Everyone’s hearts pounded at the sight, and they couldn’t help but show their excitement.
’An attack that terrifying... after taking a direct hit, even the Ghost City’s source can’t possibly withstand it, can it?!’
However, in the next moment, something unexpected happened.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
In the surrounding courtyard, a blazing Golden Fire suddenly erupted from the eight guardian Evil Spirits. The terrifying force of the blast sent them staggering. Their already grievous wounds worsened, leaving them on the verge of collapse.
’What... what’s happening?!’
’Why were the eight guardian Evil Spirits suddenly being attacked by the Golden Fire?!’
A chill ran down their spines as they came to a terrible conclusion, and they whipped their heads toward Zhao Xuanqi.
The Golden Fire explosion subsided. A statue in the image of a Daoist Mother was sent flying by the terrifying force. Its body was still covered in a layer of Golden Fire, but by the looks of it, it had sustained no obvious damage at all.
In that instant, everyone seemed to understand.
"Unscathed?! That’s impossible!!"
"It seems to have the ability to transfer any damage it takes to the special Evil Spirits around it! As long as those special Evil Spirits are alive, the Ghost City’s source can never be destroyed!"
"Damn it! Our intel had nothing about this ability. Did the Evil Spirit develop it on its own after being destroyed last time?!"
"..."
Zhuang Li and the others couldn’t help but cry out in alarm. Their all-or-nothing attack had been neutralized just like that!
Now, after giving it their all, they were completely spent. Unable to destroy the Ghost City’s source, they now faced true despair.
WHOOSH!!
The Evil Cult Statue, sent flying moments before, seemed completely enraged. The bloody eyeball on its forehead spun as it activated some ability. A sinister wind howled through the courtyard, and the surrounding Ghost City space began to warp. Behind the Evil Cult Statue, a bloody light coalesced, vaguely forming a twisted portal over thirty feet high that connected to some unknown place.
「Meanwhile, where the disciples of the various sects were hiding.」
As the Night Parade of Hundred Demons drew near, the surrounding Evil Spirits slowly began to gather. The disciples were on high alert, their faces tense and grim.
No one knew what fate awaited them.
Just then, however, the space behind the few special Evil Spirits they were watching suddenly twisted. A blood-red portal appeared. From within it, countless tendrils resembling blood vessels snaked out, wrapped around the special Evil Spirits, and began to slowly drag them inside.
The Ghost Gate was open.
"They did it!!"
Everyone cried out in surprise. The timing was right; this was when the Ghost Gate was supposed to open. ’Did the assault team’s plan succeed?’
However, watching this unfold from the side, Xu Jingtian felt a sudden sense of foreboding for some reason.
’It feels like something has gone terribly wrong.’
Back inside the Huang Mansion, the group stared at the blood-red portal that had appeared behind the Evil Cult Statue. As they watched the eerie figures looming within it, their faces fell, and an overwhelming sense of despair grew in their hearts.
’It’s over. It’s all over.’
Resigned smiles appeared on their faces. They had given it their all; even in failure, they had no regrets.
At least the Ghost Gate had successfully opened in the end. Even if they died here, the other disciples would have a chance at survival.
"Everyone, let’s split up and run," Zhuang Li said to the group with a bitter smile. "We can’t die just yet. We have to buy enough time for the others."
Everyone took a deep breath and nodded, steeling themselves to act.
"It’s not over!"
Just then, a voice reached their ears—calm, resolute, and so firm it seemed it would not waver even if the heavens were to fall.
They saw Zhao Xuanqi land on the ground after his explosive attack. After taking a moment to catch his breath, he was already moving again, not wasting a second.
’From that last strike, I understood. The Evil Cult Statue’s ability isn’t to transfer damage, but to distribute it. It’s not an invincible ability; it has a threshold.’
’I could feel that my last attack posed a threat to it, but it was just a little short of breaking through that limit.’
’If I can just be a little stronger, I might succeed.’
’I can be stronger. I *must* be stronger!!’
The Rebirth Jade!!
His consciousness connected with the Rebirth Jade, drawing upon the Life Primordial Qi within it to the absolute maximum.
At the same time, using his incredible control over his body, he forced a Power Generation that went beyond his physical limits.
His heart hammered violently. This was a Power Generation technique that surpassed Internal Organs Resonating, reaching the Five Qi Profound Level!!
Qi and Blood, muscles and tendons, bones, heart, breath, Force...
All fused into one, erupting in a single instant!
Zhao Xuanqi moved.
ROAR!!
The power erupting from every part of his body converged. The overlapping sounds combined into a single, earth-shattering shockwave!
The heart belongs to fire!
Peerlessly firm and fierce!
Because of the Overbearing Fury of his Force Release, his heart began to shatter. Unable to withstand the explosive power, his blood vessels ruptured. A thick mist of blood erupted from his pores as blood streamed from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
But at the same time, a formidable Blood Qi erupted forth. The Golden Fire Fierce seemed to solidify, manifesting in the air and vaguely coalescing around Zhao Xuanqi’s body into strange lines and patterns.
The pattern resembled some kind of talisman.
The second part of the Golden Fire Heavenly Ding Skill.
Taoist Talisman Secret Image, the Talisman Seal Technique.
The Gang Fire Demon Suppression Seal!!