Chapter 372: Desperate Situation, Bai Chongming Dies in Battle

"chaos bell—Chaos Cage!"

The chaos bell emerged once again, its tolling sound melodious.

Dong—

The bodies of countless Cultivators were frozen in place, and the Alliance Cultivators seized the opportunity to slay the traitorous Cultivators.

Even some traitorous Cultivators who wanted to self-detonate were forcibly interrupted.

In a mere fifteen minutes, the situation became completely one-sided, and the entire field fell into a deathly silence once more.

Such a battle achievement was simply unheard of.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

Ghost Venerable roared, his eyes filled with madness.

He hadn't expected the situation to deteriorate so rapidly.

A battle that was originally a guaranteed victory had been completely reversed because of a junior at the First Layer of the Venerable Realm.

"Bai Chongming, you just wait!"

Ghost Venerable gritted his teeth: "Today's grudge will be repaid in the future!"

He knew that if he continued to fight, he would follow in the footsteps of Jiang Fantian and Ying Hantian.

Therefore, he chose to flee.

"Ghost Soul Escape Art—Go!"

His body turned into a wisp of black smoke and instantly disappeared into the Void Realm.

Bai Chongming wanted to give chase, but it was already too late.

"A pity…"

He shook his head and sighed.

However, forcing back an expert of the Tenth Layer of the Venerable Realm was already a massive victory.

Just then, another sky-shaking demonic roar came from deep within the Return to Ruins.

Roar—

Terrifying Devilish Qi gushed out from the cracks in the Seal, even more violent than before.

Countless cracks appeared on the surface of the Seal.

Clearly, the Demon Lord had already sensed the battle situation outside.

He was accelerating his assault on the Seal.

"Not good!"

Bai Chongming's expression changed drastically: "The Seal can't hold!"

"In one hour at most, the Seal will completely collapse!"

Everyone's expression changed.

One hour…

This bit of time was simply not enough for them to make any preparations.

However, before the hundreds of thousands of Alliance Cultivators present could celebrate, they witnessed a scene that shocked them.

The Cultivators of Chaos Academy suddenly began to frantically attack their fellow Alliance members beside them.

The Disciples of Taixu Academy also raised their butcher knives, slashing at their own comrades.

Xuan Yuan Academy, Tianji Academy…

Cultivators from several academies defected simultaneously!

"How is this possible?!"

Zhou Chen's eyes widened, completely unable to believe the scene before him.

These academies were all top-tier powers of the Tianxuan Continent.

How could they suddenly defect?

"Hahaha!"

Daoist Hunyuan laughed wildly: "Everyone, what are you waiting for?"

"Lord Demon Lord is about to descend; he who understands the times is a wise man!"

"Surrender now, and you can still save your lives!"

"Otherwise…"

A flash of killing intent crossed his eyes: "There is only the path to death!"

It turned out that Daoist Hunyuan had long been bought over by the Demon Lord.

Not just him, but also Ling Xiaozi of Taixu Academy, Immortal Master Xuanji of Xuan Yuan Academy, and Heavenly Secret Child of Tianji Academy…

These high-level members of the academies had all been secretly bought over by the Demon Lord.

They had long planned to defect at the critical moment.

Now, the time had come.

"Damn it!"

Bai Chongming roared: "You traitors!"

"The Tianxuan Continent nurtured you, and yet you actually side with the demons?!"

"Shameful! Hateful!"

Daoist Hunyuan sneered: "Bai Chongming, you are too naive."

"Tianxuan Continent? What does that count for?"

"Only by siding with Lord Demon Lord can one obtain eternal life!"

"Why do you think we were able to Cultivate to the Ninth and Tenth Layers of the Venerable Realm?"

"It was all the gift of Lord Demon Lord!"

"The demons can provide us with Evil Spirit Crystals. In the academies, no matter how many resources there are, they are always prioritized for those with connections!"

"Without Evil Spirit Crystals, we would never be able to Breakthrough!"

As soon as he finished speaking, countless defecting Cultivators attacked simultaneously.

