Chapter 902: Sacrificial Banner
Chapter 902: Sacrificial Banner
Thump, thump!
Battle drums pounded!
Upon each beacon tower, black wolf smoke soared into the clouds, its sound shaking ten thousand li, forming a unique formation.
Atop Tian Yuan City's walls.
Above the sky, stars spread across the heavens, and the four wood-element bird stars each shone with brilliant light.
Fang Xi stood at the highest point of the city wall, with Qing Xu Tong Zi, Che Xuan Yuan, and the Mahayana cultivator surnamed Bu behind him.
Following them were Jin Gangzi, Mo Yun Zi, Shen Suan Zi, Ji Fei Xue, and others. . .
"The Human Race's Mahayana cultivators, withered to this point. . ."
Qing Xu Tong Zi and the other two Mahayana cultivators were utterly speechless upon hearing this.
Why were their race's Mahayana cultivators so scarce?
Shouldn't this 'Qing Hezi' bear the primary responsibility?
In fact, if one were to count, besides the three of them, the human race previously had Daoist Hua, Old Man Meng, Cang Mingzi, and Gui Xu Zi!
The number of Mahayana cultivators was around seven; if Fang Xi was included, it would be eight!
This was significantly stronger than the lowest period recorded in human history, and there was even a seven-tribulation Mahayana cultivator, so it couldn't be said to be weak compared to other eras.
Alas, Daoist Hua died in the great battle against the demon race, Cang Mingzi was refined by Gui Xu Zi, and finally, Gui Xu Zi and Old Man Meng all perished at Fang Xi's hands.
By now, half of the human race's top combat power was gone!
It must be said, this was a truly regrettable matter.
Thump, thump!
The earth trembled, and colossal war beasts emerged one after another.
On the current battlefield, these war beasts actually weren't even considered mainstream.
After all, the demon race's war beasts and Heavenly Demon Guards were almost entirely lost in the previous great battle at Tian Yuan City, and have yet to be replenished.
Therefore, the main force in this great battle was primarily the alien alliance.
Fang Xi saw members of the Jiuchi race, their bodies like yellow sacks and with twin wings on their backs, fly out and array themselves into a battle formation.
Besides them, there were also the Fire Clan, Water Clan. . .
The various alien race formations appeared scattered, yet each seemed to conceal hidden profundities.
Evidently, in this battle that would decide the future of the Earthly Immortal World, they had all brought forth their trump cards, cherished for years.
"Water Clan, Fire Clan, Stone Clan, Heavenly Barbarian Clan. . ."
Ji Fei Xue couldn't help but murmur, "This concubine has never seen so many alien races before. . ."
"Amitabha. . . these alien races have many trump cards. This humble monk can only barely recognize one or two."
Jin Gangzi gazed at this scene, falling into worry.
After all, once the Mahayana cultivators finished their exchanges, it would be the turn of Integration stage cultivators like them.
Fortunately, at this moment, 'Shen Suan Zi', who had been temporarily promoted to one of the Five Children, was coordinating the overall situation.
"Hehe. . . don't worry. In this old man's eyes, these alien race trump cards are simply like clay chickens and dogs."
Shen Suan Zi held a white banner, exuding a certain air of commanding the world: "What the Heavenly Barbarian Clan possesses is the 'Heavenly Barbarian Totem'. This totem is inscribed upon a 'Spirit Sealing Pillar', and can grant berserk buffs to the Heavenly Barbarian tribesmen. . ."
"And that precious pearl worshipped by the Fire Clan, it can probably summon a 'Flame Soul Essence' from an unknown minor realm, though its strength is merely between peak Integration and quasi-Mahayana. . ."
"As for the Heart Clan, that 'Thousand Hearts Pagoda' needs serious vigilance. It's a mental attack that surpasses Divine Consciousness, ignores defenses, and those struck are hard to save. Only with lightning-attribute treasures can one barely defend against it. . ."
"The Wangyue Clan has only brought out a few war beasts. As expected, after their Mahayana and Integration stage cultivators successively perished, their foundation was swept clean, and they can only remain at the bottom of the alien alliance."
