The evil aura in Bone Valley was like thick black mist, coiling around every inch of rock. The moment Loran entered the valley, he heard heavy hoofbeats-dozens of Blood Bone Knights were patrolling in a square formation. Their warhorses were also formed from bones, and their hooves struck the ground, scattering black sparks of evil aura. The knights held their lances angled toward the ground, their tips flickering with sinister light in the black mist like lurking venomous snakes.
"My turn." Lei Lin gave a low growl, crimson flames surging around it as the pressure of a fifth-tier magical beast instantly spread. It spread its fiery wings and leaped above the Blood Bone Knights' formation. Golden fireballs fell like meteors, striking the gaps between the knights. Flames exploded, and crimson waves of fire swept outward, scorching the leg bones of several skeletal horses black.
"Intruder!" the Blood Bone Knight captain at the front roared, pointing his lance at Lei Lin. "Form the Blood Bone Formation! Don't let it near the Evil Bone Pillar!"
Dozens of knights swiftly changed formation, weaving their lances into a black net. Evil aura gathered along the lance tips, forming an enormous phantom serpent. The phantom opened its mouth and spat black-and-red evil flames straight at Lei Lin. Lei Lin did not dodge. Its fiery wings whipped up a whirlwind of flame, which collided with the evil flames in a deafening boom. The blast scattered much of the surrounding black mist.
Meanwhile, Snow Spirit Qilin led the icefield wolf around to the western side of the valley, where more than ten black-robed figures were chanting around the Evil Bone Pillar. The black-and-red halo at its summit grew brighter and brighter, clearly accelerating the grand formation's operation. "Ice Prison Formation-Bind!" Snow Spirit Qilin let out a clear, cold cry. Pale blue frost surged from its palms and spread along the ground, instantly forming ice-crystal cages beneath the black-robed figures' feet.
"You again, you ice Qilin!" a black-robed elder roared, pulling a bone staff from his robes. The skull atop it spewed evil aura, attempting to corrode the ice crystals. But nourished by the Ice and Fire Spring, Snow Spirit Qilin's Ice Prison Formation was no longer what it had once been. Pale blue light shimmered across the ice crystals, and the evil aura left only faint white marks upon them.
The icefield wolf seized the chance to pounce on an isolated black-robed figure, its sharp fangs biting through his wrist. His bone staff clattered to the ground. Snow Spirit Qilin spat an ice arrow that struck the black-robed elder's bone staff precisely. It instantly froze the skull atop the staff, preventing him from using any more evil arts.
Taking advantage of the chaos Lei Lin and Snow Spirit Qilin had created, Loran rushed toward the Evil Bone Pillar at the center of the valley. Countless bones wound around it. These were no ordinary bones: they gleamed with black-and-red sinister light, each trembling slightly as though alive. Intricate runes were carved into the pillar's base, and black-and-red liquid flowed through their grooves-the "Saint-level blood essence" the bone serpent priest had mentioned earlier.
"As long as I destroy the runic core at the base, I can interrupt the grand formation." Loran tightened his grip on his knight's sword. His mid-fourth-tier Dou Qi and magic fused perfectly along the blade, their two-colored light piercing the black mist. He leaped up and slashed at the runic core at the pillar's base.
But just as his blade was about to touch the runes, a black-and-red light shield suddenly flared around the Evil Bone Pillar. Countless twisted human faces appeared across it, letting out shrill screams. With a sharp clang, Loran's blade struck the shield, only for him to be flung away. He crashed heavily to the ground, his chest tight—the shield's defense was actually stronger than that of a Peak of the Fourth Rank!
"Brat, you dare touch the Evil Bone Pillar? You're courting death!" An aged, chilling voice came from the black mist, and an old man in purple robes slowly emerged. His graying hair was secured with a serpent-shaped bone hairpin, and wrinkles covered his face. He held a bone staff set with a purple gemstone. Early Saint Level pressure erupted from him, bearing down on Loran like a mountain.
"A Saint-level expert!" Loran's heart sank. He could sense that this old man's aura was far stronger than the bone serpent priest's had been, and the evil aura within him was so dense it was almost tangible.
"I am Elder Purple Snake of the Bone-Eroding Cult, charged with guarding the Evil Bone Pillar." The purple-robed elder sneered and lightly tapped his bone staff against the ground. Three black bone spikes erupted beneath Loran's feet, stabbing straight toward his chest. Loran hurriedly rolled aside. The spikes scraped past his dark iron armor, leaving three deep furrows in the ground.
Elder Purple Snake gave him no chance to catch his breath. He waved his bone staff, and countless black serpentine strands of evil aura poured from its tip, coiling around Loran's limbs in an attempt to bind him. The two-colored energy ring within Loran spun rapidly. His Dou Qi and magic erupted together, crimson flames burning the serpentine evil aura while golden Dou Qi severed the sinister threads wound around him. He barely broke free.
