Chapter 297: Action (Part 3)

As the woman stood still in the center of the stage, two more sturdy men arrived in front of the large drums set up on either side of the stage.

Chen Che and Song Jinhe both recognized the woman standing silently on the stage as Black Tortoise, while the two men preparing to beat the drums were Azure Dragon and White Tiger.

With the three great Protectors gathered, it was clear that what was about to happen was definitely not simple.

Yet after the three took their positions, they made no other movements, as if they were brewing something, or perhaps waiting.

The young people kept in the dark thought it was a special program and waited patiently with great interest, clearly not suspecting that danger was imminent.

The scene fell into silence...

At midnight, the beach on Moon Shadow Island was gently illuminated by starlight and moonlight, the sound of the waves becoming clearer and more tranquil, as if it were nature's gentlest lullaby.

Silver moonlight spilled onto the sea, shimmering like countless diamonds dancing on the water's surface. Everything on the beach was dyed in a layer of mysterious blue.

With the ebb and flow of the tide, the seawater gently caressed the beach, emitting a rhythmic swishing sound; this was the unique melody of the island at night.

Palm trees swayed gently in the breeze, their shadows casting mottled silhouettes on the beach, adding a sense of serene beauty.

Fireflies also danced among the trees, their faint light flickering in the darkness like little fairies from a fairy tale.

The ink-like night was exceptionally clear, with the Milky Way spanning the horizon and stars dotting the sky, making one feel a sense of awe at the vastness of the universe.

Coupled with face after face of young, beautiful, and vibrant people, the island's scenery at this moment was undoubtedly at its best.

In a small villa, Gu Yuanzong looked through the window at the scene on the beach, his eyes filled with fanaticism and anticipation: "Is the time coming?"

Gu Zhengying nodded: "One more minute."

"You go down and keep watch; don't let anyone run away. Once the Ritual begins, it cannot be paused halfway, or you will be backlashed by the Array."

Gu Yuanzong instructed.

"Understood."

Gu Zhengying and Gu Zhangsheng left, while Gu Yuanzong stepped up, arriving at the villa's roof and standing on the spire.

Beneath his feet was a circle drawn in blood, with countless lines extending and intersecting above the circle; it was clearly just a corner of the Array.

"Thump, thump... thump... thump, thump..."

Finally, Azure Dragon and White Tiger swung their drumsticks and struck the large drums.

The drumbeats were steady, and the harmonious rhythm brought an indescribable sense of comfort and pleasure.

Gu Yao lit the bonfires on both sides of the stage at this moment, the flames leaping upward; the firelight reflected on everyone's faces on the beach, and the laughter and the sound of the waves intertwined to form a vivid picture.

"Thump, thump, thump... thump, thump... thump, thump, thump..."

The drumbeats became rapid, and the sound grew louder.

Standing in the center of the stage, Xuanwu looked up at the sky. The originally clear night sky was covered by dark clouds, and the silver-white round wheel disappeared into the thick cloud layer, but as the Cloud drifted, a tiny crescent moon was revealed, which was an eerie red.

Xuanwu withdrew her gaze, raised her arms, and lifted her full head; her snow-white swan neck emitted a blinding white light under the reflection of the stage lights.

"Boom!"

A powerful, muffled drumbeat sounded, and Xuanwu began to move her body.

Her face was painted with mysterious oil paint, and she wore a robe made of palm tree fabric embroidered with patterns symbolizing the moon and the ocean, with a belt made of seashells and coral tied around her waist, which made a pleasant sound as she moved.

The bonfire burned fiercely, the firelight reflecting on Xuanwu's face, her eyes flashing with firm and pious light under the reflection of the fire.

Only this light shone with an eerie scarlet.

The rhythm of the drumbeats changed again and became even louder; Xuanwu's dancing steps were light and rhythmic, as if synchronized with the rhythm of the earth.

Her gestures were elegant and expressive, sometimes rising and falling like waves, sometimes like a seabird spreading its wings; every movement was full of symbolic meaning.

The bonfire's flames danced with the sea breeze, and Xuanwu's shadow danced on the beach, as if another mysterious dancer were dancing with her.

On the beach, the young men and women were all immersed in Xuanwu's elegant and mysterious dance, and even more so, they were unknowingly sinking into the soul-stirring drumbeats, so much so that not a single person noticed that the heavens and earth had changed color.

