allonlinenovel Chapter 597
Chapter 597
Archer and Old Zhou had already rushed to the edge of the lava lake. The scorching heat ripped off Old Zhou's helmet, instantly blistering his neck, but he gritted his teeth and plunged his shield into the lake. The moment the lava poured into the shield, the metal groaned under the strain, and the molten lava flowed down the shield's surface, sizzling and creating deep craters in the ground. The two staggered forward, carrying this burning, dangerous object, leaving two charred drag marks behind them.
The moment the lava splattered onto the jade slip barrier, the entire space seemed to be plunged into a boiling cauldron of oil. The indigo light curtain collided violently with the crimson magma, unleashing a deafening roar. The runes on the barrier writhed wildly like living earthworms, gradually becoming transparent under the scorching heat. Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Yan rushed forward, grabbing a still-hot jade slip with his bare hands. His skin was immediately scorched, but he refused to let go.
"How dare you break the seal!" The woman's voice seemed to come from the depths of hell, the vibrations of her rotting vocal cords filling the air with a sweet, pungent stench. The black mist surrounding her condensed into a gigantic ghost face, its gaping maw snapping three spirit-binding ropes in two. A-Ning was sent flying by the backlash of spiritual energy, her back slamming heavily against the dragon pillar, the blood she coughed up congealing into eerie runes in the air.
A black shockwave swept across with devastating force, turning bronze fragments to dust in its wake. Lin Yan clutched the jade slips he had collected tightly to his chest, calculating the shockwave's trajectory as he ran. He suddenly noticed a circular groove engraved on the surface of the jade platform, perfectly matching the shape of the jade slips. "Quick! Embed the jade slips into the platform!" He grabbed Xiao Tao by the collar and flung her towards safety, while he himself rolled behind the platform at the last moment.
With a deafening roar, the jade platform trembled violently. Seven jade slips flew automatically into the recesses, and in an instant, the entire altar was enveloped in dazzling light. The crystal coffin began to resonate with a buzzing sound, the woman's body inside convulsed violently, and the jade slip between her brows emitted a blinding blue light. The black mist emitted a dying shriek in the intense light, gradually shrinking into a ball, while at the bottom of the jade platform, a bronze door engraved with star patterns slowly rose...
Xiao Tao was violently thrown out by the powerful impact, her body tracing an arc in the air uncontrollably. Upon landing, she staggered and nearly fell, her hands instinctively waving as if trying to grab something to steady herself. Fortunately, she reacted quickly, and thanks to her daily training and unwavering will, she managed to regain her balance after taking several steps back.
Knowing that time was of the essence and there was no room for delay, she sprinted towards the jade platform without hesitation as soon as she steadied herself. The wind howled in her ears, as if urging her to speed up. Her hair was whipped about wildly by the wind, obscuring her vision, but she paid no heed, her eyes fixed on the jade platform ahead, her gaze filled with unwavering determination.
A black shockwave, carrying an aura of destruction, swept in like a surging tide, tearing the ground apart with jagged cracks wherever it went. The surrounding air seemed to be ignited by this terrifying power, emitting a hissing sound. Xiao Tao felt the chill approaching behind her, her heart leaping into her throat, but her pace didn't slow down at all; instead, it quickened.
Just as the black shockwave was about to hit them, Xiao Tao finally reached the jade platform. Without even catching her breath, she immediately raised the jade slip in her hand high and, with the fastest speed and the most precise angle, embedded the jade slip into the groove of the jade platform.
In an instant, the jade platform shone brightly, and a dazzling golden light burst forth from its center, like a radiant sun. Immediately afterward, a golden light curtain rapidly expanded outward from the jade platform, enveloping them in the blink of an eye. This light curtain, like flowing golden liquid, exuded a mysterious and powerful aura, and as soon as it rose, it collided head-on with the oncoming black shockwave.
