Chapter 238: Chapter 237: A Bloody Massacre

"Not good... This aura is the stench of demons!" Elorie also sensed the approach of her nemesis. "How did this happen? There should still be about half a day left!"

According to historical records, the Holy Temple Treasure Vault was destroyed on June 1st.

They traveled day and night, tirelessly, to seize and rescue the matriarch Lucy before June arrived.

Perhaps history has already changed... in places unseen to them, Chen Xuan thought.

Is it because of Gustav’s death?

Or did Elorie’s warning to the organization lead to the demons catching wind of the plan?

Regardless of the reason, the change is very subtle, merely advancing the historical progress by half a day, and their plan still holds potential for success.

"No matter, since they’ve come, we’ll eliminate them here," Chen Xuan decisively said.

As he spoke, the door of the No. 1 warehouse burst open, and two figures stumbled in. One wore a lab coat, seemingly a researcher from the organization; the other wore a uniform, holding a machine gun, with blood-stained shoulders indicating serious injury.

"N21, N21!" the man in the lab coat shouted hoarsely.

"...It’s Professor Yuren, excuse me," Liuli floated forward, "I’m here."

"A group of bandits has broken in! This place is up to you; you must defend the treasure vault!" Professor Yuren shouted as he ran.

"If possible, please save my colleague!" yelled the guard who protected the professor’s escape. "The enemy’s firepower is fierce, and we were scattered!"

"And what about you two?"

"We’ll take refuge in the shelter. An emergency rescue signal has been sent, and reinforcements should arrive within an hour!" They huffed and puffed to the center of the hall, suddenly seeing Chen Xuan and the others. The intense stare-down created a momentary standoff.

"Uh... Hello?" Chen Xuan broke the silence.

"Who are they?!" the professor pointed at Chen Xuan and his group in shock, "N21! What’s going on here?"

"I think... they’re probably here for the treasure too?" Liuli answered frankly.

The professor’s face suddenly turned pale; he didn’t expect the treasure vault, ostensibly a hidden holy temple, to be busier than a marketplace with threats around every corner.

The guard, frightened, raised his gun, but there were three targets and he hesitated on whom to aim at first.

"Stop!" Elorie commanded with authority, revealing her white Light Wings.

Seeing this sight, the two immediately sighed with relief.

"So it’s the angel miss..." The professor patted his chest, still shaken. He was over sixty, and couldn’t withstand much fright, "May I know your name and organization?"

"It’s a secret, sorry I can’t disclose. The Angel Alliance anticipated today’s attack, which is why I’m here," Elorie said, clever under pressure. "Spare the talk, hide quickly. These enemies are beyond your ability to handle."

"Right... You’re absolutely right," the professor snapped out of it, nodding swiftly, "We’ll leave at once, not to trouble you further."

"Wait!" Elorie called out again, pointing to the No. 10 warehouse door, "Can you open this?"

"The No. 10 room?" Yuren showed some skepticism, "Of course not... Only angels of high-tier Heaven have the key to open it, didn’t you know?"

"I was just asking casually," she feigned impatience, waving her hand, "Alright, off you go."

The two reached a corner of the warehouse, somehow activated a mechanism, and the floor slid open, revealing a hidden staircase leading downward.

Once they went in, the floor sealed seamlessly, leaving no hint of the escape route.

"N21?" Chen Xuan glanced at Liuli.

The latter shrugged, "My designation. Very few inquire about my name; you’re an exception."

But she just mentioned... that naming depends on how others address her, thinking about it herself was of little importance.

Could it be I misunderstood?

The designation she mentioned was Liuli because she made up the name herself?

"I’ll continue calling you Liuli then," Chen Xuan said indifferently.

Her shoulder slightly twitched but said nothing.

Shortly after, dense footsteps echoed from the hall entrance.

A group of masked, armed men charged into the No. 1 warehouse.

"The treasure vault’s core has been controlled, no discovery—" the leader’s report was cut short, stunned to see Chen Xuan and the others just like the professor earlier.

The intruders couldn’t imagine meeting a bunch unrelated to the research staff and guards in the Holy Temple Treasure Vault.

However, such hesitation lasted barely two seconds; their professional skills quickly lifted the gun barrels intending to eliminate all living threats.

Chen Xuan, prepared, reacted even faster.

He summoned the Thousand Thoughts Sword, slashing toward the nearest glass pillar, tossing up a curious artifact inside—a long-stopped old-fashioned alarm clock.

The clock flew accurately towards a masked mercenary, who quickly seized it.

"He’s grabbing the artifact!" Chen Xuan shouted.

"What?" That man was slightly taken aback.

Liuli turned to smile at him, seemed to see through his thoughts, but the next second she still drew her blade.

Under the Divine Eye Technique’s observation, each of her movements was distinctly visible. Her left hand gripped the scabbard while the right gradually pulled out the slender blade, resembling a standard draw-cut stance.

But when the blade completely left its sheath, it abruptly vanished!

Hundreds of light red lines appeared in front of Liuli.

They crisscrossed and stretched rapidly, filling the entire hall within merely two seconds! Remarkably, these were "two seconds" under slow-motion perception, possibly equivalent to several nanoseconds in real time!

As these lines extended, they sliced the No. 1 treasure vault’s space into thousands of fragments.

The limits of Divine Eye Technique’s delay effect were reached.

Next, a flash of red light erupted briefly, unleashing a bloody storm in the hall; all intruders entangled by the red lines were diced into fist-sized chunks, matching the divided regions’ size! Even those not directly touched by the red lines couldn’t escape being torn apart, as if they weren’t thin lines but infinitely thin planes!

Thud thud.

Bodies fell, dark red blood instantly covered much of the floor. Not a single shot was fired by the first wave of intruders before meeting their end under Liuli’s blade.

My word, this exceeds what human sword techniques can achieve.

Though the Demon-slaying True Sword casts a mighty impression, it’s at the expense of life; it’s unfeasible to wield at whim. Yet she completed this move effortlessly, as if merely showing off.

Without Divine Eye Technique support, this strike would have been a blink’s worth.

No wonder there are rumors within the Angel Alliance about the Holy Temple Treasure Vault’s unbreakable reputation.

"It’s not over yet!" Despite being impressed by her sharp blade, Chen Xuan could still sense that the first wave of attackers were mere humans; demons were opting not to lead initially. Several dazzling Spiritual Energy Light Clusters lingered outside the hall until the first mercenaries perished, then they stormed into the hall.

The lights across the vault’s ceiling suddenly dimmed, as if being absorbed by something.

An elusive shadow cloud flashed in.

This time, Chen Xuan wouldn’t wait for Liuli to act first.

If all impressive moves are allowed, wouldn’t their morale be completely suppressed on their side?

Besides, since confronting Gustav, Chen Xuan discovered something unique—demons can recharge the Seed of Flesh and Blood. Although he hasn’t fully grasped the underlying mechanics, practice showed that the faceless insect-like humans inhabiting Paris ruins and demons of this era are categorized as "specific enemies."

Such a rare energizing opportunity, how could he let it slip away?

Chen Xuan directly equipped the Seed of Flesh and Blood three-piece set, clenched his fists towards the shadow cloud, "Decomposition and Re-Fusion!"