"Thank you for stepping in, senior. I didn’t expect this Shadow Demon to have already reached a middle control level. Without your help, I’m afraid my strength alone wouldn’t have been a match for it..."

Su Changqing softly expressed gratitude to the woman beside him.

"Nightmare Shadow, this fellow counts as an advanced demonic species, with peak mid-level control. Fortunately, I recently broke through to an upper control level and can unleash a powerful Thunder Spell. The Star Pattern Talent also somewhat restrains it; otherwise, it really would have been difficult to deal with..."

Ziwei said while patting her chest.

"These demon clans are really troublesome... Even in a different world, they remain so bothersome."

The demon clan before them was already very strong, and coupled with their undying characteristic, it took quite some effort even for Ziwei herself to handle.

"This is the core of the Shadow Barrier. Another fifth-level demon species appeared just now. It seems the source of this event should be nearby. Can you sense anything different?"

Ziwei asked.

She had already investigated earlier but hadn’t discovered any clues. Initially, she thought that destroying the Nightmare Shadow would end the Shadow Barrier, but after waiting for a while, she noticed no signs of it dissipating, and it even seemed to be intensifying.

"The Shadow Barrier... has become even stronger... what’s happening here..."

In the scene, Brother Hero looked around at the increasingly dark surroundings, his heart beating wildly.

Having arrived at the barrier’s core location moments before, he gathered with several other controllers who came to assist. After witnessing Ziwei take out a fifth-level peak alien species, they couldn’t celebrate before the deepening Shadow Barrier indicated the incident hadn’t been resolved.

"Since even a fifth-level alien species isn’t the source of this incident, does that mean the real mastermind is somewhere else... Could it be... a new sixth-level alien species... or even a seventh-level..."

Everyone’s heart raced.

Since Ziwei’s divine sense couldn’t detect that being, it implied the opponent’s strength had at least reached an upper control level, with even harder battles awaiting them.

At this moment, Ziwei wore a serious expression and took out a small, tree branch-like object from her storage space.

After she infused it with some dark spiritual power and gently tossed it, the branch floated in the air, emitting a sacred white light and trembling at its tip as if sensing something.

"What is this...?"

Su Changqing asked curiously, unsure of what the senior was doing.

With a hint of pride, Ziwei responded:

"Hehe, this is a Light Tree Branch, a treasure from the Holy Angel Clan. I spent a lot of money to buy it from an interstellar mercenary. Initially, it seemed useless, and I thought I’d bought a fake. But later, Naphaya showed me a magic technique that allows the Light Tree Branch to find nearby hidden demonic species—it’s very effective!"

Ziwei spoke, looking expectantly at the little branch, but it kept trembling in mid-air without further action, leaving her puzzled.

"That’s strange, I’ve used it before, and it worked. Why isn’t it reacting now?"

"The Light Tree Branch can track the position of demon species..."

Su Changqing seemed deep in thought.

Although he was seeing such an item for the first time, Ziwei had already explained its purpose. Judging by the branch’s current behavior, it appeared the search was hindered in some way, thus unable to continue.

"If the Light Tree Branch can’t locate the demon species, it must be very powerful, likely an upper control level... Hey, Little Trickster, you’d better go to the Original Realm and call for Naphaya; dealing with a demon species of this level is best suited for him."

Little Trickster was a nickname Ziwei gave to Su Changqing.

In her eyes, Zhang Xiaoman was an undeniable Big Con Man, and naturally, his disciple Su Changqing became Little Trickster.

"Bring that one here...?"

Su Changqing hesitated before nodding.

Despite being reluctant to ask Naphaya for help, the situation wasn’t optimistic. If the mastermind behind all this truly was an upper control-level existence, confronting them with their current strength might be challenging.

Although Ziwei had reached an upper control level, her entry into this realm was recent, and she needed to consolidate it. If the Shadow Demon’s strength was too great, Ziwei might still not be its opponent.

Moreover, regardless, Naphaya, being from the Holy Angel Clan, inherently had abilities to counter the demon series aliens. With his intervention, the monster shouldn’t pose much of a problem.

"I’ll personally invite Naphaya over later, but we must first locate the hidden monster, senior Ziwei. Could you teach me how to use the Light Tree Branch? I’ll see if I can find the monster."

Ziwei looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Sure, but didn’t I just try? If you use it... will there be a difference?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Su Changqing nodded earnestly.

"Senior, I’m quite adept in the tracking domain. Rest assured, I’ll definitely find it!"

Seeing his determined demeanor, Ziwei, although curious, shared the technique to activate the Light Tree Branch.

This technique was simple to use, involving a few dark spirit sequences for control. Su Changqing quickly succeeded in activating it.

Completing the formula with his hands, he injected energy into the small branch, which immediately emitted a dazzling, radiant light, now appearing even more sacred.

"What’s going on?"

Seeing this, Ziwei couldn’t believe it. Why did the same technique, when used by him, cause such intense reactions from the branch?

Before she could comprehend, the branch trembled even more vigorously, its sacred light blazing like flames, seemingly ready to ignite at any moment.

"Ah! This seems like it’s overloading!"

Ziwei exclaimed, her expression full of concern for the Light Tree Branch.

Su Changqing noticed something was amiss, but once the arrow is drawn it must go off the bowstring, especially since it’s already shot, he couldn’t stop.

Under their attentive watch, the small branch trembled increasingly until its sacred light indeed transformed into flames, wholly engulfing it.

"The branch got burned!"

Ziwei hurriedly reached out to save her treasure, but upon holding it, found it had turned into a lifeless twig, devoid of spiritual energy.

"Little Trickster! I really didn’t name you wrong! You truly are a Little Trickster!"

Ziwei lamented.

If she’d known his way, she’d never have lent it!

Su Changqing felt a bit embarrassed. He hadn’t expected the branch to overload and burn out; it was truly beyond his expectations.

Thankfully, Ziwei’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain. Through the Light Tree Branch’s overload, it finally pointed in a direction at the last moment. A thin, pure white beam of light pierced the shadows, disappearing into that location.