The Nine-Life Black Tortoise had been the first to obtain the Heavenly Phoenix Feather, and it shared a deep connection with the Four Saints Palace.

Everyone understood that seizing the Heavenly Phoenix Feather from the Nine-Life Black Tortoise at this moment was unrealistic. Internal conflict would only lead to their destruction, allowing the ancient devil to defeat them one by one until none survived.

As long as the Heavenly Phoenix Feather did not fall into the ancient devil’s hands, that would suffice.

They were all seasoned veterans of countless battles. Without the need for discussion, they simultaneously shifted their focus to block the ancient devil’s split soul that was pursuing them, shielding the Nine-Life Black Tortoise.

Realizing the situation had turned unfavorable, the ancient devil’s split soul retreated to the side of the Devil Qingzhu. The two devils joined forces to completely overwhelm the Jiao King.

Rip! The Jiao King was torn apart alive by their combined power.

Blood scattered across the sky, and the Jiao King did not even have time to let out a scream before he was ripped to shreds.

Witnessing this, everyone’s eyelids twitched violently, horrified by the ancient devil’s brutal means. The Jiao essence soul was also captured.

With a cold snort, Devil Qingzhu clenched his palm tightly. The Jiao essence soul and all of his flesh and blood were crushed together, merging into a massive sphere of blood as he refined the purest essence within.

Whoosh! Not a single trace of the Jiao King’s vitality was wasted. All of it was cast into the blood coffin.

The blood coffin’s surface pulsed with crimson runes, and a mysterious grand array faintly emerged from within.

The sword qi became faintly tinged with blood. Meanwhile, the blood coffin’s aura surged violently. The storm grew ever more intense.

As one force weakened and the other strengthened, everyone felt a chill run down their spines. They finally understood the ancient devil’s true intention, to use the blood and souls of everyone present as sacrifice, eroding the sword qi and freeing his true body.

"This is an ancient treasure of the Phoenix Clan from the Demonic Sea. It’s said to have been refined from a Heavenly Phoenix Feather." The Nine-Life Black Tortoise swiftly appeared beside Fairy Nangui and obediently handed over the Heavenly Phoenix Feather, confessing everything it knew.

Fairy Nangui immediately activated the Devil-Suppressing Stele to keep guard.

The elder received the Heavenly Phoenix Feather and probed it with his spiritual consciousness. His expression turned grave. "Though this treasure was refined into something akin to an astra, it still carries the aura of the Heavenly Phoenix. It requires the unique treasure-refining secret technique of the Phoenix Clan to be controlled and recognized as one’s own. Do you know their treasure-controlling technique?"

The final question was directed at the Nine-Life Black Tortoise.

The tortoise smiled awkwardly and shook its head. "Although we cooperated, both the Jiao King and the Nine Phoenix King were guarded against me. They would never entrust me with such an important treasure."

"Perhaps I can use the grandmaster’s refining technique to forcibly command this treasure, but its power would be greatly reduced. I'm afraid it can only send one person out at most," the elder said in a low voice.

Fairy Nangui sent a voice transmission to everyone. "No one knows how long the sword qi can last. Once the ancient devil breaks free, not only will we perish, but the entire Canglang Sea will be plunged into devastation. If we can repair the ancient barrier and restore its sealing power, it will work together with the sword qi to reseal the ancient devil, or even destroy the ancient devil and his split soul completely. Once that happens, without the control of the true body, the devilish puppet may be able to recover."

The devilish puppet referred to Devil Qingzhu.

They had already realized that the ancient devil’s split soul and true body were not of one mind. Though temporarily united by circumstance, they each harbored their own schemes and guarded against the other.

Hearing her words, the crowd exchanged glances, each showing a different expression.

The battle at the center of the storm had grown so fierce that the blood coffin and the sword qi could no longer be clearly seen. The blood coffin’s momentum was terrifying, shaking the heavens.

In contrast, the sword qi seemed rootless and frail. No one knew how long it could still suppress the blood coffin.

Moreover, the devilish might of both Devil Qingzhu and the ancient devil’s split soul was overwhelming. They might not even survive long enough to see the blood coffin fully emerge.

"Are you trying to have us risk our lives to cover your escape?" It was Old Devil Fang who spoke, his body being that of the Withered-Leaf Cicada. His expression was unreadable, but his tone clearly carried dissatisfaction.

