The spider silk increased in number, and Hou Yuxiao's speed in wielding the Canglong Staff decreased more and more. His movement was restricted, causing pauses, and whenever the spider demon exerted force, his actions would inevitably distort, even pulling him towards the spider demon.

Seeming to see the hope of victory, the spider demon's actions became more violent. Strong demonic power adhered to the spider silk, continuously pulling Hou Yuxiao and the Demon Ape Martial Spirit behind him closer. In less than a moment, the distance between them was reduced to less than a dozen miles.

This distance, for these two colossal beings, was almost a close embrace.

Suddenly, the spider demon opened its huge mouth, and a thick green toxin, the same color as its skin, gathered slowly from its throat. The poison emitted a strong demonic aura and, upon reaching its mouth, formed into a ball of green light.

Bang...

With a roar from the spider demon, the green light ball shot out like a cannonball, tearing through ancient tree space, heading straight for the Demon Ape Martial Spirit of Hou Yuxiao. Not only was it fast, but wherever it passed, everything was corroded into black fissures. Before it even reached Hou Yuxiao's face, it had already destroyed half of the ancient tree space.

This was a strike meant to take his life!

Hou Yuxiao furrowed his brow, a shadow of malevolence flashing across his face.

He quickly gathered his Sea of Consciousness, and torrents of black-gray substance burst out, instantly covering the Canglong Staff. The spider silk wrapped around the staff was immediately scorched by the substance, emitting black smoke. There were no flames, but the thick smoke followed the spider silk back towards the spider demon's body.

More precisely, it was heading towards the abdomen where it spun its silk.

This black-gray substance differed from what he used before. The substance Hou Yuxiao gathered now was endless, and if it was like fire, the spider silk would be like cotton; the moment they met, it would ignite fiercely.

"Sikong Yue let me in just to see this scene!"

The black-gray substance scorched the spider demon's body instantly. Just like every time Hou Yuxiao used this against demons before, even though this spider demon was a second rank, once touched by the substance, it inevitably began to dissolve.

Roar...

The spider demon's blood-red eyes now only showed panic and fear. Its eight limbs beat against its body frantically, even cutting into its own flesh, as it desperately tried to rid itself of the black-gray substance.

Yet, after playing along with him for so long, how could Hou Yuxiao easily let go?

Hou Yuxiao thrust his body forward, the Canglong Staff coated in black-gray substance relentlessly attacking the spider demon. He dared not hold back in the slightest.

He could have escaped the spider silk long ago, but he didn't, waiting for this moment.

The spider demon's cultivation was ultimately higher than his own. In a distanced battle, with constant evasion, Hou Yuxiao couldn't deal effectively with the spider demon. This beast had brought him close with its silk, falling into his trap.

Bang... Bang... Bang... Bang...

In the ancient tree space, the sound of the staff striking flesh echoed endlessly, intermixed with the frantic roars of the spider demon. The towering Demon Ape, holding the Canglong Staff with black-gray light upon it, struck the spider demon from all angles. Each blow left a gruesome dent on its body.

The spider demon's frenzied howls changed nothing; its only advantage over Hou Yuxiao, its cultivation, now mattered little. The black-gray substance was too overwhelming, continuously burning its demon body and breaking down its demonic power. The black Demon Qi that once filled the air weakened to half its original presence as Hou Yuxiao's strikes persisted.

Moreover, it continued to wane...

Hou Yuxiao appeared frantic, but his eyes grew ever more lucid, watching the spider demon's body collapse. He hesitated multiple times, brow furrowed in thought.

Sikong Yue let him in here to slay the spider demon. If it's slain, the ancient tree could be unlocked, releasing over a hundred thousand demons.

If that's the case, should he kill it or not?

As this thought crossed his mind, Hou Yuxiao's face tightened, clarity flashing through his thoughts. Looking at the nearly dead spider demon, a glint of coldness arose in his eyes.

"Well done, Sikong Yue, well done!"

Without further hesitation, Hou Yuxiao raised his Canglong Staff, aiming it for the source of demonic power in the spider demon's abdomen, and struck fiercely.

Boom......

The source of demonic power, akin to the Star Sea Holy Core of a Sub-Saint of Martial Dao, its destruction meant death. The moment Hou Yuxiao's staff destroyed it, all of the spider demon's aura vanished completely.

Demonic power began to dissipate rapidly, and the demon body lost its vitality. Hou Yuxiao was quick to wave his hand, retrieving a light sphere from the spider demon's abdomen. He then took out another light sphere from his robe. Holding these two light spheres, he said nothing, sitting cross-legged.

"Once I leave, a storm might brew. The lifelong cultivation of these two second rank Undying Realm demons, let's see if there's a chance to break through in the limited time remaining!"

The ancient tree space hadn't changed from the death of the spider demon, yet Hou Yuxiao felt a pang of foreboding. Sikong Yue couldn't have lured him here without something happening.

Nothing has happened yet, but who knows what will!

......

Hou Yuxiao's guess was indeed correct.

The moment he killed the spider demon inside the ancient tree space, Sikong Xingzhou, outside the ancient tree space, ceased his battle with the Allied Saint.

When he stopped, all the saints attacking him also paused. On the other side, the Emperor of Jin, Zhuge Yuan, and the other saints all halted simultaneously.

Everyone followed Sikong Xingzhou's gaze and realized he was staring at the ancient tree. A look of joy slowly spread across his face.

"The Twinborn Lock has broken, Your Majesty. We can now open the Ten Thousand Demons Cave!"

Sikong Xingzhou's sudden statement left everyone stunned.

Twinborn Lock?

Great Emperor?

Eyes turned to Emperor of Jin Yuwen Dongdu, who also appeared puzzled, until they looked back at Sikong Xingzhou with uncertainty.

"Twinborn Lock!"

Zhuge Yuan exclaimed suddenly, seemingly realizing something. He glanced around at the stars imprisoning demons and focused on the chains binding them. Then, turning towards Sikong Xingzhou, he spoke gravely, "It is said that the work Mo Yunzi, the Divine Dynasty's National Teacher, was most proud of in his life was called the Eight-Armed Demon Spider Twinborn Lock. Although a tool, it was made of demon souls and had the form of a demon spider, with power comparable to a second rank Undying Realm demon. Its silk strands were the toughest materials in the world, able to trap both entities and permeate Martial Spirit's Sea of Consciousness. The chains imprisoning these demons are indeed the Twinborn Lock."

Sikong Xingzhou did not reply to him, but from afar, those who had escaped the Golden Light Passage with Hou Yuxiao burst into discussion. The leaders, like Chu Kuangren and others, turned pale.

The Twinborn Lock was unfamiliar.

But the words Eight-Armed Demon Spider immediately reminded them of the second rank Undying Realm spider demon they encountered in the Golden Light Passage, and Zhuge Yuan's description confirmed their suspicions that it was indeed the Eight-Armed Demon Spider Twinborn Lock.

"Hahaha, Sikong Yue, you've done well!"

As Chu Kuangren and his companions contemplated, a joyful laugh erupted nearby. They flinched, turning quickly to see it was Jiang Yuyun, who had seemed invisible throughout, now showing himself.

Jiang Yuyun was laughing...

Laughing at what?

Did Sikong Xingzhou just call him the Great Emperor?

But why did Jiang Yuyun call Sikong Xingzhou as Sikong Yue?

In an instant, many questions swirled in everyone's minds.

Yet as Jiang Yuyun's aura surged, their questions vanished, replaced by shock and terror...

"The Mandate of Heaven is in Yu, the Mandate of Heaven... is mine!"