The black shockwave was incredibly powerful, like a ferocious beast, relentlessly crashing against the golden light barrier. Under this immense impact, the light barrier trembled slightly, its surface rippling as if it might shatter at any moment. Yet, like a resilient guardian, it stubbornly resisted the black shockwave's onslaught, preventing it from breaching even an inch. With each impact, the light barrier flashed with even brighter light, runes flowing across it, seemingly demonstrating its indomitable spirit and power.
Seeing this, the woman in the distance was filled with anger and resentment. She let out a sharp roar, a sound that seemed to pierce the soul and send chills down one's spine. With her roar, the black mist around her surged violently once more, like a raging black sea, constantly surging and condensing, as if gathering even greater power.
At this moment, Archer and Old Zhou, exhausted, also arrived with difficulty. Their steps were unsteady, their bodies covered in battle wounds, their clothes torn and bloodied, but their eyes shone with determination. They knew the importance of the Jade Platform and understood the responsibility they bore, and without hesitation, they joined the ranks of those protecting it.
The crowd formed a circle, their eyes fixed intently on the woman opposite them, not daring to relax for a moment. Their breathing was heavy and rapid, and sweat streamed down their foreheads, but their gazes remained firmly fixed on the woman, constantly alert to her every move.
Lin Yan took a deep breath, his chest heaving. His face was slightly pale, but his eyes were resolute. He knew that the battle ahead would be even more difficult and brutal, but to prevent this danger from descending, to protect everything they cherished, they had no way out and had to hold on to the end.
As the woman launched another attack, the pressure in the air suddenly increased, as if an invisible mountain was pressing down. Everyone gripped their weapons tightly, their bodies tense, preparing for an even fiercer confrontation. A battle for survival was about to erupt.
A chilling wind howled, swirling sand and gravel above the battlefield. A woman stood barefoot on the scorched earth, her pale face contorted with madness, the eerie lines on her neck undulating with each breath. Suddenly, her crimson pupils contracted sharply, her ten fingertips flashing through the air, leaving afterimages. Ancient, malevolent incantations erupted from her lips, like the spitting tongue of a venomous snake, each syllable carrying a chilling power.
As the incantation rang out, specks of dark runes shot from her fingertips, like black meteors streaking across the void. These runes gleamed with a chilling, eerie light, tracing bizarre paths in the air before merging into the churning black mist. Empowered by the runes, the black mist expanded wildly as if infused with life, emitting a sickening sizzling sound, as if countless vengeful spirits were wailing within it. In the blink of an eye, the black mist coalesced into a massive, sky-covering black tentacle, its surface covered in jagged barbs, the tips gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen. Each barb dripped black venom, instantly corroding the ground into bottomless pits wherever it fell.
The black tentacles, accompanied by a whistling sound, lashed out at the golden light barrier, distorting space in their wake. Sensing the danger, the ancient runes on the barrier blazed brightly, their light shifting and dancing across the surface like living beings, emitting a blinding golden glow. The two forces collided with a deafening roar, the shockwaves spreading wildly outwards from the point of impact, kicking up clouds of dust. The golden light barrier trembled violently under the blow of the black tentacles, its surface rippling as if it might shatter at any moment. Although it had barely withstood the attack, the runes on the barrier had noticeably dimmed, their light no longer as dazzling as before.
Lin Yan stood inside the light barrier, his face as solemn as iron. The veins on his hand, gripping the sword hilt tightly, bulged. Watching the changes in the light barrier, his heart tightened, as if an invisible hand had gripped his heart. "Everyone, concentrate your spiritual power and reinforce the light barrier!" he shouted hoarsely, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
Upon hearing this, no one dared to hesitate. Archer knelt on the ground, forcing his weary body to stand, his hands pressed against the earth as he chanted incantations. Streams of golden spiritual energy flowed from his palms, converging into the light screen along the ground. Old Zhou raised his scarred arm, chanting ancient spells, his fingertips dancing as points of spiritual light converged into a stream. Xiao Tao closed her eyes, her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat. She gritted her teeth, channeling the last of her spiritual energy without reservation. The collective spiritual energy flowed like a gentle stream into the light screen. With everyone's efforts, the light screen brightened once more, the dim runes regained their luster, and a faint golden halo appeared on its surface.
