stonecrandall Page 345
Page 345
He died in that foggy swamp, on that snow-capped mountain that never melts, or in that natural cave known only to him.
However, he never imagined that he would die in Kanriel.
This is the place where I have lived for nearly a thousand years.
This is the place where he spent the most time in his life.
Luo Xiu stepped forward, his chaotic aura transforming into a long spear, which he thrust towards Nightingale's brow.
A resounding clang rang out, and the nightingale was sent flying several meters away.
The imagined death did not come. He forced open his eyes despite the excruciating pain in his body and looked incredulously at the figure in black robes in the sky.
"What are you doing?!!"
Before Luo Xiu could speak, he roared at the figure in the sky.
Anger filled his mind; he had never felt such emotional turmoil, not even when Luo Xiu was about to kill him. His eyes were bloodshot.
Because the arrival of the figure in black robes was not part of their plan at all.
They had agreed beforehand that if he couldn't delay the initiation of the ritual, once he died, the last trace of his original demonic nature would return, which could accelerate the initiation of the ritual.
The arrival of the figure in black robes at this moment meant the cessation of the procession.
The original plan had to be put on hold.
"Don't worry."
The figure in black robes wore a calm smile as he looked at Luo Xiu:
"How about we make a deal? You let him go, and I'll let your people go."
As soon as the words were spoken, dark lightning descended from the distant sky, and a huge dark magic array slowly emerged from the clouds.
Judging from its general location, the magic array was enveloping the sky above Luowangpu.
Dark thunder was gathering power, and crimson lightning crackled and swirled in the sea of clouds, obscuring the entire sky. Once it struck, the entire Rauwanpu would be transformed into a sea of thunder, and countless people would perish.
This was originally a guiding formation, but it was turned upside down by the black-robed figure's methods and became a world-destroying technique.
The figure in black robes stood in the air, a dark mark between his brows flashing, and the corners of his mouth turned up, as if he thought Luo Xiu would definitely grant his request.
At this moment, thanks to the Nightingale's original demonic nature, he had recovered to his peak state and was confident that even if Luo Xiu was stronger, he could still fight him.
There is absolutely no way that Luo Xiu could save Luo Wanpu from his clutches.
But to his surprise, Luo Xiu shook his head:
"I don't intend to make this deal."
The figure in black robes froze, his brow furrowing.
"You'd disregard so many people just to kill one?! That's not like you."
Yes, he heard Luo Xiu's words and knew that Luo Xiu was a type of "Guide," so he made temporary adjustments to the plan.
If someone were that kind of person, they would never let so many people die.
Luo Xiu smiled:
"Someone will always have to make sacrifices, and I am prepared."
As he spoke, he summoned an even larger wisp of chaotic energy and walked toward the nightingale.
The black-robed figure's expression darkened:
"Don't think I'm afraid to take action."
"Please."
Luo Xiu arrived in front of Nightingale in an instant.
A vein bulged on the forehead of the figure in black robes.
"You know, there wasn't much affection between us."
"I said, please go ahead."
Luo Xiu's eyes flashed with scrutiny, but his expression remained indifferent.
He unleashed that chaotic aura.
Without the slightest hesitation.
The situation instantly reversed.
The choice now rests with the figure in black robes.
The figure in black robes had only one choice at this moment: to save the person or to lower the magic array.
This is a duel between beings approaching the eighth rank; a difference of even a fraction can change the course of the battle.
He only has one choice.
Finally, the resounding clang rang out once more.
Nightingale opened her eyes in a daze, only to find herself already in the hands of the black-robed figure.
A warm sensation came from his neck; he touched it and found it was dark red blood.
The black-robed figure's hand was injured, and chaotic energy spread from it.
This is Luo Xiu's current strength. With a single strike, even the black-robed figure at his peak would not escape unscathed.
"Are you an idiot?!"
The nightingale roared, veins bulging on its neck:
"I fucking told you, that was the only chance!!! Why did you act on your own!!!"
At this moment, Luo Xiu had already arrived at the location where the black-robed figure had just been when he saved Nightingale. Once he deactivated the guiding array, Nightingale's efforts over the past two days would be in vain. At that time, Nightingale and the black-robed figure would have no choice but to fight Luo Xiu to the death.
