"Wow, this is freaking spectacular!" exclaimed Wang Ze with a hint of tears in his eyes. "If I wasn't about to have my ass handed to me, I would have taken a picture and dominated my friends' circle... So what the hell do we do now?"

Director Xiao finally screamed until his throat was sore, "What kind of useless skills do you have?"

The collapsed wall pressed down on Xuan Ji, making it hard for him to catch his breath. "Old Xiao, aren't you a lightning element? Think of something!"

Xiao Zheng roared, "Look at my head, is your unreasonable request even humanly possible?"

If as a lightning type, he could insulate himself, would he as a refined and reserved handsome guy still have to go around with a bare head?

At that moment, a voice interrupted, "Move aside."

As Wang Ze turned around, he found that the one making the noise was actually Yan Qiushan. He felt like a miserable child who had just been beaten up and found his father, and tears almost fell from his eyes.

"Canptain Yan!"

"Sister Dan and the others are waiting downstairs. The Storm forces support has arrived, and we don't need to worry about the underground anymore. Take care of yourselves first."

The elevator had long stopped, and the emergency passage only had steep stairs.

Yan Qiushan obviously had climbed up with his legs, as he still hadn't fully recovered from his internal injuries and was panting heavily. He pushed Wang Ze, who was like a lost ostrich, without any hesitation.

"Stop talking nonsense and come over here quickly! Director Xuan, I need some metal. Can you lend me a few coins?"

Without time to explain in detail, the building began to creak.

Xuan Ji immediately understood Yan Qiushan's plan. Perhaps he was afraid of not passing him enough coins, as Xuan Ji freed up one hand and a heavy sword appeared in his palm.

He threw it towards Yan Qiushan, and as the sword flew out, Xuan Ji himself became somewhat transparent and ethereal.

If it weren't for the fact that the field agents who had crowded together had no choice but to scatter and flee, at the moment the sword flew towards them, everyone would have closed their eyes.

The ancient inscription on the sword's blade glimmered with bone-chilling coldness under the lightning.

Even though it was only half a sword, the heavy and solemn killing intent almost shattered the space.

In that instant, even the countless demon pills and killing intent in the air were suppressed.

Zhi Chun's pupils shrank, and throughout the entire building, all the metal objects, whether they were knives or ornaments, trembled and emitted a buzzing sound.

Legend had it that there was a Heavenly Demon sword capable of cutting through the heavens and the earth.

The ancient and ferocious sword lay straight beside Yan Qiushan, its cold light seemingly freezing his very breath.

However, at that moment, Yan Qiushan's inherited Gold Forging Technique suddenly came to life and communicated with the ancient sword in a language that no one could hear.

To his surprise, the sword's malevolent aura dissipated and it inexplicably became friendly.

Yan Qiushan cautiously reached out and touched the sword's hilt.

As he did, the metal of the sword stretched and expanded according to his will, forming a huge metal film that enveloped everyone, including the ground beneath their feet. The film then closed in on itself, forming a sphere that blocked their view.

Wang Ze was left speechless, wondering, "What kind of sorcery is this?"

As soon as Xuan Ji finished speaking, he made a pulling gesture with his hand.

The metal sphere was a manifestation of the Heavenly Demon sword, essentially a part of his body that could move at his will. With a gentle tug, the ball, surrounded by a large group of people, flew into the air and plunged into the electric grid.

Wang Ze let out a loud roar, and his words wasted no time in filling Director Xiao's ears. "So, the point of this thing is to blindfold us before we die? You two are so humane!"

Ever since losing his hair protection, Xiao Zheng couldn't stand noise, and his brain almost shook out of his ear holes.

"The metal sphere is an equipotential body. You won't die from electricity in an equipotential body. What were you doing in high school?"

"Reading fantasy novels can improve our business skills!" Wang Ze exclaimed. "I have always been an early riser, but who knew that even after growing up, I couldn't escape the dreaded college entrance exam or even the wrath of the heavens! Oh! Guanyin Bodhisattva, Jade Emperor, Buddha, and Laozi..."

