267: Chapter 267 The Purple Star Sinks and the Earth Trembles

The tremors in the ground were becoming increasingly pronounced.

The osmanthus trees throughout the entire Qingwei Courtyard were swaying.

The osmanthus blossoms fell from the trees like rain.

Fine cracks appeared in the bluestone floor beneath their feet.

Panicked screams from Inner Sect Disciples echoed from afar.

"The earth is shaking! The mountain is going to collapse!"

"Run! The mountain near the Altar has cracked open!"

Su Changge looked up toward the horizon.

The Crape Myrtle Star, which had only been dim moments ago, had actually vanished completely from the sky.

The entire sky was left with only a single blood-red moon.

The wind was blowing harder and harder.

The metallic scent of rust in the wind grew stronger.

Su Changge could even smell a faint trace of Evil Qi.

It was the scent of the dragon suppressing stake from the Altar on the back mountain.

【Damn it! That dog Li Changfeng actually activated the dragon suppressing stake early? Does he have no shame at all?】

Su Changge's heart instantly leaped into his throat.

The path to survival he had calculated was at the node exactly at the Hour of the Rat.

If the dragon suppressing stake was activated early, the opening time of the node would also be advanced!

Su Changge hurriedly took out the Formation map from his robes.

His fingertips rapidly calculated the speed of the surging earth veins.

The knowledge of Formations from the xuantian dao canon spun rapidly in his mind.

Streams of data flashed through his mind.

His face turned paler and paler.

The dragon suppressing stake had actually been activated half an hour early.

The node's opening time had also been advanced to the moment before the Hour of the Rat.

In other words, he had less than an hour left!

Willow was so frightened she grabbed Su Changge's sleeve, her face as pale as paper.

"Senior, what do we do? Is Li Changfeng about to make his move?"

Su Changge patted Willow's hand, his expression calm and unruffled.

"Don't be afraid, it's nothing."

【It is something! It's a disaster! The time has been cut in half!】

He steadied himself against the osmanthus tree and stood up.

He looked up toward the direction of the Altar on the back mountain.

The sky above the Altar had already turned a blackish-red.

A sky-piercing aura of Evil Qi swirled with black clouds, surging violently.

That dog Li Changfeng actually activated the dragon suppressing stake early.

He wanted to advance the sacrificial ritual!

Su Changge had guessed correctly.

On the Altar on the back mountain, Li Changfeng stood in the center of the nine dragon suppressing stakes.

Watching the strange phenomena filling the sky, he grinned so widely his face twisted.

He wore black ceremonial robes and held the Formation tablet for activating the dragon suppressing stake.

He was trembling all over with excitement.

"Heaven helps me! Heaven truly helps me!"

"The Crape Myrtle Star is dim, and the earth veins are surging! This is the perfect time for the sacrifice!"

Eight Golden Core Elders stood beside him, also filled with excitement.

"Pavilion Master! The celestial signs are helping us! This sacrifice will surely succeed!"

"Yes, Pavilion Master! We just checked the surging speed of the earth veins; in half an hour, the power of the earth veins will reach its Peak! It will be just enough to activate the Cross-Domain Teleportation Array!"

Li Changfeng waved his hand violently and raised the Formation tablet in his hand.

His voice carried irrepressible ecstasy.

"Pass the order down! The sacrificial ritual is advanced by half an hour! The ritual officially begins just before the Hour of the Rat!"

"All Inner Sect Disciples, take your positions! Have the soul locking incense ready! In half an hour, go to Qingwei Courtyard and bring Su Changge to the Altar for me!"

"Yes, Pavilion Master!"

All the Elders and Disciples responded in unison.

Their voices trembled with excitement.

The opportunity they had waited ten years for was finally about to be realized!

Li Changfeng looked toward Qingwei Courtyard, the greed in his eyes almost overflowing.

Oh, Su Changge, Su Changge.

You are such a fine sacrifice.

Using you to exchange for my chance at Ascension to the Central Plains.

It is not a disgrace to that Dao Rhyme of yours!

The Mountain Guard Disciples guarding outside the gate of Qingwei Courtyard also received news that the ritual had been advanced.

Two Mountain Guard Disciples stood outside the courtyard gate, chatting in hushed tones.

"Did you hear? The ritual has been advanced! They're making a move in half an hour!"

"That's a legendary big shot, and he's actually going to be used as a sacrifice by our Pavilion Master? Who would believe that if we told them?"

"What big shot? Once the soul locking incense drugs him and the dragon suppression nails pin him down, he's just a dead object!"

The two men's voices were not loud.

Yet they were heard clearly by Su Changge's sound-locating technique.

Su Changge's fingertips instantly tightened.

【You dog Li Changfeng! You actually advanced the ritual!】

He had been thinking about how to stall for time just moments ago.

Now, this is great.

The time had been cut in half!

Su Changge took a deep breath.

Forcing himself to calm down.

Panicking now was useless.

He had to make all preparations to escape within half an hour.

He took out the fire jade bottle from his robes.

He pulled out the stopper and tested the temperature of the Solar Essence Fire inside.

The temperature was just right.

It was enough to burn away the Formation patterns of the soul nurturing stake.

Su Changge mentally rehearsed the method to break the dragon suppressing stake three more times.

From how to rush to the center of the Altar, how to burn the soul nurturing stake, to how to take Willow and escape to the node at the abandoned pill room.

Every step was calculated to the extreme.

Ensuring there would be no errors.

Willow stood to the side, watching Su Changge's solemn expression, not daring to speak.

She obediently packed up everything that was needed.

Packed it into a small bundle, and carried it on her back.

Time passed second by second.

The tremors in the ground became more severe.

The blood moon on the horizon grew brighter.

The entire Jade Cauldron Pavilion was shrouded in a thick aura of murderous intent.

The footsteps of the Mountain Guard Disciples and the sound of clashing weapons drew closer.

Su Changge could even smell a faint sweet scent.

It was the scent of soul locking incense!

That dog Li Changfeng actually lit the soul locking incense early!

Su Changge's heart sank abruptly.

Once the scent of the soul locking incense was inhaled into the lungs.

Even a Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage would go limp and have their Divine Soul muddled.

He was only at the Qi Refining First Layer.

One whiff and he would pass out instantly!

Su Changge hurriedly moved his mind.

He deducted one hundred emotion points.

He opened a thin barrier of Dao Rhyme around his body.

Blocking the scent of the soul locking incense outside.

The footsteps outside the courtyard gate drew closer.

He could already hear Li Changfeng's voice.

"Senior Su, the time for the ritual has arrived. This Junior has come to take you to the Altar!"

Su Changge's fingertips instantly tightened.

Li Changfeng had actually arrived this quickly?