The golden talisman’s surface shimmered with countless grain-sized inscriptions, its body expanding and contracting irregularly. It twisted and writhed incessantly between his fingers, as if imbued with a certain sentience of its own.
Ma Liang furrowed his brow in deep contemplation for a long while before finally revealing a trace of resolve. With a slight flick of his wrist, the golden talisman emitted a soft “puff” sound. In a flash, it transformed into a golden rainbow several zhang long, soaring into the air and circling around Ma Liang in a frenzied dance.
Simultaneously, Ma Liang’s hands began weaving intricate hand seals, and he chanted an obscure incantation. Black and white qi flickered across his body as the black-robed youth began emanating an overwhelmingly terrifying aura, growing wildly stronger by the moment. In the blink of an eye, even the surrounding void trembled under the oppressive force, emitting a low, resonant hum.
An aura of such magnitude seemed utterly out of place in the Spirit Realm.
Outside the Blood River, Yin Gangzi was manipulating over a hundred silver shuttle-like treasures, each about a foot long, to pierce through a blood flood dragon opposite him, riddling it with countless holes until it exploded. A hint of smugness flashed across his face.
But in the next instant, his expression abruptly changed. His eyes glowed with spiritual light as he urgently turned his gaze toward the Blood River.
The other Mahayana cultivators also sensed the terrifying presence within the Blood River. Shocked, they momentarily slowed their attacks, diverting their attention to the anomaly unfolding in the Blood River.
As for Ming Zun, who was overseeing the battle from the disk, he showed no panic upon sensing this overwhelming aura. Instead, his eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a trace of anticipation.
With a “bang,” a light formation suddenly appeared on the disk. As the glow faded, the gray-robed man named Xuan Jiuling materialized, his face pale.
“What happened? You seem to have suffered quite a bit. Did you manage to slay that spirit beast?” Ming Zun turned his head, noticing that nearly half of his companion’s body was missing. He couldn’t help but ask in surprise.
“It’s nothing. That creature turned out to be the legendary Sacred Beast of Fire. Fortunately, it had lost its sentience and was merely a puppet, or I wouldn’t have made it back alive. But rest assured, I’ve already destroyed it. The formation node there remains intact and won’t interfere with your plans,” Xuan Jiuling replied with a sigh.
“A Sacred Beast of Fire! No wonder. Our opponent truly lives up to his reputation as an immortal from the Upper Realm, carrying such a powerful spirit beast with him. You didn’t use the Nine Tribulations Soul-Destroying Art, did you?” Ming Zun’s expression shifted slightly before he quickly pressed further.
“Don’t worry. That technique is my only chance to kill that true immortal. I wouldn’t use it recklessly. If I had, I wouldn’t be in such a sorry state,” Xuan Jiuling replied, his facial muscles twitching.
“Good. That true immortal seems to have begun unraveling his seals, preparing to restore his full power. You’ll need to act soon. Take this Water Source Pill and refine it—it should help with your injuries.” Ming Zun’s expression softened as he flicked his sleeve, sending a blue-glowing pill shooting toward the gray-robed man.
“Thank you. The Water Source Pill should indeed be somewhat effective for my current condition.” Without hesitation, Xuan Jiuling caught the pill and tossed it into his mouth before sitting cross-legged on the spot to meditate and heal.
Moments later, a faint blue light emerged over his wounds, gradually dispelling the charred flesh. Countless blood threads swiftly wove together, reconstructing patches of muscle and tissue.
Ming Zun nodded slightly before turning his gaze back toward the distant Blood River.
At this moment, the Blood River roared with thunderous noise as its waters surged violently, churning into towering crimson waves.
Under this stimulation, the eight blood dragons and four blood giants grew significantly stronger, managing to hold their ground against the four Black Qilin Beasts and the Mahayana cultivators for a time.
The terrifying aura within the Blood River had grown so powerful that anyone who sensed it couldn’t help but tremble in fear.
A bolt of lightning split the sky, and a seven-colored cloud manifested out of nowhere, ignoring the restrictions of the Twofold Microdust Formation. It expanded wildly, soon enveloping the entire Land of Screaming Souls.
Abruptly, the seven-colored cloud began to rotate, accompanied by the rumble of thunder as streaks of violet-gold lightning flickered within.
Inside the Blood River, Ma Liang continued forming hand seals with one hand, his eyes now closed.
The distorted void around him suddenly shimmered as dense clusters of violet-gold runes materialized. After spinning briefly, they coalesced into seven or eight violet-gold chains that lashed out, coiling around Ma Liang’s body.
