54: Void Rift

The infinitely stacked physical foundation, coupled with the endless trial-and-error possibilities provided by the Death Warriors network.

He did not act immediately, but first carefully put away the beast-skin parchment on the stone table, placing it together with his own Incomplete Manual.

He then picked up the fragment of the "world suppressing ruler"; it was heavy and cold to the touch, and he could vaguely feel a certain Concept of suppression contained within it.

Finally, he looked at the dark gold crystal and the groove.

Inserting the rusted sword might trigger unpredictable changes, potentially awakening a residual "Demonic Consciousness," accelerating the collapse, or perhaps gaining brief control or information.

The battle outside had not stopped, and this place was not suitable for a long stay. A choice had to be made.

Lin Mo's gaze turned sharp.

Being indecisive would lead to no way out. If information was lacking, he would take the initiative to obtain it!

Holding the rusted sword, he walked to the edge of the stone platform, eyed the shape of the groove, and without further hesitation, aligned the crossguard of the rusted sword with the groove and slowly pressed down.

At the very moment the crossguard touched the groove—

"Buzz!!!"

The rusted sword erupted with an unprecedented, dazzling light!

The rust on the entire blade peeled off like shedding skin, revealing the dark blade body underneath, which was flowing with starlight!

The "seven stars of the mountain peak" mark on the crossguard lit up one by one!

At the same time, the dark gold crystal vibrated violently, cracks spreading across its surface as more pure Spiritual Qi and gray, decadent aura gushed out simultaneously!

In the entire underground space, all the dim runes lit up in succession, flickering and emitting a low resonance!

In the void above the stone platform, light and shadow distorted, and a tattered phantom of a giant formation diagram that covered the entire island faintly emerged.

And at this moment, the point of light representing this location became exceptionally bright due to the insertion of the rusted sword!

An incomplete stream of information from an ancient consciousness, carrying a sense of desperate protection, rushed toward Lin Mo's mind through the rusted sword!

It was broken memories regarding the "Demon Suppressing Island" sealing formation, the terrifying nature of the "demonic taint," and the strength of the world barrier.

As well as information about a faint trace of Qi, different from the Spiritual Qi of this world, and a sealed warning mark located beneath an almost completely damaged formation node deep within the endless Sea Eye to the far east of the island—

"Void Rift, nine deaths and no life, or... a slim chance of survival?"

The flood of information washed over Lin Mo's consciousness.

At this very moment, his blood and Qi, which had long since surpassed the mundane, surged wildly under the multiple stimuli of the strange energy from the rusted sword and the suddenly intensified Spiritual Qi and demonic taint in this place!

The Qi Sea Acupoint shone brilliantly, and the other condensed hidden acupoints resonated with it!

The two beast-skin parchments in his robes grew hot, and the cultivation route of the Basic Qi Cultivation Art from the Jade Slip spontaneously began to flow in his mind.

The vague Concept of "Merit Dissipation and Spirit Infusion," along with the insights into Martial Arts True Qi operation fed back from his hundred Death Warriors, began to collide, fuse, and derive under his superhuman Mental Energy!

"Pfft!"

Lin Mo spat out a mouthful of blood, which actually contained faint golden specks of light and a few wisps of gray Qi.

But his eyes were frighteningly bright.

On his right arm, which held the rusted sword, pale golden brilliance and a decadent gray aura intertwined beneath the skin; his Meridians were in excruciating pain, yet they were also frantically adapting, devouring, and transforming.

He felt that a certain limit was being roughly pried open.

His Physical Body, under the countless stacks from the System and the pressure of the extreme external energies at this moment, was undergoing a transformation!

The dark gold crystal in the center of the stone platform developed more and more cracks, its light flickering erratically, and the vibrations of the entire space intensified.

Time was running out.

Lin Mo gritted his teeth, using all his willpower to firmly memorize the incomplete formation diagram information flowing into his mind, especially the coordinates and warnings regarding that "Far East Sea Eye."

Then, he grasped the "long sword," whose light was fading but which was now completely renewed, and pulled it out with force!