"Oh? You can fuse two powers at the middle of the fourth tier? Interesting." A flicker of surprise crossed Elder Purple Snake's eyes, then gave way to greater greed. "If I extract the origins of your two powers and merge them into the Evil Bone Pillar, the grand formation can be completed ahead of time!"
He lunged at Loran. The purple gemstone atop his bone staff lit up, firing a beam of purple evil light at Loran's dantian. Loran's pupils contracted. This evil light could actually attack the source of his power directly! With no time to dodge, he could only gather all his strength outside his dantian, forming a two-colored shield.
Bang! The evil light struck the shield. Agonizing pain tore through Loran's dantian, blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and the impact sent him sliding several meters backward. A crack appeared in the shield. The purple evil light kept eating into it, trying to break through.
"Loran! I'll help you!" Sensing Loran's peril, Lei Lin tried to shake off the Blood Bone Knights, but the Blood Bone Formation's lance net held it fast. Evil flames constantly scorched its fiery wings, making escape difficult.
Snow Spirit Qilin also wanted to help, but the black-robed elder on the western side had broken free of the Ice Prison Formation and was using his bone staff to cast an evil art. Countless black vines burst from the ground and wound around Snow Spirit Qilin's limbs, leaving it unable to move. The icefield wolf lunged forward to tear at the vines, only to be burned by their evil aura and let out a howl of pain.
Looking at his companions in trouble, Loran felt unwillingness surge within him. He gripped his knight's sword, and the two-colored core in his dantian spun violently. The Ice and Fire Domain he had comprehended at the Ice and Fire Spring unfolded around him-crimson flames and pale blue frost intertwined into a domain ten meters across. The evil aura within it was instantly purified, and even the purple evil light's erosion slowed.
"Is this... the embryonic form of a domain?" Elder Purple Snake's expression shifted slightly. Comprehending a domain at the middle of the fourth tier was an extraordinarily rare talent across the entire continent. "You cannot be allowed to live!"
He thrust his bone staff into the ground and unleashed his Saint-level power in full. The valley's evil aura surged madly toward him, forming a gigantic purple serpent phantom. It opened its mouth, exposing sharp fangs, and lunged at Loran's Ice and Fire Domain with an air of world-shattering destruction.
Loran drew a deep breath, a trace of resolve flashing through his eyes. He knew his current strength could never withstand a Saint-level expert's all-out strike, unless-he broke through!
He drew all the power of the Ice and Fire Domain back into his body. The two-colored energy ring circulated wildly through his meridians, and the barrier that had held him at the middle of the fourth tier began to shake violently. Outside the domain, the purple serpent phantom drew closer and closer, its evil aura pressing down so hard he could barely breathe. Yet his gaze only grew firmer-for his companions, for Fallen Maple Territory, for the continent, he had to break through!
"Aah!" Loran roared. The two-colored energy ring within him suddenly burst apart, power erupting like a volcano. The mid-fourth-tier barrier shattered instantly, and a late-fourth-tier aura burst from him. The two-colored core in his dantian grew more solid, and the two-colored radiance along his blade surged, even outshining the Evil Bone Pillar's black-and-red halo.
"He broke through?!" Elder Purple Snake's expression changed completely. He had never expected Loran to break through in battle, much less leap straight from the middle to the late fourth tier!
Loran opened his eyes, two-colored light gleaming within them. He raised his knight's sword and poured all his newfound power into it. The radiance along its edge formed a blade of light several meters long, containing not only Dou Qi and magic, but also the power of his domain. "Late fourth tier-Ice and Fire Domain Slash!"
The blade of light slashed out and collided with the purple serpent phantom. This time, it was not suppressed. Instead, it cut the serpent phantom in two. Crimson flames burned its upper half while pale blue frost froze its lower half. The serpent phantom let out a piercing scream and soon dissipated into the air.
The backlash sent Elder Purple Snake staggering backward, black blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. Disbelief filled his eyes. "Impossible! How could a late-fourth-tier fighter defeat my Saint-level evil art!"
Loran gave him no time to remain stunned. Knight's sword in hand, he leaped before Elder Purple Snake, his blade aimed straight at the elder's chest. "Your evil arts end here!"
But just as the blade was about to strike, a black figure suddenly rushed out from behind the Evil Bone Pillar and blocked Loran's knight's sword with a bone staff. "Purple Snake, you're utterly useless. You can't even deal with a fourth-tier brat." The figure's voice was hoarse. Middle Saint Level pressure erupted from him, stronger than Elder Purple Snake's!
"Elder Black Bone!" Elder Purple Snake breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly retreated behind the figure.
Elder Black Bone was entirely shrouded in black robes, with only a pair of scarlet eyes visible. He gripped his bone staff, sinister light swirling around its tip. "Loran Kane, you've ruined so many of our plans. Today, you and your companions will become sacrifices to the Evil Bone Pillar!"
