Chapter 699 - 684: Luring the Tiger Out of the Mountain, the Time Has Come

The night sky was dotted with faint stars, and the moonlight was as fluid as water.

A figure slowly emerged from within the clouds.

Shen Lang parted the clouds and mist, gazing ahead thoughtfully.

On his way here, Shen Lang had used his Silver Eyes of Truth more than once to scout ahead. He knew the aura of a Quasi-Emperor Martial Realm powerhouse had appeared five hundred miles in front of him.

So upon arriving, Shen Lang decisively stopped and advanced no further.

With a mere thought, Shen Lang activated his Silver Eyes of Truth and peered forward.

The power of the Silver Eyes of Truth depended entirely on the strength of one’s Divine Thought.

Now that Shen Lang’s Cultivation had reached the King Martial Realm, his Divine Thought was three to four times stronger than that of an ordinary expert at the same level. Not only had it become easier for him to use the Silver Eyes of Truth, allowing him to activate them multiple times in a short period, but he could also perceive things in much greater detail.

Under the gaze of his Silver Eyes of Truth, all the auras above the Sealed Demon Ruins five hundred miles away—strong and weak, clear and faint—were laid bare before Shen Lang.

’Five hundred miles straight ahead is a set of Ancient Ruins called the Sealed Demon Ruins. The ruins have long since become a desolate wasteland where not even a blade of grass grows, but a group of powerhouses has now gathered there! And they’re all lying low, not making any moves, as if they’re treating the place like a base.’

’One Quasi-Emperor Martial Realm Fourth Heaven powerhouse, radiating a sky-high Demon Qi; four Emperor Martial Realm Eighth Heaven powerhouses; one Emperor Martial Realm First Heaven powerhouse; and the remaining fifteen seem to be at the King Martial Realm Sixth and Seventh Heavens.’

’In the very center of the Sealed Demon Ruins, someone has also set up an incomparably powerful Barrier. It faintly carries the aura of Candle Dragon...’

After getting a clear picture of the situation at the Sealed Demon Ruins, Shen Lang urged his Silver Eyes of Truth to sweep over the areas to its sides.

When his gaze moved to Chaotic Cloud Peak, over three hundred miles southeast of the Sealed Demon Ruins, Shen Lang paused.

On Chaotic Cloud Peak, a few barely perceptible auras caught his attention.

Within the vision of his Silver Eyes of Truth, these auras had nowhere to hide, even though they were concealed by powerful Magic!

In particular, Shen Lang got a clear look at a nearly transparent hand in the air, forming a Seal Technique.

’The Undying Seal Technique... Zi You’s aura is much weaker. It looks like he’s seriously injured.’

’He’s heavily wounded but hasn’t left the area. It seems he has his sights set on the Sealed Demon Ruins. Reincarnation Marquis must be inside.’

’I just need to wait for the right moment...’

Shen Lang sank back into the clouds, took out two paper-thin wooden slices and a pile of other materials, and prepared to focus his mind on Talisman Making.

Even though he possessed the world’s most powerful Cultivation Technique for Concealing Form, with his current Cultivation, it was still utterly impossible for Shen Lang to rescue Reincarnation Marquis from right under the nose of a Quasi-Emperor Martial Realm powerhouse in the Sealed Demon Ruins.

What Shen Lang needed to do now was craft two top-tier "Taiji Profound Clarity Talismans" capable of completely concealing one’s aura and form, then wait for the perfect opportunity.

Judging by the current lineups, Zi You’s side was clearly much weaker. If he wanted to make a move, his only option was to use a strategy to lure the tiger away from its mountain.

As long as Asura King Zi You started a great battle with the Demon God Hall powerhouses in the Sealed Demon Ruins and drew away the Quasi-Emperor Martial Realm expert, Shen Lang would have a chance to sneak in and rescue Reincarnation Marquis...

The Taiji Profound Clarity Talisman was, to date, the highest-tier Invisibility Talisman.

Not only was it incredibly difficult to craft, but the required materials were also exceedingly rare.

