Phalanx Breaker!

The <Ghost Divination Nuo Mask>'s divination abilities are remarkably accurate, and it's one of the few <Forbidden Items> willing to communicate normally with humans.

According to its own account, it gained consciousness a thousand years ago and has witnessed countless shifts in human history.

It once used its powerful divination skills to guide villages away from disaster, earning it the status of a sacred artifact.

At other times, it was deemed an evil object and discarded into an ancient well.

Although it often speaks in riddles, its usefulness is undeniable.

It is currently the most needed asset for the group, as its divination abilities can help them locate the <Mobius Ring Diagram> the fastest.

Thus, after a brief rest, <Li Yèlái> and the others set out once more.

Relying on the divination abilities granted and enhanced by the <Ghost Divination Nuo Mask>, <Shā Lì> quickly performed a divination using the nine-character hand seal and led the group through the maze.

"It's useless, you fools. This amount of time isn't enough for you to safely cross the maze!" the Nuo Mask continued to mock. "Go back! I can lead you out of the maze! Don't you have any will to survive?"

<Shā Lì> sneered, "Of course, I know that, but we didn't say we wanted to be safe!"

With that, she directly pushed open the door to a containment room.

Beyond the door, however, was not a containment room, but a long corridor. From the depths of the corridor, sounds of intense fighting and curses could be heard.

It was likely someone suppressing a <Concealment Scarf>.

Seeing this, the Nuo Mask was clearly shocked.

<Li Yèlái> also reacted instantly.

This was not the safe route; they would encounter several dangerous <Forbidden Items> along this path!

But it was indeed the fastest route!

To save precious time, <Shā Lì> had abandoned the safe path and chosen the shortest route directly through the <Forbidden Items>' territory!

Only by doing so could they barely reach the location of the <Mobius Ring Diagram> within the time limit.

Humans might never comprehend the mysterious power contained within the <Ghost Divination Nuo Mask>.

Similarly, the <Ghost Divination Nuo Mask> could never comprehend human courage and responsibility!

Nor could it comprehend the Clerical Staff.

They defended against calamities, suppressed taboos, watched over the populace, and even had to draw blades against each other, to send off fallen teammates.

They were the most steadfast guardians of the human race, and also <Suffering Ones> struggling on the brink of life and death. They were born to face death!

<Li Yèlái> had long known this, but even he couldn't help but feel a surge of shock and admiration upon seeing <Shā Lì>'s actions.

"<Clerical Staff> stay behind, the safe route is to the left. Everyone else follow!" <Shā Lì> shouted, leading the charge into the passage.

<Li Yèlái> didn't hesitate, following closely behind <Cheese> into the passage.

He still had <Black Shadow> as a trump card, so how could he back down here?

From behind, some <Clerical Staff> members tried to follow immediately: "We are also members of the processing department, don't look down on us!"

But they were immediately pulled back by a colleague: "You can't keep up with them, don't hold them back, go!"

"Be careful, you guys!"

Simultaneously, five Clerical Staff members and one <Iron Guard> traversed the corridor at top speed.

"Ahead!" <Shā Lì>'s slightly hoarse voice suddenly rang out.

<Li Yèlái> looked up and saw branches and boughs spreading from an unknown source, covering almost the entire ceiling.

A flock of dark, strange birds perched on them, possessing sharp talons and beaks. Their blood-red glowing eyes were incredibly conspicuous amidst the foliage.

On the branches, there were also remnants of human flesh and blood, organs ripped out, torn and fought over.

It was like a scene from hell!

They were derivatives of the <C-Rank> <Forbidden Item>, the <Falling Spirit Tree>! After going berserk, they were born from the spreading branches and began hunting humans.

And they had already successfully killed quite a few people.

Looking at the mangled corpses of the <Clerical Staff>, <Li Yèlái> felt a surge of anger well up in his chest.

At this moment, they seemed to have also detected the arrival of <Li Yèlái> and the others. Countless strange birds took flight, gathering and circling, as if preparing for their next hunt.

"There are too many, don't engage!" <Cheese> suddenly said. "<Xiǎo Yè>, <Beast Speech>!"

<Beast Speech>? That's right, these birds were just derivatives, not even truly supernatural beings!

<Li Yèlái>'s mind raced, and he immediately cast <Void Realm>'s <Beast Speech>: "Disperse!"

He uttered the obscure words.

In an instant, the gathering birds immediately scattered, clearing a path for the group.

But soon, some birds struggled free from the <Beast Speech>'s command and began to pursue the group.

<Li Yèlái> had to speak again, casting <Void Realm>'s <Beast Speech>: "Return!"

A large number of birds landed again. Although after a few seconds, they would break free from the command.

However, <Li Yèlái> and the others had already managed to run a considerable distance.

They spotted the cross-shaped intersection dozens of meters ahead.