"Clang!"

The long sword left the groove.

The crystal's light suddenly dimmed, and the vibrations in the space slowly subsided, but the lingering decadent gray aura seemed to thicken slightly.

The long sword in his hand was about three feet three inches long, its blade as dark as the night sky, with fine starlight-like specks flowing upon it, and seven points of starlight slowly flickering at the crossguard.

There was no longer a trace of rust, only an aura that was ancient, heavy, and contained an inner sharpness.

"Seven Stars Demon Suppressing Sword (Remnant)."

Lin Mo didn't have time to look closely; he quickly put away the Jade Slip, the fragment, and the beast-skin parchments.

He took one last look at the three skeletons and the nearly collapsing crystal core, then bowed deeply.

He turned and sped toward the corridor from which he had come.

The aura on his body fluctuated; pale gold and grayish-black air currents collided and flowed beneath his skin, only to be forcibly suppressed.

He needed to leave this place immediately, find a safe spot to organize his gains, suppress the rampaging energy in his body, and plan his next move.

He rushed out of the corridor and leaped onto the cave entrance.

The battle on the bridge was in full swing.

Liu Qingli and the other two were bloodily defending the bridgehead, with Fang Han assisting from the side; everyone was already wounded.

The Black Iron Guards, Grassland Warriors, and Earth Fire Demon Puppets were locked in a chaotic melee, with casualties everywhere.

"Go!" Lin Mo shouted low. A flash of sword light sent a Grassland Warrior, who had lunged onto the bridgehead, flying along with his saber as Lin Mo took the lead in fighting his way off the bridge.

His speed was faster and his sword stance more fierce, carrying a heart-palpitating coldness and Evil Qi that he had just brought out from the ancient Seal's core.

The group's spirits were lifted, and they followed closely behind, fighting hard to break through.

Rushing out of the corridor, waves of heat and the smell of blood hit them in the face.

The battle situation on the bridge had changed.

The Earth Fire Demon Puppets had fallen into a semi-mad state due to internal energy conflicts, swinging their giant lava arms indiscriminately at friend and foe alike, becoming the biggest disruptors.

The formation formed by the Black Iron Guards had been broken, forcing them to fight individually.

Under Gray Harrier's command, the Grassland Warriors were trying to break free from the puppets' entanglement to lunge back at the bridgehead, but how could Sikong Xuan let them have their way? His sword light bit hard into Gray Harrier.

Liu Qingli had a deep, bone-deep saber wound on her left shoulder, blood staining half her body. Lei Meng's chest was scorched black, and the skin between his thumb and forefinger had split. Chen Feng's movement was the most agile, and he had the fewest wounds. Fang Han guarded Liu Qingli's flank, his short sword stabbing rapidly, his face splattered with blood, his eyes exceptionally fierce.

At the feet of the five, seven or eight corpses of Grassland Warriors already lay.

"Go!"

Lin Mo's low shout pierced through the cries of battle and the roars of the puppets.

He led the way, his long sword showing no obvious swinging motion; he simply flicked his wrist as he faced two lunging Grassland Warriors.

Ssh! Ssh!

Two cold, star-like sword glints struck first, accurately sinking into the centers of their brows.

The corpses still had ferocious expressions on their faces as they fell backward.

Fast! Ruthless! Precise!

Faster and more fierce than before he had jumped into the hole. The restrained sharpness on the sword made the blood of any opponent facing it freeze.

Seeing this, Lei Meng's spirits were greatly lifted. He gave a wild roar and swung his thick-backed cleaver in a full circle, sending a burly man wielding an iron staff staggering back, staff and all.

Lin Mo happened to glide past his side and delivered a backhand sword strike into the burly man's ribs, releasing Sword Qi to end his life.

"Keep up!"

Lin Mo's voice was calm, and his long sword turned into a curtain of starlight, knocking away several cold arrows shot at them. The collision of the blade and arrow shafts made a crisp metallic clinking sound, and the arrows were actually shattered.