The demon cultivators in the valley suddenly froze, their eyes empty and dazed as if bewitched, repeating in unison:
"With our flesh and blood, we worship our lord!"
The moment Elder Sun uttered these eight words, his body exploded like a hand crushing a melon, transforming into a blood mist. Before it could disperse, an invisible force bound the mist into a scarlet rainbow, plunging into the blood coffin at the altar's center. Absorbing the mist, the coffin shuddered violently, as if the sleeping Evil God within was awakening.
One after another, the remaining demon cultivators exploded upon shouting the incantation, their blood pooling into the coffin like juice from burst fruit. The skeleton chains binding the coffin shattered skull by skull. Gradually, the coffin levitated, releasing terrifying demon qi that dispelled the valley's血腥味 (blood odor). In an instant, only the Blood Robe Ancestor remained.
His eyes manic, he raised his hands and laughed wildly. "Hahaha! Thought I needed those sacrifices? I prepared another! You spoiled my plan, but when the Evil God awakens, it will not spare you!"
Infinite demon qi surged from the coffin, enshrouding the valley in black fog. Within it, countless wails echoed, as if thousands of冤魂 (angry spirits) cursed. Ordinary warriors would go mad merely near the fog, becoming mindless killing puppets.
...
Escaping prodigies looked back at the fog-shrouded valley.
"Lucky we got out—we'd be trapped otherwise!"
"I wonder if that senior can stop the demon cultivators."
"He's a Myriad Manifestations expert—killing a few demons is easy."
They spoke worriedly, while Su Miaozhen and Zhou Lingyun approached.
"Is the senior a Buddhist expert?" Su Miaozhen asked.
"Yes! Demon cultivators set up a blood sacrifice array..." The prodigies recounted the valley's events.
Boom! A blast echoed from the valley.
"Senior..." Su Miaozhen clasped her hands. "We can't help—let's pray for his victory." Others joined in prayer, unaware Lin Yu was no Buddhist, just in possession of a Buddha Bone Relic.
...
In the valley, the coffin's skeleton chains had shattered. Scarlet blood leaked from its seams, pooling at the altar's center. The Blood Robe Ancestor trembled with excitement as the coffin lid burst open, revealing a three-zhang-tall, headless demon body clad in blood scales. Blood cascaded from it, turning the scales gray. The surrounding fog surged into the body, boosting its aura to Myriad Manifestations Sixth Grade—equal to Lin Yu's.
Lin Yu frowned. *The Evil God: is that all?* A Sixth Grade could call itself a god? Then what was he?
"Hehe! Brave of you to stay. Too late to run now," the ancestor mocked. "Pity—without those prodigies, the Evil God can't reach Void Formation. But outside, blood is endless. In three months, it will be invincible!"
"Why run?" Lin Yu asked.
"You're Sixth Grade. Think this is the Evil God's true power?" The ancestor laughed, forming a hand seal. "With my flesh and blood, I worship my lord; flesh and blood have spirit—rebirth through me!" His body exploded into blood mist, merging with the headless demon.
"Jie jie jie..." A blood mist formed a head on the demon's neck—the ancestor's face. "I planned this to break through to Void Formation with this body!" His aura soared to Myriad Manifestations Seventh Grade, surpassing Lin Yu's.
"Now I'm Seventh Grade—crushing you is easy!" He stood in the blood pool, inhaling mist. "Offer your flesh—you're my first meal as a reborn god!"