24: Teleportation array activated, blood sacrifice!

"Dong..."

When the blazing sun was high in the sky, nine bell tolls echoed throughout the Xuanming Sect.

"All Xuanming Sect Disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage and below must arrive at the Main Peak's Great Hall within half an hour."

"Those who do not arrive will be treated as traitors to the Sect!"

A Divine Soul transmission covered a hundred-mile radius of the Sect, appearing in everyone's minds.

Today was the grand day for the opening of the Cuiye Secret Realm.

Everyone knew that the Sect was gathering its members to prepare for entry into the Cuiye Secret Realm.

"Disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage and below... Does that mean those at the Qi Refining Stage can go too?"

"What would those at the Qi Refining Stage go for? To seek death?"

"Quiet. The Sect Elders must have their reasons for making such an arrangement."

"Great! I originally thought I wouldn't make it to the Secret Realm this time, but who would have thought things would take such a turn."

"You're only at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining; what can you even do if you go?"

"You can't say that. The Cuiye Secret Realm is a land of treasures. Maybe my Luck will skyrocket, and I'll promote directly to Foundation Establishment after going in!"

"Maybe there's even hope for Core Formation!"

"Haha, anyway, if I don't go this time, I'll be crushed by others later. Now that the Sect is showing mercy, it's better than wasting my life away!"

"Let's go, let's go. We only have half an hour. With our speed, we must make haste."

"Let's go together, let's go together!"

Voices of excitement, hesitation, doubt, and longing rang out from all over.

Figures shifted through the mountains, quickly rushing toward the Main Peak where the Sect Head was.

At the same time, various bizarre-looking flying Magical Artifacts rose into the air, carrying Foundation Establishment Stage Disciples as they soared through the sky.

Halfway up the Sect Head's Main Peak, there was a square spanning hundreds of feet.

A majestic, pitch-black hall was located on the north side of the square.

Over a dozen Nascent Soul Elders with majestic Auras sat cross-legged in mid-air.

Below them stood dozens of the Sect's Core Formation Elders and deacons.

Half an hour passed, and at least ten thousand Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Stage Disciples had gathered on the square.

Despite so many people gathered together, there was total silence; no one dared to whisper.

"Dong!"

A resonant bell toll sounded, announcing that the gathering time had ended.

A Core Formation Elder dressed in a green robe stepped forward, looked around, and said loudly, "The time has come. Those who have not arrived will be dealt with by the Disciplinary Team according to Sect regulations!"

"We obey the Elder's command!"

Three rows of ten Foundation Establishment Disciples responded in unison.

They then shot down the mountain like bolts of lightning. As their figures flickered, the pale skull patterns on their gray robes fully revealed their cold nature.

The Disciplinary Team was composed almost entirely of the most outstanding Foundation Establishment Disciples and Core Formation Elders.

Their combat power was notoriously formidable within the Sect.

The one who spoke was the current Disciplinary Elder, Ji Chou, who was at the Peak Core Formation Stage.

The Disciples were as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to make a sound for fear of annoying the Disciplinary Elder before them.

"We respectfully invite the Sect Head!"

Ji Chou and the other Core Formation Elders turned together and bowed toward the hall.

"We respectfully invite the Sect Head!"

The Xuanming Sect Disciples on the square followed suit, bowing respectfully.

A young man wearing a black jade crown and a blood-patterned black robe, and a middle-aged man in a dark purple robe, suddenly appeared in mid-air.

They were exactly the Xuanming Sect's Sect Master, Huo Qinggu, and Vice Sect Master, Ren Fengyu.

Most of the Disciples present were seeing these two rulers for the first time.

Many secretly speculated that the two leaders were likely Soul Transformation Stage powerhouses.

Whether they were or not, probably only the Disciples of those Nascent Soul Elders would know.

"You may rise."

Huo Qinggu waved his sleeve, and a majestic yet gentle force lifted everyone up.

He looked around and then said indifferently, "The Cuiye Secret Realm is about to open. All Disciples should remember the Sect's teachings, display what you have learned, and do your best to bring back the treasures produced in the Secret Realm for the Sect."

"The Sect will certainly not fail to reward your efforts."

From below, some bold Disciple was the first to shout, "This Disciple will definitely go all out and will not hesitate even in the face of death!"

