Chapter 113: First Arrival at the Demon Plane, Divine Artifact · gate of hell
Once the decision was made, action was swiftly taken. Counterattacking the Demon Plane was no joke; it required a meticulous plan and the deployment of all elites.
After urgent consultations, a plan was finalized: this expedition aimed to use the mobility and strike capabilities of high-level combatants to strike the top-tier powers of the Demon Plane with thunderous momentum, rather than a full-scale occupation. Therefore, quality was prioritized over quantity for the participants.
The final selection consisted of elites with cultivation at the Soul Saint Rank or above, totaling over three hundred people. These included:
Top-tier combatants: Yu Yuanchen, Qian Chongxiao (wielding the Angelic Sacred Sword), Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, Yu Boxuan (Rank 97 Peak), Sect Master (Rank 97), Gold Crocodile Douluo (Rank 97 Peak).
Core experts: Green Peak Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Feng Zaiyun of the Wind Sword Sect, Sect Master of the White Tiger Sect, Shi Feng of the Black Tortoise Sect, the Sect Master of the Fire Leopard Sect, and other Titled Douluo from various sects, as well as the Soul Douluo and Soul Saint elites from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Clear Sky Sect, and Spirit Hall.
Support forces: Ning Zhiyuan of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, along with Ye Kuan and Ye Zhilan leading several support system Soul Masters of the Soul Saint Rank or above.
This lineup encompassed nearly half of the high-level power in the current human Spirit Master's world of the Douluo Continent! If they were lost in the Demon Plane, the consequences would be unimaginable. Yet, it was precisely because of this that the determination and courage of this operation were made manifest!
Yu Yuanchen looked at the assembled crowd and said in a heavy voice, "Everyone, behind the gate is the unknown Demon Plane, a harsh environment fraught with danger. Remember, we are fighting as a guest army; our goal is to weaken the enemy's top-tier forces and seize strategic initiative, not to bicker over temporary gains or losses. Follow my orders in all actions; do not strike out on your own or advance recklessly for glory!"
"We shall follow the orders of the Young Sect Master (Little Friend Yuanchen)!" Everyone responded in unison, their Battle Intent high yet tinged with solemnity.
"Good! I will lead the way to scout the situation. Wait for my signal, then enter in order!" After Yu Yuanchen finished speaking, he turned toward the gate of hell that was firmly blocked by the purple-gold thunder pillar.
With a thought, the light on the side of the thunder pillar near the Douluo Continent flickered slightly, opening a gap just large enough for one person to pass through. Immediately, the extremely thick smell of sulfur and the chaotic, evil aura from behind the gate rushed toward him.
Yu Yuanchen's eyes narrowed, thunder light swirling around him. He stepped forward, and his figure instantly vanished into the distorted blood-red light.
A brief sensation of spatial transition followed, accompanied by intense dizziness and discomfort. Had Yu Yuanchen not possessed high spatial mastery and a formidable Physical Body, even an ordinary Titled Douluo would likely have felt miserable.
His feet touched the ground, bringing a sense of solid earth. Yu Yuanchen quickly stabilized himself, his vast Spiritual Power spreading out like a tide while he vigilantly observed his surroundings.
The sight that met his eyes was enough to make someone with a weak will suffer a Spiritual breakdown!
The sky was an eternal dark red, with no sun, moon, or stars—only rolling, thick clouds like congealed blood, emitting an oppressive light.
The ground was scorched and cracked, with slow-flowing dark red lava rivers visible everywhere, emitting scorching heat and a pungent sulfur smell that burned the lungs when inhaled. In the distance, the distorted outlines of mountains and burning forests were faintly visible.
The keynote of the entire World was chaos, deathly silence, and destruction.
This was the Demon Plane! The territory ruled by Salvos—the Scorching Purgatory!
Clearly, since the Demon King Salvos was of the fire attribute, his territory was filled with violent fire elements. However, this harsh environment was a great trial for the Soul Masters stepping into it; Soul Power consumption would accelerate, and those with weak wills might even be corrupted by the evil aura.
Not far ahead of Yu Yuanchen, a dense, dark mass of demons had gathered! They were of various forms but were generally restless, roaring toward the gate of hell. Clearly, these were the demon armies that had been blocked behind the gate earlier and failed to enter the Douluo Continent, including many powerful high-level demons. Seeing a human step out of the gate, they were first stunned, then let out frenzied roars and surged forward like a tide!
"Roar—!"
"Human! Kill him!"
Thousands of demons, like hungry wolves seeing fresh meat, spat hellfire and brandished claws and bone blades, pouncing on Yu Yuanchen from all directions!
Yu Yuanchen's expression remained unchanged, a cold light flashing in his eyes. Just as well, he would use them to test how much the Demon Plane's environment suppressed his Domain!
