Chapter 1206

A fine gray line ignored the altar's protective shield and pierced straight into the crystal!

Translation: "A faint gray line ignored the altar's protective shield and directly sank into the crystal!"

We need to keep punctuation? Keep as is but translate. Use natural English.

Snap!

Translation: "Crack!"

The crystal quivered violently, its surface instantly covered in cracks, and the life‑energy extraction process was forcibly halted!

Translation: "The crystal shuddered violently, its surface instantly covered in cracks, and the process of drawing life force was forcibly interrupted!"

"Puff!" The four elders were simultaneously struck by backlash, spitting blood, shocked and enraged!

Translation: '"Pfft!" The four elders simultaneously suffered backlash, spitting out blood, shocked and furious!'

"Looking for death!" Two late‑stage Refinement of Void black‑robed elders roared skyward; one summoned a sky of ghostly claws, the other raised a soul‑summoning banner, drawing countless vengeful spirits to pounce on Han Wuxian!

Translation: '"Seek death!" Two late-stage Void Refining black-robed elders roared and shot into the sky; one manifested a sky-full of ghostly claws, the other brandished a soul-summoning banner, summoning myriad resentful spirits that lunged at Han Wuxian!'

The other two mid‑stage Refinement of Void elders frantically tried to stabilize the altar and the crystal.

Translation: "The two middle-stage Void Refining elders, meanwhile, desperately tried to stabilize the altar and the crystal."

Meanwhile, Xiao Ran and Qing Lin boldly charged in! Their swords flashed like dragons, spears glittered like rain, and they surged into the arrayed disciples of the Shadow Pavilion, cutting them down in a chaotic mess of formations!

Translation: "At the same moment, Xiao Ran and Qing Lin also burst forth ferociously! Sword aura like a dragon, spear light like rain, instantly charging into the disciples of the Yinying Pavilion who had formed the formation, sending them sprawling and throwing the formation into chaos!"

Wang Tie seized the opportunity, rushed to the bound cultivators, quickly produced silver‑needle pills, stabilized their injuries, and cut their connection to the altar.

Translation: "Wang Tie, meanwhile, rushed amid the chaos toward the bound cultivators, quickly producing silver needles and medicine to stabilize their injuries and sever their connection to the altar."

The cave instantly descended into a melee!

Translation: "The cavern instantly descended into melee!"

Facing the assault of the two late‑stage Refinement of Void elders, Han Wuxian's expression remained unchanged. He moved like smoke, weaving through the sky of ghostly claws and vengeful spirits; each strike precisely hit the weakest point of the enemy's attack, erasing the claws and purifying the spirits.

Translation: "Han Wuxian faced the encirclement of the two late-stage Void Refining elders without changing expression. His form moved like smoke, weaving through the sky-full of ghostly claws and resentful spirits; each strike precisely hit the weakest point of their offense, annihilating the ghost claws and purifying the resentful spirits."

His Chaotic Return‑to‑Origin qi seemed to be the bane of all evil, rendering the opponent's attacks ineffective against him.

Translation: "His chaotic Return to the Void qi seemed to be the bane of all evil; the enemy's attacks could not inflict any effective harm upon him."

"His cultivation method is bizarre! Form the 'Ghost‑Soul Devouring Heaven Array'!" a black‑robed elder shouted loudly after failing to break through.

Translation: '"His cultivation method is bizarre! Form the Nether Soul Devouring Heaven Grand Formation!" a black-robed elder shouted harshly after failing to overcome him for a long time.'

The four elders immediately abandoned individual combat, their forms flickering as they took positions at the four cardinal points, muttering obscure incantations. Massive gray death‑mist surged from their bodies and the altar, instantly coalescing into a huge twisted demon face that covered the entire cave ceiling!

Translation: "The four elders immediately ceased fighting individually, their forms flickering as they took the four cardinal directions, chanting obscure incantations; vast gray mist of death surged from their bodies and the altar, instantly condensing into a huge, twisted ghostly face covering the entire cavern ceiling!"

The demon face opened its massive maw, emitting a silent roar; a terrifying suction emanated, targeting not only spiritual power but also devouring the very essence and souls of living beings!

Translation: "That ghostly face opened its massive maw, letting out a soundless roar; a terrifying suction force came forth, not only targeting spiritual power but directly devouring the vital essence, energy, spirit, and soul of living beings!"

Some weaker Shadow Pavilion disciples below and the newly rescued, still very frail cultivators let out horrified cries as their bodies visibly withered before their eyes!

Translation: "Below, some weaker disciples of the Yinying Pavilion and the cultivators just rescued, still extremely weak, instantly screamed as their bodies visibly withered before the eyes!"

"Hmph! Even demons and specters dare to swallow the heavens?"

Translation: '"Hmph! Demons and monsters, dare to swallow the heavens?"'

Han Wuxian let out a cold snort and ceased holding back. He hovered in the air, slowly raising his hands; the Chaotic Return‑to‑Origin qi gathered around him, forming what seemed like a bottomless well of Return‑to‑Origin!