The attack just now clearly showed that there was a significant gap between the black-robed figure and Luo Xiu, and it was highly likely that both of them would still be killed by Luo Xiu.
At this point, it seemed as if the last glimmer of hope had been extinguished, which is why the nightingale was so furious.
Although death was the inevitable end for it, it was not for the figure in black robes.
Faced with the nightingale's angry rebuke, the figure in black robes smiled indifferently:
"Don't be so hasty. Do you really think I can't beat him? I didn't use my full strength just now because I was saving you!"
He did his best to steady his injured hand so it wouldn't tremble, and laughed heartily:
"Besides, it's not like there's absolutely no chance of turning things around now."
He raised his hand, his primal demonic energy surging, and pointed at the massive magic array, his palm suddenly rising upwards.
The magic array, resembling a celestial curtain, instantly flipped again. The crimson lightning that was about to fall rose against the heavens, crashing down from the sky and reaching the firmament.
Luo Xiu made no move, because he had already determined that he would not be faster than that magic array.
The black-robed figure had poured so much effort into that magic array. If he were to make a firm decision to activate it instead of choosing as he had just done, Luo Xiu would most likely be unable to stop him. Besides, he had no intention of stopping him anyway, so he simply didn't move.
But he, the figure in black robes, and the nightingale all understood.
This magic array might be passable as a world-destroying array, but it has obvious flaws and is not perfect as a guiding array.
If a perfect guiding array has a 100% success rate, then the success rate of this array is only about 20%.
Therefore, for the figure in black robes, this was a high-stakes gamble.
If he had let the nightingale die, his chances of success would now be about 80% or 90%.
Now he has a 20% chance of saving Nightingale and activating the guiding array, but also an 80% chance of losing everything.
"Cousin, your brother will teach you a lesson today."
Crimson lightning erupted, like divine punishment descending, defying the heavens and pouring forth in a scene of annihilation. The long robes of the black-robed figure fluttered behind him amidst the tremors of the crimson lightning, a smile on his face:
"Sometimes, you just need a bit of luck to succeed!"
"Damn lunatic..."
Although she really wanted to give the figure in black a good scolding, Nightingale ultimately held back and began to pray silently to the sky, hoping that her unreliable ancestors would bless the success of this mission.
Under the watchful eyes of the three, the magic array in the sky began to change gradually. With each strike of lightning, the sky seemed to slowly open, revealing a huge golden gate that opened slowly inwards under the barrage of lightning.
Both Nightingale and the figure in black robes slowed their breathing, staring intently at the massive door.
"Rumble--"
The giant gate slowly opened, and everything seemed to be going smoothly.
However, just as the door was opened to about one-third of its full extent, the lightning strikes deviated from their intended target, with many striking outside the giant door. This caused the door to open much more slowly.
"Oh shit……"
The figure in black gritted his teeth. Seeing that the giant gate was about to stop opening, he suddenly pounded his chest, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out, merging into the overwhelming primal demonic energy. The giant gate, which had stopped, began to advance inward again.
"See? This is my luck, your cousin."
The figure in black robes wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and laughed.
The nightingale remained silent, her expression indifferent. But her inner prayers grew even stronger.
However, the black-robed figure's luck, gained through bloodshed, didn't seem to last long. When the giant gate was halfway open, its speed slowed down again.
Upon seeing this scene, even the figure in black robes dimmed his eyes, a hint of resentment flashing across his face.
The method just used can only be used once, which means that this gamble... is most likely to fail.
"Oh shit."
The figure in black robes swore again, a rare occurrence, as his mind raced, trying to figure out what to do next.
Suddenly, the nightingale in her hand lit up. Just as the giant door was about to stop completely and even close back, a fair hand suddenly reached out from the half-open door.
The hand grabbed one side of the giant door and pulled it back sharply.
The giant gate, which had stopped, actually started advancing again.
Even so, countless chains appeared out of thin air and wrapped around the giant gate, trying to prevent it from opening. But the owner of that fair hand was clearly no ordinary person. With force, the veins on the back of his hand bulged, and countless iridescent light spots burst out from his palm.
The chains, which had evolved from the divine nature of this land, snapped one by one in response, finally unable to stop the gate from opening.
"Click, click, click—"