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Chapter 261 Sacrifice, Formidable Enemy

A figure quickly scrambled up from its hiding place and looked up.

He was dressed in camouflage, draped in a disguise carefully woven from leaves and weeds, his face smeared with mud, and holding a sniper rifle in his hands.

If you don't look closely, it almost blends into its surroundings.

These were the monkeys that had been lying in ambush there.

Watching the large group of people run up the mountain looking somewhat disheveled, his eyes were filled with surprise, and he blurted out:

"I thought you were trapped in the woods and couldn't get out, and I was thinking about how to give you a clear hint."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the several treasure hunters from other teams, revealing a hint of wariness.

Bai Ling's face was a little pale, still recovering from the thrilling escape, but she still couldn't resist teasing him:

"Thanks to how well you, a caveman, hid, even those black fogs couldn't find this place."

Upon hearing this, the still-shaken crowd immediately turned around and looked down at the scene below.

The fog had thinned considerably in our current location, and our field of vision had widened considerably.

You can vaguely see that the relentless black fog, like a rising tide, surged up to the mountainside before finally slowing down.

At this moment, the entire mountain, shrouded in thick, impenetrable clouds, resembled a solitary island in a dark ocean.

Seemingly isolated and helpless, it carries the last hope of everyone.

"call--"

Big Hammer let out a long breath, released his arm and put Bailing down, then plopped down on the ground, wiping the sweat from his face.

“Monkey, this place looks pretty safe. We were having a blast down here. Those black fogs were chasing us like madmen.”

The monkey looked apologetic, put away its sniper rifle, and replied in a somewhat serious tone:
"I'm sorry everyone, I haven't been affected by the black fog here yet. I was going to fire a signal flare to guide you, but something went wrong."

"Monkey, have you explored the area around this mountain?"

Lin Chuqiao had already jumped down from Fang Cheng's arms, her cheeks still flushed, and asked softly:
"Have you noticed anything unusual? Or have you noticed the patterns in the changing black fog below the mountain?"

She recalled Fang Cheng's analysis and speculation on the road, hence the question, hoping to find some useful clues to help everyone get out of their predicament.

The monkey's expression turned serious, and he frowned slightly, as if gathering his thoughts. After a moment, he said:

“I have roughly explored this area and haven’t found anything unusual so far.”

"Down the mountain, I saw something glowing flying in the air. It should be the golden peony you mentioned, but it was quite far away and the fog was too thick, so I couldn't see it very clearly."

"As for the black mist, I noticed that it gathers particularly quickly in some places, while in others, like here, it's temporarily still. It seems to be shrinking the safe zone in circles. Perhaps there's some kind of pattern to it..."

Fang Cheng listened quietly to Lin Chuqiao's conversation with the monkey, and walked towards the edge of the hilltop.

A biting wind howled past, causing his clothes to flutter and rustle.

This place is considered one of the most precipitous high points in Misty Mountain, and its advantageous terrain allows him to overlook this world shrouded in an eerie atmosphere.

Looking into the distance, the entire field of vision was covered by a thick fog, including the Lu family manor, making it difficult to find any trace of it.

The thick, inky black fog, however, resembled a pot of boiling, overflowing asphalt, churning wildly and relentlessly pressing down on the relatively calm areas.

The entire Misty Mountain felt like it had fallen into another dimension, where all rules and common sense seemed to be overturned.

In this chaos and darkness, a bright spot of light flickered, like the most dazzling star in the night sky, emitting a faint yet extremely attractive glow.

Fang Cheng's gaze pierced through the thick fog, locking onto that point of light.

In the perspective presented by Eagle Vision, the resolution is greatly improved, and a golden bottle can be clearly seen.

Upon closer inspection, one can also see patterns such as auspicious clouds, conch shells, and lotus flowers engraved on the bottle.

That thing was the golden peony bottle that had flown into the sky before.

It seemed to be supported by an invisible force, suspended above the black mist.

With a slight tremor, the light flickered, like the first ray of dawn piercing through the clouds, carrying a mysterious and powerful force.

The dazzling golden sphere dispelled the surrounding darkness, while at the same time, like the center of a magnetic field, it continuously attracted and drove the thick black mist, forming a vortex below.

The two are mutually antagonistic yet mutually attractive, forming a wonderful balance.

Fang Cheng's mind raced, so he turned to look at the monkey and asked:
Have you been staying here these past few days?

