Ruins Entrance

Having broken through the ambush, the three flying boats did not slow down as they plunged deeper into Burial Demon Valley.

The surroundings grew increasingly bizarre. Threads of ominous blood-red began to mingle with the gray-black mist, while the stench of blood in the air became nauseatingly thick. An ancient, chaotic pressure weighed on everyone's hearts as though it were tangible, sending faint ripples across even the flying boats' protective barriers.

The ground was no longer an endless stretch of desolation and marshes. Vast patches of charred earth began to appear, as if scorched by raging flames or corroded by some powerful acid.

The scattered bones also became larger and more twisted. Some even flickered with an eerie phosphorescence, clearly not belonging to humans.

Even more unnerving were the occasional ruins of broken buildings, their style utterly unlike that of the present age. Massive stones were carved with incomprehensible, twisted runes that radiated an aura capable of throwing one's mind into chaos.

"We are approaching the core region of the ancient battlefield, which is also where the Ancient Demon Ruins may lie."

The martial grand-uncle specializing in arrays, Qing Yun, wore a grave expression. The needle on the array compass in his hand spun wildly. "The space here is already extremely unstable. Be exceedingly careful when probing with divine sense, and do not let those chaotic thoughts corrode your minds."

All the disciples heightened their vigilance, guarding their minds closely and not daring to let down their guard in the slightest.

Mo Yuan could feel the Soul Cleansing Banner in his sea of consciousness continuously releasing a gentle, clear radiance, helping him resist the intangible spiritual contamination outside.

He cautiously extended a thread of divine sense, only to immediately sense countless fragmented thoughts filled with brutality, hatred, and madness surging toward him like a tide. Had his divine sense not far surpassed that of cultivators at his level, and had he not possessed the Soul Cleansing Banner's protection, he would likely have been affected instantly.

"There are intense energy fluctuations and spatial distortions ahead!" the Ge Zao Mountain elder piloting the Flowing Cloud Boat suddenly warned.

Everyone looked ahead and saw that, several miles away, the earth appeared to have been torn apart by a gigantic claw, forming a vast, bottomless canyon.

At the canyon's edge, space twisted, folded, and refracted like a shattered mirror, reflecting bizarre and fantastical sights.

At the canyon entrance, several dark-red totem pillars dozens of zhang tall stood conspicuously upon a relatively flat clearing.

Thick black chains coiled around the pillars, their other ends extending into the twisted space deep within the canyon.

Even more shocking was the mountain of corpses piled across that clearing.

There were humans, demon beasts, and even strange, grotesque demonic creatures.

Blood stained the ground red, gathering into streams that flowed along specific trenches toward the totem pillars, where it was absorbed.

As a result, the pillars emitted a bewitching bloody glow that faintly echoed the chaotic pressure seeping out from the depths of the canyon.

"Blood sacrifice! They have already begun the blood sacrifice!" Elder Qing Ming's face turned livid.

"Look at the arrangement of those totem pillars and the direction of the chains... They intend to use the power of the blood sacrifice to forcibly stabilize and open that unstable ruins entrance!"

Qing Yun's voice was low, carrying a trace of horror. "What an enormous undertaking! How many living beings would need to be slaughtered for a blood sacrifice of this scale?"

The three flying boats slowly landed behind a concealed stone forest several miles from the canyon entrance.

Everyone disembarked, concealed their auras, and stealthily made their way to the edge of the stone forest to carefully observe the situation at the canyon entrance.

Around the totem pillars, at least several hundred Black Fiend Sect followers and several dozen killers clad in Netherworld attire had gathered.

Their roles were clearly divided. Some continuously dragged new "sacrifices" to designated locations and killed them, guiding their blood into the trenches. Others sat cross-legged around the totem pillars, chanting as they poured their own sinister power into the pillars. The rest held various magical artifacts as they patrolled vigilantly.

Atop each of the tallest totem pillars stood a powerful figure.

The one in the center wore the robes of a Netherworld Elder embroidered with dark-gold ghostly faces. His features were withered, and pale-green soul flames flickered in his sunken eye sockets. His aura had clearly reached the late Foundation Establishment stage.

