The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2379: Seizing the Vessel (2)

So long as the malevolent deity continues to grow, unrest and terror shall inexorably engulf the land.

These harbinger sects will then possess an inherent shield of dark thoughts, rendering them impervious even to the most formidable cultivators of the righteous Dao, whether they hail from the Heaven Void or the Feather Transformation Realm.

The very presence of this dark deity transforms into a formidable instrument.

And the current circumstances unfold even more favorably than their calculations suggested.

Although the dark deity has indeed appeared, its full might is not yet realized, as it remains in the process of merging with its mortal vessel, a divine-human union in progress.

This presents their most opportune moment to seize and assert control over the dark deity.

Upon departing the Blood Sacrifice Array, they will then be able to spirit the dark deity away to their own dominion.

The dark deity shall rightfully belong to them.

The cultivators from Yin Corpse Valley and the Demon Sword Sect, both operating within the Feather Transformation Realm, ceased their restraint and unleashed their respective arts of corpse and sword manipulation, targeting Mr. Tu with their full force.

Mr. Tu, consumed by righteous fury, abandoned all pretense of civility. His eyes blazed a crimson hue, and he underwent a terrifying metamorphosis into a demonic monstrosity, plunging into a battle for survival against the two.

The three formidable figures of the Feather Transformation Realm found themselves locked in a desperate, life-or-death struggle.

For a fleeting period, the entirety of the hall reverberated with the shockwaves of their confrontation.

It is fortunate that this locale is within a Third-Grade State Boundary, imposing limitations on the full expression of power by Feather Transformation cultivators. Were it not so, this hallowed hall dedicated to the dark deity would likely have crumbled into dust instantaneously.

Meanwhile, as this titanic clash raged, Mo Hua, his hand clasped with Yu Er's, followed Shangguan Wang out of the main hall and into the ghastly confines of the Blood and Flesh Maze.

Within the sprawling labyrinth, flesh writhed unnervingly, skeletal protrusions jutted from the walls, and the intricate bone structures formed a disorienting maze, making any sense of direction utterly impossible.

Shangguan Wang's brow furrowed as he cast a concerned glance at Mo Hua, stating, "Mr. Tu has sealed off the maze, and I possess no map. Escape appears insurmountable."

"No matter,"

Mo Hua replied with an air of serene confidence. A subtle depth flickered in his eyes as he extended his divine sense, attuning himself to the maze's intrinsic energy. Then, with a deliberate gesture, he pointed onward.

"Open!"

Immediately, a surge of sinister Qi erupted, and a remarkable transformation began to unfold.

The Blood and Flesh Maze seemed to bend to the will of its perceived "master," contorting and retracting to the sides as if commanded.

Bones, dislodged from the very ground, coalesced in the center, constructing a pathway, as if laying a royal road for the "master's" passage.

In that instant, Mo Hua appeared as the undisputed sovereign of the maze.

Shangguan Wang's expression contorted in sheer astonishment, and the lingering vestiges of doubt within his heart evaporated completely.

Anyone capable of commanding the dark deity's maze and manipulating the very essence of flesh and bone, even if not the deity itself, must surely be the revered "High Priest," the inheritor of the dark deity's sacred will.

All other claims or deceptions might be dismissed, but the spectacle unfolding before him was irrefutable proof.

A newfound conviction solidified within Shangguan Wang, leading him to adopt an even more deferential posture towards Mo Hua. He regarded Yu Er with an aura of reverence, as if the Divine Lord himself had graced their presence.

"Let us proceed," Mo Hua stated calmly.

Shangguan Wang offered a deep bow and a respectful salute, replying, "Yes, esteemed one."

As the unsettling flesh receded and the bones formed a clear passage, the trio stepped across the stark white osseous path, navigating through the Blood and Flesh Maze, and ultimately emerged into the grand chamber of the Blood Sacrifice Array.

While Mo Hua possessed an intimate understanding of the Blood and Flesh Maze's inner workings, the external temples were of a far greater and more complex scale, and his familiarity with the precise routes was less profound.

He turned his gaze to Shangguan Wang, instructing, "Guide us to Yanluo Mountain."

Shangguan Wang, now adept at obeying Mo Hua's directives, nodded in agreement and replied with utmost respect, "Yes, my lord."

Consequently, Shangguan Wang continued his devoted role as guide for Mo Hua.

This contingency had been meticulously considered by Mo Hua.

The Desolate Heaven Blood Sacrifice Formation encompassed an immense area; while he could grasp the intricate design of the Formation Pivot, his comprehension of all the labyrinthine corridors within the Evil God Temple was not absolute.

Even if he were capable of navigating, the endeavor of escaping alongside Yu Er from this stronghold, infested with demonic entities, would remain fraught with perilous challenges.

Therefore, the necessity of a "guide" was paramount.

This guide needed to possess a significant social standing, considerable Cultivation, a susceptibility to avarice, and a deficient Daoist Heart.

Shangguan Wang perfectly embodied these requisites.

Since he had brought Yu Er deep into the Blood Sacrifice Hall, it was only logical that he would also be the one to escort her out.

Heavenly Mechanism Causality, a fitting retribution for every action.

The three navigated through a series of corridors, ornate temples, vast halls, and imposing gates, gradually receding from the magnificent Evil God temple and moving towards the exterior.

This was, after all, the fortified domain of the Evil God, teeming with an abundance of demon cultivators, their forms grotesque and their intentions malevolent.

However, with Shangguan Wang of the Feather Transformation Realm at the forefront, none dared to impede their progress.

On the rare occasions when a few, lacking in foresight, dared to question the presence of Mo Hua and Yu Er, their arms were swiftly severed by a decisive strike from Shangguan Wang's sword.

"How dare you question my authority?"

A few defiant demon cultivators, arrogant and unruly, attempted to challenge Shangguan Wang's authority.

With a swift snap of their necks and a sharp thrust of his sword through their chests, Shangguan Wang demonstrated the fearsome power and absolute authority of the Feather Transformation, utterly annihilating those who dared to challenge him.

They journeyed onward for an indeterminate distance, traversing the demon-infested sea of the Evil Temple until they reached a cliff stained a deep, blood-red hue.

Before them stood a gateway that resembled a familiar, pulsing door of flesh and blood.

It was through this very flesh-and-blood passage that Mr. Tu had guided him, leading him into the heart of the Great Wilderness Evil God Temple.

His extensive time spent alongside Mr. Tu had significantly broadened his understanding of formations, earning him the affectionate moniker "Little Mr. Tu."