Chapter 345: Chapter 227: The Blood Refining Array, The Disappearance of Ji Nanjue!_3
A group of figures clad in black occupied the area. Suddenly, everyone’s eyes snapped open, intently watching the man above them.
A few moments later, a man wearing a mask entered, his voice hoarse and tinged with a desolate chill.
"There has been a change in plans."
The gaunt man above, fondling the scar on his hand, squinted and said somberly, "Perhaps this could be a good opportunity? No need to wait for his return to Luo City, and it reduces the number of watchful eyes."
A man from below stepped forward. "Leader, if things go as expected at the Ascension Platform, only two rounds remain. Moving the plan up shouldn’t be much of an issue..."
The gaunt man shook his head, a shadow of darkness flickering in the depths of his eyes. "When it’s time to act, do so decisively. Acting two days from now, as opposed to acting immediately, doesn’t make a significant difference. The Big Array has already been set up. Can she possibly escape?"
The man still harbored some reservations. He thought for a moment and then said, "Yi Er of Dongting Stream has yet to report in. If we hastily activate the Blood Refining array..."
The gaunt man shook his head, his eyes flashing with a chilling sharpness. "According to intel, Ji Nanjue is only in the early stage of Tribulation-Crossing, still some distance from Mid Stage Tribulation Passing. The Blood Refining array is set up a thousand miles around Wu City. Under such an array, his strength can at most display power equivalent to the Dao Integration Realm. Thousands of years ago, Shangguan Bie of the Sword Sect, a cultivator at the peak of the Tribulation-Crossing Stage, entered this array. His cultivation was forcefully suppressed to the early stage of Tribulation-Crossing. After he managed to tear open an escape route, he perished from exhaustion. Dao Sect’s grandmaster of a previous generation, Xu Beiyi, also lost his life within this array. Even the Dusty Sword Immortal, famed for a single strike that could sever the heavens, met his end here. As long as he disappears, the Dongfeng Ancient Country will undoubtedly fall into chaos. This time, there’s no need to skulk in the shadows; the Supreme has long harbored plans for this..."
After these words, the group of figures in black fell silent, each nodding in agreement.
"We can begin, ideally before the Ascension Platform concludes."
As the voice faded, the sky instantly filled with an overwhelming miasma of Evil Qi. It then transformed into countless black mists converging toward Danzhu Gorge.
Those at the Dao Integration Realm alone numbered more than a dozen, not to mention the countless others at Refining Void and Half-Step into Dao Integration.
「」
In the silent woods, towering trees grew lush and dense, obscuring the sun overhead.
Ji Nanjue followed the intermittent mountain path toward the depths of Danzhu Gorge. The journey took her through continuous mountain ranges with perilous terrain and deep ravines, teeming with Monster Beasts but devoid of any human presence.
After searching all morning, she spotted a few Immortal Fate Grasses on the verge of blooming, surrounded by a host of Monster Beasts gazing at them with covetous eyes. However, upon sensing Ji Nanjue’s aura, they all lay sprawled on the ground, bellies exposed, tongues lolling in a subservient display.
Ji Nanjue sat on a large rock, resting her head on her hand in deep thought.
Was she really going to wait for the Immortal Fate Grass to bloom? From the looks of it, it likely wouldn’t even show signs of blooming for several days.
Watching the campfire she had started flicker before her, the image of that man unexpectedly surfaced in her mind, throwing her into turmoil as it felt like her chest seemingly swelled a few more inches.
Gritting her teeth, she cursed inwardly: Damn it! After being a man for hundreds of years, at the first chance, am I that eager to become a woman?
The turmoil in her heart stemmed from something she had yearned for in her dreams, something so close, attainable with just a word—but she couldn’t.
Would she, as Nan Ji, go and beg him?
A faint blush unknowingly crept onto her cheeks.
Phooey! Beg? He was the one who took advantage, and yet she would have to beg him?
The breeze was gentle, the sun’s rays slanted.
Suddenly, her elegant brows furrowed as if she sensed something amiss; the surrounding Spiritual Energy gradually grew stagnant. Even a Monster Wolf lying at her feet abruptly sensed something, flipping over and staring intently at the sky.
The sunlight was quickly obscured by darkness. The clouds, like living entities, twisted and writhed, threatening to surge forward and devour the tiny person beneath them. They emitted a cacophony of bizarre noises that, mingled together, sounded like the roars of a colossal beast never before seen in this world.
"Enough with the theatrics! Who are you? Show yourselves!" Ji Nanjue stood up, her eyes sharp, her voice resonating with boundless authority.
In that instant, terrifying Spiritual Energy surged across the sky, countering the profound immensity that had been closing in on her.
At that moment, a celestial phenomenon occurred.
The heavens above bloomed with countless seas of blood, covering the entire sky. Ji Nanjue looked up. Within her vision, aside from the endless sea of blood, there were seventy-two strange black orbs arranged in the pattern of the Earthly Fiends. Centered around Ji Nanjue, these orbs formed a circle. Then, the strange power from within them surged directly towards her, as if the very dimensions of this world were targeting her.
After a moment, a hoarse voice finally rang out: "Jia Nan greets the Eastern Emperor."
As he spoke, figures began to appear, swarming so densely that they covered the entire sky.
"We have awaited the Eastern Emperor here for a long time..."
Among them, a Dao Integration Realm elder in black, his face unclear, nonetheless exuded a terrifying aura that steadily climbed until, for a moment, it reached the late-stage Dao Integration Realm!