Chapter 390: Shadow in the Flame, Sword in the Picture

The night was too long.

In the darkness swallowing heaven and earth, the entire Rift Realm echoed with hair-raising loud noises; rioting shadows raged, sweeping like a torrent.

Even more hair-raising were the eerie variants walking out of the Forbidden Realm.

Massive bodies the size of giants, searching for any living thing that dared to touch the taboo, roaring brutally, emitting thunder-like loud noises when trampling the earth.

And above the firmament, when the fleeting fierce light passed, it illuminated figures that seemed to have iron wings on their backs and golden armor on their bodies, kicking up storms, ravaging in all directions!

Earth Guard Heaven Might!

Even if it were merely phantoms remaining from the past, their ferocious and violent appearance was enough to make one tremble with unease...

Amidst the riot in the Temple of Sacrifice, the darkness nearly turned into substance, completely swallowing the entire Rift Realm.

The cruel Law of Heaven Origin, after distortion, was like a noose around the neck of all living things, bringing suffocation and fear at every moment.

Under this terrifying impact that was nearly divine might, all survivors could only tremble beside the campfire, suffering in fear.

Waiting for dawn...

Around that magnificent palace lamp, all the retreating survivors were wounded, their faces pale, and their numbers were not even half of those who had just entered the Rift Realm.

The vast majority of cannon fodder used for scouting and consumption had been completely annihilated in the riot of the Temple of Sacrifice, devoured by the hungry residual shadows, torn apart, and turned into a part of the residual shadows...

At this moment, in this remote and dilapidated hall, those residual shadows that had just finished transforming constantly lingered outside the faint light of the palace lamp.

Under the agitation of the remaining resentful poison, they wandered back and forth, ready to devour.

However, it seemed the residual shadows couldn't see the area illuminated by the light at all, completely unable to find their traces.

Clearly, they had no value other than being used for consumption while alive; after death, they became such troublesome things... the head manager of Lord Wuyou's subordinates couldn't help but feel annoyed.

If he had known, he should have solved these troublesome things before the riot in the Temple of Sacrifice!

He glanced resentfully at those lingering residual shadows, and after turning back, he squeezed out a flattering and enthusiastic expression, serving medicine.

On the base at the very bottom of the gilded palace lamp that unfolded layer by layer like a giant tree, leaned an incomplete figure, bones exposed, suffering and convulsing.

Lord Wuyou!

The majestic and solemn aura was gone, leaving only madness and resentment.

The flesh on his face was peeling off, as if suffering from fire, ferocious like a ghost.

At this moment, on one hand, he maintained the light of the palace lamp, and on the other, he had to distract himself to deal with the Law of Heaven Origin rioting in his body; threads of flames constantly rose and dissipated from his wounds.

Unprecedented weakness.

However, the situation soon changed.

After a brief preparation, the graceful maid held up a magnificent wine goblet, pouring the scarlet nectar that seemed infinite into Lord Wuyou's mouth; massive life force spread from his body, rapidly repairing his body.

And the blind attendants surrounding him dissected Lord Wuyou's body, skillfully removing the shattered bones and internal organs from within, incidentally removing the Law of Absolute Punishment descended by the Temple of Sacrifice together.

Then, one by one, metal internal organs that seemed to be crafted from gold and silver were taken out of the box, classified, and placed into his abdomen.

The moment they connected, the luster and texture of the metal faded rapidly, turning into the texture of flesh and blood, operating once more.

Thus, repaired completely, stitched meticulously, the long stitches like a centipede entered beneath the magnificent robe, hiding in the darkness.

In just a few short minutes, Lord Wuyou, who had been dying, was restored to his original appearance.

As if, regrouping!

And those people also returned to the box like paper figures and disappeared.

Amidst the congratulations of everyone, the manager cried with joy, prostrating on the ground, kowtowing like pounding garlic, sobbing bitterly: "This subordinate failed to foresee the situation and failed to manage the subordinates, causing the Lord's great plan to collapse; ten thousand deaths are not enough to redeem this; the iron of the Nine Provinces is not enough to cast this great mistake; I ask the Lord to punish—"

"What kind of talk is that? Who can foresee everything and have no accidents?"

