574: Chapter 574 All-out attack! Dismantle that cocoon!

The Core Disciples of Kunlun Academy transformed into hundreds of streaks of light, tearing through the dim sky of the Qingyun Realm.

Their target was fixed directly on the bottomless, massive rift in the Far West.

The closer they got, the more concentrated the aura of decay and devouring became in the air.

It was as if the vitality of the entire world was being silently siphoned away by the formless black hole deep within the rift.

“Everyone, conceal your auras and prepare to set up the Formation!”

Xie Wangsheng hovered at the edge of the rift, his voice transmitted to everyone via True Qi.

His face was somewhat pale, and the Formation Plate in his hand hummed, its needle spinning wildly, clearly being disturbed by the terrifying existence below.

The Disciples descended as commanded, surrounding the rift.

They looked down at the churning gray mist, feeling the pulling force that threatened to suck their Divine Souls in, and many felt their hearts leap into their throats.

This was far more real and terrifying than any enemy they had faced in simulated combat.

“What’s there to be afraid of!”

Chen Pingan landed on a giant rock, his golden Martial Dao True Qi surging like flames, driving away the surrounding gloom.

“The Dean trusts us enough to make this our graduation assessment!”

“When has Kunlun Academy ever lost face?”

His voice boomed like a great bell, imbued with powerful confidence, instantly stabilizing everyone’s minds.

Lu Miaomiao stretched her wrists to the side, a phantom image of a hundred-meter-tall female War God flickering behind her, her eyes full of Battle Intent.

“That’s right! Whatever that thing is, we’ll just smash it apart!”

Liu Lian and Lin Xiao stood on the two flanks of the Formation, their Sword Intent soaring into the sky, like two peerless divine swords guarding the Formation so tightly that it was impenetrable.

“Xie Wangsheng, what did your investigation reveal?” Liu Lian’s voice came, cold as ice.

Xie Wangsheng stared intently at the Formation Plate, fine sweat beading on his forehead.

“The energy flow has a cycle. The light of the runes dims for an instant every three breaths—that’s when the core energy of the Formation is weakest!”

“However, the devouring force is too strong. My Formation can only interfere from the outside; it cannot directly break the core.”

“We must launch a frontal assault!”

“Good!”

Chen Pingan roared, looking back at the Refining System Disciples whose Battle Intent was equally high.

“Refining System, follow me!”

“Remember what the Dean said—focus on the main attack! Smash that thing open for me!”

“Roar!”

Wu Gang and dozens of other Refining System Disciples roared in unison, their muscles knotted, their golden light surging. They transformed into human-shaped cannonballs and charged resolutely into the gray mist below.

They were like scorching meteorites thrown into a still, silent lake, instantly stirring up massive waves.

Deep within the rift, upon the massive altar cast from black rock.

The giant cocoon, which pulsed like a heart, sensed the presence of the intruders.

Ohm—

A dull roar echoed from inside the giant cocoon.

The blood-colored runes on its surface suddenly lit up, their red glow intensifying.

Countless pitch-black energy tentacles shot out violently from the surface of the giant cocoon, like a dense net of death, accurately lashing out at every Refining System Disciple charging down.

“Be careful!”

Chen Pingan took the lead, unleashing both fists. Golden True Qi transformed into two roaring Golden Dragons, meeting the dozens of energy tentacles head-on.

Boom!

A violent explosion erupted in mid-air, waves of energy churning.

Chen Pingan was shaken, his blood churning, but the energy tentacles were only slightly held back before they struck again.

Wu Gang was even more direct, using his Physical Body, which rivaled a Magic Treasure, to withstand the impact directly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

His fists collided continuously with the tentacles, producing dull, heavy sounds, each strike causing the space to hum.

But he was also knocked back repeatedly, deep black marks appearing on his arms, with wisps of black Qi attempting to drill into his body.

“These tentacles can erode True Qi!” Wu Gang roared, warning everyone.

The other Refining System Disciples were also plunged into a bitter fight.

Although their attacks were fierce, these tentacles seemed endless and incredibly tough; for a time, they couldn't break through the defense to reach the main body of the giant cocoon.

“Sword Cultivators, clear a path!”

Lin Xiao’s voice sounded.

He exchanged a look with Liu Lian, and both moved simultaneously.

