Zhang Chen glanced at Zhou Qiucheng upon hearing this, a trace of inexplicable emotion in his eyes.
Zhou Qiucheng never intended to save the masses within Jinling City; he merely wanted to rescue the aristocracy of Jinling City.
Upon hearing Zhou Qiucheng’s words, Zhang Chen sighed quietly, "The aristocracy within Jinling City is of no use to me. They all look down on me as a commoner. Why should I save them? Moreover, trying to lead so many people out of the demon race’s encirclement is no small task. Sir, you overestimate me. Trying to take these people out might require a great sacrifice. Could it be that sir thinks I have nothing better to do?"
Hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Zhou Qiucheng could only offer a bitter smile, recalling the time when Prince Pingyang had scolded Zhang Chen, leaving him speechless.
He felt ashamed and naturally could not continue to ask for help.
Seeing this, Zhang Chen nodded, thinking Zhou Qiucheng was still salvageable. Then he continued to harvest the evil spirits returning from the other dimension. As Zhang Chen imprisoned more and more of these spirits, his Ice Hell grew stronger.
By the time no more evil spirits emerged from the alternate space, a day had passed.
At this moment, the Blood Sea Array was silent. Zhang Chen stood in the void, surrounded by the churning sea of blood, resembling an Asura emerging from the sea of blood while overlooking the world.
As the sea of blood regained its calm, the void also began to stabilize. Zhang Chen’s gaze shifted to the alternate space, his eyes quietly watching the seemingly calm space:
"Are you not coming out yet?"
"You can actually detect my presence. Quite impressive!"
At this moment, a distortion appeared in the void before Zhang Chen, and a head shrouded in black mist emerged from the other dimension.
The alternate dimension rippled like water, and Zhang Chen’s gaze fixed intently on the head, leaving him momentarily stunned.
It was indeed a head, but it had no facial features.
Just a pitch-black sphere with a neck, its featureless surface rippling like water waves, reminiscent of the initial appearance of the main antagonist in the TV series "Shi Gandang."
"No wonder it made me shudder; its abilities are indeed overwhelming. So it was my most crucial part, the head," remarked the Great Freedom Celestial Demon in realization.
"Young one, I sensed my body’s aura on you. Since you’ve mastered parts of my body, you should know the origin and power of this ancestor. Hand over my body parts, and I’ll let you leave. If not, today will be your death anniversary, and this place your burial ground." The demon head twisted, gradually extending limbs, its eyes gazing down at Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen didn’t move and instead fixed his gaze on the demon head, activating his Soul Hooking and Soul Stealing skill:
[Detected Target]
[Status: Already Resurrected, Impossible to Possess!]
"Already resurrected? Indeed, they could already influence the outside world. Resurrection seems no great difficulty." Thoughts flickered through Zhang Chen’s mind, a sudden foreboding arising as he thought of Zhou Qiucheng.
If anyone in the Exquisite Tower was most likely to fall prey to the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, it would probably be Zhou Qiucheng.
First, Zhou Qiucheng was the master of the Exquisite Tower, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit linked to it, then he transformed the Exquisite Tower into a Divine Country, effectively integrating the demon’s head into his Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
"Could it be?" An unease arose in Zhang Chen’s heart.
"If you obediently surrender, I’ll pardon you. Otherwise, since I can suppress your body, I can certainly subdue you." Zhang Chen’s voice carried an air of intimidation.
The Great Freedom Celestial Demon head knew the stakes. Since Zhang Chen could subdue his other body parts, he must have a way to counter him. Hence, he had been hiding in the other dimension for security, intending to escape after Zhang Chen left to regain strength. Yet, his whereabouts had already been uncovered by Zhang Chen.
"Arrogant brat, you know nothing of this ancestor’s skills! How dare you boast? Today you’ll witness my power. Once I subdue you and consume my body, I will achieve Merit Perfection, reaching a new level of strength!"
The Great Freedom Celestial Demon head roared angrily and suddenly transformed into a stream of light, crashing towards Zhou Qiucheng.
Zhang Chen didn’t intercept because he knew if Zhou Qiucheng were invaded by the demon, he couldn’t stop it, allowing the demon to enter Zhou Qiucheng’s body.
But after the demon completed the invasion, it emerged again, cursing in disbelief at Zhou Qiucheng: "How could this be! He’s become a mortal!!!"
The demon invading a mortal could only become a mere distraction, unable to exert any Extraordinary Power.
