175: Chapter 176 The Zhuge Family, the Only Solution

"My original plan was to use the lingering souls here to slowly grind away the Spiritual Artifact's intelligence."

"It is just a pity that the Spiritual Artifact is too powerful. Even with the help of this great formation, refining it completely would require an extremely long time."

"However..."

The Woodcutter changed the subject, a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

"Your appearance has truly brought me a pleasant surprise."

"You must know that the characteristic of that Spiritual Artifact is to accelerate time by draining the Origin of life.

In order to refine it, I had to overdraw my own Lifespan.

I had already reached the end of my rope, and I was only barely hanging on with the support of the great formation.

But your appearance helped me share a portion of the drain while simultaneously accelerating the refining process."

Hearing this, the flames of rage began to burn in Lin Ye's heart.

"So, you didn't send Old Man Shen and the others out at all. Where are they now?"

"I simply sent them into the core of the great formation, which is the place where that Spiritual Artifact resides."

The Woodcutter did not intend to hide anything at all, not knowing if it was because he felt secure in his position or if he had other plans.

"Then... are Old Man Shen and the others dead?"

Lin Ye's tone was very calm, calm enough to be somewhat frightening.

"I don't know."

The Woodcutter shook his head very casually.

"If their Lifespan is long enough, they might still be alive now."

"If it's not long enough..."

He did not continue, but the meaning was already very clear.

"You are courting death!"

Lightning Flash Movement activated instantly!

White electric arcs exploded beneath his feet, and Lin Ye's figure vanished from the spot instantly.

In the next instant, he had already appeared in front of The Woodcutter.

The black iron heavy staff, carrying a terrifying whistle, swung fiercely toward The Woodcutter's head!

For this strike, Lin Ye used his full strength!

On the staff, golden patterns flickered wildly, and Internal Qi intertwined with electric arcs, emitting crackling explosions.

However...

This strike passed directly through The Woodcutter's body!

It was as if what stood before him was merely a phantom, without any physical form.

Lin Ye's expression changed slightly.

"It's useless."

The Woodcutter's voice came from behind him.

Lin Ye turned his head and discovered that The Woodcutter was still standing in the same spot, not moving an inch.

"I have already merged with this great formation."

"The me you see now is just a projection of my will."

"So, you'd better stop wasting your effort."

Lin Ye gripped the black iron heavy staff tightly without speaking.

He knew that what The Woodcutter said was true.

Before finding the other party's true body, he really could do nothing to him.

Seeing that Lin Ye had no intention of continuing to attack, The Woodcutter smiled: "In fact, the reason I appeared to tell you these things is because I also have a doubt. I wonder if you can clear it up for me?"

Without waiting for Lin Ye to answer, The Woodcutter spoke on his own: "You are one of the only two people who are not affected by this Spiritual Artifact."

"Is it convenient to say how you managed to do it?"

"Or rather, where do you come from?"

His gaze scrutinized Lin Ye, carrying a hint of inquiry.

Back then, that person suddenly appearing in this great formation had already aroused his interest.

If he could figure out why the other party would not be devoured of life force by the Spiritual Artifact, it would also play a not-insignificant role in his control of the Spiritual Artifact in the future.

After all, while that Spiritual Artifact was strong, it was too evil. To use it, one had to consume Lifespan. Who could withstand that!

It was just a pity that that guy's willpower was a bit poor. Before he could even trick him, he was assimilated by the lingering souls in the village, and later, he disappeared completely.

This made him depressed for a long time.

He just didn't expect that there would be a turn of events, and another person who was unaffected had actually appeared.

Facing The Woodcutter's question, Lin Ye had no interest in answering at all.

"Are you sure you won't say it? If you tell me, I can spare your lives."

"Do you think I look like a fool?"

Lin Ye naturally would not believe such nonsense.

"Fine, since that's the case..."

The Woodcutter turned his gaze to the Captain sitting cross-legged to the side.

To be precise, it was that blood-colored long saber.

"Tsk tsk, Commander Zhuge Yuan, your Zhuge Family is worthy of being a first-rate Family; your foundation is truly deep. Even a casual collateral branch member has a Spiritual Artifact with them."

Zhuge Family?

Lin Ye's heart stirred.

He didn't expect that Captain, of all people, would come from that Family.

Although he was only a collateral branch member, a collateral branch member of a first-rate Family had much higher value than a direct descendant of a third-rate Family like Wang Lin.

"It's a pity... you are ultimately one move behind."

"In this round, I have won!"

Commander Zhuge Yuan slowly raised his head, his deep-set eyes staring fixedly at The Woodcutter.

Although he was incomparably weak at this moment, that sharp Aura did not diminish in the slightest.

"A mere remnant of the Taiping Sect, and you dare to bark before this Captain!"

"If I die, even if you run to the ends of the earth, my Zhuge Family will surely grind your bones into dust!"

Hearing these words, The Woodcutter did not refute, but instead nodded in deep agreement.

"Indeed, your Zhuge Family's divination techniques are unparalleled in the world, but..."

"Enough, I know you are deliberately stalling for time. Let me guess, your true body must have reached a critical moment, right?"

Commander Zhuge Yuan directly interrupted him.

"Hehe, seen through, but seeing you in this half-dead state now, I can rest easy."

After speaking, The Woodcutter stopped paying attention to Commander Zhuge Yuan, his gaze falling back onto Lin Ye, his tone somewhat meaningful.

"I know you have a means to save your life, so..."

"Until we meet again!"

After dropping these words, The Woodcutter's figure slowly dissipated into the mist.

The surroundings fell into deathly silence once more.

Lin Ye took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart.

Now was not the time for anger.

The pressing matter at hand was to find a way to resolve the current predicament.

He turned to look at Commander Zhuge Yuan behind him.

"Captain, what should we do now? Is there any way to stop him?"

Commander Zhuge Yuan was silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "There is..."

"But it is too difficult."

"So difficult that it is almost impossible to achieve."

"What way?"

Commander Zhuge Yuan did not answer immediately, just raising his head and looking at Lin Ye with those turbid eyes.

"Since you have a means to save your life, you had better not get involved. Hurry and find a chance to escape."

"Also, take this..."

As he said this, he took out a jade pendant from his bosom.

The jade pendant was pale green, the size of a palm, and a complex rune was carved upon it.

Even in this environment filled with gray fog, the jade pendant still emitted a warm luster.

"This jade pendant is a token used by my Zhuge Family to pass on messages."

"If I die here, please go to the Prefecture City in the future and hand it to the Zhuge Family."

Commander Zhuge Yuan's tone was very flat, clearly looking like he was arranging his funeral affairs.

However, Lin Ye did not take the jade pendant.

"I will not leave. Can the Captain just tell me what the method is!"

Just kidding, that guy dared to play him like this; if he didn't ruin the other party's good deed, his Dao Heart would easily become unstable!

Hearing this, Commander Zhuge Yuan's eyes flashed with a complex emotion.

"Are you sure you want to get involved?"

"This is a matter with a one-in-ten chance of survival."

"Doesn't that still leave one chance!" Lin Ye said with a relaxed expression.

"What's more..."

Lin Ye gripped the black iron heavy staff tightly, a flash of determination in his eyes.

"Old Man Shen has a favor to repay me; I must save him!"

Hearing this, Commander Zhuge Yuan sighed, knowing that he could not be persuaded.

"Very well."

"Since you insist on this, then I will tell you."