Chapter 280: The Change of the Heaven‑Offering Platform

Wang Zhitao let out a satisfied belch.

With that faint sound, the last trace of primordial aura belonging to the disaster‑level assassin "Shadow Nightmare" was completely digested and erased from this world, leaving no trace.

A very faint, distorted light and shadow on Wang Zhitao's body surface was slowly contracting.

It was a fragment of the "Illusory Realms" law of the Shadow Nightmare, now being barbarically absorbed and merged by him.

Deep within his pupils countless tiny phantasms flickered in and out, as the law of mental assassination violently clashed with his devouring primordial essence.

His strength once again grew visibly to the naked eye.

He even subconsciously glanced at Wang Zhize beside him, a thought flashing through his mind.

In the next instant, Wang Zhize's figure appeared somewhat blurry and unreal in his sight, as if it could dissolve into a bubble at any moment.

This was the illusion technique he had just grasped, already capable of subconsciously affecting others' perception.

Wang Zhize seemed to sense something, his eyelids not even lifting, he spoke lightly.

"Put away your little trick."

As the words fell, the world in Wang Zhitao's eyes instantly cleared, the uncontrolled law power being smoothed by a higher, incomprehensible force.

He scratched his head, chuckled, like a child caught in a prank.

Wang Zhize's gaze fell on the flaccid, trembling Minister of War, Lord Zhao, who lay on the ground shaking like sifted chaff.

At this moment, Lord Zhao's eyes had shifted from the previous dull blankness to extreme terror.

He had witnessed with his own eyes a living person, a terrifyingly powerful being, being… devoured by another youth as if it were a snack.

This shock of having his perception utterly overturned was more crushing than any torture.

Wang Zhize stepped forward slowly, each step feeling as if treading on Lord Zhao's heartbeat.

"Lord Zhao, that was merely an appetizer."

His voice was calm and gentle, yet to Lord Zhao's ears it was more terrifying than the whispers of a Nine‑Underworld demon.

"No… don't kill me! Immortal, spare me! I know nothing, I was forced!" Lord Zhao stammered, kneeling and begging for mercy.

Wang Zhize ignored his wailing, a gentle ray of light sprang from his fingertip and entered Lord Zhao's forehead.

Lord Zhao's violently trembling body instantly steadied.

The bone‑deep fear was dispelled, replaced by absolute tranquility and composure.

"Now, let's talk… about the Heaven‑Offering Platform."

Wang Zhize's voice seemed to carry a certain magic, causing Lord Zhao to involuntarily focus his mind.

At the same time, the massive, chaotic memories of the Shadow Nightmare had been fully sorted in Wang Zhize's mind.

The route into the Heaven‑Offering Platform, the design of the access token, the guard rotation patterns, and even the Lord's fanatical final scheme were all crystal clear.

Using the entire imperial dynasty's dragon vein as firewood.

Using the souls of billions of living beings as the medicinal catalyst.

And employing Wang Zhize's heaven‑gifted "Furnace Core" body as the vessel.

Ultimately, forging that defiant "Immortal Path Pill".

A cold murderous intent flashed in Wang Zhize's eyes.

He implanted the Lord's true identity and plan into Lord Zhao's mind with the most concise wording.

Lord Zhao's complexion shifted from calm to shocked, then pallid, finally turning a flush mingled with anger and despair.

"Beast! That spirit‑artifact… how dare it! It will destroy the entire empire! Annihilate billions of subjects!"

This minister, renowned in court for his composure, now looked mad, tears streaming wildly.

"I… I will cooperate with the Immortal, be shattered to pieces, and still stop that demon!" Lord Zhao knelt, pounding his forehead heavily.

"Very well."

Wang Zhize nodded; what he needed was exactly such a "coordinate" with massive influence within the Imperial City.

With a thought, two figures appeared in the courtyard.

It was Li Hu and Zhang Mei, who had rushed over after receiving the message.

"Young Master." The two bowed respectfully.

"This man is the Minister of War, already under my control. Your task is to assist him, purge the remaining remnants of all 'Shadow' organizations in the city, and stabilize the situation."

