289: Blood Sacrifice Array Activated

Lu Chen gazed into the distance at the blood-red color spreading eerily within the blue light barrier, his brows locked in a frown.

He raised one hand to his chest, his finger seals shifting rapidly, and a trace of special Divine Sense fluctuation rippled out silently.

Before long, a figure approached rapidly from the direction of the valley behind; it was Kui Sang, who had received the message.

He maintained his usual wooden and focused appearance, though there was an added touch of solemnity in his gaze as he looked toward Ruins Abyss City.

"Kui Sang, look over there. Is that the Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation?"

Lu Chen pointed toward the blue-tinged red anomaly on the horizon and asked in a deep voice.

In fact, Kui Sang had already noticed the ominous blood-red color while on his way here.

He did not answer immediately, but slightly narrowed his eyes—usually immersed in Formation diagrams and runes—and cast a sharp gaze into the distance, as if trying to see through the blurry scene.

After standing still and observing for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he finally spoke slowly, his tone carrying his habitual rigidity and uncertainty: "Observing its color and assessing its momentum, it is six or seven parts similar to certain characteristics described in the Jade Slip and recorded in ancient texts. However, the distance is too great, and the spiritual power fluctuations are blocked by the outer defensive Formation, making it difficult to accurately identify the flow of its core runes and the source of the Evil Qi."

"No matter. I will take you closer to see."

Hearing this, Lu Chen did not hesitate and sped toward Ruins Abyss City.

Not until they were less than two hundred miles from the massive city did Lu Chen lower his flight light, landing with Kui Sang on a slightly elevated hill.

It was not that they could not get closer, but that here, they could already clearly feel the heart-palpitating Formation fluctuations coming from ahead.

The fluctuations were chaotic and grand, carrying an indescribable chill and a bloody aura, as if countless living beings were wailing.

What was even more horrifying was that even at such a distance, one could still detect a faint, yet definitely existing, suction force.

It came from the direction of Ruins Abyss City, pulling at the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and even vaguely affecting human blood and Qi.

This Formation... it truly is evil, and truly terrifying!

Lu Chen felt a shiver in his heart.

Kui Sang could no longer pay attention to anything else at this moment; his expression was solemn as never before.

He did not even care about his demeanor, squatting down directly, condensing spiritual power on his right index finger, and quickly sketching on the exposed rocky ground in front of him.

At times, he drew a few complex Formation nodes.

At other times, he connected the trajectories of spiritual power flow, muttering to himself, though it was too low to be heard.

He was completely immersed in the analysis and deduction of the Formation.

Lu Chen did not make a sound to disturb him, merely standing silently to the side, his gaze once again cast toward the city shrouded in blue and red, his eyes deep.

He had vaguely guessed earlier that the Blood Gate had grand designs, perhaps not merely stirring up trouble, but harboring an even more horrifying ambition.

Using the living beings of the entire Ruins Abyss City as a sacrifice!

Now it seemed that this worst-case speculation was likely becoming reality.

What made it tricky was that the Teleportation Formation for emergency contact with the Sect was located right inside the city.

Currently, the city gates were tightly shut, the Formation was fully activated, and the blood sacrifice had begun inside. Trying to enter the city to send a message would be no different than walking into a trap, with ten deaths and no chance of survival.

As for those Cultivators from various factions in the city who were still fighting, perhaps unaware that they had already become sacrifices...

Lu Chen himself was barely able to look after his own safety, so how could he have the spare energy, let alone the Bodhisattva-like heart to save the world, to care about them?

It was just that his wariness toward an evil Sect like the Blood Gate, with their insane and heaven-defying means, had deepened by another layer.

A moment later, Kui Sang, who was squatting on the ground, suddenly paused.

He stared at the lines on the ground, carved by spiritual power, which were already somewhat chaotic.

He looked up and stared intently at the increasingly dense blood-red color in the distance, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty, and he slowly stood up.

His expression was even worse than before, and beneath his habitual wooden demeanor, there was a faint trace of... fear.

"Patrol Officer Lu..."

Kui Sang's voice was somewhat dry, and every word was uttered with extreme weight.

"It is undoubtedly the Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation. And... it is a complete, fully operational... ancient Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation!"