The monkey paused slightly upon hearing this, recognizing the person before him as the newly joined "White Ghost," and then replied:

"Yes, I haven't left since I took up positions here as instructed by the professor."

Fang Cheng's eyes flickered slightly, and he continued to ask:
Have you seen anyone else come here?

The monkey thought for a moment and said:
“These days, apart from the occasional patrol by the Lu family’s guards, a few people who look like lamas have also come by.”

"They then went down the mountain to the woods to the east. Not long after, we heard the sounds of fighting coming from there, but I was hiding in the observation post and didn't get up to go and check."

"is it?"

Fang Cheng pondered, his eyes revealing a thoughtful glint.

His gaze fell once more on the golden bonfire floating in the air, and a bold idea began to form in his mind.

....................................

The dark, sealed room was filled with a suffocating stillness.

The rows of closed-circuit television screens displayed a snowy display, with random white dots flashing incessantly.

Then, seemingly affected by some strong magnetic field interference, it emitted several low crackling sounds before finally going out completely.

Only a faint, lingering smell of burning remained in the room.

Lu Tao and two monitoring personnel stood silently in the darkness.

A chilling aura swept over them like a tide, making them feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, and their bodies trembled involuntarily.

Before the three men, Lu Shihua sat cross-legged, eyes closed in meditation, appearing lifeless, like a clay or wooden sculpture.

He exuded an unfathomable aura, as if he were wholeheartedly communicating with some supernatural force.

Suddenly, Lu Shihua opened his eyes.

Suddenly, it was as if a bolt of lightning flashed across the dark room.

The gaze was icy and piercing, as if it were a tangible focus on Lu Tao, making his hair stand on end and his body tremble involuntarily.

"Second Elder, the fighting in the manor has stopped, but the monitoring system has stopped working."

Suppressing his fear, Lu Tao quickly stepped forward and explained the situation.

Then, he asked cautiously:
"What's the situation now? What should we do next?"

"very good."

Lu Shihua spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse, yet exuding a confident air of control.

"After the formation was activated, those treasure hunters were trapped in the mountains and forests. They were either swallowed by the black mist to appease the spirits in the chaotic space, or their essence was absorbed by the Golden Benba Bottle to become nourishment for the Ancestral Spirit Tree."

As he said this, a strange smile appeared on his lips, looking particularly sinister in the darkness.

"The energy intensity of these extraordinary individuals far surpasses that of ordinary people. If all the life energy contained in each of them were gathered together, what a magnificent power it would be!" "With the support of this energy, the inheritance secret realm can definitely be transferred to its intended location with 100% accuracy. At that time, our Lu family will begin a new chapter and will no longer be constrained by the current situation. Even restoring our former hegemonic status will not be a dream."

Lu Shihua tilted his head slightly and looked out of the secret room, his face full of anticipation, as if he could already see the glorious future of the Lu family.

But in an instant, his expression turned cold and cruel, and he said in a deep voice:
"Therefore, we must now continuously compress the safe zone, putting those treasure hunters in a truly desperate situation. You will lead the remaining guards to continue the search and eliminate those treasure hunters hiding in the manor."

"I want them all to die here without missing a single one. Only in this way will there be no energy lost or wasted."

Upon hearing this, Lu Tao's heart skipped a beat.

He licked his dry lips and asked hesitantly:
"Then...when should we retreat? I can make arrangements in advance..."

"retreat?"

Lu Shihua suddenly turned his head, his eyes piercing Lu Tao like knives, coldly interrupting him.

"Once the formation is activated, it's not so easy to stop."

"Now that we're inside, whether they're outsiders trying to seize the treasure or members of our own Lu family, the only way to leave unscathed is to succeed!"

Lu Tao's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

He never expected that the Second Elder's operation would be so resolute, so desperate, with no way out.

"The Lu family has been preparing for this plan for decades and has put in a lot of effort to make it a success today."

"From cultivating a qualified secret realm location, to studying and setting up array techniques, to finding clues to treasures that can nourish ancestral spirits, and finally discovering the Golden Benba Bottle, using it to lure many extraordinary people into the game."

“Every step of this process is soaked in the sweat and blood of family members, and now, we cannot allow even the slightest mistake to occur.”

"The glory and future of the Lu family are in our hands. Even if it requires sacrificing my life, I will not hesitate!"

Lu Shihua's gaze was firm, and his tone was resolute, just like an old general heading to the battlefield, ready to die for his cause.

"Second Elder, I am willing to dedicate myself to the cause of the Lu family, even unto death!"