Seeing this, the woman's lips curled into a cold, sinister smile, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. Her hands moved even faster, the afterimages almost seamless. More black runes erupted from her fingertips, weaving into a massive black net in the air, enveloping the black mist. The black mist churned wildly, like a boiling black ocean, gradually coalescing into a gigantic black beast under the influence of the runes. This beast was as large as a mountain, radiating a suffocating oppressive aura. Its gaping maw revealed interlocking fangs, and its claws gleamed with a cold light; with each step, the ground trembled. It roared to the sky, its voice deafening; wherever the sound waves reached, trees snapped and rocks shattered. Then, it lunged at the light barrier with lightning speed, leaving a trail of black afterimages in its wake.
The moment the ferocious beast collided with the light barrier, a deafening roar erupted, as if the heavens and earth trembled. The intense light blinded everyone, and the immense impact knocked them to the ground. The light barrier trembled violently under the beast's attack, fine cracks appearing on its surface, as if it would shatter at any moment. Everyone's spiritual energy was rapidly depleting; their faces grew increasingly pale, large beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads, and their bodies began to tremble uncontrollably.
Just as everyone was about to collapse and the light barrier was on the verge of shattering, the crystal coffin in the center of the battlefield suddenly emitted a powerful blue light. The blue light shot straight into the sky like a pillar, with mysterious runes faintly flowing within it. Immediately afterward, a mysterious and powerful force surged from the coffin, like a clear spring flowing into the crumbling light barrier. Empowered by this force, the light barrier instantly became indestructible, its light intensifying, and the previously dim runes became even brighter, radiating a dazzling golden glow.
The woman's eyes widened in astonishment, her face filled with disbelief. She stared incredulously as the light screen returned to normal, her hands instinctively clenching into fists. Seizing this rare opportunity, the others exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with determination. Lin Yan roared, raising his sword and charging towards the woman, followed closely by the others. A fierce counterattack had officially begun…
Lin Yan lightly touched the ground with his toes and charged towards the woman like an arrow released from a bow. A sharp sword intent surrounded him, his longsword gleaming coldly, the golden runes flowing along its blade shimmering in the night, each line seemingly containing world-destroying power. The whistling wind swept past his ears, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, locked onto the woman's figure, determined to eradicate this source of evil completely.
Sensing the approaching killing intent, the woman's crimson pupils contracted sharply. She vanished in a flash, her movements as swift as a ghost. The next instant, she appeared beside Lin Yan, raising her hand to unleash a jet-black blade of energy. The blade sliced through the air with a piercing shriek, its suffocating pressure aimed directly at Lin Yan's vitals. Lin Yan reacted with lightning speed, relying on his years of combat experience to swiftly dodge to the side. The blade grazed the hem of his clothing, its sharp edge instantly tearing the fabric, a searing pain shooting across his skin, leaving a shallow bloodstain.
Just then, Archer, like a nimble cheetah, launched a surprise attack from the side. He gripped his spear tightly, the shaft dancing nimbly in his hand, the tip gleaming coldly, carrying a sharp gust of wind as he thrust it straight at the woman's chest. Seeing this, the woman coldly snorted, and the black mist surrounding her rapidly condensed as if alive, instantly transforming into an unbreakable shield that firmly blocked Archer's spear. The sound of clashing metal echoed across the battlefield; Archer felt his hands go numb, the recoil from the spear almost causing him to lose his grip.
Meanwhile, Old Zhou stood behind, his hands rapidly forming hand seals while he chanted incantations. Blazing flames surrounded him, gradually condensing into fireballs with his movements. "Go!" Old Zhou shouted, waving his hands forward, sending dozens of fireballs hurtling towards the woman like meteors. Wherever the fireballs passed, the air was scorched and distorted, crackling and popping. Xiao Tao wasn't to be outdone; her hands flew, pulling out talismans from her bosom. These talismans glowed with a strange light; with a light touch of her fingertips, they transformed into streaks of light, hurtling towards the woman with a whooshing sound.