Lord Wuyou glanced at him and waved his hand: "I am currently in need of people; you are my confidant, how can you belittle yourself like this? Don't mention these words again."

Immediately, the manager's eyes were filled with hot tears, his whole body trembling with excitement: "The Lord's kindness is as deep as the sea; this subordinate is willing to be smashed to pieces to repay it; in the next life, I will definitely—"

After a scene of a monarch and his subjects getting along, the atmosphere of the team became much more active, especially with the fine wine and delicacies constantly emerging from Lord Wuyou's box, finally stabilizing the pale and hesitant expressions of everyone.

As the riot outside the light gradually showed signs of slowing down, morale began to recover again.

And the Master of Wulou Temple, who had been sitting in meditation without drinking or eating from beginning to end, finally opened his eyes.

"Encountering such an accident, world affairs are hard to predict. I didn't expect that ten-plus years of planning would fall short." The Master asked: "What arrangements does Lord Wuyou have next? Please instruct."

For a moment, everyone in the team had subtle expressions, holding their breath.

"Master, what are you saying?"

Lord Wuyou smiled faintly: "Just a few setbacks, not worth mentioning; it's just a small episode that doesn't damage the overall situation; why test me again?"

The Master remained calm, like withered wood: "The Tower of Audience has been destroyed, and even the Bell of Audience has been completely shattered; does Lord Wuyou still have a way to open the Temple of Sacrifice?"

"..."

Lord Wuyou's expression turned gloomy for a moment, but he remained solemn, not wavering in the slightest: "Admittedly, without an audience, there is indeed no way to step before the Imperial Presence.

However, to enter the Temple of Sacrifice, there might not be only this one method."

For a moment, in the shocked gaze of everyone, he smiled slightly.

"Rest assured, everyone; for this day, my Wuyou lineage has been preparing for hundreds of years; it is absolutely impossible to have any omissions.

As for the method, everyone just needs to cooperate with me; I guarantee that the contract will definitely be fulfilled—after obtaining the Imperial Seal, everything else in the Temple of Sacrifice will belong to you all!"

"Good." The Master smiled, holding a flower.

Everyone seemed to be beaming with joy, full of expectation.

He didn't know how much time had passed; amidst Lord Wuyou's increasingly hurried review, the light of the palace lamp gradually dimmed; fortunately, before it completely extinguished, the darkness storm outside finally ushered in a pause.

Amidst the waves of aftermath, threads of dark shadows still shrouded the Temple of Sacrifice.

The fury was not over, but rather like a short interval before the next riot. The dark mist emitted from behind the wall of death still filled the Rift Realm, making it hard for everyone to breathe.

Suppression and exclusion; even the operation of the matrix and blessings slowed down.

Just like being in the deep sea, the more massive the object, the more astonishing the pressure it has to bear; the higher the rank, the more difficult it is to move.

If it were an 'alien' like a Heaven Human, let alone approaching, just entering the Rift Realm would instantly suffer blockade and suppression from the tower's shadow, with unpredictable consequences.

On the contrary, Lord Wuyou had accidentally fallen from the rank of Heaven Human before, belonging to the Great Tainted of the Unfinished Tower; at this moment, he felt quite comfortable, like a fish in water.

Amidst the praise of his subordinates, it also became evidence of destiny; under repeated flattery, it was as if ascending to the Imperial Throne and rebuilding the Empire would happen today.

However, Lord Wuyou's expression did not show any pride.

Instead, it was slightly gloomy.

When everyone came to the wall beneath the Forbidden Realm again, on those magnificent and solemn doors, the giant face was still ferocious and violent.

Looking coldly at any intruder who dared to approach, ready to descend absolute punishment at any time.

After wasting two more cannon fodder to measure the safe distance, everyone was vigilant outside the boundary, looking at Lord Wuyou in the center.

