Chapter 1739: Altar Operation

“It looks like I need to pick up the pace...”

Having journeyed through three worlds, he had already lost four or five *shichen*. If someone had truly entered the sub-temple, the treasures were likely long gone.

He had to speed up and stop wasting time searching for exits and entrances.

He looked up at the numerous Otherworldly Demons, seeing them arranging various treasures in a special way, already nearing completion. Knowing there was no time to lose, his finger touched the thin line constricting his meridians.

With a violent tremor, a book suddenly materialized within the library.

He quickly opened it, and knowledge flooded his mind.

“Soul-Stealing Lock: Capable of locking souls and true qi, a Great Sage treasure. Formed from the sinews of the Immemorial Realm Grand Completion Holy Beast, Primordial Abyss Dark Fish. Even individuals at the Grand Completion of the Immemorial Realm would find escape difficult once ensnared. Flaws:...”

After reviewing the content, Zhang Xuan immediately understood.

Just as he had suspected, the item trapping them was indeed a Great Sage treasure. Had he not been captured and instead directly attacked the black-armored figure, it was likely that with a single thought, before the opponent's demise, Hu Yaoyao and the others would have been annihilated, leaving no survivors!

“First, I must deal with this...”

Taking a deep breath, patterns appeared in his eyes. He quietly began to deduce, leveraging his knowledge of the flaws.

Whoosh!

With a mental command, his Witch Soul lightly brushed the thin line. The true qi within his body instantly broke the treasure's seal and flowed freely once more.

He didn't reveal his success, however. Instead, he looked at the elder nearby and transmitted his voice: “Senior, do you wish to escape and, while we’re at it, eliminate these Otherworldly Demons?”

The elder was taken aback.

The ability to transmit voice meant his cultivation wasn't sealed!

“Don’t speak. Just follow my instructions. I’m transmitting a stream of true qi to you. In a moment, at my command, release it at the thin line on your wrist!” Fearing the elder might speak and be overheard by the Otherworldly Demons, Zhang Xuan continued.

The elder understood and nodded discreetly.

“To break this rope that binds us, ten people must work together. In a moment, you will transmit the true qi in that direction!”

He gently touched the elder’s finger, and several streams of true qi flowed into him.

To break this Great Sage treasure, he needed to refine it for his own use. The method of refinement involved simultaneously touching ten of its flaws. Since everyone was still trapped and he couldn't act openly yet, he could only use their hands to channel his true qi.

“Understood!”

The elder acknowledged, then acted as a conduit, transmitting the true qi forward.

The person who received the true qi was initially startled, then heard Zhang Xuan's voice transmission.

Understanding this was their sole chance for survival, no one wasted time. The true qi swiftly circulated more than halfway around the group, reaching Hu Yaoyao.

“It’s you...”

Upon hearing the voice transmission and feeling the true qi flow through her body, a young face immediately flashed in Hu Yaoyao’s mind. Her delicate body trembled, and she couldn’t help but glance over.

“Xuanzhang... Zhang Xuan! It’s really him...”

Recalling the name he had given, she smiled faintly.

If it was him, then they should be safe.

Although she had gone to the Startled Swan Master Teacher Guild after leaving Hongyuan Academy, she still knew a great deal about his various accomplishments.

In just a few short months, he had achieved such widespread renown and status across the continent. With him personally taking action, how could anything possibly go wrong for them now?

“Alright, everyone, listen to my command. Act together, and make sure to release the true qi precisely at the spot I indicate, without the slightest error!”

Unaware that his identity had already been recognized, Zhang Xuan transmitted his message, then raised an eyebrow: “Begin!”

With that, his finger lightly tapped the thin line on his palm.

The others who had received the true qi also tapped in unison.

The thin line vibrated, its inherent sentience stirred, and a thought was transmitted.

Submit!

“Protect everyone. Should anyone attack, help them defend...”

After transmitting his orders, Zhang Xuan looked back at the Otherworldly Demons in front of him.

They continued their preparations for about ten minutes before stopping.

Though their faces showed fatigue, their eyes gleamed with excitement.

“Reporting, Lord, the altar has been prepared and can be activated at any time...” An Otherworldly Demon announced, cupping his fists.

“Very good, prepare to begin!”

He nodded. The black-armored figure flicked his wrist, and a cold, ice-like crystal stone settled into the center of the altar. A “buzz” sound resonated, and a radiant light gradually enveloped the entire structure. A magnificent power slowly began to spread, encompassing the surroundings.

“Could this be the treasure that guards the Ice and Snow World?”

Doubt flickered in Zhang Xuan’s eyes.

The Jungle World was guarded by the Five Great Kings, and the Desert World by the Wild Sandwood.

He hadn't yet located the exit in this Ice and Snow World. Yet, observing this cold crystal stone, which perfectly harmonized with its surroundings and could even summon the world's power, he concluded it must serve the same purpose as the Five Great Kings and the Wild Sandwood.

Since the previous worlds were guarded by either Holy Beasts or plants, it was only natural that this one could be guarded by a mineral.

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

As the altar activated, the crystal’s power surged. A beam of light shot skyward, tearing open the space above.

This world had an anti-flight restriction of about thirty meters. The light reached this barrier and stopped, struggling intensely but remaining utterly still.

“Burn!”

His expression turned solemn. The black-armored figure tapped his finger again, and the altar slowly rotated. The numerous treasures atop it began to melt like ice on a hot pan, emitting an even greater surge of power.

Amplified by these forces, the beam of light seemed to be breaking through a special barrier, emitting a thunderous roar as it slowly extended upward.

As the light impacted the space, hideous black cracks appeared. The entire Ice and Snow World trembled incessantly, as if on the verge of being torn open.

“Is it... breaking through the spatial restriction?”

Zhang Xuan was startled.

He had been trying to figure out how to break through space and locate the Confucius Temple, but he never imagined it would be accomplished in this manner.

It turned out that the previous anti-flight restriction was a more stable spatial law. Only by breaking it could one enter the so-called sub-temple.

Swish!

As more and more treasures on the platform were consumed, the light beam shooting upward climbed higher and higher, quickly surpassing fifty meters!

Sixty meters!

Seventy meters!

Eighty meters!

Ninety-nine meters!

At this height, it seemed to reach the very edge of the sky. A thin, shimmering seal appeared, flowing like water ripples and radiating dazzling light.

The light struck the water-patterned seal but could no longer break through it.

A massive temple, faintly discernible, seemed to be hidden just beyond.

“It really is the Confucius Temple...”

Zhang Xuan understood, and looked back at the altar.

At this point, all the treasures had been completely consumed, and the light’s power began to diminish.

“Get ready to release these people’s true qi for the sacrifice to the Spirit God...”

As if he had anticipated this outcome, the black-armored figure let out a cold shout.

Whoosh!

A tall Otherworldly Demon approached from behind the group. Immediately, a peculiar weapon floated above them.