39: Final madness! A blood sacrifice to the mountain god!

"Reporting, sir!" Lin Yuan stepped forward, his voice clear and resonant, "I have an urgent situation to report!"

Captain Qin Zhan's gaze swept over.

"Deep in the back mountain, that so-called 'mountain god' is the key!" Lin Yuan pointed into the depths of the valley, his expression turning serious, "I can feel that the huge black stone is the energy core of the entire array, and its aura... is just like an abyssal lair!"

Hearing the words "abyssal lair," Captain Qin Zhan's pupils contracted.

He took a deep look at Lin Yuan, then, without another word, quickly issued orders:

"Sharp Sword Team Three, secure all exits, count prisoners, and treat the wounded!"

"Sharp Sword Team Four, follow me!"

Without any hesitation, he selected a few of the most powerful agents and turned his gaze to Lin Yuan and Su Wanqing.

"You two, lead the way."

"Target, the energy source!"

"Yes!"

Lin Yuan and Su Wanqing exchanged glances, no longer hesitating.

The two took the lead, rushing with Captain Qin Zhan and the elite squad towards the back mountain.

Along the way, there was no more substantial resistance.

The ordinary disciples of the Black Stone Sect were no match for the ace elites of the Dragon Shield Bureau.

Soon.

The group charged into the valley.

When they arrived, the sight before them made everyone stop in their tracks.

In the center of the valley.

The black strange stone, three stories high, stood silently.

Shi Tai, and a dozen elders and disciples around him, stood before this strange stone.

Their faces held a mix of despair, fanaticism, and relief.

The entire valley was eerily silent.

Only the black strange stone emitted a heart-pounding energy fluctuation.

Captain Qin Zhan stepped forward, his voice cold.

"Shi Tai, the Black Stone Sect has been annihilated."

"Lay down your weapons and surrender; it is your only way out."

Hearing this.

Shi Tai suddenly laughed.

He laughed so hard he bent over, tears streaming down his face.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

"Surrender?"

He abruptly stopped laughing, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Captain Qin Zhan.

"From the moment we started believing in the 'Great Existence,' we had no way back!"

His gaze swept past Captain Qin Zhan, looking at Lin Yuan.

"It's you!"

Shi Tai pointed a finger at Lin Yuan, his voice hoarse and venomous!

"It's you, you damned brat!"

"You ruined everything for us! You destroyed our century-old foundation! You shattered our long-cherished wish to welcome the 'Great Existence'!

"You forced me to do this!"

"You forced me to do this!!!"

Before he finished speaking.

Shi Tai stomped his foot!

"Boom—!"

Centered around him, a rune-composed array on the ground suddenly lit up!

Blood-red light enveloped the entire altar!

"Oh no! He's going to activate the final sacrifice ritual!" Su Wanqing's expression changed.

The agents behind Captain Qin Zhan immediately raised their psionic weapons.

However.

The scene that followed stunned everyone.

The dozen core members of the Black Stone Sect, facing this life-devouring array, showed no resistance or fear on their faces.

Instead... they revealed an expression of relief.

They seemed to have anticipated this moment long ago.

One by one, they voluntarily sat down cross-legged, clasped their hands, and began to chant obscure scriptures.

"For the Great Existence..."

"We offer our flesh and souls..."

"Welcome... the arrival of the Abyssal..."

As they chanted.

Their bodies began to gradually turn transparent!

First their skin, then their flesh, and finally their bones... There were no screams, no pain.

In an instant, those dozen core members of the Black Stone Sect, who were at least D-rank, and some even C-rank, just "evaporated"!

They transformed into the purest life energy and twisted soul fragments.

"Whoosh—!"

All of it poured into the black strange stone in the center!

The entire scene was utterly bizarre! Utterly terrifying!

Lin Yuan only felt his scalp tingle.

These guys... are absolute lunatics!

"Buzz buzz buzz—!"

After absorbing this immense energy, the black strange stone, which had been dormant for an unknown number of years, began to tremble!

As if something was awakening within it!

"Crack..."

A crisp sound.

A tiny crack appeared on the strange stone's smooth surface.

Immediately after.

Crack! Crack crack crack!

Countless cracks rapidly spread across the entire strange stone!

An abyssal aura surged from the cracks!

Streaks of ominous red light projected outwards through the cracks!

The colossal strange stone now seemed no longer a stone.

But a demon heart... awakening from slumber!

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

The heartbeat wasn't heard through the ears, but exploded directly in the depths of everyone's minds!

"Pfft!"

Several C-rank elite agents behind Captain Qin Zhan turned pale, feeling their blood and qi surge, unable to help but spit out a mouthful of blood on the spot!

Even Captain Qin Zhan, a B-rank Expert, felt his temples throbbing and a tightness in his chest.

Everyone's attention was seized by the eerie heartbeat and the pain it brought.

No one noticed.

Beneath Shi Tai, who stood in the center of the altar, a teleportation array quietly lit up.

His figure became illusory, amidst the intertwining blood-red and black light.

He cast a venomous glance at Lin Yuan.

That look seemed to say:

I will be back!

Just you wait!

The next second.

His figure vanished from the spot.

"Oh no! It's a one-way teleportation rune, he's trying to escape!"

Su Wanqing was the first person, besides Lin Yuan, to break free from the mental shock!

She let out a cry of alarm, her internal cold energy erupting, and with a flicker of her figure, she was about to rush forward recklessly!

However, a large hand grabbed her shoulder, holding her firmly in place.

"It's too late!" Captain Qin Zhan roared.

He didn't look in the direction Shi Tai disappeared, but stared intently at the black strange stone, which was beating faster and faster, with ever-widening cracks.

Su Wanqing, having been stopped, also reacted. She turned her gaze to the strange stone, her voice trembling slightly: "Captain! The energy reaction of this stone is spiraling out of control! It has already surpassed the B-rank Lord-level standard! And... it's still climbing!"

"We must evacuate immediately! Request A-rank support!"