The two demons each held a thin mask in their hands. Gray could see the profound concentration of spiritual energy within each of the masks, a distinctive hue of midnight blue. This color was attributed to the element of water. Water was the element of change and flexibility. It made sense for a spiritual instrument utilizing the water element to be able of hiding one's appearance.

But...

Gray suddenly noticed something else.

One's appearance wasn't all that it could hide!

A deathly chill swept through his body. His hands shook. His breath caught in his throat. He instinctively started backing away. He was truly afraid.

The spiritual energy within the first demon was now a raging maelstrom. It was far stronger than before, unbelievably so. The intensity and depth of his spiritual aura were now far beyond Alisha's. This demon was way stronger than the 1st Level of the Spiritual Control Realm!

If that wasn't enough, the second demon had also been hiding his true power. His spiritual energy was no longer at the Spiritual Strengthening Realm but clearly level with Alisha, perhaps even a little more concentrated and profound.

This was a complete disaster!

“Grandfather!”

It was Tang who broke the silence first. He stumbled forward in a daze. His beloved grandfather had just turned into a demon before his very eyes. His world had completely collapsed around him.

Gray almost felt sorry for him, almost.

“Impossible… impossible… Grandfather… what did you do to my grandfather!” Tang howled.

Rage and heartbreak overtook common sense as he charged at the two demons with no weapon and a broken arm. The result was tragic as expected. The second elder demon kicked Tang viciously across the head and he crumpled to the ground. Gray couldn't tell if he was dead or alive.

“So, anyway, back to you two.” The first demon said, almost cheerfully, “I am really curious... You two don’t seem to be that surprised?”

Gray didn't respond. He simply grabbed Alisha's arm and fled. His reaction was pure instinct, developed from years living in the mountains where unreasonably powerful beasts resided. The best thing to do when faced with an overpowering enemy was to run for it!

“What? Gray!" Alisha shouted in confusion but she kept up with him.

“Come back!” The demons snarled and gave chase.

Gray didn’t even spare a glance backward and sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him. The heavy gold pickaxe was slowing him down greatly but there was nothing else he could do. He couldn't exactly hand over a spiritual treasure to the demons!

“Come on, where's Anand?” He asked in a panic.

Faced with such a danger, their only hope was Anand. Gray hoped that the old man was following the plan. Otherwise, he and Alisha were going to have a seriously bad time.

"I don't know!" She shot back, "What are we doing?"

"They're too strong! They were hiding their true cultivation!" He shouted.

"How can you..."

"Just keep running!"

The true power of the demons was completely beyond his expectations. He faulted himself for missing something so important. Their disguise hid their appearance as well as their cultivation. Since he could see through their appearance, he should have seen through their cultivation as well. It was too late to regret but he swore he would be more careful in the future.

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"They are about to catch up!" Alisha shouted and wrenched her hand from Gray's grip.

She turned and flung several tiny metallic balls towards the demons who were less than twenty strides away from them.

They were thunderbolt grenades!

Gray lunged for the ground.

Boom! Boom!

A series of explosions rang out followed by a surge of crimson spiritual energy as well as searing heat. The blasts were so close that they swept Gray off his feet.

He somehow managed to grab Alisha in midair and they tumbled through the grass several times before coming to a stop.

He groaned as he got back up. His back was scorched and red.

"Warn me next time!"

"They didn't work. Run!"

This time, it was her pulling him as they fled once more. The first demon was too strong and the spiritual bombs hardly fazed him. He bounded after them and rapidly closed the distance.

Alisha flung more bombs with the same result. It bought them a little more space but not much.

Gray was simply too heavy and slow. The first demon was too fast.

"I'm out." She said.

"Shit, really?"

"Father!" She shouted into the air as her last hope. "Father! We're here!"

Her voice, powered by desperation, rang out across the hills. A moment went by, then another. There was no response.

The first demon was right behind them.

They weren’t going to make it…

Gray and Alisha came to the same realization at the same time. They looked at each other. They were both at the precipice of life and death. Anand was nowhere in sight. If they kept running with their backs exposed, it would only lead to a quick death.

Her eyes spoke to him, asking him if he was ready.

He nodded which caused her to smile slightly.

He grinned too. He suddenly felt a closeness to her that he had never felt with Xueling. Alisha could be irritable and bossy but she was also dependable and kind. He was glad to be by her side. They were going to make the final stand, together!

Their spiritual energy surged at the same time. They turned together to face the powerful demon. Gray swung his pickaxe and launched the most powerful strike he could muster. Alisha moved with her own attack as well. He didn’t know what it was but it was much more powerful.

“Come here!” The demon yelled, full of confidence.

The three of them rapidly approached each other and it only took an instant to close the distance.

Alisha’s sword was like a mirage. One sword turned into three as she made several attacks in quick succession. These were easily blocked but then Gray's attack arrived.

He swung the heavy gold pickaxe with every last bit of strength he could summon. His entire body aglow with golden energy.

Crack!

“What!” The demon roared furiously as the blade shattered.

Spiritual energy needed to be fought with spiritual energy. Although the ordinary sword was protected by spiritual energy from a Control Realm cultivator, heavy gold was a precious metal that innately possessed domineering spiritual of the earth attribute. Together with the power from the Tome of Glorious Fortune, Gray was able to shatter the demon's sword!

"Insolent!" The demon roared and his spiritual surged to new heights.

Breaking their opponent's sword was the most Alisha and Gray could do. The enemy was simply too strong.

The demon retaliated, viciously slapping away Alisha's sword. Gray tried another attack but he was sent flying with a stray kick. The demon then closed on Alisha, ripped the sword from her hand, and slammed a fist into her chest.

She stumbled backward a few steps but was not blown away like a normal attack. Instead, the spiritual energy behind the blow smashed through her body, shredding her defenses and ravaging her organs.

Puuu!

She spat out a mouthful of blood and crumpled to the ground.

"Alisha!" Gray howled.

He scrambled to get back up and help her but someone else beat him to it.

A jade-colored gust of wind pulled her limp body to safety and deposited her into his arms. This was followed by another blast of razor-sharp wind that slashed towards the demon like an array of flying swords.

Shiiiing!

The demon deflected the attack with some difficulty and took a few unstable steps back. The surrounding clouds of dust were blown away, revealing a tall, sickly man.

Anand Patel had finally made it.

"Anand!" Gray shouted.

"Gray, take care of Alisha." Anand said without looking at him.

"So, it was you who ruined my plans in the end, Anand Patel..." The first demon said, "I never expected that you could still fight with that condition. It was my mistake..."

"I always knew Xing Duanmu wouldn't have done the things he did." Anand said calmly, "His son was my friend so I knew the man well. I should thank you. You actually resolved the sadness and disappointment I've held for many years."

The first demon let out a harsh laugh, "Too bad you won't get to enjoy it. Eric, kill the fat one!"

"I got him, brother!" The second demon said and started towards Gray.

"And you." The first demon raised his sword at Anand, "Let's see how long that body of yours can last!"

"Come!" Anand roared as his perilous spiritual power billowed out.