"Heavenly Tribulation Holy Dragon Domain, open!"
Hum!
Centered on Yu Yuanchen, a purple-gold thunder Domain with a diameter of over five hundred meters suddenly expanded! Within the Domain, thunder was like a forest, electric snakes danced wildly, and a destructive aura permeated the air! Compared to the Douluo Continent, Yu Yuanchen could clearly feel an invisible rejection and suppression while manifesting his Domain in this Demon Plane; the Domain's range had shrunk by nearly thirty percent, and its power had also diminished, yet it remained matchlessly formidable!
Rumble—!
Without needing Yu Yuanchen's deliberate control, the violent thunder naturally generated within the Domain acted as if it had a Life of its own, automatically locking onto the intruding demons! Thick purple-gold lightning bolts, like whips of heavenly punishment, lashed down fiercely!
Chiii—!
The demons' miserable howls instantly rang out! Low-level minor demons and dretches were vaporized instantly under the thunder! Mid-level demons like Blade Demons and Hell Demons were also charred on the outside and tender on the inside, their Devilish Qi dissipating as they collapsed and twitched! Even the few high-level demons of Soul Douluo Rank that charged into the Domain found it impossible to move under the continuous bombardment of thunder, soon being split into charcoal by more powerful concentrated lightning strikes!
After a few rounds of flashing lightning, the area within the Domain was cleared! Only scorched remains and wisps of blue smoke were left on the ground.
Yu Yuanchen nodded slightly, having made an initial assessment of the Domain's power. He retracted the Domain, turned toward the gate of hell, and sent out a Soul Power signal.
The crowd that had been waiting outside the gate immediately followed the pre-arranged order and swiftly passed through the portal upon receiving the signal.
When the last person stepped into the Demon Plane, Yu Yuanchen once again manifested "Holy Dragon Prison Tribulation," but this time from the Demon Plane's side, sealing the portal shut! The purple-gold thunder light once again blocked the entrance, cutting off the possibility of demons attacking from behind and ensuring their retreat was temporarily safe.
"This is the Demon Plane?" Tang Chen curiously looked at the dark red sky and flowing lava, sniffing hard and coughing twice from the sulfur smell. "Pah! It smells damn awful!"
Qian Daoliu emitted a faint Holy Light around his body, isolating the evil aura trying to corrode him, his brow furrowed. "A place of evil should be burned clean with holy fire."
Holding the Angelic Sacred Sword, Qian Chongxiao solemnly sensed his surroundings. "The environment of this Demon Plane clearly restricts the sacred attribute; my strength has been weakened by about five percent. Little Friend Yuanchen, how shall we proceed next?"
Yu Yuanchen had already obtained general information about Salvos's territory through soul searching. He pointed in a direction: "According to the intelligence, Salvos's lair, a demon castle called the 'Molten Heart,' is about a thousand miles in this direction. Our first step is to go there."
"Go to the Demon King's lair?" Ning Zhiyuan was somewhat surprised. "Isn't that too risky?"
Yu Yuanchen explained, "Salvos took almost all the elites from his territory for this invasion. The forces left guarding the castle must be empty. We are going there, first, to pull up the roots and eliminate his remaining forces; and second... to seize something of vital importance."
"What thing?" Everyone was curious.
"A Divine Artifact that can open planar passages—its true form is called the 'gate of hell'," Yu Yuanchen's words were shocking. "The gate we faced before was merely a projection of its power. This Divine Artifact was nurtured by the Demon Plane's Origin. Although its quality isn't as high as the Angelic Sacred Sword, it possesses the eerie ability to communicate, locate, and even forcibly open passages connecting to other planes. The five Demon Kings take turns wielding it, and it happens to be in Salvos's hands right now. If we can seize this item, not only can we sever the possibility of the Demon Plane easily invading Douluo, but it might even be used by us in the future!"
Hearing this, everyone was overjoyed! If they could control this gate, the significance would be immense!
Without delay, the elite team of over three hundred people, led by Yu Yuanchen, concealed their presence and transformed into blurred streaks of light, racing toward the "Molten Heart" castle.
A thousand miles was not far for this group of experts, the weakest of whom were Soul Saints. Small groups of demons encountered along the way were dealt with silently, causing no major disturbance.
About an hour later, a towering, hideous black castle appeared on the distant horizon. The castle was built beside a massive lava river, constructed entirely of some kind of dark red demon rock. At the top of the castle, there were faint ripples of powerful Devilish Qi, but compared to the expected defenses of a Demon King's residence, it did indeed seem quite sparse.
Yu Yuanchen's Spiritual Power carefully swept over it, confirming, "Inside the castle, there are only two strongest auras, roughly equivalent to Rank 95 Super Douluos; they should be the Great Demon commanders left behind. The rest are just rabble. It seems Salvos really emptied his coffers this time."
