Chapter 21: Blood Sacrifice

Chapter 21: Blood Sacrifice

The Bagua diagram has permeated ancient Chinese history, its origins tracing back to very early times. How it was created and what its true purpose was remain a fascinating mystery to this day.

It was once used to prove and calculate the orbital velocities of celestial bodies, and even the invention of computer binary code is said to be connected to it. One might say it is shrouded in an aura of profound mystery.

To this day, the profound and esoteric meaning contained within the ancient Tai Chi Bagua diagram remains undeciphered, though many bold conjectures and speculations have been put forth.

Some once suggested it represented an unknown "tendency of events" or "potential," allowing for deductions and calculations of various future possibilities. Naturally, such predictions required perfect deduction to accurately gauge the "potential" of the future; a single miscalculation would lead to complete failure and render the entire endeavor invalid.

Others suggested it depicted the essence of the universe in the most concise way, with each symbol representing a fundamental element.

Still others boldly hypothesized that the Tai Chi Bagua diagram was connected to space-time, with its eight trigram symbols representing celestial coordinates, and different permutations signifying different star regions.

According to this hypothesis, one could determine the coordinates of any star field within the universe, and the Tai Chi Bagua diagram would be equivalent to a "Star Gate" capable of connecting to wormholes.

Based on this speculation, the Tai Chi Bagua diagram is a stable structure. If sufficient energy could be provided and the coordinates of a specific star field established through complex and precise calculations, the Star Gate could be opened.

However, such "complexity" is unimaginable, involving peculiar "formations" or "arrays." These so-called "formations" are not yet recognized and remain in a stage of conjecture and hypothesis.

The "formations" themselves are related to space, remaining far from being mastered due to their extreme profundity and complexity.

It is therefore easy to imagine how elusive the construction of the Star Gate—the Tai Chi Bagua diagram—is. It is, arguably, an impossible feat for a considerably long time to come.

At this moment, Ye Fan and the others were fortunate enough to witness the construction process of the Tai Chi Bagua diagram once again. Anyone who had speculated about and researched the Star Gate for years would be driven to madness with excitement upon seeing this, as it was a monumental witnessing.

Unfortunately, Ye Fan and the others were not in such a frame of mind. Gripped by a strong sense of survival crisis, they only wished to escape this place as quickly as possible, as the shadow of death constantly loomed over them.

A thousand meters away, the ruins of the Great Thunderclap Temple, though temporarily quiet, exuded a pervasive, dreadful aura that was now sweeping towards them. Moreover, those two gigantic, lantern-like blood-red eyes were staring fixedly at their location, appearing particularly terrifying and spine-chilling in the darkness.

The Tai Chi Bagua diagram in the sky had already taken shape. It possessed a weighty, metallic texture, as if forged from refined gold.

Around it, space was distorted, and light was hazy. The eight trigram symbols corresponding to Qian, Kun, Xun, Dui, Gen, Zhen, Li, and Kan successively emitted light, shining like a set of mysterious and ancient codes.

The eight trigrams had flashed hundreds, even thousands of times, undergoing complex permutations. However, they never managed to light up simultaneously. Eventually, they slowly dimmed again, and the massive Tai Chi Bagua diagram trembled, showing signs of disintegration.

"How can this be..."

Many were terrified. If the ancient starry road could not be opened, it would mean certain death for them.

The light barrier enveloping the five-colored altar had dimmed to near invisibility, with only faint wisps of shimmering light flowing towards the Tai Chi Bagua diagram in the sky. Upon seeing this, everyone understood why.

"To construct the Tai Chi Bagua diagram, or rather, to open the Star Gate, requires a sufficient and stable supply of mysterious energy. But now, the energy is insufficient!"

"What do we do? Are we really going to die here...?"

With the Crocodile Ancestor looming in the distance and the smaller crocodiles close by, a vast net of death had already spread open around them.

Bang!

Over a dozen small crocodiles had already penetrated the light barrier and began attacking the group. Divine relics such as the censer, vajra, bronze bell, and wooden fish drum repeatedly flashed dazzling light, resisting the assault of the divine crocodiles. However, their power was astonishingly great, causing the people to involuntarily stumble backward from the impact.

"Crack, crack!"

Outside the five-colored altar, thousands upon thousands of divine crocodiles, their scales covering the ground, continuously assaulted the light barrier. More cracking sounds emanated, and in just a few moments, over a hundred small crocodiles successfully broke through.

These creatures, seemingly small yet extremely ferocious, were terrifying. They could fly into the sky and burrow into the earth; each divine crocodile was like a sharp sword, possessing immense penetrating power.

"This won't do!" Pang Bo shouted. "If we keep defending passively like this, we'll die here sooner or later!" The bronze plaque of the Great Thunderclap Temple continuously vibrated, emitting myriad rays of brilliant light that formed a protective barrier. It shielded three or four people inside, temporarily ensuring their safety, but no one could predict what would happen in the long run.