Lu Tao quickly expressed his stance, knowing full well that if he showed any sign of backing down at this moment, he would be severely punished.

The two monitoring personnel nodded in agreement, their voices tinged with fear and ingratiation.

"Very good. Just do your jobs well. As long as everything goes smoothly, I will not treat you unfairly after the matter is accomplished."

Lu Shihua nodded slightly, the sharpness in his eyes softening somewhat.

"hehe--"

Just then, a cold laugh suddenly came from outside, breaking the brief silence inside.

The laughter was exceptionally loud, like the mournful cry of a night owl, piercing everyone's eardrums and buzzing.

"Lu Shihua, you are indeed ruthless, you don't even spare yourself."

As soon as the words were spoken, a loud "bang" rang out, and the door was kicked open, sending splinters flying everywhere.

Three men dressed in black monk robes, resembling lamas, entered the monitoring room one after another.

The leader was about forty years old, with a thin face, a beard, and a pair of tortoiseshell-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose.

He looks quite refined, but his posture exudes a powerful aura.

Each step seemed to carry immense force, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

Lu Tao felt a powerful pressure coming towards him and involuntarily took a step back.

The two monitoring personnel were so frightened that their faces turned pale, their legs went weak, and they almost collapsed to the ground.

"Roger, you've been hiding for so long, but you finally couldn't resist showing yourself!"

Lu Shihua stood up, looking as if facing a formidable enemy, his eyes fixed on the leading man, and uttered the name in a low voice.

It seems there are some unknown grudges and entanglements between the two.

"Humph!"

The lama called "Roger" scoffed and coldly replied:
"The formation you used was stolen from our Black Cult back then. How could I not make good use of it? It's perfect that you blessed the Golden Bamba Bottle for me, saving me the trouble."

He slightly raised his chin, his eyes full of disdain and mockery; he was none other than the Venerable One from Lingquan Temple.

The two black-clad lamas behind them were Tashi and Dorje, fellow disciples.

They were burly men, standing behind Roger like two guardian Vajras, exuding an aura of fierce courage.

Roger then continued unhurriedly:

"If I'm not mistaken, those three black-robed zombies you used as offerings to the Golden Bamba Bottle were all members of your Lu family, weren't they?"

"You actually used their flesh and blood as a catalyst to activate the formation. You're still as ruthless as ever."

His words carried a hint of sarcasm, directly exposing Lu Shihua's hidden secret methods.

Lu Shihua, however, remained calm and composed, responding indifferently:

"They were already terminally ill and certain to die. Now, sacrificing themselves for their family and merging with the ancestral spirits is their best destiny."

His tone was completely calm, as if he were stating something perfectly ordinary, but the resolute determination within it sent chills down one's spine.

"hypocrite!"

Roger made no attempt to hide his disgust, his eyes filled with even deeper contempt.

Lu Shihua remained unmoved and continued to calmly question:

"Did you come here this time to retrieve the Golden Bamba Bottle, or to settle old scores?"

Upon hearing this, Roger's lips curled into a playful smile:

"I want the bottle, and I want the person. Isn't it good to kill two birds with one stone?"

"In that case..."

Lu Shihua's gaze was sharp as lightning, and his aura suddenly surged, as if he had transformed into a drawn sword.

"I will absolutely not consider past relationships. Whoever dares to block the Lu family's progress, I will kill gods and Buddhas if they stand in my way!"

After he finished speaking, countless vines suddenly broke through the bricks and stones and snaked out from the ground and walls around the secret room.

Like nimble venomous snakes, they carried a deadly aura and swiftly coiled around Roger and his companions.

"Hmph, I hope you have the ability!"

Roger sneered, and a phantom image of a three-headed, six-armed demon god vaguely appeared behind him.

The demon god seemed to emerge from an endless abyss, majestic and awe-inspiring, clad in heavy armor, his entire body ablaze with dark red flames.

He held a precious sword in one hand, its cold light sharp and seemingly capable of cutting through all illusions.

With a conch shell in his hand, it seemed as if he could summon the demon army of hell with just a few notes.

The other four hands each hold a different magical artifact, some radiating light, others vibrating and ringing, appearing extremely ferocious as they bar their teeth and claws.

A powerful pressure instantly filled the entire secret room, directly confronting Lu Shihua's aura.

Lu Tao, Zaxi, and Dorje, who were standing behind the two, also activated their abilities at the same time and joined the life-or-death battle.

(End of this chapter)