Chapter 961: Life-and-Death Clash

As the viscous blood light entered his body, E Kuai's frame trembled, and a flicker of pain crossed his face, but it was immediately suppressed by a look of delight. He closed his eyes and began to circulate his cultivation technique, digesting the power of the blood light.

His limbs swelled faintly, and a dazzling blood light radiated from his entire body. The dim mysterious acupoints on him flickered wildly, rapidly turning solid one by one.

The speed at which he opened his acupoints this time was several times faster than when he had absorbed the blood-colored pool water earlier.

"So this is how the Blood Weeping Formation is used," Shi Chuankong muttered to himself, having retreated to a distance, gazing at the situation inside the blood formation with a shocked expression.

The blood formation continued to operate, and the blood light within the light gate surged out endlessly, as if inexhaustible, merging into the blood formation, being purified by Fu Jian and the other three, and finally absorbed by E Kuai.

In just a short time, over twenty mysterious acupoints had opened within E Kuai's body, and the aura he emitted grew increasingly vast, like a sky-obscuring dark cloud pressing down on everyone present.

In contrast to E Kuai, the auras of Fu Jian and the others began to gradually decline.

At this moment, chaos once again erupted around the blood formation.

Fang Chan stood behind the statue beneath Sun Tu, his eyes wide open, and his protruding pig mouth suddenly gaped wide, his already enormous mouth nearly splitting to his ears, looking extremely ferocious and terrifying.

"Roar..."

A tremendous howling sound erupted from his mouth, and rolling sound waves surged like a great river tide, crashing toward the statue, but were blocked by the blood-colored light curtain enveloping it.

"Boom, boom, boom"

The blood-colored light curtain shook violently, undulating like ocean waves, transmitting the rolling fluctuations in all directions, causing even the light curtain around the entire blood formation to become somewhat unstable.

Shao Ying watched this scene, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.

According to what E Kuai had said earlier, among the remaining people, aside from himself and Madam Liuhua, no one else could shake this blood curtain barrier, and the two of them would never do so.

After a few breaths, the fluctuations on the blood-colored light curtain gradually slowed and eventually returned to calm.

On the other side, Duan Tong's bandages had been unwrapped layer by layer, and his naked body and thick arms were a mottled purple-black, densely covered with deep black strange patterns, looking very eerie.

With a loud shout, he leaped into the air, raised a fist, and smashed it down onto the blood-colored light curtain.

The black patterns on his body lit up, and the muscles on his already enormous right fist bulged, with starlight dots appearing on it, revealing nearly a hundred mysterious acupoints.

He activated the Tongxuan Arm technique, and the black patterns on his arm grew brighter, generating waves of scorching heat that continuously radiated outward, emitting a "boom... boom... boom..." sound.

"Break for me..." Duan Tong's eyes blazed with fury, like an Asura reborn, as he let out a thunderous roar.

His giant fist, having built up full power, smashed down heavily toward the statue ahead.

"Don't you dare cause trouble!"

Just then, a furious shout rang out from the side.

A white flash streaked by—Zhu Ziyuan had instantly arrived directly in front of Duan Tong, his white bone spear flicking through the void as he thrust fiercely at Duan Tong.

"Clang..."

A sharp, tremendous sound rang out as Zhu Ziyuan's spear tip directly met Duan Tong's fist.

Violent gusts of air burst forth from the point of impact, transforming into countless chaotic whirlwinds that swept in all directions.

Zhu Ziyuan's bone spear was bent into a huge arc, the tip nearly folding back on itself.

He gave a cold snort, gripping the spear tightly with both hands as dozens of acupoints on his arms lit up simultaneously, causing the star acupoints on the bone spear to also radiate beams of light.

A vast, immense power of the stars erupted from within his body, flowing along his arms and pouring into the spear.

With a "whoosh" sound!

The bone spear, on the verge of bending, suddenly snapped forward, returning to its original shape, while Duan Tong, struck by this force, could not help but fly backward.

After landing, Duan Tong did not pause for a moment; he stomped the ground with his toes and shot forward close to the ground, swinging his fist at Zhu Ziyuan.

The latter flicked his spear in a flourish and actively met him, engaging in close combat.

Seeing this, Zhu Ziqing was about to step in to help when she caught sight of Xuan Yuanxing also attacking the blood array's light barrier. With a frown, she flicked her spear and charged over as well.

Shi Chuankong stood to the side, watching the scene with a furrowed brow.

He first swept his gaze around the surroundings, then looked toward the rear hall, his expression hesitant.

Before leaving, Han Li had told him to stay out of trouble as much as possible and not to get involved in the conflict between the two sides. But given the current situation, the people of Xuan City clearly held the advantage. Once matters inside the blood array were settled, the situation would take a sharp turn for the worse, and his own position would become even more dangerous.

Madam Liuhua remained standing in place, neither moving to destroy the formation nor attacking the people from other cities. She only frowned deeply, her expression gloomy, her gaze occasionally drifting toward E Kuai inside the array, as if lost in thought.

On the other side, the elder from Xuanzhi City under Qin Yuan's command was also trying to break the formation, but to no avail.

