Amidst the nearly frozen gazes of everyone Present, Yu Lian toyed with the antique ring in his hand and chuckled, “To pull off a switch, you actually made a substitute that was identical in size, quality, and material, and even had the same old scratches and rust marks! More importantly, it even had the same storage and poison mist dispelling spiritual energy functions. For this, I can’t help but be deeply impressed by your craftsmanship!”
He paused, then said with genuine respect, “Furthermore, to execute the switch, Mr. Berulf even risked exposure by preparing a time-shift array in his office… How meticulously planned! However, the fact that he could construct the time-shift array using only a mirror coated with white obsidian is quite an excellent feat. Please extend my compliments to him as well.”
Yu Lian had already known the old director of the Independent Memorial Hall’s background when he first met him, so he had naturally been on high alert early on.
When he first entered Berulf’s office and saw the slightly out-of-place full-length mirror, he understood something. By the time he saw the other party seemingly intentionally or unintentionally guide the conversation towards the ring on his hand, he understood everything.
But isn’t this good? Yu Lian had originally been thinking about how to legitimately and unsuspectingly deliver the ring to the Wanling Sect. Now that they were so accommodating, wouldn’t it be too unappreciative if he didn’t play along?
Yu Lian allowed the other party to activate the time-shift array, and also allowed them to replace his ring when he fell into “time displacement.”
He wasn’t worried that the other party would take the opportunity to harm him. On one hand, the other party (for now) had no such need and couldn’t alert the enemy; on the other hand, the so-called “time-shift array,” rather than displacing time, was more about causing sensory displacement in those within the array, leading to a deviation in their perception of time’s flow. To put it plainly, it was more like a slightly more advanced form of hypnosis that could affect a spiritual energy user.
However, sensory displacement does not mean that a spiritual energy user’s unscientific spiritual warning intuition is also displaced. Moreover, Yu Lian also possessed cellular vitality and a mental shield, as well as the divine skill of Spiritual Vein Circulation stimulating his spiritual senses 24 hours a day, making him already much more alert than an ordinary two-ring spiritual energy user.
For old man Berulf, even switching a ring required extreme caution. If he truly wanted to do something else, it would only be possible for Yu Lian to have an emergency reaction and erupt on the spot.
Fortunately, the director was an experienced old undercover agent and did not cause any further complications.
The other party’s plan succeeded, and Yu Lian’s plan also succeeded. Isn’t this a win-win situation blessed by the universe spirit?
“All in all, although this is a fake, it’s still a spiritual energy treasure, so I’ll take it as compensation.”
The fake ring, which had been switched, bounced twice between Yu Lian’s fingers before disappearing.
Yu Lian decided to give it to his uncle later. This way, his elderly relative wouldn’t have to drive when he went to buy ingredients in the future. Also, it would be much safer to go play in the mountains.
Really, they say some high-quality ingredients can only be found deep in the mountains, but to put it bluntly, they just like to go camping.
“This, this is impossible…” A few seconds later, Regis murmured, each character he uttered seeming to tremble. He knew that at this moment, he hardly seemed like himself, but he truly couldn’t control it.
“Yes, an antique ring that passed from Count Salwen’s mansion to the black market, with the functions of dispelling poison mist and spatial storage. It’s crafted from shadow iron, 18-purity concentrated crystal, and fragments of spirit crystal. At the same time, the inner ring of the ring is also engraved with Farvold runes that are difficult to detect even with precision instruments. The composition of those runes is precisely part of a large-scale soul-controlling array with a Proca configuration. So many features are identical to the records, so what else could it be but the real thing?” Yu Lian shrugged.
Moreover, this item did indeed resonate with the other sacrificial artifacts, activating the array and summoning the Myriad-Headed Beast into the Present world.
Therefore, this must be the real thing! At least, the Wanling Sect and the Lumina Rebels certainly believed so.
Just thinking about everything this could represent, Regis could barely hold his staff, and he looked expectantly at Wanda, who was still on the high platform, silent: “This, Sect Leader…”
Flores Wanda’s reaction was still relatively normal. He still stood on the high platform, unmoving like a mountain, his aura steady, his expression calm, and still full of imposing presence.
Regis felt a little relieved. But immediately after, he and his fellow cult members instantly saw a scene that made their souls flee.
Sect Leader Wanda’s tall and imposing figure suddenly trembled uncontrollably, and his profound, mountain-like leadership aura instantly vanished. His face instantly lost all color, and he slumped weakly.
The prolonged confrontation with the Myriad-Headed Beast’s will, the direct pressure of its impending arrival, and the burden of being the core operator of the soul-controlling array indeed placed a considerable strain on Flores Wanda.
The stinging in his brain and temples became increasingly severe, and his spirit became more and more fatigued and dizzy. Flores Wanda knew that these were not good signs.
Now, Yu Lian’s words finally became the last straw.
For a spiritual energy user, giving up on the spiritual level is more terrifying than surrendering on the physical level. The moment Flores Wanda disengaged from the array, he felt a mad and greedy will suddenly arrive, almost directly destroying his mental shield.
