83: Chapter 83 The ritual is complete, Black Cloud Cave
Hearing Tang Rou's words, Ou Guang didn't dare to speak further, instead slinking off to the other side.
"Xiao Guang, this Senior Sister of yours?"
Guo Rui watched Tang Rou staring motionlessly at the Black Cloud Cave, his brow furrowing slightly.
Since arriving at the Black Cloud Cave, this Tang Rou had just been standing in front of it without making a move.
Moreover, her personality was far too cold.
"Mayor Guo, although Senior Sister is only a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist, she is the daughter of the Crimson Flame Martial Arts Hall's Master. She is also a Junior Spiritual Master with mental strength as high as 60,000 Hertz. She is using her mental strength to investigate the situation inside!"
Ou Guang looked at the young woman not far away and continued slowly.
"So she's the Crimson Flame Hall Master's daughter and a Spiritual Master!"
Hearing Ou Guang's words, Guo Rui felt a surge of respect.
Because increasing mental strength was quite difficult, Spiritual Masters were considered a relatively rare profession even in the talent-filled Great Xia.
Powerful mental strength was extremely important in certain situations.
Knowing she was investigating the Black Cloud Cave, Guo Rui didn't dare to be negligent. He immediately ordered the surrounding members of the Martial Arts Association to be quiet so as not to disturb her investigation.
"Mayor, Student Zhou Bai has arrived!"
A moment later, a member of the Martial Arts Association reported.
"Quick, please bring him over!"
Guo Rui said hurriedly.
Beside him, Ou Guang's expression turned slightly ugly upon hearing this. He hadn't expected Guo Rui to actually invite Zhou Bai over.
"Student Zhou Bai, you've finally arrived. I've been waiting for you!"
After a short while, Guo Rui stepped forward to greet Zhou Bai, his face full of joy.
"Mayor Guo, let me check the situation in the Black Cloud Cave first,"
Zhou Bai said, skipping the pleasantries with Guo Rui.
"There's no need, Student Zhou Bai. You can just watch from here. My Senior Sister has already acted; she'll drag that Evil God Follower out in no time!"
At this moment, Ou Guang interrupted Zhou Bai.
"Student Zhou Bai, this is an outstanding disciple of the Crimson Flame Martial Arts Hall, Ou Guang. He's also here to deal with that Evil God Follower."
"And that over there is the Crimson Flame Martial Arts Hall Master's daughter..."
Guo Rui proceeded to introduce Ou Guang and Tang Rou, who was standing a short distance away, to Zhou Bai.
Zhou Bai nodded, then looked toward the young woman in the fiery red dress.
[Name: Tang Rou]
[Level: Fourth-Rank]
[Beauty Score: 92]
[Bust Size: B]
[Height/Weight: 166cm, 44kg]
[Recharge Count: 0]
"Not good!"
Suddenly, the girl in front of the Black Cloud Cave spoke, her face becoming slightly panicked.
"Senior Sister, what's not good?"
Ou Guang felt a faint sense of unease and hurriedly pressed for an answer.
"The ritual!"
"What exactly is it, Senior Sister..."
"Complete!"
"What's complete..."
"Run!"
"Mayor, my Senior Sister says the Evil God Follower has completed the ritual inside the Black Cloud Cave. We are no match for them; we need to get out of here immediately!"
As soon as Tang Rou finished speaking, Ou Guang quickly relayed her meaning.
"What? The ritual is complete!"
Hearing Ou Guang's words, Guo Rui's expression changed drastically.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
At that moment, surges of profound black evil energy gushed out from the Black Cloud Cave. Like a tide, the evil energy surged toward the surroundings.
"Withdraw for now, evacuate the surrounding crowd, and immediately request reinforcements from the Provincial Martial Arts Association!"
Guo Rui made a prompt decision, immediately commanding the many martial artists from the Martial Arts Association.
The crowd began to mobilize.
