Chapter 424: Alarming Development (2)

Chapter 424: Chapter 320: Alarming Development (2)

“I beseech the heavens for an answer!”

Ling Yunzi cried out.

WOOOOM!!

The Spirit Talisman floated high in the sky, as if it were being infused with some mysterious power.

Just then, a vast expanse of strange, dark clouds suddenly materialized in the sky, and an ominous wind began to howl.

“What’s going on?”

“It looks like some mysterious power is interfering with the National Preceptor’s ritual!”

“Could it be the Immortal Sect Organization?!”

Everyone noticed the mysterious phenomenon in the sky and cried out in alarm.

Even Han Yuan frowned.

Ling Yunzi, of course, also noticed the strange sight in the sky. His expression shifted slightly as he spat a mouthful of blood onto his Peach Wood Sword.

“I beseech the heavens for an answer!”

Ling Yunzi shouted again.

But the strange, dark clouds that had just appeared suddenly began to churn, coalescing into an indescribably bizarre face.

The bizarre face opened its massive maw, as if it were devouring something.

WOOM… WOOM… WOOM…

Han Yuan could feel two formless auras colliding.

“Heaven-Reaching Divine Fire Pillars, rise!”

Ling Yunzi roared.

In an instant, the pillars of fire surrounding the Magic Altar erupted with countless rays of crimson divine light, soaring toward the heavens!

The divine light erupting from each pillar of fire faintly coalesced into snarling, clawing Fire Dragons that charged madly toward the bizarre face.

At this moment, Han Yuan caught sight of a phantom-like figure approaching the viewing platform out of the corner of his eye.

Everyone’s attention was fixated on the Magical Battle in the sky. No one noticed the shadowy figure; only Han Yuan had.

‘Who is that?!’

Sensing something was amiss, Han Yuan leaped from the high viewing platform, darting toward the shadowy figure.

His actions naturally caught the attention of the others on the viewing platform.

After all, everyone on the viewing platform possessed a Divine Sea Cultivation.

Though their attention had been momentarily captured, the moment they sensed something was wrong, they reacted instantly, spotting the shadowy figure steadily approaching the Magic Altar.

‘Someone is trying to sabotage Ling Yunzi’s ritual!’

In that same instant, they understood Han Yuan’s intentions.

Without hesitation, these experts also leaped from the viewing platform, charging toward the shadowy figure.

SWOOSH!

Relying on his terrifying explosive power and the extreme speed unleashed by channeling Star Shifting, Han Yuan instantly caught up to the bizarre, shadowy figure.

Without a word, he threw a punch.

BAM!

The shadowy figure seemed to sense Han Yuan’s approach. A cryptic black light surged around its body, forming a thick, cocoon-like shell.

When Han Yuan’s fist landed, it felt like sinking into a quagmire.

An eerie suction force frantically pulled at him, threatening to drag his entire arm inside.

“Burst!”

Han Yuan roared. His Five Emperors Great Demon True Qi instantly transformed into Fire Evil Qi and detonated!

BANG!

A tyrannical burst of flame erupted, instantly incinerating and melting the eerie black light.

The shadowy figure was thrown back by the crimson flames and slammed onto the ground.

However, it quickly got back on its feet.

At last, Han Yuan got a clear look at the creature’s face.

It had no eyes, no nose, no ears—only a single, grotesque mouth.

The next moment, the creature opened its mouth.

WHOOSH!

A dark-red, rotting arm shot out from its mouth.

As if reaching out from the Netherworld Yellow River, it reeked of a dense aura of death. It suddenly expanded, transforming into a giant claw that lunged viciously for Han Yuan.

“Primordial Heaven-Burning!”

Han Yuan barked coldly, his entire arm instantly surging with crimson Fire Evil as he threw a punch!

A terrifying wave of flame roared forth, as fearsome as Red Flames burning the very heavens.

BOOM!

Countless sparks of fire bloomed, scattering around the Magic Altar like a shower of stars.

The bizarre hand was instantly obliterated by Han Yuan’s punch, disintegrating into a cloud of ash.

Even the strange, one-mouthed creature was now engulfed in Red Flames, letting out a mournful wail.

Just then, the other Divine Sea Experts arrived. They were about to attack when their eyes widened in shock.

The creature was wreathed in flames, but its body was rapidly expanding, swelling up like a grotesque, bloated figure.

Yet everyone could feel an incredibly unstable power surging within the bloated form.

