Chapter 352.2. Sacrifical Offering


    Xu Tianrans furious face instantly froze when he heard those words. A strange light flickered beneath his eyes  this seemed to be the only piece of good news amidst his colossal losses today. The emperors death meant that he, who was the crown prince, had a chance to ascend to the throne. He had enough influence and power to support him in his bid for the throne, and the strongest resistance that he faced came from Xu Guozhongs lineage. But how could Xu Guozhong survive that tremendous explosion?


    Suddenly, everything doesnt seem all that bad


    Xu Tianran gritted his teeth as he looked up at the troupe of evil soul masters who had already gathered in the sky. He suddenly cried out painfully, Father, father! How can you leave just like that? Two lines of tears streamed down his cheeks, but nobody knew whether they came from grief, or from regret.


    There were mountains all around, and not a single ray of sunlight shone through.


    This was the center of the Sun Moon Empires Western Mountains, and this gigantic valley was more than five kilometers around. This valley was exceptionally spherical.


    The valley sank down into a hemisphere, and the bottom was filled with clearke water. Theke water gleamed, and it was so clear and crystalline that thekebed could be seen.


    Several shadows broke the tranquility of this ce right at this moment. They were soaring through the sky, and they quickly arrived above thekes surface.


    One would realize upon closer inspection that there were four people. Two of them had ck veils covering their faces, while they each carried someone in their hands  one was a young man, and the other was a young girl.


    The young man and the young girl were crying out in rm and surprise. However, they couldnt move at all, and they couldnt struggle even if they wanted to.


    The two people in ck swiftly brought them to the center of theke and hovered in midair.


    They stared at the water beneath them, and they raised their captives above their heads.


    You what are you trying to do? The young man shouted dismally with a trembling voice.


    One of their captors answered him. His voice sounded a little husky as he said, We want to organize a grand sacrificial rite, and we need a living human as our sacrifice. We happen to have captured the two of you, who also happen to be married to each other. Speak now  who wishes to be sacrificed? We will let the other person go.


    No, please! I beg you, let us go! Judging by her age, the young girl didnt seem like she had been married for long. Her voice was quivering at this moment, but she stared at her husband with a pleading and begging look in her eyes.


    Her husband stared back at her with sluggish eyes. Suddenly, he roared at the top of his voice, I dont want to die! I dont want to die! Use her! Use her as your sacrifice!


    The wife stared at her husband, who she had had made vows with, and her eyes were filled with disbelief.


    How how can you do that? Didnt you say that you would protect me with your life? You youre such a liar!


    Her husband howled hysterically, We only live once, and this life is gone when we die. What about you? Do you think youre any better? What was that look in your eyes before this? Dont you want me to sacrifice myself for you? Im so nice and good to you, so why wont you sacrifice yourself for me so that I can live?


    Nonsense! I I want to live, but I only want to live with you. Go to hell  youre the one who should die. Kill him, kill him! The wifes emotions had be a little hysterical and distraught.


    Two chilly lights shed and shed the couples throats at the same time. Fresh blood erupted from their gaping wounds like a fountain and poured onto thekes surface beneath them.


    The couples eyes were filled with incredulity and disbelief, and they seemed like they wanted to ask something, but they were just no longer able to do so.


    One of their captors muttered disdainfully, This is the fickleness of human nature, and everyone goes their separate ways when disaster arrives. How many times have we done this? This has never failed before. This ce is quite peculiar, though  it can only be primed by the lives and blood of a man and woman who are in love but betray each other in the end.


    The other man in ck lowered his voice and said, Cut the crap. Quickly, drain them of their blood so that we can go back and make a sessful report on our task. This ce will be activated two hours after it has been primed, and even saints cant escape from this when that time arrives. Any humans inside will be


    The first man in ck seemed to recall something, and said nothing more.


    The couples blood was swiftly drained, and their lives came to an end.


    Kerplunk, kerplunk. Two corpses plunged into theke, and the two men in ck turned and soared into the sky. They departed rapidly, as if they were running from something, and vanished in the blink of an eye.


    In the few minutes after they disappeared, thekes surface began to ripple and surge. The couple had just dropped into theke, but their blood undted and gradually began to lighten as strange colors started to appear.


    Those were golden and silver hues. Golden light flickered while the silver light rippled, and they permeated thekes surroundings at an rming rate


    Lets go. Elder Xuan instructed thepany.


    Shrek Academyspany immediately set out once more after their short rest and continued westward. They had no other choice at this point.


    The colossal explosion in the middle of Radiant City would undoubtedly end this seasons grandpetition without proper closure. The Douluo Continents three main countries tense rtionships with the Sun Moon Empire would undoubtedly be aggravated because of this explosion as well.


    The Sun Moon Empires citizens probably hadnt really supported war before this, but it wasnt hard to imagine what their opinions would be like after this incident.


