A Night of Desperation

Chapter 387: Dawn 3

The interior of Dingtian Hall was empty, with thick copper chains engraved with black and red runes hanging around.

Each chain linked to the center, seemingly once binding something there.

But now, only blue-green metallic fragments remained on the floor.

"Are these the fragments of the Sky Stabilizing Plate?" Yu Hong asked.

"I’m not sure. I’ve never been here before, so I don’t know what the real Sky Stabilizing Plate looks like," Yu Chu shook his head.

Yu Hong stepped forward, estimated the number and size of the fragments, then pulled out a Ziploc bag from his pocket and stuffed the fragments in.

The plate was not big and was quite thin, so he quickly packed them all.

"I’ll take this back and try to restore it. Time is pressing. Immediately organize everyone to gather and abandon all areas here; head to Taizhou. We definitely can’t hold this place!" Yu Hong instructed.

"Taizhou? But, we have a thousand-year-old Array set up by the Heavenly Master Mansion here... it might not be..." Yu Chu hesitated.

"It’s useless, there are too many Gates opened nearby..." Yu Hong said gravely.

This place is very close to Tongning City and also near the Sealing and Sacrifice Platform. There are too many Gates of the Black Disaster Spirit Disaster around, implying an endless influx of both types of monsters. Under such circumstances, no Array could possibly withstand that.

It would be completely overwhelmed by the tide-like surge of monsters.

Seeing the current intensity, Yu Hong even questioned whether Taizhou itself could hold, and it might very likely be necessary to further contract the defensive line.

"But..." Yu Chu still hesitated, obviously, his years of dependence made him distrustful that the Heavenly Master Mansion could fail.

And even less so, he believed that an outsider could build a protective array more powerful and complete than the Heavenly Master Mansion.

And to this point, Yu Hong couldn’t tell him about his possession of the Black Mark.

According to normal logic, this perspective was correct. Unfortunately, he was not normal.

"Are there any other of the Seven Evils nearby? Where are the other Sect Leaders of the Nine Sects?" Yu Hong quickly asked.

"They are fighting around the Sealing and Sacrifice Platform, the designated battlefield agreed upon by the Taoist Sect and the Seven Evil Alliance. The remaining five of the Seven Evils and the other six Sect Leaders of the Nine Sects are clashing," Yu Chu quickly responded.

"Do you know the location?"

"I do! We were all tasked to memorize the address, so we could provide support later," Yu Chu nodded affirmatively.

"Lead the way!"

Yu Hong turned and walked away.

After breaking through to the Fifth Layer of the Tai Ling Skill, his Inner Strength within had become even more robust and strange, enough to passively block the mental assault from the Quan He Monarch. This indicates a huge improvement.

He had never fully exerted his power directly, and this time, it was perfect to use the Seven Evils and the Nine Sects’ Sect Masters as a test.

And to see just how his full power stacked up against the levels here.

Given the urgency of the situation, Yu Hong carried the Sky Stabilizing Plate in one hand, grabbed Yu Chu with the other, covering him with Spirit Light that spread like a tortoiseshell.

Then he lifted his leg and kicked.

Boom!

The wall burst open, revealing a large hole.

He bowed and leaped out, heavily stamping on the ground as he returned the way he came.

*

*

*

Meanwhile, around the Sealing and Sacrifice Platform, in a dark gorge.

The five of the Seven Evils and six of the Nine Sects had gathered in this narrow space simultaneously.

On both sides, each person was covered in mottled bloodstains; some faces pale as paper, some wrists severed, and others sitting cross-legged on the ground, taking medicine to treat injuries.

Both sides gathered quite a few of their subordinates.

The camp of the Seven Evil Alliance had about a hundred people, all core magicians in this attack.

They wore black masks, tailored black robes, with some holding guns, some cold weapons, and even some carrying Gatling-like military heavy machine guns.

Black armored masked people, resembling bodies, surrounded them, forming a protective guard.

