261: Chapter 261 Sacrifice, Formidable Enemy

A figure quickly crawled up from a concealed spot and looked up.

He was wearing camouflage clothing, draped in a disguise meticulously woven from leaves and weeds, with mud smeared on his face and a sniper rifle in his hands.

If one did not look closely, he almost blended into the surrounding environment.

It was precisely the monkey who had been ambushed here previously.

Watching a large crowd run up the mountain looking somewhat disheveled, his eyes were filled with surprise, and he blurted out:

"I thought you guys were trapped in the woods and couldn't come out, and was wondering how to give you clear hints."

While speaking, his gaze swept over several treasure hunters from other teams, revealing a sense of vigilance.

Bailing's face was somewhat pale, not yet having recovered from the thrilling escape just now, yet she still did not forget to teasingly reply:

"Thanks to you, this caveman, for hiding well enough that even those black fogs couldn't find this place."

Hearing these words, the crowd, still shaken, instantly turned around in unison and cast their eyes toward the scene down the mountain.

They saw that at their current location, the mist had become significantly thinner, and their field of vision had also opened up a lot.

One could faintly see that the relentlessly pursuing black fog, like a rising tide, surgingly climbed halfway up the mountain before finally slowly stopping its steps.

At this moment, set off by the clouds and mist that were too thick to dissolve, the entire mountaintop resembled an isolated island in a dark ocean.

Seeming isolated and helpless, it yet bore everyone's last hope.

"Hoo—"

Dachui let out a long breath, loosened his arms to put Bailing down, and then sat heavily on the ground, wiping the sweat from his face:

"Monkey, this place of yours looks quite safe. We really went through Hell down there, and those black fogs kept chasing us like they went crazy."

Monkey wore an apologetic expression, put away the sniper rifle, and replied with a somewhat earnest tone:

"Sorry everyone, my place hasn't been affected by the black fog temporarily. I originally wanted to fire a signal flare to guide you, who knew something went wrong."

"Monkey, have you explored the surrounding environment of this mountain?"

Lin Chuqiao had also jumped down from Fang Cheng's embrace, her cheeks still carrying a flush, and she softly asked:

"Have you discovered any unusual places? Or seen clearly the changing patterns of the black fog down the mountain?"

Remembering Fang Cheng's analysis and speculation on the way, she asked this question, hoping to find some useful clues to help everyone get out of trouble.

Monkey straightened his expression, slightly furrowed his brows as if sorting out his thoughts, and said a moment later:

"I've roughly explored the surrounding area here, and temporarily haven't found anything abnormal."

"As for down the mountain, I saw a glowing thing fly into the air earlier; it should be the golden bumpa bottle you all mentioned, but it was rather far away, and the mist was too thick, so I didn't see it very clearly."

"As for those black fogs, I found that they gather particularly fast in certain places, while in some places like here there's temporarily no movement, seeming to shrink the safety range circle by circle. Perhaps there is some kind of pattern..."

Fang Cheng quietly listened to the dialogue between Lin Chuqiao and Monkey, and strode toward the edge of the mountaintop.

The piercing wind howled past, stirring the corners of his clothes to rustle loudly.

This place could be called one of the most perilous vantage points on Miwu Mountain, and the terrain advantage allowed him to overlook this world shrouded in a bizarre atmosphere.

Gazing into the distance, almost the entire field of vision was covered by the pervading mist, including Lu Family Manor which was not spared, making it difficult to spot its traces.

Meanwhile, those thick, ink-like black fogs were like a pot of boiling, overflowing asphalt, churning wantlessly and continuously squeezing the relatively calm areas.

The entire Miwu Mountain was like falling into another dimension, where all rules and common sense seemed to be subverted here.

Right in this Chaos and darkness, a bright light spot flickered, resembling the most dazzling star in the night sky, emitting a faint yet extremely attractive glow.

Fang Cheng's gaze pierced through layers of mist, tightly locking onto that light spot.

In the perspective presented by Eagle Eye Vision, the resolution was greatly enhanced, and a golden bottle could be clearly seen.

Gazing further closely, one could also see the patterns and textures of auspicious clouds, conch shells, lotus flowers, etc., engraved on the bottle's body.

That thing was precisely the golden bumpa bottle that had flown into the sky earlier.

It seemed to be lifted by an invisible force, suspended above the black fog.

Amidst slight vibrations, the light swayed accordingly, resembling the first ray of dawn piercing through the clouds at daybreak, carrying a mysterious and powerful force.

That dazzling golden light sphere dispelled the surrounding darkness, and at the same time, like the center of a magnetic field, constantly attracted and drove the heavy black fog, forming a vortex shape at the bottom.

The two countered and attracted each other, forming a wonderful balance.

With a thought in his mind, Fang Cheng turned his head to look at Monkey and asked:

"Have you been staying here these past few days?"