    Elder Xuans expression seemed a little better after he listened to He Caitous exnation. If the Sun Moon Empires death count wasnt as bad as it seemed, then their operation could only be described as impable.


    Thepany could only progress through the Western Mountains because they were afraid that flying through the air would draw attacks from the Sun Moon Empires long-range soul tools. Everyone in thepany was rtively powerful, and they scaled hill after hill as they pushed forward. They arrived within the Western Mountains inner regions in no time.


    However, a strange atmosphere appeared right at this moment.


    This ce looks very familiar  I think we were here two hours ago. Huo Yuhao was back inside his human-shaped soul tool. He had plugged one ss 6 Milk Bottle in each of the machines reserve slots  with these two Milk Bottles supporting him, he could spare a lot more energy to recover his spiritual power and his soul power throughout the journey.


    The Western Mountain could present unforeseen problems and obstacles, so Huo Yuhao had his Spiritual Detection activated this entire time. He alternated between different directions as he surveyed and scouted far into the distance, searching for problems that might appear.


    He hadnt discovered anything throughout their journey so far, but the feeling that something was wrong became stronger and stronger.


    Huo Yuhao didnt know why he was feeling that, but he was confident that something bad was about to befall them. The ominous feeling in his mind seemed to mature at this moment.


    Stop, everyone. Elder Xuan drifted over to Huo Yuhaos side. He had always had faith in Huo Yuhaos spiritual power. Are you saying that weve circled back? Can it be that there is a maze inside the Western Mountains? Such a problem shouldnt ur with our ability to discern direction and our navigational abilities.


    Elder Xuan looked up at the stars in the night sky as he spoke. Observing the stars at night had always been a good way of telling direction.


    Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and said, I am positive, Elder Xuan, that weve been to this ce before. The reason is because I did a single-direction sweep in this ce before, and there are still some remnant spiritual imprints of that on the nts around us. That cant be wrong.


    Elder Xuans expression instantly grew solemn. He was a Rank 98 Transcendent Douluo, a powerful being who was almost an Ultimate Douluo, yet not even he had detected anything wrong. They were going around in circles, and this proved that the situation was quite serious.


    What do you think we should do? Elder Xuan lowered his voice as he asked Huo Yuhao.


    Huo Yuhao answered, The sky is too dark at this moment. Ive attempted to reach far into the distance with Spiritual Detection, but the further I go, the less clear our surroundings be. I can only feel out the roughndscape, but Im unable to use my spiritual power to do any in-depth observations. Should we rest and wait for daybreak? Dawn ising soon.


    Elder Xuan nodded and said, Alright, lets wait for daybreak then. Rest where you are everyone, and stay together. Dont get separated from each other  Lexuan, youre responsible for arranging the shifts for night watch. Those who are resting, meditate as soon as possible.


    Zhang Lexuan immediately went ahead to arrange the night shifts. She was the inner courtyards eldest senior sister, and she was also part of the Sea Gods Pavilion, so she had always been efficient at arranging such things. It didnt take long before a small-scale campsite was established on a location that was rtively higher than their surroundings. Several Titled Douluo, including the Martial God Douluo Xian Liner, rested near the edge of the campsite so that they could protect everyone.


    There were five Titled Douluo who were part of Elder Xuanspany, and there were four Transcendent Douluo, including Elder Xuan. However, they had quite a few people to protect. The Tang Sectprised thergest group  Bei Bei, He Caitou, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, Wang Donger, Ji Juechen, Jing Ziyan, Nan Qiuqiu, and Na Na. There was also one other person that Huo Yuhao had roped in for the operationst night, and that was Gao Dalou, who possessed a ranked carving knife of his own. Huo Yuhao had used some rare metals topletely bring this self-established soul engineer over to his side.


    Besides the Tang Sectspany, the Titled Douluo also had to protect the team from Shrek Academy who hade to participate in the tournament  Wang Qiuer, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Zhou Enchen, Cao Jinxuan, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, Wu Feng, Ning Tian, and Xie Huanyue. In addition to their eldest senior sister, Zhang Lexuan, these Titled Douluo had quite a few people to protect.


    The six Titled Douluos most important task was to escort these people  there were more than twenty of them  safely back to Shrek Academy.


    Dai Huabin and the others from Shrek Academys team were full of doubt and suspicion as they watched the mysterious and secretive looks on the others from the Tang Sect. They were deeply shaken by the frightening explosion before this, and they also noticed that Elder Xuan had inquired of the Tang Sectspany in private  did that mean the Tang Sect had something to do with that explosion?


    The Tang Sectspany naturally huddled together. They had hustled throughout the night, and Huo Yuhao was naturally the most exhausted one. He almost instantly entered meditation, and his fatigued expression didnt look so good under the firelight.