Chapter 204: Blood Sacrifice Trap, Turning the Tables

Zhou Chen remained silent for a moment. He hadn't expected Ji Wuming to be less foolish than he had imagined, so he nodded generously.

"Then there's even more reason to join forces."

Ji Wuming said solemnly, "If the Evil Spirit's plan succeeds, none of us will survive. Although we've had misunderstandings before, in the face of life and death, those aren't important."

Bai Yuting hesitated to speak, while Lei Ming and Han Li said nothing, implicitly following Zhou Chen's lead.

Zhou Chen thought briefly; Ji Wuming had a point.

Although he possessed the Array Emperor's Legacy, an extra person meant more strength—especially Ji Wuming's understanding of Formations, which might be of significant help.

"Fine, welcome to the group," Zhou Chen said with a nod.

And so, a temporary Alliance was formed.

After the Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit retreated, the group took a short break before continuing toward the third blood sacrifice Formation node.

According to the intelligence from the dying Sword Clan Disciple, the third node was located in an ancient ruin in the northern part of the Secret Realm.

Combined with the Dan Clan's unique sensitivity to Dead Fiend Qi, Zhou Chen and the others faced several Evil Spirits blocking their path but encountered no real danger along the way.

As they drew closer, the Dead Fiend Qi in the air grew thicker, and black mist could even be seen drifting through the sky.

"This is the place."

Bai Yuting pointed toward a cluster of ruined palaces in the distance.

This place had likely been the site of Great Emperor Taixu's Sect, but it was now dilapidated, with broken walls and debris everywhere.

Most eerily, the entire ruin was shrouded in the black mist of Dead Fiend Qi, giving off an extremely dangerous feeling.

"Wait."

At that moment, Zhou Chen noticed several Cultivators rushing in the same direction ahead of them.

Zhou Chen instinctively checked these people's opportunity panels, and with one look, his expression changed instantly.

[Name: Li Mazi]

[Cultivation: Saint Realm, Eighth Level]

[Fate: In fifteen minutes, will die during an ambush by Evil Spirits breaking out of the Seal Formation.]

[Name: Wang Ergou]

[Cultivation: Saint Realm, Ninth Level]

[Fate: In fifteen minutes, will die during an ambush by Evil Spirits breaking out of the Seal Formation.]

Zhou Chen quickly checked the others; without exception, everyone's fate showed they would die within fifteen minutes, with the cause of death being the breaking of the Seal Formation.

"Something's wrong, this might be a trap!"

Zhou Chen's heart tightened.

He carefully sensed the Formation fluctuations ahead and indeed discovered an anomaly.

This so-called blood sacrifice Formation node was actually a Seal Formation, and what it sealed was nothing else but dozens of Half-Emperor level Evil Spirits.

If not for the Array Emperor's Legacy and his exceptionally powerful Divine Sense, Zhou Chen would have found it difficult to see through.

"What a vicious scheme."

Zhou Chen was secretly alarmed.

The Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit had deliberately disguised this place as a blood sacrifice node to lure them into destroying it.

Once the Formation was destroyed, the Seal would be released, and dozens of Half-Emperor Evil Spirits would instantly rush out; they would surely die then.

"Stop!"

Zhou Chen suddenly barked, stopping the group as they prepared to move forward.

"What's wrong?"

Bei Nianyu looked at him in confusion.

But Zhou Chen did not immediately reveal the truth, instead acting as if nothing were wrong: "Everyone be careful, the evil energy here is too heavy."

Just then, a massive number of Evil Spirits suddenly surged out from the surroundings, densely packed and numbering over a thousand.

"Kill!"

The group immediately took action.

Ji Wuming was the first to charge out, his Taixu Sword Heart erupting as a terrifying Slaughter Sword Intent soared into the sky.

"Slash!"

With a swing of his sword, the sword light swept through like a bolt of silk, instantly slaying dozens of Evil Spirits. Those Evil Spirits didn't even have time to scream before they dissipated into black smoke.

"What powerful Sword Intent!"

Han Li exclaimed in admiration.

Benefiting from his previous comprehension of the Sword Clan's secret techniques, although Ji Wuming was only at the tenth level of the Saint Realm, his combat power far exceeded his Realm; even ordinary Half-Emperor experts might not be his match.

However, Zhou Chen noticed a detail—the black Qi transformed from the slain Evil Spirits did not completely dissipate, but instead quietly drifted toward an inconspicuous, dilapidated palace nearby.

"So that's how it is."

Zhou Chen understood in his heart; that was the true blood sacrifice node.

This Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit was incredibly calculating, using the Seal Formation as a trap on the surface while hiding the true blood sacrifice node in an inconspicuous spot nearby.

Even if they saw through the trap, it would be difficult to find where the true blood sacrifice Formation node was.

But Zhou Chen still feigned ignorance, continuing to fight the Evil Spirits.

A moment later, the Evil Spirits were cleared away.

"The node is in the main hall ahead."

Bai Yuting pointed at the largest palace; in her perception, the Dead Fiend Qi there was the most concentrated.

"I'll go break the Formation." Without giving Ji Wuming a chance to speak, Zhou Chen volunteered.

"Be careful."

Bei Nianyu warned worriedly, her eyes filled with reluctance as she looked at Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen nodded, smiled at Bei Nianyu, and entered the main hall.

The others stayed outside on guard to prevent any Evil Spirits from launching a sneak attack.

After entering the hall, Zhou Chen saw the core of the Formation—a massive blood-colored Magic Array covered in eerie runes.

Through the Formation, he could vaguely see something sealed inside.

"It really is a Seal Formation."

Zhou Chen sneered inwardly.

Just then, he felt a subtle Divine Sense peering from the shadows.

It was the Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit! It had been observing in secret, waiting to see them fall for the trap!

"Hehe, you old bastard, since you want to watch a show, I'll perform one for you."

Zhou Chen pretended not to know and began "breaking" the Formation.

The hand Seals he performed changed constantly as streaks of spiritual power hit the Formation nodes, making it look as though he were destroying the Formation.

The Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit in the shadows revealed a smug smile: "Foolish brat, almost there, just a bit more… If the Materials of the Seal Formation weren't specifically designed to counter my race, it wouldn't have been this troublesome…"

However, at the very moment the Formation was about to "collapse," Zhou Chen suddenly took out the Array Emperor's Heart!

"Seal it for me!"

He pressed the Array Emperor's Heart onto the core of the Seal Formation, and all of Zhou Chen's previous operations were transformed into a different function.

It wasn't destroying the Formation, but strengthening it!

Buzz—

The Array Emperor's Heart erupted with dazzling golden light, and countless Formation patterns surged from it, perfectly merging with the original Seal Formation.

Not only that, these patterns were continuously reinforcing the Seal, elevating it to a terrifying degree.

The Seal that could originally only trap Half-Emperors was now difficult for even a Quasi-Emperor to break!

"Impossible! How could you know the truth!"

The Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit could no longer sit still, and its angry roar echoed through the heavens and earth.

Its figure instantly appeared in the hall, its terrifying pressure descending like a mountain.

"Hahaha, old dog, you thought you were very clever?"

Zhou Chen sneered, "The play I performed for you, do you still like it?!"

"Damn you!"

The Quasi-Emperor Evil Spirit was utterly enraged.

The trap it had meticulously designed not only failed to take effect but was also used by Zhou Chen to permanently Seal dozens of Half-Emperor Evil Spirits.

These were all its fellow clansmen!

"You all shall die!"

The terrifying Quasi-Emperor pressure instantly erupted, causing the space within the hall to warp slightly under the force.

"Not good!"

The people outside felt this pressure and immediately rushed in.