"I’ll go scout ahead. I have the True Heavenly Phoenix Feather. Even if something happens, I can retreat safely," said the Nine Phoenix Monarch.

The Jiao King pondered briefly before reminding, "Very well, but once we find the dragon’s corpse and leave the inner hall, we’ll still need to rely on the True Heavenly Phoenix Feather. Be careful not to exhaust its power too much."

"I understand." The Nine Phoenix Monarch nodded.

The Jiao King summoned golden light, forming a set of armor over her body. The Nine Phoenix Monarch then took out the True Heavenly Phoenix Feather, holding it cautiously as she stepped forward.

However, just as she entered the range of the Spirit-Suppressing Domain, a sudden change occurred.

The previously calm fluctuations in the void rippled violently, as if a stone had been thrown into still water.

In an instant, the void quaked. The unknown fluctuation surged like waves, and runes flickered across the air, pressing down upon the Nine Phoenix Monarch layer after layer.

A flush of red appeared on her face. She clenched her teeth tightly, struggling under the immense pressure. Yet these forces were formless and intangible. Her golden armor remained unchanged.

Her figure trembled slightly. She felt her true essence stagnate and her primordial spirit waver. Startled, she hurriedly retreated, preparing to enter again after making sufficient preparations.

The armored demon’s eyes flashed. He called out, "Daoist Nine Phoenix, there’s no need to try again. I think I understand the cause."

The Nine Phoenix Monarch frowned, displeased. "I haven’t even used the True Heavenly Phoenix Feather yet."

The armored demon interrupted her and said solemnly, "Your cultivation isn’t high enough. Even if you enter, you won’t make it far before you’re forced out. Using the True Heavenly Phoenix Feather might shield you from the ancient barrier for a while, but the entire Spirit-Suppressing Domain is like this. How long do you think the feather’s power will last? It would only be wasted. We still need your help to escape this cursed place. I have no intention of being trapped here."

The Jiao King looked at him in surprise. "Brother Hei, you seem to know quite a bit about the Spirit-Suppressing Domain?"

The armored demon chuckled. "I’ve lived in Canglang Sea for so many years. Naturally, I’ve heard some rumors. I wasn’t sure they were true until now. It’s said that at the heart of the Spirit-Suppressing Domain lies an ancient array. The entire domain exerts a strange kind of suppression, making it impossible for lower-level cultivators to move a step within. Only high-level cultivators, those at least at the peak of the middle stage of the Spiritual Infant Realm, can move freely without being affected. Daoist Nine Phoenix, you may be on the verge of breaking through to the middle stage, but you’re still not quite there."

Hearing this, the Jiao King’s expression shifted slightly. He then took a step into the domain.

A similar scene unfolded, but his condition was far better than the Nine Phoenix Monarch’s. His true essence remained steady, and the void gradually calmed down, showing that he was unaffected.

"What a strange domain!" The Jiao King stepped back out, frowning deeply.

The armored demon decided to test it himself. He was at the peak of the middle stage of the Transformation Realm, only one step away from the late stage, and could move about freely within.

The other demon kings, however, fared like the Nine Phoenix Monarch. The Tiger King at the middle stage, despite ample preparation, could only go a short distance before the pressure became unbearable and he had to withdraw.

"Humans suspect that the suppression here used to be far stronger, so strong that even those in the Divine Transformation or Void Refinement Realms couldn’t enter. Perhaps it was used to seal something, or served another purpose. After countless millennia, the power of the ancient array gradually weakened, and so did the suppression, which is why we can enter at all."

The armored demon glanced at the Tiger King beside him. "Maybe in another thousand years, you’ll be able to enter. For now, the barrier still stands."

The Jiao King nodded thoughtfully. "That reasoning sounds plausible. It seems only you and I can go in to find the dragon’s corpse. The others will have to wait outside."

The armored demon nodded. "So be it. But I’m worried that the dragon’s corpse might be connected to the ancient array within this domain. If we take it away and release something sealed below, perhaps some ancient devilish monster, it could bring disaster upon the entire Canglang Sea. Tsk."

"How could a dragon’s corpse have anything to do with a human array?" The Jiao King shook his head, finding the idea absurd. "If the humans knew a dragon’s corpse was hidden beneath Yitian Peak, they’d have taken it long ago. Even if something unexpected happens, you needn’t worry. Once I obtain the corpse, I can break through to the Divine Transformation Realm. Taking control of the teleportation array will be easy. Then you and the others can follow me back to the Demonic Sea. Canglang Sea belongs to the immortal cultivators. We’ll simply seal the teleportation array and watch from afar, waiting to clean up the mess afterward."

The armored demon laughed heartily. "If what’s sealed below happens to be one of our demon race’s ancestors, that would be even better. Perhaps our path to immortality would open at last."

The Jiao King smiled faintly and shook his head. "Even if something was truly sealed here, surviving until now is nearly impossible. The ancient array itself has withered to this extent. What kind of being could withstand the erosion of time and still cling to life?"

Then he turned to the other demon kings. "There’s no choice. You’ll have to remain outside. Human cultivators often appear here, so avoid conflict if possible. Find a hidden spot to wait. If anything happens, we may still need your assistance."

The demon kings exchanged glances and reluctantly nodded. They all knew that if the Jiao King and the armored demon found the dragon’s corpse, they’d keep the best parts for themselves. What scraps remained would be theirs at best. But their strength was insufficient to resist the suppression. They had no choice.

"I can still try again," said the Nine Phoenix Monarch unwillingly.

The Jiao King shook his head. "Brother Hei was right. The True Heavenly Phoenix Feather is far too important. Even if we can’t get the dragon’s corpse, we can’t afford to lose our only way out. Wait for us outside."

The Nine Phoenix Monarch frowned but stayed silent. The Jiao King nodded to the armored demon, ready to enter. But before they did, the Nine Phoenix Monarch stepped forward and handed him something, a magnificent, long feather. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"This Heavenly Phoenix Feather, though not as powerful as the True Heavenly Phoenix Feather, can still help you escape if you’re trapped by a barrier. It has already been refined by my clan into an astra-like form. It doesn’t require Phoenix Clan bloodline to activate. I’ll teach you the control method..." She transmitted her voice privately.

The Jiao King thanked her and promised, "Rest assured, whether we succeed or fail, I’ll fulfill my promise to you."

"Let’s hope so." The Nine Phoenix Monarch sighed softly, almost imperceptibly.

The Jiao King and the armored demon entered the Spirit-Suppressing Domain side by side, their figures gradually vanishing from sight.

The remaining demon kings stayed put, finding a concealed spot nearby. They erected isolation barriers and waited quietly for news from the Jiao King.

The two demons crossed a mountain range and entered the stone forest beneath Yitian Peak.

The Jiao King used a secret technique again, raised his hand, and pointed to the left with surprise. "The dragon’s corpse isn’t beneath Yitian Peak, it’s in that direction!"

The two immediately took flight, and after a short while, a lake appeared ahead within the stone forest. What astonished them was that the lake water remained crystal clear and had not dried up.

"It’s a poison lake!" said the armored demon, his expression changing slightly.