Chapter 46: Further Exploration into the Secrets of the Demon Realm

"That is... demonic energy." Jun Mohan said in a deep voice, a cold glint flashing across his eyes.

The demonic energy that had previously been suppressed seemed to have reignited, and it was fiercer and more elusive than ever before.

Yun Yao's heart sank abruptly, and a strong sense of unease surged into her mind.

The chaos in the Demon Realm was far from over.

"I must go to the Demon Realm once more," Yun Yao said, her tone firm and unquestionable.

She knew that if this demonic energy were allowed to breed and spread, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Yao'er, it's too dangerous!" Jun Mohan grabbed her hand, his deep eyes filled with worry.

The Demon Realm was fraught with peril; how could he possibly rest assured letting her go alone?

"I know, but I have to go." Yun Yao gripped his hand back, looking at him with a resolute gaze. "Only by completely resolving the turmoil in the Demon Realm can the immortal sects truly attain peace."

The surrounding immortal disciples also tried to dissuade her one after another.

"Senior Sister Yun Yao, think twice!" "The Demon Realm is perilous, you must not step foot into it lightly!" "Perhaps we should discuss this thoroughly and make further plans!" The voices of dissuasion rose one after another, rushing in like a tide, yet they only served to reinforce Yun Yao's determination.

She gently broke free from Jun Mohan's grasp, turned to face the crowd, and said firmly, "Senior brothers and sisters, please rest assured, I will surely return safely!" With that, she resolutely turned around and flew towards the direction of the Demon Realm.

Behind her, the crowd watched her retreating figure with worried eyes, silently praying for her safety.

Jun Mohan gazed at her departing figure, a myriad of complex emotions churning in his heart.

He knew he could not stop her; he could only support her silently and wait for her return.

At the edge of the Demon Realm, miasma hung thick in the air, and chilling winds swept constantly.

The moment Yun Yao stepped into the Demon Realm, she felt a powerful wave of oppression wash over her.

A pack of agile demonic beasts darted out from the fog like phantoms, launching a fierce attack against her.

These creatures were completely different from the ones she had encountered before.

Their bodies were more lithe, their attacks trickier, each strike lethal and without a shred of mercy.

For a moment, Yun Yao found herself somewhat hard-pressed to parry them.

Sweat trickled down her forehead, dampening her robes.

Yet her gaze remained resolute, without the slightest intention of retreating.

After dodging a fatal blow, Yun Yao flipped herself up, her long sword weaving intricate and fierce sword qi that forced the surrounding demonic beasts back.

Just at that moment, a hostile gaze was cast from not far away.

The Night Wolf Demon stood beneath a massive withered tree, watching the battle with rapt interest.

Although he was hostile toward Yun Yao, he also felt a trace of curiosity regarding her strength.

"A bit interesting..." the Night Wolf Demon muttered softly, a seductive smile hooking the corner of his mouth.

Yun Yao dodged an attack from another beast once again, only to feel a chill at her back...

The Night Wolf Demon was about to make a move when he saw Yun Yao flash aside, actually evading the strike. Her long sword pointed straight at the leader of the beasts—a gigantic spider of massive proportions that exuded a foul, rotting stench.

Yun Yao focused her mind and held her breath, reading the inner thoughts of the giant spider: "Wretched human, how dare you break into my territory! I will tear you to pieces!" Immediately following that, another inner voice came through, faint yet clear: "My abdomen... is my weakness..."

Yun Yao's heart gave a start; the giant spider's weakness turned out to be its abdomen!

Her gaze flashed, her form moving like lightning, and the long sword in her hand carried fierce sword qi as it thrust straight into the giant spider's abdomen.

The giant spider didn't even have time to react before it let out a miserable, piercing shriek, its colossal body crashing heavily to the ground.

Green blood gushed out, exuding an utterly nauseating, foul stench.

The surrounding demonic beasts panicked upon seeing this, instantly throwing themselves into utter disarray.

They looked at Yun Yao in terror. Pressing her advantage, Yun Yao unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, her sword qi sweeping horizontally and vertically as if moving through an empty realm.

For a time, shrieks and wails rose and fell in succession. The air, heavy with demonic energy, became thick with the pungent smell of blood.

Severed limbs and broken bones were scattered all over the ground, a shocking and harrowing sight.

