Chapter 352 - The Tongue's Owner

Under Su Mei’s gaze, Meng Qi stomped toward the hole with exaggerated bravado. His love for her filled him with unyielding strength, and he resolved to face every threat head-on.

Han Wu remained only an observer, yet he bolstered Meng Qi with the Silver Strength buff to heighten his defense. He also unleashed the Life Dragon Domain, channeling Life Energy into Meng Qi in case he sustained injuries.

Though swept up by love, Meng Qi had not lost his reason. He unleashed his demonoid form to heighten his potential, then activated every defensive Skill at his disposal—Golden Bell, Yellow Imperial Jacket, Dragon Armor, Bronze Skin, Iron Bones, and Indomitable Vajra. Layer upon layer of protection transformed him into a walking fortress. With deliberate steps, he approached the hole and signaled for the others to prepare.

The tongue’s owner struck the instant Meng Qi entered its range. The tongue whipped forward like an arrow, aiming straight for his chest.

A sharp chime rang out as the tongue collided with the Golden Bell barrier. The impact was so powerful it cracked the bell and pierced through it, each reverberation echoing as the tongue drove deeper. Only when it slammed against Meng Qi’s chest did it meet true resistance.

His body was harder than the Golden Bell itself, and the collision rebounded the force. The damage snapped back at the attacker and tore open several gashes along the tongue. Numbness spread through the wounds, and the tongue slumped heavily to the ground.

Han Wu and the rest finally saw their chance and attacked at the same time. Su Mei used Succubus Descend and released a heart-shaped burst of energy that ensnared the tongue. Its owner faltered, sluggish under the sudden seduction. Leng Ning transformed and used the Eight Path Frost Domain and sent a storm of razor ice that froze the tongue solid. Xue Qian followed with Shadow Demon Descend, conjuring ropes of shadow that coiled around the tongue and held it fast.

Sensing the strength of its foes, the demon fought to retract its tongue into the cave. It shook off the enchantment and ice, then pulled the tongue back inch by inch.

Han Wu answered with a barrage of Dragon Fireballs. Black flames spread across the tongue as it caught fire. Already wounded from their earlier strikes, the tongue now writhed in agony under the searing torment. Like a black whip, it thrashed wildly and struck everything nearby.

Han Wu used Dragon Shield and blocked every strike as he advanced toward the hole. He peered inside but found his sight still obscured by the demonic aura and thick miasma.

Even so, he sensed the faint outline of his black flames. They had stopped spreading and now consumed the demon’s entire body. From what he could discern, the demon was humanoid with no distinct features apart from a tongue that stretched nearly 100 meters.

In the Hell Civilization, a demon’s power usually matched its size, and smaller ones were generally weaker. Nevertheless, Han Wu had not expected the Hell Civilization to assign only a single demon of this level to guard the entrance during its invasion.

The flames had already engulfed the creature, and Han Wu knew he only needed to wait. After half a minute, the demon was finished. Its immense tongue dropped to the ground, charred and twisted like a blackened wooden club.

“It’s done,” Han Wu announced.

His companions erupted in cheers. Only then did they move closer to the hole. They studied the burnt tongue with unease, knowing it had taken nearly their full strength to subdue it.

Meng Qi chuckled. “I am invincible! That tongue couldn’t pierce me!”

Leng Ning rolled her eyes, while Su Mei offered tempered praise. “Meng Qi, you’ve truly changed my opinion of you.”

Meng Qi grinned like a fool. Xue Qian peered into the hole, but the darkness revealed nothing. His curiosity sharpened, and he knew that if they meant to restore the seal, they would have to investigate further.

“Let me check first. I can turn invisible and even transform into a Shadow Demon to blend into the shadows. I’m confident I can escape if anything is waiting inside,” Xue Qian offered.

After spending days with Han Wu, Xue Qian had grown thoroughly impressed by his strength and willingly accepted him as their leader.

Han Wu considered the proposal and nodded. Xue Qian was right: an assassin or rogue was best suited for reconnaissance.

With his approval, Xue Qian leapt into the hole to begin his investigation, while the others waited above.

During the lull, Han Wu turned to Su Mei to learn more about the history of the Demonic Miasma Forest. She spoke candidly. Legends claimed the forest and the Violet Demon Academy had existed for nearly 1,000 years. More precisely, the academy had been constructed to contain the Demonic Miasma Forest.

As a Survival Site, the forest teemed with danger and opportunity. It nurtured rare herbs and treasures found nowhere else. These resources enabled the Violet Demon Academy to cultivate exceptional students who could evolve into demons. This advantage had kept the academy the strongest of its kind.

Su Mei spoke without pause. “According to legend, the academy’s first principal is buried here...”

Her innocent remark set off alarm bells in Han Wu’s mind. “Wait! Do you know exactly where he’s buried?”

Su Mei unfolded a map and indicated the principal’s tomb—just a few hundred meters from their position.

Han Wu felt a chill run down his spine. The tomb’s proximity to the hole unnerved him, and his concern deepened when he realized Xue Qian had been inside for over an hour without returning. Could the space beneath the hole really be that vast?

He shared his concern, and the others grew uneasy. Something was definitely wrong.

“It seems we’ll have to go down and investigate ourselves,” Han Wu decided, setting the next course of action.