Just then, another furious shout rang out.

Fang Chan seemed to plant his feet in a horse stance, then suddenly stomped the ground with both feet, causing the stone slabs beneath to burst apart.

His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his face as he let out a pained roar.

With that roar, Fang Chan's muscles began to swell rapidly, his body grew larger, and stiff black bristles like steel needles sprouted from his skin. His neck thickened, his protruding snout became more pronounced, and he transformed into a pitch-black, half-human, half-boar demon.

After his form changed, his eyes turned blood-red, black vapors rose from his body, and the aura he emitted surged several times over, making others dare not approach.

“I didn’t expect you to possess true spirit bloodline,” Shao Ying said, narrowing his eyes in a low voice.

At these words, even Lady Liuhua raised an eyebrow and frowned in their direction.

Shi Chuankong was especially astonished.

But after a glance, he was certain this was no true spirit bloodline but some method to stimulate his original demonic bloodline, causing partial demonization.

Fang Chan leaped, his figure soaring high into the air. Midair, he took a deep breath, his chest and abdomen swelling.

Then, opening his mouth wide, he let out another roar.

“Ao…”

A piercing shriek that nearly tore eardrums erupted. From Fang Chan’s gaping maw, powerful sound waves howled forth, sweeping like a gale toward the blood-colored light barrier.

“Buzz buzz buzz…”

The blood-colored barrier trembled violently. Under the immense pressure of the sound waves, it suddenly dented inward, forming a deep pit. The light within grew dimmer, showing signs of imminent collapse.

Seeing this, Lady Liuhua raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised.

“You’re asking for death…” Shao Ying’s expression changed. With a flicker, he vanished from his spot.

The next instant, he appeared behind Fang Chan, his fingers forming a claw aimed at the latter’s back.

Fang Chan’s eyes blazed with bloodlight. He remained unmoved, offering no resistance, instead focusing all his strength on the roar to break the barrier.

Inside the blood array, E Kuai glanced over, a mocking smile curling at the corner of his mouth. He gave a slight twist of his wrist.

A flash of light suddenly shone from the statue beneath Sun Tu. A layer of bloodlight burst from its wings and merged into the blood-colored barrier.

The barrier, which had seemed on the verge of collapse, instantly restored to its original state.

“No…”

Fang Chan let out an indistinct roar, but a heavy blow had already landed on his back.

Shao Ying's arm blazed with white light, and from his fingertips white radiance seemed to gush forth like five snowy swords, piercing straight through his chest, sending a spray of blood scattering.

Fang Chan fell to the ground, blood splattering everywhere, lying prostrate and motionless, his life or death unknown.

Shi Chuankong watched this scene, his brow furrowed, his expression turning grim.

"Slay all these ants, and let them not disturb the operation of the Blood Weeping Grand Formation," came Elixir's voice from within the blood formation.

The voice was icy cold, distant and hollow, as if coming from a thousand miles away.

"As you command." Shao Ying landed slowly, speaking loudly.

With that, he glanced at Fang Chan lying prostrate, then turned his gaze toward Shi Chuankong and the elder from Xuanzhi City.

Seeing that even Fang Chan's attack could not break the formation, the Xuanzhi City elder's heart was now as dead as ashes. His eyes darted around, and he suddenly retreated, dashing back toward the three stone arch bridges they had come from.

"Thinking of leaving? The City Lord hasn't given the order yet!" Shao Ying sneered, his figure flashing out again.

The elder's over one hundred and sixty acupoints all lit up, his speed pushed to the limit, yet he was still no match for Shao Ying. Before he could even step onto the stone bridge, Shao Ying had caught up.

Just as Shao Ying's five fingers were about to grab at his back, the elder suddenly halted, spun around, and thrust a white three-edged short blade straight at Shao Ying.

His turn was so swift, a world of difference from his earlier flight, that even Shao Ying raised an eyebrow in great surprise.

"Hmph..."

Yet Shao Ying showed no intention of dodging. With a cold snort, stellar energy surged from his arm, and a white starlight enveloped his five fingers as he grabbed directly at the short blade.

A sharp ring, "Zheng," sounded.

Shao Ying's fingers twisted in the void, and the space within his palm warped. The three-edged blade was drawn into it and twisted apart.

The Xuanzhi City elder seized the momentum to retreat, his toes lightly touching the stone railing pillar of the arch bridge. Instead of continuing to flee, he leaped over Shao Ying and landed directly beside Shi Chuankong.

Shao Ying turned his head to look, his gaze turning cold, and he sneered, "So that's how it is..."

Fang Chan, whom he had severely wounded with a single blow, was now lying at Shi Chuankong's feet, while the latter was pouring a crimson pill into his mouth.

"You've worked hard, Elder Hu..." Shi Chuankong straightened up and said to the Xuanzhi City elder beside him.

Elder Hu just shook his head, saying nothing.

"So, you were directing him to lure me away, to rescue that pig-faced kid?" Shao Ying asked with a grim expression.

"City Lord Elixir said to kill us all, but are we not allowed to huddle together for warmth?" Shi Chuankong replied coldly, his expression unchanged.