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The ninety-foot black altar emanated the dense, mottled energy of countless years.
There was nothing on it save for a single black umbrella. At a glance, it seemed entirely unassuming and unexceptional.
But just as they were about to approach, the One-Armed Demon looked solemn.
He dared not use his divine sense to examine the umbrella. No, he didn’t even dare use his cultivation base for fear that the ninety-foot altar would sense his existence and instantly annihilate him.
The one who’d exploded earlier, Old Ghost Six-Yin, was a vivid example of the potential consequences.
“Activate!” The One-Armed Demon suddenly stopped thirty feet from the black altar, then let out a soft, inscrutable Daoist incantation.
Whoosh!
A blood-colored alms bowl rose through the air, spinning and formed a vortex of black light inside it. This in turn produced a shocking suction power.
The Blood-Devouring Alms Bowl.
It was one of the treasures the One-Armed Demon kept in reserve. Whenever he activated it, it could devour all life force within a ten-thousand-foot range, devouring the blood of every living thing around.
Bang!!!
The sound of something shattering rang out.
A streak of bloody light had struck the Blood-Devouring Alms Bowl, shattering it. Before the fragments even hit the ground, additional streaks of bloody mist burnt them to ash.
At the same time, the One-Armed Demon let out a muffled grunt and retreated explosively backward.
By the time he stabilized himself, his lapels were drenched in sweat, and his face was pallid. Alarm and astonishment appeared on his face, as if he’d suffered an excessive shock.
Earlier, if he hadn’t severed the power controlling the Blood-Devouring Alms Bowl without hesitation, he would have suffered a lethal backlash!
There was an uproar amongst the other old monsters. Without exception, their expressions shifted.
In that moment, all of them sensed it clearly: the beam of bloody light that had shattered the alms bowl originated from the ninety-foot altar!
That power was terrifying and destructive. It seemed as if nothing could stand in its way, and as if there was nothing it couldn’t break.
Furthermore, when it hit something, it wouldn’t matter whether it was a treasure or a cultivator. Both would be instantly reduced to ash!
This was unquestionably far too terrifying.
“I’m afraid that even if an Emperor were here, they couldn’t possibly block such power…” The Jade Heaven Water Monarch’s expression darkened.
All of them felt that this was an incomparably difficult problem. They dared say with certainty that the black umbrella atop the altar was the treasure the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force had left behind. Such a treasure would dazzle any era it had appeared in.
It was enough to drive even Emperors mad with desire.
But none of those present dared act recklessly.
The altar’s power was far too terrifying, and it posed a lethal threat. Who’d dare act randomly?
“Good fortune is right in front of us, but we cannot obtain it. This is really fucking frustrating!” someone cursed under their breath.
The other old monsters felt similarly stifled.
“Perhaps this fortune is too heaven-defying. It’s not for the likes of us to covet,” the Malevolent Sword Monarch let out a deep sigh.
It was then that Wei Yun suddenly said, “Perhaps… we might succeed if we don’t use the power of our cultivations and approach the altar directly?”
The old monsters all looked thoughtful. Indeed, the strange altar had only attacked earlier after sensing the energy fluctuations of their power of the Grand Dao.
If they refrained from using their cultivations, didn’t that mean that the altar wouldn’t attack them?
“I’ll try it,” Old Ghost Thousand Eyes suddenly stepped forth. He flipped over his hand, taking out a gray, dusty earthenware pot.
Weng!
The pot lit up, and suddenly, a childlike figure shot out. Its innocent, guileless little face was pale, and its eyes were hollow, while its lips were red with blood.
As soon as it appeared, an insidious, bloodthirsty aura emanated from its body.
A Bloodriver Ghost Infant!
The other old monsters narrowed their eyes as they realized what this was. This was an extremely wicked type of apparition; refining one required all manner of bloody, cruel secret arts.
Both the old blind man and Cui Jingyan looked enraged. Refining a Bloodriver Ghost Infant required gathering and slaying countless children and collecting the power of their blood. It was extremely cruel and utterly depraved.
It would be no exaggeration to say that, had the Netherworld’s major factions learned that Old Ghost Thousand Eyes was in possession of such a Bloodriver Ghost Infant, they would have long since eliminated him no matter the cost!
“Go!” Old Ghost Thousand Eyes ordered in a low, soft voice.
The Bloodriver Ghost Infant approached, arriving at the ninety-foot altar. The moment it stepped onto the altar, the old monsters couldn’t help but focus and hold their breath.
But to their shock and delight, nothing happened!
The Bloodriver Ghost Infant walked right up to the top of the altar without using any power at all!
“It’s true. So long as we don’t use the power of our cultivation bases, the altar won’t attack us!” Old Ghost Thousand Eyes laughed.
The other old monsters felt a massive weight lift from their shoulders.
“Brother Su, if someone else takes the umbrella, should we fight them for it?” Cui Jingyan couldn’t help but transmit.
“They can’t take it.”
Su Yi had only just said this when a miserable, high-pitched shriek rang out.
The Bloodriver Ghost infant’s hands had only just barely touched the handle of the black umbrella when light as dark as an eternal light surged out of it, fully enveloping the Bloodriver Ghost Infant.
Beneath the crowd’s astonished gazes, the vicious Bloodriver Ghost Infant was suppressed and forced into the umbrella before it could even struggle. Nothing remained of it.
Ripples of dark light spread across the surface of the mysterious umbrella, flickering on and off as if it were breathing. Then, everything returned to stillness.
