Tian Li felt a chill run down his spine.
Every surge of blood, every pulse of spiritual power, even the slightest quiver of his Primordial Soul seemed to hit a sudden lag, like someone had forcibly stolen a fragment of time from him. This bizarre attack ignored defenses entirely, striking straight at the source of life itself.
Time and space attributes were truly a nightmare to deal with.
A fierce light flashed in Tian Li's eyes as he let out a roar, and the murderous aura around him exploded violently.
The red brilliance of his long blade surged, an overwhelming blade intent that could annihilate all, tearing apart the eerie force that tried to strip time itself.
At the same time, the Erosion Umbrella in his hand collapsed into a spear, its tip coalescing into a chilling black glow. Together with the long blade, it formed a swirling storm of red and black destruction, sweeping toward Song Wanníng like a meat grinder.
Song Wanníng's figure flickered, moving like a phantom slipping through the cracks of the storm. At times, she thrust her sword to fold layers of spatial rifts in front of her, deflecting the violent blade and umbrella shadows.
At others, she activated sudden teleportation at the last second, narrowly evading deadly strikes.
Sometimes, her sword left behind a zone where time flowed abnormally, slowing Tian Li's thunderous movements in an instant. Her Immortal power seemed endless, every spatial tear, every manipulation of time executed effortlessly, hardly costing her anything.
The swordlight flowed with a cold, eternal Daoic elegance.
Tian Li's heart sank. His Immortal power was depleting fast, while Song Wanníng fought like an untiring war machine. If this continued, he'd eventually be worn down by her relentless assault.
His mind schemed, and his long blade swung with reckless abandon, each strike containing the might to cleave mountains and split peaks.
The Erosion Umbrella was both offense and defense, sometimes forming an impenetrable wall, other times transforming into a sly, insidious weapon. Its bizarre corrosive energy gnawed at Song Wanníng's space barriers and temporal domains.
Their clash intensified, shaking the surrounding cave, dislodging countless rocks.
Blade and sword collided countless times, space tearing and mending in repeated cycles, local time flowing chaotically.
Song Wanníng's sword became faster, more elusive. Their figures darted through the cave at breakneck speed. Every strike caused shockwaves that gouged deeper fissures into the earth.
Then, something unexpected happened.
The precarious flower before them suddenly bloomed a black light.
In the blink of an eye, both of them were engulfed.
"No—"
Tian Li's pupils constricted sharply. He barely thought about Song Wanníng, trying to escape. But the strange light clung to him like parasitic worms, dragging him tight. He slashed at it with his blade, but the light was unyielding, not even wavering.
Song Wanníng tried cutting it as well, feeling an overwhelming dread. It was as if something terrifying had fixed its gaze on her, far more sinister than what Tian Li faced.
A few little ones sensed the danger and rushed to help.
When they saw the Bodhi Tree Spirit, the flower shrank slightly, showing an innate suppressive force restraining it. But after a brief hesitation, it steeled itself and resumed radiating light.
The glow intensified, and soon both Song Wanníng and Tian Li were completely submerged.
Moments later, the black light vanished.
They had already left the cave, appearing high above the island.
Endless, churning waters stretched before them, surrounded by a formation flickering with countless red lights.
Song Wanníng's heart jolted. This formation was clearly an evil one.
Tian Li's expression darkened as well, no longer the calm he'd shown before. He kept trying to pierce the formation, but the waves refused to stir.
"That's enough, don't bother wasting your energy,"
Song Wanníng said, a mocking smile tugging at her lips as she looked at him, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"You tried so hard to trap me for your so-called mission. And look at the result. This formation trapped you too."
Tian Li's face darkened like never before. He clenched his fists, veins bulging, and growled, "Don't talk nonsense!
Don't think I'll help you escape just because you're trying to manipulate me! This formation is only meant to stop you, it can't harm me!"
A flash of disdain crossed his face, but the tension in his fists betrayed his inner unease.
Was this formation really only targeting Song Wanníng?
He didn't know.
"Heh," Song Wanníng saw through his facade, letting out a soft laugh. "You're still as naive as ever."
She crossed her arms, her expression growing colder.
Tian Li tensed even more, a strange pressure gnawing at his heart.
What was the origin of this formation?
Not even his awakened consciousness contained a hint of information about it. He hadn't even realized a formation existed here. The sinister power unnerved him, giving him a foreboding sense that something bad was about to happen.
Had the Mùsù star system truly abandoned him?
Impossible!
He felt the thought absurd. He had been entrusted by the Mùsù star system, destined to ascend to Godhood, to live alongside the cosmos…
Song Wanníng no longer spoke, turning her attention to breaking the formation. But it was unfathomably mysterious, unlike anything she'd seen in any text…
After long study, she gained nothing.
They each occupied one side, both silent. Neither knew what lay ahead.
…
Night fell while they waited.
When the moon hung high in the sky, both felt a chill, glancing upward almost simultaneously. The cold moonlight pierced through clouds, falling upon the formation.
The previously calm formation suddenly surged. Countless blood-red shapes filled the formation, resembling screaming human faces, lunging toward Song Wanníng and Tian Li.
They appeared suddenly, carrying a strange, unsettling aura.
Both were mentally prepared, but the dense evil still startled them.
Especially Tian Li. The red malice was merciless, leaving no exceptions. The furious shapes pressed forward, sinking his heart. Was he truly being treated as a sacrifice?
A flash of anger and fierce unwillingness surged within Tian Li.
He would never be a sacrifice.
Never!
Fueled by endless rage, Tian Li charged straight into the red malice without hesitation.