At this moment, <Shā Lì>, who was charging at the front, shouted, "There's something at the left corner, leave one person to hold it off!"

The <Iron Guard> immediately raised their <Heat Gun> in response, "I'll do it!"

Yes, this was the safest method.

Leaving one person to stall the <Forbidden Item> would allow the others to pass quickly.

But facing a <Forbidden Item> alone, the risks were self-evident.

This was a sacrifice of one's life to pave a safe path for companions. A path that could save more people!

But... it wasn't time for that yet!

<Li Yèlái>'s heart pounded fiercely as he spoke rapidly, "You all go, I have a trump card! Don't look back!"

"Don't do anything reckless!" <Cheese> hissed.

"Trust me, keep charging, close your eyes!" <Li Yèlái> roared, simultaneously picking up speed and rushing to the intersection first. He directly lunged towards the left.

Behind him, his teammates gritted their teeth and closed their eyes, charging through the intersection. They ultimately chose to trust <Li Yèlái>.

As <Li Yèlái> rounded the corner, he saw a person-sized black stone statue, carved entirely from black stone, with wings and sharp fangs. It was a demon statue.

At this moment, the statue was drenched in blood, moving freely like a living being, flying towards the intersection at extreme speed.

It was like a demon intent on hunting humans.

A <C-Rank> <Forbidden Item>, the <Black Gargoyle>.

Its effect was to periodically spawn a piece of black stone, one of the materials for <Psychic Weapons>.

When out of control, it would become a living entity and hunt humans.

It could quickly reassemble even if its body was shattered.

Its strength was approximately that of a thrice-awakened <Spirit Ability User>.

To suppress it, one had to shatter its head and prevent its body from getting close for a period of time to achieve suppression.

With such an ability, even if <Li Yèlái> summoned the <Dual Blade Knight>, two against one wouldn't be enough to hold it back; they'd likely be killed quickly.

But now, <Li Yèlái> wasn't afraid of it.

Or rather, it should be afraid of him!

Seeing the gargoyle approaching, <Li Yèlái> took a strand of hair from the cloth bag in his embrace. The hair carried a gentle maiden's fragrance.

Yet, this single strand of hair made the <Black Gargoyle> act as if it had seen a ghost, falling from mid-air in terrified struggle.

After crashing heavily onto the ground, it scrambled backward on its hands and feet, desperately trying to escape.

As if it no longer faced prey, but a natural predator!

This was a trump card <Puppet> had left for <Li Yèlái>, a lock of hair retaining part of her curse.

This was also one of <Li Yèlái>'s trump cards, and one only he could use.

Only he could employ such a method without fear.

Using this to stall the <Forbidden Item> was now the best option.

<Li Yèlái> left the strand of hair in place and accelerated to catch up with his companions.

Before the curse on the hair faded, neither the gargoyle nor any flying birds would be able to pass through this intersection!

"What is that?" A handler, noticing <Li Yèlái> catching up, couldn't help but shout and ask.

"<Puppet>'s hair!" <Li Yèlái> quickly replied, "My curse resistance is high, I'm not afraid of this. The <Forbidden Item> isn't!"

"That's brilliant!" The handler was a bit taken aback but had no time for gossip.

<Cheese>, however, glanced back quickly at <Li Yèlái> but said nothing.

"Almost there, almost there, hang on!" <Shā Lì> shouted, "Just a few more corners and we're there!"

As they rounded the first corner, they saw a group of handlers and <Iron Guard> approaching in the distance.

The other party was clearly also tracking the <Mobius Ring Diagram>.

At this moment, it wasn't just <Li Yèlái> and his group who were making an effort. Many teams had found the location of the <Mobius Ring Diagram> through <Forbidden Items> or abilities, and were rushing there with all their might.

Unfortunately, they were delayed.

They were simultaneously under attack from <Concealment Scarves> and a large group of <Prairie Cavalry>.

Or rather, the group of <Prairie Cavalry> was attacking the scarves and the humans.

A chaotic three-way battle ensued, fiercely fought.

The thick power armor of the <Iron Guard> was riddled with arrow holes and sword marks, and the handlers were all wounded.

They fought and retreated, steadfastly advancing towards the <Mobius Ring Diagram>.

Upon seeing <Li Yèlái> and his group, surprise filled their eyes. One of them immediately spoke, but their words were not a plea for help.

"We'll hold them off here, you guys go quickly! Hurry!"

The speaker was a young man, and as he spoke, an arrow pierced his shoulder.

But he showed no fear, as if devoid of pain, and snapped the arrow in half with his left hand.

He grabbed a long spear with his right and sent a charging cavalryman, horse and all, flying with a single thrust.

The others in that squad also abandoned their journey.

They immediately turned their direction and clashed with the endless stream of <Prairie Cavalry> and the giant snake-like <Concealment Scarf>, fighting fiercely.

