Chapter 450: Pretending to be the Guardian

Around the Five-Colored Altar, the thick mist churned violently, occasionally emitting the complaints of cultivators who bore abnormal life embryos.

Through those rising and falling wails, one can feel that these cultivators, tormented by the abnormal life embryos in their bellies, have long been mentally fragile.

The cultivators' mood is like that gloomy white mist—depressed and bewildered.

"Why is it that we're so miserable?"

"We only came to the ruins of the Ancient God Sect to seek opportunity and raise our cultivation; who knew we'd end up like this."

A young cultivator gave a bitter laugh, his voice full of self-mockery.

"Yeah, after enduring countless hardships and avoiding countless pits, I thought I could finally glimpse the secret of the Ancient God Sect and obtain the long-desired treasure."

"What's the result?"

"I didn't see any treasure!"

"On the contrary."

Another cultivator spoke, his voice gradually lowering, eventually turning into a long sigh.

"Pregnant?"

"This is absolutely a huge joke."

"Cultivators ought to transcend the mundane; who would have thought they'd end up like this."

A female cultivator had tears in her eyes, her mood extremely complex.

"What's the point of being tense?"

"Now even the worries about cultivation are in disarray."

"Just thinking about my belly..."

A male cultivator spoke, then suddenly stopped, unable to continue describing his feelings.

"This Ancient God Sect ruin is truly a place that devours people without spitting out their bones."

"I thought I could gain power, but instead I lost even more."

A steady cultivator spoke in a low voice, his eyes revealing deep worry.

"If I had known this would happen, I would rather not have come to the ruins, and would rather be an ordinary cultivator outside."

A young cultivator spoke excitedly.

In the shadows, Longling listened to these complaints and sighs, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"This world inherently has no regret medicine; anything comes at a price."

Longling said softly, feeling disdain for the cultivators' reactions.

Heifeng gave a slight smile and said, "Boss, it looks like those cultivators are about to reach the brink of collapse."

"Not bad, this is exactly a good time to make a move."

Longling nodded, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes.

The Black and White Double Fiends exchanged a glance, then prepared for battle.

The cultivators around the Five-Colored Altar continued to struggle in their own emotions, all their attention focused on how to resolve the life embryos in their bellies, long having no spare capacity for anything else.

Little did they know that every move they made was constantly watched by Longling and them.

Hummm…

Just as the cultivators around the Five-Colored Altar were at the lowest point of their spirits, suddenly a powerful aura swept in, changing the atmosphere of the entire space.

The cultivators' hearts tightened, and they all lifted their heads to look toward the source of the aura.

Only seen, several figures slowly emerged from the mist.

Leading them was a man of extraordinary bearing, his eyes seeming to contain the starry sea, deep and unfathomable.

His steps were calm; with each step, the surrounding space seemed to tremble slightly, showing his unfathomable cultivation level.

This was Longling.

Following closely was Heifeng, dressed in black, his face stern, his eyes exuding a knife‑sharp chill. His presence seemed to merge with the surrounding oppression, making people feel a cold dread.

Behind them, Qingyun and the three cultivators of the Black and White Double Fiends followed closely, their eyes revealing an unyielding sharpness, their brows filled with stubborn unwillingness to lose, their whole bodies exuding a killing aura that made people feel uneasy.

With the appearance of Longling and company, the cultivators present felt an unprecedented pressure, as if the entire space had been sealed by their auras.

"Who... who are you?"

A cultivator asked in a trembling voice, sensing that the newcomers were hostile.

Longling smiled slightly, his voice like a spring breeze, yet carrying an irresistible charm: "The guardian of this ruin."

"Guardian?"

The cultivators looked at each other, having never heard that the Ancient God Sect ruin had a guardian.

Heifeng snorted coldly, taking over: "Being able to get here counts as some skill."

"But your fate was sealed the moment you stepped into this forbidden land."

"Putting on a tiger skin to put on a show"—this was what he and Longling and the others had planned, the purpose being to confuse the cultivators present, make them all feel reverent, so as to facilitate later actions.

Elder Qingyun stroked his long beard, speaking in a low voice: "The ruins of the Ancient God Sect are not something just anyone can probe."

"Since you've come, you must bear the corresponding consequences."

The Black and White Double Fiends curled the corners of their mouths with a teasing smile, scanning the cultivators present.

Heisha said: "As for your current situation, it can only be said that you brought it upon yourselves."

"You...?"

"The Ancient God Sect collapsed in antiquity; how could there still be a guardian?"

"I don't believe it, I don't believe it..."

A cultivator, after hearing Longling and company's words, spoke incoherently.

The appearance of Longling and company, and the powerful aura emanating from them, made these cultivators feel greatly apprehensive, their hearts filled with a deep sense of helplessness.

At this moment, even cultivators with swollen abdomens began to barely sustain their Vital Essence; the appearance of the mysterious cultivator before them made them feel a threat to their lives—if mishandled, they and others might all perish here.

Cultivators felt unprecedented pressure under the aura of Longling and others, their hearts filled with anxiety and fear.

Most cultivators felt as if every move they made was in the opponent's grasp.

Longling glanced around at the pallid cultivators and said lightly: "Your situation is surely clear to you by now."

Your souls have been affected by our secret technique; even with heavenly abilities, it's hard to reverse the situation.

The bloated cultivators looked at each other, knowing what Longling said was true.

Some of them tried to mobilize their internal energy, but found their cultivation level greatly suppressed, and some even felt their cultivation draining away.

The lost cultivation was absorbed by the Life Fetus in their abdomens, then the dantian spirit sea was forcibly suppressed.

This left cultivators pregnant with a Life Fetus unable to offer any resistance.

Heifeng coldly added: "You should feel fortunate that we have not taken your lives immediately."

But from now on, your lives and deaths are in our hands.

Elder Qingyun's voice carried an undeniable resolve: "If you don't want to suffer more, you'd better follow the arrangements."

Bai Sha spoke with a hint of teasing, looking at the panicked cultivators: "Rest assured, as long as you cooperate obediently, it won't be too difficult."

After all, you are still of some use to us at present.

A sense of helplessness welled up in the cultivators' hearts.

They knew that any resistance against Longling and others' great strength would be futile.

Afflicted by the Life Fetus ordeal, powerless as they were, they could only be manipulated by the opponent, their hearts instantly filled with resentment and humiliation.

A female cultivator trembled as she asked: "What exactly do you want us to do?"

"It's simple; help us accomplish some things."

"As for the specifics, you'll naturally find out later."

Longling smiled slightly, a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes.

Heifeng, upon hearing this, then added:

"As long as you obey obediently, we guarantee we won't make things difficult for you."

Moreover, perhaps we can even help you resolve your current predicament.

The cultivators' hearts stirred; despite their wariness of Longling and others, Heifeng's words undoubtedly gave them a glimmer of hope.

Their most urgent wish now was to resolve the abnormality of their bodies.

Longling watched the cultivators' expressions change, knowing they were beginning to waver.

"Alright, now is the time for you to make a decision."

"Think it over carefully, figure it out, and tell us."

After saying that, Longling, Heifeng, and the others turned and left, leaving a group of cultivators in utter disarray.

Most of the cultivators at the Five-Colored Altar watched the retreating backs of Longling and others, beginning to feel despair; facing an unknown fate and choice, they felt helpless for the first time.

However.

Yet a few clear-minded ones refused to submit just like that.

Those cultivators who had not drunk the water of the Five-Colored Altar and had no Life Fetus in their abdomens knew that giving up resistance would mean forsaking their fate and dignity.

"We cannot give up like this!"

"Even if hope is slim, we must give it our all!"

A burly male cultivator shouted, stepped forward, his eyes flashing with unyielding light.

"Yes, better to die in battle!"

"And never yield to their threats!"

A female cultivator responded heroically, her longsword ringing crisply as its light flashed.

Following their call, some cultivators gathered courage and decided to fight Longling and others.

"Boom—"

However, this battle was doomed from the start to be a clash of vastly unequal strength.

The strength of Longling and others far exceeded these cultivators' imagination.

When the battle began, the resisting cultivators unleashed their ultimate techniques, sword qi, spells, and treasures intertwining in space into a brilliant display of light and shadow.

Yet these attacks, before Longling and others, were like a stone sinking into the sea, unable to stir the slightest ripple.

Longling lightly waved his hand; an invisible ripple spread from him, causing the incoming spells and treasures to halt in the ripple, then shatter like glass into specks of light that dissipated in the air.

Heifeng flickered like a ghost, weaving among the cultivators; each strike accurately hit their vital points, subduing them one by one.

Elder Qingyun and the Black and White Fiends were not idle either, each employing their signature moves to suppress the resisting cultivators one by one.

The battle did not last long; it erupted quickly and was suppressed just as swiftly, the battlefield soon returning to calm.

The resisting cultivators fell one by one to the ground; some were unconscious, others conscious but unable to fight further.