The shaping Fire Demon Stone, Water Spirit Jade, Tulip Wood Slice, Shadowless Glaze, Star River Purple Clay...

Every single one of these items was extremely hard to come by.

Among the materials Shen Lang had collected, the only one he was missing was Shadowless Glaze. With lives on the line, he could only use Biluo Strange Jade as a substitute.

The effect would surely be quite a bit worse, but it should still be enough to deal with a Quasi-Emperor Martial Realm powerhouse.

This time, Shen Lang was more cautious with his Talisman Making than he had ever been with any previous Talisman Making or Artifact Refining.

The Taiji Profound Clarity Talisman was no small matter, and the materials were precious and hard to find. If he failed, it would be impossible to find replacements in a short amount of time...

Shen Lang was completely focused, giving every step one hundred and twenty percent of his concentration.

Flashes of Spirit Light flickered between Shen Lang’s fingers as he continuously struck Seal Techniques into the Tulip Wood Slice.

Time trickled by...

Back in the Spirit Martial Realm, Shen Lang had never taken more than five minutes to craft any Talisman.

But crafting these Taiji Profound Clarity Talismans—just two of them—took him nearly a full day!

By the time the second Taiji Profound Clarity Talisman was successfully crafted, the sun was high in the sky. It was already noon the next day.

Shen Lang immediately put away the Talismans, sat cross-legged, and began to recover his Divine Sense.

The Life Spiritual Power, transformed from the Life Spiritual Liquid within his body, began to circulate over his Nascent Soul, nourishing his Divine Soul...

While Shen Lang was meditating and recovering, the Sealed Demon Ruins were eerily quiet.

Within a dilapidated hall at the center of the Sealed Demon Ruins, a burst of wild laughter rang out. "Reincarnation Marquis, a wise man submits to circumstances. Divulge the hiding place of your Eight Celestial Kings, and I can plead with Master Zhulong to spare your life."

"I can even ask Master Zhulong to let you join our Demon God Hall. You’ve been considering it for so long. Haven’t you made a decision yet?"

The great hall, its roof riddled with several large holes, was enveloped in a shimmering light shield.

A man with an effeminate face, clad in blue-black Armor, sat on a high platform, quietly watching the scene below.

A bloodthirsty, demonic light emanated from his eyes, making it impossible for anyone to look at him directly.

In the air at the center of the hall below, a bare-chested man was nailed to a cross by his hands and feet. On the open ground beneath him, a Profound Array released streams of black mist that condensed into terrifying Locking Chains, piercing through his collarbones, limbs, chest, and abdomen.

With him at the center, a ring of black flame burned fiercely in the air, releasing a terrifying aura.

The man’s bronze skin was drenched in blood and covered with wounds.

He hung his head, his eyes shut tight, completely silent and still.

Below this man, five powerhouses with immense auras stood in a circle. Each held a long whip imbued with Thunder Power, which they continuously lashed against the man on the cross, tearing his flesh apart amid flashes of lightning.

The CRACKING sounds were incessant.

Yet, the man showed no sign of an aura. No matter how hard the five men around him whipped him, he didn’t make the slightest movement.

At this moment, the effeminate man on the high throne spoke again. "Naluo King, Reincarnation Marquis, one of the Eight Celestial Kings of the War God Hall, a truly legendary figure... I, Scorpio Mo Qingwu, grew up listening to tales of your exploits. To think you would end up in such a state today. How pathetic, how lamentable!"

Just then, Reincarnation Marquis, still nailed to the cross, suddenly opened his eyes. Two beams of brilliant light shot from them, startling the five Emperor Martial Realm powerhouses so much that they staggered back three steps!

The Locking Chains from the Array that pierced through Reincarnation Marquis trembled violently, instantly doubling in thickness!

Reincarnation Marquis’s eyes were calm, as if the body nailed to the cross wasn’t his own.

The corner of his mouth curled into a smirk. "If you want me, Reincarnation Marquis, to surrender, shouldn’t your master, Candle Dragon, be the one to ask? A small fry like you, Mo Qingwu, is worthy of running your mouth before this king? Get lost!"

