123: Blood Array Undercurrent

Lin Fan did not immediately disclose the news of Lin Zhen's execution. After cleaning up the traces of battle in the Ancient Formation Forest, he quietly returned to the Family, reporting the matter only to his father, Clan Leader. After deliberation, the father and son decided to announce externally that Lin Zhen had "unfortunately perished while executing a secret mission," temporarily stabilizing any other spies the Dark Moon Divine Cult might have planted.

Simultaneously, the Clan Chief's lineage began secretly purging those who sought to exploit the power vacuum created by Lin Zhen's death. Clan Leader used thunderous methods to adjust the personnel in the Law Enforcement Hall, transferring several mid-level officials who were close to Lin Zhen away from core positions and replacing them with absolutely loyal disciples.

All of this transpired beneath a calm surface, completely unnoticed by the vast majority of the Family. But Lin Fan knew that the real contest had just begun.

At midnight three days later, Lin Fan once again infiltrated Star Moon Lake. This time, his goal was clear: to investigate the core nodes of the Blood Sacrifice Grand Array and attempt to secretly disrupt its energy flow using the power of the star source crystal.

The star pagoda, reduced to the size of a fist, floated above his head, letting down strands of star radiance. This not only illuminated ten zhang of the lake bottom but also formed an invisible barrier that isolated his aura and fluctuations. The Eternal Indestructible Body operated at full capacity, his skin glowing with a pale golden luster, resisting the increasingly strong water pressure and chilling cold.

Diving down to the deep center of the lake, the lake bottom paved with silver star Ore once again appeared before him.

Compared to three days ago, the blood-colored Formation patterns were noticeably brighter. The stench of blood and resentment in the air had nearly solidified, transforming into wisps of dark red floccules that drifted slowly in the lake water. The pile of white bones at the core of the Formation had grown three chi taller.

"They are speeding up," Lin Fan thought, his heart sinking.

The Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils opened, and the Formation patterns decomposed into countless intricate energy flows in his sight. He quickly locked onto several crucial nodes—these were the entire Grand Array's "blood transfusion network," channeling the blood sacrifice energy gathered from all directions to the central Formation eye.

If these nodes were destroyed, the Grand Array's operation would be obstructed, which would at least delay the completion of the blood sacrifice.

Lin Fan approached the nearest node. It was a three-chi square blood-colored crystal, half-buried in the Ore. Its surface was covered in vein-like patterns, rhythmically pulsating, and with every pulse, a large amount of dark red energy was transported deep within.

He tried using his finger as a sword, condensing the Power of the Stars, and pointing it at a weak point where energy converged on the side of the crystal.

"Hiss!" The Power of the Stars contacted the blood-colored energy, emitting a corrosive sound. The crystal violently trembled, the surface patterns flickering between bright and dim, and the energy flow it was transporting immediately became chaotic. But after only three breaths, a denser blood light surged from deep within the crystal, forcefully repelling the Power of the Stars, and the patterns stabilized.

"It has a self-repair mechanism and is connected to the entire Grand Array." Lin Fan frowned. Forcibly destroying one node would trigger the entire Formation's backlash and repair, unless he could simultaneously destroy multiple core nodes or cut off its energy source.

He pondered for a moment and came up with an idea. He took out the star source crystal and suspended it three cun above the blood-colored crystal. The source crystal slowly rotated, emitting pure and gentle Power of the Stars. It did not attack, but rather permeated the blood-colored patterns like spring rain.

The essence of the Power of the Stars was utterly pure and Righteous Path, naturally clashing with the bloody resentment. Its silent infiltration immediately triggered a fierce repulsion from the blood-colored energy. The two powers tangled and clashed within the patterns, causing the energy transmission efficiency of that node to drop significantly, and the fluctuations became unstable.

"It's effective!" Lin Fan's eyes brightened. He used his Divine Sense to control the star source crystal, maintaining this state of "penetrative interference." At the same time, he moved swiftly, traversing the lake bottom and setting up the same star penetration interference at seven other critical nodes.

With eight nodes being interfered with simultaneously, the operation of the entire Blood Sacrifice Grand Array immediately showed obvious sluggishness. The speed at which blood light converged at the central Formation eye dropped by about thirty percent.

"This should be able to delay them for at least half a month," Lin Fan estimated.

However, he knew clearly that this was merely a temporary measure. Once the Dark Moon Divine Cult discovered the anomaly in the Grand Array, they would surely send people to reinforce it, or even preemptively initiate parts of the blood sacrifice to forcefully break through.

