Chapter 1233: The Small Figurine
Chapter 1233: The Small Figurine
Within Abyssal Ruin, Blood Lake had manifested outward. Towering waves surged violently.
Old Devil Ye sat cross-legged above Blood Lake, while Jiang Chenzi and two others surrounded him, each holding a treasured banner.
Blood qi filled the surroundings, shadows flickering indistinctly.
To enter Blood Lake, nearly half of Sin Abyss’s Spiritual Infant cultivators had gathered here, while the rest remained at Tianxing Highland on guard. The Spiritual Infant cultivators stood scattered in the void in small groups, appearing disordered, yet in truth they aligned subtly with an array, assisting Old Devil Ye in breaking the seal of Blood Lake.
Each time Old Devil Ye changed his hand seals, Jiang Chenzi and the others adjusted their formation accordingly. The three banners swayed, sending streaks of multicolored light toward Blood Lake, striking precisely at the seal’s weakest points.
Every impact caused the seal to tremble, each one more violent than the last, until even the surrounding space shook.
Old Devil Ye had painstakingly identified the flaw in the seal. Unfortunately, the seal within Abyssal Ruin remained largely intact. Entering Blood Prison through Endless Valley would have been much easier.
Jiang Chenzi seized a brief moment to sigh.
Behind him, a handsome young cultivator in white robes smiled and said, "What if we failed to find a way back from this side after opening a breach from Endless Valley and entering Blood Prison? Senior Uncle, are you not afraid of being trapped inside by Daoist Master Zhenyi?"
This young man was in fact Jiang Chenzi’s junior from the same sect, also a Spiritual Infant cultivator.
Over the past century, it had become increasingly common within Sin Abyss for a single sect to produce two or even three Spiritual Infant cultivators.
This generation of cultivators from Sin Abyss had been exceptionally outstanding. The number of those who had reached the Spiritual Infant Realm far surpassed previous generations, greatly strengthening their overall power. Not only had they resisted the Two-Domain Alliance, they still had the capacity to sweep across the desert.
Before the white-robed youth could finish speaking, Blood Lake suddenly trembled abnormally. At that moment, no light shot out from the banners.
Boom! A massive wave surged into the sky, and the barrier formed by the seal bulged outward.
Old Devil Ye suddenly opened his eyes. A sharp light flashed within them as he pressed his hand downward, blocking the impact. He let out a cold snort. "Demon King Ming Yue has indeed passed news of Blood Prison back. Our plan has been exposed. It seems like they intend to lend us a hand and open the seal ahead of time."
Jiang Chenzi looked surprised. "Daoist Zhenyi cannot even defend his own territory. Does he truly think he can gain any advantage before you, Elder Ye?"
"It's not necessarily Zhenyi. It's more likely going to be Tongyou. Endless Valley is nominally under Small Cold Domain. Zhenyi does not seem like a pure-hearted Daoist. He has spent his entire life serving Tianxing Alliance. He would never dare abandon his post, lest we lure him out and strike directly at Tianxing City. Since the red-haired old ghost fell, Small Cold Domain has not been difficult to deal with. The only question is whether the Feathered King will interfere." Another cultivator surnamed Ma spoke, his deductions aligning closely with the Two-Domain Alliance’s actual plan.
His evaluation of Daoist Zhenyi was also quite accurate. Since becoming the alliance leader of Tianxing Alliance, Daoist Zhenyi had governed with clear rewards and punishments, nurturing younger cultivators and devoting himself entirely to the cause.
Tianxing Alliance, formed by numerous factions, had managed to unite into a solid front against external threats. While external pressure had played a role, Daoist Zhenyi’s contribution had been indispensable.
Such selfless figures were not uncommon in the immortal cultivation world, though most acted out of gratitude toward their own sects.
