Li Xi waved his hand, and a large number of small lava fireballs shot from his palm towards the remaining five vampires. Having completed the Flame Demon inheritance, Li Xi found simple fire magic easy to control.
Facing Flame Demons that towered twenty meters tall, these vampires were like rabbits at the feet of an elephant. Dodging the dense fireballs, the great iron hammer, whistling through the air, pressed down on them relentlessly. The wind pressure alone from the hammer felt like stone walls crushing their chests. Their wide bat wings, like those of an eighty-year-old grandmother's faltering steps, made their movements clumsily urgent.
Despite the Flame Demon's massive size, every move and stance in combat was meticulously precise, like a professional martial arts master. The Flame Demon possessed extremely rich combat experience, yet the five vampires, who had long dwelled in the abyss, couldn't get close.
Although the entire bloodline race were dual cultivators of magic and martial arts, facing a high-level demon like the Flame Demon, whose defense could rival that of a dragon, their magic was best kept to themselves. They couldn't even penetrate its defenses. Especially during the brief pause when casting magic, they would be reduced to scattered bones and ashes.
Vampires, as a race, had excellent talent, capable of being warriors and spellcasters alike. However, it was difficult for them to reach the pinnacle in either, typically embodying mediocrity. Against ordinary opponents, they could gain an advantage through their dual cultivation. But against profoundly skilled, top-tier experts, this dual cultivation became a disadvantage.
His long arms swept out like pillars supporting the sky, as if someone were scooping fish from a river with a net. With a scream, one vampire, caught by its bat wing, was ripped off with a tearing sound. Precious blood scattered, and its body spun uncontrollably as it fell. Before the other vampires could even attempt a rescue, a whip-like leg, like a colossal ancient tree, kicked the severely wounded vampire into the sky. Of course, the scattered blood and unrecognizable bones and internal organs made it clear to everyone that even their ancestor Dracula couldn't save that vampire.
"Let's go and seek justice from our lord."
The remaining four vampires finally understood. Fighting this Flame Demon here was meaningless; their ultimate fate would be to be all killed. Therefore, seeking help from a superior was only natural.
Li Xi could catch up to the vampires if they sped up, but he couldn't annihilate all four. Killing one or two more would be insignificant. Thus, he let them escape.
"Esteemed Lord Litchard, the Flame Demon, I must remind you, the bloodline will not let this go unpunished." Lassi did not intervene in the recent battle. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he was incapable. In just a few breaths of combat, the ground was already covered in a layer of unfortunate demons crushed flat like pieces of paper.
Therefore, not only he, but other demons and insectoid soldiers on the battlefield also refrained from action. Those with quick legs had already fled far away, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire, just like the demons on the ground, who were now flattened.
Now that the battle was over, many lesser demons scurried over, crawling on the ground to devour the remains of the vampires. A level six vampire was a great delicacy for them, a potent tonic. Consuming a lot of it could lead to advancement.
"I am a Flame Demon, not a lesser demon. Dukes are nothing to me." Li Xi turned around, looking at the ongoing chaotic battle, his eyes fierce like a wolf's as he gazed at Lassi. "I helped you turn the tide of the battle. You must keep your word, or you will know what regret is."
"My lord, rest assured, we insectoid soldiers never lie."
Li Xi looked at the battlefield and let out a wild laugh. The tallest beings on the battlefield barely reached his waist, and the highest level was only rank five. In such an environment, he could do as he pleased. The idea of ants gnawing an elephant to death was impossible here.
He stepped on countless lesser demons without even noticing, his great hammer casually swinging to reap swaths of lives. This feeling of slaughter was exhilarating. Even the horned demons wielding greatswords, upon seeing Li Xi transformed into a Flame Demon, looked no better off than the vampires and quickly fled into the distance.
Li Xi leaped high into the air and, choosing the most densely populated area of demons, descended with a heavy hammer blow.
"Boom!"
All demons within a hundred-meter radius were sent flying high as if their feet had springs. Lesser demons below rank three couldn't withstand the immense force, spitting up fragments of their internal organs, and some even had white brain matter flowing from their eye sockets.
A wave of earth more than a meter high rolled outwards from where the great hammer landed. The rain of demon corpses was directly swept into the surge and pulverized into fragments.
Those demons who survived their fall and landed were not given time to celebrate their escape. They were immediately caught in the wave. Even if the rolling force couldn't completely crush them, it would severely injure them, rendering them incapable of further combat.
