Chapter 1268: The Big Hand in the Darkness

No one expected the steps beneath their feet to suddenly disappear. This place had deprived everyone of their ability to fly, so they all lost their balance and plummeted downwards.

At that moment, everyone noticed the churning blood pool below. Their faces all changed. Wasn't it crystal clear just moments ago? How had it turned into this?

Although they didn't understand what the blood pool was, the terrifying killing intent and the chilling sensation it sent through their souls made it clear that falling into it would not be a wise decision.

Zu'an no longer bothered to hide his abilities. He immediately summoned his Wind-Fire Wheels, stepping onto them to barely stabilize himself. However, the flames on the Wind-Fire Wheels flickered erratically, as if they could extinguish at any moment. His flying speed and maneuverability were also far inferior to normal. It was clear that the rules of this place greatly suppressed his powers, and simply maintaining the ability to fly was already quite difficult.

He immediately grabbed Yu Yanluo, who was closest to him, and said, "Hold onto me tightly!"

Knowing the urgency of the situation, Yu Yanluo immediately jumped onto Zu'an's waist, clinging to him like a koala. She did this to avoid occupying his hands and affecting his ability to rescue others.

Zu'an quickly urged his Wind-Fire Wheels forward, rushing towards the two other women.

Meanwhile, Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen were also falling. Yun Jianyue could still barely stabilize herself and use various methods to slow her descent, but Yan Xuehen was too severely injured to maintain control and plummeted straight down.

Yun Jianyue tried to save her, but as soon as she grabbed her, Yan Xuehen's rapid descent pulled Yun Jianyue off balance, and they both plunged downwards.

Yan Xuehen was momentarily stunned, having not expected her sworn enemy to come to her rescue. After a brief moment of distraction, she tried to use her palm force to push Yun Jianyue away and send her to the side, but Yun Jianyue held onto her hand tightly, not giving her a chance to exert force.

She grew anxious. "Do you want to die together?"

Yun Jianyue snorted. "If you push me away, you'll be dead for sure. You can only die by my hand; I won't let you die so easily."

Yan Xuehen was about to say more, but Yun Jianyue interrupted, "Don't struggle. That guy will come to save us."

As she spoke, she tried hard to control the airflow, slowing their descent to buy as much time as possible.

Yan Xuehen paused. She instinctively looked up, just in time to see Zu'an rushing towards them on his Wind-Fire Wheels. In that instant, she felt a dizzying sensation, as if he were glowing.

The next second, Zu'an had already reached their side. He wrapped one arm around each of their waists and flew them directly to the side.

Feeling the steady strength of his large hands, both women, although knowing he was saving them, couldn't help but feel a sudden flutter in their hearts.

Yan Xuehen looked up at his profile. Thinking of their complicated relationship, her gaze became incredibly complex.

Yun Jianyue also scrutinized Zu'an from another angle. She thought about how, in their sect, female disciples often gossiped about which handsome man was in the sect, and they all looked pretty much the same to her. But this kid, Zu'an, was indeed a bit handsome.

Just as her heart fluttered, she suddenly noticed Yan Xuehen's dazed, infatuated expression on the other side. She immediately snapped back to reality, wondering what she was thinking.

"Help me!" A panicked voice came from nearby. The group looked back and saw Kong Nanjin desperately clinging to Princess Solun's leg. Princess Solun couldn't shake her off, and both fell together towards the blood pool.

Kong Nanjin, seeing that Zu'an could still fly, hurriedly called for help. Her face was covered in red, swollen handprints, clearly Yun Jianyue's handiwork from earlier.

Princess Solun's usually calm face was now filled with fear and anxiety. She looked at Zu'an with a hopeful gaze.

Zu'an hesitated for a moment, then summoned his Primordial Silk Ribbon. He wrapped it around Princess Solun's hand and, with a pull, dragged her to the side. Kong Nanjin naturally came with her, escaping danger as well.

Yun Jianyue said grumpily, "You're going to save *this* kind of woman too?"

She was, of course, referring to Kong Nanjin, whose attitude from earlier she still remembered.

Zu'an replied, "I have a past connection with her clan; it wouldn't be right to just stand by and watch her die."

Seeing that he wasn't doing it out of lust for women, the women all simultaneously showed a faint smile.