Fortunately, he was, after all, a spiritual energy master, having received the best extraordinary training in this universe, and he managed to withstand this blow. Even so, in the instant of that direct impact, he felt as if his sea of consciousness was boiling.
Wanda almost completely lost his Balance and fainted, but before that, he finally reached out and braced himself against the stone platform in front of him, barely steadying himself.
At this moment, Sect Leader Wanda was genuinely a little proud.
The fact that he had emerged unscathed from the mental bombardment after a Myriad-Headed Beast broke free was definitely a feat worthy of boasting about for ten years in the world of extraordinary beings.
However, the ordinary people Present did not understand!
His subordinates, his followers, and his “allies,” who did not understand the affairs of a spiritual energy user, could only clearly see his weakness.
“Nao Wen…” Wanda softly called out to his most capable assistant. The latter nodded, and without a word, stepped forward to support his Sect Leader, turning and leaving.
Several elite guards, armed with guns, followed closely behind.
Regis finally reacted, slowly retreating with his staff and pistol, while nervously watching Yu Lian head-on, like a herbivore desperately trying to intimidate its natural predator.
Ke'ermo and Lord Yan were also quite conflicted. The former was wondering whether to retreat directly as well, while the latter didn’t know whether he should first attack the intruding Earth officer or stop Sect Leader Wanda.
He couldn’t let Sect Leader Wanda leave with that “mirror” treasure; that was the key to controlling the Myriad-Headed Beast. However, with a formidable enemy at hand and the ritual having gone awry, wouldn’t it be too undignified to start an internal conflict now?
Fortunately, a hothead finally reacted on his behalf.
A burly, strong Lumina giant, whose carapace was as hard as steel, stood in front of Sect Leader Wanda.
“Hey! Stop!”
He loudly said, “You can leave, but you must return the prism to us! This is a secret treasure of the Thero royal family, belonging to all Lumina people!”
This Lumina man was named Dadaka, considered Lord Yan’s close comrade and his top enforcer. Although not an extraordinary spiritual energy user, he was a naturally strong warrior and an inspiring example of someone who had trained his carapace into an iron shell.
He was indeed brave, loyal, and full of vigor, which is why Lord Yan liked him. Because he was single-minded, Lord Yan liked him even more.
“Lord Yan, does this represent your stance?” Nao Wen asked loudly.
Lord Yan didn’t know how to answer. He hadn’t even figured it out himself, so how could he have a stance?
“Give it back to me!” Dadaka extended a hand and took another step forward. His physique was already quite large, and with this movement, he looked like a hungry bear ready to devour someone.
“Bang!” Nao Wen’s guards opened fire, but Dadaka seemed to have anticipated it. He raised a machete with his right hand, which was behind his back, and deflected the bullets on the spot.
“They’ve attacked! The Earthlings were indeed premeditated!” Dadaka roared, brandishing four gleaming high-carbon longswords, and immediately launched a charge.
But then, his massive body flew back, directly crashing “bang” into a group of Lumina people who had rushed over, like a large bowling ball hitting a pile of pins.
“Sect Leader…” Nao Wen looked anxiously at the Sect Leader he was supporting. The latter had just made his move, but his face was even paler.
“It’s nothing, hurry and go!” Wanda whispered.
He just wanted to leave here as quickly as possible, the faster the better.
Regis finally made his move, but not towards the rampaging Lumina people, but towards Yu Lian.
He was a little nervous now. Seeing Yu Lian had already picked up his gun, his hand involuntarily trembled. The halo at the tip of his staff swirled in a mysterious trajectory, instantly condensing two waves of airflow, which “boomed” and struck Yu Lian in the middle.
The airflow vibrations collided, adding a few more tremors to the entire altar space, but Yu Lian was unharmed, not even needing to dodge. Yu Lian was as if in another dimension; those roaring vibrations passed directly through his body, not even stirring a single hair.
“That’s a projection!” Regis finally reacted.
Have I become so dull that I can’t even distinguish a projection? Flores Wanda was so humiliated he almost burst out laughing.
But at this point, it was too late to do anything.
The full-scale conflict between the Lumina people and the Wanling Sect disciples had already begun.
Sect Leader Wanda was not surprised at all. Since he couldn’t control the Myriad-Headed Beast, the will of the Void Realm beast would definitely descend upon the scene. Moreover, the soul-controlling array had already collapsed, and the spiritual backlash would instantly erupt, undoubtedly affecting everyone’s minds and amplifying their evil thoughts.
How could ordinary people withstand such a double spiritual invasion?
“Sect Leader, as long as the green mountains remain…” Nao Wen looked at the pale-faced, slightly trembling Sect Leader and quickly comforted him.
Wanda gave a bitter smile and interrupted him: “I understand, let’s go quickly…”
Therefore, when the enormous Myriad-Headed Beast finally broke free from the restraints of the void halo and descended upon the altar, what it saw was a chaotic scene of Lumina people and humans fighting fiercely, with flesh and blood flying and utter disarray. Although intense, it completely lacked the solemnity and ritualistic sense that a cult sacrifice should have.
Such disrespect for a demon!
The mighty Myriad-Headed Beast was furious and decided to vent its anger.