Chapter 659 - 653: Hope

The sudden turn of events left the Martial Artists in Central City stunned. When they saw the boulders flying through the air, their faces turned deathly pale. High in the sky, the giant mouth of the blood-red skull was like a black hole, seemingly intent on devouring the entire world.

Panic spread through Central City in an instant. The Martial Artists scrambled toward the city gates, but under the shroud of the blood-red light, they were completely unable to break out of the bloody cage. At this moment, they were like rabbits in a pen, waiting to be slaughtered!

In mid-air, the Devouring Power grew increasingly terrifying. Some Martial Artists could no longer resist its dreadful pull and were swept up by the fierce winds, flying straight into the gaping, bloody maw.

"Help... Help..."

Bloodcurdling screams echoed throughout Central City. The once-bustling metropolis had transformed into a living Hell in an instant. People screamed and ran wildly, trying to flee, but no matter how they struggled, as long as they remained within the Hundred-Refinement Soul-devouring Array, they could not escape the clutches of the blood-red skull.

The Devouring Power grew stronger, and more and more Martial Artists failed to resist it. Gradually, an increasing number of them were swept into the air, shooting toward the giant mouth of the blood-red skull. Their faces were filled with despair, and though they wanted to scream, no sound came out.

"Dammit, what in the world is going on?" On the Medicine Hall’s Central Square, Yao Wuchen watched as Martial Artists were continuously sucked into the gaping, bloody maw, his expression turning extremely grim. Because of the competition for the Pill Emperor title, countless Martial Artists were staying in Central City. Nearly half of the Demon Race’s Martial Artists had come to show their support for the Medicine Hall. ’If this continues, all of them are doomed!’

"Hall Master Yao, we have to calm those Martial Artists down first. The more they panic, the more they lose their composure, and the easier it will be for that monster to devour them! Our Four Great Divine Beast Families will join forces with the Medicine Hall to organize them and fight this monster together!" At that moment, the Patriarchs of the Four Great Divine Beast Families descended from above and spoke to Yao Wuchen.

Hearing this, Yao Wuchen nodded. He immediately dispatched the Martial Artists from the Medicine Hall to join with those from the Four Great Divine Beast Families and begin organizing everyone. Yao Wuchen understood the principle of strength in unity. Although the individual Martial Artists weren’t powerful, once their numbers were large enough, even their small contributions couldn’t be ignored—just like an army of ants.

The prestige of the Four Great Divine Beast Families and the Medicine Hall was well known among the Demon Race. Under the organization of these five Major Influences, the Martial Artists in Central City began to band together to resist the Devouring Power from the blood-red skull. The situation gradually stabilized. With everyone united, even the terrifying Devouring Power was unable to overcome them for the moment.

"Hmph, a futile struggle and nothing more!" The Saint Child in mid-air snorted coldly and began to frantically form a Seal Technique. The Devouring Power from the blood-red skull’s mouth surged once again. Down below, everyone’s bodies began to move uncontrollably, drifting toward the blood-red skull.

Feeling the ever-increasing Devouring Power, Yao Wuchen’s brow furrowed tightly. He looked at Shen Haoran and asked in a low voice, "What is this? Why would a monster like this appear in Central City? Do you know something?"

Hearing Yao Wuchen’s question, Shen Haoran concisely explained everything he knew. Yao Wuchen was the strongest expert present, and with his help, they stood a much better chance.

"Is there a solution? Those Martial Artists won’t last much longer. Once that monster breaks free from its chains, everyone in Central City will die. I can feel a destructive power emanating from it!" Yao Wuchen said in a low voice, staring at the massive blood-red skull. After he finished, the other four Patriarchs nodded gravely. They were all Spirit Emperor Tier powerhouses and were extremely sensitive to the Energy fluctuations from the blood-red skull. Even while under a Seal, it possessed a destructive power. If it were to break free, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"There is. We have to destroy the Array Bases of the Hundred-Refinement Soul-devouring Array—those four Stone Pillars!" Shen Haoran said in a low voice, pointing to the black Stone Pillars standing in the four corners of Central City.

"I’ll go!" The moment Shen Haoran finished speaking, Xuan Zhan Tian, Patriarch of the Black Tortoise Race, stepped forward.

"Wait, Zhan Tian! The Array Bases of the Hundred-Refinement Soul-devouring Array can’t be destroyed with brute force. If they’re just attacked, they’ll disappear, and then the Array can never be disabled!" Long Xiaotian said, grabbing Xuan Zhan Tian.

"Let’s leave this to Nephew Shen. He’s familiar with the Hundred-Refinement Soul-devouring Array and will surely be able to destroy it. We need to stay here and suppress this monster. It hasn’t broken through the Seal yet, so if we join forces, we should be able to quell its power and buy time for Nephew Shen and the other Martial Artists in Central City!" Long Xiaotian continued.

"But those Array Bases are guarded by Spirit Emperor Level Martial Artists, and this kid is only a Tier Three Spirit Aspect. Can he really do it?" Xuan Zhan Tian said with uncertainty as he looked at Shen Haoran. It wasn’t that he was looking down on him; the power gap was, after all, an entire cultivation tier.

"Heh, don’t underestimate Nephew Shen. He’s anything but simple!" Long Xiaotian chuckled, then said to Long Aotian behind him, "Aotian, go and help. You must destroy those Array Bases!"

Hearing this, Shen Haoran and Long Aotian both nodded. In a flash, they sped off toward the location of the Cyan Dragon Race.

"Hall Master Yao, let’s move out. If this monster wants to run wild on our turf, it’ll have to get past us first!" Long Xiaotian said, looking at the blood-red skull with its gaping, bloody maw as a powerful aura erupted from his body.

After Long Xiaotian spoke, the other four also clenched their fists. Auras, each no weaker than his, erupted from them, shattering the surrounding stone platforms. They then transformed into five streaks of light and shot toward the blood-red skull.

The Saint Child watched Long Xiaotian and the others leave but paid them no mind. ’No one knows the terror of that blood-red skull better than I do. Even with their combined strength, they’re no match for it.’ His gaze shifted to where Shen Haoran was heading, and with a flicker of his body, he immediately gave chase. To him, the greatest threat wasn’t Long Xiaotian or Yao Wuchen, but Shen Haoran. ’Shen Haoran knows how to find the Array Bases of the Hundred-Refinement Soul-devouring Array. He seems very familiar with this Array. If he’s allowed to destroy the bases, all our efforts will be for nothing.’

Seeing the Saint Child leading several Spirit Emperor Powerhouses after Shen Haoran, Wu Daotian and Yan Jue both frowned and hurriedly followed. Not to be outdone, Tian Ruyi and Bai Shaohong also gave chase. They had all overheard the conversation with Yao Wuchen and knew that Shen Haoran was the key to resolving this crisis. Although the latter two couldn’t stand Shen Haoran, they understood what was most important in the face of this great danger.

The only one who remained was Feng Miaoke. She stared at Shen Haoran’s retreating figure, her expression dark and conflicted. ’It’s Shen Haoran again. In a crisis this massive, everyone’s hopes are pinned on him once more.’ Her heart was filled with jealousy. All she wanted now was to watch Shen Haoran die at the hands of those Spirit Emperor Powerhouses. ’There’s no way I’m going to help him!’