Chapter 7: Clash at the Altar (continued)
The instant Great Emperor Xuantian's phantom vanished, the entire altar shook violently, and ancient runes slithered across the ground like living things. Lin Wudao charged toward the fused black jade fragment first, his Chaos Sword slicing through the void as Sword Qi stirred ripples in its wake. Yet a golden barrier suddenly rose from the altar and flung him back.
"Hmph, naive!" Tianxuzi held the Xuantian Mirror, mysterious light swirling across its surface. "The Great Emperor placed restrictions on this altar. Only those who pass the trial can touch it." Before he finished speaking, four ancient bronze lamps lit up at the altar's four corners, sending out beams of red, blue, gold, and purple light that wove into a vast net of light in midair.
Seeing this, Youmingzi gave a sinister smile. "In that case, let's dispose of these nuisances first!" He formed seals with both hands and muttered an incantation. The black mist around the altar abruptly thickened until it was like ink. Seven Skeleton Generals reassembled once more and lunged at the crowd, brandishing bone blades. The experts from the other factions stopped holding back as well, bringing out their Law Treasures and joining the melee.
Lin Wudao steadied himself and circulated the Mystic Heaven Creation Instruction, lightning flickering all around him. Seizing an opening, he cleaved an incoming bone blade apart, then darted toward Tianxuzi. A trace of surprise flashed through Tianxuzi's eyes, and he hurriedly directed the Xuantian Mirror to fire a pillar of light. Lin Wudao twisted aside to dodge it and swung the Chaos Sword with the motion, sending a streak of black Sword Qi straight toward Tianxuzi's throat.
Tianxuzi hastily cast a defensive Law Technique, enclosing himself in a golden shield. The Sword Qi struck the shield with a piercing screech of scraping metal. Just as Lin Wudao was about to press his advantage, Youmingzi's attack came from behind. A mass of black mist transformed into a giant python, opening its gaping, blood-red maw to swallow him.
Lin Wudao turned in time, and the Chaos Sword collided with the giant python. Wisps of bluish smoke immediately rose from the python's body as it hissed in agony. Youmingzi, however, seized the opportunity to fling out a black talisman, which transformed in midair into an enormous ghostly face and lunged at Lin Wudao.
"Profound Heaven Creation Instruction: Thunderstorm!" Lin Wudao roared. Countless bolts of purple lightning descended from the sky, striking the ghostly face. It let out shrill screams amid the lightning and gradually dissipated. But Tianxuzi now brought out another Law Treasure-a golden bell. As the bell shook, it emitted a series of piercing sounds. A sharp pain tore through Lin Wudao's head, and his body swayed involuntarily.
At this moment, when a thousand pounds hung by a single thread, the black jade fragment inside Lin Wudao's robes suddenly blazed with dazzling light. Wherever the light reached, the golden bell's ringing stopped short, and Tianxuzi and Youmingzi were forced back several steps. Lin Wudao seized the opportunity and charged once more toward the black jade fragment at the center of the altar.
Seeing this, the experts from the other factions also abandoned their infighting and lunged toward the fragment together. For a time, the radiance of all manner of Law Techniques intertwined, and the entire altar seemed to have become a battlefield. Wielding the Chaos Sword, Lin Wudao charged left and right, driving back several experts in succession.
When he was only a step away from the black jade fragment, Tianxuzi and Youmingzi suddenly joined forces. Tianxuzi directed the Xuantian Mirror to project a golden cage, trapping Lin Wudao; Youmingzi commanded the Skeleton Generals and black mist to attack from all directions. Trapped inside the cage, Lin Wudao endured immense pressure. Wounds kept multiplying across his body, and blood stained his clothes red.
Could it be... that I really am going to fail? Lin Wudao gritted his teeth, unwilling to accept it. Just then, he suddenly recalled what Great Emperor Xuantian's phantom had said and realized that this might also be a test. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, gathered all his spiritual power in his Dantian, and began circulating the advanced Cultivation Method of the Mystic Heaven Creation Instruction.
As he circulated the Cultivation Method, Lin Wudao's presence began to change. Mysterious runes appeared around his body, intertwining to form a powerful force field. Cracks began to appear in the golden cage under the force field's impact; the Skeleton Generals and black mist were also blasted backward.
"Break!" Lin Wudao roared. Spiritual power surged from his body like a tide, and the golden cage exploded with a thunderous crash. Chaos Sword in hand, he charged toward the black jade fragment with the force of a thunderbolt, a trace of resolve flashing through his eyes...