At this moment, Zhou Qiucheng changed into the flesh and blood of a mortal. He only saw Zhang Chen speaking to the air, unable to see the body of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon. He suddenly felt his body turn cold. His eyes looked towards the muttering Zhang Chen: "Who are you talking to?"
Zhou Qiucheng was not a fool; he instinctively sensed something was off.
Zhang Chen ignored Zhou Qiucheng and looked at the head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon. It turned out that the one infiltrating and parasitizing was indeed Zhou Qiucheng.
For him, the best option now was to cut down Zhou Qiucheng. By then, the head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon would lose its host and could be directly marked by him. Then a set of Soul Hook chains could make the other party work for him.
But could Zhang Chen really kill Zhou Qiucheng?
"Useless! How could you waste your cultivation?" The head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon cursed Zhou Qiucheng furiously.
Countless thoughts raced through Zhang Chen’s mind, and ultimately he turned his gaze to his own Great Freedom Celestial Demon: "I can assist you with True God Golden Light; do you think you have a chance to devour him?"
The Great Freedom Celestial Demon smiled bitterly upon hearing this: "It’s a head. It naturally suppresses me. How can I defeat it?"
"Now is our only chance to suppress it. Once Zhou Qiucheng leaves here and regains his lost power, the head could contact people outside. When it spreads out, it would be difficult for us to subdue it." Zhang Chen said to the Great Freedom Celestial Demon.
The Great Freedom Celestial Demon knew the urgency of the situation as its eyes spun, seemingly pondering something.
Meanwhile, the Great Freedom Celestial Demon continued cursing ceaselessly around Zhou Qiucheng’s head:
"You loser! I guided you into the Divine Dao and even established a Divine Country, but you were so disappointing, directly dissipating your cultivation to become a mortal. You truly deserve death!"
"Awful! How could you become a mortal!!!"
The head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon was collapsing mentally. It thought after being born, it could possess Zhou Qiucheng and slaughter everywhere, thus starting its heaven-defying journey. But who knew such a thing would happen?
Zhang Chen looked at his own Great Freedom Celestial Demon. It probably had no way left. From now on, everything would depend on himself.
"I don’t know if my Ice Hell can mark the head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon." Zhang Chen had a flash of thought.
Since he knew the body of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon was inside the Exquisite Tower, how could he not prepare?
Thinking of this, Zhang Chen sighed as he approached Zhou Qiucheng: "Sir, you were schemed by the Ancient Demon."
"I was schemed by the Ancient Demon?" Zhou Qiucheng was taken aback upon hearing this, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Kid, I’m going to possess your body. Your body is mine!" Seeing it could not control Zhou Qiucheng, the head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon flashed next moment, its body twisting and lunging toward Zhang Chen.
Ice Hell opened around Zhang Chen; the head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon seemed to sense danger and paused at the critical moment, retreating like a frightened mouse.
"Sir, excuse me!" Zhang Chen extended his hand toward Zhou Qiucheng and then threw him into the Ice Hell.
The head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon did not enter Zhang Chen’s Ice Hell, but it was fine. Since it’s bound with Zhou Qiucheng, if Zhou Qiucheng entered the Ice Hell, it naturally equaled the head as well.
Zhou Qiucheng was suppressed inside the Ice Hell, instantly marked by it, and then Zhang Chen carefully sensed the Ice Hell. He saw it twisting, and the cage trapping Zhou Qiucheng suddenly transformed into two: one for Zhou Qiucheng himself and another for the head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon.
However, in the next moment, the head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon flashed and jumped out lively from the Ice Hell, landing before Zhang Chen, shouting: "Kid, you can’t confine me! Such a trivial means, how can they affect me? Watch me devour the Celestial Demon in your body, possess your flesh, and make you suffer consequences."
The head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon flew up, aiming at Zhang Chen’s Forehead Ancestral Acupoint. True God Golden Light flashed, bouncing the head away, causing Zhang Chen to frown: "The Ice Hell can’t confine this fellow?"
The Ice Hell had already marked it, but this fellow mastered the Law of Void, unaffected by the Ice Hell’s cage.
"What is this power? It can directly harm me?" The head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon showed a look of horror and disbelief.
Since the birth of the Celestial Demon Race, apart from mental defeat, they were immune to all attacks. But now, there was a force capable of directly attacking its body. How could it not be shocked?
"No wonder you can suppress part of my body. You have mastered the power that restrains my Celestial Demon Race. With this, I cannot let you remain!" The head of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon was anxious now.