"I must find a way to completely break it, or open the Ancient Tomb first, before they notice."

His gaze turned toward the hundred-zhang black meteorite in the center of the lake.

As he swam closer to the meteorite, the scene at the tomb entrance was clearer than three days prior.

The areas around the two recessed slots—the star god token slot and the Dragon eye slot—were now densely covered with a network of dark red blood filaments. These blood filaments slowly wriggled like living things, continuously eroding the ancient Restriction on the door. The Restriction's brilliance was already slightly dimmer than before. At this rate, within a month at most, it would be weak enough to be forcibly pushed open.

Lin Fan took out the star god token and placed it into the left slot.

As the token embedded, a clear light burst forth, forcing back and purifying all the blood filaments within three cun of the area. The Star God Clan runes on the door lit up one by one, flowing with an ancient and vast aura. But the Dragon eye slot on the right side showed no reaction, and the overall Restriction only slightly fluctuated, showing no sign of opening.

"As expected, without the Dragon Clan Bloodline, the star god token alone is not enough to open the door." Lin Fan retrieved the token.

He reached out to touch the blood filaments. The sensation was slick and cold, carrying intense resentment and unwillingness. Every blood filament represented at least one sacrificed living Soul.

"A hundred thousand living beings..." Lin Fan closed his eyes, suppressing the surging anger in his heart.

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was calm. He took out the star source crystal and pressed it against the very center of the tomb door—the convergence point of the Star God Clan runes and the Dragon Clan totem, and also the "eye of the Formation eye" of the entire Restriction system.

With the source crystal applied, pure Star Power flowed into the door like a stream. This time, the reaction from the door was completely different.

All the Star God Clan runes brightened threefold simultaneously, and their flow accelerated. In the areas being eroded by blood filaments, wherever the Star Power passed, the filaments dissolved and retreated rapidly, like ice and snow meeting the sun. Although the scope of the retreat was limited to three chi around the source crystal, and the blood filaments would immediately creep back in to fill the space once the Star Power supply stopped, this proved one thing: the Power of the Stars could purify and repair the Restriction being eroded by the blood sacrifice!

If he could continuously nourish the tomb door with the star source crystal, he might not only accelerate the process of Righteous Path opening but also gradually eliminate the influence of the blood sacrifice, completely frustrating the Dark Moon Divine Cult's scheme.

"This requires time, and more Power of the Stars." Lin Fan calculated.

Though the star source crystal was excellent, its internal Star Power was not infinite. At the current rate of consumption, it could support continuous nourishment for a maximum of seven days. Afterward, it would need to be placed inside the star pagoda to slowly recover by absorbing the Star Power of the Zhou Tian, a process that would take at least a month.

"Perhaps I can try to draw upon the true stars." He looked up toward the surface of the lake. Although separated by a thousand zhang of lake water, the Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils could vaguely see the trajectory of the stars in the night sky.

If he could set up a Formation at the bottom of the lake to attract the Power of the Stars, combined with the star source crystal and the star pagoda, he could form a sustainable supply of Star Power, greatly accelerating the nourishment process.

This matter required careful planning, and it was unwise to linger now.

Lin Fan retrieved the source crystal, just about to leave, when he suddenly felt something and retreated rapidly! Right where he had been standing, a pitch-black, crescent-shaped blade light silently cut through, slicing the lake water and leaving a vacuum rift that lingered for a long time.

Three figures, like ghosts and specters, emerged from the shadows at the bottom of the lake.

The leader was clad in a black robe with three overlapping black moons embroidered on the cuffs. His face was hidden in the shadow of the hood, revealing only a pair of eyes glowing with dark red blood light. His aura was cold and obscure, having actually reached the Peak Divine Power Realm, and carried a dense stench of blood and death intent, clearly indicating long-term immersion in the evil arts of blood sacrifice.

The two figures behind him were also in the Mid-stage Divine Power Realm, wearing standard Dark Moon Cult robes, blocking Lin Fan's retreat path left and right.

"To be able to sneak in here and interfere with the Sacred Array, you possess some skill," the Black Moon Envoy leading them said in a hoarse voice, like metal scraping. "Unfortunately, this is where it ends."

Lin Fan's heart tightened. This person's cultivation was two minor Realms higher than his, and his aura was strange, definitely not comparable to the likes of Lin Zhen. What was more troublesome was that this place was the opponent's home ground, cultivated over a hundred years. Even though the Blood Sacrifice Grand Array was interfered with, it could still provide him with a boost.