His naming of the heavenly deities was abruptly interrupted by a loud thunderclap.

The metal sphere rolled fiercely into the electric net, and the thin metal film blocked their view, but not their voices.

The field operatives, who had perfectly fulfilled their duties of saving the logistics personnel, turned back into mortal flesh and bone and began to howl loudly, competing with the thunder in volume.

In the next moment, the metal sphere seemed to shatter from their screams, and the night wind, tinged with the scent of blood, rushed in.

The field agents screamed at the top of their lungs, their voices carrying for three hundred meters, as they looked at each other in disbelief, realizing they had made it through the electric net alive!

As Wang Ze was still pondering over the idea that science and technology were the primary productive knowledge, he suddenly felt something was amiss beneath his feet.

He looked down and realized they had already left the building and were suspended in mid-air, thirty-six floors above the ground!

"Wait," Xiao Zheng was the first to regain his senses and covered his almost deaf ears. "Don't scream yet, we're not falling!"

Someone beneath their feet spoke up, "Don't...move!"

The field agents then noticed that the bricks beneath their feet were being held up by Xuan Ji's wings.

Wang Ze nervously looked down and asked, "Director Xuan, what's your maximum weight capacity?"

Xuan Ji retracted his sword and squeezed out a sentence from his teeth, "I'm not an elevator, thank you very much!"

At that moment, the sound of helicopter blades could be heard as several helicopters, risking being struck by lightning, returned.

"Get ready!" Xuan Ji commanded.

The special agents who stayed behind to hold the line were undoubtedly the best of the best.

In the moment when Xuan Ji and the helicopter were descending in tandem, they quickly climbed up the ladder in an orderly manner.

Yan Qiushan, who was walking at the back, had just grabbed onto the ladder when a lightning bolt flashed like a steel blade. Except for a few bald comrades, everyone's hair stood on end.

Xuan Ji and the helicopter dodged in two different directions at the same time, narrowly avoiding the falling slate that was struck by lightning.

Someone shouted loudly amidst the echoing noise, "The building is going to collapse!"

A shadow swept over their heads, and the Bureau's building, which was already over thirty-six floors and had exceeded its limit, collapsed like a broken pencil from the wound.

The top, which was swaying in the wind and rain, had turned into a charred black because the temperature-regulating spell formation had ruptured and frozen over! The helicopter flew out frantically, and the field agent hanging outside could barely keep his eyes open as he desperately clung to the ladder.

Suddenly, Zhi Chun, who was being tightly protected by Yan Qiushan, spoke up: "Director Xuan, wait...what is he going to do?"

Yan Qiushan struggled to open his eyes and saw Xuan Ji flying into the half-broken building as if he were risking his life.

Sheng Lingyuan had turned into a shadow and swiftly moved through the emergency passage.

Gravel and debris fell continuously, but they were all bounced away by the black mist surrounding him. He paid no attention to them until a piece of steel plate with the words "Construction, Protecting Ancient Trees and Cultural Relics" written on it flew towards him.

Sheng Lingyuan pressed down on the broken isolation board and was about to swing it away when he suddenly felt something.

His gaze froze...there was a familiar ancient aura on the steel plate!

In the lobby, outside the withered tree, there was always something wrapped around it.

It was said that when Bi Chunsheng used the Yin Sacrifice ritual to summon his Heart-Piercing Grass puppet body, the thunder from the sky struck and destroyed the formation in the lobby, which was now under renovation.

Therefore, every time he came to the Bureau, he either entered from the runway or went directly to the garage and up the stairs, never having the chance to visit the closed lobby.

On the fragments of the protective film of the steel plate, Sheng Lingyuan felt at least six or seven residual formations, one of which was exceptionally familiar...

The formation group was arranged so cleverly that it was almost seamless, hiding everything inside without any trace.

It was unbelievable that such a large formation could deceive him right under his nose.

Sheng Lingyuan didn't know if it was because three thousand years had passed and talented people had emerged, but based on his knowledge, he could only think of one person who could be such a master...

Dan Li.

And that strange withered tree.

