However, Senju Yukika didn't dare to make a move, even if he wanted to. What he didn't expect was that the Jade Emperor had no intention of letting him go!
Seeing that Yukika was paralyzed and unable to move due to the poison inside him, the Jade Emperor seized the opportunity and directly ordered a squad to pin him down!
The Crimson Demon King, Elder Muxu, and the other old monsters just watched, amused, clearly not intending to intervene.
Immediately, several powerful royal family warriors received the order and shot toward Yukika!
Their presence exuded incredible power—each one was at the Transcendent level.
The Overlord of Tyrant Fortress and the Lord of Sunfire Fortress were stunned, hesitant to act.
On one side was their colleague, someone they had always relied on. On the other was their supreme superior, the embodiment of royal authority.
To openly resist royal command could mean certain death!
But watching Yukika being restrained stirred deep discomfort within them...
After all, the three fortress lords always stood together. If one fell, the others would follow. If Yukika was captured, the other two would inevitably be targeted next.
As their thoughts tangled and they hesitated, a sudden breeze swept across the mountaintop.
The moment the wind arrived, everyone felt as though they were under an illusion—as if the whole world had shifted.
The sky remained the same, but the very laws of nature seemed different, distorted.
At the mountain's peak, various radiant hues began to shimmer faintly. Amidst the glowing sky and shimmering mist, a mysterious man in white appeared to be walking across the clouds...
The scene was so surreal that many blinked and rubbed their eyes, doubting what they saw.
Then, with a thunderous crash, the illusion vanished, and the real world returned.
But something had changed. Everyone felt as if their very souls had been cleansed. The shock ran so deep that no one could speak.
Even the Jade Emperor and the Crimson Demon King were stunned into silence.
The white-robed figure slowly walked forward. It was none other than Maple Leaf.
The moment he appeared, Yukika's eyes lit up with joy.
Nearby, Shangguan Yiran also cried out, "Master Maple Leaf, you've finally come!"
Hearing the name "Maple Leaf," the others looked confused.
Maple Leaf?
The name felt unfamiliar. Was there such a powerful figure in the Rakshasa Kingdom?
Thinking hard, they realized they had never heard of him.
But the method he used to appear was so mysterious that no one dared to underestimate him.
Yet some of the dark creatures couldn't help scoffing.
"Hmph, just an illusionist!"
They believed Maple Leaf had merely created an illusion, tricking everyone into thinking he embodied the Dao.
Of course, they themselves couldn't perform such a feat, but they refused to admit it.
On this planet, some people possessed a special kind of chakra that could conjure illusionary realms.
It was no longer a secret; many now understood it was a mere illusion, not actual strength.
No matter how powerful the illusion, it wasn't reality.
Others, too, found Maple Leaf's elusive demeanor unsettling.
Especially since he appeared so young, yet Shangguan Wan'er respectfully addressed him as "sir." That alone made many uncomfortable.
Senju Yukika, despite being weakened, looked at Maple Leaf with excitement.
Just as he was about to speak, Maple Leaf raised a hand to stop him and said, "I've seen everything you've done."
Hearing those words, Yukika felt it was all worth it. The burden on his heart suddenly lifted.
He flushed with emotion and coughed heavily.
"Ahem..."
Maple Leaf gently flicked a finger, and a strange light appeared. A mysterious force surged into Yukika's body.
The poison inside him instantly reacted, forming a strange green shadow that surged through his complex chakra network...
But when it encountered Maple Leaf's power, the toxin reacted violently as if it had met its natural enemy.
Under the mysterious power, the green poison rapidly weakened before everyone's eyes.
The royal warriors, witnessing this, were instantly shocked!
They all knew how deadly that poison was. It was developed by the royal family to silently kill even Transcendents!
In the entire Rakshasa Kingdom, it was one of the deadliest poisons.
Yet this young stranger had dispelled it with ease?
With the poison removed, Yukika immediately looked rejuvenated, his complexion returning to normal.
Deeply grateful, he bowed and said, "Thank you, Master Maple Leaf, for removing the poison from my body!"
Maple Leaf smiled and replied, "This is your due. No need for thanks."
But no one had forgotten—the contest to determine who would lead the charge through the gray fog barrier still loomed.
A cultivator stepped forward and asked, "So... how will the battle between the Crimson Demon King and Senju Yukika be resolved?"
That fight had ended prematurely. Yukika had nearly awakened at the crucial moment, but was sabotaged by his own allies.
Technically speaking, Yukika had not been defeated by the Crimson Demon King!
Hearing this, a cruel glint flashed in the Crimson Demon King's eyes as he sneered, "Then let's finish our fight!"
No matter what, he knew that Yukika could never return to that breakthrough state again. He had nothing to fear now.
Especially since Yukika had just recovered from the poison and was still weakened—his strength would be severely diminished.
The Crimson Demon King thought this was the perfect opportunity to crush Yukika for good.
But then, Maple Leaf spoke.
"He is injured. I will fight in his place."
Hearing those words, Senju Yukika was overwhelmed with emotion.
The Crimson Demon King narrowed his eyes dangerously, a sinister glint flashing within them...