"A Black Moon Patrol Envoy of the Dark Moon Divine Cult?" Lin Fan remained calm, secretly communicating with the star pagoda, while his Eternal Indestructible Body was already poised for action.

"Since you know this Envoy's identity, why don't you kneel and submit, offering up the star crystal in your possession?" The Black Moon Envoy's gaze fell on Lin Fan's chest, where a faint Star Power fluctuation emanated. "This item is of great use to the Sacred Cult. Hand it over, and you may keep your corpse whole."

"Want it? Come and take it yourself." Lin Fan sneered. Before his voice faded, he struck first!

His figure moved like lightning, not retreating but advancing, charging directly toward the Cultist on the left who was in the Mid-stage Divine Power Realm. His right fist exploded with golden light, slamming out the first form of the Indestructible Divine King Fist, "Shaking Mountain," with full power. Where the Fist Intent passed, the lake water burst open, raising a fierce undercurrent.

The Cultist clearly hadn't expected Lin Fan to dare to attack proactively and hastily swung his blade to block.

"Clang!" Fist and blade collided, and the sound of clashing metal echoed through the lake bottom. The blood-colored scimitar, which was of decent quality, was actually smashed and deformed by the single punch! The Cultist's hand split open, and he was sent flying backward, crashing into the Ore at the bottom of the lake, leaving a man-shaped indentation. But almost simultaneously, the attacks from the Cultist on the right and the Black Moon Envoy arrived.

The Cultist on the right formed a hand seal, and a blood-colored chain shot out from the Void Realm, wrapping around Lin Fan's legs. The chain was condensed from resentful Souls, and where it touched, it was chillingly cold, capable of freezing Qi and blood.

The Black Moon Envoy merely pointed from afar. A spot of pitch-black light flashed on his fingertip, instantly transforming into a rotating black moon three chi in diameter, silently slicing toward Lin Fan's neck. Where the black moon passed, even the lake water was "devoured," leaving a vacuum trail. Its power far exceeded the sneak attack blade light from moments ago.

Attacked from front and back, the killing trap was set! In this critical moment, the star pagoda above Lin Fan's head suddenly expanded, transforming into a three-zhang tall tower, showering down billions of star rays.

"Star Domain, open!" Centered around the star pagoda, the lake water within a thirty-zhang radius was instantly expelled, forming a miniature Star Domain. Within the Domain, starlight flowed like water, gravity was doubled, and all non-Star Power was suppressed.

The blood-colored chain entered the Domain, its speed sharply dropping, and the resentful Souls on its surface wailed as they were purified by the star radiance, rapidly fading.

The black moon was also delayed by the Domain's power, its rotation speed greatly reduced, but it continued to advance stubbornly, constantly devouring and annihilating the star radiance in its path.

Lin Fan seized this opportunity. The golden light of the Eternal Indestructible Body erupted completely, and his figure twisted like a swimming Dragon, narrowly avoiding the black moon's direct path. Simultaneously, he stomped on the blood-colored chain, using the force to rebound and charge once more toward the Cultist on the left who had just climbed up.

"Die!" This time, he struck with both fists simultaneously, the left fist being "Collapsing Cloud" and the right fist "Splitting Sea." The two forms of the Indestructible Divine King Fist superimposed, and the Fist Intent erupted like a volcano, vast and fierce.

The Cultist was terrified, frantically burning his vital essence to set up three layers of blood shields in front of him.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The three blood shields shattered consecutively like paper, and the two fists landed squarely on his chest without any fancy moves.

"Crack!" His sternum was completely shattered, and his internal organs were mashed. The Cultist's eyes bulged, filled with unbelievable terror, and his aura was instantly extinguished. However, Lin Fan also paid a price for killing two people.

The Black Moon Envoy's black moon, though weakened by the Star Domain, still grazed his left shoulder.

"Hiss!" The golden light membrane of the Eternal Indestructible Body violently shook, emitting a grating sound. The membrane did not break, but a chilling and bone-corroding strange power penetrated inward. A sharp, needle-like pain instantly erupted in his left shoulder, accompanied by signs of freezing and necrosis in the flesh.

"Hmph!" Lin Fan grunted, rapidly circulating his Star Power to forcefully expel the chilling power from his body. Golden light flowed over the wound, which quickly healed.

The blood light in the Black Moon Envoy's eyes flashed, "To be able to withstand this Envoy's 'Corroding Moon Force,' your Body Refining Cultivation Technique is extraordinary." He stopped being careless, raising his hands in the Void Realm. The Blood Sacrifice Grand Array at the bottom of the lake suddenly trembled violently, and countless blood filaments converged into his body from all directions. His aura surged, actually touching the threshold of the "Half-step Boundary Master"!