With that single word, "lost," an unimaginable power suddenly burst forth from the previously aura-less Reincarnation Marquis!

An aura that could sweep the entire hall erupted from him, spreading out in all directions!

"WHOOSH!"

In that instant, the black flames surrounding Reincarnation Marquis flared up, immediately forming a cylindrical pillar of fire that completely contained the aura he had released!

And within the strange Array on the ground, the light flared brilliantly!

SHINK SHINK SHINK! A dozen more black chains shot out, piercing through Reincarnation Marquis’s body and locking him down tight!

Mo Qingwu’s expression turned sinister from his throne. He sneered, "The Naluo King, the most physically powerful of the Eight Celestial Kings, who once struck fear into both demons and devils. Now you’re nothing but a prisoner in my hands. Where is your former glory?"

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. I gave you a chance and you didn’t take it. Don’t blame me for what comes next!"

The moment Mo Qingwu finished speaking, a huge scorpion tail shot out from behind him with an eerie glow. With a SHINK, it stabbed into Reincarnation Marquis’s neck!

Even when the chains from the Array pierced his body, Reincarnation Marquis’s expression didn’t change.

Even when the five Emperor Martial Realm powerhouses lashed him with whips imbued with Thunder Power, he didn’t react in the slightest...

But when that scorpion tail pierced his neck, the corners of Reincarnation Marquis’s mouth began to twitch uncontrollably, and a look of agony appeared in his eyes!

His entire body began to turn from bronze to a glossy black!

The potent venom of an Abyss Scorpio was no less deadly than the legendary Ten Extremes Poison.

Legend had it that many who were stung by an Abyss Scorpio didn’t die from the poison, but from the pain...

Seeing Reincarnation Marquis’s hair and beard standing on end, Scorpio Mo Qingwu burst into wild laughter. "You remnants of the War God Hall actually think you can stir up trouble? You’re hopelessly overestimating yourselves!"

"Even if you don’t talk, we’ll find your nest eventually and wipe out all Eight of you Celestial Kings in one fell swoop!"

"What? Still being stubborn? Are you actually pinning your hopes on that coward, Asura King Zi You, to come and save you?"

"Don’t delude yourself! The Asura King took a blow from Master Zhulong. Even if he’s not dead, he’s crippled. He can’t even protect himself right now!"

As soon as he said this, a wild laugh echoed from the sky. A massive hand shattered the roof of the great hall and pressed down from above!

"Mo Qingwu, you’re the one hiding behind Candle Dragon like a coward, aren’t you? If you have any guts, come out and fight this king for three hundred rounds!"

"Asura King Zi You!" Mo Qingwu’s expression changed slightly. He shot to his feet and threw a punch upward!

The fist’s shadow and the Palm Seal collided in an instant. The entire great hall was blown to pieces by the incomparably powerful shockwave and completely collapsed!

...

Five hundred miles from the Sealed Demon Ruins, high up in the clouds, Shen Lang’s eyes snapped open at that very moment!

Six hours had passed, and Shen Lang had recovered most of his spiritual energy.

’That intense fluctuation of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi is coming from the Sealed Demon Ruins. It looks like Zi You has made his move.’

Without even activating his Silver Eyes of Truth, Shen Lang stood up.

He flicked his fingers lightly in front of him, and a pale yellow Talisman appeared between them.

The Taiji Profound Clarity Talisman immediately burst open, and countless golden characters surged out, circling around Shen Lang.

"PFFT PFFT PFFT!"

After a few soft sounds, the countless characters, as if they were alive, all drilled into Shen Lang’s body.

Afterward, Shen Lang’s figure began to turn transparent, finally disappearing completely within the clouds...

PS: Today I saw some people saying I’m only doing one Chapter a day now. This is really strange. Don’t these readers know how many Chapters they’ve read in a day? Since the novel went premium until now, when have I ever released fewer than two Chapters a day? When have I ever missed an update? Please get your facts straight. Recently, because of family matters and a cold, I’ve generally been releasing one Chapter five or six minutes after midnight, and then another around 4 or 5 PM. It has always been two Chapters.