He waved his bone staff. The black-and-red halo atop the Evil Bone Pillar suddenly surged, and the runes at its base began flashing wildly. The valley's evil aura poured toward Loran like a tide. The pressure on Lei Lin and Snow Spirit Qilin instantly multiplied. The Blood Bone Knights' Blood Bone Formation strengthened once more, its black lance net even beginning to absorb Lei Lin's flames. The black-robed elder's vines also coiled around Snow Spirit Qilin's neck, making it struggle to breathe.
Loran watched his companions fall into desperate straits, anxiety burning within him, but Elder Black Bone's Middle Saint Level pressure locked firmly onto him, leaving him unable to move. The Evil Bone Pillar's black-and-red halo grew brighter and brighter. A black rift began to appear above the valley, and the howls of evil creatures came from within—the Evil Bone Grand Formation was about to open a planar passage!
"Hahaha! The passage is opening!" Elder Purple Snake laughed wildly. "Once the army of the Evil Bone Plane descends, the entire continent will belong to our Bone-Eroding Cult!"
At this critical moment, a ray of pale golden light suddenly shone in from outside the valley. It pierced the black mist and fell upon Loran. He felt the power within him surge again, his suppressed Dou Qi and magic growing active. Even Elder Black Bone's pressure was forced back slightly by the light.
"Is this... Saint-level light power?" Elder Black Bone's expression changed sharply. He looked warily toward the valley entrance. "Who's there?!"
At the valley entrance, an old man in white robes slowly approached. He held a staff set with a white gemstone, and pale golden light lingered around him. A Middle Saint Level aura burst from him, forming a stark contrast with Elder Black Bone's evil aura. "Remnants of the Bone-Eroding Cult, you dare unleash evil turmoil upon the continent! I am White of the Radiant Temple, and I have come today to eradicate you!"
Elder White's arrival filled Loran with joy-the Radiant Temple was a force that upheld justice on the continent. He had never expected them to arrive with reinforcements at this moment!
Elder Black Bone's expression darkened. "You old wretch from the Radiant Temple, you dare ruin our plans! Purple Snake, attack with me. We'll kill them first!"
Elder Purple Snake nodded and charged at Elder White alongside Elder Black Bone. Elder White remained unhurried, waving his staff to turn pale golden light into a shield that blocked both their attacks. "Young friend Loran, I leave the Evil Bone Pillar to you! I'll keep these two occupied!"
Loran nodded firmly. He knew this was his only chance. He turned and rushed toward the Evil Bone Pillar, unleashing his late-fourth-tier power in full as the two-colored radiance on his knight's sword surged once more. This time, he did not attack the runes at the base. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the black-and-red halo at the pillar's summit-that was where the Heart of Evil Bone lay!
The Blood Bone Knights tried to intercept him, but Lei Lin's fiery whirlwind held them up. The black-robed elder attempted a sneak attack, only for Snow Spirit Qilin's ice arrow to strike him between the brows. He fell to the ground, lifeless. The icefield wolf pounced on a Blood Bone Knight and bit through his throat, clearing the last obstacle from Loran's path.
Loran leaped to the top of the Evil Bone Pillar. Looking at the pulsing black-and-red Heart of Evil Bone, a trace of resolve flashed through his eyes. He raised his knight's sword and poured all his power into it. The two-colored radiance formed a spike that stabbed straight at the Heart of Evil Bone. "Shatter!"
"No!" Seeing this, Elder Black Bone let out a despairing roar. He tried to break away from Elder White, but pale golden ropes of light bound his limbs, leaving him unable to move.
The spike instantly pierced the Heart of Evil Bone. The black-and-red halo atop the Evil Bone Pillar immediately dimmed, and the runes at its base stopped flashing. The black rift above the valley began to close slowly. The Evil Bone Grand Formation had finally been interrupted!
But at that moment, a terrifying aura suddenly came from deep within the valley. It far surpassed the Saint-level, making even Elder White's expression change sharply. A black pillar of light shot into the sky from the depths of the valley. From within it came a commanding, chilling voice. "You dared destroy my Heart of Evil Bone... Loran Kane, and you old wretch from the Radiant Temple, you will all die!"
The pope! The pope of the Bone-Eroding Cult had finally appeared!
Elder White tightened his grip on his staff, his expression grave. "It's the Bone-Eroding Cult's pope. He already has one foot in the Deity Level! Young friend Loran, we must join forces, or no one can stop him!"
Loran watched the black pillar of light drawing closer from the depths of the valley, then looked at the exhausted Lei Lin, Snow Spirit Qilin, and icefield wolf beside him. A trace of determination flashed through his eyes. He tightened his grip on his knight's sword. His late-fourth-tier aura intertwined with Elder White's Saint-level radiance as he prepared for the final showdown.
The Evil Bone Pope's figure gradually became clear within the black pillar of light. An ultimate battle that would decide the continent's survival was about to erupt.