The entire Bureau building was built around that tree, its origins unknown, whether it was planted by humans or grew on its own. The fence surrounding it stated that it was the largest existing plant in terms of volume, but because it was so tall, it had been struck by lightning multiple times.

The climate in Yong'an was dry, and thunderstorms easily caused fires, but for some reason, the surrounding hills had been burned by the ground fires caused by thunderstorms several times, and only this tree had survived.

At this moment, tiny green leaves covered the withered tree, and the refreshing scent of plants and trees filled the air. The tree was constantly expanding, and wherever it swept, decorative greenery and flowers were scattered everywhere. Other plants that came into contact with the expanding branches were immediately sucked dry, becoming a handful of dry grass, and at the same time, more branches grew on the expanding branches.

Sheng Lingyuan raised his hand and knocked away a tree branch that was sweeping towards his face.

He saw that on the same branch, there were mysteriously blooming four kinds of flowers: camellias, jasmines, hibiscus, and orchids.

They collided with the black mist in his palm, and the fresh and tender flowers turned into a wisp of green smoke, full of eerie energy, and flew away.

In the midst of the smoke, Sheng Lingyuan instantly teleported to the first floor hall.

The hall, which could accommodate tens of thousands of people without appearing crowded, was now in a mess. It was filled with terrifying tree roots, and the protective steel plates, which was painted with a group of mysterious formations, was blown up everywhere. There was almost no place to stand.

Sheng Lingyuan floated lightly in the air on the black mist, and before he could even stand firmly, he heard a familiar low laughter.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor of Humanity," the voice echoed in the shaky building, "long time no see."

In that instant, Sheng Lingyuan felt that his blood was frozen.

Three thousand years ago, at the end of the blood-stained demon city, he heard the voice of the demon king Jiu Xun.

"Time flies like a white horse," Jiu Xun's voice echoed from all directions, each word coming from a different direction, as if spoken by seven or eight people at once.

"Back then, the Emperor, who commanded the world with a single call, was truly awe-inspiring. The various human tribes, humanoid races...and those greedy demon tribes all looked up to you. Throughout the world, everyone was your loyal follower. And now, the Emperor has fallen just like me...tsk tsk, Sheng Xiao, the crowds lifted you up high, only to watch you fall one day. Did it hurt when you fall in the abyss?"

Inside the building, various alarm bells were blaring, voices were chaotic, and the sound of thunder accompanied the sound of collapse... A

ll the noise was a disturbance, but Sheng Lingyuan bit his tongue lightly, forcibly calming his restless mind and focusing on his ears.

A white figure flashed quickly beside him.

At first glance, the white figure looked like a laser pointer randomly scanning the wall, with a chaotic and disorderly movement route, sometimes approaching, sometimes passing by, never stopping for a second.

His gaze couldn't keep up with him.

But Sheng Lingyuan had a hunch that the other party was not just running around.

A faint breeze brushed his temple, and he felt the vague flow of breath around him.

During the white figure's movements, it seemed to be quietly depicting the shape of a formation, very concealed, and a little familiar.

A formation?

What kind of formation?

Sheng Lingyuan asked calmly, "What are you?"

The White Shadow laughed, "Have you been buried under the magma for so long that you've become senile? You don't even recognize old friends."

As Sheng Lingyuan searched for traces, he raised an eyebrow and said, "This is strange. I've been a lonely person for three thousand years, but recently I seem to have gained a lot of old acquaintances out of nowhere. Even random cats and dogs come to claim a relationship with me..."

"What's the matter?" he said, as a black energy suddenly flew out of his palm. "Are you here to ask for New Year's money?"

But White Shadow was too fast.

The black energy went into the wall and missed its target, instead causing a non-load-bearing wall to collapse.

"Three thousand years have passed since we last met at the Hook Moon Tower," White Shadow sighed. "Emperor, do you really not remember? Take a closer look."

The three characters "Hook Moon Tower" made Sheng Lingyuan's eyes twitch.