Hearing this, Monkey was slightly startled, knowing that the person before him was the newly joined White Ghost, and then replied:

"Yes, ever since I ambushed here according to the professor's instructions, I haven't left."

Fang Cheng's gaze flickered slightly, and he continued to ask:

"Have you seen anyone else come here?"

Monkey pondered slightly and said:

"These days, aside from Lu Family guards occasionally patrolling past, a few people who looked like lamas also came."

"They later went down the mountain toward the woods on the east side. Not long after, a sound of fighting came from over there, but I was hiding in the observation post and didn't get up to check it out."

"Is that so?"

Fang Cheng pondered, his eyes revealing a glint of contemplation.

His gaze cast once more toward the golden bumpa bottle floating in the air, and vaguely a bold thought of trying something crossed his mind.

...

In the dark secret chamber, an oppressive dead silence pervaded.

Rows of closed-circuit televisions presented snowy screens, with messy white dots flashing incessantly.

Then, seemingly interfered by some strong magnetic field, they successively made a few low "crackling" sounds, and finally all went completely dark.

Only a trace of a faint burning smell drifted around in the room.

Lu Tao and two monitoring personnel stood in the dark, silently without words.

Feeling a chilly Aura spreading like a tide, making them feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, their bodies trembled slightly involuntarily.

In front of the three, Lu Shihua sat cross-legged, meditating with eyes closed, like a clay sculpture or a wooden figurine, completely devoid of life characteristics.

Yet his entire body emitted an inscrutable Aura, seeming to be wholeheartedly communicating with some supernatural power.

Suddenly, Lu Shihua opened his eyes.

In the dark room, it was instantly as if a flash of lightning had streaked across.

That gaze was bone-chillingly cold, focusing onto Lu Tao as if tangible, making his hair stand on end and his body involuntarily shudder.

"Second Elder, the fighting in the manor has completely stopped, but the monitoring Systems have all failed."

Lu Tao forcefully suppressed the fear in his heart, quickly stepped forward, and reported the situation.

Then, he cautiously asked:

"How is the situation now? What should we do next?"

"Very good."

Lu Shihua slowly spoke, his voice low and hoarse, yet exuding a confidence of controlling the overall situation.

"After activating the Formation, those treasure hunters are all trapped in the mountain forest, either swallowed by the black fog to appease the undead in the Chaos space, or having their vital essence absorbed by the golden bumpa bottle to become nourishment for the Ancestral Spirit Tree."

Speaking of this, a weird smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, appearing exceptionally ferocious in the dark.

"The energy intensity of these mutants far exceeds ordinary people. If the life energy contained in each of them is all gathered together, what a majestic force this will be!"

"With this energy blessing, the Legacy Secret Realm will definitely be able to transfer into place one hundred percent. By then, our Family will open a brand-new chapter, no longer needing to be trapped in the current pattern; even restoring our former hegemony status is not a dream."

Lu Shihua slightly raised his head to look outside the secret chamber, his face filled with yearning, as if he had already seen the brilliant future of the Family.

But in a flash, that expression turned cold and cruel again, and he said in a deep voice:

"Therefore, now we must continuously compress the safety area, plunging those treasure hunters into a true desperate situation. You will next lead the remaining guards to continue searching and encircle the treasure hunters hiding in the manor."

"I want every single one of them to die here without exception. Only in this way will the energy not dissipate or be wasted in the slightest."

Hearing this, Lu Tao could not help but feel his heart skip a beat.

He licked his dry lips and asked with slight hesitation:

"Then... when will we retreat? This subordinate can make arrangements in advance..."

"Retreat?"

Lu Shihua abruptly turned his head, his gaze piercing toward Lu Tao like a knife, and coldly interrupted him.

"Once the Formation is activated, it is not so easy to stop."

"Since they have entered inside, whether it's those outsiders attempting to seize treasures or our own Family people, if they want to withdraw unscathed, there is only one path to take: success!"

Lu Tao's heart trembled, feeling a chill surge straight from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He never expected that the operation presided over by the Second Elder would be so resolute and burn all bridges, leaving no slightest way out to speak of.

"In order for today's plan to be successfully realized, the Family has prepared for decades and paid too much painstaking effort."

"From cultivating a qualified Secret Realm address, to studying and arranging Formation secret arts, to searching for treasure clues capable of nourishing the ancestral spirit, and finally discovering the golden bumpa bottle to use it to lure numerous mutants into the game."

"Every step of this is saturated with the sweat and blood of Family members. Up to now, not the slightest mishap is allowed to occur."

"The glory and future of the Family are grasped in our hands. Even if it requires sacrificing this old man's life, I will not hesitate!"

Lu Shihua's gaze was firm and his tone resolute, acting just like an old veteran rushing to the battlefield, ready to face death unflinchingly.

