The dark red lake, which had only been faintly restless before, suddenly began to surge violently—
as though some colossal creature beneath the surface had awakened!
In the next instant, thick tentacles—each as wide as a water jar and formed from viscous blood and foul miasma—burst forth from the lake.
They came whipping and coiling toward the group on the narrow path,
bringing with them a stench so strong it made one’s teeth ache, accompanied by the harsh sound of tearing flesh.
“Careful!”
A’Long shouted, slashing his blade toward a blood-red tentacle that lunged for Margaret.
The blade struck, and a metallic clang rang out, sparks flying!
The tentacle was incredibly tough, its surface covered in corrosive energy.
A’Long’s arm went numb from the impact, and his sword was quickly stained with a layer of dark red filth, its spiritual glow fading.
The other two guards also swung their weapons, but their attacks barely made a dent.
They were forced into a desperate defense, danger closing in on every side.
Even Qingzhu’s dagger only managed to leave shallow pits on the monstrous limbs—
it could not cause any real harm.
“Fall back behind me!” Dustin commanded, his tone low but sharp.
Facing the surge of blood-colored tentacles, his eyes narrowed.
He didn’t draw his sword—instead, his hands moved rapidly in a series of seals.
In the next moment, a surge of pure Xuanqing True Qi burst forth from his body,
forming a massive, rotating azure Tai Chi diagram that enveloped the entire group!
“Xuanqing Guardian Art — All Evil Repelled!”
The blood-colored tentacles slammed violently against the Tai Chi shield,
producing thunderous booms one after another.
The foul miasma collided with the pure True Qi,
erupting into sizzling bursts of black smoke.
The Tai Chi diagram trembled violently,
but it managed to withstand the first wave of attacks.
However, the assault didn’t stop.
Even more tentacles surged from the lake.
Instead of striking head-on, they coiled and corroded around the Tai Chi barrier,
trying to dissolve it from the edges.
At the same time, thick blood mist began to rise from the lake—
it carried an intense mental corruption, piercing through protective qi,
forcing its way into the minds of the group, conjuring terrifying visions and seductive whispers.
“Hold your hearts firm!”
Dustin’s voice rang out clear and steady, like a stream of spring water cleansing their minds.
Maintaining the Tai Chi shield, he turned his gaze toward a particular spot deep within the blood mist.
“Enough hiding. Show yourself.”
A cold, venomous voice echoed through the mist in reply:
“Hmph. You do have keen senses.”
The lake parted, and from beneath the surface slowly rose a figure bathed in dazzling white light—
hovering above the blood-red waters.
It was Bai Chan.
But compared to before, his appearance had drastically changed.
He still wore that spotless white robe,
yet now not a trace of the lake’s filth could taint it.
His once-pale face glowed with a strange, jade-like radiance.
The aura radiating from him was several times stronger than before,
his eyes burning with hatred and the twisted pleasure of vengeance.
He hovered there—
his pure white glow clashing eerily with the lake’s crimson hue,
as though he were a false god rising from a pit of hell.
“Dragon Blood Rebirth Pill…” Dustin murmured, eyes narrowing.
He could clearly sense the surging vitality within Bai Chan’s body—
tainted with the same dragon blood aura as the lake and the blood altar,
yet purer and more condensed.
Obviously, Bai Chan had consumed the pill given by that burly man—
not only restoring his body but greatly enhancing his power.
“Didn’t expect this, did you, Dustin?”
Bai Chan’s lips twisted into a cruel smile.
“Thanks to you, I’ve rebuilt my body—and with my elder brother’s Dragon Blood Immortal Pill, my strength has soared!
Today is the day you die!
And all of you insects who disturbed my slumber… will pay the price!”
Before his words faded, he raised a finger—
A beam of pure white light, laced with strands of blood-red energy,
shot forth like lightning, tearing through the air,
striking straight toward Dustin’s Tai Chi shield!
The power behind it was far greater than anything Bai Chan had used before.
Even the space it passed through distorted faintly,
and the lake below split open under the force!
BOOM—!
The beam struck the Tai Chi diagram dead center.
This time, the shield could not fully endure.
It shook violently, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.
Dustin swayed slightly, his face turning grim.
“Do you see it now? This… is power!”
Bai Chan laughed wildly, his hands flashing as he unleashed
wave after wave of those blood-veined white beams,
raining destruction down like a storm.
At the same time, the blood tentacles below surged again,
striking and corroding the weakened barrier in unison.
Assaulted from within and without,
the Tai Chi shield dimmed rapidly—its light faltering,
cracks spreading wider and wider.
It looked ready to shatter at any moment. - Marinien
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