Free Web NovelChapter 318: Chapter 218: Blood Fiend Altar Master (Part 2)
Bai Lingwei watched his retreating figure, clean and decisive, and her suspicions deepened.
Throughout their journey, Qin Xuan always seemed to preemptively avoid the densest clouds of Miasma, his steps far too steady for a Cultivator who had only just reached the Mid-stage Purple Mansion realm.
She thought to herself, ’This Junior Brother Qin is definitely not as simple as he appears... He must be hiding his true strength!’
...
In the blink of an eye, the one-month deadline arrived.
A vast, irresistible power suddenly descended, enveloping the entire Miasma Demon Prison.
Qin Xuan and the other two felt space twist around them, and their vision blurred.
When their vision cleared, they found themselves standing on an immense black combat stage.
The entire stage was built from some unknown black stone, covered in twisted runes.
Flashes of light flickered all around as Demon Cultivators were continuously teleported in. All of them possessed powerful auras, and soon their numbers reached thirty.
These were all the surviving Purple Mansion Cultivators who had entered the Miasma Demon Prison.
While the crowd was still reeling in shock and uncertainty, a terrifying, suffocating pressure slammed down from above!
Above the stage floated a cloud of black smoke as large as a small hill. Its form was ever-changing, but at its core, the faint, illusory image of a Golden Core had taken shape!
Even more shockingly, this Golden Core Miasma Demon was tightly bound by countless dark-gold chains that flickered with runes. The other ends of the chains vanished into the void, as if it were being suppressed by the Reincarnation Tower itself.
The black smoke roiled and coalesced into a blurry human face. It spoke in clear human language, its voice as hoarse as grinding stones, tinged with mockery and cold indifference.
"Ants, congratulations on surviving this long."
"I am the warden of this prison. If you wish to pass through the Miasma Demon Prison and enter the next stage—the Demon Child trial—you must abide by my rules."
"First, we will tally the Miasma Soul Crystals you have acquired."
As soon as it finished speaking, all the Miasma Soul Crystals flew uncontrollably from the Demon Cultivators’ Storage Pouches, hovering above their heads. The amount each person had was clear at a glance.
The number of Crystal Stones above Qin Xuan’s head was piled so high it resembled a small hill, drawing the most attention.
"These Crystal Stones will help you resist the Reincarnation Miasma that I emanate on this stage, allowing you to keep your Spirit Platform clear."
The tally began.
One by one, the Demon Cultivators stepped forward and placed their varying amounts of Miasma Soul Crystals into a recess. A light would flash, and a number would appear.
When it was Qin Xuan’s turn, he calmly pressed his Storage Pouch into the recess.
BUZZ!
The bone altar flared with light, and a crimson number appeared.
Seventy-eight!
Instantly, countless gazes—filled with shock and greed—fixed upon Qin Xuan.
Bai Lingwei’s pupils shrank as she shot Qin Xuan a deep, searching look.
Her own count was a mere fifty-one. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Bai Zhi, who had since been awakened by Bai Lingwei using a special technique, looked completely drained. Her count was pitifully small.
"Good!" The Golden Core Miasma Demon’s voice suddenly turned sharp, laced with a strange, alluring quality. "The melee begins! The first ten to break past the boundaries of this stage while under the suppression of my aura will be considered to have passed!"
"Remember, you only have... the time it takes for a single stick of incense to burn."
"First place in this preliminary trial will be awarded one Purple Mansion Breaking Barrier Pill. Consuming this pill will reduce the power of your Heart Demon Tribulation by twenty percent when you attempt to form a Golden Core."
A wave of stifled gasps swept through the cultivators on the stage.
A twenty-percent reduction of the Heart Demon Tribulation!
For any Purple Mansion Cultivator aspiring to the Golden Core Dao, this was a treasure beyond their wildest dreams.
"The top three in the preliminary trial," the Miasma Demon continued, "will be rewarded with the advanced Refining Method for the Tier Four Spirit Treasure, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner—a method that can elevate it directly to the Golden Core Realm!"
Another wave of commotion rippled through the crowd.
The Ten Thousand Souls Banner was a notoriously vicious Magical Treasure of the Demon Dao. If one could successfully refine it, they would have few rivals within the same realm.
Qin Xuan’s eyes narrowed, his heart stirring.
That Purple Mansion Breaking Barrier Pill was incredibly significant to him.
The hand hidden in his sleeve unconsciously stroked the spot where the Netherworld Deceitful Spider was concealed.
Before the demon’s voice had faded, a thick Reincarnation Miasma began to spread from all sides of the stage.
At the same time, the Golden Core Miasma Demon’s pressure became almost tangible, weighing heavily on everyone’s minds and causing their Magical Power to stagnate!
"Fight!"
It was unclear who shouted first, but the scene instantly erupted into chaos!
Flashes of swords, bursts of Demon Fire, clouds of poisonous miasma, Bone Artifacts... all manner of Demon Dao Techniques clashed violently.
The clang of weapons rang out incessantly.
Everyone’s eyes were bloodshot as they fought with frenzied desperation for one of the mere ten spots.
Just as Qin Xuan felt a flicker of excitement at the lavish rewards and prepared to channel his Magical Power to join the fray...
The golden orb of light in his mind suddenly began to flash.
Four ancient bamboo sticks flew out from it.
[Top-Top Lottery: Conserve your strength. Refuse to use the Miasma Soul Crystals and just barely qualify for the next round of the Demon Child selection. This will allow you to avoid disaster and obtain a Sixth-Grade Opportunity. Greatly auspicious.]
[Middle-Middle Draw: Feign defeat and fail the Demon Child trial. You will gain no opportunity, but you will face no danger. Neutral.]
[Middle-Lower Draw: Go all out and seize a top-three spot in the preliminary Demon Child selection. You will obtain a Ninth-Grade Opportunity. While glorious on the surface, you will incite the envy of your peers, and a hidden crisis may threaten your life. Ominous.]
[The Worst Draw: Use every trick up your sleeve and take first place in the preliminary Demon Child selection. You will obtain a Seventh-Grade Opportunity, but you will be targeted by a Golden Core True Monarch from the Cyan Cloud Sect. You will be gravely injured and face a near-certain death. Direly ominous!]
A chill shot through Qin Xuan’s heart.
’It’s a trap... This Golden Core Miasma Demon isn’t as simple as it seems!’
He instantly became hyper-vigilant.
His Body Technique was like a phantom’s. He dodged a sneak attack of Yin Wind and, with a backhanded slap, sent the ambusher staggering backward, spitting blood.
He immediately suppressed the True Sun Fire he had been about to secretly activate. Instead, he relied solely on his own Divine Sense and the thread of clarity provided by the Netherworld Deceitful Spider in his sleeve to barely withstand the oppressive Miasma.
Just then, the Netherworld Deceitful Spider suddenly grew agitated.
’Looks like bringing you was the right decision.’
The Netherworld Deceitful Spider shared an image with him.
It pierced through the roiling black smoke.
