Chapter 535: The Lotus Lantern on the Altar

At the center of the Ancient Desert, Longling's White Bone Dharma Aspect and the Demon Snake King's battle had reached a white-hot stage.

Longling's Dharma Aspect's divine might overwhelmed the heavens; each attack was like heaven collapsing and earth splitting, shaking the entire desert.

The White Bone Dharma Aspect wielded a huge sword, its blade burning with white flames; each swing carried the power to destroy everything.

Although the Demon Snake King was powerful, under Longling's continuous offensive it began to retreat step by step, a flicker of panic crossing its eyes.

"Howl……"

At that moment, the Demon Snake King realized it might not be a match for Longling, it opened its massive jaws and let out an earth-shaking howl toward the sky.

This howl was not only a despairing wail, but also a summons, a call for power from the depths of the Ancient Desert.

As the howl echoed between heaven and earth, the Ancient Desert's sky began to change; layers of mysterious seals gradually appeared, like ancient totems emitting a dim light.

The appearance of the seals was accompanied by streaks of mysterious law power crisscrossing between heaven and earth; these law powers wandered in the air like living things, intertwining to form a huge net that enveloped the entire battlefield.

The cultivators looked up and saw countless Netherworld Runes falling from the seals, streaking across the sky like meteors, carrying a destructive aura.

Upon contacting the ground, these Netherworld Runes instantly turned into a single terrifying Demon Snake Phantom.

These phantoms differed from the earlier purple demon snakes; they were larger, more ferocious, each exuding a palpably terrifying aura.

Demon Snake Phantoms blanketed heaven and earth, their eyes like burning purple flames, spewing black poisonous mist from their mouths.

At that moment, all cultivators felt an unprecedented dread; gazing at the sky filled with countless Demon Snake Phantoms, endless fear welled up in their hearts.

The sheer number and strength of these Demon Snake Phantoms made them feel utterly powerless.

The cultivators stared at each other, eyes full of despair; some even began to tremble, their voices choked with sobs.

"How can we still fight? How could we possibly defeat so many demon snakes?"

They were shocked by the Demon Snake King's Divine Ability; this power exceeded their imagination.

The cultivators knew that if they continued like this, they would only be worn out to death.

Fear spread like a plague among the cultivators; their morale began to collapse, and some even started to consider fleeing.

Longling sensed the cultivators' fear, knowing that if he did not act quickly, the battle would end in their defeat.

He took a deep breath and shouted loudly.

"Don't panic, everyone! These Demon Snake Phantoms are strong but not invincible; if we want to survive, we must not scatter our formation, or we'll easily be wiped out by the Demon Snake King. Now we must unite, using spells and treasures to restrain them, then think of a countermeasure!"

Longling's voice was like a beam of light, piercing the gloom in the cultivators' hearts.

They knew Longling was right; they could not just give up.

The cultivators began trying to steady their minds, knowing that only by uniting as one could they hope to find a sliver of survival.

"Let's set up a great defensive formation and take turns resisting," a Huanyu cultivator proposed, "Perhaps our strength alone cannot match these Demon Snake Phantoms, but united we might create a miracle."

The cultivators began trying to draw near each other, holding hands to form a circle, silently chanting their heart method, attempting to link their powers together to form a protective shield against external erosion.

As the cultivators' will gradually coalesced, their powers began to merge with each other.

A faint light began to flicker between them; though weak, it was steadfast.

This light gradually expanded, forming a shield that protected the cultivators within.

The Demon Snake Phantoms tried to strike the shield, but were all bounced back, unable to penetrate.

The cultivators felt a glimmer of hope, knowing that only by uniting as one could they possibly find a way out.

Longling watched all this, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes.

However, as the Demon Snake King's howl grew stronger, the Demon Snake Phantoms' attacks became more frenzied and violent.

Gigantic tentacles descended from the sky like the scythe of the Grim Reaper, mercilessly harvesting the cultivators' lives.

Some cultivators lost their lives in the fierce battle; their souls dissipated in the Demon Sea, turning into faint glimmers swallowed by darkness.

