Chapter 544: You Are Formidable

"Bang!" Two forces collided, producing a deafening boom. Luo De's face wore an expression of shock; she never expected Li An to master the techniques of wielding the Innocence in such a short time.

"Hmph, you are formidable. However, this is only the beginning." Luo De snorted coldly, turned, and vanished into the darkness.

After this incident, Li An and Allen became even more determined to seize control of the Innocence. They studied day and night, constantly trying various methods. Finally, during an accidental experiment, they discovered the key secret of the Innocence.

"This is it! We finally found it!" Li An jumped up excitedly, his face beaming with joy, tears of excitement sparkling in his eyes.

Allen was equally agitated; he tightly grasped Li An's hand and said, "Great, we are one step closer to success!"

However, before they could rejoice for long, they learned that to fully master control of the Innocence, they must perform a special ritual. This ritual must be conducted in a mysterious cave filled with powerful demons; once the demons launch a frenzied attack, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Inside the Black Order, a huge division arose over whether to support Li An in performing this ritual. Some believed this was the only way to save Guo Yao and resolve the imbalance of the Innocence, while others feared it would trigger an even greater disaster.

"Li An, this ritual is too dangerous; we cannot take such a risk lightly." Li Na spoke with worry. Her eyes were filled with concern, her brows slightly furrowed, and her hands unconsciously clenched tight.

"But if we do not perform this ritual, Guo Yao will never recover, and the imbalance of the Innocence will bring an even greater crisis to this world." Li An fell into a dilemma, his face etched with turmoil. He paced back and forth in the room, constantly rubbing his hair with his hands.

Shen Shen Tianyou stood aside, watching Li An silently; a trace of complex emotion revealed itself in his eyes. Although he said nothing, his expression showed that he too was troubled by this decision.

In the dim room, the atmosphere was so oppressive it made one gasp for air. Li An sat by the bed, tightly holding Guo Yao's hand; her hand was cold and lifeless, her complexion pale as paper, fine beads of sweat covering her forehead, every breath so faint. Li An's brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes full of anxiety and struggle, his heart engaged in a fierce internal battle.

"Is there truly no other way?" Li An murmured softly, a hint of despair in his voice. He knew performing the ritual to control the Innocence was fraught with unknown risks; a single misstep could not only cost him his life but also cause him to lose Guo Yao forever. Yet looking at his weakened lover before him, how could he bear to give up?

"467 Li An..." Guo Yao softly called his name, her voice as faint as a dying candle in the wind. "Do not take risks; I do not want anything to happen to you..."

Li An gently stroked Guo Yao's cheek, trying to pass his warmth to her: "Do not speak foolishness; I will not let anything happen to you. I will definitely find a way to save you."

After a painful weighing of options, Li An's eyes gradually grew firm. He took a deep breath, stood up, and a resolute light sparkled in his eyes: "I have decided; I will perform the ritual."

The news spread quickly through the Black Order; some members showed expressions of worry and came one after another to offer persuasion..