vrcanaries Chapter 1834 They really were used as sacrifices!
Chapter 1834 They really were used as sacrifices!
The giant pit was bottomless, emanating a chilling, dark, and chaotic aura.
At the edge of the giant pit, on a relatively flat area of ground, a massive array composed of dark gold runes was in operation!
The array's light flickered erratically, emanating a strange aura that was a mixture of intense Buddhist power and malevolent energy.
In the center of the formation stood several thick, dark gold stone pillars covered with runes.
Several people were clearly bound to the stone pillar!
It was Zhao Hu, along with the three experts from Qingfeng Yumen, Zixiao Jingyuan, and Butian Shengjiao!
Han Tieshan was among them!
They were all weak and wounded, bound to stone pillars by dark golden chains that were connected to the array below, seemingly slowly draining their power.
Zhao Hu's eyes were closed, his face ashen, and the others also looked pained.
Around the formation, twelve ascetics, dressed in gray monks' robes, sat cross-legged, their faces either numb or ferocious.
They chanted obscure scriptures in low voices, their bodies shimmering with dark golden light that connected with the formation and maintained its operation.
Outside the formation, in the shadows further away, dozens of figures stood indistinctly, their auras cold and sinister, not like living people, but more like... puppets!
Throughout the cave, a low and eerie chanting echoed, mixed with the sound of energy surging from the depths of the earth, like the panting of a primordial beast.
"It really is here!" The Crimson Flame Fox's eyes blazed with fury, and it was about to charge out.
"Wait!" Mingchuan grabbed him, his face grave as he pointed towards the sky above the array. "Look there!"
Above the formation, dense dark golden energy intertwined with chaotic stellar power surging from the depths of the earth, vaguely forming the indistinct, ever-distorting phantom of a door!
The door was extremely unstable, as if it could collapse at any moment, yet it exuded a terrifying aura that sent chills down one's spine, as if it led to an unknown abyss!
Stargate Node!
Or at least... an extremely unstable prototype!
At the center of the formation, the pure life force, spiritual power, and even luck of Zhao Hu and the others who were imprisoned were being drawn out by the dark golden chains, flowing into the formation and then transforming into beams of light that were injected into the illusory door in the sky, seemingly providing them with nourishment and trying to stabilize them!
Sacrifices... They were really used as sacrifices to stabilize the stargate node!
Mingchuan's fist clenched instantly, his knuckles turning white.
A chilling killing intent emanated from him, as if it were a tangible presence.
"These... scum!"
Mingchuan breathed heavily, forcing himself to calm down, his brain racing as he analyzed the situation.
The twelve ascetics were all at least at the late Core Formation stage. Among them, the three sitting cross-legged at the core of the formation had obscure auras, and were probably at the Nascent Soul stage.
What's even more troublesome is that the Vajra Subduing Demons technique they cultivate has a strange power and is extremely resistant to ordinary spells.
The dozens of puppets on the periphery, though not particularly strong individually, were numerous and fearless of death. Combined with the formation, they were a force not to be underestimated.
Most importantly, Zhao Hu and the others were trapped in the core of the formation, directly connected to that unstable star gate node.
A rash attack could very likely trigger a backlash from the formation or cause the energy of the star gate to go berserk, and they would be the first to suffer!
We must break the formation in one strike, simultaneously severing its ability to extract the offerings, and instantly control or eliminate the nearest threat!
“Senior Lingxu,” Mingchuan lowered his voice and spoke very quickly, “could you suppress those three Nascent Soul stage ascetics in the core positions instantly? I don’t need to kill them, just make sure they can’t move or control the core of the formation for the next three breaths!”
After a brief assessment, Master Lingxu nodded: "Alright. I will launch a surprise attack with the Moon Essence Condensation Seal, combined with spatial interference. Within three breaths, they will be unable to move."
“Blue-faced Fox,” Mingchuan looked at Blue-faced Fox, “can your life purification power dispel the evil energy attached to those chains to the greatest extent possible the moment the formation is broken, and protect Zhao Hu and the others’ heart meridians?”
The Green-Faced Fox solemnly said, "Leave it to me. Once the formation is broken, the power of the chains will weaken, and my Azure Wood Pure Spirit Light should be able to temporarily isolate the evil energy and stabilize their injuries."
“Alright.” Mingchuan felt more confident and turned his gaze to the irritable Crimson Flame Fox. “The moment the formation breaks, the puppets on the periphery and the ascetics who have reacted will definitely rush forward in a frenzy.”
"I need you to use the most explosive flames to build a ring of fire to temporarily block them and buy us time to rescue people!"
The Crimson Flame Fox grinned, its eyes blazing with fire: "Don't worry! I'll make sure they cry for their parents and can't take a single step forward!"
“Master,” Mingchuan said, turning to Ye Yan one last time, “you are in charge of providing support, being ready to assist in the rescue at any time, and guarding against any accidents that may occur from the depths of the cave or from other directions.”
"Understood!" Ye Yan nodded.
"As for me..." Mingchuan took a deep breath, and the silver light in his eyes shone again, though dim, it was exceptionally firm.
"At the same moment Senior Lingxu makes his move, I will use my last strength to perform spatial stripping, attempting to sever those imprisoning stone pillars, along with Zhao Hu and the others, from the foundation of the formation! This is the most dangerous step; if it fails or deviates even slightly, the spatial power might injure them, or trigger an energy explosion within the formation..."
"How confident are you?" Master Lingxu asked in a deep voice.
"Seventy percent."
Mingchuan answered truthfully, saying that this level of certainty was the highest estimate he could give based on his current state and spatial perception.
70%... means a 30% risk of failure.
Failure could mean the loss of all the hostages.
But there was no time to hesitate.
The illusory star gate, nourished by the array, was still distorted, but it seemed to have solidified by an extremely small amount compared to before.
The auras of Zhao Hu and the others continued to weaken at a slow but clear pace.
"Let's do it!" the Crimson Fox growled.
"Make your move!" Mingchuan's eyes sharpened, and he no longer hesitated.
Master Lingxu was the first to move.
His figure seemed to blend into the shadows, disappearing silently from his original spot. The next moment, he appeared in the shadows high in the cave, looking down at the three Nascent Soul ascetics at the core of the formation below.
He formed a hand seal, and without any grand display, only three strands of moonlight, condensed to the extreme and almost invisible, instantly disappeared into the back of the necks of the three ascetics, as if traversing space!
"Um?!"
The three ascetics froze simultaneously, their faces showing disbelief and astonishment.
They felt a cold and vast power instantly freeze their meridians, spiritual power, and even part of their souls. They couldn't even blink, let alone control the formation!
This is precisely the Moon Essence Condensing Spirit Seal, a specialty of Master Lingxu. It is silent and effective against the circulation of divine sense and spiritual power!
At the very instant that Master Lingxu made his move—
"Space—Strip!"
Mingchuan let out a low shout, ignoring the stinging pain in his soul and the weakness in his dantian, and pushed the remaining spatial power to its limit!
He made a delicate, surgical-like cutting motion with his hands, which were loosely clenched and aimed at the stone pillars in the center of the formation!
There was no earth-shattering sound.
At the base where the stone pillars connected to the array below, a subtle, almost invisible fault quietly appeared in the space!