"Don't give up! Hold on!" Longling's voice rang out especially firm amid the chaos; the Dharma Treasure in his hand emitted a dazzling light, each swing taking the lives of several Demon Snake Phantoms.

His figure darted through the Demon Sea like a beam of light, leading the cultivators forward.

The cultivators closely followed Longling; though their hearts were filled with fear, Longling's presence gave them courage. Only by following Longling could they hope to find a chance to survive.

As the battle continued, the cultivators began to discover the Demon Snake Phantoms' weakness.

Though they were strong, they were not invincible.

Whenever a Demon Snake Phantom was struck in a vital spot, its body turned into a wisp of black smoke and dissipated in the air.

The cultivators began concentrating fire, attacking the Demon Snake Phantoms' vital points, making their attacks more effective.

Longling also continually sought the Demon Snake King's opening in battle; only by defeating the Demon Snake King could the battle be ended more swiftly and thoroughly.

That White Bone Dharma Aspect moved swiftly across the battlefield, white bone qi swirling around its body like living things, moving with its will to form an even more vast White Bone Dharma Aspect.

This Dharma Aspect towered into the clouds, its bones inscribed with ancient runes, emanating earth-shaking power.

Each swing of Longling's White Bone Dharma Aspect carried the momentum of cleaving heaven and earth, whipping up the surrounding sand into tornadoes.

The Demon Snake King, meanwhile, coiled at the opposite end of the battlefield, its massive body like a mountain, its purple scales glimmering with a dim light in the sunlight.

Its eyes were like two purple suns, exuding a cold yet powerful aura.

The Demon Snake King commanded the power of heaven and earth; each sway of its tail could shake the ground, each exhalation could change the color of the sky.

The battle had entered its most critical moment; Longling and the cultivators knew they could not retreat or give up.

They had to expend their last ounce of strength to defeat the Demon Snake King and overcome these Demon Snake Phantoms.

Their hearts filled with resolve, their eyes flashing with unyielding light, fearless of death.

In this life-and-death struggle, after the cultivators felt some bond in their hearts, they no longer feared or despaired, and began to use their own strength to oppose these powerful foes.

They began to stake their own lives to defend their companions' lives.

"Boom—rumble—"

The battle continued, Longling and the cultivators still fighting, their figures darting through the Demon Sea, power crisscrossing between heaven and earth.

With their actions, they proved humanity's indomitable spirit, proving the tenacity and greatness of life.

Soon, as the battle continued, Longling noticed a strange phenomenon.

Whenever a mini demon snake fell, its body turned into a wisp of purple smoke; these smokes did not dissipate, but were drawn by an invisible force, slowly drifting toward the altar at the heart of the Ancient Desert.

As more and more demon snakes died, the runes on the altar began to emit brilliant light, as dazzling as a great sun.

Longling's heart stirred; he guessed that the altar might conceal the secret to completely slaying the Demon Snake King.

He immediately shouted orders to the cultivators.

"Don't hold back, slaughter the demon snakes wildly! Their essence seems able to activate the altar's power!"

The cultivators were weary, but upon hearing Longling's command, their spirits were lifted.

They began to attack the demon snakes more bravely, each strike exerting their full strength, each spell exerted to the utmost.

As demon snakes kept falling, the altar's tremors grew more violent, as if some mighty power were about to awaken.

Suddenly, the runes on the altar shot up into the sky and condensed above it into a golden treasure lamp.

This treasure lamp, shaped like a lotus, exuded surging fragments of law, and an invisible terrifying ripple spread between heaven and earth.

At that moment, the Five Elements power overturned, Yin and Yang Qian Kun trembled, and the very aura of the Ancient Desert changed.

The treasure lotus lamp poured down myriad rosy clouds, these clouds substance-like, bearing mighty law power, sweeping toward the Demon Snake King.

The Demon Snake King's true form was instantly bound by the rosy clouds; its massive body, entwined by the clouds, could not move at all.

The cultivators watched this scene, shocked and exhilarated, finally finding a way to destroy the Demon Snake King.

It turned out that to completely annihilate the Demon Snake King, one needed to sacrifice the demon snakes' essence to activate the altar's power.