To his left and right stood two mid-Foundation Establishment elders of the Black Fiend Sect, as well as two cold-auraed killers who clearly belonged to the Netherworld organization and were at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

"One late Foundation Establishment cultivator, four mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators, and two early Foundation Establishment cultivators... not to mention several hundred cultists..." Martial Uncle Xuan Ji's expression darkened. "Their strength far exceeds our estimates."

On the alliance's side, the three leading elders were all late Foundation Establishment cultivators. Together with Mo Yuan, Zhang Tianyun, Luo Li, and several other early Foundation Establishment true disciples, they had roughly ten Foundation Establishment combatants and more than twenty Qi Refinement disciples.

Their top-level strength was barely evenly matched, but the disparity in their lower and middle-tier forces was enormous. Furthermore, the enemy held the advantage of terrain and had the support of the blood sacrifice array.

"A direct assault is absolutely not the best option."

Qing Yun said solemnly, "We must find a way to destroy their blood sacrifice ritual, or at least interrupt its progress. Otherwise, once the ruins entrance is completely opened, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Martial Grand-Uncle, can you identify the key points of that blood sacrifice array?"

Mo Yuan focused on the several totem pillars and the flow of blood. Drawing upon his newly acquired knowledge from the Array Dao Primer and his extraordinary divine-sense perception, he vaguely detected several core points in the array's circulating energy.

Qing Yun gave Mo Yuan a somewhat surprised look. He had not expected Mo Yuan to discern anything at all.

He nodded. "Those seven main totem pillars are the core, especially the central one. It is connected to the spatial node of the ruins entrance.

"The bases of the pillars connect to the earth veins and absorb the power of the blood sacrifice. If we can destroy more than three main pillars at once, or sever the connection between the central pillar and the earth veins, we can interrupt the ritual."

"Destroy three main pillars simultaneously..." Martial Uncle Xuan Ji frowned deeply. "Each main pillar is guarded by Foundation Establishment cultivators, and there are many cultists around them. It will be difficult to strike."

"Perhaps... we can create a diversion."

Zhang Tianyun of Dragon Tiger Mountain suddenly spoke. His gaze was sharp. "Send some people to launch a feint attack from the front and draw the enemy's main forces away. Then send an elite squad around to the flank or rear using concealment techniques to launch a surprise attack and destroy the totem pillars."

"This method is feasible." Luo Li of Ge Zao Mountain also spoke softly. "I can set up a small concealment array to cover the squad's approach."

The elders quickly conferred and soon settled on a strategy.

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji and Elder Qing Ming would lead most of the disciples in a frontal assault, creating a massive disturbance to draw the enemy's main forces. Qing Yun would remain in the rear to coordinate the overall situation and prepare for any spatial anomalies that might arise.

The task of launching a surprise attack to destroy the totem pillars was entrusted to Mo Yuan, Zhang Tianyun, Luo Li, and another early Foundation Establishment senior brother from Maoshan who excelled at assassination and sabotage, Ying Wuhen.

"Martial Nephew Mo Yuan, you have only recently entered the Foundation Establishment stage, but your strength is exceptional. Lightning arts in particular are highly effective against evil entities. In this surprise attack, you will be one of the main forces."

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji looked at Mo Yuan, his eyes filled with trust and expectation. "Martial Nephew Zhang's swordsmanship is fierce, Martial Niece Luo Li's arrays are exquisite, and Martial Nephew Ying's concealment is unmatched. The four of you must work together wholeheartedly and succeed at all costs!"

"We will not fail to live up to your expectations!" the four replied in unison.

With the plan decided, everyone immediately moved into action. The team assigned to the frontal feint began gathering spiritual power, preparing to unleash a thunderous strike.

Meanwhile, under the cover of a thin, smoke-like concealment array swiftly set up by Luo Li, Mo Yuan and the other three moved like four shadows. Using the stone forest and the terrain's darkness as cover, they silently circled toward the canyon entrance from the side and rear.

Mo Yuan felt the surging lightning True Essence within him, as well as the intangible majesty brought by that strand of Thunder Emperor's Will. His gaze was resolute.

He knew that this surprise attack would be the crucial battle to test his true strength after reaching Foundation Establishment, and it would also determine whether they could prevent a catastrophe that might sweep across the world.

He tightened his grip around the Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear. Familiar coolness and fighting intent flowed from the weapon.

The bloody light and sinister aura ahead drew closer and closer. Battle was about to erupt.