"Action!" Yu Yuanchen gave the order!
Over three hundred human elites, like unsheathed swords, charged straight at the demon castle! Yu Boxuan and Sect Master were like two bolts of lightning, instantly pouncing on the two Great Demons guarding the gate! The terrifying pressure of the Thunder Saint Dragon and the Clear Sky Hammer suddenly erupted!
"Enemy attack!" The two Great Demons were shocked and furious. They tried to resist but were firmly suppressed by Yu Boxuan's dragon claws and Sect Master's heavy hammer! The difference in strength was obvious; they couldn't even organize a proper resistance before being quickly heavily injured and captured!
At the same time, Green Peak Douluo, Feng Zaiyun, Sect Master, and other Titled Douluo charged into the demon guards like tigers into a flock of sheep! Sword light, wind blades, and tiger claws flew; those elite demons fell like wheat before a scythe under the absolute difference in strength! The Soul Saints in the rear were responsible for clearing out stragglers and finishing them off.
The battle started quickly and ended even faster! In just a few dozen breaths, the guards outside the castle gate had been wiped clean, and the two Great Demon captives were knocked unconscious and sealed.
"Enter the city!"
Yu Yuanchen struck out with a palm, and the thick obsidian gate shattered! The crowd surged into the interior of the castle like a tide.
The interior of the castle was vast, with intricate passages filled with the smell of sulfur and blood. Occasional demon servants or low-level guards encountered were swiftly dealt with.
Yu Yuanchen's powerful Spiritual Power spread out, scanning the entire castle like radar. He quickly located several areas where the Devilish Qi was densest and the decoration most "luxurious"—the treasury, the bedchamber, and... an altar located in the deepest part of the castle, protected by a powerful Restriction!
"Split up! Sect Master Yu, Sect Master Tang, take people to clear out the remaining demons and search the treasury and bedchamber. High Enshrined, Brother Daoliu, Brother Tang, follow me to the altar!" Yu Yuanchen quickly assigned tasks.
Everyone took their orders and immediately split up.
Yu Yuanchen led Qian Chongxiao, Qian Daoliu, and Tang Chen directly toward the altar in the deepest part of the castle. The Restrictions along the way were easily broken under Yu Yuanchen's thunder power, as if they were made of paper.
Finally, they arrived before a massive black stone gate carved with countless agonizing, distorted faces. The evil and spatial fluctuations coming from the gate were extremely dense!
"This is it." Yu Yuanchen could feel that there was an extremely special object behind the gate.
He pointed his fingers like a sword, and a condensed bolt of thunder shot out, striking the massive gate!
Boom!
The massive gate shook violently, the demon faces on the surface letting out silent wails. The Restriction light flickered rapidly before finally shattering completely! The gate slowly opened inward.
The scene behind the gate met the eyes of the four.
This was a massive circular altar hall. In the center of the altar, instead of an idol, there floated a door frame that was reduced countless times in size but identical in form to the gate of hell outside—entirely pitch-black and emitting faint spatial fluctuations!
This door frame was only a little over a person's height, made of a strange material that was neither metal nor jade, with a dark red halo flowing on its surface. Inside the frame was not solid, but a continuously rotating, deep dark vortex, as if connecting to a distant unknown. A vast, ancient fluctuation containing the plane's Origin emanated from this small door frame.
"Is this... the true form... of the gate of hell?!" Qian Chongxiao's pupils constricted, and he cried out in shock. The Angelic Sacred Sword in his hand let out a violent hum, a natural reaction when encountering a Divine Artifact of the same level!
A brilliant light erupted in Yu Yuanchen's eyes. "Correct! This is precisely that auxiliary Divine Artifact nurtured by the Demon Plane's Origin—the gate of hell! The portal outside is merely its projection! Whoever controls this object possesses the qualification to open passages to other planes under certain conditions!"
He understood clearly; no wonder the Demon Plane could repeatedly invade the Douluo Continent—it relied on this Divine Artifact! Although its quality might not be as high as an offensive Divine Artifact like the Angelic Sacred Sword, its strategic value was immeasurable!
"This item must never be left to the demons!" Yu Yuanchen stepped forward and reached out to grab the floating pitch-black door frame!
However, at the very moment his palm was about to touch the door frame, a sudden change occurred!
Countless dark red runes suddenly lit up around the altar! The entire hall shook violently! Four terrifying wills, no less than those of the Demon King Salvos, seemed to be startled awake from slumber and descended with a crash! Four roars full of endless brutality and greed exploded in the minds of the four:
"Human! How dare you covet my clan's supreme treasure! You seek death!"
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