Chapter 153 The Final Test, The Substitute Ritual

[He let out a roar.]

[Directly pulling out a crimson pill from his inner pocket.]

[The pill emitted a pungent, fishy stench.]

[He did not hesitate in the slightest.]

[Tossing the pill into his mouth, he swallowed it directly.]

[Outside, Blood Ghost and a crowd of cultists were waiting for him.]

[Since he was dead either way.]

[He might as well slaughter you, this so-called Divine Son, first.]

[Then, he would use the medicinal power to fight a desperate final battle.]

[Perhaps he could even carve out a path of blood!]

[What Grandmaster Xu Liang swallowed was the Heart-Eroding Cult's specially made secret medicine, the Essence-Bursting Pill!]

[This kind of Medicinal Pill is extremely sinister and overbearing.]

[It can frantically squeeze out a Martial Artist's life force in a short period of time.]

[It drastically increases the Yuan Power output limit of a Kaiyuan Realm Martial Artist, but the side effects are enormous.]

[Grandmaster Xu Liang is completely disregarding his life now.]

[He wants to suppress you with pure force and take you down in one go.]

["Ahhh!!!"]

[After taking the pill, Grandmaster Xu Liang's face instantly became extremely distorted.]

[The clothes on his body were torn apart by his bulging muscles.]

[Blood-red patterns began to spread across his skin.]

[Under the stimulation of the Essence-Bursting Pill, his speed and strength...]

[...both received a massive boost.]

["Die for me!"]

[He gripped his blade with both hands, bringing with him a gust of fishy wind.]

[He slashed at you once again.]

[This time, facing Grandmaster Xu Liang who had taken drugs and entered a berserk state.]

[You deliberately acted as if you were struggling a bit.]

[You began to retreat continuously, using footwork to dodge.]

[The sounds of the long blades clashing became increasingly dense.]

["Clang clang clang clang!"]

[As if you were under immense pressure, the frequency of your blade swings became faster and faster.]

[Fine beads of sweat broke out on your forehead.]

[Seeing this, Grandmaster Xu Liang thought you finally couldn't hold on anymore.]

["Hahaha! So what if you're a Genius?"]

["In the face of absolute power, you're still just trash!"]

[He laughed maniacally.]

[While pouring all of his Yuan Power into the blade.]

[Preparing to launch a fatal final blow against you.]

[Just as he was feeling incredibly smug about suppressing you.]

[He failed to notice something.]

[In the process of your continuous retreat and rapid blade swings.]

[Your strikes had consistently and precisely hit the same spot on his long blade.]

[Your seemingly disorganized rapid attacks...]

[...actually had force penetrating into the metal structure of his blade every single time.]

["Crack—"]

[Just as Grandmaster Xu Liang raised his blade high, preparing to strike down with all his might.]

[An extremely crisp sound of shattering...]

[...rang in his ears.]

[The steel-forged long blade in his hand...]

[...suddenly snapped into two pieces from the middle!]

["What?!"]

[The maniacal laugh on Grandmaster Xu Liang's face instantly froze.]

[In a clash between Martial Artists.]

[Life and death are decided in a single instant.]

[The moment the blade broke.]

[The long blade in your hand thrust forward following the momentum.]

[Like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.]

["Puchi!"]

[The blade's edge sliced into his defensive blind spot with extreme precision.]

[Directly severing Grandmaster Xu Liang's thick right arm at the root!]

["Ahhh!!!"]

[Blood erupted like a fountain.]

[Grandmaster Xu Liang let out a shrill scream.]

[His body stumbled forward due to the intense pain and momentum.]

[Expressionless, you lightly flicked your wrist.]

[The long blade traced a half-moon of cold light in mid-air.]

[With an elegant upward flick.]

[The blade's edge was like cutting through tofu.]

[It easily pierced through Grandmaster Xu Liang's protective Yuan Power, which had become a chaotic mess due to the pain.]

["Chih."]

[A thin red line appeared on Grandmaster Xu Liang's throat.]

[Grandmaster Xu Liang's screams came to an abrupt halt.]

[He clutched his neck tightly.]

[His eyes were wide open, and a "gurgle" of leaking air came from his throat.]

[In the blink of an eye.]

[The victor was decided.]

["Thud."]

[Grandmaster Xu Liang's body crashed heavily onto the ground.]

[After a few twitches, he completely lost all signs of life.]

[...]

[Cold Kite, hidden in the shadows, looked at Grandmaster Xu Liang lying in a pool of blood.]

[Then she looked at you, standing in place, catching your breath and adjusting your breathing.]

[She originally thought you were finally going to be in a hard-fought battle.]

[But she didn't expect that not only did you win.]

[But you won so cleanly and decisively.]

["This kid doesn't just have amazing talent."]

["He's also meticulous, ruthless, and decisive."]

["He is simply a Genius born for combat and slaughter!"]

[Cold Kite's evaluation of you in her heart...]

[...rose by several levels once again.]

[However.]

[The test was not over yet.]

[Since Grandmaster Xu Liang, this discarded pawn, couldn't give you true life-and-death pressure.]

[Then she would do it personally.]

[Actually, from the moment you saw shadows emerging from that waiter.]

[You had already guessed a few things.]