"Second Elder, this subordinate is willing to faithfully perform my duties for the cause of the Family, and die after doing my utmost!"

Lu Tao hurriedly expressed his stance, knowing deeply that if he showed the slightest intention of retreating at this moment, he would surely suffer severe punishment.

The two monitoring personnel also nodded and echoed from the side, their voices carrying a few parts of panic and fawning.

"Very good, you all do your duty. As long as everything goes smoothly, after the matter succeeds, this old man will not treat you unfairly."

Lu Shihua nodded slightly, the sharpness in his eyes easing slightly.

"Hehe—"

At this moment, a cold laugh suddenly came from outside, breaking the brief peace inside the room.

That laughter was exceptionally noisy, resembling the shrill cry of a Night Owl, piercing everyone's eardrums and buzzing loudly.

"Lu Shihua, you are truly ruthless enough, not even letting yourself off."

As the words fell, with a loud bang of "boom", the heavy door was kicked open, and wood shavings flew everywhere.

Three men wearing black monastic robes and dressed like lamas walked into the monitoring room one by one.

The man at the lead was about forty years old, with thin cheeks, wearing a mustache, and a pair of tortoiseshell-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose bridge.

His appearance looked quite scholarly, yet his standing posture revealed a formidable Aura.

Every step taken seemed to carry the force of a thousand jun, causing the ground to vibrate slightly.

Lu Tao felt a powerful coercion rushing toward his face, and involuntarily took a step back.

Those two monitoring personnel were even more frightened so that their faces turned pale, their legs went soft, and they almost collapsed to the ground.

"Roger, you've hidden for so long, yet you finally couldn't help showing yourself!"

Lu Shihua stood up, as if facing a formidable enemy, staring intently at the man at the lead, and spat out this name in a low voice.

It seemed some unknown grievances and entanglements existed between the two.

"Hmph!"

The lama called "Roger" sneered with disdain and coldly replied:

"The Formation you are using is what you stole and learned from our Black Sect back then. How could I possibly not make good use of it? It just so happens that you consecrated the golden bumpa bottle for me, saving me the trouble and effort."

He slightly raised his chin, his eyes filled with disdain and mockery; he was precisely the Venerable from Lingquan Temple.

And the two black-robed lamas behind him were Senior Brother Zaxi and Duoji.

Their builds were robust, standing behind Roger like two Protector Vajras, emitting an air of ferocious bravery.

Roger then continued unhurriedly:

"If my guess is right, the sacrificial offerings you used to sacrifice to the golden bumpa bottle, those three corpses wearing black robes, are all people from your Family, right?"

"You actually used their flesh and blood as a primer to activate the Formation. As expected, you are still as ruthless as before."

His words carried a few parts of mockery, directly and bluntly exposing Lu Shihua's hidden secret means.

Yet Lu Shihua's expression remained unchanged, and he calmly responded:

"They were terminally ill to begin with and bound to die. Now sacrificing themselves for the Family and merging with the ancestral spirit is their best destination."

His tone had not the slightest ripple, as if stating a most ordinary matter, yet the resoluteness contained within it made people shudder.

"Hypocrite!"

Roger spat out his contempt without any concealment, the look of disdain in his eyes growing even heavier.

Lu Shihua remained unmoved, still calmly questioning:

"This time when you came over, are you trying to retrieve the golden bumpa bottle, or want to settle old scores?"

Hearing this, Roger's lips hooked into an amused arc:

"I want the bottle, and I want the people too. Isn't it killing two birds with one stone?"

"Since that's the case..."

Lu Shihua's gaze was as sharp as lightning, and the Aura around his body suddenly soared, as if transforming into a drawn sharp sword.

"I will never consider past affection. Whoever dares to block the Family's pace forward, if gods block kill gods, if buddhas block kill buddhas!"

Finished speaking, suddenly countless vines broke through the bricks and stones on the ground and walls around the secret chamber, winding out.

They were like nimble poisonous snakes, carrying a fatal, dangerous Aura, rapidly winding toward Roger and the others.

"Hmph, I hope you have this ability!"

Roger sneered, and behind him a three-headed, six-armed demon god projection faintly emerged.

That demon god seemed to step out from the endless abyss, majestic and imposing, wearing heavy armor, with its entire body burning with dark red flames.

One hand held a precious sword, with chilling radiance, seeming capable of cutting off all illusions.

One hand held a Dharma conch, as if blowing it could summon the demon army of Hell.

The other four hands respectively held different Magical Artifacts, either blooming with light or vibrating and ringing, looking extremely ferocious amidst baring fangs and brandishing claws.

A powerful coercion instantly permeated the entire secret chamber, opposing Lu Shihua's Aura tit-for-tat.

Lu Tao, Zaxi, and Duoji, standing behind the two respectively, also activated their abilities at the same time, throwing themselves into this battle of life and death.

(End of Chapter)