"What do you intend to do?"
"Do you know the forces we represent? Offend us, and your demon remnant faction will die no matter where you flee!"
As the jade talismans failed, the prodigies calmed, shouting at the blood-robed elder.
"Flee? Why would I flee?" He sneered. "Once I awaken the Evil God with your flesh, who can oppose me? All will submit to the Blood Shadow Sect and me, the Blood Robe Ancestor!"
"Flee separately! They lured us here because the formation only covers the valley. Outside, the talismans should work—we can escape!" Someone shouted, dashing toward the valley exit. Others followed, hoping to survive.
"Haha! You guessed right—the formation only covers this valley." The blood-robed elder didn't flinch. "But you overestimate yourselves. With me here, none shall escape! Stay as sacrifices!"
He waved his blood robe, and demon qi in the valley turned to dark clouds, sweeping toward the fleeing prodigies. Chains of qi bound them, dragging them back to the altar.
Thud, thud... They crashed at the blood-robed ancestor's feet.
"Hmph! Caught in our Blood Shadow Sect's Demon Mountain Formation, you still dream of escape?" Elder Sun scoffed.
"I am invincible here! Not even the Heavenly Emperor can save you—accept your fate!" The blood-robed ancestor waved. "Drag them to the blood altar. I shall host the ritual to revive the Evil God!"
Demon cultivators rushed forward, dragging the qi-sealed prodigies toward the gruesome, blood-stenched altar. Desperation filled their faces as挣扎 (struggles) proved futile.
Then a calm voice echoed through the valley: "You claim to be invincible here. Did you ask for my opinion?"
"Who?" The blood-robed ancestor spun toward the voice. A figure in a wide-brimmed hat and black gauze emerged, walking slowly.
"Eh! Someone hid in the valley, and I didn't detect them?" The ancestor's face changed, then contorted in anger upon sensing Lin Yu's cultivation. "I thought it was a mysterious expert, but it's just a Xiantian-failing ant. No wonder I overlooked you—your strength is negligible."
Lin Yu held the Buddha Bone Relic, channeling spiritual energy. Golden ripples of warmth, peace, and compassion spread from the relic, covering the valley. Demon qi touched by the ripples ignited and vanished as smoke. The qi binding the prodigies dissipated, freeing them to rush to Lin Yu.
"Buddhist expert?" The blood-robed ancestor paled, realizing a Buddhist disciple had infiltrated his plan.
"Senior, let us fight by your side against these demon cultivators!"
"We may be weak, but we can hold them off—let us help!"
Lin Yu shook his head. "You'll only hinder me. Flee this ruin and spread word of the demon cultivators' plot."
Grateful, the prodigies bowed and fled the valley unhindered as the remaining demon cultivators struggled against the Buddha light.
Lin Yu收起 (put away) the relic, and the golden ripples faded. "Well, your sacrifices have escaped. What will you use to worship the Evil God?"
"Damnation! You dare sabotage the Blood Shadow Sect's plan! I'll kill you!" Elder Sun charged, palm outstretched. Dark clouds like a flesh and blood millstone碾压 (crushed) toward Lin Yu.
Lin Yu冷哼 (snorted), unleashing Myriad Manifestations pressure like a tsunami. The dark clouds dissipated, and Elder Sun exploded into blood mist under thecoercion (aura).
"Myriad... Myriad Manifestations Sixth Grade..." The blood-robed ancestor stared in horror, sensing the terrifying power.
"You have good eyes." Lin Yu nodded, scanning the remaining demon cultivators. "It's time to send you on your way."
"With our flesh and blood, we worship our lord!" The blood-robed ancestor's face twisted into a sinister smile as he shouted to his followers.