"Thank you, young master!" The group landed on a stone platform, temporarily safe from the danger of being submerged by the blood pool. Princess Solun, still shaken, thanked Zu'an.

Kong Nanjin, on the other hand, was completely limp with fright, unable to utter a single word.

Zu'an nodded, his attention returning to the area above the blood pool.

Other demonic clansmen also displayed their unique abilities. Jin Shi and Qiao Heng both had wings on their backs; although they couldn't fly as they normally would, they could still glide using air currents.

They each landed on a wall sculpture, stabilizing themselves. Seeing this, several people cast a disdainful look at Kong Nanjin. Both were of the Feathered race, yet others could find a way, while this one was completely terrified, only clinging to someone's leg to die together.

Xiong Da and Xiong Er, despite their bulky appearance, were quite clever. Also losing their balance and unable to fly, they instinctively clashed their weapons together. Using the recoil force, they each propelled themselves to the side walls, grabbing onto the wall decorations and hanging in mid-air.

Duan Tiande, using shadow leaps, hid himself on a crossbeam. Ma Huang also appeared nearby at some unknown point.

The rest were not so lucky. Those led by Prince Silver Shark all fell into the blood pool.

Prince Silver Shark revealed his true form, attempting to use his aquatic abilities to swim to the shore. But suddenly, a sharp pain coursed through his body. He looked down and saw his flesh melting away as if it were wax being consumed by fire.

Horrific screams echoed. Other demonic experts instantly turned into skeletons. Prince Silver Shark, with his higher cultivation, lasted a bit longer, but his suffering only prolonged.

Amidst his agonizing screams, he soon lost even the strength to cry out. He looked desperately in Princess Solun's direction, his eyes filled with pleading.

Princess Solun bit her lip until it almost bled. She understood his meaning.

She raised a finger, and a purple beam of light shot out, directly piercing Prince Silver Shark's forehead.

Prince Silver Shark died instantly, but a hint of a relieved smile appeared on his face in his final moments.

Princess Solun trembled slightly, her face deathly pale. Although she had never loved him, he had served her diligently and cared for her greatly during this period. Now that he met such a tragic end, she, being human, could not be completely heartless.

The entire hall fell silent once more. Prince Silver Shark's flesh was completely corroded away, turning him into a large skeleton.

Everyone had a thought. Having seen so many skeletons on their way here, they now realized these must have been formed here and then washed out.

Everyone's gaze turned to the center of the blood pool. The Three-Three Flower still floated on the surface, and on its petals, visible to the naked eye, were more blood-red veins.

"This isn't an Immortal Flower at all; it's a death trap!" Princess Changning, Kong Nanjin, exclaimed, her face drained of color.

Everyone felt the same way. It seemed the Immortal Flower was used as bait to lure everyone here, only to capture them all in one fell swoop.

Everyone wanted to leave, but below them was a vast sea of blood; touching it meant certain death or severe injury. And since flying was impossible here, no one could get out.

Everyone's eyes turned to Zu'an. Everyone still remembered how he had ridden his Wind-Fire Wheels earlier. Now, he was the only one in the entire area who could still fly.

At this moment, Duan Tiande chuckled. "Forget it, my life is more important. You can have whatever treasures are here; I'm not playing along anymore."

He could use shadow travel. The predicament here wouldn't trap him.

No sooner had he spoken than he continuously leaped through several shadows. Just as he was about to rush out of the hall, a large, hairy hand suddenly reached out in front of him.

Duan Tiande was horrified. He quickly tried to re-enter the shadow, but that hairy hand, as if it could pierce through all illusions, reached directly into the shadow and dragged him back out.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh~" Duan Tiande's neck was gripped by the large hand. He hung suspended in the air, his face turning purple. He desperately clawed at the hand, and his legs flailed wildly. Unfortunately, the large hand was as firm as a rock, not loosening its grip even slightly.

With a *snap*, the large hand twisted. Duan Tiande's head instantly slumped, his entire body went limp like a noodle, and he showed no further signs of life.

A chill ran down everyone's spines in the hall. Duan Tiande's cultivation could be considered among the best of them. Furthermore, his shadow-leaping technique was superb, reaching a miraculous level, making him almost invincible. Yet, he was squeezed to death like a chick?