And Lord Wuyou, after a long silence, finally took out the treasure from the very bottom of his box.

"Things have come to this, there is no other choice; ancestors above, the time for breaking and establishing is today, please forgive Wuyou for offending."

In that amber the size of a fist, the pitch-black flame still maintained its rising posture, as if frozen forever at that moment.

But the moment it was taken out, as if sensing the aura of the Temple of Sacrifice, the frozen flame suddenly shook violently, as if furious, about to wake up.

That was...

"—The Burning Que Fire of the Mohists?" Xie He gasped in shock, unable to believe it.

It wasn't that he couldn't believe it still remained in the world, but he didn't expect that in Lord Wuyou's hands, there would actually be such a massive piece of evidence and fragment of the Empire's shame!

The collapse and fall of the Heaven Origin Tower was merely the end of the Empire.

But before this, the Mohists had calculated and created countless weapons and destruction, including tools to break the palace forbidden grounds and the wall of death before attacking the Heaven Origin Tower.

At this moment, that tiny flame in Lord Wuyou's hand...

That was the power created specifically to target the Heaven Origin lineage, exhausting the true essence of the Remnants and the White Deer, and consuming heaven knows how many materials!

It is said that before the collapse of the Heaven Origin Tower, the ten-thousand-mile palace of the Empire was already shrouded in infinite black flames.

And after the collapse of the Heaven Origin Tower, the flames continued to burn for a full ten days, until the palace of the Eternal Empire, which had scoured the world for thousands of years and gathered countless treasures and wealth, was burned into a ruin.

Only ashes remained.

The day the Heaven Origin Tower collapsed, the infinite flames stretching for ten thousand miles undoubtedly burned the most precious foundation of the Empire!

Who could have thought that when it reappeared hundreds of years later, it would be in the hands of restoration remnants?

"Besides this, there is no other way."

Lord Wuyou's expression was gloomy and solemn, slowly holding up the amber covered in cracks.

Since birth, Wuyou, Changle, and Anguo, who did not take pride in the massive and magnificent Eternal Empire of the past? Now reduced to using this kind of thing, the name of a traitor is secondary; the first thing to put down is the pride and dignity they regard as life.

If it were known to others, even if they held the Imperial Seal, there would inevitably be a stain on the name of legitimacy.

But at this very moment, today here, are they going to turn and leave because of some empty name? That would be truly brain-damaged!

Since that's the case, then there is only breaking and establishing!

It's just...

While everyone was shocked, they were inevitably confused.

How massive the scale of the Burning Que Fire was in the past is no longer known, but at this moment, just a tiny flame, facing the magnificent and massive Temple of Sacrifice, what kind of effect could it have?

Even if it is targeted in quality, when facing a lack of quantity, it still has to suffer annihilation.

But immediately after, the moment the amber shattered and the Burning Que Fire rose, another core covered in cracks emerged from the crack in Lord Wuyou's chest.

Flame Tide Seed!

The moment the black fire and the disaster seed collided, under Lord Wuyou's powerful suppression and control, they were forcibly fused into one, using the Flame Tide Seed as a foundation to forcibly catalyze the Burning Que Fire!

Can this fucking work?

Even if it is possible, can you actually do it?

Before everyone could react, amidst the constant suspicion in their brains, they heard Lord Wuyou's cold voice: "Please help me with all your strength..."

In an instant, screams erupted from the team.

First was the manager who had been flattering behind him, followed by one subordinate after another...

Sensing the terrifying black hole that suddenly appeared in their bodies, rapidly swallowing their life, soul, and everything.

They looked up in shock, wanting to beg for mercy, but saw Lord Wuyou's indifferent face.

Even, unable to resist...

The Way of Heaven Origin, taking and giving at will; for a superior to plunder everything from a subordinate is simply simpler than eating or drinking.

Only a few confidants with remaining strength were kept; not only those subordinates who were no longer useful, but even the baskets on the ground emitted bursts of wails, and the living things stored in them were all sacrificed.

Viscous blood color surged from the gaps in the baskets.