"This Disciple will definitely go all out and will not hesitate even in the face of death!"

The chaotic voices gradually converged.

Forming an extremely grand momentum that echoed throughout the entire Xuanming Sect.

Su Ling's lips twitched slightly, but he had to echo these insincere slogans.

This is a Demonic Sect, brother!

Why are they putting on a show of being united as one?

Ren Fengyu pressed down with one hand, and his majestic Aura immediately choked everyone's voices back into their throats.

"The time has come. Activate the Formation!"

An invisible force spread out in the center of the square.

Pushing the Disciples toward the edges of the square.

Dozens of Core Formation Elders simultaneously performed hand seals, orderly pouring their magic power into the Formation that emerged in the center.

Several Hall Masters opened their storage bracelets, and Mid-Grade Spirit Stones poured into specific grooves like a flood, as if they cost nothing.

Faint blue lines appeared on the square.

After a moment, a vortex emitting a terrifying pressure was formed.

As time passed, the vortex at the center of the Formation expanded rapidly, growing from the size of a palm to a circular tunnel covering the entire Formation.

The interior of the tunnel also flickered with starlight, looking extremely illusory.

However, this tunnel didn't seem very stable, constantly shifting between illusion and reality.

"Senior Brother, it seems we still need to consume more human materials."

Ren Fengyu shook his head slightly, a trace of coldness in his tone.

"Proceed. Stabilize the Formation as soon as possible."

Huo Qinggu nodded slightly and said expressionlessly.

"Yes."

Ren Fengyu bowed slightly and then waved his hand.

Hundreds of Disciples, either at the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment Stage, suddenly flew up from the foot of the Main Peak. Each was wrapped in black mist, flying toward the four corners of the Formation with looks of terror on their faces.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Under the horrified gazes of the Sect members, these latecomers and shirkers who had been dragged out by the Disciplinary Team all exploded into a mist of blood that filled the sky.

A thick scent of blood spread across the square.

In the next moment, these mists of blood were guided by the Core Formation Elders using their magic power into the altars that had emerged at the four corners.

With the infusion of this new power, the vortex tunnel of the Teleportation Formation gradually became more solid.

"Blood Sacrifice!"

Su Ling's heart tightened.

This method was clearly the legendary Blood Sacrifice.

Sacrificing the flesh, blood, and souls of humans and Yao Beasts to forcibly use certain Spells or Formations.

Seeing this, many Disciples, including Su Ling, snapped out of it, their feet involuntarily shifting backward.

Especially those Qi Refining Stage Disciples, who had originally thought this was a great Opportunity granted by the Sect's special favor.

They hadn't expected that hundreds of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Disciples would be used as sacrifices to open the Secret Realm just like that.

Would the next one to explode and die be them?

A feeling of anxiety and panic gradually spread across the square.

But Huo Qinggu and Ren Fengyu, standing proudly in the void, along with the many Nascent Soul Elders, didn't bother to pay attention; their gazes were firmly locked on the teleportation tunnel in the center of the square.

"It's still not enough. Increase the intensity of the Blood Sacrifice."

After a moment, Huo Qinggu's indifferent voice struck everyone's hearts like a clap of thunder.

Before anyone could react, Ren Fengyu reached out and grabbed again.

Thousands of Qi Refining Stage Disciples flew up involuntarily, and amidst a chorus of curses, pleas, and roars, they all exploded.

Among those exploding Qi Refining Disciples, Su Ling even saw several fellow Disciples who lived in the same courtyard as him, such as Pei Yan, Zhou Ming, and Liu Yun.

Each vibrant life was now entirely transformed into the power to open the Teleportation Formation.

Even though they knew they were in a Demonic Sect and their own hands were stained with many lives.

These Foundation Establishment Disciples, who had stayed for ten or even dozens of years, had never seen such a bloody scene.

Their faces turned pale, and their hearts raced.

Some with weak wills either took out their Magical Artifacts, preparing for a desperate struggle.

Or, they took out flying Magical Artifacts and fled in panic.

But those dozens who wanted to escape were, without exception, grabbed back by Ren Fengyu and turned into fuel for opening the Teleportation Formation.

Seeing this, the rest were immediately as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to move an inch.