The Alliance army instantly fell into chaos.

The battle situation, which was originally evenly matched, collapsed instantly because of the defection.

Countless Cultivators were sneak-attacked by their own comrades and died tragically on the spot.

Blood dyed the sky red.

"Zhou Chen, leave quickly!"

Bai Chongming roared, rushing to Zhou Chen's side.

"Things have come to this; we have already lost!"

"You are the hope of Jixia Academy; you absolutely cannot die here!"

"Go!"

He circulated all his spiritual energy, and his body began to burn.

This was a forbidden technique that burned one's Lifespan and cultivation!

"Vice Palace Master, don't!"

Zhou Chen cried out.

But Bai Chongming had already made up his mind.

"Zhou Chen, remember my words."

Bai Chongming said in a low voice: "Return to Jixia Academy and tell the Academy Libationer about the situation here."

"Tell him to beware of traitors!"

"And…"

He paused: "If there is a chance, you must avenge me!"

After saying that, the aura on his body surged.

Buzz.

Tenth Layer of the Venerable Realm!

After burning his Lifespan and cultivation, Bai Chongming's strength temporarily broke through to the Tenth Layer of the Venerable Realm.

"Get—lost!"

He struck out with a palm, and a terrifying palm print blasted toward Daoist Hunyuan and the others.

Daoist Hunyuan and the others' expressions changed drastically, and they hastily retreated.

Bai Chongming took the opportunity to grab Zhou Chen and activate a secret method.

"Space—Shift!"

A spatial rift appeared, forcibly sending Zhou Chen away.

"Vice Palace Master—"

Zhou Chen roared, his eyes full of unwillingness.

But the spatial rift had already closed, and he disappeared from the battlefield.

"Damn it…"

Daoist Hunyuan gritted his teeth: "Bai Chongming, you're looking for death!"

Several Venerable Realm Experts attacked simultaneously, charging toward Bai Chongming.

Bai Chongming knew he was certain to die, but he did not shrink back.

"Come on!"

"Even if I die, I'll take a few of you down with me!"

He activated the forbidden technique, and his body burned completely.

Boom!

A terrifying self-detonation enveloped all the several Venerable Realm Experts.

Daoist Hunyuan and the others were terrified and hastily circulated all their spiritual energy to resist.

But Bai Chongming had burned all his Lifespan and cultivation; the power of this strike had reached the Peak of what the Tenth Layer of the Venerable Realm could achieve.

Rumble—

With a world-shaking explosion, the entire battlefield trembled.

The dust cleared.

Bai Chongming's figure had completely vanished.

Although Daoist Hunyuan and the others survived, they were also heavily injured.

"That damned Bai Chongming…"

Daoist Hunyuan spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes full of rage.

—

Jixia Academy, Great Hall.

A spatial rift suddenly appeared, and Zhou Chen's figure tumbled out.

He was covered in blood, and his aura was withered to the extreme.

"Zhou Chen?!"

In the Great Hall, the Jixia Academy Libationer and the various Elders were all shocked.

"How did you return?"

"What is the battle situation at the Return to Ruins?"

Zhou Chen struggled to stand up and said through gritted teeth: "Libationer, something terrible has happened!"

"Chaos Academy, Taixu Academy, Xuan Yuan Academy, Tianji Academy…"

"They have all defected!"

"They were bought over by the Demon Lord long ago and defected at the critical moment, causing the Alliance army to collapse!"

"To send me back, Vice Palace Master Bai burned his Lifespan and cultivation, dying in a self-detonation!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone's eyes widened, completely unable to believe it.

"What?!"

The Jixia Academy Libationer stood up abruptly: "Chaos Academy and the others defected?!"

"How is this possible?!"

Zhou Chen gritted his teeth: "It is absolutely true!"

"I saw with my own eyes Daoist Hunyuan and the others suddenly defect and slay their Alliance comrades, seemingly saying that the demons could provide them with something called Evil Spirit Crystals."

"Now, the Return to Ruins has likely already fallen."