"However, the Stone Clan's sacrificial stone dragon is no small matter; I fear it possesses true Mahayana combat power."
...
Shen Suan Zi analyzed each alien race's trump cards one by one, then made corresponding countermeasures.
This scene made Jin Gangzi and Mo Yun Zi sigh with repeated emotion: "Shen Suan Zi, you truly are exceptionally knowledgeable. . ."
"Naturally, this old man calculates without omission. . . " Shen Suan Zi stroked his beard smugly. Seeing Fang Xi's half-smile, he quickly changed his tune: "Of course, it's also due to Senior Fang's guidance."
If he hadn't gone to Trapped Sky Island for advanced studies, Shen Suan Zi wouldn't have such a thorough understanding of each race's trump cards.
Thump, thump!
The battle drums suddenly grew urgent, and the armies of the two races slowly advanced.
It seemed that this time, both sides intended to probe first; Mahayana cultivators had not yet appeared.
"Shen Suan Zi, you will strategize and oversee the overall situation for this battle."
Seeing this, Fang Xi's hand flashed with white light, and he tossed an ivory-white token into Shen Suan Zi's arms.
"As you command!"
Shen Suan Zi responded loudly, raising the token high.
Buzz, buzz!
Black and white light emerged, transforming into a colossal chessboard. The black pieces surged forth ferociously, seemingly intent on slaying a great dragon!
"Our human race is at a disadvantage, so the first engagement must be a small victory to boost morale. Bring him forth, bring 'Wu Xing Zi'!"
Shen Suan Zi's expression was solemn as a white piece fell.
Crack! Crack!
A bronze war chariot was slowly pushed onto the battlefield. This chariot was incredibly massive, with complex and abstruse patterns on all four sides, and at its center was a colossal platform.
Upon the platform, an Ox-Head Bronze Pillar stood coldly erect.
A corner of the ox-head was broken, fangs protruded, and its eyes glowed crimson, giving it an incredibly ferocious appearance.
From the ox's nose, several bronze chains hung down, binding a person to the bronze pillar—it was 'Wu Xing Zi'!
However, at this moment, his appearance was utterly miserable. His hair was disheveled, and all four limbs were firmly nailed to the bronze pillar by bronze coffin nails. His abdominal cavity even seemed to have been hollowed out, faintly revealing five-colored vital organs circulating.
This 'Ox-Head Bronze Execution Platform' was a treasured possession of the human race, acquired from a peculiar immortal abode.
That immortal abode was actually more akin to a demon's abode; the magical artifacts contained within were all utterly bloody and cruel.
It is said that the cultivators who initially rushed in, including several Integration stage mighty figures, all died horribly. Even a Mahayana cultivator who entered later was severely wounded, preventing him from passing the subsequent Immortal Lightning Tribulation, and he was forced to tragically perish. . .
Wail, wail!
Desolate and ethereal flute-like sounds wailed, coming from bone-made gale pipes.
"Ah!"
Wu Xing Zi, along with his Nascent Soul, had long been bound by seals, unable to escape his physical body.
At this moment, the bronze pillar seemed to come alive, igniting with a layer of black flames.
Within the flames, a strange demonic shadow, with the head of an ox and the body of a woman, appeared. Its skin was snow-white, its figure voluptuous, yet its head was a bizarre ox-head, emitting eerie cackles.
Amidst the flames, it embraced Wu Xing Zi.
"Heavenly Demon Phantom?"
"Power of the Law of Destruction?"
Fang Xi nodded upon seeing this scene, knowing that even if Wu Xing Zi had reserved revival methods beyond his Five Elements avatars, they would likely all be rendered ineffective after being executed by this peculiar bronze platform.
Demonic fire raged!
In an instant, Wu Xing Zi's flesh peeled off piece by piece, leaving only a skeleton.
Between the ribs in his chest, there was actually a mass of five-colored radiance.
Within the five-colored light mass, a Nascent Soul bearing a striking resemblance to Wu Xing Zi wailed ceaselessly, its body pierced by bronze nails.
Even enduring torture a million times more terrifying than 'death by a thousand cuts' (lingchi), Wu Xing Zi's consciousness still seemed clear!
