Chance!
Xiao Han's heart skipped a beat; a golden opportunity had presented itself!
The moment he had a thought, the [Myriad Transformations Mimicry Mask] rewarded by the system activated!
A streak of light flashed, and the mask had already blended into his face.
In the blink of an eye, his appearance, figure, and even the aura emanating from him had disguised him as an ordinary Blood Fiend Hall lackey.
Immediately afterwards, he silently recited the incantation.
The newly acquired fragment of the [Scorched Earth Evasion Technique] then began to operate.
His figure vanished instantly into the scorched earth beneath his feet, almost merging with the surrounding shadows.
He concealed his aura to the extreme, and silently fled in a direction far from the core of the battlefield and that terrifying monster!
The strange black ring mark on her left ankle had changed slightly.
Perhaps the appearance of that terrifying monster disrupted the energy field here, or perhaps Xiao Han's desperate escape had an effect.
The suction power emanating from it was temporarily weakened considerably.
But that chilling, malevolent aura still lingers, clinging tightly to the past.
Xiao Han sped for several miles in one breath before daring to pause and look back intently.
The battlefield in the distance has become a living hell!
The cultivators of the Blood Fiend Hall suffered heavy casualties and their cries echoed across the land under the claws of that terrifying beast that was nearly at the Martial Venerable.
Xue Tu's strength is indeed remarkable, but at this moment he can only struggle to hold on against the ferocious attacks of the demonic beasts, and is in grave danger.
Xiao Han's mind calmed down slightly.
But this eerie, scorched world, and the haunting black ring mark on his ankle, kept him on high alert, daring not to relax his guard in the slightest.
The most urgent task is to find a safe and secluded place as soon as possible.
He needs to thoroughly investigate this damned "time bomb" and find a way to defused it!
Amidst the scorched earth, Xiao Han's figure flickered, and in one breath, he vanished hundreds of miles.
Finally, he discovered an underground structure that had mostly collapsed, which could barely serve as a temporary shelter.
He dared not slacken his efforts in the slightest and quickly set up several simple warning and concealment formations around the perimeter.
After doing all this, he finally let out a breath, sat cross-legged, and focused his attention on his left ankle.
On his left ankle, the eerie black ring still gleamed with an ominous, dark light, exuding a ferocious, predatory aura.
Xiao Han calmed his mind and carefully probed his ankle with his divine sense.
This discovery sent a chill down his spine!
The black ring mark had become deeply rooted in his flesh and bones!
Countless fine black threads spread out from it, greedily drawing spiritual energy and blood from his body.
What horrified him even more was that a chilling, violent, and evil aura was frantically eroding his meridians along these black lines!
This force even attempted to corrupt the very essence of his soul!
Faintly, this evil power resonated with Eternal Night Void Emperor Martial Soul within his dantian, creating a strange and unsettling connection.
That feeling, as if the two originated from the same source but went down completely different paths, sent chills down his spine.
Just then, the system panel suddenly popped up, and a line of scarlet warning text appeared:
[WARNING! "Primordial Demon Finger Soul-Splitting Curse Seal" detected! This seal contains a trace of the original will of an extraterrestrial demon, possessing the characteristics of tracking, energy absorption, and possession. It is currently in a semi-activated state. If the seal is fully activated, the host will have a 99% chance of being corrupted or possessed by the demon, resulting in a tragic end. The host must take this seriously!]
Then, the familiar options reappeared:
[Option 1: Forceful Removal! Using the purifying power of the Chaos Green Lotus and the devouring power of the Eternal Night Void Emperor, forcibly remove the curse seal. Success rate: 10%. If it fails, the curse seal will completely erupt, and the host will most likely die on the spot. Reward: [Will Purification] (slightly increases soul resilience), residual fragments of the curse seal (can be used for research, but may leave residual problems).]
[Option Two: Suppress the Seal! Find rare and precious materials with specific attributes or use external forces to temporarily suppress the activity of the curse seal, and plan for the future. Reward: [Taiyin Demon-Suppressing Stone- Suppressing Stone] (consumable, can temporarily seal evil spirits), crafting blueprint, and a fragmented map pointing to "Falling Star Lake".]
[Option 3: Dance with the wolves! Attempt to communicate with the demonic will within the cursed seal, offering great rewards in exchange for temporary peace (extremely dangerous, success rate is approximately zero, and you'll likely be treated like a fool and suffer a backlash). Rewards: [Elementary Understanding of Demon Tongue] (allows you to understand a few of the demon's insults), and the demon's false promise (most likely "I'll spare your life" before swallowing you whole).]
