150: counterattack

Deep within the Black Wind Ancient Ruins. The headquarters of the Evil God Cult, the Hall of Shadowy Phantoms.

In stark contrast to the battlefield outside, where artillery fire rained down and thunder raged, a suffocating silence permeated the hall.

More than a dozen figures exuding terrifying pressure sat around a massive long table like stone statues.

Their auras were obscure and powerful; even the weakest among them possessed the strength of a Tier 6.

Several of them had even reached a level beyond Tier 6!

They were the true core leadership of the Evil God Cult, wielding the supreme authority over this vast dark network.

Yet, at this moment, these titans who usually made entire regions tremble were, without exception, silent.

Every face hidden in the shadows was etched with shock, anger, and a hint of indescribable, bone-chilling fear.

In the center of the long table, a massive crystal ball formed from countless aggrieved souls was clearly projecting the scene of the battlefield outside.

They saw Chen Nian descending like divine punishment, instantly shattering the flood of Demonic Evils.

They saw him tear through space with his bare hands, forcibly opening the gates to their sanctuary in the most barbaric and unreasonable manner!

They even saw the endless sea of purple lightning he summoned with a casual wave of his hand, instantly vaporizing the Evil God Cult army they had painstakingly cultivated and placed high hopes upon, leaving not a trace behind!

"Bang!"

A hot-tempered executive slammed his fist onto the obsidian tabletop, and spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread across the hard stone.

He raised his head, his voice hoarse and distorted, filled with uncontrollable rage:

"Eternal Life Cult, that damn traitor! Scum! He actually betrayed us!!"

His roar echoed through the hall, but only invited an even more deathly silence.

Another executive let out a cold sneer, his voice sounding like a viper flicking its tongue:

"I said it long ago, that scum from the Eternal Life Cult has absolutely no loyalty to speak of!"

"Letting them join the cult and share in the Holy God's grace was a massive mistake in the first place!"

From the other end of the long table, a slightly aged voice spoke up, carrying an imperceptible tremor.

"What's the point of saying all this now?! That traitor is dead, and the Eternal Life Cult is finished!"

"And that monster Chen Nian, he's already slaughtered his way here!"

"The Spiritual Energy Bureau's 'Heavenly Net Barrier' has been raised, completely locking down this space!"

"All long-distance teleportation arrays have been interfered with, and the spatial pockets have been completely solidified and blocked!"

"We... we have been completely trapped here! We've become turtles in a jar!"

The words "turtles in a jar" struck every executive's heart like the coldest of funeral bells.

A chill of despair instantly swept through the entire hall.

They had operated here for many years, forging their headquarters into an impregnable fortress with countless escape routes and concealment methods.

Yet, under the highest-spec Barrier blockade prepared by the Spiritual Energy Bureau, and in the face of Chen Nian's completely unreasonable and absolute power, all of this seemed like a joke!

For a moment, all eyes involuntarily and simultaneously turned toward the figure at the head of the table.

Sensing everyone's gaze, the leader of the Evil God Cult raised his head and said slowly:

"Chen Nian and the Spiritual Energy Bureau intend to wipe us out completely!"

"Sitting and waiting for death will only lead to one outcome."

"Fighting to the death, perhaps... we might still carve out a glimmer of hope!"

"Hope?" an executive couldn't help but exclaim, "Leader, that's Chen Nian, the monster who tore through space with his bare hands. What do we have to fight him with?!"

"With our strength, I'm afraid we wouldn't even last a minute in front of him!"

His words voiced what everyone was thinking, and the feeling of despair spread once again.

"Who said... we had to fight him ourselves?"

The leader's voice suddenly became eerie and ethereal.

His gaze turned toward the deepest part of the temple. Toward that most towering, most hideous statue of the Evil God, from which thick, filthy blood flowed.

"Don't we still have our final trump card?"

"Haven't we been worshipping the supreme Holy God all this time?"

"Since they won't give us a way to live..."

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a sense of hysterical madness and determination!

"Then let us summon the Holy God and welcome the true form of the Holy God to descend into this world!"

"Let that so-called god of war of donghai, and those damn Spiritual Energy Bureau lackeys, be completely reduced to ashes before a true deity!"

Once these words were spoken, the entire room was in an uproar.

"Summon the true form of the Evil God?!"

"Is... is this really okay?"

"The ritual isn't fully prepared yet. A forced summoning could very likely lead to..."

The leader's words were like dropping a spark into a silent vat of oil, instantly detonating the entire room!

All the executives were horrified, cries of alarm and questioning voices rose one after another!

Summoning the true form of the Evil God was their cult's ultimate goal, but it was also an extremely dangerous forbidden ritual that required long preparation and countless sacrifices!

Conducting it in such a rush now—if it went out of control, they, the summoners, might be the first to be devoured!

The leader stood up abruptly, his powerful pressure instantly enveloping the room, suppressing all dissent.

"Do we even have any other choice?!"

"Are we to be slaughtered like chickens by Chen Nian like cowards, or gamble everything, summon the Holy God, and trade it for final victory?!"

"Since they want to fight, then let's fight! Let's see who destroys whom in the end!"

His words were filled with a madness and hatred of burning one's bridges!

Upon hearing this, the terror on the faces of the executives present was gradually replaced by a similarly mad determination.

That's right, they had nowhere left to retreat.

Death was certain either way, so they might as well gamble everything and summon the Evil God!

As long as the Evil God successfully descended, even if it were only a portion of its power, it would be enough to crush all enemies!

"Let's gamble!"

"That's right! Summon the Holy God!"

"Let those foolish fellows witness true Divine Might!"

Despair quickly transformed into a fanatical spirit of devotion; flames of madness burned in the eyes of all the executives.

"Very good!"

Seeing this, the leader immediately began issuing a series of commands, his tone rapid and unquestionable:

"Immediately activate the 'Sacrificial Array'! Put all our stock of 'Blood Source Crystals' and 'Soul Energy Essence' into the altar!"

"Order the 'Cult-Protecting Blood Guards' to deploy in full force! At all costs, block Chen Nian and the Spiritual Energy Bureau! We must buy enough time for the ritual!"

"All Elders, follow me into the main altar and preside over the summoning ritual with all your might!"

Encouraged by him, the morale of everyone present was greatly boosted.

"For the glory of the Holy God!!!"

Fanatical roars echoed through the hall.

All the executives acted instantly, as if they had been injected with adrenaline.

Under the leader's command, a crazy and desperate final counterattack began.