Beside the great abyss, atop the altar, the golden incense suddenly began burning rapidly, wisps of incense-offering energy swirling through the air.
Everyone from the Shen Household looked delighted. Shen Baoshi, standing nearby in an ink-black robe, was especially excited and cried out:
"It worked! Our ancestor succeeded! Heaven blesses the Shen Household!"
The disciples around him joined in the cheering. Laughter and sobs rose everywhere, making Zhang Yu and his companions frown slightly.
They felt the restraints on their bodies gradually loosening, the crimson chains seemingly weakening bit by bit. The two exchanged a glance, each understanding the other, then turned toward the great abyss with grave expressions. How was Liu Xiaowen faring?
A figure suddenly shot up from the abyss, drenched in blood and terribly battered, hurtling out on a red cloud.
Seeing who it was, Zhang Yu and Li Jinzhi relaxed a little. Before either could act, however, Liu Xiaowen had already descended beside the altar. His red cloud swept them up, and golden fire burned through the now insubstantial crimson chains.
The surrounding members of the Shen Household had just reacted and were about to activate their formations and artifacts to stop them when another disturbance arose from the abyss behind them.
A black snake condensed from baleful energy appeared, with Shen Zhushi standing atop its head. The members of the Shen Household below immediately began hailing their ancestor.
Shen Baoxiang even stepped forward, unable to hide his delight, and said:
"Congratulations, Ancestor, on entering the divine path! From this day onward-"
Before he could finish, the enormous Baleful Serpent before him moved, riding a baleful wind as it swiftly pursued the red cloud.
Only then did Shen Baoshi see clearly that the lower half of the snake's body had already turned pure white, bearing the