Free Web NovelChapter 153: Chapter 153: Who Is Behind This?
And so, these Demons rushed among the Cultivators like wolves into a flock of sheep, their sharp claws beginning a vicious slaughter.
Only now did the Cultivators come to their senses. Panicked, they unleashed their Magic, Magical Artifacts, and Talismans upon the Demons.
The Demons had tough skin and thick flesh, making them no less durable than Body Cultivators of the same Realm. In fact, due to their unique physical structure, they were even stronger than human Body Cultivators.
As a result, with the Demons in close quarters, the casualty rate among the Cultivators was extremely high.
Unable to watch any longer, Jiang Xu had no choice but to use two more Exorcism Talismans. This gave the Cultivators a chance to regroup, turning the tide of battle and allowing them to finally eliminate all the Demons.
It was only then that the Cultivators realized something was very wrong.
The whole affair felt manipulated from behind the scenes, from their sudden ability to see the Demons to the two Exorcism Talismans that had flown in to reveal them.
It all suggested that the person pulling the strings had a very clear understanding of the entire situation.
’Who could it be?’
’What is their goal?’
’It doesn’t seem like their goal is to harm us.’
’But why won’t this person show themselves? Are they using us as shields or cannon fodder?’
While the shaken Cultivators were discussing this, those who hadn’t received the Spiritual Eye Technique couldn’t take it anymore.
"What the hell are these things!"
"How did my partner turn into such a horrifying, disgusting monster!"
"I don’t care anymore! I’m getting out of this damned place!!!"
Unable to bear the eerie atmosphere, some panicked and began Flying with a Magical Artifact, hastily fleeing the area.
"Hey, don’t—"
Someone tried to stop them. In the vision granted by their Spiritual Eye Technique, the terrifying Demon Array up ahead was clearly visible. If those trying to leave touched the Array, something terrible was sure to happen.
But others nearby held back those who tried to intervene.
The ones who had wanted to intervene looked at their so-called fellow Cultivators and saw the fear and cruelty in their eyes. They instantly understood.
They wanted to let the fleeing Cultivators become test subjects to test the power of the Demon Array, using the innocent as guinea pigs.
They wanted to see for themselves what terrible fate awaited those who tried to force their way out.
Those who had tried to intervene fell silent, having seen the dark intentions of their peers. In the face of life and death, the selfishness and cruelty of human nature were laid bare.
And so, everyone fell silent, quietly waiting to see the fate of those who made contact with the Demon Array.
As the fleeing Cultivators slammed straight into the Demon Array, a powerful surge of Demonic Qi erupted ahead. It was followed by a bloodcurdling scream as endless black energy poured into their bodies.
Just as Jiang Xu had witnessed before, those Cultivators were like insects caught in a spider’s web. They struggled desperately but could not break free; the more they struggled, the tighter the bonds became. In the end, only a bleak and fleeting wail was left to echo through the Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace.
Just like that, these unlucky Cultivators transformed from normal people into the same kind of monsters as the Demons they had just fought.
Afterward, the moment those new Demons reverted to their human forms, the terrified Cultivators joined forces and annihilated them until not even a speck of dust remained.
"..."
Everyone was stunned into silence.
They now understood how those Demons had come to be.
They were created when humans made contact with the Demon Array.
In other words, it wasn’t that Demons had turned into humans to deceive them.
Instead, humans had turned into Demons, then changed back into humans and returned to their side.
A deep chill crept into everyone’s hearts.
They didn’t dare imagine what terrible things might have happened if they hadn’t discovered the true identity of these Demons.
After a long silence, a Cultivator with a relatively high Cultivation level proposed in a solemn voice:
"Perhaps we should first steady ourselves and then make a plan."
"The appearance of these Demons is suspicious; someone is clearly orchestrating this. And the strangeness with our eyes, along with those two crucial, life-saving flashes of light, also suggests that a powerful expert might be secretly helping us."
"As for the Demon Array ahead, it is indeed fraught with danger. But as long as we stand united and look out for one another, we can surely find an Array-Breaking Method. Fleeing now will only put us in an even more dangerous situation, and we risk turning into monsters and bringing disaster upon more innocent people."
Hearing these words, some of the Cultivators calmed down a little, but others remained terrified and indecisive.
He glanced around, trying to steady the crowd’s nerves:
"This situation is clearly beyond our control. We must report this to the Elders and let them decide what to do."
"This Array is obviously a Demon Array. It’s highly likely that some power is targeting our Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace. We don’t know who it is, but we must prepare for the worst."
"Right! And besides reporting to the Elders, we have to find any remaining monsters and seal the gates! We can’t let a single Cultivator get out and touch that Array, or this will happen all over again!"
Everyone began eagerly offering suggestions and strategies. The scene grew lively, as if they were all trying to vent their fear through the flurry of discussion.
...
Jiang Xu watched the crowd in the distance; they were all clearly traumatized by the Demon Array.
He understood that, for now, the Demon Array’s influence probably wouldn’t cause any more casualties.
’But when Elder Demon Su finds out the Demon Array is no longer effective, how will he react? Will he use new tactics against the people in the Marketplace?’
’Why doesn’t this guy just attack the Marketplace directly? Does he think he can’t win? Or is he missing some necessary precondition?’
Jiang Xu felt he was on the verge of understanding something, so he followed that line of thought, carefully reasoning it out.
’The Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace has stood before the Endless Forest without falling for so long. Besides its sturdy walls and ample defenses, there is one other, most critical element.’
’Any Marketplace, city, or Sect will have prepared one thing in advance at the time of its construction: an Array.’
’With an active Array, even a handful of Foundation Establishment Cultivators can withstand an attack from a Golden Core Cultivator, at least long enough for reinforcements to arrive.’
’However, if the mastermind really is Elder Demon Su, then the Marketplace’s Array might be easy for him to break.’
Jiang Xu recalled the Demon Cultivators he had seen earlier and suddenly made a connection to the Array.
’Those things they were placing on the ground... could they be what Elder Demon Su intends to use against the Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace’s defensive Array?’
’No wonder I couldn’t see what they were placing. It’s normal for me to be unable to identify the methods of a Golden Core Cultivator, let alone a Tier Three Array Master.’
Jiang Xu felt a sense of hopelessness.
To face an attack from a Tier Three Array Master, unable to stop them from completing their Array Formation... the prospect was truly terrifying.