[This Blood Ghost was most likely Cold Kite in disguise.]

[Because in the many simulations you had experienced.]

[The only Martial Artist you had ever seen with shadow-type abilities...]

[...was this cold-faced Deputy Director.]

[Of course, this couldn't be one hundred percent certain.]

[After all, the world is vast; there must be other shadow-type ability users.]

[So, when you saw the "Blood Ghost" slowly rising from the shadows.]

[You still did not relax your guard.]

[Instead, you gripped the long blade in your hand.]

[Summoning every ounce of focus to prepare for battle.]

[The "Blood Ghost" did not speak.]

[Her movement speed was extremely fast.]

[With a flicker of her body.]

[The next second.]

[She appeared directly in front of you.]

["Boom!"]

[With violent Yuan Power surging around her, she faced you...]

[...and threw a direct punch.]

[This punch was immensely powerful.]

[You pretended to be startled by this sudden attack.]

[A panicked expression appeared on your face.]

[In your haste, you could only raise the long blade in your hand.]

[Attempting to use the back of the blade to block this thunderous strike.]

["Bang!"]

[However.]

[This punch did not land.]

[The terrifying killing intent that had been locked onto you had not yet dissipated.]

[But the figure of the "Blood Ghost" in front of you...]

[...was like a wisp of light smoke.]

[It dissipated before your eyes.]

[Within the shadow space.]

[Dead silence returned, leaving only you alone.]

[Along with Grandmaster Xu Liang's corpse on the ground, which was being slowly swallowed by the shadows.]

[...]

[In the dark.]

[Cold Kite withdrew her fist and silently watched you.]

[After locking onto your aura.]

[She had pretended to throw a killing punch at you with all her might.]

[She wanted to see, when faced with such absolute power that could crush you fatally.]

[Whether the existence behind you would finally be unable to resist intervening.]

[However, no special circumstances occurred.]

[This allowed her to confirm one thing.]

[You, Li Ang.]

[Really have no more hidden cards.]

[The final probing was over.]

[Her current task...]

[...was to maintain this Shadow Barrier.]

[To have you stay safely within this shadow space.]

[Ensuring you would not suffer any harm in the upcoming upheaval.]

[As for other matters outside, the Great Grandmaster would handle them.]

[...]

[At this moment, seeing the "Blood Ghost" suddenly stop and vanish.]

[You understood in your heart.]

["It seems this really is Cold Kite."]

["Then, on the Great Grandmaster's side."]

["They should be getting ready to close the net."]

[You simply threw the long blade onto the ground.]

[And sat down on your butt in the cold shadows.]

[Beside you, Grandmaster Xu Liang's corpse had completely disappeared.]

["It looks like my mission has been successfully completed."]

[You no longer thought about the storms outside.]

[Instead, you quickly focused your mind.]

[In this undisturbed space.]

[You closed your eyes and continued to immerse yourself in your inner heaven and earth.]

[Starting to peacefully construct Yuan Power Nodes.]

[And polishing your yuan seed.]

[...]

[At the same time.]

[Deep underground in the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce building.]

[In front of an altar carved with eerie blood-colored runes.]

[All the high-level members of the Heart-Eroding Cult were gathered together.]

[With their hands over their hearts, they were performing the "Blood Shadow Life Replacement" ritual.]

[A hair-raising holy chant.]

[As the heavy stone doors slowly opened.]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian perfectly disguised himself as "Divine Son Li Ang".]

[He was controlling the "Blood Ghost", who had fallen into a deep coma.]

[One after the other.]

[They slowly walked into the center of the altar.]

[At this time, Cult Leader Tianxin, standing at the highest point of the altar...]

[...waved his hand.]

[Instantly.]

[All the high-level members stopped their chanting.]

[The entire underground space became so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.]

[Tianxin personally walked down from the high platform.]

[His eyes, hidden under a hood...]

[...sized up the controlled Divine Son from top to bottom.]

[He nodded slightly to Blood Ghost.]

[Acknowledging his outstanding contribution in this capture operation with a glance.]

[Then, Tianxin waved his hand.]

[Signaling Blood Ghost to withdraw.]

[He walked in front of the "Divine Son".]

[Reaching out a pale hand, he lightly patted the "Divine Son's" shoulder.]

["A perfect shell."]

[Tianxin couldn't help but let out a word of praise.]

[For this container that was about to be used to house the Two-Life Blood Soul Demon...]

[...he felt unprecedented satisfaction.]

["Begin."]

[Tianxin turned around.]

[Leading the "Divine Son" to the very center of the altar.]

[Onto a stone platform carved with blood-colored Formation patterns.]

[He personally walked to the eye of the Formation.]

[One last time, he carefully adjusted the Formation.]

[After confirming everything was correct.]

[Tianxin took a deep breath.]

[His hands suddenly formed seals, activating the sinister replacement ritual.]

[However.]

[At the very moment the Formation lit up with blood-red light!]

[Tianxin suddenly discovered...]

[On the altar.]

[The "Divine Son" who was originally standing still.]

[His figure, in a burst of spatial distortion...]

[...actually vanished!]

["How could—"]

[Tianxin's heart shook violently.]

[Before his exclamation could even leave his mouth.]

[A fist the size of a sandbag...]

[...appeared before his eyes.]