"Don't move yet. I'll go out and test them first," Ye Fan instructed Pang Bo. He himself stopped defending passively and strode forward, holding the ancient lamp.

Immediately, dozens of divine crocodiles darted towards him, their dozens of dark streaks like flashes of lightning—extremely swift and ruthless. They pierced the light barrier emanating from the ancient lamp like nails, forcefully trying to bore inward.

Whoosh!

Ye Fan waited until the dozens of divine crocodiles were close, then fiercely blew onto the wick of the ancient lamp. Immediately, a brilliant light soared skyward, and raging flames engulfed the area within a five to six-meter radius around him, completely submerging it in divine fire.

A foul burning smell instantly permeated the air, accompanied by incessant, shrill screams. When the flames slowly receded, Ye Fan stood spotless, enveloped in a radiant glow, like an exiled immortal stepping from the moon. Around him, however, lay a ground covered in scales; almost all dozens of divine crocodiles had been incinerated.

A few of the ferocious creatures that narrowly escaped were also nearly charred, their bodies covered in burns and no longer intact. They glared venomously at Ye Fan from a distance, emitting low growls that sent shivers down one's spine.

"Good, burn them all!" Pang Bo yelled from behind, about to rush forward to join the attack. However, he was held back tightly by three people beside him whose faces were devoid of color. They possessed no divine relics, and without the protection of the Great Thunderclap Temple's bronze plaque, they would surely die.

"Crack, crack!"

Cracking sounds came again. This time, five to six hundred divine crocodiles broke through the light barrier and charged in. Each was menacing, their small bodies seemingly imbued with demonic power, their sharp teeth gleaming coldly, and their eyes eerily sinister. They all rushed forward fearlessly, circling Ye Fan relentlessly.

"No, Ye Fan alone can't handle so many 'black nails.' I need to help him," Pang Bo said, trying to move forward again.

"But... what about us?" the three people beside him asked, their faces pale, looking at Pang Bo almost pleadingly.

"Of course, I won't let you go to your deaths," Pang Bo said, turning to Wang Ziwen, Liu Yunzhi, and others behind him. "You protect these three. I need to go help Ye Fan. And it would be best if a few more people joined us. Passive defense is not a solution in the end."

"Alright, I'll go with you," Zhou Yi stepped forward.

Pang Bo had never particularly cared for Zhou Yi, believing him to be deep and scheming. However, he had to admit that this refined man showed considerable courage at a critical moment.

At this moment, Wang Ziwen, who appeared gentle and scholarly, also walked forward. He said to those behind him, "One or two more people can follow us. The remaining divine relics are enough to protect everyone, but the girls should not come forward."

Facing such ferocious and hideous creatures, the naturally delicate disposition of girls meant they might become weak-kneed and soft-handed if they approached. Even with Buddhist artifacts, they might not be able to help.

Clang!

As soon as Pang Bo stepped up, he swung the bronze plaque of the Great Thunderclap Temple, smashing it heavily onto the five-colored altar. Instantly, a wave of violent energy surged forward—a terrifying tidal wave formed of brilliant light. It swept out seven or eight meters, immediately engulfing a swarm of divine crocodiles.

The cries of dying struggle made one's scalp tingle, like a horde of evil spirits being refined. Wisps of white smoke floated up, and the ground was covered with charred corpses and a smell of burning.

This was a large-scale attack, unlike the first time when he faced a single divine crocodile and couldn't match its speed. Now, with so many ferocious creatures swarming together, simply swinging the bronze plaque could overwhelm dozens or even hundreds of them.

Dong...

A long, resonant bell chime echoed, like the tolling of a bell from an ancient temple deep in the mountains, giving a sense of profound tranquility. The broken bronze bell in Wang Ziwen's hand emitted thousands of golden rays, and visible ripples vibrated outward. They appeared soft, like water waves, but upon touching the charging divine crocodiles, they transformed into slaughtering blades. Each golden ripple could cleave a divine crocodile in two.

Sounds of "thwack, thwack, thwack" continuously echoed. In an instant, dozens of divine crocodiles were severed, spilling blood all over the ground. This bloody scene was utterly horrifying.

However, countless divine crocodiles were fearless of death. Nearly a thousand small crocodiles had now charged in, packed tightly together, their dark streaks crisscrossing and colliding, forming a net of death scythes.

Bang!

Zhou Yi continuously struck with his purple-gold alms bowl, sweeping out a vast expanse of Buddhist light. It crushed countless scales, leaving a horrific pile of corpses on the ground; many small crocodiles had been turned into bloody mush.

This was an extremely brutal sight. To survive, everyone had thrown caution to the wind. Blood quickly stained the altar red, a pungent coppery smell permeated the air, and faint blood mist drifted up, resembling an Asura battlefield.

