Many people were concerned about the changes in the palace, but since it wasn’t affecting them too much, they were unwilling to stop fighting.

This was especially true for the Blood Demons. Most of them couldn’t care less about the changes to the palace.

This was their territory, and their leader had told them such changes might occur. It might be a little different from what they expected, but a change was a change.

In short, they were not to worry about it.

After the strange phenomenon faded, Su Qi and the others charged in. By now, the Blood Demon Grand Array was long gone.

Once inside, Su Qi split off from Xiao Xiaomo and her group. This was, after all, a matter for the Holy Land, and Liuyue Xue and the others had been ordered not to go any deeper.

Su Qi didn’t want them risking their lives either, especially since they would only slow her down.

In truth, Su Qi’s Talent was exceptionally high. She had managed to date, study, and practice her Cultivation all at the same time.

Even with all that, she was only two minor Realms below the Saintess, and her Cultivation was slightly higher than most others her age.

Her only weakness was a lack of combat experience. This was one of the reasons she had been ordered to join the Tianhe Group to gain experience right after graduation.

Meanwhile, Yue Xi was preparing to take the two Blood Demons down with her. She couldn’t hold on any longer. If she didn’t self-destruct now, death was her only other option.

Retreat was no longer an option. As long as she could kill these two, victory would be assured for her side.

With a sigh, Yue Xi began to glow, igniting her power.

At the same time, Blood Rift and Blood Butterfly began to put everything they had into their Defense.

If they could block it, they would be home free. This battle would end in their complete victory.

Everyone had their own thoughts and their own plans, and that, of course, included Jiang Zuo.

Watching the two sides, Jiang Zuo felt an urge to laugh.

’We’ve finally reached the critical moment. If I don’t introduce a little surprise, what would be the point of me preparing here for half the day?’

Then, Jiang Zuo sketched a Rune in the air. As soon as it appeared, it instantly activated half the area of the second floor. Faint Runes flickered into existence everywhere.

The palace was a pure Array construct. Here, Jiang Zuo was no longer a mere 1.4-rank Cultivator.

His power here was a direct reflection of his mastery of Arrays.

Unless he pushed the palace until it collapsed, or went too far and got himself killed.

After Jiang Zuo sketched the Rune, the second floor activated. Countless threads of light converged behind him, weaving together to form a colossal, spectral figure.

It held a long spear. It drew back its arm, spearhead aimed outward, ready to unleash a devastating throw at any moment.

Activating it like this would consume a massive amount of Jiang Zuo’s Spiritual Qi, but doing it a few more times wouldn’t be a problem.

Jiang Zuo pointed his finger at the two Blood Demons. Squinting one eye to aim, he gave a cold smirk. ’Three birds with one stone. Perfect. Bang.’

BOOM! A fierce wind howled.

The spectral figure powerfully hurled its ultimate spear.

The Blood Demons, as well as Yue Xi who was on the verge of self-destructing, were all stunned. A formidable power had locked onto them.

The instant the Blood Demons pinpointed the direction of the force, a colossal spear pierced through their bodies, shattering all their Defenses.

A long-forgotten fear sprouted in their hearts. Their opponent was strong—so strong that they were utterly powerless to resist.

The spear then shot straight toward Fairy Yue Xi. ’If I self-destruct now, I can definitely kill those two!’ she thought, her heart filled with unwillingness.

But her unwillingness was futile. The spear pierced straight through her, scattering her power and abruptly halting her self-destruction.

PFFT!

Yue Xi was grievously wounded and fell from the sky.

The two Blood Demons also crashed to the ground. All three of them stared in terror in the direction the spear had come from.

’When did someone so powerful appear over there?’

’Is this person friend or foe?’

’Right, definitely not a friend.’

"S-Senior, we had no intention of offending you. We...."

Before Blood Rift could finish, Jiang Zuo calmly uttered a single word: "Reverse."

Instantly, the trap Jiang Zuo had previously laid within the Blood Demon Runes was sprung.

A discordant power surged through the Blood Demon Runes, shaking even the Command Array Pattern to its core.

PFFT, PFFT, PFFT.

The Blood Demon Runes were reversed and destroyed, and the backlash struck the Blood Demons directly.

Dozens of bloody mists erupted from their bodies, and they collapsed to the ground, barely breathing.

They never imagined they would be defeated so easily.

"Who is he? Who in the world is he?" Blood Rift mumbled.

Yue Xi was also utterly shocked. ’What in the world did that person do in the blink of an eye?’

’Still, this is good for the Holy Land, at least. Those two are either dead or grievously wounded.’

Jiang Zuo looked down at the Holy Land’s expert. ’You have to die,’ he thought calmly, ’but later.’

Then he turned his gaze to the two Blood Demons. ’Normally, I might have kept you alive for my own amusement. But who told you to cause trouble so close to my home?’

Due to the palace’s nature, they couldn’t hear a word Jiang Zuo was saying.

Jiang Zuo drew another Rune and pointed his finger at the two Blood Demons. This next spear would be a killing blow.

However, just as Jiang Zuo was about to strike, a figure not far ahead caught his eye.

It was a beautiful woman—the most familiar and special woman in the world to Jiang Zuo.

That’s right. Su Qi had arrived.

And just ahead of Su Qi was the Saintess, surrounded by Blood Demons.

Jiang Zuo was aghast. ’Su Qi? What is she doing here? Shouldn’t she be on the outskirts?’

Su Qi was running, a look of desperation on her face, when suddenly—SMACK!—she tripped and fell to the ground out of nowhere.

Jiang Zuo’s heart clenched, and his hand instinctively reached out as if to catch her.

But that single, reflexive movement sent the spear whistling through the air, striking the ground right between Yue Xi and the two Blood Demons.

Both sides flinched, then felt a wave of relief that their attacker had missed.

Yue Xi was bewildered. ’Did he miss? It doesn’t seem like it.’

’Was he just trying to scare us?’

The Blood Demons didn’t overthink it. They immediately joined forces and cast Blood Escape. Their first priority was to flee.

Jiang Zuo, however, paid them no mind. His gaze was fixed on Su Qi. He just couldn’t understand it. ’With a Cultivation of around 2.5, how could she just fall like that?’

’It’s not like she’s prone to tripping on flat ground.’

Even from a distance, Jiang Zuo could tell it was a hard fall. He wondered if she was hurt.

Just then, a very pretty and cute-looking person—a girl, as far as Jiang Zuo could tell—ignored Su Qi and charged straight for the Blood Demons.

Su Qi was then helped to her feet by someone behind her, and she joined the charge.

Jiang Zuo watched as the others battled the Blood Demons, while Su Qi just held the Saintess, shouting in concern.

Jiang Zuo couldn’t hear her, but just from watching, he knew with absolute certainty: Su Qi was a Holy Land Disciple.

This was truly unexpected, and it completely disrupted many of his plans and preparations.

Finally, seeing Su Qi’s heartbroken expression, Jiang Zuo pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. ’Fine, fine. The Holy Land is lucky this time.’

With a wave of his hand, the spectral figure vanished, and a circular Array appeared behind him.

Jiang Zuo sketched a Rune. "Refract. Project."

A massive, circular Array then materialized above Su Qi and the others. Su Qi, the Saintess, a few other Holy Land Disciples, and the surrounding Blood Demons were instantly enveloped by it.

No one knew what was happening, but it all occurred too fast for anyone to resist.

’I’ll deal with you when we get back,’ he thought. ’Tripping while running on flat ground...’

With a flash of light, everyone beneath the Array vanished.