These were zombie puppets similar to Walking Corpses, concocted by the Seven Evil Alliance.

The Taoist Sect camp, however, was entirely different.

Among the six Sect Masters, two had already been injured in the fight, equating the levels since there were wounded like the Sect Master of the Blood Eye Sect on the opposite side.

Their followers were even more numerous; densely packed three to four hundred people maintained a pale golden Array underfoot.

Beyond the Array, rings of white haloes continuously spread outwards, their purpose unknown.

"Up till now, you no longer have any chance of winning," the leader of the Seven Evils, Xuan Jing, who was not wearing a mask, revealed a slightly evil handsome face.

"The Gates are all opened. Even if you stop us now, it’s pointless. You’d better go back and think of a way to suppress the Black Disaster Spirit Disaster, instead of exhausting yourselves here," he said relaxedly, with a hint of mockery.

"Had it not been for your conspiracies, the Gate of Despair and the Gate of Ten Thousand Spirits would never have opened! Rather than stopping the Black Disaster Spirit Disaster, it’s better to eradicate you here once and for all, to prevent future troubles!" The foremost of the Nine Sects’ Sect Masters was an elderly, hunched man with an iron staff and white hair.

The old Taoist wore grey-white long sleeves and trousers, not a Daoist robe, only embroidered with a daffodil symbol of the Mo Wen Palace at the left chest.

"Not speaking Old Taoist, we’ve been old rivals for many years now. The number of Gates opened this time is indeed substantial. If not suppressed in time, hehe, the number of casualties... for your Taoist Sect... I remember you still have special national funding and various privileges. If you can’t suppress it, given it’s just after Chinese New Year..." Xuan Jing bizarrely chuckled.

"This is a decision made together with Brother Silent; today we encircle Long Qingzi with the two great Heavenly Masters, and we encircle the five of you, to completely resolve the whole Seven Evil Alliance in one fell swoop."

The white-haired Taoist nun beside Silent Real Person coldly said.

This person is Su Ling, the Taoist of Qingxia Palace. Previously, the Seven Evil Alliance schemed and turned her two core disciples, almost causing her to vomit blood with anger. Now that she finally caught the opportunity, she naturally hated them to the bone and must eradicate them completely.

Especially since one of the traitors was her own biological daughter, such an enormous vengeance was a lifelong shame for her as the Palace Master of Qingxia Palace!

Apart from her, the rest had more or less some new and old grievances with the Seven Evil Alliance, but these weren’t actually the key points.

The key is that the recent actions of the Seven Evil Alliance have been too ruthless, completely annihilating the Zihe Palace, an entire sect.

Even the top genius Ku Chan has gone missing.

This has severely shaken the foundation of the Nine Sects’ Taoist Sect.

"Tsk tsk tsk....Such cruelty....letting out so many monsters, who knows how many ordinary citizens will be slaughtered...The big and small towns outside are probably already overrun by ghosts....This is the strongest Xuanmen Taoist Sect in Yasong? An eye-opener indeed."

Xuan Jingzi softly clapped his hands.

"With the disciples from Shura Sect coming to help, the situation around us can temporarily be stabilized. Once we eliminate you and reconvene with the Heavenly Masters, we will suppress the Black Disaster Spirit Disaster together! By then, the world will naturally be peaceful." Su Ling the Taoist said coldly.

"Such a virtuous appearance." The second in command of the Seven Evils, Xian Kongzi, the Sect Master of Blood Eye Sect, couldn’t help but frown.

"Not as much as you guys slaughtering everyone indiscriminately!" The True Monarch but Yu did not speak resentfully.

Both sides continued to badger each other, the situation was at a stalemate, all waiting for the Heavenly Masters to come up with the final verdict.

Although the skies were densely clouded and completely dark, occasionally showing the Night Pool and the Pool of Ten Thousand Spirits, this area was inside a canyon and visibility was low due to many obstructions.

Even no one noticed that there hadn’t been any activity on the Sealing and Sacrifice Platform for a while.

