Chapter 392: Luo Liu and the Evil Eye
The massive black mist surged from the altar, spreading a chilling, sinister energy that permeated the air.
"What is that?" Qingzhu Ling asked, her eyes wide with unease as the black mist spread. Even her usually calm face showed signs of discomfort at the sheer malevolence emanating from the mist—an evil unlike anything she'd encountered before.
Though she was familiar with dark cultivation techniques that emitted similar energy, this was fundamentally different, as if the mist sought to erase any living thing from existence entirely.
"The cause of the ancient war between heaven and earth," Lin Langtian murmured, "seems that some remnants were never fully purged and were sealed away here. Now, it's found a way out."
"The cause of the war…" Qingzhu Ling repeated, her brows furrowing as Lin Langtian's voice trailed off.
At that moment, Xuantian and his three warriors moved toward the towering black mist. As they neared, they channeled immense spiritual energy, creating a purple light barrier in an attempt to contain whatever was lurking within.
"Idiots," Lin Langtian muttered under his breath.
The Tianxuan Sect's intel had led them to take one reckless action after another. No wonder their Western Realm was the first to fall during the second celestial war; it's likely already riddled with spies. Lin Langtian had no desire to go down with them. He signaled to Mo Ying, then grabbed Qingzhu Ling's wrist and swiftly led their group into a rapid retreat.
As they moved back, the purple energy field above struck the black mist with a thunderous crash.
"A petty trick, you dare challenge me? Insects…" A grating, sinister voice echoed from the mist, where scarlet eyes glinted ominously. The black mist surged forward, dissolving the purple barriers as if they were nothing, and advancing toward Xuantian and his warriors.
They attempted to retreat, but a large hand formed from the mist and swept toward them with deadly speed.
Realizing the threat, they unleashed more spiritual energy, but their attacks vanished upon contact with the misty hand, leaving them completely defenseless.
Suddenly, the sound of a deep, resonant bell echoed through the space, creating ripples that spread through the air, visibly dispelling the spatial distortions around them.
As the ripples expanded, Lin Langtian sensed the entire realm stabilizing, allowing him to feel countless presences scattered throughout the space.
"The formation seems to have broken…" Qingzhu Ling observed, also sensing the presence of others who had entered the Luo Goddess's trove.
Lin Langtian nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on the sky. In the distance, he could see a massive, translucent water orb materializing, as if they were trapped within it.
"That's the Luo Water Pearl, a powerful artifact crafted by the Luo Goddess clan," Aunt Ling's voice echoed in his mind.
Lin Langtian raised an eyebrow. "So we weren't actually trapped in the Luo Water Formation but rather inside this artifact," he remarked, pointing at the immense water orb now visible in the shifting space.
"Yes, it appears to be a Pure Yuan treasure of considerable strength," Qingzhu Ling said, her gaze fixed on the orb's translucent walls.
Lin Langtian nodded, impressed. If this pearl was indeed crafted by the Luo clan, its quality was surely extraordinary.
Just then, torrents of powerful water energy cascaded from the orb, swirling into a massive water-based barrier that enclosed the black mist creature.
The mist crashed repeatedly against the barrier, sending waves of force through the air. Although the creature's attacks made the water barrier tremble, it remained intact, containing the black mist within.
"Cursed Luo Liu… haunting me even after death!" The black mist creature shrieked, its voice echoing through the space.
"That barrier won't hold much longer…" Lin Langtian muttered, frowning as he watched the weakening water barrier tremble with each attack.
As Lin Langtian pondered the situation, he sensed a strange repelling force pulling at him from the surroundings.
"Don't resist," Aunt Ling advised. "The Luo Water Pearl is expelling you."
Trusting her guidance, Lin Langtian stopped resisting and swiftly recalled the zombie squad into his mirror world. Beside him, Qingzhu Ling followed his example, allowing the spatial force to push them into a swirling portal.
Darkness enveloped Lin Langtian's vision briefly, but soon a bright light pierced through, revealing a vast blue lake before him.
Floating above the lake was a large, blue water orb, its surface radiating an aura of pure water energy. Gazing at the orb, Lin Langtian took a deep breath. This was the pearl they'd been trapped within.
