22: Undercurrents surge again! Traitorous remnants and mysterious transactions
Having returned from Meteorite Abyss, Di Tian, still enveloped by the lingering smoke of battle, sensed an unusual, oppressive aura pervading his clan.
His White Tiger Consort approached him under the moonlight, her amber eyes filled with worry: "The Qingluan Clan detected an anomaly; dozens of unfamiliar spiritual energy fluctuation points have appeared in the southeast direction, changing their Formation every three days, as if practicing some kind of Formation."
Before she finished speaking, the System's notification sound abruptly rang out: "Ding! The 953rd offspring has been born, Awakening the Wood-Earth Resilience attribute! Gained 180 years of Dao cultivation."
Di Tian caressed the second Divine Artifact fragment he had just acquired; the runes flowing on its surface suddenly resonated with the Incomplete Manual of the tai chu prophecy record, and a translucent star map unfolded in the Void Realm.
"Analysis progress increased to 21%."
A line of small characters faintly appeared at the edge of the star map: "The Blood Moon is approaching, false gods will appear; only the breaker of the situation can sever the chain of Karma."
His vertical eye shimmered slightly, and the Candle Dragon Insight talent instinctively operated, capturing a faint trace of Nettherworld Palace aura—right in the southwest corner of the clan's territory!
"Silver Moon Fox Consort!" Di Tian suddenly turned, his tail tip sweeping away a few withered leaves, "Bring ten illusionary elite members and follow me to inspect the southwest defense line."
When they arrived at the target area, the sight before them made the Silver Moon Fox Consort's fox ears instantly tense: seven Yao Race corpses lay in a pool of blood, their wounds covered with black chains, the unmistakable mark of the Nettherworld Palace's Soul Devouring Curse.
And in the center of the corpses, half of an arrow engraved with a moon pattern was stuck, identical to the weapon used by Candle Shadow (Blood Moon Emissary).
"Alert! Traces of traitor remnants detected, 'Purge Plan' recommended for activation."
"Ding! Hidden quest discovered: Eliminate Internal Threats, Reward: Candle Dragon Bloodline Purification Art."
Di Tian squatted down, his sharp dragon claw tracing the spiritual energy fluctuations remaining on the ground.
Suddenly, his pupils contracted—among these evil auras, there was a familiar scent mixed in.
It was... the feather of his Azure Phoenix Lover!
He abruptly looked up, gazing at the Qingluan Clan patrolling high in the sky, an alarm ringing in his heart.
Just then, a cyan figure, wrapped in fierce wind blades, launched a sudden attack, aiming directly for his back!
"Careful!" The Silver Moon Fox Consort threw out fox fire to form a barrier, but it was easily torn apart by the wind blades.
The moment the assailant revealed herself, the entire fox pack let out shocked cries—it was Qing Yu, the Azure Phoenix Lover's younger sister!
Her eyes glowed with an eerie purplish hue, and the edges of her wings wereentanglement with Netherworld Chains: "Candle Dragon, hand over the Divine Artifact fragments, or everything you cherish will turn to dust."
The five elements panlong halberd instantly unsheathed; its tip collided with Qing Yu's wind blades, erupting in dazzling sparks.
While fending off the attack, Di Tian activated his Candle Dragon Insight talent.
He was shocked to discover that a mysterious imprint within Qing Yu's body was controlling her actions, and the core of the imprint was a black Jade Slip engraved with the character "Moon," resonating faintly with the netherworld moon token.
"So that's it..." Di Tian's Five Elements Power surged, and the fourth transformation of Candle Dragon Nine Transformations was unleashed with full force, "You used a forbidden art to control her, just to disturb my mind!"
In his Dragon Transformation Human Form, he was like a war god, the Five Elements Power transforming into a prison to trap Qing Yu.
Just as he was about to break the imprint, the Black-Robed Leader's sinister laughter suddenly echoed from the Void Realm—the person he should have slain now appeared in spirit form!
"Clever, but too late."
The Black-Robed Leader's spirit body passed through the Five Elements prison and directly invaded Qing Yu's Sea of Consciousness: "How about this deal? Your three Divine Artifact fragments for her life."
Qing Yu struggled painfully, a flicker of clarity in her eyes: "Your Majesty... don't mind me... they want to restart... the Blood Moon Altar..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Black-Robed Leader forcibly detonated the imprint within her body.
In the violent explosion, Di Tian did his best to protect the Silver Moon Fox Consort and the fox pack.
When the smoke cleared, Qing Yu's figure had vanished, leaving behind only the black Jade Slip and a tattered piece of paper.
The paper had blood-written words: "Seventh Altar, Meteor Shower Night, when the Blood Moon is in the sky..."
The System's notification sound rang out at the opportune moment: "Ding! Obtained key clue 'Blood Moon Altar Coordinates', unlocked hidden map."
"Current Panel:"
"Dao Cultivation Accumulated: 14485 years"
"Strength Attribute: 11800 kg"
"Current Cultivation: Golden Core Late Stage Peak (Dragon Transformation Human Form)"
"Cultivation Techniques:"
"- Five Elements Art (Perfection)"
"- Soul Devouring Skill (Improved Version - Can Purify Evil Power)"
"- Candle Dragon Nine Transformations (Awakened 4 Transformations)"
"Talent Skills:"
"- Heaven Defying Dragon Roar"
"- Candle Dragon Insight"
"- Five Elements Ancestral Witch Body"
"- Candle Dragon Burns the Heavens"
"Passive Skills:"
"- Beast Kings Blessing"
"- Elemental Resistance Enhancement"
"- Five Elements Spirit Devouring"
"Number of Offspring: 953"
"Special Items:"
"- five elements panlong halberd (Ancient Divine Artifact)"
"- candle dragon jade slip (Incomplete)"
"- xuanxiao sect secret jade slip"
"- Unknown Divine Artifact Fragment x 2"
"- netherworld hall bone staff (To Be Purified)"
"- tai chu prophecy record (Incomplete Manual)"
"- netherworld moon token"
"- netherworld palace secret order (Incomplete)"
"- netherworld hall high-level cultivation technique fragment"
"- Black Jade Slip"
"- Blood Moon Altar Clue Paper"
Di Tian gripped the Jade Slip tightly, the scales on his dragon claw trembling slightly with anger.
He looked at the constantly changing spiritual energy fluctuation points in the southeast direction, a decision already made in his heart.
The Blood Moon Altar's conspiracy, the traitors' lurking, the threat of the Outer Territory Demon God... these crises were like an interwoven net, but he would never sit idly by.
"Notify all elites, prepare to head to the Seventh Altar.
This time, I will completely sever the enemy's conspiracy!"
His voice was low and firm, and the Five-Colored Divine Dragon phantom behind him let out an earth-shattering roar, as if responding to his resolve.
And in the distant sky, a dark red Blood Moon was quietly forming.