The battle was fierce, with the residual shockwaves of sword energy or magical arts occasionally surging toward Ling Xiaoyou and Su Lihua.
Fortunately, although Ling Xiaoyou couldn’t participate in the fight, she was still able to protect herself and Su Lihua.
After dispelling a claw-shaped magical afterwave, Ling Xiaoyou watched the intense battle and couldn’t help but frown. While the combination of Bai Shuanglian and Su Taosheng was currently evenly matched with the Crimson Demon, even slightly suppressing him…
The fight couldn’t continue. Even if they kept fighting, victory would likely be theirs, but their current location was wrong. If they were anywhere else, they could keep fighting, but they were currently in the enemy’s lair!
This Crimson Demon had probably sensed the Spirit Power fluctuations from when the others had erupted their power to protect the researcher’s life and rushed over. It was unclear if other demons were also heading this way. If they were surrounded by demons, they would be trapped with no way to escape, eventually worn down to death here.
Moreover, with such a huge commotion, it was almost certain the research institute below would notice and respond.
So they couldn’t delay any longer.
Thinking this, Ling Xiaoyou immediately connected her divine sense to Bai Shuanglian and said,
“Bai Shuanglian, we need to leave quickly. It’s very likely demon reinforcements are on their way. We need to enter the research institute soon.”
“Alright.”
Bai Shuanglian didn’t ask further. After receiving the message, she swung her sword toward the Crimson Demon’s neck. The Yang Flame on her longsword radiated a sun-like high temperature. Meanwhile, on the ground, layers of frost, under Bai Shuanglian’s control, froze the demon’s torso layer by layer before he could even react. The ice continued to spread, aiming to trap him and make him take the full brunt of this attack.
But the demon wasn’t a pushover either. He immediately sensed Bai Shuanglian’s intent. His muscles bulged another size, his aura growing even more terrifying.
He punched the ice encasing him, shattering it instantly, then abruptly retreated. He did dodge the blade itself, avoiding it at the last moment before the sword could strike. However, he couldn’t dodge the intense flames attached to it, which left a charred and gruesome burn mark on his neck.
Gritting his teeth against the bone-deep pain, the Crimson Demon roared and punched Su Taosheng, who was attacking him, sending her crashing into the elevator room wall.
Then, energy surged in his mouth, black and white colors coalescing within, preparing to retaliate with a vicious strike against Bai Shuanglian.
But the next instant, Bai Shuanglian’s figure vanished. The demon’s pupils contracted. He snapped his gaze toward the elevator and saw Bai Shuanglian entering it, pressing the down button.
They’re leaving!
This thought flashed through his mind. The demon acted decisively. He charged the energy to its limit and fired the energy cannon from his mouth, desperately trying to kill Bai Shuanglian and the others before they could escape.
But he was still a step too late. Spatial ripples stirred within the elevator room, and in the next moment, Ling Xiaoyou and the others disappeared from the spot, leaving nothing behind.
In the devastated elevator room, the energy cannon completely destroyed what remained.
Looking at the elevator room now reduced to ruins, the Crimson Demon muttered,
“They still got away…”
He punched through a nearby wall, venting his frustration.
Then, he took a deep breath, pulled out a mobile phone from somewhere on his person, and dialed.
After a moment, the mellow voice of the Demon Grand Duke came through the phone.
“What is it?”
“Your Grace, rats have infiltrated the research institute,” the Crimson Demon reported.
There was a moment of silence on the other end, making the Crimson Demon uneasy, worried about being punished.
Fortunately, the Demon Grand Duke’s reply came, though the Crimson Demon couldn’t discern any emotion from it.
“Are they from the Regulatory Division?”
“Unclear, but their displayed strength is not ordinary, and one of them is an Exorcist. Perhaps… the Regulatory Division and the Exorcists Association have joined forces.”
“I see.”
The Demon Grand Duke fell silent for a moment, then said,
“Kill them. Retrieve the sample from the institute.”
“But Your Grace, the institute says it’s not yet complete…”
The Crimson Demon’s words were cut off by the Demon Grand Duke.
“Incomplete is fine. It already possesses the basic capabilities I require. Minor flaws are acceptable.”
After saying that, the Demon Grand Duke continued,
“Bring it back before the main force of the Regulatory Division arrives, then destroy the research institute.”
The Grand Duke paused, then added,
“If possible, kill all the researchers as well. Leave no survivors.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Crimson Demon was stunned for a second but quickly reacted and answered.
“Whew~ We finally escaped.”
Inside the elevator, Su Lihua let out a long sigh of relief. If anyone was in the most danger during the previous fight, it wasn’t the Crimson Demon being attacked by Bai Shuanglian and Su Taosheng, nor was it Bai Shuanglian and Su Taosheng fighting him, and naturally it wasn’t Ling Xiaoyou blocking the shockwaves—it was her!
For the sake of her own life, if not for Ling Xiaoyou’s protection, she would have died countless times already. Any one of those battle shockwaves could have easily taken her life.
“So, Su Lihua, you really need to train more,”
Ling Xiaoyou shrugged, saying helplessly.
“If you were a bit stronger, we could have all four of us surrounded that demon, and we probably would have captured him by now. We wouldn’t have needed a tactical retreat.”
“Sigh, I want to train, but I just can’t seem to make progress!”
Su Lihua sighed, glancing at Ling Xiaoyou.
Right now, several tentacles extended from Ling Xiaoyou’s back, connected to Bai Shuanglian and Su Taosheng, who were meditating and recovering, helping them recuperate as quickly as possible.
“I think you’re just lazy,”
Ling Xiaoyou said offhandedly, taking out her own mobile phone, turning it on, and sending their current location to Team Leader Lin.
Thankfully, her phone was specially made by the Ghostly Resentment Office, capable of transmitting messages across space. Otherwise, they truly wouldn’t be able to communicate with the outside world from within this secret compartment.
That’s right. Ling Xiaoyou and the others were currently located directly above the research institute they had been searching for. At this moment, they were riding the corresponding intact elevator in this space, descending downward.
The previous elevator room essentially served as a transmission and reception device. Even if it was destroyed, it only performed a teleportation function and wouldn’t affect the elevator in the other space.
And below this elevator was that very research institute.
Ling Xiaoyou looked downward at the underground city glowing within the vast, dim cavern and couldn’t help but remark, “Do demons always like to set up their bases in underground caverns?”
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