There were no flashy sword moves, only the purest sword light.

Lin Xiao’s sword was overwhelmingly dominant, as if it could sever everything in the world.

Liu Lian’s sword carried a death intent that extinguished all things.

The two streaks of sword light, one on the left and one on the right, acted like a giant pair of scissors, forcefully cutting open a gap in the web of energy tentacles.

“Now is the chance!”

Chen Pingan seized the opportunity, condensing all the golden light onto his right fist.

“Martial Dao Sacred Technique: Mountain Splitter!”

He threw out a punch, focusing all his power into one point, passing through the passage opened by the sword light, and smashing squarely onto the massive cocoon-like object.

Dong!!!

A massive sound, as if striking the depths of everyone’s Soul, resonated.

The entire rift trembled violently because of it.

The giant cocoon was struck deeply concave by this punch, and the blood-colored runes on its surface flashed wildly, flickering on and off.

“It worked!”

Some Disciples shouted excitedly.

However, before they could celebrate.

The dented giant cocoon not only failed to shatter but also began to recover its original shape at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Moreover, a devouring force several times stronger than before suddenly erupted.

The few Refining System Disciples charging at the front could not dodge in time; their protective True Qi was instantly drained by more than half, and their faces immediately turned deathly pale.

“It’s absorbing our attack energy!” Xie Wangsheng shouted anxiously from above.

Now, everyone felt the situation was tricky.

This thing couldn't be damaged by force and could absorb attacks—it was practically an unsolvable fortress.

“All Disciples, heed my command!”

Xie Wangsheng’s voice sounded again, but this time it carried a calm assurance of victory.

“Its rune cycle is three breaths! Listen to my command: All Spell Cultivator Disciples, attack the third foundation stone to the left of the altar; that is one of the energy hubs!”

“Sword Cultivator Disciples, sever its connection to the bottom of the altar!”

“Refining System, prepare for the second full-scale assault!”

Xie Wangsheng spoke extremely fast, issuing clear instructions one after another.

The crowd’s spirits lifted, and they immediately acted according to his deployment.

“One!”

“Two!”

“Now! Attack!”

Following Xie Wangsheng’s command, the dozens of Spell Cultivator Disciples who had been poised and ready unleashed a torrent of colorful Spells precisely toward the designated location on the altar.

At the same time, the sword lights of Liu Lian and Lin Xiao flashed again.

Boom!

The altar shook violently, and the struck foundation stone instantly turned to dust.

The blood-colored runes on the surface of the giant cocoon suddenly dimmed.

“This is the chance!”

Chen Pingan, Lu Miaomiao, and Wu Gang led all the Refining System Disciples, condensing their life’s cultivation, and launched their strongest combined strike.

This time, their target was no longer the surface of the giant cocoon, but the weak node in the rune circulation that Xie Wangsheng had discovered.

Crack—

A crisp cracking sound echoed throughout the entire rift.

Under the expectant gaze of everyone, a clear crack finally appeared on the seemingly indestructible giant cocoon.

However, before everyone could cheer.

An invisible, indescribable terrifying impact suddenly spread out from the crack.

That was not energy, nor was it a sound wave.

It was a pure mental storm.

“Ah—!”

Chen Pingan and the others charging at the front bore the brunt of it. They instantly clutched their heads and let out painful screams.

Immediately afterward, none of the Disciples at the edge of the rift, whether Spell Cultivators or Formation Cultivators, were spared.

It felt as if billions of steel needles were frantically stabbing inside their minds.

Countless negative emotions—fear, despair, anger, sorrow—flooded their rationality like a bursting dam.

Every person saw illusions before their eyes.

It was the deepest fear within their hearts.

Companions who died on the battlefield, hardworking relatives, enemies who were once impossible to defeat...

The Formation Plate in Xie Wangsheng’s hand fell to the ground with a 'pa' sound, and he knelt down, trembling all over.

The Sword Intent of Liu Lian and Lin Xiao showed signs of instability. They gritted their teeth, fighting against the terrifying scenes in their Sea of Consciousness.

The elite batch of Kunlun Academy Disciples, at this very moment, had their defenses collectively shattered by an invisible mental attack.

Deep within the rift, the crack slowly widened.

A pair of scarlet, emotionless giant pupils slowly opened in the darkness.