87: Chapter 87 The Ultimate Killing Array Has Been Activated

Everyone inside the council hall was startled by the sudden loud noise and tremor.

The surviving stewards turned pale; they knew that the alarm meant the mining area was truly under attack!

Uncle-Master Zhao was telling the truth!

The enemy really had come!

"Quick! Everyone, return to your posts immediately and activate all defensive measures!" Qian Kun bellowed decisively, not bothering to question Zhang Quan, who was already paralyzed with fear.

"Yes, Elder!"

Suppressing the fear in their hearts, the surviving stewards departed to fulfill their orders.

The stone doors of the council hall opened, and a thick stench of blood along with an ominous aura assailed their senses.

Zhao Ruoan and Qian Kun stepped out of the hall and looked up at the sky.

With just a single glance, Qian Kun's face turned ash-pale.

The originally clear sky was now covered by a boundless expanse of blood-red clouds.

An enormous blood-red curtain of light, like an inverted bowl, tightly sealed off the entire hundred-li mountain range where the Qingxuan Sect mining area was located.

Dense Devilish Qi surged in like a tide from all directions, relentlessly eroding the light curtain of the pale green Guardian Array at the outer boundary of the mining area.

Under the impact of the blood-red Devilish Qi, the light of the Guardian Array flickered erratically and tottered on the brink, issuing groans of strain.

"This is... the Blood River Soul-Locking Array!" Qian Kun's voice trembled, his eyes filled with despair. "It's the forbidden Formation of the Blood Sea Sect! They... to deal with us, they actually unleashed such an atrocious, heavenly-law-defying Formation!"

He knew the terror of this Formation better than anyone.

Once the Blood River Soul-Locking Array was fully activated, it would not only cut off all communication and teleportation inside and outside, but within its range, the Divine Souls of all living beings would be slowly drained, ultimately becoming nourishment to enhance the Formation's power.

This was an absolute death Formation!

They were completely trapped to die here!

"Hahaha... It's too late! It's all too late!" Zhang Quan, held down by two Disciples, suddenly burst into wild laughter upon seeing the blood-red curtain in the sky. "Zhao Ruoan, Qian Kun! You all have to die! Everyone will be buried with us!"

Zhao Ruoan ignored his clamor and simply stared calmly at the sky.

His Divine Sense could clearly feel that outside this absolute death Formation, dozens of powerful and evil auras had surrounded the place completely.

Among them, three auras were particularly terrifying, like scorching suns in the dark night, far surpassing any opponent he had previously encountered.

Peak Spirit Pill Realm!

Just as the System had warned.

It appeared the enemy had come fully prepared and determined to win.

Just then, a hoarse and smug voice boomed down from the blood-red clouds like rolling thunder, resounding across the entire mining area.

"Ants of the Qingxuan Sect, listen up!"

"I am the Grand Elder of the Blood Sea Sect, Elder Xue Tu!"

"If you know what's good for you, open the Guardian Array immediately and hand over Yun Qinghan's Disciple, Zhao Ruoan! We might show mercy and spare your miserable lives!"

Another sinister voice followed immediately.

"Stubborn resistance will only lead to death! Once the array is broken, not a single soul—human or beast—will be left alive in this entire mining area!"

The two voices chimed in harmony, filled with indisputable arrogance and murderous intent.

Inside the mining area, all Disciples and miners who heard these words fell into immense panic.

"It's the Blood Sea Sect and the Nether Cult!"

"We're surrounded! What do we do?"

"The one they want is that Zhao Ruoan! Why should all of us be dragged down to die for just him?"

"Right! Hand him over! If we hand him over, we can live!"

Instantly, feelings of panic, resentment, and despair spread throughout the mining area.

Quite a few Disciples glanced subtly toward Zhao Ruoan at the council hall entrance, their expressions complex—mixed with fear and resentment.

Human nature always proves so fragile at the brink of life and death.

"All of you, shut your mouths!"

Qian Kun bellowed angrily, radiating his Divine Soul Realm pressure to temporarily suppress the commotion.

His face turned livid as he pointed at the sky and cursed at the enemy, "Old Demon Elder Xue Tu! You scum of the Demonic Path, stop trying to delude people with your foul talk! My Qingxuan Sect has no cowards who fear death, and certainly no traitors who sell out their fellow Disciples!"

"If you want to touch Junior Fellow Apprentice Zhao, you'll have to step over Qian Kun's dead body!"

Amplified by spiritual energy, his voice echoed throughout the entire mining area.

Hearing the Elder's words, many of the Disciples who had wavered lowered their heads in shame.

Indeed, they were Disciples of the Qingxuan Sect, members of an orthodox Sect. How could they entertain the thought of handing over a fellow Disciple just to save themselves?

"Well said! We pledge to live and die with the mining area!"

"Fight it out with these demonic brats!"

In an instant, emotions ran high, and morale was rallied once again.

Elder Elder Xue Tu up in the sky didn't seem to expect Qian Kun to be so unyielding and let out a cold sneer.

"What a loyal watchdog. Since you're so eager to die, this Elder will grant your wish!"

"Everyone, hear my command!"

"Attack with full force and shatter this turtle shell for me!"

"Yes!"

At his command, dozens of powerful attacks outside the Formation rained down mercilessly like a torrential storm onto the mining area's Guardian Array.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The light curtain of the Guardian Array trembled violently as visible cracks rapidly spread across it.

The Disciples maintaining the Formation spewed blood one after another, their faces turning deathly pale.

The energy core of the Formation was located on an altar at the center of the mining area; right now, the Spirit Stones on the altar were being consumed at a shocking rate, their light dimming rapidly.

"Elder! We can't hold on! The Formation can only hold out for... for an incense stick's time at most!" A deacon responsible for the Formation rushed over scrambling and crawling to report, his voice filled with despair.

An incense stick's time!

Everyone's heart sank to the bottom.

In an incense stick's time, once the array broke, they would have to face dozens of Demonic Path powerhouses in the Spirit Pill Realm head-on.

That would be a complete and utter massacre.

Qian Kun's body swayed. He looked at Zhao Ruoan, whose expression remained calm beside him, and let out a tragic laugh.

"Junior Fellow Apprentice Ruoan, I'm sorry. It is this old man's incompetence that I cannot protect you."

He was already prepared to die in battle.

But Zhao Ruoan shook his head.

He turned around, looking at Qian Kun and the surrounding Sect Disciples with resolute faces.

"Elder, Senior Brothers."

His voice reached everyone's ears clearly.

"The outcome is not yet decided."

"Their target is me, and hiding won't work. Rather than waiting around for death, it's better to take the initiative."

He took a deep breath, his gaze turning incomparably sharp.

"Elder Qian, next, please lead everyone to do your utmost to maintain the Guardian Array and guard this place."

"Then... what about you?" Qian Kun had a bad premonition.

Zhao Ruoan turned around and walked alone toward the edge of the Guardian Array.

Illuminated by the precarious light curtain, his back appeared somewhat slender, yet incomparably steadfast.

"I'm going to kill."