“Dammit! It took me thousands of years and enormous effort to refine even one Bloodriver Ghost Infant, but now, it’s gone!” Old Ghost Thousand Eyes was beside himself with fury and indignation.
This scene startled the other old monsters. All of their expressions filled with uncertainty.
“Brother Su, did you long since realize that there was something strange about that umbrella?” Cui Jingyan’s eyes sparkled as she transmitted.
Su Yi subtly inclined his head but said nothing.
It was then that the White-Faced Daoist said, “Now, we can say that, so long as we refrain from using our cultivation bases, the altar won’t attack us. That means all we have to do now is figure out how to take the umbrella. This is the type of good fortune that can only be happened upon by chance; we absolutely must obtain it.”
“Fellow Daoist, do you perhaps have any brilliant ideas?” the Jade Heaven Water Monarch asked.
The White-Faced Daoist shook his head. “I wouldn’t call them ‘brilliant.’ After all, that black umbrella is far too strange and sinister. A moment’s incaution could lead to doom. My idea is rather simple: I suggest one of our compatriots personally tries to see whether or not they can retrieve the umbrella.”
All of the old devils subconsciously glanced at Su Yi and his companions.
If they needed a sacrifice, they just so happened to have three on hand!
Cui Jingyan and the old blind man furrowed their brows, but Su Yi remained as calm as ever.
Wei Yun, however, shook his head. “It wouldn’t be appropriate. It’s largely thanks to their assistance that we made it here in the first place. How could we make them risk themselves like that?”
Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
The White-Faced Daoist snickered, his expression cold and sinister. “Then… how about you try it, our esteemed City Lord?”
Wei Yun instantly fell silent.
But Old Ghost Thousand Eyes had already run out of patience. He swept his gaze across the group, then pointed at the old blind man. “You, the blind one! You go first. Do it now, or I’ll kill you!”
He’d only just lost a Bloodriver Ghost Infant, and he was in a terrible moon. His words brimmed with unconcealed killing intent.
The old blind man’s expression darkened, but before he could do anything, Wei Yun suddenly laughed. “Forget it, no need to play any longer. It’s getting late, and it’s time to end this.”
It was as if the lord of Nightdemon City had suddenly become a different person. He was nothing but smiles, as if everything were proceeding according to plan.
The old monsters noticed his unusual behavior, and their expressions shifted.
Even the old blind man and Cui Jingyan were stunned. What’s going on?
Su Yi, however, simply took a sip from a jug of wine, his expression as calm as ever.
“City Lord, what… do you mean by this?” The Jade Heaven Watermark looked confused and uncertain.
“Can’t you tell? We’ve fallen for Wei Yun’s trap!” the One-Armed Demon said coldly.
Wei Yun smiled. “I wouldn’t call it a trap. There really is good fortune here, and the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force really did leave that black umbrella here. If you’re capable of it, you’re welcome to take it away right now. I guarantee I’ll do nothing to stop you.”
“Wei Yun, what exactly are you trying to do?” the White-Faced Daoist said in a raspy voice.
Wei Yun sighed. “If I say it out loud, you might not believe me, but since you asked, I naturally won’t hide it any longer.”
He swept his gaze across the old monsters, then said solemnly, “I hope you’ll all throw yourselves to your deaths!”
Throw themselves to their deaths?
The old monsters’ brows furrowed, but they weren’t exactly panicked.
Especially the White-Faced Daoist, who could no longer refrain from uproarious laughter. “We’ve long since realized that something was amiss here. After all, how could the Wei Family share such a grand stroke of fortune with us out of the goodness of its heart? Now, you’ve finally let the cat out of the bag!”
The old monsters beside him laughed coldly too.
When they saw this, the old blind man and Cui Jingyan realized that the old monsters had long since forged an alliance in secret!
Furthermore, they’d dared come with Wei Yun despite knowing full well that something was fishy about this operation. They’d obviously long since prepared.
Only Su Yi went on drinking on his own, as if he didn’t care about any of this.
The One-Armed Demon said gravely, “City Lord, if you’re targeting us, there’s surely a reason, right?”
Wei Yun said calmly, “Killing you is equivalent to ridding the world of evil. What other reason could I need?”
He said this as if it were perfectly natural, as if this were as right and proper as the principles of heaven and earth.
The old monsters’ eyes shone with killing intent. All of them were raring for action.
“But you alone are no match for all of us,” the White-Faced Daoist said in a raspy voice. “Don’t tell me you can control the altar’s power? Or perhaps the black umbrella?”
Wei Yun shook his head. “With my cultivation base, how could I possibly control the power the Swordmaster of Abstruse Force left behind? Even so, killing you won’t be difficult.”
His expression was instantly solemn. “Your Excellency, please help me exterminate yao and slay demons!”
Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, the hairpin holding Wei Yun’s topknot in place suddenly lit up. A swath of dazzling rain shot forth, gradually outlining a tall, stalwart figure.
It was a man in worn-out bronze armor. His eyes were as blazing and imposing as the sun, and he emanated the characteristic energy fluctuations of the Imperial Realm.
As soon as he appeared, that terrifying majestic aura enveloped the entire hidden realm.
An Emperor!!
Cui Jingyan and the old blind man were both stunned. Neither of them would have guessed that the true “killer weapon” of Wei Yun’s trap would be an Emperor!
The old monsters’ expressions shifted involuntarily, and their bodies stiffened.
Su Yi had been a dispassionate bystander all this time, but when he saw the armored Emperor, a complicated look appeared on his face.