Cutting down everything in her path, Yun Yao forged deep into the interior of the Demon Realm.

The miasma permeating the air grew increasingly dense, and the surrounding scenery became progressively more bizarre.

Towering ancient trees blotted out the sun and sky, and the ground was covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves that crunched loudly underfoot, making one's hair stand on end.

Suddenly, a cold, clear voice rang in Yun Yao's ear: "Human, why have you intruded into the depths of the Demon Realm?"

Following the sound, Yun Yao looked over and saw a woman dressed in white standing not far away.

Her appearance was breathtakingly beautiful, her temperament untainted by the mortal world, making her look like a celestial fairy descending from the nine heavens.

This woman was none other than the renowned Snow Fox Fairy of the Demon Realm.

"I am here to seek the truth," Yun Yao said, her tone firm and unyielding.

"The truth? Do you think you can find the truth?" The Snow Fox Fairy sneered. "Are matters of the Demon Realm something a mere insignificant human like you can meddle in?"

"Until the truth is brought to light, I will never give up." Yun Yao tightened her grip on her long sword, gazing unwaveringly at the Snow Fox Fairy. "I know you yearn for peace; surely you wish to know the true cause of the turmoil in the Demon Realm, don't you?"

"Silence!" the Snow Fox Fairy rebuked sternly, "You know nothing at all!" A powerful chill emanated from her entire body, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet abruptly, freezing even the air itself.

Yun Yao met the Snow Fox Fairy's gaze without a shred of fear. A hair-trigger tension hung between the two of them, and an explosive atmosphere seemed ready to ignite at any second...

"If you take another step forward, do not blame me for being merciless!" The Snow Fox Fairy's voice was frigid, and a ball of bone-chilling frost gathered in her palm.

Yun Yao took a deep breath, fixing a burning gaze upon the Snow Fox Fairy, and said word by word: "My mind is made up, and no one can stop me!"

Unable to accompany Yun Yao into the perilous depths of the Demon Realm, Jun Mohan felt his heart burn with consuming anxiety.

Standing at the edge of the Demon Realm, his hands moved rapidly in mudra gestures to cast spells. A golden-shining formation spread outward from beneath his feet, enveloping the entrance of the Demon Realm within it.

This formation was not an offensive one, but rather a protective barrier capable of resisting external invasions while providing a continuous stream of spiritual energy to anyone within it.

Deep inside the Demon Realm, Yun Yao suddenly felt a wave of warmth wash over her entire body, banishing the chilly, bone-numbing cold of the Demon Realm.

Realizing that this was a protective array set up for her by Jun Mohan, a surge of warmth blossomed in her chest.

This warmth, like a beam of winter sunlight, swept away the fear and unease in her heart, granting her even greater courage to face the unknown dangers.

"Mohan..." Yun Yao chanted his name silently in her heart, a faint smile curving the corners of her lips.

However, the perils of the Demon Realm far exceeded Yun Yao's imagination.

As she proceeded cautiously, she inadvertently stepped into an elaborately laid trap.

The surrounding scenery changed abruptly; the once-dense forest vanished, replaced by an expansive, barren expanse of stone.

Countless sharp spikes emerged from the crevices of the stones, flashing with cold light as they lunged toward her.

"Damn it!" Yun Yao cursed inwardly, her body dodging flexibly, yet she was still grazed by a few spikes.

Feeling a sharp pain, she tasted a trace of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

The mechanisms of the trap triggered one after another—spikes, poisoned arrows, flying stones...

Hidden weapons assaulted her from all directions, leaving Yun Yao with less and less space to evade, rendering her almost completely cornered.

Her breathing grew rapid, her clothes were drenched in sweat, and the wounds on her body multiplied.

"Could it be... that I am going to die here?" A flicker of despair crossed Yun Yao's mind.

Just at that moment, her gaze fell upon an inconspicuous corner at the edge of the trap.

There, a pitch-black opening emitted a bizarre aura.

Was it a path to escape, or simply another trap?

Yun Yao hesitated for a brief moment, ultimately deciding to take a gamble.

Taking a deep breath, she leaped headfirst into the mysterious passage.

"I'd like to see what on earth is inside here..." Yun Yao's voice echoed within the passage, carrying a hint of resolute determination and a trace of expectation.