Wang Zhize flicked his finger, a law rune sinking into Lord Zhao's body.

"This rune can safeguard his life and make him obey you. Go ahead, Tianjing City needs a cleansing."

Li Hu and Zhang Mei's gazes instantly sharpened.

They understood that, though they could not join the core battle, this was equally a crucial war.

It was the continuation of revenge for their grandfather.

"At your command!"

The two showed no hesitation, taking Lord Zhao and the few de‑cultivated, unconscious Shadow Guards, and vanished swiftly into the night.

After handling all this, Wang Zhize finally looked up toward the very center of the Imperial City.

There stood a magnificent structure soaring straight into the clouds.

The Heaven‑Offering Platform.

"Brother, shall we go?" Wang Zhitao licked his lips, already impatient.

"Go."

As soon as Wang Zhize finished speaking, the two figures vanished into thin air.

……

The Heaven‑Offering Platform, a sacred site of the empire.

Every three steps a guard post, every five steps a lookout, and countless hidden Array Seals scattered throughout, claimed that not even a single fly could enter.

However, Wang Zhize and Wang Zhitao's figures moved through it like ghosts.

The Imperial Guard whose eyes burned like torches would look past them.

The terrifying Array capable of strangling disaster‑level strongmen would actively clear a path when they passed.

Relying on the memories obtained from Ying Yan and the supreme authority of the "Definition" law, this so‑called iron wall is nothing but a joke.

The closer one gets to the Core of the Heaven Offering Platform, the thicker the air becomes.

The atmosphere now pervades not with the solemn majesty of a holy site, but with a nauseating scent of blood and decay.

When they stepped onto the top level of the Heaven Offering Platform, the scene before them gave Wang Zhitao's simple appetite a hint of gravity.

Here, it has become a living hell.

The ground is covered with countless blood‑colored runes, each writhing and breathing as if alive.

Countless faceless lingering souls are sealed within the runes, emitting silent, the most venomous curses.

And at the exact center of the Heaven Offering Platform, a massive Altar constructed from nameless skeletons slowly rotates.

Upon the Altar, thick black chains like dragons and snakes extend from the void, tightly binding a figure.

The figure is neither wholly human nor wholly object, its body made of an ancient, dim metal, its surface coursing with the Imperial Dynasty's Dragon Vein's auspicious golden light.

It is the Lord!

The one who seized the Imperial Artifact, parasitizing the Dragon Vein, scheming an eternal Artifact Spirit!

The vast, boundless power is continuously drawn from the underground Dragon Vein, poured into its body, causing its aura to rise step by step, terrifying to the extreme.

It seems as if it alone dominates this world.

The moment Wang Zhize stepped in.

The figure slowly opened its eyes.

What kind of eyes were they?

They held no emotion, only the wear of ten thousand years and absolute evil and indifference that treats all things as mere dogs.

Its gaze precisely locked onto Wang Zhize.

A hoarse, ancient sound, like metal grinding, resonated throughout the space.

"Dan Yin… no, I should call you 'Furnace Core'."

"You finally came."

"Your arrival is timely."

The Lord's mouth twisted into a strange curve, brimming with the arrogance of a genius clutching a pearl of wisdom.

Wang Zhize's expression remained unchanged, his voice even colder than the Lord's.

"Your end has also arrived."

He was too lazy to utter another useless word.

He raised his hand and lightly pointed at the junction between the Lord and the underground Dragon Vein.

"I define: you and the Dragon Vein, severed."

There was no earth‑shaking roar, no dazzling flash of colliding laws.

But the Lord's body jolted violently, emitting a roar of shock and fury!

"Words become law! You have actually mastered this power!"

It could clearly feel that the previously unbreakable link between itself and the Dragon Vein had indeed shown a hint of fracture!

How could this be possible!

This is thanks to the ten‑thousand‑year Great Sacrifice laid out by the entire Imperial Dynasty's destiny!

"Roar!"

The Lord roared, and the entire Altar thundered into motion.