This discovery invigorated the cultivators; they began to slaughter the demon snakes more frenziedly, each death providing the altar with more energy.

The treasure lotus lamp on the altar grew brighter and its light stronger, bathing the entire Ancient Desert in its glow.

Longling beheld all this, his eyes flashing with determined light; this was their only chance, they must seize it and utterly exterminate the Demon Snake King.

He shouted loudly: "Everyone, give it your all, don't let the Demon Snake King escape!"

The cultivators responded to Longling's call, their attacks grew fiercer; only by continually slaying demon snakes could they sustain the altar's power and keep the Demon Snake King bound.

The spells and treasures of the Huanyu cultivators fell like rain upon the demon snake horde, each strike taking countless demon snake lives.

As demon snakes died in great numbers, the treasure lotus lamp on the altar grew brighter and its light stronger.

These lights were not merely light; they carried mighty law power, which began to affect the whole battlefield, causing the Demon Snake King's power to start waning.

The Demon Snake King sensed the threat, it began to struggle desperately, trying to break free of the rosy clouds' binding.

However, the treasure lotus lamp's power was too great; its struggling was in vain.

The rosy clouds tightened further; the Demon Snake King's body began to shrink gradually, its scales began to fall off, and its power began to be devoured by the clouds.

The cultivators watched this scene, their hearts filled with shock and delight.

They had finally found a way to defeat the Demon Snake King, finally saw hope of victory, and began to attack the demon snakes more frenziedly.

Their hearts were filled with resolve, knowing that as long as they did not give up, they could win this battle.

Longling also played a crucial role in the battle; the White Bone Dharma Aspect continually assailed the Demon Snake King, each strike bearing great power, each strike weakening the Demon Snake King's power.

His White Bone Dharma Aspect darted across the battlefield like a beam of light, leading the cultivators forward.

As the battle continued, the Demon Snake King's power grew weaker, and its struggles became ever more feeble.

Under the binding rosy clouds of the treasure lotus lamp, the Demon Snake King let out a despairing roar, its body completely disintegrating into wisps of purple smoke that dissipated in the air.

With the fall of the Demon Snake King, the phantom demon snakes in the Ancient Desert also began to vanish.

They, as if losing support, turned into strands of black smoke one after another, dissipating in the air.

The cultivators watched this scene; his heart brimmed with joy and relief, having finally defeated the Demon Snake King and finally escaped this disaster.

Longling stood before the altar, his eyes flashing with determined light.

Although this battle was victorious, the Ancient Desert still held many unknowns awaiting their exploration.

"Although we have defeated the Demon Snake King, the secrets of the Ancient Desert remain far from uncovered; we must stay vigilant, continue exploring, until we find a way to leave this place."

The cultivators nodded in agreement; under Longling's leadership, they began to search the Ancient Desert for more clues, hoping to uncover its secrets and also find a way to leave.

At the heart of the Ancient Desert, the altar's light was like the dawn's first rays, piercing the darkness brought by the Demon Snake King.

The cultivators were stunned beyond measure by this sudden turn of events.

They witnessed the Demon Snake King's might; its almost unmatchable power cast a shadow of despair over every heart.

However, just as they prepared to meet death, Longling's discovery was like a thread of life, giving them renewed hope.

"How could this be?" an elder cultivator trembled, his voice shaking, his eyes filled with incredulous light.

He gazed at the treasure lotus lamp condensed above the altar; its brilliance, like that of a great sun, gave him a feeling of unprecedented shock.

"Who would have thought the altar hid such mighty power, and we never knew it all along."

"Fortunately, Senior Longling discovered this secret; otherwise we would surely have perished here today." A young cultivator said with lingering fear, his face still bearing battle fatigue, yet his eyes flashed with deep gratitude toward Longling.

The cultivators nodded in unison, their gazes all fixed on Longling, their eyes filled with reverence and gratitude.

They knew that without Longling's wit and courage, they might already have fallen under the Demon Snake King's assault.

"Senior Longling, how did you discover the altar's secret?" an inquisitive cultivator asked, his eyes full of admiration.

Longling smiled faintly, his eyes deep and firm: "In the battle, I noticed that whenever a demon snake fell, its essence was absorbed by the altar."