Mist rose from the lake, giving the area an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality.
Moments later, Qingzhu Ling and Xuantian, along with his three warriors, emerged nearby, each clearly disoriented but quickly regaining their composure.
The vast expanse of black mist surged from the base of the altar, spilling into the air and releasing an overpowering, eerie chill.
"What…is that?" Ling Qingzhu's eyes reflected her shock as she observed the dark mist, the sinister energy thickening the air. Even she felt the hair-raising malice, more intense than anything she had previously encountered.
Ling Langtian murmured, "It seems that the source of the ancient battle wasn't fully purged back then; something dangerous was sealed here and is breaking free now."
"The cause of the ancient battle…" Ling Qingzhu repeated, her brows furrowing.
While Lin Langtian and Qingzhu exchanged words, Xuantian and his three lieutenants began moving toward the mass of black mist. As they neared it, they summoned forth purple energy shields, forming a massive barrier to enclose the ominous presence within.
"Idiots," Lin Langtian muttered, annoyed.
Clearly, the Tianxuan Sect had based their reckless actions on incomplete intel, which was why they were often the first to fall to the forces of darkness. Lin Langtian had no desire to perish with them. Signaling Mo Ying, he grabbed Ling Qingzhu by the wrist, leading their group swiftly backward.
As they retreated, Xuantian and his lieutenants brought their purple energy field crashing into the thick black mist above.
"Haha! Such weak insects dare challenge me? Pathetic creatures!" From the darkness, scarlet eyes gleamed as a grating, sinister voice filled the air, echoing over the lake.
The scarlet eyes in the black mist moved over the gathered figures like a giant, evil eye, chilling everyone who fell under its gaze. In the next instant, beams of black light shot from the eye, streaking toward the crowd.
Screams pierced the air as people struck by the black beams fell, their bodies shriveling up, even their bones turning to dust as they dissolved into ash. The sky was soon filled with a shower of ashen remnants as the crowd dispersed in a panic.
"Take cover!" Lin Langtian ordered as he observed the eye's relentless assault. The power of this sinister eye was well beyond what they could withstand.
His followers heeded his command, retreating swiftly. Dark beams flashed past them, and those caught by the light instantly disintegrated, leaving a fine, gray rain to fall from the sky. Lin Langtian held his position at the rear, vigilant against the relentless beams.
At that moment, a black beam came shooting directly toward him. Knowing the sheer power behind it, Lin Langtian felt a surge of apprehension as he realized the full extent of the attack.
With little time to react, Lin Langtian reached out to Aunt Ling for aid, knowing he couldn't withstand the beam alone. But just as he called to her, he felt a sudden warmth from his chest—a mysterious force surging within him.
As the beam closed in, the warmth intensified, bursting out in a flash of dark energy that intercepted the black beam, swallowing it whole as if it had found its perfect prey. After absorbing the beam, the black energy receded back into Lin Langtian's chest.
"That…was the Evil God's Eye?" Lin Langtian wondered aloud, touching his chest where the heat had come from and recalling the treasure he had acquired earlier. This strange energy seemed linked to the scarlet eye that continued to lash out from above.
While he pondered, a figure rose from the lake—the blue-garbed woman. She glanced at Lin Langtian, her gaze thoughtful as if she'd noticed the black beam disappear near him. Then, she turned and moved toward the sinister eye hovering in the sky.
"The guardian of the Luo Water Pearl…" Lin Langtian observed as she approached the eye.
A surge of power emanated from her as an enormous wave of energy gathered, forming a barrier that enveloped the evil eye. The black beams shattered against the blue light but failed to breach it, dissolving as they struck the blue shield.
"Luo Liu! After all these years, you're still here to oppose me, even binding yourself to the Luo Water Pearl. Do you not regret it?" The black mist raged, and the scarlet eye glared down at the woman in the sky.
"Enough talk, fiend!" she replied, her tone icy and resolute as if she were a battle-hardened general. "Beings like you, from beyond the heavens, deserve only death!"
Lin Langtian couldn't help but feel admiration as he watched this woman's conviction. Her beauty was striking, but it was her unwavering resolve that set her apart.
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