"To repair the ancient barrier, the Devil-Suppressing Stele must be sent back. Only we know how to control it. You have no need to worry, only my senior brother will leave, and I shall stay behind!" Fairy Nangui’s voice was cold.

"Junior Sister—" The elder tried to speak but was interrupted by Fairy Nangui.

"Senior Brother, though you performed the Essence-Sacrificing Art later than I did, you are gravely injured and have not yet recovered. You won’t be able to last much longer. Repairing the ancient barrier to restrain the ancient devil is the only way to save us all..."

Fairy Nangui allowed them to scan the Heavenly Phoenix Feather with their spiritual consciousness.

Everyone understood that she was speaking the truth. It seemed like there was only this one possible path.

In a flash, they exchanged thoughts through spiritual consciousness and made their decisions. They were all people of decisive will.

The Nine-Life Black Tortoise and the grand witch priest shared their knowledge of the ancient barriers of their respective races with the elder. They had not fully broken the seal before, only part of it, meaning there was still a chance to restore it.

The ancient devil’s split soul and Devil Qingzhu were still tearing apart the Jiao King alive.

As the remains of the Jiao King were cast into the blood coffin, the split soul’s eyes gleamed with bloodthirsty greed. He subconsciously licked his lips but dared not act rashly.

Devil Qingzhu’s blood-red eyes flickered, fixing its gaze upon the elder who held the Heavenly Phoenix Feather. His voice was cold and sharp. "Kill."

They both knew that if anyone escaped through the blood-red crystalline wall and restored the seal, they would lose any chance of turning the situation around.

This time, however, the elder’s circumstances were far better than the Jiao King’s earlier. He had many allies.

"Stop them!" Lingzhuzi shouted.

Everyone had already been prepared and immediately stood before the elder, buying him time. Their roles were clear, and each knew exactly what had to be done.

The grand witch priest, Old Devil Fang, Lingzhuzi, and the Nine-Life Black Tortoise surrounded and attacked Devil Qingzhu.

The Devil Lord and the ancient devil’s split soul had fought several times before, making the Devil Lord the one who understood him best. Fairy Nangui shielded the elder and assisted the Devil Lord in holding off the ancient devil’s split soul.

They were already treating Devil Qingzhu with the utmost caution. Yet the moment the battle began, chaos erupted. Devil Qingzhu crossed the battlefield like a shadow.

True devilish qi surged forth like a tidal wave, enveloping the sky. His figure was ethereal, his evasion technique so formidable that for a time, no one could pinpoint his true position.

Fortunately, none among them were ordinary. Their coordination was seamless.

Lightning, stardust, and the phantom of a tortoise shell fused together to form a powerful screen that resisted the raging true devilish qi. A streak of yellow light darted among them, leaving behind countless afterimages of the Withered-Leaf Cicada to fill the gaps. That was Old Devil Fang.

All of these manifestations appeared at once, clashing violently against the tide of devilish qi. Devil Qingzhu’s figure flickered within the true devilish qi, then vanished in an instant.

Rip! Before their astonished eyes, a hand tore through the carefully arranged screen and shot toward the Nine-Life Black Tortoise like lightning.

Devil Qingzhu’s gaze was fierce and merciless. At a glance, he discerned that the slightly weaker Nine-Life Black Tortoise was the formation’s weak point.

As Devil Qingzhu ripped through the screen and lunged forward, the Nine-Life Black Tortoise’s soul nearly fled its body in terror.

The others did not hesitate and immediately moved to rescue him with all their strength. At the very last moment, the Devil-Suppressing Stele appeared once more. Working in tandem with the Nine-Life Black Tortoise’s true shell, it managed to block the fatal strike.

Thud! The Nine-Life Black Tortoise’s heart pounded wildly as he retracted his shell, only to find a glaring hole punched straight through it. His face turned pale. That shell had been refined day and night, its defense surpassing even the astras wielded by immortal cultivators, yet it had been pierced through by the devilish claw.

Even with four top experts besieging Devil Qingzhu, they still failed to restrain him. The Nine-Life Black Tortoise had narrowly escaped death. Everyone finally understood the true extent of Devil Qingzhu’s power.

"You deal with the ancient devil’s split soul!" Seeing the situation turn dire, Fairy Nangui had no choice but to send a voice transmission to the Nine-Life Black Tortoise, altering their formation.