"I guessed that this altar might be a crucial point in the Ancient Desert, its power sufficient to oppose the Demon Snake King. Events have proven my guess correct."

After hearing this, the cultivators admired Longling's wisdom and insight all the more.

They knew that it was precisely Longling's discovery that had saved their lives and even changed the whole battle situation.

"We owe Senior Longling a huge favor." a cultivator said ruefully, his voice trembling: "If not for Senior Longling, we might already have..."

He did not finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.

Their lives, and indeed all they possessed, were snatched back from the Demon Snake King's fangs by Longling.

"Now is not the time to relax," Longling's voice interrupted their reflections: "Although the Demon Snake King has been temporarily bound, we still need to find a way to completely leave the Ancient Desert; the altar's power, though strong, will not last forever."

The cultivators at once snapped out of their grateful emotions, knowing Longling was right.

They began to circle the altar, carefully observing the mysterious runes, hoping to find more secrets.

Boom—

The altar's tremors grew more violent.

After the precious lotus lamp on the altar absorbed the final essence of the Magic Snake King, its light reached a peak, then gradually faded, but the runes on the altar still emitted a faint glow, as if whispering ancient secrets.

Between heaven and earth, the rosy clouds and the altar's tremors responded to each other far away, weaving splendid patterns in the sky like fireworks celebrating victory.

The stars across the sky became unusually bright at this moment, twinkling in the night sky as if guiding the cultivators.

Suddenly, the stars began to move, arranging and combining in the sky to form a mysterious heavenly road.

This heavenly road was composed of countless stars, shimmering in the night sky, shedding a soft, mysterious light that pointed straight to the distant horizon.

The cultivators gazed up at this mysterious heavenly road, his heart filled with wonder and awe.

They knew this was the only way to leave the Ancient Desert, a road to freedom forged by the star dipper's imagery for them.

Longling stood before the altar, his gaze firm and deep; the appearance of this heavenly road was no accident, but the Ancient Desert's acknowledgment of their victory, a reward from heaven and earth for their courage and wisdom.

"Let's go," Longling's voice rang out in the silent night sky, "This heavenly road will lead us away from here, back to our world."

The cultivators nodded, their feelings complex: they anticipated the unknown yet felt reluctant to leave the Ancient Desert.

Under Longling's leadership, they stepped onto this mysterious heavenly road.

On the heavenly road, the starlight flickered beneath their feet, each step as if treading on the heart of the universe.

The cultivators felt an unprecedented shock, as if they had become part of the universe, sensing its vastness and mystery.

As they stepped forward one by one, the scenery of the Ancient Desert gradually receded from their view.

They looked back at this land where they had once fought, their hearts filled with emotion.

Here, they underwent life-and-death trials and also witnessed the occurrence of miracles.

At the end of the heavenly road was a expanse of light. This light was warm and bright, waiting for them, guiding them toward a new journey.

The cultivators quickened their pace, their hearts filled with anticipation for the future.

When they passed through that light, everything became blurred.

Time and space lost their meaning here; they only felt their bodies moving through the light, as if traversing countless star systems and spacetime.

Finally, when the light faded, they found themselves standing on a familiar piece of land.

Here the air was fresh, the sunshine bright—this was the world they had once lived in.

They had returned, they had returned from their adventure in the Ancient Desert.

The cultivators stood on this land, their hearts filled with emotion; this experience would become their most precious memory in life.

They looked toward Longling, their eyes full of gratitude.

Longling smiled, knowing that although this adventure had ended, their path of cultivation was far from over.

He said to the cultivators.

"We have returned, but our cultivation continues., we carry the lessons and wisdom from this experience, pressing forward."

The cultivators nodded, they knew Longling was right.

They carried the memories of the Ancient Desert, carried reverence for the unknown and love for life, and continued forward on the path of cultivation.

And that mysterious heavenly road would forever remain in their hearts, becoming their most precious guidance.

Boom—

When the cultivators finally stepped beyond the range covered by the heavenly road, the scene suddenly changed; they thought they had escaped the danger of the Ancient Pagoda, but the sight before them made their hearts sink to the depths.