover the rear!"
This utilized the fact that Demon General Mo Hou understood human language, feigning defeat and retreat.
Of course, Bai Pu and the others turned and ran.
Rein transmitted his voice: "We need to provoke Mo Hou; otherwise, it might not pursue us!"
"No worries," Bai Pu said steadily, then moved his fingers, rapidly surging the magic power within him.
A few seconds later, a flaming meteor descended from the sky!
This meteor, purely condensed from energy, fell amidst the forest surrounding the Miasma Spring, igniting a raging inferno.
This was high-level Flame Magic—the Meteor Technique!
The Meteor Technique’s flaming meteor was relatively small, purely formed from the mage’s magic power. Meanwhile, the Meteor Technique served as the precursor to the Forbidden Curse "Doomsday Meteor," which could harness the might of the heaven and earth, pulling a huge meteor from beyond the sky (Star Realm).
Setting a fire in the Corruption Forest was an excessive provocation to Demon General Mo Hou, more so than dancing on graves. It roared in fury, shooting several Withered Leaf Spears at Bai Pu.
Rein, who was covering the rear, swung his hammer, sending waves of Fighting Qi, shattering the Withered Leaf Spears.
However, his face turned pale, and he took several steps back.
"This Demon General has some skills; the skill damage is high!"
Rein swiftly caught up, transmitting to the others.
This was to be expected. The difficulty of the Heart Demon: Black Heaven Descent dimension skyrocketed, and the basic attributes of native powerhouses and demons significantly increased, each becoming "Numerical Monsters," making it hard for the Awakened to deflect their actions.
However, the Awakened aren’t without combat power. Experts like Rein, who grasped the True Intent Prototype, were like half "Mechanism Monsters," often endowed with unexpected Mystical Arts skills.
As they escaped, Bai Pu continuously fired off Fire Bombs and other low-level magic to torch the forest.
The Demon General Mo Hou grew increasingly furious, relentlessly pursuing with its demon subordinates.
This was the demons’ home ground. Here, a kind of "Twisted Tree Demon" could even distort space, leveraging the connections between corrupted trees to teleport short distances, forcibly blocking the group’s path!
Such Twisted Tree Demons were naturally not adversaries for the Awakened Powerhouses, but they could buy time for Mo Hou’s demon forces to complete their encirclement of the group!
Fortunately, Rein was incredibly powerful. When cornered, he immediately activated the Furnace Domain to trap Mo Hou, while Bai Pu raised his Tower Shield, breaking through with the assistance of Muro and Salacia, and Rein covered the rear!
Salacia possessed the acceleration ability "Forest’s Breath," repeatedly breaking through the encirclement.
And so, they fought and retreated farther and farther.
"Have we reached five kilometers by now?" Bai Pu transmitted his voice.
"Yes, almost. No need to run further; we’ll hold off Mo Hou right here! If we can capture it alive, that would be best, but try not to kill it..." Rein said.
"Something’s up!"
Suddenly, Salacia raised her hand: "I sensed a strong Awakened of the Silver Wind Clan heading towards the Miasma Spring from the southwest direction..."
Bai Pu and the other three looked at Salacia in amazement.