Chapter 1040: Ritual

As Meng Zhang's group hurried on their way, the ritual in the valley began.

In the valley, there was an inconspicuous small hill. Ouyang Jian's group had arranged a unique altar in front of this hill.

The altar had an unusual shape, and the offerings placed in front of it were filled with a bloody and corrupt aura. The entire altar exuded a chilling feeling that sent shivers down one's spine.

Seeing one offering after another placed before the altar, even Ghost Deity Duan Ci felt that something was amiss.

Ghost infants, ghost children, and the Purple River Cart... These were things that righteous cultivators almost never touched, only frequently used by those in the demonic path.

Mo Qing, a powerhouse of Demonic Cultivation from the Dali Dynasty, conducting a mysterious demonic ritual here, was clearly not a good sign.

Of course, Ghost Deity Duan Ci couldn't intervene before they exposed their intentions.

If their ritual had no bearing on Yin Capital's interests, obstructing it would only deepen their grudge.

Duan Ci was a loyal servant of Yin Capital, dedicated to serving its interests and willing to face any challenges for its sake.

However, he was also reluctant to offend Ouyang Jian and Mo Qing.

Ouyang Jian held considerable power within the court, with numerous followers and disciples. Zhang Xingda, who was traveling with him, held a position in Yin Capital no lower than Duan Ci's.

And the Demonic Cultivator Mo Qing was known for his vindictiveness, cunning, and ruthlessness. Crossing paths with him would undoubtedly lead to dire consequences.

Duan Ci and his companions decided to observe for now, waiting to see what their next move would be.

Shou Zheng's wisp of soul, of course, knew the purpose of Ouyang Jian's group.

He, too, was waiting, biding his time for Ouyang Jian's group to make a move, planning to seize the ultimate spoils afterward.

Zhang Xingda continued to move around the valley's surroundings, driving a massive flow of Earth Vein Qi, channeling it into the altar.

The atmosphere atop the altar grew increasingly eerie.

Mo Qing was the host of this ritual and the controller of the altar.

Before the altar, he unsealed his hands and quickly chanted obscure incantations.

Accompanied by what seemed like indistinct murmurs, a gust of chilling wind swept through the area around the altar.

Within this shroud of chilling wind, Mo Qing appeared even more eerie and terrifying.

With more and more Earth Vein Qi pouring into the altar, the offerings placed before the altar started disappearing rapidly.

It was unclear whether Mo Qing's ritual and the setup of the altar were meant to connect with a great power from the demon realm or simply to assist in casting a spell.

However, judging by the altar's response to him, it seemed like he was truly trying to establish a connection with a great power from the demon realm.

In reality, Mo Qing was conducting this ritual to perform a spell that could perfectly annihilate the Soul of a naturally born Ghost Deity.

For this spell's full potential to be realized, it was best to harness the power of the great power from the demon realm.

To the powerful demons of the demon realm, killing a naturally born Ghost Deity and completely destroying its Soul was an intriguing endeavor.

One of the great demons who frequently interacted with Mo Qing responded to his request. After collecting the offerings, it readily bestowed its power.

With a single gesture, Mo Qing directed a plume of black smoke from the altar, which floated toward the hill ahead.

The black smoke seemed to be entirely absorbed by the hill, vanishing in an instant.

After a moment, the entire hill began to tremble, and the tremors grew increasingly intense.

Seeing this sight, Mo Qing sighed and turned to Ouyang Huajin behind Ouyang Jian, saying, "Nephew, it seems you can't avoid taking action this time. We need your help."

Ouyang Jian immediately issued orders to Ouyang Huajin.

Despite harboring some dissatisfaction, Ouyang Huajin didn't hesitate. Under Ouyang Jian's accumulated influence, he directly accepted the command.

Mo Qing waved his hand several times in the air, sending another plume of black smoke that transformed into a sharp sword, landing in Ouyang Huajin's hand.

"Nephew, I've heard that you've inherited Brother Ouyang's true legacy, becoming proficient in swordsmanship and skilled in killing techniques. Now, I'll gift you a fine sword, serving as a token of support for your battle."

"Next, we'll need you to make good use of this sword to help us accomplish our plan."While speaking, Mo Qing True Monarch pushed his right hand forward into the void.

Ouyang Huajin's Primordial Spirit was pushed toward the hill in front without any resistance, then melded into it like a droplet of water.

Primordial Spirit, essentially a refined Soul, was both tangible and intangible. When manifested as a virtual form, it could easily pass through tangible barriers like rocks and stones.

Once Ouyang Huajin's Primordial Spirit entered the hill ahead, the tremors intensified even further, as if a monstrous beast were exerting its strength from within.

The violent shaking of the hill extended to the surrounding ground, quickly spreading throughout the entire valley and beyond.

The intense tremors on the land felt like an earthquake was occurring.

Many rocks on the surrounding mountain walls began to slide downward.

Zhang Xingda, who was manipulating the Earth Vein Qi around the valley, noticed the earthquake happening around him.

Driven by both curiosity and concern for his old friend Ouyang Jian, he flew into the valley from outside to see what was happening.

Mo Qing True Monarch was conducting the ritual and casting spells.

Ouyang Jian stood nearby, likely serving as his protector.

Ouyang Huajin had vanished, and no one knew where he had gone.

"What's going on? Why is there such a commotion?"

"This is the Ghost Wail Mountain Range, with many Ghosts and ghost beasts around. It won't be easy to handle if we provoke them."

"Right, where's Nephew Huajin? Wasn't he supposed to transform into a Ghost Deity? Why can't I see him?"

Zhang Xingda fired off a barrage of questions.

Meanwhile, he cast a puzzled look at Mo Qing True Monarch.

Although he avoided mentioning it face-to-face due to Ouyang Jian's dignity, he couldn't help but be wary of Demonic Cultivation practitioners like Mo Qing True Monarch.

Despite having fought alongside Demonic Cultivators in the past, he never regarded them as trustworthy allies. His guard never waned in the presence of Demonic Cultivators, given his awareness of their enigmatic techniques.

This time, if not for his long-standing friendship with Ouyang Jian, he would never have been at ease traveling deep into the Ghost Wail Mountain Range alongside a Demonic Cultivator like Mo Qing True Monarch.

Ouyang Jian wore a gentle smile on his face, prepared to offer a prearranged excuse to continue deceiving his old friend.

Suddenly, an unexpected event occurred.

Due to the excessive tremors, the hill, which had been continuously shedding large rocks, experienced an unprecedented quake.

The top of the hill suddenly crumbled, more rocks fell, and the interior of the small hill was exposed.

A colossal and immensely massive head, resembling a small mountain, appeared before everyone as a result of this revelation.

[Thanks for reading at Patreon.com/maxnkoga , if you supporting this novel, a heartfelt thankyou, enjoy the content!]