Wail, wail!
The gale pipe sounds grew even more shrill.
Around the bronze platform, numerous peculiar magical artifacts appeared: a rosary made of snake bones, an unknown white bone bowl, black ghost plaques, a leather drum, a prayer wheel, and more.
Within the white bone bowl, half a bowl of fresh, crimson vital blood was held, likely transmuted from Wu Xing Zi's flesh.
Not only that, his human skin drifted down, draping over the leather drum, making this 'thousand-layered drum' seem to gain yet another layer.
At this moment, these peculiar magical artifacts all erupted with astonishing spiritual pressure and fluctuations, suddenly letting out a howl as they charged towards the alien race's army formation!
Pfft!
Countless formation and magical treasure lights landed upon the phantom images of the magical artifacts, yet they simply passed straight through.
As if these peculiar magical artifacts were merely illusions.
But the next moment, the white bone bowl appeared above the Heavenly Barbarian Clan's army formation, and the fresh blood it carried poured down.
Whoosh, whoosh!
A sea of blood suddenly appeared in the void. This sea of blood could corrode true essence and magical treasures, instantly submerging the Heavenly Barbarian Clan's camp.
At the bottom of the sea of blood, countless human-shaped shadow puppets swayed.
A large number of Heavenly Barbarian tribesmen, before even enjoying the buffs from the totem pole, lost all their vital blood and turned into withered corpses. . .
Thump, thump!
The human-skin drum flew into a winged tribe's army formation. As the drum sounds resonated, countless feathers drifted down. The winged, human-headed, eagle-bodied bird demons seemed to go mad, actively shedding their feathers, their skin peeling off, blood flowing freely. . .
"Damn it!"
Among the Heavenly Barbarian Clan, an Integration stage cultivator, over three zhang tall, clad in deep azure armor, resembling an ancient general, roared and reached out a large hand towards the white bone bowl!
Crack!
Electricity crackled in the void, instantly transforming into countless bolts of lightning.
This attacking Heavenly Barbarian was clearly an Integration stage cultivator, even with a cultivation level around late-stage Integration!
At this moment, he knew that to deal with such wicked magical artifacts, one must use lightning arts, grand and upright, to sweep away the evil aura!
Thus, his very first move was the Heavenly Barbarian Clan's 'Myriad Punishment Savage Thunder'!
Blinding lightning radiance spread across the sky, yet the white bone bowl remained completely unaffected.
Not only that, a string of snake bone rosary beads appeared. Two points of red light suddenly flared on the skull-like snake head, as if traversing the void, coiling around the Heavenly Barbarian Integration stage cultivator.
The Heavenly Barbarian Integration stage cultivator let out a cry of agony. Before his eyes, a colossal, ferocious giant python head appeared, opening its bloody maw and swallowing him whole. . .
...
"These phantom magical artifacts, their power can rival half of an Immortal Abode Rare Treasure. . ."
Seeing this scene, Fang Xi suddenly thought of the Divine Feather Sect's 'Shadow Transformation Imprint Talisman'.
Those peculiar demonic artifacts like the rosary beads and prayer wheel, their might was almost comparable to a 'Shadow Transformation Imprint Talisman' created from an Immortal Abode Rare Treasure.
"Wu Xing Zi truly lives up to his reputation as a peak Integration stage cultivator. The power of his blood sacrifice clearly satisfied that Heavenly Demon, leading to such gifts. . ."
"Under normal circumstances, it would at most summon two or three magical artifacts, and their power would be far inferior. . ."
Qing Xu Tong Zi spoke a fair assessment.
This 'Ox-Head Bronze Execution Platform' evidently required a sacrifice to be appeased first, before it would activate and summon numerous phantom demonic artifacts.
Fang Xi was just about to execute Wu Xing Zi anyway, so naturally, he made the best use of him.
Before the three armies officially engaged, he first beheaded Wu Xing Zi as a sacrifice for the banner, and even repurposed him, using him as a sacrifice to summon several great demonic artifacts, crushing the enemy's vanguard in one fell swoop!
Comments