Longling stood in the field, glanced around at the subdued cultivators, and showed a hint of contempt on his face.

"It seems you have ultimately made the most foolish choice."

"But it's fine; I have plenty of time."

"You will come to understand that resistance is useless."

Longling spoke.

Heifeng walked up to Longling's side and said coldly: "How dare you overestimate yourselves and still challenge us!"

Elder Qingyun shook his head and sighed: "Courage is commendable, but your strength ultimately falls short."

Hei Sha curled the corner of his mouth into a smile and said: "This is fine; saves us further talk."

Now they should be able to more clearly recognize their situation.

Those cultivators, after experiencing this brief battle, fully understood the gap in strength between themselves and Longling and the others.

The cultivators present felt filled with dejection and helplessness when facing Longling and the others.

Longling faced those desperate cultivators, realizing the moment had come, their minds in turmoil, already utterly desperate.

He slowly spoke, his voice seemingly carrying a hint of compassion for the world's suffering.

"Your current situation is extremely difficult; the abnormalities in your bodies have caused you unprecedented panic."

Longling's wise gaze swept over each cultivator, as if giving them spiritual solace.

The cultivators fell silent, looking eagerly at Longling, hoping to obtain a solution.

"Is there still hope?"

A cultivator suffering unbearable abdominal pain asked, his voice trembling.

Longling nodded slightly.

"We have a method to help you eliminate the life seed within your bodies, restoring your freedom."

"But as an exchange, you must voluntarily surrender your life soul."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators' hearts tightened again.

For cultivators, the life soul is of vital importance; once surrendered, it means their life and death will be controlled by the other party.

"You're dreaming."

A cultivator shouted angrily.

Longling merely gave a faint smile, knowing these cultivators would eventually make a choice.

"Hehe, dreaming?"

"If you had no other choice now, why would I bother proposing such terms?"

"Rest assured!"

"As long as you keep the agreement, I will naturally not harm you arbitrarily."

As Longling's words fell, the cultivators began to whisper among themselves, discussing heatedly.

They knew this might be the only way out, but the price was so great as to be hard to accept.

"I I am willing to surrender my life soul."

Finally, a female cultivator gritted her teeth and said, her eyes filled with despair and helplessness.

Once there was a first, there would be a second…

Gradually, more and more cultivators began to choose to surrender their life souls in order to obtain a method to resolve their bodily abnormalities.

Seeing this, Longling gave a slight nod; these cultivators had no retreat, and his initial purpose had been fully achieved.

"Hum…"

As Longling pointed into the void, the mist within the space began to churn violently, and the space itself seemed to undergo a subtle change.

An ancient, desolate aura began to permeate the surroundings, and all the cultivators' gazes involuntarily turned toward Longling.

Under everyone's gaze, the space behind Longling began to distort, streams of white mist emerging from nothingness and gradually condensing into a colossal dharma manifestation.

The manifestation of the White Bone Dharma made all the cultivators present feel a shock emanating from the depths of their souls.

The White Bone Dharma manifestation was immensely huge, its body seeming to connect heaven and earth, its head touching the firmament, its feet treading the ground.

Every bone was crystal clear, emitting a soft and holy light, like the finest artwork.

Upon the white bone flowed countless profound runes, each containing unfathomable power.

The manifestation's eyes had no pupils, only two clusters of burning soul fire, illuminating the darkness and the cultivators' hearts with fear and awe.

Its hands hung naturally downward; when its fingertips lightly touched the ground, the earth trembled.

The cultivators present were deeply shaken by this sacred and majestic White Bone Dharma manifestation, a feeling welling up in their hearts that words could not express.

This was not merely reverence for power, but also a yearning to transcend the mundane and draw near to the Dao.

"This this White Bone Dharma manifestation, where does it come from?

"It seems to truly stand before our eyes."

A cultivator muttered to himself, his voice tinged with trembling.

"Before such mighty power, all resistance appears utterly insignificant."

Another cultivator sighed, his eyes filled with admiration.

Even those cultivators who had already decided to surrender their life souls now felt an inexplicable sense of ease.

It seemed that under the protection of this White Bone Dharma manifestation, all suffering and confusion would be relieved.

Longling stood silently before the White Bone Dharma manifestation; though his figure seemed tiny compared to it, there was nevertheless an ineffable harmony.

"The White Bone Dharma manifestation comprehends life and death, transcends reincarnation.

"For you to be able to see it is also an opportunity.

"It can resolve your calamity."

Longling's voice, set against the manifestation, appeared even more solemn and sacred.