You call this legion of tens of thousands of demons a "small squad"?

The Crimson Blood Little Azure Flood Dragon's cold, serpentine pupils locked firmly onto Lu Wu, before turning to gaze at Cang Yu Kong.

"I didn't expect you'd bring along a blood-sucking exotic beast," it said. "But what use is such a tiny, powerless insect beast? Even if it possesses a natural ability for blood absorption and spatial manipulation, how much blood could it possibly take in?"

As it spoke, the Crimson Blood Little Azure Flood Dragon secretly sent spiritual energy through the tip of its tail, tracing runes.

Zhuo Ya sensed something was wrong. "Attack!"

The Flood Dragon sneered. "You're doomed today! The Chasing Moon Squad is already here!"

Tao Ye looked around in confusion.

Cang Yu Kong and Zhuo Ya, cautious and wary, glanced at Tao Ye.

Tao Ye, puzzled, said, "But there's not a trace of demon clans within a vast radius."

The Flood Dragon burst into laughter. "In the past, every Chasing Moon operation rarely saw demons break through the entire Tai Xu Palace territory to reach the Devil's Lair. This time, it's different. Prepare to face defeat. As for you, your deaths will be miserable."

Zhuo Ya frowned deeply. "You think Tai Xu Palace is unaware of your actions? This time, you won't get through with too many people."

Cang Yu Kong furrowed his brow. "No, this creature is stalling for time!"

"Too late!" the Flood Dragon declared. "The net is cast!"

The massive Tianqi Vessel bloodline system began to contract rhythmically, its speed astonishing. Soon, the Tianqi Vessel shrank to the vicinity of the Antlered Dragon Eagle, taking the shape of a pulsating heart.

Lu Wu saw the veins throbbing in order and realized this might be Tianqi's heart. It was indeed peculiar. For high-level creatures, the heart and other vessels should be two independent systems, yet Tianqi's veins could transform between each other.

After the Tianqi Vessel contracted, its range became much smaller, but its density increased immensely.

"Is this creature trying to use this move for defense?"

But, encircled as they were, what good was defense? Was it just to buy time?

Tao Ye exclaimed, "Not good, there's a surge of powerful demonic energy to the south!"

Zhuo Ya released a flying boat. "I'll go take a look. You try to break through this strange network of blood vessels."

Lu Wu pondered the situation. This Crimson Blood Little Azure Flood Dragon was clearly stalling; if it chose to flee, it would have some chance to escape. Since it was stalling, it must believe its survival odds are higher by waiting. The only possibility, then, was that the Chasing Moon Squad from Ten Thousand Demon Mountains was truly about to arrive, and the Flood Dragon's words were half true, half false.

Zi Yu sent a message: "Senior, should I make a move?"

Lu Wu considered briefly. If they couldn't win, he could always run off alone.

At that moment, Lu Wu fluttered his wings, approaching the contracted Tianqi Vessel to continue drawing blood.

Within the vascular web, the Flood Dragon's sinister serpent eyes watched Lu Wu from the side. "An insect, ignorant of death."

A concentrated wave of demonic energy shot forth.

Lu Wu beat his wings, dodging instantly, then returned to resume feeding. What a joke—Lu Wu's soul was far more sensitive than ordinary cultivators using true essence or demon energy. He sensed the attack at once, evaded directly, and continued.

The Flood Dragon was speechless.

What a persistent pest…

To charge out and kill Lu Wu now, it didn't dare.

Soon, Zhuo Ya returned.

Cang Yu Kong hurriedly asked, "Senior sister, you're back so soon? What's going on?"

Zhuo Ya forced a bitter smile. "See for yourselves; there's no need for me to describe it."

To the south, on the nearest mountain, countless demon beasts appeared, heads poking out in dense clusters.

The entire mountain was covered in monsters!

Lu Wu, while draining blood, glanced over and was shaken.

You call… this a squad?

Lu Wu recalled a joke from his previous life: someone asked why their country, so populous, didn't conscript a hundred million soldiers. The reply was, "When war breaks out, the enemy scout reports, 'The Dragon Nation’s kitchen staff is attacking.' The enemy general is terrified: 'What? They sent two hundred thousand just at the start?'"

On the mountain before them, there were at least ten thousand demons.

You call this a squad?

Cang Yu Kong said, "Shouldn't we be running?"

Tao Ye replied, "Don't rush."

"Why hasn't this Chasing Moon… squad attacked?"

"They're standing higher, so they see farther."

As Tao Ye spoke, he looked north.

On the northern plains, a formation of human cultivators was advancing.

"This is…"

The Flood Dragon exclaimed, "I didn't expect Tai Xu Palace to be prepared in advance!"

Previously, whether it was Chasing Moon or Tai Xu squads, when they infiltrated each other's territory, their teams numbered only a few to a dozen. This time, Ten Thousand Demon Mountains had assembled a super legion of at least twenty thousand demons.

Unexpectedly, Tai Xu Palace had prepared too.

They clearly had a contingency plan!

Lu Wu glanced at the Flood Dragon and sighed.

Was war about to break out?

If so, blood sources would be abundant, and this supposedly formidable blood reservoir would become a mere trifle.

Above, the Tianqi Vessel shifted its form again, enveloping the group.

Taken off guard, they were instantly wrapped up by the Tianqi Vessel.

Zhuo Ya was the first to react, slashing diagonally with her sword. After the sword light flashed, a huge gash opened in the Tianqi Vessel, spraying blood everywhere.

But within a second, the wound repaired itself!

"This is—"

The Flood Dragon sneered, "You are doomed. Once battle begins, our forces will attack, and you'll be the first to die."

Cang Yu Kong analyzed the situation, "The heart has more than one chamber. This is a simulation of some great demon's heartline, so there should be multiple chambers. We're trapped in one."

Tao Ye patted the little monkey's head on his shoulder. The monkey took a step forward and transformed into a giant ape, as large as a black gorilla but with a tail.

The giant ape beat its chest and swung across the Tianqi Vessel like vines, tearing fiercely.

A blood vessel was ripped apart!

But the outer network still enveloped them in layers.

The Flood Dragon was surprised. "Impressive, you actually tore open the Tianqi Vessel. So strong."

"But don't dream—I've refined the Tianqi Vessel to this level using the corpses of twenty-seven demons at the Qi Gathering stage and twelve human cultivators at the same realm.