The temple was as silent as a grave. Only the eerie hissing of the dark violet energy as it flowed, along with the invisible pressure released whenever the enormous vertical eye above the altar opened and closed, made the silence especially terrifying.
The scattered remains covering the ground looked like mottled bloodstains splashed across a dark painting beneath the glow of the dense energy, recounting the brief yet brutal massacre that had just taken place.
Qin Chuan gripped the Divine Artifacts tightly in both hands. Moment of Utmost Darkness in his left hand shimmered with deep black light, while Night of No Light in his right hand flashed with a chilling gleam.
He stood atop the corpses, his figure straight as a pine, his eyes sharp as blades as he stared directly at the terrifying Thousand-Eyed Demon Projection above the altar.
"Is this the aura of an Ancient God?"
Qin Chuan thought inwardly as he sensed the changes in the surrounding energy flow.
As the minions were wiped out, the dark violet energy originally scattered throughout the temple began converging toward the vertical eye at a visible speed. Its aura grew stronger bit by bit, like a sleeping dragon slowly awakening.
"A little... interesting..." The voice of the Thousand-Eyed Demon sounded like thousands of people whispering simultaneously, yet perfectly overlapping. It carried a horrifying, ancient quality.
This time, there was less indifference in its voice and a trace more cold amusement.
"You cleared... the vermin... Do you think... that means you can... challenge... me?"
The enormous vertical eye slowly rotated, its pupil flashing with an assessing light. It no longer merely looked down from above; instead, it showed the interest of a predator.
Qin Chuan could feel that his value was being reassessed.
That gaze seemed almost tangible, as if