However, Tang Rou, who was ahead, charged directly into the Black Cloud Cave.
"Senior Sister, what are you doing? We have to run!"
Ou Guang watched Tang Rou charge into the Black Cloud Cave, his eyes wide as he spoke with a trembling voice.
"Destroy..."
...the ritual!"
Tang Rou's soft yet firm words drifted back from ahead.
"Senior Sister, you're crazy!"
Ou Guang was stunned by Tang Rou's words.
A ritual was relatively fragile right after completion and could be destroyed.
However, once the ritual was finished, the Evil God Follower would receive the blessing of the Evil God's power, restoring them to their peak state.
Furthermore, no one knew what the situation was like inside the Black Cloud Cave.
Under these circumstances, Tang Rou going in was simply seeking death.
"No, I can't just watch Senior Sister go to her death. I have to bring her back!"
Ou Guang gritted his teeth and immediately charged into the Black Cloud Cave, wanting to bring Tang Rou back.
"Student Zhou Bai, let's withdraw first and wait for the Provincial Martial Arts Association..."
Guo Rui turned to address Zhou Bai beside him.
But before Guo Rui could finish, Zhou Bai turned into a dark shadow and charged straight into the Black Cloud Cave.
Zhou Bai had some understanding of Evil God rituals.
The strength of a ritual was related to the power of the Evil God Follower performing it. Since that follower was only a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist, the ritual's intensity wouldn't be too ridiculous.
If left alone, the ritual's power would climb rapidly over time, potentially evolving into an evil calamity that could sweep through all of Jianglin City.
That was not something Zhou Bai wanted to see.
"The rest of you go evacuate the people and ask the Provincial Martial Arts Association for help. Zhu Guiming, Li Xianqiang, come with me into the Black Cloud Cave to destroy the ritual!"
Seeing Zhou Bai follow the two from the Crimson Flame Martial Arts Hall into the Black Cloud Cave, Guo Rui quickly spoke to the two Fifth-Rank Martial Artists.
"Yes, Mayor!"
The men replied.
Soon, Guo Rui also entered the Black Cloud Cave with the two Fifth-Rank Martial Artists.
"Mayor, why did you come in too? It's dangerous here!"
Inside the Black Cloud Cave, Ou Guang saw Guo Rui leading his men in and spoke hurriedly.
Tang Rou was currently by Ou Guang's side, carefully using her mental strength to locate the ritual.
"Xiao Guang, have you seen Student Zhou Bai? He came in as well!"
Guo Rui asked urgently.
"Zhou Bai? That greenhorn came in too? Isn't he just causing trouble?"
Ou Guang's expression changed slightly upon hearing Guo Rui's words.
Although he didn't think the current Zhou Bai could be of much help, Zhou Bai was, after all, the champion of the dawn battle; his potential was terrifying.
In the future, he could definitely become a truly peak martial arts expert, but now...
"Then we'll look for the ritual while searching for Zhou Bai. We can't let anything happen to him!"
Ou Guang took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
Crack-crackle!
Just as Ou Guang finished speaking, a violent roar of thunder echoed from deep within the Black Cloud Cave.
Flashes of golden lightning flickered continuously.
"It's inside!"
Everyone immediately realized that a battle was taking place deep inside the Black Cloud Cave.
Without another thought, the group charged toward the inner depths of the cave.
A moment later, they arrived in the depths and saw a youth wreathed in golden Thunder Power. Holding a battle saber that emitted a blood-red glow, he was locked in a fierce battle with the Evil God Follower.
Calling it a fierce battle was perhaps inaccurate; it was more like a one-sided crushing.
Under the assault of the youth's lightning and saber, the Evil God Follower, who was surrounded by black aura, was retreating step by step, his body drenched in blood from numerous saber wounds.
"Damn it, where did this brat come from? How dare you interfere with my ritual!"
The Evil God Follower roared in frustration and rage.
...