When Qiong Ku issued the order to break through, it meant that the demon race's military operation this time was to retreat, and it was a retreat announcing failure.
And this retreat would depend on whether the Lei Di Hall agreed.
As the demon marshal Qiong Ku gave the order, the demon army immediately contracted its defenses and converged towards the center in an orderly manner.
Yes, the demon race only intended to retreat and concentrate their forces to break through, not to be defeated and routed. Naturally, they maintained their formation with tacit understanding.
This was a battle-hardened army. They would instinctively make the right choices on the battlefield, and their military discipline far surpassed the hastily assembled Lei Di Hall army that charged forward.
As the demon army contracted, the demons on the outermost fringes either used defensive divine abilities or defensive magical treasures, shielding the main army within.
"Give me your strength, give me your blood essence!"
Qiong Ku roared, and the army below immediately released their blood essence. The surging blood essence and energy all flowed towards the demon marshal Qiong Ku.
Even Qiong Shen did so without hesitation or reservation.
Seeing Qiong Ku's growing power, the three tribulation transcenders, including Fang Fahui, felt that something was not right. They dared not rashly attack Qiong Ku again and instead rationally chose to retreat.
This decision saved their lives.
Not only were the living demons providing blood essence to Qiong Ku, but even the blood flowing from the corpses of the dead demons all converged in the sky, making Qiong Ku's power even greater.
This process continued.
Wan Lei endured five wood lightning strikes before recovering more than half of his injuries.
Then, he stood up and walked towards Qian Niao, who was still kneeling on one knee.
Seeing Wan Lei approach, Qian Niao struggled to stand up. Wan Lei, without hesitation, sent down two wood lightning strikes to heal Qian Niao.
"Thank you. I feel like I've gained some source power of the Five Elements Divine Thunder within my body. Didn't you say you wouldn't exchange source lightning with me?"
"It's just some residual source power, not the true source lightning. We are still enemies. I wouldn't dare to directly give you source lightning.
That's all there is. Whether you can comprehend it successfully depends on you. If you surrender to me, I'll directly give you half of my source lightning."
This bit of source power was something Wan Lei deliberately separated for the other party.
Unless this amount of source power could help Qian Niao break through to the immortal realm, it would not significantly boost his combat power.
It was a no-effort favor, and only a fool wouldn't do it.
This Qian Niao was different from other demons. He detested war, harbored no hostility towards the positive plane, and adhered to martial ethics and righteousness. Although their races were different, he was a person worth befriending.
Who knew when he might need it again in the future.
"Alright, as a thank you, I'll give you a piece of advice. Hurry and have your people retreat, stop encircling the demon race.
Qiong Ku has gathered the strength and blood essence of all the demons, allowing his power to reach the peak of the mortal realm's infinity, which is just below the immortal realm. He will use this power to break this cage, and none of you can stop him.
You should also retreat quickly. I'm worried he'll be cornered and use this one-time attack to kill you. Although your formation is still there and can fight him to a mutual destruction, this kind of thing, this power, can drive people mad. You should be careful."
"Okay, thanks. Qian Niao, although our races are different and our positions are different, I've made you my friend. I've had a great time fighting today, and I don't want to see you die. We still need to discuss the path of lightning together in the future.
I'm leaving."
Wan Lei patted Qian Niao on the shoulder, pulled Fang Xiaoyu, and flew away.
A faint smile appeared on Qian Niao's lips.
"Me too."
"All members of the Lei Di Hall, obey the order, retreat, withdraw from the formation, and do not block the enemy's breakthrough!"
Wan Lei flew into the sky and commanded loudly.
Upon hearing this, the Lei Di Hall army was stunned for a moment, and then began to retreat.
If this order had not been personally issued by Wan Lei, and if Wan Lei's prestige was not so high, people might have suspected that the order-giver was an enemy spy.
Why would one retreat when one's own side had the advantage? Why would one not block the enemy's breakthrough and let them leave properly?
Fortunately, it was Wan Lei who gave the order, and people still believed him.
The Lei Di Hall army rushed out of the formation. Seeing this, Wan Lei covered his head with a headache.
Look at how the demon race retreated, orderly and with balanced offense and defense. Then look at their side, it was like a peasant uprising, no, like bandits and vagrants.
It seemed that military training still needed to be strengthened.
After ensuring that their entire army had retreated from the formation, Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu also began to fly out.
At this moment, Qiong Ku, in the center of the battlefield, had reached the peak of his power, reaching a level of strength he had never possessed before.
He was in great pain, and such immense power made him feel as if he would explode. However, he was also excited.
He felt that this fatal blow, condensed from the blood essence of hundreds of thousands of demons, was enough for him to easily kill anyone and destroy any piece of land.
Unconsciously, his gaze fell upon Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu, who were flying outwards.
Why not use this attack to kill the Son of the Plane and prevent all variables?
Qiong Shen also noticed his gaze and thought of what he was thinking.
"Brother, what are you doing? Don't think about killing Wan Lei. This power is too precious, and there's only one chance to use it. If you kill Wan Lei, all of us will die here, slowly being worn down by the Demonic Blood Slaughtering Heaven Array and the enemies outside. Do you want to fight Wan Lei to a mutual destruction?
Is it worth it?!"
"But..."
Qiong Ku gritted his teeth.
"We are already too late. The Son of the Plane has already grown. If we don't eliminate him now, it will be even more difficult for our demon race to occupy this world in the future."
"No matter how great the merit, you need to be alive to enjoy it. Do you think the Demon Lord will expend the negative plane's origin to resurrect a mere demon marshal like you? Especially a demon marshal who died in the positive plane, that would be an even greater expenditure.
I was willing to be suppressed for ten years to save my own life back then. Are you more humiliated than I was back then?"
Upon hearing Qiong Shen's words, Qiong Ku took a deep breath.
"You're right. Our morale is low, and the defeat is decided. We should retreat first and make long-term plans."
Qiong Ku raised his hand, single-handedly towards the sky, and the vast, boundless blood essence energy within him blasted towards the Demonic Blood Slaughtering Heaven Array.
Boom!!!
With a deafening roar, the blood essence heavily struck the great formation. Immediately, cracks appeared in the formation at a visible speed, and then it completely collapsed.
"Wan Lei, for today's humiliation, I will repay you a hundredfold in the future!"