Zhong Shenxiu followed Feng Xixi as they ascended the mountain, already on full alert.
At that moment, suddenly, a commotion was heard from up ahead, and the ground caved in, transforming into a gigantic pitfall.
Beneath the earth, a dozen spear-like earth spikes shot up, clearly some sort of Daoist magic, or perhaps Western sorcery!
With a light shout, a surge of mana burst forth from around Feng Xixi, materializing into a colorful feathered robe that shielded her body—it was a display of calm amidst chaos.
At the same time, from above the pit, countless vines emerged, quickly intertwining to form a colossal lid looming overhead, as if intending to seal off the vanguard that had fallen into the trap.
Zhong Shenxiu, who was at the rear of the group, managed to avoid the magic along with a few lucky ones, but several shadows on the side bellowed out in anger, charging toward them.
They held long spears and charged savagely, exuding an intimidating presence of a battle array, one of the cavaliers in front of Zhong Shenxiu, relying on his own innate abilities, drew his sword to fight head-on.
Only to hear a clang, as a long spear knocked the sword away, another spear tip then pierced through the cavalier's chest.
"We can't fight them head-on."
Zhong Shenxiu dodged to the side, only to see a great man pursuing him.
The two were not far in their pursuit, each forming a battle circle on their own.
The great man pursuing him roared incessantly, his countenance rugged, his golden hair standing on end as he bellowed, "Wood of the Black Light Knight Order, today I shall judge you!"
Zhong Shenxiu let out a long howl, his right hand clawing out, his True Qi surged three feet, like a giant Azure Dragon claw, reaching for the enemy.
Wood's body emitted a faint white glow, standing resolute and unafraid, he parried with his spear, shattering the attack and without heed to the aftermath, charged straight at Zhong Shenxiu, as if he had cultivated the Copper Skin Iron Bone technique, his sturdy martial skill was comparable to Tang Xiu.
'True Qi? No, that's not right, this is Western... fighting spirit? It seems similar to the Eastern reports of the innate stage hard martial skill, exceptionally powerful indeed, except it lacks some intricate finesse...'
With his vast combat experience, Zhong Shenxiu immediately changed strategies and engaged Wood in a grapple.
He deployed the Azure Dragon Cloud-Exploring Hand, his movements unpredictable, like an Azure Dragon emerging from the water, switching tactics rapidly, avoiding a head-on clash, instead slowly sapping his opponent's fighting spirit, looking for weak points.
After dozens of exchanges, he closed in, his form suddenly disappearing right before the spear's tip, reappearing at Wood's side, a claw grasping his waist.
He released his True Qi and the enemy slumped down, his face contorted in anger.
"Sorry... I don't have much time left."
Zhong Shenxiu's face grew even paler, his entire skin taking on a black-purple hue, as if transforming into a rigid corpse.
The Blood Moon Night was already his major crisis.
If it weren't for mastering his incomplete Daoist technique to the pinnacle of the Third Level, he probably wouldn't even be able to suppress it for a while, and now it was about to break out.
Just then, a clear yell resonated from the front.
Vines flew in disarray, nine flying knives turned into a radiant light, shooting a hundred paces, slaying an enemy black-clad man dressed in a mage's robe.
It turned out to be Feng Xixi, who had finally fought her way out of the trap and killed the main adversary.
Seeing this, the knights didn't retreat but roared even louder as they charged forward, "For the glory of the Black Light Knight Order!"
Feng Xixi flicked her fingers, and with every point, a knight was impaled by a flying knife, dropping dead immediately.
Zhong Shenxiu looked at a knight charging over, his expression fanatical, recklessly brave, and roared, "For the country, slay the enemy."
He thrust forward with his long blade, astonishingly not avoiding the charging knight's sword, the sword and blade both entering their bodies.
A knight opposite had his head fly off, yet his face bore a look of satisfaction.
Zhong Shenxiu took a sword to the chest, penetrating through his body, and also slowly fell down.
"Who would've guessed that the Su Family could also have a person of such fiery spirit—indeed loyal and brave."
Feng Xixi, seeing Zhong Shenxiu fall, sighed and didn't say much more. To her, treating soldiers well on a regular basis was just so they would be ready to sacrifice their lives at a time . Therefore, she only shouted, "Charge!"
At this moment, only a dozen armored soldiers remained, with Tang Xiu at the lead, following behind Feng Xixi, all with solemn expressions, knowing that the altar was not far off.
A great battle was inevitable!
Tang Xiu, covered in blood and grievously injured, looked in the direction where Zhong Shenxiu had fallen, joy flickering in his eyes.
That pretty-boy was finally dead.
Black Mountain Great Rift.
Zhong Shenxiu's chest was full of fresh blood, he lay near the place as if a corpse, somewhat delirious, seemingly remembering the moment from his youth when he had recklessly fought for his life here.
Previously, he had chosen to fake his death to escape.
Under the influence of a vengeful spirit, his body had nearly turned zombie-like, naturally devoid of human vulnerabilities.
A sword through the chest was as if nothing to him.
He even doubted, whether even without his heart or head, as long as the vengeful spirit remained in his body, he could still live on.
This was a very eerie state.
Moreover, his breath was almost indistinguishable from a dead person's, which made it very suitable for concealment.
At this moment, under the crimson moonlight, the entire mountain range was filled with a strange aura.
He stealthily crawled to the back of a mound and looked down.
Atop the ruins of the altar, an eerie small stone platform had been re-constructed at some unknown time.
It was pitch-black all over, and it seemed as if there were countless writhing flesh making up door after door.
Door-shaped symbols were imprinted inside each portal, seemingly connecting to countless spatial universes.
A closer look could easily cause dizziness.
Above the altar, Delia, dressed in a black robe, performed a variety of twisted and bizarre movements, continuously muttering some mysterious incantations, initiating an ancient divine ritual that had been cut off for a long time.
Fei She, leading a group of knights and mages, valiantly intercepted Feng Xixi's breakthrough.
Zhong Shenxiu thought to himself, carefully observing the altar and estimating the progress of the ritual.
With the esoteric knowledge of an Earl, he certainly knew that what the woman was doing was merely 'opening the door'.
What's more, the door hadn't been opened yet.
'Even... she isn't the main subject of the ritual, but merely playing the role of a Priest.'
'The one to truly receive a boon from beyond the door is another?'
Accompanied by Delia's incantations, the fleshy edges on the altar began to slowly crawl and converge towards the center, gradually forming a blood-red door.
From beyond the door came an indescribably terrifying presence that seemed to traverse countless spaces and dimensions.
The mere diffusion of this presence caused ripples in the surrounding space, and the world seemed to turn into the Netherworld, its very nature altered.
The people from the west were jubilant, loudly extolling, while Feng Xixi's face turned pale as she recalled a rumor.
The ancient god that must not be looked upon directly!