The Flame Demon that suddenly appeared not only wielded its weapon skillfully, but its incessant fire magic also caused the demons immense suffering.
Li Xi didn't choose powerful spells, only small lava fireballs. Like a diligent farmer sowing seeds, he hurled handfuls of small lava fireballs at the fleeing demons. Listening to the demons' shrill screams as they were incinerated, the Flame Demon, Li Xi, roared with a grim smile and increased the intensity of his slaughter.
Across the entire battlefield, one Flame Demon was chasing countless demons, but their speed was negligible in the Flame Demon's eyes. Who lived and who died depended solely on his judgment.
Many demons who had just emerged from the teleportation array witnessed the one-sided massacre. They were periodically sent flying high, clearing vast swathes of flat ground. Burning corpses with flames scattered everywhere, and in an instant, hundreds, even thousands, of demons wailed in agony and died. This was not the enjoyment of combat itself, but a direct confrontation with death.
Upon seeing the Flame Demon who was slaughtering indiscriminately, exuding an overwhelming killing intent, these newly arrived demons, disregarding the demons pouring out behind them with laughter, desperately ran back. If they couldn't run back, they killed the demons blocking their path. Returning meant survival; venturing further meant certain death!
Thus, before the abyss teleportation gate, demons who wanted to come out and those who wanted to go back crowded together. Before Li Xi could even make a move, they fell in droves.
Meanwhile, as Li Xi wildly swung his hammer, the four fleeing vampires arrived at a luxurious underground palace. A Duke vampire, clad in an expensive robe, was savoring a red liquid, his eyes slightly closed, a smile playing on his lips as if lost in the delicious drink.
"My Lord Duke, a Flame Demon suddenly appeared outside. Not only did it disrupt our plans, but it also killed four of our bloodline brothers."
Duke Leander did not open his eyes upon hearing this. He swayed the wine glass in his hand as if appreciating a beautiful melody. "Just a Flame Demon. Tell them on the other side to deal with it. It's a good opportunity to negotiate prices with that insect woman. It's getting boring just fighting like this."
The four vampires smiled, their fangs reflecting a cunning glint. "Yes."
On the battlefield, Li Xi continued his brutal slaughter. He didn't know how many demons he had killed, but he deliberately kept his distance from the abyss teleportation gate. He was waiting, waiting for an enemy of sufficient standing to appear.
If their plans were so easily disrupted that the vampires could still tolerate it, Li Xi would truly have underestimated them.
The vampires did not disappoint Li Xi. A Flame Demon, his equal in size and radiating death, broke through the chaotic throng of demons at the teleportation gate and charged directly at Li Xi.
Li Xi laughed heartily upon seeing the Flame Demon's arrival, feeling like his trap had finally caught its prey.
When he learned in the underground mercenary world that the evil god resided in the abyss, Li Xi set several personal goals for himself. One was to continue searching for Flame Demons and accumulate their bloodline.
The dragon and Flame Demon bloodlines within him were both upgradeable. After absorbing the complete bloodline of two Flame Demons, Li Xi obtained the full Flame Demon inheritance. If he continued to absorb, he would eventually evolve to the level of a Balor Flame Demon, a being capable of ruling a layer of the abyss and challenging deities.
However, Flame Demons were rarely seen in the main world. Therefore, to obtain sufficient Flame Demon bloodline, he had to come to the abyss!
The whistling wind and the oncoming storm made the lesser demons, who had been running for their lives, flee even faster. If one Flame Demon couldn't be avoided, how could two? The area was about to transform into a life-or-death duel ground for high-level demons. The pressure from their bloodline submission forced the lesser demons to dare not resist and could only flee.
A great hammer seemed to shatter space as it was hurled towards Li Xi's Flame Demon form. This was the newly arrived Flame Demon, overconfidently throwing its weapon at Li Xi. Li Xi easily dodged by lowering his body. His steps danced erratically, and in a few strides, he was behind the Flame Demon. His right hand swung the hammer at a speed several times faster than other Flame Demons.
*Bang!*
The sound of a watermelon exploding.
The Flame Demon, which had just emerged from the abyss teleportation array with imposing momentum, instantly turned into a headless corpse and fell to the ground.
"Hahahaha!"
