Shane’s "Outer Destiny" truly was extraordinary.
After fusing many skills and reaching Level 10, it wasn’t just the barrier of the Elf Country that couldn’t stop his Instant Teleportation, even the Magic Power from the Demon Refining Ceremony that completely isolated the inside from the outside failed to block Shane.
Therefore, Shane effortlessly invaded the interior of the ritual and entered the cave.
Only upon entering did Shane realize the Magic Power here was so evil and dense that it was far beyond anything he had experienced before.
"What evil Magic Power," Shane murmured with a frown, "The malice contained within this Magic Power is almost on par with the Evil Energy from the Dark Temple where Lilith was sealed, isn’t it?"
This was a grave matter indeed.
"The Magic Power is so wicked that it’s not just the demons and the Demon Clan that might be affected, even the Human Race and the Divine Race could be influenced upon coming here. If they stayed for an extended period, mental disturbances might well arise," Lide said gravely, "It seems this place has been here for a very long time, likely a fixed ritual site constructed by the Primordial Demon."
Taiger Forest, as the largest Monster Forest in the Human Realm, naturally wouldn’t be ignored by the Primordial Demon as a hunting ground.
Even as the Demon Clan and Elf Clan constantly monitored Taiger Forest and repeatedly thwarted the Demon Refining Ceremonies occurring here, the enemy kept on coming.
They didn’t aim for every ritual to succeed, but if just one out of ten did, it was still deemed a gain.
After all, apart from Taiger Forest, it was hard to locate another ritual site that was both easy to conceal and full of such powerful demons. As long as the Primordial Demon’s goal was to create the Seventh Demon, to bring forth a second Demon King, they wouldn’t resist the allure of holding ceremonies in Taiger Forest.
In such a circumstance, it was perfectly natural for the enemy to establish a very secretive, fixed ritual site within Taiger Forest.
Although they had to move slowly and cautiously in collecting the demons, letting them slaughter each other to become refined for the ritual, to not draw the attention of the Demon and Elf Clans, it was a certain win if they could continue this unnoticed over time. Eventually, many quality sacrifices would arise.
In the shadows, they slowly collected sacrifices, while every so often, they provoked larger disturbances by holding public ceremonies, reaping a substantial harvest every now and then, inching forward their progress—it was presumably the strategy of the Primordial Demon.
"It seems we’ve really caught a big fish this time," Lide said, a touch excited, but then a thought occurred to her, and she asked Shane, "Right, you’re okay staying here, aren’t you?"
Lide’s implication was clear—she was worried if the evil Magic Power present would affect Shane.
With Magic Power so vile, even Lide was a bit concerned Shane might be affected.
She did not expect...
"I’m not afraid of Lilith’s Evil Energy, so why would I be afraid of the Magic Power here?" Shane scoffed.
Of course, the situation here was different from when he faced Lilith.
Lilith’s Evil Energy was terrifying, but she was a Goddess and could wield the Evil Energy herself, which posed no threat to Shane, who possessed the "Supreme God’s Blessing."
That wasn’t the case here though, as the local Magic Power had nothing to do with the authorities of the Divine Race, and Shane’s Blessing couldn’t help him.
But even without the protective Blessing, Shane was guarded by his "Inner Destiny."
Under the protection of "Inner Destiny," nothing short of a negative state above the Transcend Level could harm Shane.
And even at that level, his "Inner Destiny" would gradually build resistance to the negative state with repeated exposure over time.
In other words, in such an environment that slowly affected others, it was nearly impossible for Shane to be in danger.
As time went on, Shane’s tolerance to this place’s evil Magic Power would only grow higher and stronger; such progressive damage was being completely countered by "Inner Destiny."
Thus, without needing to unseal Holy Sword and rely on its power to be fully immune to negative states, Shane was able to move freely as if he owned the place.
"That’s good to hear," Lide said, finally relieved.
Just then, some noises came from ahead.
"Thump... thump... thump... thump..."
A barely discernible but heavy thudding steps, accompanied by a slight vibration of the ground, emerged in this area.
At the same time, an even stronger aura of evil Magic Power wafted out from the cave.
Both Shane and Lide’s expressions changed simultaneously as they looked up toward the depths of the cave.
Inside the cave lay a swath of darkness that was somewhat horrifying.
Devoid of light, pitch-black to the point where you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, almost nothing was visible.
