The blue light of the Black Iron Pivot went out completely.
That inch of slack in the chains was like the final straw that broke the camel's back. Chen Wuya's hand still hung in midair, his fingertips retaining the lingering warmth of Misaligned Force as it coursed through them, but the light on the star map had already dimmed. His throat tightened. Before he could withdraw his breath, the ground suddenly shook.
The Myriad Demons Cauldron gave a deep roar, like a wild beast awakening from the depths of the earth. Blood-red light surged from its cracks, instantly staining the entire cave crimson. It was not light shining upon them—it felt as though it had clung directly to their skin and begun to burn, so scorching they could not keep their eyes open.
The first chain snapped, lashing against the stone wall like a whip and gouging out a deep crater.
The second and third exploded one after another. Fragments scattered, crackling as they struck the rock face. The last thick chain wrapped around the cauldron twisted into a braid amid the violent shaking, then burst with a BANG, exploding into countless sections that flew in every direction.
The cracks around the cauldron's mouth widened, and a plume of black vapor shot skyward, coalescing into a human figure in midair.
The phantom of the Demonic Cult's leader stood there. He was no longer a vague silhouette, but so distinct that every fold of his robes could be seen. His face was veiled behind a bloody mist, yet his eyes blazed with a terrifying brightness, like two burning coals.
"You ants." His voice came from every direction, without a trace of emotion, yet it made their knees go weak. "You dared seal me?"
Before his words had faded, he raised a