Chương 229: Chapter 118: Spirit-Devouring Array Activation, Crimson Filaments Enter the Body

The Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities. Deep within the subterranean stone grotto, the sinister and bizarre grand formation etched into the ground was doused with countless gallons of freshly slaughtered blood. A rich, thick, nauseating stench of gore drifted through the damp air, forcing even Mu Daguang and his companions to slightly knit their brows in distaste.

"Ancestor, the sacrifice of two hundred young boys and girls has been completed. The array can now be activated," Mu Yunshen reported with utmost deference, bowing low with hands raised in respect. Mu Daguang listened and gave a subtle, measured nod, his voice quiet yet chilling: "Wait a moment longer." At that very moment, the sea of dark blood drenching the array began to churn violently as if boiling.

Countless crimson bubbles surged up with loud gurgling noises, soundly swallowed up by the grand array at an astonishing speed, like a thirsty monster guzzling down water!

"Hehehe, the delicious taste of fresh blood is always so unforgettable! Every time this moment arrives, I simply cannot resist entertaining a thought—if your Mu Family were to perform such sacrifices for me every single day, I am afraid this demon's cultivation would have fully recovered long ago!" An eerie, rasping laughter echoed out from every direction within the cavernous stone grotto, thick with an appetite for greed and unbridled savagery.

Mu Daguang let out a cold, sharp snort upon hearing those words, his countenance darkening somewhat. He spoke in a stern tone: "This instance of Spirit-Devouring is of monumental importance to my Mu Family. When the time comes, you must personally step in to utterly suppress and subjugate this boy. If you succeed, within half a year, I shall grant you another two hundred young boys and girls as your sacrificial tribute."

"Is that truly your solemn promise?" A plume of thick, jet-black smoke abruptly billowed from the Spirit-Devouring Array. It condensed into a fiendish shadow the size of an ordinary man, possessing a pair of sharp, curling horns upon its head and two blood-red eyes that glowed like polished blood jade. Mu Daguang nodded heavily and said, "This old man's word is as solid as iron. However, this young brat is exceptionally extraordinary and may very well harbor hidden trump cards.

Were it not for the ancient rule that no outsiders are permitted to remain once the Spirit-Stealing Array is activated, this old man would personally intervene to ensure absolute success. In short, you must exercise extreme caution! You must guarantee that this Spirit-Devouring process succeeds without a single hitch!" The fiendish shadow let out a harsh, cackling laugh upon hearing this.

"Hahaha! You may set your heart completely at ease regarding that! With this demon's array of methods, a mere sapling like him won't be able to kick up even the slightest ripple!" Having said that, its pair of blood-red eyes swung around, locking their sinister gaze directly onto Reyn.

"Tsk, tsk... The little fellow you brought this time is indeed quite out of the ordinary. To think he can actually remain so cool and collected under such dire circumstances! In all my thousands of years, this is truly the first time I have ever witnessed such composure." Reyn cast a chilling, indifferent glance back at the demonic shadow, his tone flat and unyielding: "Since I already know the secret behind this matter, your Mu Family cultivators would never allow me to leave here alive.

Since I know beyond a doubt that death is inevitable, why should I wag my tail, beg for mercy, and humiliate myself?" Speaking to this point, he paused briefly. An absolute, bone-chilling frostiness instantly flooded his countenance as he spoke with resolute grandeur: "However, if I, Reyn, am fortunate enough to survive today, I shall inevitably return to the Mu Family in the future to drag your entire bloodline down into the dust and suppress you for all eternity!"

His voice sounded like grinding iron from the deepest hells, radiating an overwhelming, murderous aura that seemed to dominate all beneath the sky! Hearing these harrowing words, the expressions of all three Mu Family members flickered dramatically, though they quickly sneered in utter disdain.

"Senior Brother Reyn, you can rest assured," Mu Nianxing said, the warm, gentle demeanor on his face entirely vanishing, replaced by a gaze brimming with ruthless greed and cruelty as he stared at Reyn.

"Our Mu Family has always acted with utmost prudence, adhering to the principle of pulling up weeds by their roots. Once we strike, we will never leave our enemies with the slimmest chance to turn the tables! Once this Spirit-Devouring process is completed, I shall personally make a trip to the North Yue State and annihilate every single member of your lineage, making sure no future threats remain."

"Tell me, Senior Brother, does Tianxing's way of doing things strike you as sufficiently thorough?" Reyn's face turned terrifyingly dark in an instant, yet the turbulence within his eyes abruptly subsided into an uncanny, terrifying calm.

"If you dare to harm even a hair of my Reyn Clan in the future, even if I, Reyn, am reduced to a vengeful ghost in death, I will take your wretched life!" Mu Nianxing's face twitched again, but he merely let out a cold laugh and refrained from arguing further. Instead, he turned and cupped his hands in deep respect, saying, "Ancestor, your grandson is fully prepared! Please activate the array!" Mu Daguang nodded slowly upon hearing this.

With a casual flick of his long sleeve, Reyn's body was instantly lifted off the ground by an irresistible force, floating through the air before dropping directly into the center of the Spirit-Devouring Array.

