Chapter 353 - 359: Racing Against Time
The shaking grew increasingly violent.
The light became more blinding.
The energy released from the altar grew increasingly terrifying.
The few people could clearly sense the rapid loss of Life Energy and Spiritual Power.
The initially inconspicuous crack above the altar was splitting at a speed visible to the naked eye.
A more intense and pungent sulfuric smell filled the air, as large masses of flowing liquid began to pour from the crack, landing in a pool-like space at the altar’s center.
It was like magma, hot and bright, yet also like jelly, smooth and not sticky.
As the liquid continued to flow into the altar, a vague body outline gradually rose from within it.
The surface of his body gradually cooled and solidified, cracked like charcoal, with roaring flames burning within every crevice. This continuously forming body seemed to be brimming with endless energy. It now appeared very indistinct, yet the basic shape was discernible.
A massive humanoid monster burning with magma.
His enormous body was three and a half meters tall, seemingly with demon horns on his head and broad lava wings on his back.
However, at this moment, it was still a vague shell, with more and more details being painstakingly completed as time passed by the second.
"Ah!"
The individuals screamed and convulsed.
Their bodies began to wither, as though their vitality was being extracted.
Hang Yu also felt the strain, as the effects of the Magic Potion quickly diminished, and his true form was about to be forced out.
Xu Tianhua saw that no command had been given and couldn’t help but whisper urgently, "Aren’t we taking action yet? I feel weaker and weaker, at this rate we’ll just die here!"
Hang Yu, too, was sweating profusely, but gritted his teeth and whispered, "Not the time yet, wait a little longer!"
The Flame Demon King should indeed be a High-level Flame Demon.
Flame Demons are creatures of the Half-Elemental Race, only such creatures possess the conditions to descend here. If it were a normal Spirit Realm creature, it would likely be rejected back by the space due to its overwhelming power during its passage, and forcing through would carry the risk of immediate death.
The Flame Demon King’s descent had not yet reached the most critical stage.
What was visible now was merely the process of his body’s traversal and reconstruction. For Hang Yu, the best timing to act should be during the soul’s passage to interrupt the ritual.
The Flame Demon King could be gravely injured, on the brink of death at the least.
At worst, his soul would be destroyed, resulting in eternal damnation.
Hang Yu knew he couldn’t match the Flame Demon King, so he couldn’t let this threat escape. It was necessary to eliminate the threat entirely; if the Flame Demon King escaped unscathed, stopping the ritual now would hold little meaning.
The Flame Demon King would return sooner or later.
If they were targeted by such a terrifying King Level entity.
Could Hang Yu ever live peacefully again?
He could only venture a bold gamble to kill the opponent thoroughly!
But he already felt his body growing weak rapidly. As he continued to have his Spiritual Power, Life Energy, and strength extracted, even the few of them together couldn’t endure it. Just as Hang Yu considered moving ahead of schedule.
Suddenly.
He clearly saw.
An alteration occurred in the robust body forming on the altar.
The Flame Demon King suddenly opened his eyes, blazing with fierce flames, while his yet-to-be fully-formed face began to show expressions, emanating an aura of majesty like that of a ruler.
"The time is now!"
"Let’s move!"
Hang Yu knew a part of the Flame Demon King’s soul had descended, but most of the soul and power were still within the spatial rift. Even though the ritual expedited the transition, the space transmission efficiency was still limited, so it couldn’t complete the full descent within a short time.
And at this moment.
Was the best time to disrupt the ritual!
Hang Yu did not hesitate any longer, the Two-Faced Man Magical Potion dissipated, and a blood-red Fighting Qi erupted from within him, shattering the black rings binding him, and simultaneously breaking the black rings restraining Xu Tianhua.
Once Xu Tianhua was freed, he drew his Giant Sword, two lightning-fast slashes shattered the black rings on Luo Yuanzheng and Bai Tiancheng.
Luo Yuanzheng drew out a Long Spear with his right hand.
While his left hand activated a scroll.
Level 10 green Scroll Skill "Chain Lightning"!
A dazzling electric light erupted, initially striking the four weakened individuals, with a powerful current forming a high-speed lightning that connected their bodies and those of five or six nearby Undead Monsters.
"Ahh!"
Screams echoed continuously.
The weakened individuals were charred by the electricity.
Nearby Undead also exploded under the lightning.