Looking at the three options, Xiao Han's eyes twitched involuntarily. Option one was practically a death sentence, while option three practically screamed "suicidal."
"Choose two!"
Xiao Han did not hesitate for a moment.
In the current situation, fighting desperately is tantamount to suicide.
This damned thing must be subdued first, then we can deal with it slowly!
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, the system panel flashed with light.
A drawing with a faint glow, a map made of animal hide with tattered edges, fell into his palm out of thin air.
Xiao Han unfolded the animal hide map; it was rough and ancient.
The lines drawn on the map are wild and unrestrained, the symbols are strange, and the terrain is unfamiliar.
The only clear direction is an area circled in heavy ink— Falling Star Lake.
He briefly estimated the map's scale, then compared it to his surroundings, and felt a slight unease.
Falling Star Lake is surprisingly hidden deep within this scorched wasteland.
The road ahead is sure to be fraught with danger.
Time waits for no one!
Xiao Han quickly adjusted his breathing to calm himself.
[The Myriad Transformations Mimicry Mask] flashed with a ghostly light, and his facial bones began to writhe, instantly transforming him into an inconspicuous vagrant from the scorched earth.
His aura completely subsided, perfectly blending into this desolate, scorched earth.
With a slight movement, he glided out of the makeshift cave like a ghost.
Following the vague directions on the animal hide map, he determined the direction and sped towards Falling Star Lake.
Everything in sight was charred black; this desolate world stretched as far as the eye could see, teeming with danger.
After running for a while, a chilling rustling sound came from ahead.
It's Fiendbone Lizard!
This unique beast, found only in the scorched earth, is covered in pale white bone armor, and its scarlet eyes gleam with a ferocious, man-eating light.
They always travel in packs, and the malevolent energy they spew can corrupt the spiritual power of cultivators. Each one is comparable to Martial King and is fearless in the face of death.
Xiao Han silently activated the [Scorched Earth Evasion Technique] beneath his feet, his figure disappearing into the Dao Initiation.
The [Myriad Transformations Mimicry Mask] perfectly mimicked his aura, making him indistinguishable from a creature from scorched earth.
He skillfully avoided the head-on attack of large groups of lizards, specifically targeting lone individuals.
After several raids and ambushes, he managed to acquire a few Fiendish Qi Crystal Cores, which, though few, were better than nothing.
But that damned "Primordial Demon Finger Soul-Splitting Curse Seal"!
This damned thing is like a persistent ghost, it attacks from time to time, tormenting him to the point of wishing he were dead.
Once the cursed seal activates, the left ankle feels like it's being stabbed by a thousand needles, the excruciating pain tearing at the heart!
Cold, violent, and bloodthirsty thoughts, like a flood bursting its banks, frantically assaulted his consciousness, attempting to drag him into the abyss of demonic depravity from which there is no return.
Xiao Han clenched his teeth tightly, veins bulging on his forehead, looking ferocious and terrifying.
Only through his indomitable will and the cool soul power emanating from the [Soul Origin Treasure Jade] within his dantian was he able to barely maintain the last shred of clarity and prevent his mind from losing control.
The Creation-Heaven-Penetrating Art and the Shadow Void Scripture were running wildly at the same time, but with little effect. That evil power continued to devour his spiritual power and vitality.
"Damn curse! Once I find a way to break it, I'll grind the evil behind you to dust!" Xiao Han roared in his heart, his hatred reaching the heavens.
Traveling day and night, enduring wind and rain, sleeping in the open.
After several days of arduous trekking, they encountered countless hardships.
On this day, Xiao Han crossed a scorched hill.
The terrain ahead suddenly opened up.
A boundless, dark lake lies silently in the center of the scorched earth.
The lake was deathly still, without a ripple; its deep, dark color seemed capable of swallowing any light that entered it.
This is Falling Star Lake!
A chill ran straight to the bone, rushing towards me, carrying with it an ancient, deathly stillness, as if stars had fallen.
The previously strong smell of blood and malevolent aura in the surrounding air had completely disappeared.
Instead, there is a pure, utterly desolate and cold silence.
Xiao Han atop the hill, gazing silently into the distance, his heart filled with mixed emotions.