"To force this Envoy to use the power of the Sacred Array, you are worthy of pride," the Black Moon Envoy's voice grew colder. "The next strike will send you to the West."

He brought his palms together, then slowly pulled them apart.

Between his palms, a pitch-black full moon, ten zhang in diameter and condensed into substance, slowly took shape. Within the full moon, countless tormented faces struggled and wailed—they were the residual Souls of the sacrificed beings! This technique was no longer just a simple energy attack; it was infused with the curse of resentful Souls, utterly vicious.

Lin Fan's expression was grave. Even with the star pagoda protecting him, taking this blow head-on would result in severe injuries. And the opponent, utilizing the power of the Grand Array, was practically invincible.

He couldn't clash directly.

In a flash of lightning, he made his decision.

Lin Fan suddenly retracted the star pagoda Domain and retreated rapidly. At the same time, he formed a hand seal and slammed the star source crystal in his embrace against a silver Ore at the bottom of the lake—precisely one of the eight nodes where he had previously set up the star penetration interference!

"Explode!" He actually used his Divine Sense to detonate the Star Power accumulated within that node!

"Boom!" The node exploded, and the pure Star Power intensely clashed with the blood-colored energy, triggering a chain reaction. The other seven infiltrated nodes simultaneously lost balance, and the entire Blood Sacrifice Grand Array violently shook, its energy flow completely chaotic!

The pitch-black full moon in the Black Moon Envoy's palm flickered and began to dissipate due to the interruption of the Formation's power supply.

"You!" The Black Moon Envoy was shocked and furious, forced to divert his attention to suppress the Formation's backlash.

Now! Lin Fan did not hesitate, turning and fleeing, accelerating to the extreme, shooting toward the lake surface like a golden arrow.

"Where do you think you're going!" The Black Moon Envoy roared, forcefully stabilizing part of the Formation, and a scaled-down black moon blade light rapidly pursued Lin Fan.

The blade light was extremely fast, reaching Lin Fan's back in the blink of an eye.

Lin Fan didn't look back, throwing the star pagoda over his shoulder.

The tower rotated, colliding with the blade light.

"Clang!" With a loud crash, the star pagoda flew back, and the blade light was mostly dissipated. The remaining force struck Lin Fan's back, making his throat sweet, but he used the momentum to charge forward even faster.

"Pfft!" Bursting out of the lake, Lin Fan did not stop, transforming into a stream of light and sweeping toward the depths of the Ancient Domain.

Beneath the lake surface, the Black Moon Envoy's furious roar could be heard, but with the Formation still in chaos, he could not pursue too far and could only watch helplessly as Lin Fan disappeared into the horizon.

A hundred li away, in a hidden mountain cave.

Lin Fan sat cross-legged, a trickle of golden blood escaping the corner of his mouth—a sign that the essence of his Eternal Indestructible Body had been damaged. He quickly consumed several healing Medicinal Pill and used the star source crystal to assist his breathing adjustment.

Half an hour later, his injury was stable.

"A Black Moon Patrol Envoy, Peak Divine Power Realm, and capable of mobilizing partial Grand Array power." Lin Fan opened his eyes, golden light flowing within them. "I can't beat him head-on, but after today's commotion, the Blood Sacrifice Grand Array is paralyzed for at least three days. And he will definitely report it. The high-level members of the Dark Moon Divine Cult are likely to act sooner."

Time was even more pressing. He unfolded the beast hide map, his gaze fixed on the coordinates of the "Eye of the Firmament."

"Perhaps it's time to visit the Ten Thousand Zhang Abyss."

The Ten Thousand Zhang Abyss, one of the most dangerous Forbidden Grounds in the Meteor Star Ancient Domain, was bottomless. Legend said its bottom connected to the earth veins and fire veins, as well as Void Realm fissures, occasionally erupting with "Heavenly Outer Astral Wind" and earth core flame crystal. Sometimes, "Void Star Dust" would be mixed within the Heavenly Outer Astral Wind—a Star Power crystal even rarer than the star source crystal. If he could obtain it, the speed of nourishing the tomb door would multiply.

It was dangerous, but worth the gamble.

Lin Fan finished adjusting his breathing and stood up, looking toward the direction of the Ten Thousand Zhang Abyss.

The Dark Moon Divine Cult, the Starfall Ancient Tomb, the Dragon Clan Bloodline, the Eye of the Firmament... all the threads were tightening. And the center of the storm would inevitably be him, Lin Fan.