This is!

Looking at the crimson Blood Moon overhead, then at the dining table, where Li Shutong and Nightmare were completely enveloped in flesh and blood.

Han Zhan's gaze was heavy.

That is the Tier Nine Insect Emperor, Nightmare's barrier!

Not all of the Insect Race fight head-on; there are some powerful ones with even more cunning methods.

Nightmare is such an insect, and it is a mighty Tier Nine Insect Emperor!

Previously, we just helped Gongyang Jin recover and clear the hidden injuries left by Nightmare, but unexpectedly, we met its true form so quickly.

As the backbone of the team, Xia Youwei and Li Lingzhen both looked at Han Zhan.

"Han Zhan, save my grandfather!" Li Lingzhen said nervously.

"Of course, let's first attack that mass of flesh. If we can free the teacher from this state, then a Tier Nine Insect Emperor will be no problem!"

After nodding, Han Zhan spoke again.

"Youwei, use the Fu Xi Zither to create zither sound air blades and amplify me at the same time."

"Lingzhen, summon the Shennong Cauldron to guard the surroundings, to prevent more enemies from ambushing us!"

"Attack from a distance first!"

The flesh that enveloped Li Shutong and Nightmare was clearly a forbidden artifact. Han Zhan's skills lie in close combat, so he chose not to approach immediately.

Long-range attacks are the best choice for now.

Upon hearing Han Zhan's words, the two women nodded.

The Fu Xi Zither and Shennong Cauldron were summoned, emitting a faintly spiritual glow.

Strum, strum, strum!

The Fu Xi Zither sounded first, the zither sound air blades slashed through the air, striking hard at the mass of flesh.

Thud, thud, thud!

The air blades penetrated the flesh, making a dull sound.

Yet, that was all.

"The air blade attack is ineffective, try the celestial elements!" Han Zhan quickly decided.

Upon hearing this, Xia Youwei changed her technique, but was horrified to find that whether playing "Spring Field Fire," "Joyful Wind," or "Six Ding Thunder", there was no response at all!

Han Zhan frowned tightly, imagining a possibility.

"It's Nightmare's barrier; it covers a large area of Deep Blue City. Within the barrier, it forms its own world. Unless we break the barrier, celestial elements cannot be mobilized here."

The Fu Xi Zither's ultimate move was nullified!

Han Zhan no longer hesitated and drew the Xuanyuan Sword from his back.

He had been intensively training recently, though not yet very skilled, he had learned the basic sword techniques.

Chop, stab, point, lift, smash, penetrate, sweep.

Even the most basic sword techniques, with the enhancement of the Ancient Divine Weapon Xuanyuan Sword, unleashed incredibly terrifying power!

Boom, boom, boom!

Fierce sword qi was unleashed from the Xuanyuan Sword, one after another striking the mass of flesh,

Most of the energy was absorbed, but some still burst out, causing the flesh to splatter!

However, no matter how hard Han Zhan hacked, when he stopped, the flesh continued to grow back, returning to its original large meatball form!

"It's no use; with our strength, we can't break this flesh and blood barrier."

"An artifact capable of trapping two Tier Nine beings can't possibly be trash; it's normal that we're merely trying and can't break it."

"What should we do now?"

Han Zhan glanced at the sky, besides the Red Moon, what was once just an evening sky had completely turned pitch black, shrouding Deep Blue.

With such commotion, there's no way the authorities won't notice. By stalling for time, other experts from the authorities will come to support us.

However, this is Deep Blue City, tens of thousands of miles from the front lines. How did a Tier Nine Insect Emperor manage to infiltrate here openly?

And what about Li Fengchun, as a member of the Li Family, conspiring with the Insect Race to attack his own family's old War God? Has he gone insane, or did the Insect Race promise something irresistible?

Han Zhan only felt that the situation was terribly confusing, like a quagmire, and he couldn't see it clearly.

"Ah Zhan, don't you have those notes from your second senior brother? Did he not record anything about the Tier Nine Insect Emperor Nightmare?" Xia Youwei asked.

Han Zhan shook his head.

"Second senior brother has never fought Nightmare. In other words, under normal circumstances, if he were to fight Nightmare, even if he didn't die, he'd at least be disabled." Han Zhan silently added, just like Gongyang Jin.

Another plan failed.

"However, where there is bad news, there's also good news."

"Currently, we are trapped inside Nightmare's barrier, but likewise, Nightmare is also trapped inside the flesh and blood barrier. It might know that just the flesh barrier alone can't completely restrain the teacher, so it too must enter the barrier for double insurance."

"This way, Nightmare's barrier is in 'automatic' mode. If we can break its barrier, the issue will be resolved."

This task is much easier than confronting the Tier Nine Insect Emperor Nightmare head-on.

As for the strategy, if there isn't one, we'll create our own!

Han Zhan's words greatly reinstated the morale of the three of them.

"Right, there's still Yi Fan and those City Guardians, they're also trapped within this barrier. If we can find them, join forces, unity is strength!"

Li Lingzhen added.

Han Zhan looked at her approvingly; the fact that such words could come from someone who authored forbidden books made him feel relieved.

"However, we still need to be a bit careful. The situation outside is unclear, and none of us know what dangers might lie within Nightmare's barrier."

"Once outside, stay close to me, and proceed cautiously!"

...

In the alley.

Three people, with ash-gray faces and covered in cat fur, emerged from the alley.

The leader, dressed in a brown plaid shirt and jeans, appeared quite vintage. He spat out several mouthfuls of cat fur, cursing under his breath.

"Damn stray cats."

"Elder, next time let's transform into something else, why do we always have to be mice?"

"Yeah, Elder, the transmutation agent can transform us into several kinds of creatures; being mice is a disadvantage, my behind still aches."

The other two chimed in one after the other.

"Shut up! You're making Longevity Company lose face!"

The leading elder reprimanded, silencing them. He continued, "The transmutation agent can only change us into elephants, owls, and toads aside from mice, so don't expect much!"

"Having overcome the first hurdle, we now immediately proceed to find Han Zhan!"

"What are you two still dawdling for?!"

Seeing his subordinates not listening, he angrily slapped each one.

Unexpectedly, they both remained motionless.

One of them stuttered from the front.

"Elder... Elder... it's not right."

"Outside, outside, outside are all monsters!"

Outside the alley, on the streets of Deep Blue City, where pedestrians once walked, now, under the glow of the Red Moon, they had each mutated into hideous beasts.

When that subordinate shouted,

All the monsters' heads turned towards the alley.

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