The Black-Robed People saw Mu Chen and the others moving toward the statues in the corners of the hall. Seemingly guessing their intentions, they let out a low, cold laugh. "You think those worthless statues can save you? Utter fools." Their voice echoed through the hall, dripping with contempt. They swept both hands outward, and black mist surged from around their body, turning into tendrils of black spiritual energy that lashed toward Mu Chen and the others. These tendrils were thicker than those they had encountered before, covered in sharp barbs. Every barb gleamed with an eerie black light, as though it could devour all life force. Sensing the immense threat, Mu Chen and the others quickened their pace and charged toward the statues. But the black tendrils moved with terrifying speed, catching up in an instant. "Watch out, everyone!" Mu Chen shouted. He turned and unleashed a slash of spiritual energy, trying to sever the approaching tendrils. The slash collided with them, sending black sparks of spiritual energy flying, but it left only a shallow mark on a tendril, dealing no real damage. The other cultivators unleashed their own techniques to fend off the attacks. For a moment, spiritual light flashed throughout the hall, and explosions rang out one after another. Yet the Black-Robed People's assault was too ferocious, and they gradually became locked in a desperate struggle. Several cultivators failed to dodge in time and were struck. The black tendrils instantly coiled around their bodies, their barbs piercing their skin, and the cultivators let out agonized screams. Their spiritual energy was rapidly eaten away, their bodies began to weaken, and terror spread across their faces. "We can't let them be taken!" Mu Chen's heart burned with anxiety. He unleashed Star Transformation again, gathering Star Power in his hands before grabbing the tendrils wrapped around his companions. The instant Star Power touched the black tendrils, a sizzling sound rang out. As though scorched, the tendrils loosened their grip on some of his companions. Seeing this, the other cultivators rushed forward to help free those who had been ensnared. But they paid a terrible price for it: many suffered grievous injuries and expended vast amounts of spiritual energy. Amid the chaotic battle, Mu Chen and the others finally reached one of the statues. Several dozen feet tall, it depicted a majestic warrior holding a longsword, his steadfast gaze fixed ahead as though guarding something. An ancient, mysterious fluctuation of spiritual energy radiated from the statue, opposing the surrounding evil aura and forming a delicate balance. Mu Chen reached out to touch it. The instant his hand made contact, a stream of information entered his mind. He saw the statue's origins: it had been forged by a powerful expert in ancient times and contained formidable sealing power, created specifically to suppress the evil sphere. At the same time, he learned how to activate it. Spiritual energy of specific attributes had to be poured into several key parts of the statue in a prescribed sequence. "I know how to activate the statue!" Mu Chen called to his companions. "Cover me!" Hearing his words, his companions immediately rallied. They gathered once more, forming a defensive circle and doing everything they could to withstand the Black-Robed People and their tendrils. Though their bodies were already covered in wounds, their eyes shone with unwavering resolve. Mu Chen focused, following the information in his mind as he began pouring his spiritual energy into the statue. He first channeled it into the statue's feet, which began to glow faintly as the energy flowed in. Next, he poured spiritual energy into its legs, abdomen, arms, and other key areas in sequence. With each part he infused, the statue's light grew brighter, and the surrounding evil aura was suppressed further. Seeing Mu Chen activating the statue, the Black-Robed People's expression darkened. They intensified their assault, sending black tendrils raining down on Mu Chen and the others. At the same time, they muttered an incantation, drawing more black spiritual energy from the black sphere and sending it surging toward the statue, trying to stop Mu Chen from activating it. "Hmph, you think you can stop me? It won't be that easy!" Mu Chen gritted his teeth. Ignoring the attacks around him, he quickened the flow of spiritual energy. Through his efforts, the statue was now more than halfway activated. Its light grew ever more dazzling, and a mighty power radiated from it. However, the Black-Robed People's attacks also grew fiercer. Black tendrils broke through the cultivators' defensive circle and lunged toward Mu Chen. At that critical instant, the cultivator in silver battle armor stepped forward, thrusting his spear at the tendrils. The spear collided with them with a tremendous crash. The immense force sent the silver-armored cultivator flying, and he slammed into the ground, coughing up blood. "Don't worry about me! Keep activating the statue!" he shouted. A flicker of determination crossed Mu Chen's eyes, and he continued pouring in spiritual energy. At last, the statue was fully activated. A brilliant light erupted from it, shooting toward the Black-Robed People and their tendrils like a sharp sword. Beneath its radiance, the black tendrils rapidly dissipated, and even the Black-Robed People were forced back several steps. "Damn you! You actually managed to activate the statue!" they roared in fury. But their crisis was far from over. After this brief setback, the Black-Robed People launched another attack. They tore away several of the chains surrounding the black sphere. Its light blazed, and its evil power grew even more violent. After absorbing this portion of evil power, their strength increased enormously. They swept their hands outward, and black mist condensed between them into an enormous black scythe. A chilling aura radiated from it, as though it were the very symbol of death. Brandishing the scythe, the Black-Robed People charged at Mu Chen and the others. Every swing unleashed a black spiritual energy storm that swept toward them. Mu Chen and the others had just expended vast amounts of spiritual energy activating the statue. Faced with the Black-Robed People's even more powerful attacks, they were once again driven into a desperate corner. The spiritual energy storms battered them like surging ocean waves, and their defenses proved pitifully fragile before that immense force. "We can't give up!" Mu Chen shouted, trying to gather spiritual energy again to fight the Black-Robed People. But he had barely any spiritual energy left, and his body swayed on the verge of collapse from exhaustion. The other cultivators were also struggling to hold on. They knew that if they failed now, the Spirit Road would be plunged into eternal ruin. At this crucial moment between life and death, there was not the slightest retreat in their eyes, only a longing for victory and an unwavering resolve to protect the Spirit Road. Just as the Black-Robed People's scythe was about to cleave into Mu Chen, the other three statues seemed to sense the danger and began glowing on their own. The light they released converged, forming an enormous Spiritual Energy Shield that enveloped Mu Chen and the others. The Black-Robed People's scythe struck the shield with an earth-shaking crash, but for the moment, the shield held against their attack. "This is our last chance! We have to find a way to seal the sphere again and defeat the Black-Robed People!" Mu Chen shouted. They had to find a way to resolve the crisis before the shield shattered, or everything would vanish like bubbles bursting on the water.
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