"Tianxing, as soon as your Spirit-Devouring is completed, this This Seat will officially declare you as the next Head of the Mu Family. Be cautious in everything you do, and under no circumstances are you to disappoint this old man!"

"Your grandson will act with the utmost care and caution! Please rest assured, Ancestor!" Mu Nianxing replied respectfully, a flush of intense excitement washing over his face. Seeing his reaction, Mu Daguang gave a satisfied nod. He turned around without another word and strode out of the subterranean chamber alongside Mu Yunshen. Behind them, the massive blood-red stone gate slowly swung shut without making a single sound.

Yet right at that moment, the Mu Family Ancestor suddenly halted his steps and whipped around. His brows were deeply knit, a trace of undeniable anxiety surfacing on his face, his eyes shifting uncertainly between light and shadow.

"Ancestor, what is wrong?" Seeing this, Mu Yunshen felt a surge of doubt in his heart and cautiously inquired. Mu Daguang's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. After a brief hesitation, he spoke in a heavy, uneasy voice: "For some inexplicable reason, an ominous premonition has suddenly welled up in my heart. I only hope that during this Spirit-Devouring, no unforeseen complications arise." Hearing those words, Mu Yunshen's heart skipped a beat, and the expression on his face stiffened noticeably.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Meanwhile, inside the stone grotto, the fiendish shadow let out a series of strange, rasping cackles.

"Kid of the Mu Family, step into the array quickly! This demon is about to activate the Spirit-Devouring Array." Mu Nianxing's face instantly adopted an expression of extreme reverence. He bowed deeply toward the shadow and said, "I must ask Senior Demonic Spirit to offer your full assistance. If I achieve great accomplishments in the future, I will surely offer you more than enough sacrificial offerings in return."

The fiendish shadow fixed its crimson gaze upon him for a brief moment before breaking into a strange, mocking laugh: "Hehehe! You cultivators of the Mu Family are truly cold-hearted and ruthless. For your own selfish gains, you are even more vicious and cruel than this demon! But... I like it!" Mu Nianxing smiled faintly, his face revealing not the slightest bit of shame or discomfort.

With a flick of his wrist, he slapped his storage bag and produced a pill that was entirely dark red, glistening like a bead of fresh blood.

"The Blood-Fusing Meridian-Altering Pill!" Seeing this, the fiendish shadow let out a weird shriek, its blood-red eyes filled with astonishment. Its gaze suddenly whipped back toward Reyn: "Just what kind of extraordinary aptitude does this boy possess for that old ghost Mu to actually entrust a supreme treasure like this to your hands?!"

"Since you have this pill in hand, this demon can guarantee that this Spirit-Devouring will be absolute and foolproof. It will undoubtedly succeed!" Overjoyed by these words, Mu Nianxing bowed deferentially in thanks. After swallowing the Blood-Fusing Meridian-Altering Pill, he strode boldly toward Reyn, taking his seat directly opposite him and sitting cross-legged. Seeing that everything was in place, the Demonic Spirit let out a low, booming roar from its deep chest: "Spirit-Devouring Array, ACTIVATE!" Hummm!

As the Demonic Spirit's dark voice echoed through the subterranean chamber, the intricate array engraved deep into the cold stone floor suddenly erupted with an ocean of blinding, blood-red light. In an instant, the rampant crimson brilliance billowed upward, completely swallowing both Reyn and Mu Nianxing within its terrifying perimeter. The blood-tinted light churned and surged violently like a tempestuous sea, amidst which low, savage roars reverberated with terrifying intent.

From the very heart of the formation, a bone-chilling aura—saturated with unbridled brutality, dark evil, and bitter malice—exploded into the surrounding air! Seeing this terrifying display, the Demonic Spirit took on a grave, solemn expression. Raising its shadowy arm, it pointed a slender finger toward the swirling vortex of blood-red light and barked in a low, authoritative command, "Circulate, Crimson Radiance! Condense the Spirit-Devouring Fiend, and defy the heavens to rewrite destiny!"

Along with its piercing incantation, its hands blurred into a series of swift, rhythmic gestures, shooting out a succession of complex spell seals into the swirling ocean of crimson light. Roar! Roar! Roar! Empowered by the influx of dark hand seals, the surging blood light accelerated exponentially, turning into a frantic, blinding vortex that spun several times faster than before.

The muffled, guttural growls grew increasingly dense, violent, and agonizingly restless, gradually coalescing into a single, unified roar that reverberated through the stone cavern like an ancient, abyssal demon breaking free from eons of imprisonment! As the blood light thrashed and violently surged, it took mere breaths of time for a sinister, unnatural silhouette to materialize.

The grotesque demonic shadow stood tens of feet tall, utterly devoid of arms or legs, possessing only a single, giant central eye and two monstrous tentacles sprouting from its upper head. Its body was ghostly white and translucent, through which one could dimly discern countless bizarre, writhing crimson threads continuously tangling and roiling within its ghostly form. The moment this bizarre demon phantom fully condensed, it threw back its massive head and unleashed a deafening, soul-shattering roar.

