241: Node shadow

After the baptism of the Nirvana Wind Blades, Li Ao's Nirvana Hegemon Body appeared deeper and more restrained; the power beneath his muscles was like a dormant volcano, unreleased yet all the more frightening.

Following the increasingly clear connection to the fragment of the nirvana ancient talisman, he traversed the increasingly viscous and dangerous chaotic currents of the Annihilation Rule, his speed noticeably faster than before.

The surrounding scenery began to change significantly.

The absolute nothingness gradually receded, replaced by pieces of twisted, shattered spatial fragments.

They resembled shattered mirrors, suspended in the gray Void Realm, reflecting bizarre, fragmented images.

Some fragments contained raging flames, others were frozen for ten thousand miles, and still others displayed the bizarre Reincarnation of vegetation growing wildly and instantly withering.

These were all "landscape residue" remaining after the Nirvana Illusionary Domain had swallowed other spaces or energy sources but failed to completely digest them.

The concentration of Nirvana Origin in the air climbed to a terrifying level, even beginning to condense into fine gray crystalline particles, scattering like snowflakes.

Every single particle contained Nirvana Power sufficient to instantly reduce a Dou Zong to ashes.

Li Ao walked through them, his Nirvana Hegemon Body operating autonomously, constantly consuming these gray crystalline particles, causing him to be enveloped in a faint gray halo.

Suddenly, he stopped.

Ahead, at the end of his vision, appeared a relatively "complete" area.

It was a massive platform suspended within the endless shattered space, appearing a dark, blood-like crimson, as if stained by countless years of dried blood.

Inscribed upon the platform were countless incredibly complex ancient runes, most of which had already dimmed, with many sections even fractured and blurred.

And right in the center of the platform, a massive light membrane, spanning the heaven and earth, stood like a waterfall hanging from the sky.

The light membrane should have originally been translucent gold, radiating an aura of stability and the Seal, but at this moment, it was covered in dense, spiderweb-like cracks.

Strands of chilling, dark, and filthy black Qi were continuously seeping out of the cracks like living things, eroding the membrane itself and polluting the surrounding Annihilation Rule.

That black Qi was filled with malicious, devouring, and destructive intent—the unique aura of the Hall of Souls!

This was the spatial node Seal of the "nirvana source core" that the Will of the Medicine Ancestor had mentioned needed reinforcement!

However, at this moment, an infuriating scene was unfolding on the dark red platform, right in front of the Seal light membrane.

Six figures shrouded in thick black mist were surrounding a bizarre Formation that was constantly rotating, condensed from jet-black bones and resentful Souls.

In the center of the Formation, a Soul banner dripping with black viscous liquid was suspended, countless painful Soul faces struggling and wailing upon it.

Extending from this Formation were dozens of thick black chains, composed of pure malice and Soul poison, tightly wrapped around several major cracks in the light membrane.

These chains were like bloodsucking leeches, not only continuously accelerating the expansion of the cracks but also greedily drawing out strands of extremely pure energy that seemed to contain the aura of creation from the other side of the light membrane—Nirvana Source Qi!

"Hurry up! This Nirvana Source Qi is greatly beneficial to our Hall of Souls' sacred cultivation technique! While that old ghost of the Medicine Clan can't spare any attention, drawing out even a little more is a massive achievement!" A hoarse, unpleasant voice came from the leading black figure; his aura had clearly reached the level of a Seven-Star Dou Zun!

The other five were also Dou Zun experts.

They were fully focused on activating the Formation and did not immediately notice the quietly approaching Li Ao.

Li Ao stood behind a massive spatial fragment, his cold gaze sweeping over the scene on the platform.

His gaze lingered for a moment on the constantly extracted, Chaos-gray "Nirvana Source Qi," and the fragment of the nirvana ancient talisman within him, which had been silent all this time, immediately transmitted an incomparably strong sense of craving and excitement!

It was as if that "Nirvana Source Qi" was the true sustenance it required!

At the same time, he clearly saw that on the other side of the light membrane, behind the sealed spatial node, was an indescribable, Chaos color, seemingly interwoven from countless endings and beginnings.

The Origin fluctuations emanating from there caused the Guixu Great Dao within him to spontaneously accelerate its operation.

The nirvana source core! Even sensing a trace of its aura through a damaged Seal allowed him a deeper understanding of his own "Returning to the Void."

"They are truly drinking poison to quench their thirst, courting disaster," Li Ao sneered internally.

These fellows from the Hall of Souls only knew that this Source Qi was precious, but they fundamentally misunderstood how terrifying its essence truly was.

If not for the barrier of the Seal light membrane, their method of forceful extraction would have long ago caused them to be assimilated into nothingness by the Annihilation Will of the Source Core Origin.

His gaze finally locked onto the leading Seven-Star Dou Zun.

He was the target.

Li Ao slowly inhaled.

The gray halo around his body, formed from consuming a large amount of Nirvana crystalline particles, instantly retracted into his body, and all his aura returned to silence.

Like a top-tier hunter, he began to use the surrounding shattered spatial fragments as cover, quietly approaching the dark red platform.

He chose not to burst forth and charge directly.

This was the Nirvana Illusionary Domain; the environment was complex, and the opponents relied on a Formation, so a rash attack was not the best strategy.

He needed to find the optimal distance and timing, striving for a one-hit kill, or at least crippling the leading Hall of Souls Elder Zun first to disrupt their Formation.

The distance closed bit by bit.

Eight hundred zhang... five hundred zhang... three hundred zhang... Just as Li Ao stepped onto a large spatial fragment only a hundred zhang away from the platform, the leading Hall of Souls Seven-Star Elder Zun seemed to sense something, abruptly turning his head.

A pair of eyes burning with green ghostly flames pierced through the black mist, shooting straight toward Li Ao's hiding spot!

"Who is there?! Sneaking around, get out here!" Before his voice faded, his withered, claw-like palm had already struck out.

A highly condensed black palm print, accompanied by mournful Soul wails, instantly tore through the Void Realm and slammed down toward Li Ao's position!

His presence was exposed!