Before he could think too much, he instinctively teleported ten meters away. At the same time, a whirlwind suddenly appeared where he had just been standing, and countless swords and knives appeared in the wind, like a meat grinder, whizzing past him and almost cutting off a strand of his hair before disappearing into thin air.

A tree root as thick as a person's embrace broke through the ground and lifted Sheng Lingyuan high into the air.

The root was covered in leaves and flowers, which fell off as soon as they touched the air and shot towards Sheng Lingyuan like a barrage of arrows. But he was surrounded by a thick black mist that kept the flowers and leaves at bay.

Something strange happened.

The flowers and leaves were not afraid of his dark magic.

Instead, they treated the black mist as nourishment and greedily swallowed it down.

The roots rose up several feet and let out a sigh-like hum.

Sheng Lingyuan saw the formation on the ground and was suddenly stunned. Distant memories flooded back to him.

It was...the last battle before the human army invaded the Demon King's palace three thousand years ago.

At the beginning of the Nine Provinces War, the Demon King broke through the Chiyuan and headed north, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

The human world was turned into a demon realm, and the new demon city was named "Holy City" - located about 150 kilometers southwest of Yong'an. In the city was the "Flying God Palace," which was the Demon King's palace.

Unlike the palaces of the human race, which occupy a vast and stable land, the majority of the places in the Demon King's palace are dense forests, with three hundred and sixty large formations overlapping each other, surrounded by a tall building. The building soars into the clouds, with its eaves curling sharply upwards.

On moonlit nights, when viewed from outside the formation, the crescent moon first connects with the eaves, hence the name "Hooked Moon Tower."

The formations outside the Hooked Moon Tower were full of deadly traps.

Every step the human army took forward required countless lives to fill.

But at that time, everyone was controlled by a terrible bloodlust, including Sheng Lingyuan himself. They were like mindless ants, fearless of life and death, only knowing to charge forward wave after wave.

All were driven by that terrifying bloodlust, including Sheng Lingyuan himself.

For three days, the formations outside the Hook Moon Tower were attacked.

One hundred thousand people from the human race had died, and in such a large holy city, the bodies were so numerous that they couldn't even be arranged properly and were piled on top of each other. It was around the time of the Dragon Boat Festival, with the heat rising and snakes and insects becoming active.

However, within a radius of over one hundred miles around the holy city, not even birds dared to land. The lingering deathly aura attached itself to the Heavenly Demon Sword, pointing towards the ultimate enemy.

The sword was like a puppet, and the person wielding it was also a puppet.

Looking back on the past twenty years, from the Emperor of Humanity to the lowly soldier, no one knew how they managed to survive.

It took a full three days for the human army to break through the formations outside the Hook Moon Tower and engage in close combat with the last stubborn defenders of the demon race.

Sheng Lingyuan still remembers the final formation outside the Hook Moon Tower to this day.

As soon as the person entered the formation, it was as if they had entered an infinite world. Countless innate spirit creatures appeared in the formation - the vast and boundless Kunpeng, the furious flying Hou, the tiger-faced Taotie, the cloud-turning dragon, and the Vermilion Bird dressed in fire... They were all true spirits that had been swallowed by the demon king.

Although their physical bodies had died, their anger and individual powers still remained in the formation, to be used by the demon king.

This formation was called the "Return to One Formation," and the demon king himself was the master of the formation. Only he in the world could control it, because no one else had such a huge appetite!

The Return to One Formation absorbed the heavenly demon power from Sheng Lingyuan's body, while rapidly climbing up from the bottom of the Bureau building.

From above, the bottom could no longer be seen.

As Xuan Ji descended, he saw that the golden dragom had already climbed up to the eleventh floor, lying there like a dying gecko.

The thick and familiar smell of blood made his brow twitch, and he couldn't see anything below.

"Yes, isn't this the Return to One Formation?" whispered an evil spirit, seemingly from the collective subconscious of the human race. "But haven't I already died?"

Following the connection of the "Mountain Vow and Sea Oath," Xuan Ji leaped down and plunged into the formation, just in time to hear this sentence.

His heart suddenly skipped a beat: the Return to One Formation?