185: Chapter 185 Suicide Squad, Deep into the Abyss

The night was as thick as ink.

At the outer defense line of the Burial Dragon Abyss, nine figures glided past the edge of the battlefield like ghosts under the cover of starlight.

It was the nine members of the Assault Team.

Lin Yue led the way, with the Star Track Pavilion Master and Sword Origin Master flanking him. Immortal Master Qingluan, Lin Mo, and Little Star were in the middle, while the Star Miasma Dragon Lizard and its mate guarded the sides, and Sect Master Mo Chen brought up the rear.

Heavenly Craftsman did not follow them.

He stayed at the heart of the Great Formation—his hands pressed against the Formation Plate, his gaze resolute.

"I will maintain a passage for you."

These were Heavenly Craftsman's final words: "But I can only maintain it for... one hour."

"Within one hour, regardless of success or failure, you must return."

"Otherwise... the passage will close, and you will be trapped forever in the core of the Seal."

At this moment, the nine had already infiltrated thirty miles into the outskirts of the Burial Dragon Abyss.

Dark red evil qi surged around them, and Flesh-and-blood Camps were everywhere, with countless Magical Creatures writhing and roaring within.

"Conceal your aura and follow me closely."

Lin Yue whispered, his hands forming Seals.

The Starry Sky Domain expanded—but its range was limited to ten zhang around him, and its intensity was suppressed to the minimum, used only for concealment.

Within the Domain, the flow of time slowed by three times; one breath outside was three breaths inside the Domain.

This gave them more time to observe and avoid danger.

"Three miles to the front left, there are three Golden Core Magical Creatures patrolling."

Silver-gray light flowed in Lin Mo's pupils—the Law of Time made his perception of the surroundings even more acute.

"Go around them."

Lin Yue changed direction without hesitation.

The nine wove through the Flesh-and-blood Camps as if treading on thin ice.

The closer they got to the core, the higher the density of Magical Creatures and the more frequent the patrols.

Several times, they almost brushed past Nascent Soul-level Magical Creatures.

But relying on Lin Yue's time Domain, Little Star's early-warning Formation, and the Star Track Pavilion Master's stellar deductions, they always managed to narrowly avoid them at the last moment.

The thirty-mile journey took a full hour.

Finally.

An open area appeared ahead.

The ground was no longer flesh, but dark red crystals—these were Spiritual Vein Crystals that had been eroded by evil qi for ten thousand years.

In the center of the crystal zone, a dark red altar a hundred zhang high stood towering.

The altar had nine levels, each carved with twisted runes, currently emitting heart-palpitating fluctuations of evil qi.

At the top of the altar, a pillar of dark red light shot into the sky, connecting to a fifty-zhang-wide rift.

Within the light pillar, the upper body of the Spirit Devourer Commander was slowly... squeezing downward!

It was about to descend completely!

"That is the Spirit Devourer Altar..."

The Star Track Pavilion Master's expression was grave: "There is a Flight-Prohibited Domain around the altar; we cannot fly. We can only... fight our way through."

Everyone looked around the altar.

Five massive figures stood at the five corners of the altar.

They were those five Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak Generals!

And behind them were hundreds of Golden Core-level Magical Creatures, as well as densely packed Foundation Establishment creatures.

This lineup could be called a desperate situation.

"Act according to plan."

Lin Yue took a deep breath, his eyes terrifyingly calm: "Little Star, set up a Formation to trap the two Generals on the left."

"Lin Mo, you coordinate with the Star Miasma Dragon Lizard couple to stall the two on the right."

"The strongest one in the middle... leave it to me, the Pavilion Master, and Sect Master Sword Origin."

"Immortal Master Qingluan, Sect Master Mo Chen, you two clear the fodder and buy us time."

"Remember—"

He looked at everyone, emphasizing each word: "Our goal is not to kill the enemy, but to destroy the altar."

"As soon as the altar is destroyed, retreat immediately; do not linger in battle!"

Everyone nodded solemnly.

"Then..."

Lin Yue looked at the figure descending at the top of the altar, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "Move!"

As soon as he spoke!

Little Star was the first to rush out, waving his hands repeatedly as seventy-two Formation Flags shot toward the two Generals on the left like meteors!

"Fourth-tier Composite Formation—Star Lock Cage!"

The Formation Flags landed, and starlight erupted, turning into two massive starlight cages that trapped the two Generals firmly!

Though it could only hold them for thirty breaths... it was enough!

"Roar—!"

Seeing this, the two Generals on the right roared and pounced.

But Lin Mo and the Star Miasma Dragon Lizard couple had been waiting for a long time.

"Time Deceleration!"

Lin Mo pushed the Law of Time to its limit, and the movements of the two Generals suddenly slowed by half a beat!

Though it was only half a beat.

That half-beat was enough for the Star Miasma Dragon Lizard couple to seize the opportunity.

"Star Miasma Dragon Flame—Combined Attack!"

The couple opened their mouths simultaneously, and two streams of silver-gray dragon flame spewed out, intertwining in the air to form a massive fire vortex that engulfed the two Generals!