Instantly, the boundless blood light that flooded every corner of the subterranean grotto rushed toward it like rivers converging into a vast sea, swallowed whole into its gaping, terrifying maw. As the endless crimson radiance poured into its torso, its spectral, translucent form rapidly solidified. To the naked eye, it began to look as solid and real as flesh and bone!

With the birth of this monstrous fiend, the ancient runes carved upon the blood-red stone entrance of the grotto suddenly flared with a deep, sickening crimson light. The carved lines began to twist and writhe frantically like living serpents, releasing a wave of piercing, freezing chill into the atmosphere. Standing near the entrance, the Mu Family Ancestor and Mu Yunshen exchanged a swift glance, both of their expressions hardening into uncharacteristic gravity. The Spirit-Devouring process had officially begun!

Inside the eerie stone grotto, the Demonic Spirit maintained a cold, rigorous expression. It thrust its hand forward, pointing directly at the colossal, grotesque shadow, and uttered a curt, commanding bark: "Devour!" The grotesque demon shadow let out a low, terrifying rumble from deep within its maw as its two massive tentacles shot out like thick, whipping tendrils, coiling tightly around both Reyn and Mu Nianxing.

Before either could react, countless microscopic crimson filaments sprouted along the surface of the tentacles. Densely packed like thousands of razor-sharp steel needles, they instantly bored into the flesh and bodies of the two young men! Hmph! The moment those sinister crimson filaments breached his skin, all color drained from Reyn's face, turning him deathly pale. A low, agonizing grunt escaped his lips as his muscles convulsed and his frame shook violently.

Like ravenous parasite worms, the bloody threads writhed and thrashed wildly once inside his body, spreading and fanning out at an appalling speed. In just a few short breaths, they had woven a dense, terrifying web through every single inch of his flesh, blood vessels, and bones! Immediately after, the tips of those countless crimson threads ruptured open, exposing microscopic orifice holes that functioned like tiny, greedy straws.

In that exact instant, an immense, terrifying suction force detonated from within every thread!

"Ahhhhh!" Reyn jerked his head back violently, a blood-curdling scream of pure agony torn from his throat. His facial features contorted into a hideous mask of excruciating pain. Under the staggering, merciless power of that internal suction, his entire muscular physical body perceptibly withered and thinned at a rate visible to the naked eye! Vast amounts of his flesh, vital essence, and essence blood were forcibly torn from his organs and limbs, dragged ruthlessly out of his body.

Through the translucent surface of the demonic tentacles, one could clearly observe these strands of stolen vitality entering the giant demon shadow's body, where they were instantly refined and decomposed into glowing, eerie spheres of blood-red energy. Almost immediately after, this refined power was funneled into the second tentacle, surging down the thousands of crimson filaments to be mercilessly pumped directly into Mu Nianxing's body!

Although the initial piercing of the blood filaments into his own flesh caused Mu Nianxing immense pain, the moment the very first wave of refined, concentrated essence energy washed into his body, he could not suppress a look of frantic, delirious ecstasy from bursting across his face! Having previously refined an extraordinary quantity of precious White Jade Dragon-Whiskers Rice, every single inch of Reyn's flesh and bone was saturated with boundless, robust vital energy.

For anyone fortunate enough to plunder such vitality, it represented an astounding, world-defying fortunate encounter!

"Hahaha! Hahahahaha! Heavens above are truly favoring me!" Mu Nianxing howled in delight, his eyes wide with feverish ambition.

"I do not know what kind of heaven-defying opportunity this Reyn stumbled upon, but the vitality inside his body is astonishingly potent! Once I completely devour everything he has, I will not only absorb his Spirit Roots, but my mana and cultivation will soar through the sky in an instant! After a short period of secluded cultivation, breaking through straight into the Golden Core stage will be virtually guaranteed!"

"Come! Devour more! Everything inside his body—his blood, his power, his soul—all of it belongs to me!" Floating quietly in the air above the array formation, even the Demonic Spirit could not help but reveal a look of deep shock across its dark features!

"To think this human cultivator possesses vitality so immensely powerful... While it may fall short of a Nascent Soul realm master, it far surpasses that of any ordinary Golden Core cultivator! If I were to devour him entirely for myself, I could likely restore nearly half of my original cultivation power!" At this thought, a sudden flash of unbridled greed flared in the Demonic Spirit's pair of blood-ruby eyes.

Crimson light flickered rhythmically within its gaze as it rapidly calculated the possibilities in its mind. Yet after several tense breaths, it ultimately let out a low, reluctant sigh, an expression of bitter regret sweeping over its face.

"Even if I were to devour this kid, I still cannot shatter the shackles of this Spirit-Devouring Array on my own. Furthermore, that old ghost Mu Ancestor is exceptionally difficult to deal with. If I thoroughly enrage him, the consequences for me would far outweigh any gains."

"This brat from the Mu Family truly lucked into unbelievable fortune. Devouring a creature like this is no different than receiving a monumental blessing straight from the heavens." As it muttered these words, the Demonic Spirit subconsciously swallowed its saliva, the burning regret and envy in its glowing eyes growing even deeper.