Chapter 1740: Ling God Reappears

The weapon, resembling a jade plate or a jade turtle shell, made contact with the thin lines binding everyone. Immediately, a numbing sensation spread through their bodies, and their true qi, now uncontrollable, surged out along the lines.

“Isn’t it meant to kill?”

Just as Zhang Xuan was about to control the Soul Stealing Lock to counterattack and eliminate the Otherworldly Demons, he stopped, seeing the situation.

He had assumed that the opponent’s so-called sacrifice would involve killing all one hundred-plus human cultivators, and only then would he willingly be captured, biding his time to strike. To his surprise, it was merely a means of drawing out true qi.

Since there was no immediate danger, he ceased his actions, feigning control and allowing his true qi to surge into the Soul Stealing Lock along with the others’ power.

Soon, the true qi formed a circular flow.

The Soul Stealing Lock emitted a dazzling light and merged with the runes on the ground.

Boom!

The circle of light on the altar suddenly expanded severalfold, as if bolstered by the collective power, and surged towards the sky with an even more formidable aura.

Swish!

Under the impact of the light, the seal produced a sound like flowing water, but it remained unbroken.

The black-armored man’s eyes narrowed. With a flick of his wrist, a long saber materialized in his palm. He made a slight cut.

Blood spurted forth and fell onto the altar.

Instantly, the light intensified even further!

“I, Bo Hong, a descendant of the Spirit Race, offer this blood sacrifice, praying to the Spirit God to aid me in breaking this seal!”

A cryptic voice resonated, as if chanting a mystical spell. The light on the altar grew even more brilliant and dazzling, followed by a massive portal that slowly materialized before everyone’s eyes.

A potent aura emanated from the portal, making even Zhang Xuan feel as though he would be effortlessly crushed.

“He’s summoning the Spirit God?”

His pupils constricted.

King Tianye had used this method once before in his presence, though his cultivation was lower back then. He hadn't expected that even now, he might not be comparable to a mere wisp of consciousness from within the portal.

The portal slowly opened, revealing a back figure, just as it had last time.

It exuded a soul-crushing sensation, and even with his cultivation at 29.9 in mental fortitude, he felt somewhat unstable.

If merely a back figure possessed such power, it was estimated that if it were to turn around, everyone would collapse instantly, their will shattering, leading to immediate death, even without a sacrifice.

“So powerful…”

His face paled, and Zhang Xuan’s body stiffened.

He had encountered Ancient Sages, but this Spirit God before him was clearly more formidable than them, even more terrifying than the ruthless being.

It seemed that if it were to truly emerge from behind the portal, the entire Master Teacher Continent would be unable to withstand the pressure and would crumble to dust.

“But… that back figure is so familiar!”

Amidst his shock, the familiar sensation from last time surged through his mind once more.

Back in Qiuwu Palace, when King Tianye summoned the Spirit God, he had experienced this same illusion, as if he had encountered this being somewhere before. Now, the feeling resurfaced in his mind, persistent.

However, it was as if someone had deliberately concealed it, or his memory had been erased. The more he tried to recall, the more indistinct it became, until, after a while, he couldn't remember anything at all.

Knowing he couldn't figure it out, Zhang Xuan dismissed the thought and continued to gaze upwards.

With the Spirit God's appearance, everyone's true qi depleted even more rapidly. Within moments, their faces turned pale.

“I implore the Spirit God to help me break through these spatial constraints…” the black-armored man, Bo Hong, cried out again in a low voice. Blood continued to gush from him, and his body trembled incessantly.

Whoosh!

As the chant ended, a ray of light shot forth from the portal. The seal, which the altar had previously been unable to breach, slowly melted away like ice.

A visible passage, wide enough for a person to pass through, appeared.

The Spirit God had accepted his sacrifice and acted!

“Thank you, Spirit God!”

Bo Hong prostrated himself on the ground, his demeanor sincere.

The portal slowly dissipated, and the figure vanished. Bo Hong struggled to his feet and looked around. “This passage will only last for thirty breaths. Everyone, move quickly!”

“My lord, these humans have witnessed our sacrifice to the Spirit God. Should we not…”

An Otherworldly Demon made a beheading gesture.

“Emperor Chen Yong has given orders not to harm master teachers for now,” Bo Hong grumbled. “Their true qi is depleted; they won’t be able to cause any trouble. Don’t create unnecessary complications. Let’s go!”

With a snort, Bo Hong leaped forward, rushing towards the breached seal.

“Get down here…”

Seeing him about to leave, Zhang Xuan had no intention of letting him escape. No longer concealing his cultivation, he extended an arm, reaching for Bo Hong.

Whoosh!

Though a hundred meters separated them, Zhang Xuan’s grab made the distance seem to vanish. His five fingers closed around the opponent’s ankle, and the upward momentum immediately ceased.

“You… you concealed your cultivation?”

His pupils constricted. Bo Hong felt his body plummeting downwards. The power emanating from the opponent’s palm was, if anything, even stronger than his own. He swiftly spun the long saber in his hand and slashed downwards.

Whoosh!

Space shattered like paper. Seeing that the opponent's palm showed no intention of dodging, Bo Hong’s eyes lit up, and he increased his force.

Clink! Clink! Clink!

Sparks flew as the long saber struck the opponent’s hand, producing a cascade of sparks. Yet, it didn’t even leave a white mark.

“How is this possible?!”

His pupils constricted.

Though his long saber had not reached the Great Sage level, it was still a Half-Great Sage tier artifact. Forget the Golden Body realm; even an Immortal realm cultivator of the same level would lose their head with a single strike. Yet, at this moment, there was no mark whatsoever. What level of power had the opponent truly reached?

“Retrieve…”

Knowing he couldn't defeat this person with just his saber, he reached out for the Soul Stealing Lock.

As long as he held this Great Sage divine weapon, the opponent’s defense, no matter how strong, would be of no concern.

His palm hovered in the air, attempting mental communication. However, after waiting for a moment, there was no response. Bo Hong quickly looked down and saw his Soul Stealing Lock, now resting at the opponent’s fingertips, slowly moving as if sentient.

“You… you refined my artifact?!”

His mind reeled.

Emperor Chen Yong had specifically lent him this item for entry into the Temple of Confucius. Even Emperor Chen Yong could only command it, not truly refine it. How could a treasure he couldn't refine suddenly submit to this opponent?

“Heh!”

Ignoring him, the young man pointed a finger once more.

Whoosh!

The Soul Stealing Lock immediately coiled around him, binding him like a rice dumpling.

“Everyone, escape quickly…”

Seeing that the opponent was not only powerful but had also refined his artifact, Bo Hong knew they stood no chance of winning alone and immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.

Only after shouting did he realize that, at some point, five powerful Saint Beasts had appeared on the icy plaza. His dozens of clansmen had already been slaughtered by these Saint Beasts, with not a single one left alive.

“You… Argh!”

He didn't need to think to know it was undoubtedly the work of the young man before him. Bo Hong could no longer restrain himself and spurted a mouthful of fresh blood.

“Collect!”

Knowing that this fellow was still useful and could provide much information, Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist, storing him in his folded space. Having done so, he then extended his hand, grabbing the altar and the ice-attributed spirit stones atop it, also storing them in his spatial ring.

Only then did he turn to the others and say, “The vicinity of the Temple of Confucius is too dangerous. It would be safer for you all to remain here!”

With that, his body swayed, and he shot straight up into the passage above.