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Chapter 392: The Central Cavern
🕑 Added 2024-10-25 07:44:54 +0000 UTCSeeing that the Green Jade Lotus could only protect up to ten people, Lin Xiao turned back and made his way to the surface.
As soon as he emerged, the waiting group hurriedly gathered around him, asking for details.
Lin Xiao explained the results of his test, including how the lotus could shield a maximum of ten people in the deeper parts of the mine. Upon hearing this, the three Nascent Soul cultivators, along with the group, quickly discussed who would venture down.
The three Nascent Soul cultivators were undoubtedly essential members of the team. Given the unknown dangers below, they couldn’t afford to waste their strength by staying behind.
The selection of the remaining seven Golden Core cultivators was equally swift. They simply chose the seven strongest among the remaining group. Jiang Sisi, from Green Lotus Sect, was naturally included. Although her cultivation was on par with another cultivator, her connection to the Green Jade Lotus made her an obvious choice, as she might know something useful in case of an emergency.
As for Li Yuanze from the Pusi royal family, despite his strong potential, his cultivation was deemed insufficient, so he was assigned to stay aboveground with the rest of the team, including Lin Xiao.
Without hesitation, Lin Xiao was left as one of the eleven who remained outside the mine.
No one even considered Lin Xiao for the descent. In their eyes, he was still a Golden Core novice, too young and inexperienced for such a critical task.
Once the team of ten was finalized, Lin Xiao once again used the white mist from the sealing array to display the full layout of the underground terrain. At the center of the mine, the vast cavern they saw was clearly the hideout of the Destruction Stone remnants.
Having confirmed the path, the group, led by the three Nascent Soul cultivators, solemnly stepped into the depths of the unknown mine, holding the Green Jade Lotus for protection. The cultivators at the periphery, furthest from the jade lotus, were especially anxious as they entered, fearing they might fall outside its protective range.
However, just as Lin Xiao had tested, the Green Jade Lotus emitted a radiant green glow, covering the ten of them as they moved in tight formation. Relieved, they began their steady descent.
Meanwhile, the cultivators waiting above relaxed slightly, seeing that the group’s entry had been successful. Each found a spot to meditate and wait.
After walking around for a while and seeing that the ten-man team had disappeared from sight, Lin Xiao spoke to Li Yuanze and the others, "Fellow Daoists, I’m going to scout the surrounding area."
The others, knowing that nothing much was happening aboveground, didn’t object and simply nodded in acknowledgment.
"Be careful, Daoist Lin," someone called out.
"Thank you," Lin Xiao replied with a polite nod before wandering off.
Once he was far enough, Lin Xiao used concealment techniques to hide his presence and circled around to another entrance he had noticed earlier. This entrance also led to the central cavern.
For Lin Xiao, the Destruction Stones were now harmless. However, since the mine was full of Destruction Stones, there would be no spiritual energy to replenish his reserves. Even though his body could automatically convert spiritual energy into Yuan Qi, there still needed to be a source of energy to convert.
With his current reserves, Lin Xiao knew he had to carefully manage his energy while in the mine.
As he stepped into the mine, the once oppressive energy-draining sensation from the Destruction Stones was entirely absent. It was a stark contrast to the last time he had entered, where his spiritual energy had been continuously siphoned away.
Meanwhile, deep within the central cavern...
Several pale-faced figures stood guard around the cavern’s perimeter. At the center, the Grandmaster worked meticulously, arranging Destruction Stones into a formation on the ground.
Nearby, several others were pulling unconscious women from large sacks. One of the women, appearing no older than fifteen or sixteen, had a delicate and pure beauty. Unable to restrain himself, one of the guards reached out to touch her face.
"Do you dare lay a hand on Master Jixian's sacrifices?" the Grandmaster's cold voice echoed behind the man.
Startled, the guard turned in fear. Seeing the Grandmaster standing eerily close without him noticing, the guard quickly withdrew his hand. "I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare, Grandmaster!" he stammered, trembling.
Since undergoing the Destruction Cultivation, these men found themselves gripped by an overwhelming fear of the Grandmaster. It was as if their very souls trembled in his presence, making them incapable of defiance.
The Grandmaster cast a chilling glance at the man. "Focus on your task and keep your filthy thoughts to yourself."
With a swish of his sleeve, the Grandmaster returned to his work. In the center of the cavern lay a massive pit, filled with large chunks of Destruction Stones. From within his robes, he pulled out a jet-black staff and began chanting in an eerie, incomprehensible language.
After a long chant, a flicker of netherlight flashed in the pit, and suddenly, a figure appeared.
Or rather, a soul.
"It’s the... the king!" one of the guards exclaimed in shock, recognizing the rotund figure.
The Grandmaster paid no attention to the murmurs. The figure in the pit wasn’t a corpse but a soul—the soul of the former king.
After summoning for so long, only the soul had appeared, causing the Grandmaster’s brow to furrow in displeasure.
"Useless fool," he muttered.
The Grandmaster had anticipated the former king’s actions. He had deliberately leaked information to him, suggesting that absorbing the power of the royal seal could greatly increase his strength and allow him to rule unchallenged. While it was true, success was rare, and the Grandmaster had made modifications to the king’s soul to increase the odds and ensure the soul could be easily summoned later.
The plan had been for the king to absorb the seal’s power and be summoned to the Destruction Stone cavern for further use. However, he had also prepared for failure. If the king succeeded, he would be an even more valuable asset. But if he failed, the Grandmaster could still use the seal itself to power the ritual.
Yet, someone else had intervened and taken the king’s body and the royal seal. Now, only the soul remained.
Staring at the soul, the Grandmaster’s eyes darkened. Without the Royal Seal to protect the king’s soul, its usefulness as a ritual catalyst was severely diminished.
Turning with a flick of his sleeve, the Grandmaster ordered coldly, "Place the sacrifices on the ten altars!"
At his command, the guards hurriedly followed orders, positioning the unconscious women onto the designated altars surrounding the cavern, all while the dark ritual continued to unfold.
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