Although he had anticipated it, hearing Kui Sang's categorical confirmation, spoken with a trembling voice, Lu Chen's heart still sank abruptly.

"Once this Formation starts, how long will it last?"

Lu Chen immediately pressed, as this was one of the questions he was most concerned about at the moment.

He did not have deep knowledge of Formations, so he had to rely on Kui Sang for the details.

Upon hearing this, Kui Sang's face showed clear signs of difficulty; his brows locked, and he hesitated: "This... is hard to say. The duration of the Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation depends on the quantity and quality of the sacrifice Materials, as well as the purpose and power of the person presiding over the Formation. Currently, the situation in the city is unclear, so it is... truly difficult to judge. However, judging from the speed at which this blood-red color is spreading and the intensity of the Formation fluctuations, it has only just started and there is absolutely no possibility of it stopping in the short term."

This answer was too vague.

Lu Chen looked at him with a sharp gaze and spoke again, his tone brooking no doubt: "No need for precision. Give me an estimated time range that is most likely, based on the current situation."

Kui Sang felt a slight chill in his heart as he was stared at by Lu Chen's gaze.

Although he was wooden, he was not stupid; he knew that Lu Chen being so insistent on the time must have a deep meaning and was definitely not shooting without a target.

He forced himself to calm down, carefully sensing the Formation fluctuations in the distance again, and combined with the incomplete records about the Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation in his mind, he made a rapid calculation.

After a long while, he finally exhaled a breath of turbid air and gave a relatively certain judgment: "If estimated based on the most conservative scenario, with the blood and souls of the Cultivators in the city completely refined and absorbed... this Formation will last... at least one year or more."

One year...

A flash of light streaked through Lu Chen's eyes as he firmly committed this time to memory.

He nodded, asked no more, and just said in a deep voice: "Good, the situation is clear. Let's head back first!"

He had already quietly used a Shadow Recording Stone to record everything about Ruins Abyss City.

After saying this, he did not linger, quickly taking Kui Sang away from this dangerous area where the suction of the blood Formation could be clearly felt, and sped back toward the hidden valley stronghold.

After returning to the hidden valley where they were temporarily staying, Lu Chen immediately used his Divine Sense to send a message, summoning everyone who was on guard outside or recuperating in their Immortal Cave to the temporarily excavated stone meeting hall.

Even Lan Ni, who still needed to recuperate in bed, managed to attend, supported by Bai Qiyun.

Seeing Lu Chen's expression was solemn as never before, everyone knew something major must have happened.

When everyone had arrived, Lu Chen did not waste words, directly recounting what he and Kui Sang had seen during their investigation, as well as Kui Sang's final judgment.

Ruins Abyss City had been shrouded by a complete ancient Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation.

He informed them in a deep voice.

As his voice fell, the stone hall fell into a deathly silence.

Even Li Wuya, who had weathered many storms and had a will as firm as iron and stone, upon hearing the judgment of a complete Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation lasting at least a year.

His face, usually as calm as an ancient well, suddenly changed color, his pupils constricted, and his fingers gripping his sword tightened imperceptibly for a moment.

He knew better than anyone else present what a fully operational ancient Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation meant.

That was no longer an ordinary Sect war or power struggle, but in the true sense, an act of extinction using billions of living beings as firewood!

Its ferocity and its consequences far exceeded any previous estimates.

The slick smile that usually graced Qian Gui's face had long since vanished without a trace, leaving only unbelievable horror and lingering fear, with fine cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

Ding Wu, Zhao Mang, and the others also turned pale, their eyes filled with fear.

Even Bai Qiyun, who was always cool and self-restrained, stiffened slightly while supporting Lan Ni's arm.

Lan Ni, who had just woken from a coma and was still weak, had her breath catch, her eyes revealing deep sorrow and helplessness.

She had experienced the cruelty of the Blood Gate firsthand, but had not expected them to be this insane.

Shao Qing's brows were locked in a frown, and he muttered: "Blood sacrificing the entire city... This, this Blood Gate, are they truly not afraid of suffering divine retribution and becoming the public enemy of the world?"

"Hearing is false, seeing is believing."

Lu Chen broke the silence, his voice cold and stern.

"Everyone, go out and see for yourselves."