Dragon Flame had an extra restraining effect on filth and evil; the two Generals immediately let out painful roars, temporarily trapped.

Meanwhile.

Lin Yue, the Star Track Pavilion Master, and Sword Origin Master had already fought their way to the General in the middle.

This General was the tallest, and its aura was the most terrifying; it had clearly touched the threshold of Soul Transformation!

"Human Race... seeking death!"

It swung its six arms, and six Evil Weapons tore through the air, attacking the three simultaneously!

"Sword Slashes the Starry River!"

Sword Origin Master was the first to strike, his green sword light like the Milky Way flowing backward, clashing head-on with three of the Evil Weapons!

"Stars Suppress Demons!"

The Star Track Pavilion Master formed hand Seals, and in the starry sky, a phantom star fell, crashing toward two other Evil Weapons!

As for Lin Yue... he did not attack the General.

Instead, he took a step forward, his figure like lightning, charging straight for the altar!

"Want to destroy the altar? Pass through me first!"

The General roared, and its last Evil Weapon flew out of its hand, turning into a streak of dark red blood-light, piercing straight for the back of Lin Yue's heart!

But Lin Yue didn't look back at all.

Because someone had blocked this blow for him.

"Your opponents... are us!"

Immortal Master Qingluan and Sect Master Mo Chen arrived at the same time, the Qingluan Sword and qinglan bell appearing together, forcefully blocking that blood-light!

Although the two were knocked back, spitting blood from the shock, they had bought Lin Yue a breath of time!

One breath was enough!

Lin Yue had already rushed to the base of the altar.

The starfall sword was unsheathed.

On the blade, four-colored light flowed to the extreme.

"Starfall—World Breaker!"

A single sword strike!

The sword light was like a falling star, slamming hard into the formation eye at the altar's base!

BOOM—!!!

The altar shook violently, and a large portion of the runes on the bottom level shattered!

But... it didn't break!

The altar's durability far exceeded Lin Yue's estimation!

"Again!"

Lin Yue gritted his teeth, about to strike a second time.

But just then—

At the top of the altar, the Spirit Devourer Commander's crimson pupils suddenly turned over.

"Ant... you dare destroy my altar?"

It raised the White Bone Scepter and tapped lightly.

A dark red blood-line pierced through the void, instantly appearing before Lin Yue's brow!

Fast!

So fast that even Lin Yue's time acceleration couldn't react in time!

"Watch out!"

The Star Track Pavilion Master cried out, wanting to save him, but it was too late.

But in this critical moment—

A figure abruptly appeared in front of Lin Yue.

It was... Heavenly Craftsman?!

Shouldn't he be at the heart of the Great Formation?!

"Senior?!"

Lin Yue's pupils shrank.

Heavenly Craftsman did not look back, only forming hand Seals as the formation patterns around him flashed frantically.

"I said... I would maintain a passage for you."

Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, but his voice was unusually calm: "But the passage... also needs someone to guard it."

"Young Friend Lin, the formation eye of the altar... is on the third level, in the southeast corner."

"That is the hub of the entire altar's energy flow; destroy it... and the altar will break itself."

As the words fell.

Heavenly Craftsman slammed his hands against his chest!

"With my Lifespan, I burn my Divine Soul—"

"Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Array, Ultimate Authority—Open!"

BOOM—!!!

A hundred miles away, at the heart of the Great Formation.

The last five Spiritual Vein scales on the Formation Plate instantly dropped to zero!

But the Great Formation did not collapse.

Instead... it erupted with unprecedentedly brilliant starlight!

Starlight surged like a tide, condensing into a hundred-zhang-thick starlight barrier in front of Heavenly Craftsman, forcefully blocking that dark red blood-line!

But the price was—

Heavenly Craftsman himself, at a speed visible to the naked eye... aged away.

His black hair turned white, his skin withered, and his aura plummeted.

He was burning his own Lifespan to forcibly activate the ultimate authority of the Great Formation!

"Senior—!!!"

Lin Yue's eyes looked ready to burst.

"Go!"

Heavenly Craftsman roared hoarsely: "Take this chance... destroy the altar!"

"I... will... cover your rear!"

As the last word fell.

He turned into a beam of starlight and soared into the sky, taking the initiative to meet the Spirit Devourer Commander at the top of the altar!

"Ant... seeking death!"

The Commander was furious, and the White Bone Scepter tapped out again.

But Heavenly Craftsman did not dodge or avoid it, only laughing wildly: "I have lived for one thousand three hundred years... it's enough!"

"Today, I shall let you Extraterrestrial Demons know—"

"The Human Race... is not to be bullied!"

BOOM—!!!

Starlight and the dark red blood-line collided.

Heaven and earth... lost their color.

And Lin Yue, gritting his teeth hard, turned and rushed toward the third level of the altar.

He could not look back.

He could not fail... this sacrifice.

"The altar..."

In Lin Yue's eyes, bloody tears fell: "Must be destroyed!"