The dark clouds in the night sky dissipated, and a blood-red full moon hung above the pitch-black night sky. Its red light was not as bright as ordinary moonlight, but carried an unsettling blood color, as if dark red blood were flowing in the sky.

The entire Moon Shadow Island was shrouded in a layer of eerie red light, and the light of the Blood Moon penetrated the clouds and spilled onto the beach, making everything appear unusually tranquil and sinister.

Under the illumination of the Blood Moon, the entire Moon Shadow Island seemed to be covered by a layer of red gauze, everything appearing hazy and elusive, as if countless invisible eyes were peeking from the shadows.

"Thump, thump, thump... thump, thump, thump..."

The drumbeats became increasingly rapid, and Xuanwu's dance steps became faster and faster, but the dance movements became increasingly eerie; her body twisted and contorted, not like dancing, but more like she was being tortured.

"Ha!"

Xuanwu suddenly let out a sharp cry, her body spinning rapidly, the hem of her fabric robe flying, like a strange flower full of bewitchment.

Chen Che and Song Jinhe looked at the Blood Moon in the sky with shock on their faces, feeling as if a breath of death were swaying and permeating the air.

Song Jinhe suddenly grabbed Chen Che and retreated several steps; the blood lines of the Array under their feet emitted an eerie red glow at this moment.

An energy capable of destroying the heavens and extinguishing the earth began to emerge, restless and ready to move.

"The Array has started."

Song Jinhe whispered.

The drumbeats reached their peak at this moment, and the drumsticks in the hands of Azure Dragon and White Tiger were nothing but blurs.

Xuanwu's spinning figure stopped abruptly, her wrists crossed and raised above her head, pointing straight at the Blood Moon.

The Blood Moon seemed to have fallen from the sky, hanging right overhead, within reach.

"Please, bestow your grace."

Xuanwu whispered, piously closing her eyes; the people on the beach had long since lost their wits and spoke along with Xuanwu:

"Please, bestow your grace!"

The drumbeats ceased, and Xuanwu sat down slowly with her legs crossed, her arms crossed, hugging her shoulders, her head hanging down deeply.

"It's finally coming..."

Gu Yuanzong stood straight on the spire, his feet off the ground, hovering in the air.

"Boom~~~"

A humming sound that seemed to come from ancient times rang out, and the Blood Moon finally revealed its ferocious and violent side.

The Array operated simultaneously, and the young people on the beach all raised their heads and opened their mouths wide; the True Qi nourished within their bodies by the Pill, carrying their life force, emerged from their eyes and mouths, all of it sucked into the Blood Moon.

"This Array is extremely vicious; these people's True Qi and life force are now being drawn into the moon. If I'm not mistaken, there is one final step left, which is to transfer all this gathered True Qi and life force into the body of Gu Yuanzong."

Song Jinhe looked toward Gu Yuanzong, who was hovering above the villa, "If the True Qi successfully enters Gu Yuanzong's body, he will very likely break through his limits and reach a level no one can imagine!"

"Then is there any way to stop this Array?"

Chen Che asked.

"I have only seen it in ancient texts, so I don't know the specific method, but no matter how profound an Array is, it must rely on an Array Eye to support it. As long as we find the Array Eye, I will have a way."

Song Jinhe said quickly.

"Then where is this Array Eye?" Chen Che pressed.

Song Jinhe's gaze darted around rapidly, but her expression grew increasingly anxious.

At this moment, Xuanwu, who had been curled up in the center of the stage, suddenly moved; she slowly stood up and looked up at the sky, where infinite True Qi had already gathered upon the Blood Moon, while the young people on the beach collapsed to the ground one by one, as if they had been drained dry.

Xuanwu nodded with satisfaction, glanced in the direction of Gu Yuanzong, and then stepped back; a circular hole opened in the center of the stage, and a cross slowly rose from below.

Chen Che and Song Jinhe suddenly widened their eyes; tied to the cross, one behind the other, were none other than Su Xiao and Fang Yuying.

"Your body is a treasure; it could not be more suitable to offer to the Great One. You should feel honored for this."

Xuanwu took out a short blade, cut her palm, and left a bloody palm print on Su Xiao's face, which was pale from unconsciousness.

The blood dripped down Su Xiao's chin onto the stage, and the center of the stage released a crimson light, illuminating Xuanwu's face with a sinister and eerie glow.

Song Jinhe's eyes froze, and she shouted: "I know where the Array Eye is!"

…………"The company has been doing inspections lately, and I've been working overtime every day. There is too much to do, please forgive me! 【Emoji】"