During the intense quarrel between the two groups, around the canyon, the wandering swarms of black insects, walking corpses, porter people, were being cleared by groups of Spirit Light Alliance magicians.

Like a flame, the Spiritual Techniques burned through, porter people or black insects, all fell to the ground turning into black mists.

The walking corpses lost their thoughts and reverted back to mere corpses.

The magicians of the Spirit Light Alliance, each bearing a silver light and showing no intent to defend, pushed straight through any obstructing Black Disaster Spirit Disaster monsters.

Leading them was Vice Alliance Hierarch Zhao Jingtang, followed by a sullen faced Wu Shaoyuan, one of the Seven Evils wielding the Iron Dust Brush.

Plus two coeval old Daoists from the Heavenly Master Mansion, both straight-faced following behind.

"What are these expressions! If the Alliance Hierarch sees your faces all soured like this..." Zhao Jingtang turned to scold.

"It’s really outrageous! In all my years, it’s the first time encountering such demonic outsiders... ah."

Wu Shaoyuan was midway through his words when a glance from the corner of his eye caught someone passing by his side, he immediately straightened his face, not daring to say more.

Not just him, the others around also fell silent, bowing their heads, not daring to look more.

Yu Hong and Qing Huang walked past the few people, standing in the forefront, looking up towards the glowing array with a golden light outside the canyon.

"Is this the place?" Yu Hong looked towards the guide among the crowd, Yu Chu the Taoist.

"Yes....the other places are empty, it seems like they have converged here for a decisive battle!" Yu Chu nodded solemnly.

Yu Hong scanned the entrance of the canyon.

The entire canyon was a straight line, with the entrance blocked by a golden light array, evidently to prevent outside interference.

Examining the array, he turned back and looked at Wu Shaoyuan.

"You go."

Wu Shaoyuan’s eyes widened instinctively wanting to curse, but seeing the reminding gaze from Qing Huang, he dared not babble, only managing a grunt, took a few steps forward, and approached the array.

Standing in front of the golden light array, he clasped his hands and pressed out a series of blue light Seals, but apparently to little effect.

Wu Shaoyuan was somewhat embarrassed, tried a different Technique, blue light flickered for a while, several runes and halos were emitted, but upon entering the array, they were utterly useless and instantly dispersed by the light.

"You go too." Yu Hong looked towards Zhao Jingtang.

The latter hurriedly smiled apologetically, followed up, and began analyzing the array.

Strangely, the two of them together still couldn’t figure out the array, continuously making numerous handprints but to no avail.

After a short while, Zhao Jingtang turned to transmit a message back.

"Alliance Hierarch, this array wasn’t hastily arranged, but was pre-emptively set here, with at least two months of preparation, extremely complex. It seems to be a trap set by the Taoist Sect to ambush the Seven Evil Alliance. We can’t break it in a short time."

"How long at least?" Yu Hong frowned.

"At least three hours." Zhao Jingtang replied cautiously.

"That’s too long." Yu Hong looked at Qing Huang next to him. The latter nodded and clapped her hands.

Among the Spirit Light Alliance Magicians, someone immediately came forward from the rear, put down a backpack, and took out several fist-sized black objects.

They were actually hand grenades!

Seeing this, the recently joined Taoist Sect and Seven Evil Alliance magicians nearby, all got chills and backtracked.

These few magicians came from official backgrounds, elite among the government magicians, and had no aversion to using modernized weapons flexibly.

At this moment, they packed several dozen hand grenades together, then tied them up with a rope.

Finally, tossed it lightly at the canyon entrance.

One second, two seconds.

Boom!!

A gigantic fireball, over ten meters high, completely took over the canyon entrance.

The explosion caused a great vibration, collapsing large pieces of moss and rubble from both sides.

In the noise, that golden light array, due to the significant changes in the terrain, quickly dimmed.

"Let’s go." Yu Hong nodded his head, signaling Zhao Jingtang and Wu Shaoyuan to walk ahead.