A voice drifted out from the blood mist, the figure indistinct. "Perhaps Daoist Zhenyi is deliberately creating a false front, making us believe they intend to enter Blood Prison to compete with us, while secretly gathering forces to counterattack our weakened front lines. The victories we achieved in the past may be lost in a single stroke."
Though the words described a dire outcome, the speaker’s tone remained calm, showing no concern.
Jiang Chenzi burst into laughter. "They would first have to get past Daoist Canghong, who guards the front lines... Even if Zhenyi breaks through, it does not matter. Once we return, we will make them taste the bitterness of joy turning into sorrow!"
"Enough. No more idle talk. Since the Two-Domain Alliance’s Daoists are willing to lend us a hand, we cannot fall behind. Assist me, everyone! If nothing unexpected happens, the seal will be broken today." Old Devil Ye gave a low shout and suddenly sped up.
The others fell silent and focused on assisting him.
At Endless Valley, though separated by tens of thousands of li, the opposing sides were, in effect, working together to break the seal.
After several hours of continuous bombardment, they finally opened a crack.
Splash! A surge of blood poured out from the gap, its stench overwhelming.
Qin Sang and the others frowned, sealing their noses and mouths as they looked toward Devil Lord Tongyou and Dongyang Bo.
"According to the records, each wave of blood connects to a separate sealed space. Once we enter, we will be scattered. Follow the incomplete map and head toward the innermost marked location. Regroup there as quickly as possible. As long as we foil Old Devil Ye’s scheme, there will be plenty of opportunities for treasure later. Remember the greater picture. Do not delay."
After transmitting these instructions, Devil Lord Tongyou exchanged a few more words with Dongyang Bo before leaping into Blood Lake.
There was no need to compete for order. Qin Sang fell to the rear, summoned his devilish banners to guard his body, and stepped into Blood Lake along with a surging wave.
The Golden Core cultivators stirred restlessly. Only after all the Spiritual Infant grandmasters had disappeared into Blood Lake did they dare to act, hastily summoning their astras and rushing in.
Soon, the area outside Blood Lake became completely empty.
After more than half an hour, a fluctuation suddenly rippled through the void, and a figure emerged from concealment. Someone had arrived at this moment.
The newcomer was extremely cautious, observing for a long time before confirming no one else remained. Only then did he reveal himself.
Had anyone else been nearby to see his face, they would have been greatly astonished.
The arrival was a young man, refined and handsome, with an otherworldly bearing. He was none other than Gong Liangyu, the current palace master of the Shangyuan Tranquility Palace!
Though Shangyuan Tranquility Palace ranked among the great righteous sects, Gong Liangyu was only at the peak of the Core Formation Realm. He lacked the qualifications to participate in the Spiritual Infant Realm schemes, but given his status, gathering intelligence had not been difficult.
Gong Liangyu had deliberately arrived late, yet his expression carried a trace of urgency.
He flashed forward above Blood Lake, about to enter, when he suddenly recalled something. From his sleeve, he took out an object. It was a small figurine, only three cun tall.
The figurine resembled carved wood, yet its surface shone like jade. It did not quite look like wood, and its material was impossible to identify.
The strangest feature was its head. It was smooth like a mirror, with no facial features at all. Only a single object on its "face" allowed one to distinguish front from back.
A small yellow talisman was affixed to its forehead. The talisman was thin as gauze, lightly attached yet firmly fixed in place. It had been inscribed in cinnabar, the strokes flowing like dragons and serpents in one continuous motion, forming a complex talismanic script.
Aside from that, the figurine appeared utterly ordinary, an expressionless, faceless statue devoid of any aura.
Yet as Gong Liangyu looked at it, his expression grew solemn, his eyes revealing a mixture of fear and anticipation.
He carefully held the figurine in his palm. Afraid of accidentally peeling off the talisman, his movements were extremely gentle.
Then, with his other hand, he retrieved another item from his Mustard Seed Pouch. It was a jade pendant, wrapped in red cord, its surface a vivid, lustrous green.