Slender willows sway in the breeze

Chapter 167 Then Kill Them

As Liu Sijun walked, he carefully observed the reliefs, trying to find some clues.

She noticed that the pattern on one of the reliefs was somewhat similar to the Blood Spirit symbol they had previously seen on the scroll in the altar compartment.

"Look, everyone, this pattern looks a lot like the symbol of the Blood Spirit Cult. Could this passage also be related to the Blood Spirit Cult?"

Liu Sijun pointed to the relief sculpture and said.

Gu Changzhou stepped forward, examined the place carefully, and said, "It's very possible. The Blood Spirit Sect and the Xuanji Hall colluded; this place might be a trap they set together back then."

Min Rui frowned and pondered, "In that case, the danger ahead may not only be set up by Xuanji Hall, but may also incorporate the evil methods of Blood Spirit Sect. We must be even more careful."

Just as everyone was talking, a noisy sound suddenly came from the front of the passage, as if many people were chanting softly.

The sound grew louder and louder, making one's eardrums ache slightly.

"What's that sound? It sounds really weird."

A Nascent Soul stage expert couldn't help but ask.

Gao Kuo's expression was solemn as he gripped his longsword tightly: "Whatever it is, everyone prepare for battle."

The group immediately dispersed, formed battle formations, and warily watched the area ahead.

As the sound drew closer, a group of people dressed in black robes and wearing eerie masks slowly appeared before them.

These people marched in unison, holding staffs that emitted an eerie light, with red gems inlaid at the top of the staffs, shimmering with a sinister glow.

"These people are members of the Blood Spirit Cult!"

Liu Sijun recognized their clothing features at a glance.

The leader, a man in black robes, stopped, raised his head, and scanned the crowd with cold eyes through the gaps in his mask: "You shouldn't have trespassed here. This is the forbidden area of ​​the Blood Spirit Cult. You will all die here."

Gu Changzhou snorted coldly and brandished his sword: "The Blood Spirit Sect and the Xuanji Hall are in cahoots, attempting to obtain the Blood Spirit Source and endanger the common people. Today, we are here to stop your conspiracy."

The man in black robes let out a sinister laugh: "You think you can pass through easily after defeating that guardian beast? Next, you will face the ultimate curse of the Blood Spirit Cult."

After speaking, he raised his staff and chanted incantations. The other black-robed cultists followed suit, and in an instant, the passage was filled with bright light. Red light intertwined to form a huge rune array that enveloped everyone.

The rune array, carrying an evil and powerful force, pressed down on everyone like a surging tide.

The runes flickered with an eerie red light, and wherever they passed, the air in the passage seemed to ignite, emitting a "sizzling" sound.

Tong Lei shouted, "Are you afraid of me?!"

He was the first to swing his longsword and unleash the "Flame Dragon Breaking Curse," sending a giant fiery dragon roaring as it charged toward the rune array.

However, the power of the rune array was extremely strong. As soon as the fire dragon came into contact with the rune array, it let out a mournful cry and was instantly swallowed up by the power of the rune array, turning into a wisp of green smoke and dissipating into the air.

Gu Changzhou's expression was solemn. He activated the power of the stars and unleashed "Star Guardian," creating a dazzling starlight shield in front of everyone.

The rune array collided with the starlight shield, emitting a dazzling light and a deafening roar.

The starlight shield trembled violently under the impact of the rune array, as if it would shatter at any moment. Min Rui quickly formed hand seals, "Wind Spirit Shield, Wind Blade Dance!"

A massive wind shield formed outside the starlight shield, and at the same time, countless wind blades flew out from the shield, like a swarm of frenzied blades, shooting towards the black-robed cultists.

The black-robed cultists remained completely calm. With a wave of their staffs, a black barrier appeared, blocking the wind blades.

The situation was critical. Gao Kuo hurriedly channeled his late-stage Nascent Soul spiritual power, pouring it all into his longsword and unleashing "Sword Overlord." A sword aura containing immense power shot into the sky, slashing towards the rune array.

The sword energy collided with the rune array, unleashing a powerful shockwave that caused cracks to appear on the walls of the passage.

Liu Sijun activated the Void Mirror with all her might, unleashing beams of runic light imbued with purifying power to weaken the rune array. At the same time, she shouted, "Everyone, attack the weak points of the rune array! We can't let it fully form!"

The six Nascent Soul stage experts also unleashed their unique skills, attacking the rune array.

Under the combined attack of everyone, the rune array flickered and seemed to have loosened slightly.

Upon seeing this, the black-robed leader's expression darkened. He increased the output of his spiritual power and chanted the incantation more rapidly.

The other black-robed cultists followed suit, further amplifying the power of the rune array and neutralizing their attacks. Just as everyone was in dire straits, Liu Sijun suddenly noticed that at the core of the rune array, a red gem was flashing at a slightly different frequency than the other gems.

A thought struck her, and she called out to Gu Changzhou, "Changzhou, attack that red gem; it might be the key to the rune array!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Changzhou immediately activated the power of the stars, unleashing an enhanced version of "Star Return to One"—"Starry Sky Rift." A star sword aura containing world-destroying power shot towards the red gem at the core of the rune array, like a falling star.

At the same time, Tong Lei also unleashed the strongest attack of "Flaming Dragon Burning the Sky," a huge flame dragon carrying scorching heat rushed towards the red gem along with the star sword energy.

Min Rui manipulated the wind blades to clear a path for the Starry Sky Sword Qi and the Flaming Dragon, while Gao Kuo and the six Nascent Soul stage experts also exerted their full strength to provide cover for them.

Under the cover of the wind blades, the Starry Sword Qi and the Flaming Dragon successfully struck the red gem.

With a deafening roar, the red gem shattered instantly. The rune array lost its core support, its light quickly dimmed, and it eventually dissipated into countless fragments in the air.

Upon seeing this, the man in black robes turned extremely pale: "You...you actually dared to destroy the rune array!"

Gu Changzhou looked coldly at the man in black robes: "Your conspiracy will not succeed!"

The black-robed man's eyes widened in fury. He waved his staff and shouted to the other black-robed cultists, "Since that's the case, then kill them!"

Upon receiving the order, the black-robed cultists pounced on the crowd like ghosts.

They brandished their staffs, and streaks of black, malevolent light shot out from the tips of the staffs, like arrows, towards the crowd.

Gu Changzhou flashed forward like a meteor towards the black-robed cultist.

The sword in his hand shone brightly as he unleashed "Starry Dance," countless star-like sword energies crisscrossing and colliding with the incoming black evil light, bursting forth with a dazzling light.

Tong Lei was not to be outdone; as he swung his longsword, flames surged all around him.

He unleashed "Flaming Dragon's Fury Slash," sending streaks of fiery blade energy slashing towards the black-robed cultists.

(End of this chapter)