Chapter 6167 - Trap

"So many third-heaven Emperor-level experts?" Yue Xiaoqian was utterly hopeless as she saw over thirty third-heaven Emperor-level experts channeling their power into a barrier. "Buzz." Suddenly, the barrier trembled, and everyone disappeared. "Did they leave?" Yue Xiaoqian was both shocked and delighted, but something felt off; this defied all logic. "They haven't left. The barrier is complete, and they're hiding within the void. From the outside, nothing seems amiss. But once we rush in, the trap will be triggered, and we'll be instantly trapped," Long Chen said. "If these thirty-plus Emperor experts attack simultaneously, they could annihilate us countless times over. Why go to such great lengths?" Yue Xiaoqian asked, puzzled. Long Chen pondered for a moment and replied, "The Brahma Heaven Dan Valley has allied with many forces to deal with you. Could it be that, even the Dan Valley fears your retaliation?" Yue Xiaoqian sighed, "If we can't enter the Demon Sealing Land, we have no future. Even though we left half of our people as seeds, our strength is too weak to break through their blockade." "What's inside the Demon Sealing Land?" Long Chen asked. Yue Xiaoqian shook her head, "Our Shi Mo Clan has been hunted for countless years; many of our inheritances have been lost. We only know that entering the Demon Sealing Land is the only way to receive our inheritance. As for what's inside, no one knows." Long Chen nodded, realizing that something extraordinary lay within the Demon Sealing Land. If the Shi Mo Clan obtained it, even the Brahma lineage would have to tread carefully. Thus, they've roped in numerous allies. If the Shi Mo Clan were to enter the Demon Sealing Land and rise again, these "allies" would surely face retribution, binding these forces tightly together. From what Long Chen knew of the Brahma lineage, they would indeed do such a thing, using pills as bait to prevent future threats while enticing wavering forces—a strategy with multiple benefits. "Moreover, they've set up such elaborate traps to capture as many of you alive as possible. Their targeting of your location is so precise that it's likely someone within the Shi Mo Clan has betrayed you," Long Chen said. At the word "betrayed," a shadow crossed Yue Xiaoqian's face. The Shi Mo Clan had unique secret arts; no one could forcibly search their souls. However, if someone couldn't withstand torture and revealed the gathering point, it wasn't impossible. Long Chen gently patted Yue Xiaoqian's shoulder, pulling her into his embrace, and softly said, "Don't worry, with me here, everything will be alright." Long Chen understood Yue Xiaoqian's despair. The enemy had already discovered the gathering point, and it was too late to inform others to choose a new one. The enemy's net was closing in, leaving no room for escape, and those outside would push in, forcing them into this trap. Even though Long Chen possessed great power to kill third-heaven Emperor-level experts, there were over thirty of them this time, and the formation was already set up, giving them a complete advantage. If it were just Long Chen, he could fight freely, but now the Shi Mo Clan was rapidly converging, and they'd arrive within an incense stick's time. The Shi Mo Clan, including Yue Xiaoqian, wouldn't just fail to provide any assistance to Long Chen; they'd become a burden, pushing her to the brink of collapse. "Long Chen..." Yue Xiaoqian choked, feeling utterly useless. Long Chen held Yue Xiaoqian's delicate face in his hands, gently kissed her smooth forehead, and smiled confidently, "Once I gain confidence, nothing in this world can stop me. Will you believe in me?" Yue Xiaoqian looked at Long Chen, into his confident eyes, which were like warm winter sunshine, dispelling all coldness. She instantly felt invigorated and nodded vigorously. "We still have some time. Let's rest briefly. Once they arrive, we'll break through the formation," Long Chen said. After speaking, he urged Yue Xiaoqian to recover. Though time was short, it was enough for Long Chen. He had already roughly grasped the power of the Gate of Life and could draw on the power of the heavens and stars with minimal consumption of his own primal star power. Now, he needed to recover his mental state and relax his body. An incense stick's time was more than enough. What followed would be a true fierce battle. Even among third-heaven Emperor-level experts, there was a vast disparity in strength. Previously, Long Chen had easily slain those experts because they were greatly depleted, having exhausted many of their powerful techniques. But the ones Long Chen faced next would be in their prime, making the battle unpredictable. "Senior, when the time comes, I'll leave the Shi Mo Clan to you," Long Chen said to the Qiankun Cauldron. "You should think it through. While I can temporarily protect them, doing so means I can't protect you," the Qiankun Cauldron replied gravely. Clearly, the Qiankun Cauldron wasn't optimistic about Long Chen's chances, as the situation was fraught with danger and survival was uncertain without it. "Don't you know me by now?" Long Chen smiled slightly. "Alright, I'll handle breaking the formation and then escort the Shi Mo Clan away. However, in this Emperor Fallen Land, dangers abound. We can't travel far. I'll lead them to a secluded spot deeper in and hide. I won't go too far so that if you're in danger, I can return immediately," the Qiankun Cauldron said. Long Chen nodded; that was precisely his plan. "It's frustrating. My Blood Moon Rune is just on the verge of forming. Once it's complete, no number of third-heaven Emperor-level experts would be more than a bunch of weaklings, unable to harm you," Dragonbone Evilmoon said. "No worries, just take out a few more third-heaven Emperor-level experts, and you can condense your Blood Moon Rune. Isn't it the same?" Long Chen said, slightly surprised. "It's different. Even if I condense the Blood Moon Rune, you need to imprint a soul mark, which takes time. During battle, you can't imprint, which means my power can't be utilized," Dragonbone Evilmoon said, irritated. Long Chen's heart sank, realizing that Dragonbone Evilmoon's Blood Moon Rune couldn't be relied on for now. He had long heard Dragonbone Evilmoon boast about the power of its second form, and he had high hopes. But it seemed this crisis couldn't be resolved by relying on Dragonbone Evilmoon. "Whoosh." Just then, the void trembled, and the first group of Shi Mo Clan experts arrived, followed by the second and third groups. The Shi Mo Clan's efficiency was impressive, and the elderly third-heaven Emperor-level leaders had excellent commanding skills, timing and routing perfectly so that within half an incense stick's time, millions of Shi Mo Clan experts assembled. At that moment, Yue Xiaoqian grew tense, as all the Shi Mo Clan experts exuded excitement, believing the crisis to be over, unaware that the greatest danger was right before them. "Buzz." The Qiankun Cauldron appeared in the void, divine runes swirling as it charged forward. "Boom!" A barrier manifested, only to shatter instantly. Behind it, over thirty third-heaven Emperor-level experts were sent flying, staring at the Qiankun Cauldron in shock. "Now!" As all the Emperor experts' attention was drawn to the Qiankun Cauldron, Long Chen's Kunpeng wings fluttered silently, bringing him beside a third-heaven Emperor-level expert. Dragonbone Evilmoon slashed down. "Splat." The demon Emperor expert, still unaware of what happened, found his head soaring into the sky, his Emperor blood spilling across the heavens, signaling the onset of battle.