Translation: "Han Wuxian let out a cold snort, holding nothing back. He hovered in midair, slowly raising his hands; chaotic Return to the Void qi gathered around him, as if forming a bottomless Well of the Return to the Void!"

"Swallow? I'll let you swallow to your heart's content!!"

Translation: '"Devour? Let you devour your fill!!"'

The terrifying suction from the demon face, upon contacting the Return‑to‑Origin well, was suddenly reversed and sucked back! Moreover, the gray death‑mist, lingering resentment energy throughout the cave, and even the four elders' own primordial power uncontrollably surged toward the well!

Translation: "The terrifying suction emitted by that ghostly face, upon contacting the Well of the Return to the Void, was instead devoured in reverse! Moreover, the pervasive gray death mist, resentful energy within the cavern, and even the elders' own source power surged uncontrollably toward the Well of the Return to the Void!"

"No! My cultivation!"

Translation: '"No! My cultivation!"'

"What kind of demonic technique is this?!"

Translation: '"What kind of demonic art is this?!"'

The four elders realized in terror that they could not only not control the array but also felt their own power draining rapidly! The Return‑to‑Origin well was like a bottomless pit, accepting everything without discrimination!

Translation: "The four elders horrifiedly discovered that they could not only not control the grand formation, but their own power was rapidly draining! The Well of the Return to the Void seemed a bottomless abyss, accepting all who came, swallowing everything!"

The demon face quickly became insubstantial and, with a final wail, disintegrated completely!

Translation: "The ghostly face quickly turned illusory, finally uttering a mournful wail before completely dissipating!"

The four elders suffered fatal backlash, their cultivation plummeted, blood spurted wildly, and they fell from the sky.

Translation: "The four elders suffered a lethal backlash, their cultivation plummeting, blood gushing wildly as they plummeted from the air."

Han Wuxian raised his hand in a feint, four streaks of gray light flashed, instantly sealing their primordial embryos.

Translation: "Han Wuxian raised his hand and made a grasping motion; four gray streaks flashed, instantly sealing their Nascent Souls."

At the same time, Xiao Ran and Qing Lin had already cleared all the Shadow Pavilion disciples from the cave.

Translation: "At the same time, Xiao Ran and Qing Lin had already cleared the Yinying Pavilion disciples from the cavern."

Over at Wang Tie's side, most of the survivors were rescued; though weak, they managed to keep their lives.

Translation: "On Wang Tie's side, he also managed to rescue most of the survivors; though each was weak, at least their lives were preserved."

The battle ended.

Translation: "The battle ended."

The cave lay in ruins, the altar dimmed, the crystal shattered, and the evil ritual was completely destroyed.

Translation: "The cavern lay in disarray, the altar dim, the crystal shattered, and the evil ritual utterly destroyed."

The survivors, having escaped death, knelt before Han Wuxian and his three companions, sobbing uncontrollably in gratitude.

Translation: "The survivors, having escaped disaster, all bowed in gratitude to Han Wuxian and his companions, weeping uncontrollably."

Han Wuxian, however, frowned slightly; he sensed that with the altar's destruction, the deep‑seated, dormant Mahayana aura within the hive structure trembled faintly—still showing no sign of awakening, yet an intangible, icy resentment rippled outward.

Han Wuxian, however, frowned slightly; he felt that as this altar was destroyed, the lingering Mahayana aura deep within the hive structure seemed to tremble faintly—though it still showed no sign of awakening, an intangible, icy resentment spread like ripples.

It seems the commotion here has still drawn the attention of that deep‑lying presence.

Translation: "It seems the commotion here still drew the attention of that existence deep below."

We must leave quickly and find a way to completely eradicate the calamity of this place.

Translation: "We must leave as soon as possible and find a way to completely resolve this place's calamity."

His gaze swept over the still‑shaken survivors, then turned toward the deeper parts of the hive structure.

Translation: "His gaze swept over the still-startled survivors, then turned toward the deeper reaches of the hive structure."

Although Yan Buji has not arrived in person, the demonic lair he left behind and the ongoing evil scheme must be eradicated completely.

Translation: "Although Yan Buji himself did not appear, the demonic lair he left behind and the evil deeds underway must be utterly eradicated."

Inside the hive cave, the aftershocks of the forcibly interrupted evil ritual had not fully subsided; the shattered dark‑red crystals were dim and lifeless, and the blood‑colored runes on the altar lost their vitality. The rescued cultivators were still shaken, most collapsed on the ground, barely restoring their qi with the pills distributed by Wang Tie.

Translation: "Inside the hive cavern, the aftermath of the forcibly interrupted evil ritual had not yet fully subsided; the shattered dark-red crystals lay dull and lifeless, the bloody runes on the altar had lost their potency. The rescued cultivators remained shaken, most sitting limp on the ground, barely restoring their vitality with the medicine dispensed by Wang Tie."

Han Wuxian did not linger; he approached the four Refinement of Void elders of the Shadow Pavilion whose primordial embryos had been sealed and who lay limp on the ground. Among them, the late‑stage black‑robed elder's eyes mixed venomous resentment with unmistakable fear.