Bai Tiancheng took the opportunity to activate a Recovery Scroll, enveloping the four individuals instantly, allowing their Life Energy, Spiritual Power, and strength to recover swiftly. He then took out his shield and Holy Profession Hammer, quickly applying several BUFF skills to Hang Yu and the others, enhancing their attributes for a short time.
"What’s happening?"
The descent ritual unexpectedly encountered an issue at this critical moment.
Neither the four Spirit Realm individuals nor Wang Junwen in the near distance could believe their eyes, especially upon recognizing the four individuals’ original forms once their disguises were removed, they realized the gravity of the situation.
Damn it!
They’ve been infiltrated!
How was it done?
Wang Junwen recognized Xu Tianhua and Luo Yuanzheng.
He simply couldn’t fathom how he, despite being extremely cautious, failed to detect the infiltration and replacement of his subordinates by the Celestial Net.
Hang Yu immediately began to sabotage the sacrificial altar, and the sacrifice, having lost its altar, impacted the ritual. Without adequate sacrifices, even if the Flame Demon King successfully descended, his power would likely be severely diminished.
"What the hell have you incompetents done?"
A low, authoritative voice sounded.
The yet-to-be fully-formed Flame Demon King began to speak.
The four Spirit Realm Dark Elves became visibly uneasy; they had repeatedly examined Wang Junwen recently, believing him to be trustworthy, hence they allowed him to bring personnel inside. Who could have expected such a blunder!
Unforgivable!
He must be torn to shreds!
The Flame Demon King, though a distinguished figure in the Spirit Realm, had experienced numerous significant situations, and did not lose his composure due to this mishap. He instructed the Dark Elf and Giant Demon, "My soul is not yet stable, the ritual must not be interrupted, you two, go finish them off!"
The ritual was reaching its most critical phase!
Only two or three minutes remained until its completion!
Although the interruption of the sacrifice would weaken the Flame Demon King’s power, once the ritual was completed in its entirety, he still wouldn’t be comparable to these weaklings, and the ritual, already proceeding with inertia, could be barely maintained by the Enchanting Demon and Void Spirit. Given their power, leaving now wasn’t significant; they could eliminate the four without significant issues or, at least, buy some time.
"Yes!"
The Giant Demon and Dark Elf dared not delay.
They immediately detached from the altar and headed towards Hang Yu and the others battling the Undead.
Hang Yu hadn’t anticipated such decisiveness from the opponent, immediately withdrawing two individuals, quickly shattered a skeleton with his spear, and warned, "The ritual isn’t interrupted yet, we must destroy the altar."
Before Xu Tianhua could speak, a black energy-enveloped javelin was thrown by the Giant Demon in front of them, vanishing upon release, reappearing right in front of them with no discernible flight path, it was a Third Tier Skill - Shadow Throwing!
Bai Tiancheng hastily raised his shield to block in front of Xu Tianhua.
The shield’s surface emitted a white light.
The javelin pierced the white light barrier, and then pinned onto the shield.
A mighty force flipped the squad captain over.
Seven or eight Undead launched an attack on him.
The Giant Demon retrieved another javelin.
Xu Tianhua roared and charged, crashing into the opponent.
Luo Yuanzheng followed closely, shouting to Hang Yu, "We’ll hold them off, hurry and disrupt the ritual!"
Hang Yu nodded.
He entered a Dark Strike state.
Then, under the cover of skills, he headed towards the altar.
Hang Yu had barely taken a few steps when several sharp Sword Qi thrust forth, forcing him out of the Dark Strike state, causing him to stagger a few steps back, nearly losing his balance.
Dark Elf!
Hang Yu looked around.
He found the Dark Elf had vanished.
Damn, the Dark Elf also possessed Stealth abilities, and much stronger than his own!
Hang Yu realized that Eagle Eye might be ineffective, so he activated the Space Series Reconnaissance Skill "Spatial Sensing"!
Perception-type Vision appeared.
A black-and-white world expanded inch by inch around him.
Suddenly, a humanoid shadow rapidly intruded into his Perception-type Vision.
At this moment wielding dual swords, charging at him with extreme speed.
Hang Yu was acutely aware that time was running out, tightly gripping his Long Spear, whose blade vibrated and unleashed a powerful shockwave, erupting along the ground and enveloping the opponent’s body.
Earth Dragon Wave!