Li Xi's wild laughter echoed throughout the battlefield. This laughter made Lassi and his kind feel like they were about to faint from happiness, while it struck terror into the hearts of the enemy demons, making them even more reluctant to face this immensely powerful Flame Demon.
Lassi truly hadn't expected this Flame Demon, who had suddenly fallen into their minor plane, to be so strong. He could defeat an opponent of the same level with just one move. No wonder he was so formidable against those arrogant bloodlines. If he had such strength, he would have long ago wiped out those pretentious bloodlines.
Lassi couldn't help but wonder, 'Has Lady Luck graced the abyss forsaken by the gods?'
After killing the Flame Demon, Li Xi continued to roam near the abyss teleportation gate, still swinging his great hammer. His diligent demeanor was not that of a demon, but rather of a farmer from the main world.
However, whether they were lesser demons or horned demons, if he saw them, he killed them. He didn't bother distinguishing if those he killed were on his side or not. It didn't matter if he killed the wrong ones; otherwise, people would call him a fake demon.
The four vampires observing the battlefield from afar, after witnessing Li Xi dispatch the Flame Demon in one move, sucked in a breath of cold air. "This fellow is a bit too strong." They immediately ran to Duke Leander. "My Lord Duke, the dispatched Flame Demon was killed in one move."
"Oh?"
Duke Leander finally opened his eyes. The red liquid in his hand was placed on the table. With a suspicious, disbelieving attitude, he walked out of the underground palace. In his impression, a battle between Flame Demons should have lasted for a whole day with clanging and banging, so why did it end so quickly?
Stepping out of the underground palace, he could still clearly see the Flame Demon, Li Xi, slaughtering mercilessly. Demons fell in droves under his hands, a simple sweep resulting in a series of explosions of gore. It was too brutal. Even Duke Leander, who had risen through the ranks amidst slaughter, couldn't help but frown at the sight of so many lives ending.
After watching for a while, Duke Leander couldn't discern anything. Fighting against these fragile demons, he couldn't ascertain the Flame Demon's true capabilities. He immediately ordered, "Send two more Flame Demons from the other side. Even if we are outmatched, we must test his depth."
The four vampires went to transmit the message.
Shortly after, two towering figures emerged from the abyss teleportation gate. After crushing a group of lesser demons underfoot, they surrounded Li Xi.
They seemed to have received intelligence. Instead of charging headfirst at Li Xi, they uncharacteristically adopted a pincer tactic, attacking from both front and back.
As the three Flame Demons engaged in battle, the other demons and insectoid soldiers had long since retreated far away. After the lessons learned from the countless lives sacrificed earlier, they couldn't even withstand the residual shockwaves from the hammers here.
Lassi, upon seeing the two Flame Demons emerge from the abyss teleportation gate, felt a sense of worry brewing in his heart for some reason. If this Flame Demon named Litchard lost, they would have to pay a heavy price to defeat these two Flame Demons.
At this moment, he also began to lean towards what the bloodline had told him: they shouldn't have let this Flame Demon onto the battlefield. A sense of resentment was brewing within him. The arrogance of one Flame Demon could lead to the entire plane being buried with him.
It had been a customary practice for both sides to only use low-level troops in countless past battles, as Flame Demons had never appeared on the battlefield. If this established rule was broken by this Flame Demon today, the pressure they would face would be unprecedented.
But what if the Flame Demon named Litchard could continue his previous glory and keep winning?
At this moment, Lassi was like a husband waiting anxiously outside the delivery room, hoping for a son but fearing he wouldn't have the money to marry him off.
Unlike Lassi's apprehension outside the battlefield, Li Xi in the midst of the fight was about to laugh himself hoarse. The more Flame Demons came, the better. This way, he would have enough resources to continue evolving.
His divine power was not yet depleted; the remaining twenty-two drops were enough for him to absorb the bloodline essence of another Flame Demon, which would significantly increase his strength. Fighting to sustain oneself was the fastest way for demons to advance!
His left hand brushed past the great hammer in his right hand. The hammer, which should have weighed tens of tons, suddenly felt as light as a wooden stick, weightless in Li Xi's hand.
This was because Li Xi had imbued the great hammer with the 'Earth Style: Art of Weight Adjustment' jutsu, which allowed the hammer to retain its power while reducing its weight by several dozen times. When he fought the first Flame Demon earlier, Li Xi had used the hammer enhanced by the ninjutsu to ambush, and the result was remarkable: one move to kill the enemy.