Translation: "Han Wuxian wasted no time, approaching the four elders whose Nascent Souls had been sealed and who lay limp on the ground. Among them, the late-stage Void Refining black-robed elder's eyes held venomous hatred mixed with barely concealed fear."

"What is the purpose of the 'ritual' you are conducting here? Where is the extracted life energy being sent?" Han Wuxian's voice was cold and emotionless, his overwhelming divine sense pressing like a solid force around the elder.

Translation: '"What is the purpose of the \"ritual\" you are conducting here? Where is the drawn life force being sent?" Han Wuxian's voice was ice-cold, devoid of emotion, his powerful divine sense pressure like a tangible weight enveloping the elder.'

The black‑robed elder shivered, feeling his sealed primordial embryo trembling, realizing resistance was futile, and snarled, "Hmph… I'll tell you. This is the 'Ten‑Thousand‑Spirit Blood Sacrifice.' The extracted essence, spirit, and soul are all funneled into the 'Core Mother Nest,' nourishing the Saint Lord's dharma‑body… When the Saint Lord attains perfection, it will be your doom!"

Translation: "The black-robed elder shuddered all over, feeling his Nascent Soul tremble within the seal, knowing resistance was futile, he gritted his teeth: '"Hmph… telling you is no problem! This is the \"Myriad Spirit Blood Sacrifice\"; the drawn essence, energy, spirit, and soul all flow into the \"Core Mother Nest\" to nourish the \"Holy Lord\"'s Dharma Body… once the Holy Lord achieves completion, it will be your doom!"'

"Core Mother Nest? Where is it?" Han Wuxian pressed.

Translation: '"The Core Mother Nest? Where is it?" Han Wuxian pressed.'

"It lies at the deepest part of this hive… but you cannot reach it! There stands the Saint Lord's personally designed 'Ten‑Thousand‑Soul Extinction Array,' guarded by the 'Left and Right Protectors.' Going there is a death sentence!" the elder hissed, trying to deter with fear.

Translation: '"It lies deep within this hive…… but you cannot go there! There, the Holy Lord himself set up the \"Myriad Soul Silence Extinction Grand Formation\", and the \"Left and Right Guardians\" stand watch—going there would be suicide!" the elder rasped, trying to deter with fear.'

Han Wuxian stopped asking, pointed a speck of gray light at the elder's forehead, and forcefully used his soul power to scour the elder's fragmented memories. The elder let out a harrowing wail, then his eyes glazed over and he collapsed dead.

Translation: "Han Wuxian asked no more; he flicked a gray speck into the elder's brow, directly using overwhelming soul power to search his memory fragments. The elder let out a wretched scream, then moments later his eyes glazed over and he fainted."

From the fragmented memories, Han Wuxian obtained crucial information: the Core Mother Nest is located at the deepest underground level of the hive structure, the core of the old lair run for years by the gray‑mist Yanluo Yan Buji. There indeed stands an extremely terrifying great array, guarded by two fully‑realized "Left and Right Protectors" of Refinement of Void. Yan Buji himself appears to be in a critical stage of cultivating a secret technique; his body cannot move easily, but portions of his divine thought can descend via the array, wielding limitless power.

Translation: "From the fragmented memories, Han Wuxian obtained crucial information: the Core Mother Nest lies at the deepest underground level of the hive structure, the long-time central stronghold of the Gray Mist Yama Yan Buji; there indeed exists an extremely terrifying grand formation, guarded by two perfected Void Refining \"Left and Right Guardians\". Yan Buji himself appears to be at a critical juncture in cultivating some secret art; his true body cannot easily move, but a portion of his divine sense can descend via the formation, wielding boundless power."

"Left and Right Protectors… Ten‑Thousand‑Soul Extinction Array…" Han Wuxian mused. It seems that to utterly destroy this place, he must confront these two fully‑realized Refinement of Void masters and that dreadful array.

Translation: '"Left and Right Guardians… Myriad Soul Silence Extinction Grand Formation…" Han Wuxian mused. It seems that to utterly destroy this place, we must confront those two perfected Void Refining powerhouses and that fearsome grand formation.'

At this moment, the Elder who had been healed by Wang Tie, coming from the Xuantian Sect at the early Void Refining stage, supported by his disciples, walked over and bowed deeply to Han Wuxian: "I, Zhao Qian, Outer Gate Elder of the Xuantian Sect, thank you, Senior Han, for saving my life!"

"Zhao Elder need not stand on ceremony." Han Wuxian gestured to help him up, "Do you know why the Gloom Shadow Pavilion is massively capturing cultivators?"

Zhao Qian's face showed grief and fear: "The specific reason is not very clear, but during his imprisonment, he vaguely heard the guards mention that it seemed to be in order to gather some kind of 'key' or 'sacrificial offering' to open an ancient forbidden place called the 'Eye of Return to the Ruins'... It is said that the forbidden place contains power beyond this realm, and the Gray Mist Yama dreams of using it to control the entire Zhong Tian Zhi Yu, and even... break through to a higher realm!"