With a muffled “boom,” the golden talisman circling Ma Liang exploded, releasing countless golden threads that instantly ensnared the violet-gold chains like a net.
A clear chime rang out!
The top of Ma Liang’s skull opened, and a golden infant emerged. Expressionless, the infant raised its hand and beckoned toward the entangled chains.
“Puff! Puff!” The violet-gold chains transformed into beams of golden light, shooting into Ma Liang’s skull and vanishing without a trace.
The golden infant then swayed, enveloped in golden mist, before returning to the skull.
The terrifying aura emanating from Ma Liang vanished with a resonant hum. His closed eyes slowly opened, a cold smirk playing on his lips.
Another thunderclap echoed in the sky as the thick seven-colored clouds and violet-gold lightning dissipated into nothingness.
Within moments, the sky returned to normal, as if everything had been an illusion.
Though Yin Gangzi and the others couldn’t see Ma Liang’s transformation within the Blood River, the disappearance of the terrifying aura brought them some relief. They immediately resumed their frenzied assault on their opponents.
At that moment, Ma Liang raised his arm and pointed a finger outward.
The eight blood dragons and four blood giants roared in unison as countless white marks appeared on their bodies. With a flash of blood light, they exploded into a rain of black blood, engulfing the surrounding void.
Caught off guard, Yin Gangzi and the others hastily activated defensive measures to evade.
The four Black Qilin Beasts twisted their bodies, transforming into black mist and vanishing instantly.
However, the blood rain covered a vast area, and with no prior warning, the bald giant and the palace-robed woman adorned with pearls and jade were slightly slower. They were still struck by the blood rain.
Their hearts sank simultaneously!
The bald giant let out a low growl as the silver disk-like treasures orbiting his body flared with radiant light, forming multiple silver barriers around him. His body blurred, transforming into a shadowy, indistinct figure.
The palace-robed woman, her jade-like face darkening, formed a series of hand seals.
Whooshing sounds filled the air as the pearls and jade in her hair transformed into dozens of defensive treasures, forming layers of protective barriers above her. At the same time, her green palace robes shimmered with radiant light as cyan runes emerged, creating another layer of defensive formations around her.
Both were true powerhouses among the Mahayana cultivators. The moment they saw the black-red blood rain, they sensed its terrifying power and instinctively activated their strongest defenses.
In the next instant, nearly a hundred drops of blood rain struck their defenses.
Upon contact, the black-red droplets emitted wisps of green smoke, piercing through the barriers and striking the cultivators’ protective spiritual light.
Two agonized screams rang out!
The bald giant and the palace-robed woman managed to escape the blood rain, but when they staggered into view again, Yin Gangzi and the others gasped in shock.
Half of the bald giant’s face had been stripped of flesh, revealing a ghastly white skull glowing with eerie gray light—a sight that sent chills down their spines.
Though the palace-robed woman’s face remained unharmed, one of her arms had completely dissolved, leaving no trace of bone behind.
“What kind of attack is this blood rain? How can it be so horrifying?” Lady Wu Ling blurted out in shock.
The others’ expressions darkened.
“This seems to be the legendary Blood Source Power, said to be achievable only by those who have mastered the pinnacle of blood path cultivation. It’s said that a single drop can pierce through mountains and seas. While it may not be quite that terrifying, it’s clearly not far off,” Ming Zun remarked as he stepped out of the void above Yin Gangzi and the others, his expression grave.
“Blood Source Power? Heh, this meager power hardly deserves such a title. It’s merely a crude refinement of the spiritual blood I’ve collected recently. True Blood Source Power is still worlds away,” a calm voice echoed from the Blood River.
The blood waters parted, revealing Ma Liang’s coldly smiling figure.
At the sight of Ma Liang, Lady Wu Ling and the others tensed, their gazes locking onto him.
“Are you truly an immortal from the Upper Realm?” Ming Zun asked calmly, though his pupils contracted slightly.
“Indeed. I attained the status of a true immortal countless years ago. Were it not for an important task, I would never have descended to this insignificant lower realm,” Ma Liang replied frankly.
“An important task? What matter could concern our Spirit Realm? Would you care to elaborate?” Ming Zun’s mind raced, though his expression remained neutral.
“There’s no need. I’ve already made progress. Once I exterminate you insignificant ants, my task will be complete. Now, I shall send you on your way.” Ma Liang’s tone was indifferent as he raised a hand, forming an orchid-like hand seal, disregarding the reactions of the Mahayana cultivators before him.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage