125: Chapter 125 The Altar of the Heart of the Pool, the Blood Sacrifice Begins

Half an Hour passed in a flash.

Lin Yue and Star Radiance stood on a high slope three miles outside the Corrupt Dragon Pool, gazing at the Altar at the Pool's Heart.

At this moment, the Corrupt Dragon Pool was completely enveloped in dark red light.

The pool water was boiling and churning, bubbling up thick, viscous bubbles. Every bursting bubble released a strong Spirit Devourer aura and a bloody smell.

At the top of the Altar, the Spirit Devouring Crystal Core was spinning too fast for the naked eye to distinguish. The twisted runes on its surface seemed to come alive, constantly squirming and reorganizing, emitting heart-palpitating spatial fluctuations.

The Sacrificer himself was sitting cross-legged beneath the Crystal Core, hands raised high, chanting ancient and obscure incantations.

His black robe billowed without wind, and dense black roots appeared all around him. These roots were deeply embedded in the Altar, seemingly merging him with the entire Corrupt Dragon Pool.

"Is he... burning his own Origin?"

Star Radiance's pupils contracted slightly.

Looking through the Star Gazing Pupil Technique, the Sacrificer's spiritual power was pouring out like a volcanic eruption, injecting itself into the Spirit Devouring Crystal Core.

This reckless activation, while speeding up the Ritual, also meant... the Sacrificer had no retreat.

Either successfully summon the Spirit Devouring Clan to descend, or have his spiritual power exhausted and be consumed by the spirit devouring root backlash.

"He's gambling."

Lin Yue's voice was cold, "Gambling that he can complete the summoning before we destroy the Altar."

"And the stakes?"

"The entire Southern Territory."

The two fell silent.

Indeed, once the Spirit Devouring Clan descended, the first to bear the brunt would be the billions of Human Race members and living beings in the Southern Territory.

At that time, life would be ruined, and mountains and rivers shattered—this was no exaggeration.

"Star Envoy, prepare to set up the Formation."

Lin Yue withdrew his gaze. "According to the plan, you set up the Star Orbit Teleportation Formation on the periphery, and I will approach the Altar. Once you give the signal, I will detonate the dragon soul crystal core."

"Understood."

Star Radiance nodded and took out twelve specially made silver Formation Flags from her Storage Ring.

These Formation Flags were more complex than the previous Star Light Formation Nails. The flag surface was embroidered with complete star orbit patterns, and the flagpoles were forged from "Void Silver Iron," possessing a natural affinity for spatial fluctuations.

"Setting up the Star Orbit Teleportation Formation requires One Stick of Incense Time. After that time, regardless of the situation, I will activate the Formation to cover your retreat."

She looked at Lin Yue, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

"City Lord Lin... you must be careful. The Sacrificer's current state means his combat power is likely approaching the Mid Nascent Soul Stage, and he can mobilize the Spirit Devourer aura of the entire Corrupt Dragon Pool. Direct confrontation is definitely not the best strategy."

"Don't worry, I know my limits."

Lin Yue checked his equipment one last time.

The spirit slaying star scar was in its sheath, the dragon soul crystal core was tucked close, and Consumables like spirit cleansing dew and spirit recovery pill were placed in the most accessible positions.

Everything was ready.

"Commence action."

As his voice fell, the two simultaneously transformed into streaks of light and split up.

Star Radiance, carrying the Formation Flags, shot toward a hidden Mound northeast of the Corrupt Dragon Pool.

The terrain there was high, the view was open, and there was a natural Stone Forest for cover, making it the best location for setting up the Teleportation Formation.

Lin Yue, meanwhile, moved like a phantom, hugging the Swamp ground, silently approaching the Corrupt Dragon Pool.

His target was a massive Reef thirty Zhang west of the Altar.

The Reef was half-submerged, covered in black aquatic plants, making it an excellent hiding spot.

More importantly, the distance from there to the Altar was only thirty Zhang—precisely the safe distance where detonating the dragon soul crystal core could maximize the destruction of the Altar without being affected by the Spatial Collapse.

The journey was smooth and uneventful.

The guards around the Corrupt Dragon Pool seemed to have been moved to maintain the Ritual. Lin Yue only encountered two patrols of Corrupt Water Yin Puppets, both of which he easily avoided.

After Half a Stick of Incense Time, he successfully reached the back of the Reef.

Hiding his figure, Lin Yue slowly poked his head out to observe the situation at the Altar.

At this moment, the Sacrificer was in an even more frenzied state than before.

The black roots surrounding him had spread from the Altar to the water surface, acting like countless tentacles, wildly dancing in the pool water and absorbing the Spirit Devourer aura within.

The rotation of the Spirit Devouring Crystal Core was so fast that not even an afterimage could be seen, leaving only a dark red light wheel in the air.

In the center of the light wheel, space was slowly splitting open with a thin seam.

At the edge of the seam, countless fine black roots could be vaguely seen, attempting to squeeze in from the other side of the Void Realm...

"The Summoning Channel... has begun to open!"

Lin Yue's heart tightened.

Although it was only an Elementary seam, its appearance meant that the Sacrificer's Ritual had progressed to a critical stage.

In One Stick of Incense Time at most, the Channel would be fully formed.

At that point, the first batch of the Spirit Devouring Clan would cross the Void Realm and descend upon this world.

"Star Radiance, how is your side?"

Lin Yue transmitted his voice using Divine Sense.

A moment later, Star Radiance's reply arrived:

"The Formation Flags have been set up and are currently activating... it still requires Half a Stick of Incense Time. City Lord Lin, I observe that the Spatial Rift above the Altar is accelerating its expansion, and it will reach the 'passable' critical point in One Cup of Tea Time at most."

One Cup of Tea Time... the timeframe was tighter than expected.

"Can we detonate it early?" Lin Yue asked.

"No. If we detonate it now, the Spatial Rift is not fully stable, and the explosion power won't be enough to trigger a large-scale collapse. We must wait until the rift expands to three Zhang wide and detonate it at the moment the spatial structure is weakest to achieve maximum effect."

Three Zhang wide... Lin Yue made an estimate.

At the current rate of expansion, it would take about Half a Stick of Incense Time.

This perfectly coincided with the time Star Radiance needed to activate the Formation.

"Good, then we wait."

He calmed his mind and concealed all his aura, becoming one with the Reef itself.

Time passed, minute by minute.

The dark red light in the Corrupt Dragon Pool grew increasingly intense, illuminating the Miasma within a ten-mile radius as if it were a sea of blood.

On the Altar, the Sacrificer's chanting grew louder and louder, like demonic sounds drilling into his ears. Even thirty Zhang away, Lin Yue felt a sharp pain in his Divine Soul.

Meanwhile, the Lunar Eclipse in the sky had reached its deepest point.

The entire moon was left with only a thin silver edge, the rest completely swallowed by shadow.

The Yin Qi between heaven and earth was so dense it was practically materialized, even forcing the Miasma down slightly.

Finally—

Buzz!!!

The Spirit Devouring Crystal Core emitted a piercing shriek!

On the surface of the Crystal Core, all the runes lit up simultaneously, and the light shot up like a pillar of blood, straight into the sky!

Directly above the Crystal Core, the Spatial Rift had expanded to three Zhang wide!

Deep within the rift, countless twisted, squirming black shadows could be vaguely seen, rushing toward this side in a frantic scramble!

The foremost black shadow had already extended half a claw—it was a massive claw covered in black scales and bristling with barbs!

"Now!"

Star Radiance's voice transmission exploded like a thunderclap in Lin Yue's Sea of Consciousness!

"The rift has reached the critical point! Detonate the Crystal Core!"

Lin Yue did not hesitate, taking the dragon soul crystal core from his embrace.

The dark-gold crystal stone trembled slightly in his palm. The illusory Dragon figure inside seemed to sense something, moving restlessly.

"I'm sorry..."

Lin Yue whispered, then frantically poured all his spiritual power into the Crystal Core!

What he needed to do was not merely detonate it, but use his own spiritual power as a trigger to activate the Dragon Soul Origin slumbering deep within the Crystal Core, maximizing the explosion's power!

This process required three Breaths.

First Breath, fine cracks appeared on the surface of the Crystal Core.

Second Breath, dark-gold light shone through the cracks.

Third Breath—

"Explode!"

Lin Yue violently hurled the Crystal Core toward the Altar!

The Crystal Core, like a dark-gold meteor, tore through the bloody sky and accurately struck the Altar Base, right beneath the Spirit Devouring Crystal Core!

The instant of impact.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment.

Then—

BOOM—!!!!

An unprecedented explosion swept across the entire Corrupt Dragon Pool!

It was not fire, nor a shockwave.

But... space itself collapsing!

Centered on the dragon soul crystal core's point of impact, the space within a thirty-Zhang radius shattered and collapsed like a mirror!

Void Realm Turbulence surged out from the cracks, wildly slicing everything like countless invisible blades!

The Altar bore the brunt of the attack.

Under the tearing force of the Spatial Collapse, the runes on the surface of the Spirit Devouring Crystal Core crumbled inch by inch, and its rotation abruptly stopped.

As for the Spirit Devouring Clan claws reaching out from the Void Realm rift, they were ground into powder by the turbulence!

"No—!!!"

The Sacrificer let out a desperate roar.

He frantically activated the roots around his body, trying to stabilize the Altar and repair the Spatial Rift.

But before the might of heaven and earth, the power of a Nascent Soul Cultivator was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Crack, crack, crack... countless fissures appeared on the Altar's surface, and it finally collapsed with a crash!

The Sacrificer himself was swept into the spatial turbulence, managing only an unwilling roar before being completely swallowed.

And Lin Yue, the moment he detonated the Crystal Core, had already turned and retreated violently!

"Star Radiance!"

"Teleportation Formation... Activate!"

On the Mound to the northeast, Star Radiance formed hand Seals, and the twelve Formation Flags lit up simultaneously!

A silver Star Light Portal slowly unfolded before her.

Lin Yue shot into the Portal like lightning.

Almost simultaneously, the Reef where he had been hiding was completely torn to shreds by the Void Realm Turbulence.

That was close!

The instant the two stepped into the Teleportation Formation, the Portal closed.

The next moment, they appeared in a safe zone ten miles away.

Looking back.

In the direction of the Corrupt Dragon Pool, a massive Black Hole, one hundred Zhang in diameter, was slowly swallowing everything around it.

Pool water, Miasma, wreckage... everything was sucked into the Black Hole and vanished.

That was a "Void Vortex" formed after the Spatial Collapse, and it would last for at least three Hours, completely annihilating all matter within its range.

"Is it... over?"

Star Radiance's face was pale, and her voice trembled slightly.

"It's over."

Lin Yue let out a long breath and collapsed onto the ground.

That burst of power just now had exhausted his last remaining strength.

At this moment, even lifting a single finger felt strenuous.

"The Sacrificer is dead, the Altar is destroyed, and the Summoning Channel was completely torn apart by the Spatial Collapse... The Spirit Devouring Clan won't be able to descend through here again anytime soon."

He looked at the distant Void Vortex, a trace of exhaustion flashing in his eyes, but more so, relief.

Finally... they held the line.

Star Radiance also sat down and began regulating her breathing.

Neither of them spoke, they just quietly watched the direction of the Corrupt Dragon Pool.

There, the Black Hole slowly shrank, eventually disappearing completely.

Only a massive, bottomless Pit, one hundred Zhang in diameter, remained.

Along the edges of the Pit, strong spatial fluctuations and Spirit Devourer aura lingered, proving that the earth-shattering explosion just now was not an illusion.

"What do we do... next?"

After a long time, Star Radiance spoke.

"First, we return to the Camp, rendezvous with the Qinglan Sect, and clean up the aftermath."

Lin Yue pushed himself up. "Then... we should consider how to respond when the Burial Dragon Abyss Seal completely collapses a year from now."

Star Radiance nodded.

Indeed, the crisis at the Corrupt Dragon Pool was temporarily resolved.

But over at the Burial Dragon Abyss, a much bigger problem was waiting.

"But before that..."

Lin Yue looked at Star Radiance, a smile playing on his lips.

"Shouldn't we celebrate first? After all... we just saved the Southern Territory."

Star Radiance was momentarily stunned, then also smiled.

"We should celebrate."

She looked at Lin Yue, starlight swirling in her eyes, carrying a rare hint of softness.

"City Lord Lin, it was a pleasure working with you."

"The feeling is mutual."

The two exchanged smiles.

In the distance, the horizon was turning a pale white, like a fish belly.

The Lunar Eclipse had passed, and the morning sun was rising.

A new day had begun.

And the future of the Southern Territory would, starting from this day, head in a completely new direction.