Chapter 126: Do Not Flee!

Qing Xi was stunned.

Feeling the spherical spatial barrier, which had not yet reached its limit, he realized something, and the smile on his face gradually grew arrogant.

"So, the spatial interference zone has already become this powerful."

Qing Xi immediately asked the system, "Xiao Zhu, based on the analysis just now, can you confirm the extent of the spatial interference zone’s strength at this stage?"

The spatial interference zone was composed of spatial force. To put it plainly, it was a space still in its growth phase. It could alter the trajectory of objects entering its perimeter and could also block them from entering altogether. Since it was space, it could be broken if one possessed sufficient strength. However, in Qing Xi’s view, the Lava Demon at the Spirit Core Realm clearly did not possess the strength required to shatter a spatial interference zone.

"The host's current spatial interference zone possesses 130 strands of spatial force. Its strength limit is 260,000 jin of force per unit area. Once force exceeding this level is applied, the spatial interference zone will shatter and require one second to re-coalesce."

"Per unit area... is that one square meter?"

If that were the case, the strength would be absolutely insufficient.

"The unit area referred to here is a point the size of a hair follicle. If the force applied to this point exceeds 260,000 jin, the entire spatial interference zone will shatter immediately."

Xiao Zhu’s explanation made Qing Xi gasp. As a science student who had studied pressure formulas, Qing Xi felt this intensity was simply incredible. And this was only with 130 strands of spatial force fused in; if ten thousand strands were gathered, the limit would surely be many times greater.

Most martial arts and ultimate techniques in the cultivation world—such as sword energy, blade light, or soaring flames—had a large area of effect, but the force per unit area was not particularly high. Now that he knew the strength of the spatial interference zone, he felt at ease. With this zone, he had gained another method of self-preservation.

Qing Xi looked at the Lava Demon with a faint sense of mockery. To be safe, he used the system’s passive function, "Fortune and Misfortune," to predict the outcome and found he was in a state of "Minor Misfortune," which meant he would only face some small dangers.

The Lava Demon stared at Qing Xi, who was suspended in mid-air with his body curled up, completely bewildered. In his eyes, Qing Xi was definitely using some kind of spherical defensive ultimate technique, but wasn't this defense a bit too strong? If someone at the peak of the late Innate Realm could withstand the Spirit Core Realm, what would happen once he stepped into the Spirit Core Realm himself? Wouldn't even someone at the Golden Core Realm find it difficult to deal with him? At this thought, the Lava Demon’s murderous intent intensified.

"Die!"

The violent giant claw came crashing down with astonishing force. Qing Xi noticed his "Minor Misfortune" had jumped to "Moderate Misfortune." His eyelids twitched, and he hurriedly shrank the scope of his spatial barrier. With a loud "boom," the Lava Demon’s claw was repelled, while Qing Xi, huddled in the center of the barrier, was left with his ears ringing from the massive sound. The barrier remained unchanged, not a single mark left upon it.

"Scared the life out of me!"

Qing Xi held his breath, realizing that trapped inside the barrier, he was running out of air. He secretly poked a hole in the barrier. Although he could hold his breath, nothing beat the comfort of breathing fresh air.

"What is going on?"

The Lava Demon’s eyes were filled with deep suspicion. Without a second thought, he brought his claw down again. But this time, before he could strike, Qing Xi had already withdrawn the barrier and, with a "whoosh," used "Earth Escape" to sink into the ground.

"Where... where is he?"

The Lava Demon looked at the empty surroundings, a cold glint suddenly appearing in his eyes. Guessing that Qing Xi was underground, he raised a foot, intending to stomp the ground and force Qing Xi out. However, the Lava Demon suddenly found that his foot felt as if it were locked by an invisible hand; no matter how he struggled, he could not bring it down.

Just then, an arrow burning with crimson flames, carrying immense penetrating power, shot from afar and struck the Lava Demon’s weak point. Compared to "Nine-Layer Sword Waves," "Blazing Sun Arrow," enhanced by the Low-Grade Fire Spirit Body, was even more powerful. By using the method of focusing force on a single point, it was just enough to break through the Lava Demon’s defense.

The reason the Lava Demon could not move his feet was naturally that he had been snared by the spatial interference zone, which had taken the form of a ring. This rendered him temporarily immobile, turning him into a living target.

"Take another Sky-Piercing Arrow from me!"

Though he said "an arrow," Qing Xi actually fired five arrows simultaneously, playing completely outside the rules. These arrows all struck the same spot, quickly blasting open a large hole from which light blue blood flowed.

The Lava Demon felt the pain and roared, "I will have your life!"

His face twisted with rage, and his left hand transformed into a blade, hacking off his own leg. Then, he transformed into a ball of fire and smashed it fiercely toward Qing Xi.

"A demon severing his own leg, terrifying!"

Qing Xi immediately escaped into the ground, and the Lava Demon’s attack missed. Fifty meters away, Qing Xi’s figure emerged, once again turning the spatial interference zone into a ring to snare the Lava Demon’s other leg.

"Demon, do you dare to sever another leg?"

The saying goes that to kill a man, one must strike at his heart; in Qing Xi’s view, the same applied to slaying demons. If he could use his words to make the opponent lose their composure, then he would certainly do so. Hearing Qing Xi’s words, the Lava Demon’s eyes burned with fury. Flames swirled around his body, fusing with a portion of his flesh to form a five-meter-long fire spear, which he threw with lightning speed.

Qing Xi felt the crisis, but the fire spear was too fast to dodge. He could only retract the spatial interference zone and condense it in front of him. Then, he used the zone’s ability to alter the trajectory of objects, causing the fire spear to suddenly change direction.

"Crack!"

The Lava Demon stared at the fire spear that had pierced his own chest, dumbfounded. Although this blow would not kill him, he found the situation absolutely shocking. How could the fire spear, which was meant to kill Qing Xi, suddenly change direction?

The Lava Demon felt that what he had seen and heard today was simply too bizarre. He cast a wary glance at Qing Xi and began to consider retreating. When it came to retreating, the Lava Demon did not hesitate and turned to leave. In his view, his younger brother Lie Yan was dead, which would save resources for the Kunxu Realm, but he himself must not die. As a Vice Commander, he carried a mission and could not afford to fail at a critical moment.

"Don't you dare run, demon!"

With a thought from Qing Xi, the spatial interference zone immediately turned into a ring, encircling the Lava Demon’s neck and pinning him to the spot. Before him was a demon Vice Commander comparable to a Sect Master; the origin power within his body was surely immense—how could he let him get away?

"Let me go!"

The Lava Demon was infuriated. He backhanded another fire spear, but the spatial interference zone shifted its position again, enveloping the entire spear the moment it was launched and altering its trajectory.

"Pfft!"

The Lava Demon howled as another fire spear pierced through his body. He roared in agony, his hatred for Qing Xi rising sharply.