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

Just then, two screams suddenly erupted from behind in quick succession. Two classmates fell into pools of blood, their heads riddled with numerous blood holes, and their bodies covered in ugly small crocodiles with menacing dark scales.

A wave of sorrow washed over the group. Their lives were not their own to control; despite their desperate struggle, two more classmates had died tragically.

These two had jointly held a divine relic. However, just now, three to four hundred divine crocodiles had swarmed in, colliding madly. The impact was so immense that it directly sent the two flying, causing them to lose their grip on the Buddhist artifact, which fell aside. The two were instantly overwhelmed by the small crocodiles and died tragically on the spot.

"Don't let go, even if you die!" Lin Jia shouted, reminding everyone.

Many had already been knocked tumbling around. And because they shared Buddhist artifacts with others, their movements were restricted, putting them in extreme danger.

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

Two more screams came, and a male and female classmate fell into pools of blood. They were covered in blood, a horrific sight, their eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace.

Those at the rear quickly gathered together, simultaneously defending and attacking. They wielded divine relics together to hack at the divine crocodiles, and the situation finally stabilized temporarily.

"Kill!" Liu Yunzhi's face was somewhat pale. He had a gloomy disposition and was not particularly brave, but at this moment, he also rushed out, clutching the Vajra Pestle.

In Buddhist legends, this was an extremely powerful protective holy relic, capable of destroying enemies as easily as crushing straw. It was indestructible, symbolizing invincibility, and was the staff wielded by revered saints possessing true Buddha-nature.

Electric light danced, and brilliant rays sparkled. Blinding divine light radiated around Liu Yunzhi as the Vajra Pestle swept across, as if annihilating a thousand armies. Instantly, it left a ground covered in blood and countless shattered scales; a large number of divine crocodiles were crushed.

The power of the Vajra Pestle was evident!

Just then, the foreigner, Cade, also rushed over, babbling and yelling incessantly. He was constantly haphazardly beating a broken wooden fish drum.

"God is merciful..." he shouted, yet his actions were anything but hesitant. The dilapidated wooden fish drum looked like it could fall apart at any moment, but it possessed mysterious power.

Engraved on it were three Bodhisattvas, all of whom now manifested as luminous figures. They appeared, swirling around Cade, sweeping away the surrounding divine crocodiles.

"Lord, are these the angels you sent? Quickly kill these devils from hell!" the foreigner shouted loudly. At this extremely tense moment, his Chinese suddenly became fluent.

"You blond devil, you're holding a Buddha's item! Don't talk nonsense, okay?" At this moment of life and death, Pang Bo was actually amused by him.

After a series of unintelligible shouts, Cade said, "God said that all beings are equal, my Lord is merciful, Bodhisattvas are angels..."

"Bullshit, your God! All beings are equal, my Buddha is merciful—that's what the Buddha said, isn't it?!"

The conversation between the two actually introduced a peculiar atmosphere to the death-laden altar.

The blood on the altar transformed into specks of crimson light, piercing through the light barrier and drifting skyward. They converged towards the already unstable Tai Chi Bagua diagram, causing the disintegrating Star Gate to flicker with brilliance once more.

Evidently, everyone noticed this phenomenon and instantly showed signs of excitement.

"Kill! The more we kill, the better! These divine crocodiles are descendants of world-shattering great demons. Essentially, divine blood flows in their bodies, consolidating divine power, which can be converted by the altar into the mysterious energy needed by the Tai Chi Bagua diagram."

"Exactly. This five-colored stone altar was originally a sacrificial platform. In the distant past, the possibility of blood sacrifice must have been considered."

The Tai Chi Bagua diagram in the sky became increasingly clear and dazzling, like forged metal. Its brilliance continuously flashed, and the eight trigram symbols flickered on and off. After countless transformations in complex sequences, they were on the verge of all lighting up simultaneously, opening the ancient starry road.

Boom!

But precisely at this moment, a dreadful aura surged skyward from the Great Thunderclap Temple. The ground completely fractured, and a colossal entity soared into the heavens, shaking the firmament!

Almost instantaneously, everyone felt their souls about to leave their bodies, and they all nearly collapsed onto the altar.

Two gigantic, lantern-like blood-red eyes rapidly approached from the distance in the darkness!

"That's the Crocodile Ancestor, suppressed under the Great Thunderclap Temple by the Buddha in myths and legends! Now that it has broken free, who in this world can contain it?!"

Everyone felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, consumed by utter despair. Even if a Bodhisattva truly manifested, it might not be able to subdue such a world-shattering monstrous entity, unless the Buddha himself appeared.

Were they truly doomed to lose their lives to this legendary demon at the very last moment?

Clang!

Just then, the giant bronze coffin on the five-colored altar suddenly emitted a resonant hum. The two red lantern-like blood-red eyes in the distance immediately froze, seeming uncertain, and advanced no further.