“Oh no! It’s going to self-destruct!”

“Run!”

Everyone’s expression changed drastically as they scrambled to get away from the creature.

Han Yuan was no exception.

This creature was definitely a Source Evil Seed. If it self-destructed, the power would be utterly terrifying.

Ling Yunzi, who was in the middle of directing the four Divine Dragons to dissolve the bizarre face in the sky, felt the extremely unstable, malevolent power.

He let out a soft sigh.

The next instant!

BOOM!!!

An unimaginable wave of malevolent energy erupted!

In response, Ling Yunzi directed the four Heaven-Reaching Divine Fire Pillars, which surged with fiery light, to collide with the mass of evil energy.

RUMBLE!!!

A pillar of fire shot into the heavens, illuminating the entire Great Li Capital.

The entire Great Li Imperial Palace shook violently, as if caught in an earthquake.

Powerful and majestic auras suddenly erupted from all corners of the Imperial Palace, rushing madly toward the Magic Altar.

When these imperial experts arrived at the Magic Altar, they were met with a scene of utter devastation.

A massive crater, nearly a hundred meters in diameter, had appeared before them.

Even the Magic Altar had not been spared; it was completely destroyed.

Only the four Heaven-Reaching Divine Fire Pillars remained standing, untouched by the terrifying blast.

Ling Yunzi stood in the depths of the crater, Wooden Sword in hand, his expression grave.

“National Preceptor, are you all right?”

An imperial expert hurried to Ling Yunzi’s side, asking with concern.

“I am fine, but the ritual has been destroyed.”

Ling Yunzi said, shaking his head.

As he spoke, a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Seeing this, the imperial expert knew immediately that Ling Yunzi must have been injured.

But Ling Yunzi raised a hand to stop the expert from speaking. He wiped the blood from his lips, consumed an Elixir Pill, and then quietly departed.

Han Yuan had already moved a safe distance away during the explosion and was not caught in the blast.

He now stood on the eaves of a grand hall, gazing thoughtfully at the deep crater before him.

“I must thank you for tonight, Palace Master Han.”

“If you hadn’t discovered that strange figure ahead of time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

A figure appeared beside Han Yuan.

Han Yuan glanced back and saw it was Zhou Mingwu.

He said coolly, “A Source Evil Seed managed to infiltrate the defenses of your Great Li Imperial Palace. Will you be able to sleep soundly tonight?”

Zhou Mingwu’s expression instantly soured, and he didn’t know how to respond.

He mulled it over for a moment, then, without making any excuses, said in a heavy voice, “This was indeed a failure on the part of our Forbidden Army. I will conduct a thorough investigation to find out where things went wrong.”

Han Yuan narrowed his eyes and asked softly, “Did many people know that Ling Yunzi would be petitioning the heavens tonight?”

Zhou Mingwu thought for a moment. “We weren’t excessively secretive about it, but ordinary factions shouldn’t have had access to this information.”

“Only the major powers, by leveraging their connections, could have possibly learned of it.”

Han Yuan said quietly, “So, a lot of people.”

Zhou Mingwu nodded helplessly. “Indeed… but the path from the entrance of the Great Li Imperial Palace is guarded by at least several dozen Innate Experts and three Divine Sea Experts. How in the world did that Source Evil Seed get in?”

Han Yuan said thoughtfully, “Perhaps someone brought it in.”

“With the bizarre methods of a Source Evil Seed, it should be possible.”

“After all, we weren’t searched when we entered the Great Li Imperial Palace.”

Zhou Mingwu was stunned for a moment when he heard Han Yuan’s theory.

But he quickly came to his senses.

‘It’s not impossible.’

But so many people had come to watch today, and every single one of them had a powerful background. Even as a Prince, he felt a headache coming on.

Seeing Zhou Mingwu’s expression, Han Yuan smiled faintly. “If I were you, I’d start by detaining everyone here.”

“In the Great Li Imperial Palace, your Imperial Family calls the shots anyway.”

“But if you let them leave, you might never find the culprit.”

Zhou Mingwu took a deep breath. “Then I’ll do as you say and detain them!”

But then he looked at Han Yuan. “Aren’t you known for being solitary, Palace Master Han? Why are you helping me analyze all this?”

Han Yuan laughed. “Everything comes at a price. I’ve offered you this analysis in exchange for a single favor, Brother Zhou.”

“What is it?” Zhou Mingwu asked.

“I want a meeting with Ling Yunzi.”