Shane, with his "Outer Destiny" Perceptive Ability, had his Six Senses enhanced and was able to see freely even in this darkness.
Lide didn’t seem affected either, her gaze intently focused ahead.
They said nothing, simply watching quietly.
Until a gigantic figure emerged from the darkness ahead and came into view of both Shane and Lide.
Upon seeing the figure, both were astonished.
Because it was something both were very familiar with.
The massive shadow emerging from the darkness was indeed a Refined Demon.
It possessed eight completely different legs, some like those of a cow, others resembling those of a horse, tiger, or leopard, with varying lengths, moving in strange and awkward motions.
Its body was also a patchwork, with several heads that had become unrecognizable.
And its stature was monstrously large— at least ten meters tall.
A horrifying and indistinct roar erupted from its many mouths, forming a painful din, like a wave of sound, setting the surroundings vibrating.
"Quite the specimen..."
"Is there really such a huge demon refining?"
Even Lide couldn’t hide his surprise.
The demon they were facing was the largest and most chaotic one they had ever seen. Judging by its size and the indistinguishable amalgamation of various demons’ bodies that made up its form, it appeared to have undergone numerous devouring and fusions to have become what it was now.
Moreover, its aura was so powerful and its magic power so immense that neither Shane nor Lide had ever come across anything like it.
Lide almost instantly understood.
"Be careful! That’s definitely a refined demon that has fused with a legendary-level creature!"
Lide shouted a warning.
But almost at the same moment Lide spoke, the massive refined demon moved.
With a thunderous roar, all of the numerous heads of the giant troll opened their mouths and spewed out a barrage of attacks.
Contained within those attacks were lightning, flames, ice, floods, and even poisonous gases.
They came densely packed, and an onslaught of magical breaths bombarded Shane’s location, instantly engulfing and ravaging the area, leaving it battered and destroyed.
Had it not been for the demon refining ceremony creating a barrier between the inside and outside worlds, the troll’s breath attack would have already shattered the cave and swept to the outside, right?
Without a doubt, this was a legendary-level attack power.
If hit by such an attack, one would instantly be reduced to ashes, not even a drop of blood would remain.
But, hitting Shane was not such an easy task.
Shane suddenly appeared in mid-air, not floating up but rather falling towards the direction of the giant troll.
Lide had already leaped away from Shane’s head.
The Holy Sword too, fell into Shane’s palm.
Following gravity like a free fall, Shane descended towards the back of the giant troll.
The next moment, accompanied by a buzzing sound, Shane’s Holy Sword radiated a brilliant glow.
Seeing this radiance, Lide couldn’t help but utter a sound of surprise.
But Shane had already lifted the Holy Sword high, carrying the glow with him.
The radiance turned into sword light, falling like a sharp crescent moon.
In a crisp sound like fabric tearing, the sword light sliced through the giant troll’s body, cutting into its huge frame and severing several of its writhing heads and some of its strange limbs.
The giant troll howled in pain.
However, while howling, a burst of poisonous gas spewed out from the wounds of the giant troll, instantly enveloping the surrounding area.
Shane was about to deliver a second strike and had not anticipated this turn of events, and in an unguarded moment, his body was touched by the poison gas.
In the blink of an eye, Shane’s clothes corroded, one of his sleeves vaporized on the spot, and his clothing was pitted with holes, making him look disheveled.
The giant troll roared again, as if ignited with ferocity. The remaining heads on its body burst forth from the flesh, with tentacle-like appendages, lunging towards Shane.
In an instant, Shane, who had been pushed back by the poison gas, found himself surrounded.
Shane didn’t hesitate and released a granting magic.
The target was the poisonous gas around him.
Upon it, Shane granted the property of "burning."
An explosion sounded suddenly.
The poisonous gas, gushing out from the wounds of the giant troll, ignited like tinder, transforming into roaring flames.
The lunging heads connected by flesh stalks were incinerated.
The stalks too caught fire, allowing the flames to climb onto the body of the giant troll.
The giant troll emitted a piercing howl, its whole frame enveloped in flames, being continuously burned.
On its body, the various heads also started to scream, and its many limbs writhed wildly, like dismembered parts struggling within the flames.
Shane leaped out of the flames, looking at the scene, an expression of disgust spreading across his face.
Lide also deeply furrowed his brow, but the look in his eyes became more and more solemn as he watched the giant troll.