Finally, gathering and entwining on the Flame Tide Seed!

Living sacrifice!

Once again, the living sacrifice began!

And in the team, all the Tainted ones who had signed contracts with Lord Wuyou also felt their own spiritual quality constantly flowing out, and couldn't help but rebuke and want to resist.

But they were all ignored by Lord Wuyou.

"Those who achieve great things do not care about trifles; now that the treasure mountain is before us, I have even sacrificed so many subordinates; are you all still stingy with this little bit of essence and spiritual quality?"

All plundered power, spiritual quality, and even life and soul were all invested into the disaster seed.

The scarlet color instantly rose from the cracks in the Flame Tide, and the pitch-black Burning Que Fire temporarily merged into one... in the end, accompanied by the violent vibration of the entire Rift Realm, the black-red flame rose into the sky, turning into a flame tornado that reached the sky, swirling and spreading in all directions.

The tower's shadow shook violently under the burning of the fierce fire.

Heaven and earth shook.

Bolts of fierce fire fell into the ruins and buildings, spreading rapidly, and finally, under Lord Wuyou's control, turned into dozens of torrents, raging and gathering toward the Temple of Sacrifice at the very top!

The giant face roared.

Countless phantoms and traces of the past constantly manifested, darkness rioted, and one massive crack after another appeared on the high wall, spreading rapidly.

The Forbidden Realm was disintegrating!

And under the raging of the Burning Que Fire, the darkness within the Temple of Sacrifice rolled and rose, as if thinning rapidly... revealing the true core of the Rift Realm!

Everyone fell into suffocation.

Countless dancing flame lights reflected the firmament, reflecting that solemn shadow hanging upside down from the high sky!

Tower!

Half a broken shadow tower extended from the raging waves of light, hanging upside down in the sea, pointing to the location of the Temple of Sacrifice.

The fulcrum of the Heaven Origin Tower of the past finally revealed its true appearance—even though the broken tower had fallen beneath the Vortex, this place was still beneath the high tower!

The raging Burning Que Fire triggered the true power within the Temple of Sacrifice; under the coverage of the tower's shadow, it suddenly stalled, unable to expand.

Stalemated in one place.

But the heaven-shattering and earth-collapsing sound continued... incessant!

Until, the wall of death finally reached its limit.

Collapse—

Behind the massive gap of collapse, the towering palace within the Temple of Sacrifice was revealed, and even the countless phantom lights sealing and circling within the palace.

"Haha, hahahahaha, hahahahahahaha!!!"

Lord Wuyou was ecstatic, dancing with joy, unable to restrain himself, looking fanatically toward that palace shrouded in phantom light, as if he could feel the call of the Imperial Seal.

The authority of the tower was already close at hand!

It's just...

In that instant, amidst the burning of the fierce fire, the vibration of the Rift Realm, and the collapse of the city, other sounds seemed to have risen.

Vague, and distant.

In the thick smoke and firelight, so erratic.

Just like a low humming sound, echoing in the fire and ruins,

Behind, amidst those gradually collapsing buildings and dancing fierce flames, countless illusions and traces rose again.

As if a blurred figure walked by slowly, strolling leisurely, yet focused, behind him, one massive shadow after another emerged from the thick smoke.

As if burned-out souls leading monsters to patrol in their own hell.

Glancing back disdainfully, he disappeared into the fierce flames again.

The footsteps roared away.

What exactly... was that?

Clearly just one of countless illusions, yet it made Lord Wuyou's heart sink slightly, his heart contracting instantly, but no matter how he looked for it, he couldn't see it clearly.

And there was no time to care.

The top priority now was...

Snap!

The moment he turned back, his heart suddenly turned cold.

The blade pierced into his heart, then, the poison of Corroded Scale spread from the spiritual quality, instantly, filling his soul, reaching everything.

A stab planned for a long time!

"It's you..."

Lord Wuyou's body shook, his pupils instantly contracted, staring fixedly at that face covered in bandages.

Xie He! ===== CHAPTER 391 =====