Upon discovering teammates ahead of them, they decisively abandoned their advance and turned to cover the rear.

Placing their hope in their comrades.

<Li Yèlái> watched helplessly as a handler had his arm severed, and the fire in his heart burned even brighter.

He wasn't sure if it was the influence of <Heart of Slaughter>.

<Li Yèlái> wanted to go to their aid, to cut through these cavalrymen.

"We..." <Li Yèlái> reached out and gripped the cloth bag he carried, which still contained about half of the hair. It should be enough to drive away those riders!

"Don't go, there's no time, keep moving! Quickly!" <Shā Lì>'s eyes were bloodshot, but she dared not hesitate, continuing to push the team forward!

The further they advanced, the more battles they saw.

They even saw the corpses of several handlers. Those severely injured handlers, upon seeing them, their eyes lit up with a spark. It was the light of hope.

So they desperately blocked the <Forbidden Item>, buying time for <Li Yèlái> and the others.

<Li Yèlái> saw him, the <Night Watch> who had wanted to become sworn brothers with him earlier, <White Poplar>!

At this moment, <White Poplar> was locked in a bloody battle with a <Void Realm Creature>.

That was a bounty hunter from <Scarlet Wanted Order>, a <Forbidden Item>!

A <Void Realm Creature> no weaker than a Fourth Awakening, possessing two bizarre <Psychic Weapon>!

Even an elite <Night Watch> couldn't easily defeat him.

<White Poplar>'s great saber unleashed continuous slashes, even cutting through metal gates, but it couldn't sever the <Void Realm Creature>'s dagger.

Upon seeing <Li Yèlái> and the others, <White Poplar> let out a maniacal laugh, his great saber becoming even more ferocious!

"Don't look back, don't look back!" he roared, laughing heartily.

He abandoned all defense and attacked the <Void Realm Creature> with all his might, preventing the <Void Realm Creature> from advancing an inch.

"Almost there, almost there, the last intersection is ahead, only three hundred meters!!!"

<Shā Lì>'s eyes were bloodshot, her voice hoarse. She had seen the corpses of several of her friends.

She had also seen several colleagues who needed support.

But she couldn't stop, she could only leave her colleagues behind and continue forward!

However, just beyond that last turn, hundreds of <Prairie Cavalry> were charging towards them.

They too were pursuing the <Mobius Ring Diagram> and had encountered the last of humanity's team!

At this moment, despair filled the hearts of everyone in the team.

It was too late. Setting aside whether they could withstand the impact of so many cavalrymen.

Just with their current speed, it was impossible to reach the turn in time.

However, in the next second, the charging cavalrymen suddenly collapsed to the ground. The horses behind them couldn't stop in time and trampled the fallen riders.

Then, more cavalry and horses fell into panic, forcibly halting the charge of the entire cavalry unit.

It was <Li Yèlái>!

At the very back of the team, he took out all the hair from the cloth bag.

The fear curse of <Puppet> caused the charging cavalrymen to immediately fall into a panic.

This brought the final glimmer of hope to everyone, allowing them to rush into the turn before the cavalry.

"Good! It's just ahead, only two hundred meters! Damn it, there's another <Forbidden Item> ahead, the last one! Hold it off! I'll break the <Mobius Ring Diagram>!" <Shā Lì> shouted, half-crying and half-laughing as she looked at a beast-like <Forbidden Item> emerging ahead, like a madwoman.

"Just one, we just need to hold it off!" another handler shouted excitedly, "Well done! <Night General>! Thank <Puppet>, thank <Night General>! You are all heroes!"

But they did not hear <Li Yèlái>'s reply.

<Cheese>, preparing for battle, felt a jolt in her heart and suddenly looked back.

But she didn't see the figure that had been closely following her.

What she saw was the <Prairie Cavalry> gradually gathering at the turn.

And that lone figure, holding a saber and blocking the army.

Had the curse of <Puppet> failed?

In that instant, <Cheese> felt a crack form in her heart.

"You scoundrel, what are you trying to be a hero for!" <Cheese> roared, turning around, grabbing a handful of saccharin and swallowing it, then looking at the last <Forbidden Item> blocking their path.

Wait, I'm coming to save you right now!

Cheese's eyes lit up: "[Word Spirit: Exploding Flames]."

On the other side, Li Yèlái looked at the approaching cavalry with his saber, put down the now useless hair, and took out his summoning bell, shaking it slightly.

Dual Blade Knight appeared by his side.

Playing the hero? No, he couldn't be considered a hero.

Unlike other handlers, he dared to take risks entirely because he had Mr. Shadow to cover the losses.

What kind of hero was that?

How could he compare himself to them? He was just a despicable imitator.

But. Now, at least he could for those heroes.

Avenge them!

Thus, his terrifying double pupils looked down upon the legion, Heart of Slaughter beating wildly!

Today, Phalanx Breaker!

(Happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone)