Chapter 171: The Array Emperor’s Killing Intent, Sending Off the Two Women

On the surface, Zhou Chen listened attentively, noticing that he hadn't attracted the Array Emperor's attention.

His smile faded slightly as his expression turned solemn, and he quickly pulled the two women toward a secluded edge of the crowd.

"Xueer, Dandan, listen, there's no time for a detailed explanation."

Zhou Chen spoke extremely fast, his voice kept very low, and his expression was more serious than ever before. "This Legacy is a fake. The Array Emperor is merely an Imperial Corpse attempting to resurrect. Beneath our feet is an Imperial Rank Myriad Soul Rebirth Formation, disguised as a Legacy to lure people from the Secret Realm!"

"What?!"

The two women's faces paled, their beautiful eyes widening in disbelief at what they were hearing.

"Shh!"

Zhou Chen stopped their exclamations and said, "Listen to me. His goal is to use everyone as a blood sacrifice to aid his resurrection. Xiao Hong has already recovered and will take you out in a moment. I need you to leave immediately—the faster the better. Get away from this area, at least ten thousand miles away!"

"No!"

Lin Xueer instinctively grabbed Zhou Chen's arm, her eyes filled with worry. "Brother Zhou, it's too dangerous! Let's go together!"

Although Miao Dandan didn't speak, her eyes similarly expressed her reluctance to leave alone.

"I must stay."

Zhou Chen shook his head, his gaze firm. "He's already targeted me. If I leave with you, none of us will escape in the end. Besides…"

He paused, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes. "This Imperial Corpse has been plotting for a hundred thousand years; his wealth must be beyond imagination. He wants to sacrifice me? I'll break his teeth. If you leave now, I can fight without any worries."

He took out several jade talismans he had prepared long ago and pressed them into their hands. "These are modified Void Escape Talismans. They can instantly transport you thousands of miles away. Once you're out, it'll be enough to get you away from the Core Area. Leave now—that's an order!"

He said the last sentence while looking directly at Miao Dandan.

Miao Dandan's body trembled as the Slave Seal took effect; she could not resist.

She bit her lip, stepped forward, and gave Zhou Chen a gentle hug. "Master… please be careful!"

With that, Xiao Hong appeared and opened a gap in the Formation in a corner.

Miao Dandan took the first step out, then crushed the jade talisman. Her figure instantly blurred and vanished.

Tears welled in Lin Xueer's eyes. She knew she couldn't change Zhou Chen's mind, and staying would only make her a burden.

She suddenly lunged forward and hugged Zhou Chen, kissing him hard on the lips. "Promise me, you must come back alive! I'll wait for you!"

After speaking, she also left through the gap and resolutely crushed her jade talisman, her figure dissipating.

Having sent the two women away, a heavy weight was lifted from Zhou Chen's heart.

"Next… Hmm?" In the Void Realm, the "Array Emperor" suddenly turned and looked toward Zhou Chen's direction with suspicion.

Zhou Chen remained unfazed, putting on an expression of being awestruck by the Legacy and longing for the Opportunity, just like the other prodigies.

"Could it be my imagination?"

The Array Emperor's projection was very puzzled. After looking around and finding nothing unusual, he stopped dwelling on it and continued explaining the rules.

"Those of you who can reach this place are all one-in-a-million prodigies. My Dao does not emphasize cultivation level, but only fate and Comprehension Ability. If you can successfully comprehend the essence of the Array Dao that I have condensed with my life's blood, all the treasures within the Formation will also be left to the fated person."

As soon as these words were spoken, the breathing of all the prodigies grew heavy. Their eyes turned incredibly fervent as they looked upward greedily.

The Array Emperor's projection continued, "Everyone who has passed the three trials will receive a reward. The final trial is not for you to kill each other. You only need to sit here in quiet meditation and comprehension. Whoever can trigger the resonance of the Array Emperor's Heart will be my successor."

He raised a finger, and on the high platform, ten million starlights instantly gathered, slowly condensing into a translucent golden talisman seal with mysterious runes flowing inside!

The Array Emperor's Heart!

The supreme treasure rumored to contain all of the Array Emperor's lifelong insights into the Array Dao!

At the same time, specks of brilliant light descended from all around the space, condensing into Prayer Mats that emitted a peaceful aura to assist in enlightenment.

Then, a Void Ring floated before each person.

Bursts of exclamations came from the surroundings; the Void Ring actually contained various Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, and treasures.

"Incredible! Just the rewards for passing the three trials are this generous."

"If one obtains the Legacy, wouldn't they ascend on the spot?"

"The Array Emperor's Legacy is right before our eyes!"

"Hurry and start comprehending!"

The oblivious prodigies scrambled toward the Prayer Mats, sat down cross-legged, and released their Divine Sense to try and communicate with the Array Emperor's Heart.

Ji Wuming held his longsword and glanced coldly at Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen ignored him, looking down and fiddling with the Void Ring in his hand, acting like a money-grubber who had just struck gold.

Ji Wuming then gave a cold snort, surprised that such a character could pass the assessment. He chose a Prayer Mat at the very front and sat down, placing his longsword across his knees. His Sword Intent and Divine Sense surged toward the Array Emperor's Heart as he immersed himself in comprehension.

In the darkness, a pair of greedy eyes watched everyone through the great Formation.

The phantom watched all this, sneering in its heart, "A bunch of ants! Getting so happy over some scraps. What delicious blood-qi power… I can hardly wait… Jie jie jie."

The Imperial Corpse had endured many hardships. Although it had planned ahead, the energy within the Formation was mostly depleted, and the corpse itself had become extremely shriveled and weak.

To prevent itself from instinctively running out after becoming an Imperial Corpse, the Array Emperor had set up a Formation during his lifetime to lock down his physical body, rendering it completely immobile.

After all, an Imperial Corpse violates the harmony of heaven; it is an existence not permitted by the world.

Once it emerges, it will inevitably trigger Heavenly Punishment, leading to its total annihilation.

Otherwise, the Imperial Corpse wouldn't need the power of the great Formation to absorb flesh and blood; it could simply refine them at will.

Zhou Chen walked casually at the back, pretending to choose a Prayer Mat. Every time he passed a spot, his fingers under his sleeves would flick rapidly, sending wisps of imperceptible flames into the ground to hide, causing no disturbance.

Finally, he chose an inconspicuous Prayer Mat on the edge.

Zhou Chen closed his eyes, pretending to put effort into comprehension. He even deliberately guided the Spiritual Qi around him to flow in wisps, his aura condensing and dispersing irregularly. It looked extremely unstable and his progress seemed incredibly slow, even drawing contemptuous glances from some people.

"This kind of trash dares to come and make up the numbers?"

"I really don't know how he managed to scrape through the first three trials."

Zhou Chen ignored them completely, secretly noting them down. All his attention was focused on the great Formation beneath his feet.

With the guidance of the Samadhi True Fire he had placed in advance, Zhou Chen's Divine Sense easily located the thirty-six core Formation eyes.

Looking inward along the Formation eyes, Zhou Chen even saw a Formation within a Formation—the Corpse Nourishing Formation!

In the center of the Corpse Nourishing Formation was a shriveled, blackened Imperial Corpse, permeated with endless Death Qi and resentment.

Once the Imperial Corpse successfully resurrects, it's likely that no one present will be able to escape.

"So it's hidden here… Using the entire ruins as a Formation to draw Death Qi from the earth veins to nourish the Imperial Corpse, then using the Myriad Soul Rebirth Formation to plunder the Origins of prodigies to complete the resurrection… What a vicious method, what an exquisite arrangement. Unfortunately…"