NOVEL WEB Chapter 245: Sacrifice! Evil Spirit Array
The heart of the Demon Realm.
Here lies a massive stone tablet, serving as the heart of both the Demon Realm and all its formations.
In essence, the entire Demon Realm is one gigantic formation.
Underneath this formation, countless demons are suppressed.
They might have been glamorous in life, but after death, they’re stuck within this formation.
Their souls are perpetually devoured by the formation, ultimately returning to this world.
It’s precisely for this reason that the entire imperial mausoleum can nurture so many Soul Pearls while also allowing many deceased individuals’ souls to exist in this realm.
This method is quite unique; at least on the entire Cangzhou Continent, only the Great Xia Royal Family can accomplish such a feat.
As for the Holy Demon Empire, unless the cultivator is exceptionally powerful, souls will eventually return to this world in a short time post-death, as a sort of feedback to this world—something unavoidable.
Thus, although these suppressed demon cultivators continually lose their soul power, turning into nutrients for this world…
It’s also why they can survive here for a long time.
One could say it’s a trade-off.
These demon cultivators silently endure the consumption inflicted by the formation while also reaping the benefits it brings.
Therefore, over the years, although the number of demon cultivators within the formation has increased, uprisings are a rarity.
They understand this is a mutually beneficial arrangement.
But today is different.
Today, the demons residing here have gone into a full-blown riot!
…….
In the world beneath the formation.
After countless years, an underground town has formed here.
Every soul floating about is constantly being drained of its soul power by the formation above.
It’s visible to the naked eye.
At this moment, a group of demon cultivators’ souls is heading in the same orderly direction.
One demon, sporting a green face and fangs—reminiscent of a certain green-faced warrior—struggles to keep pace in the queue.
In the next instant, it collapses completely to the ground, and then its soul vanishes altogether.
Around it are numerous bizarre entities, mostly human-like, but having undergone mutations due to demon cultivation, resulting in changes in various aspects.
For instance, some have horns, while others sport blood-red pupils.
The demon cultivators witness this scene, wearing expressions that scream, “What, again?”
They know it’s the absolute depletion of soul power.
Gone—just like that—from this world.
“Why are we even here today?”
A horned individual questions the fang-toothed fellow beside him.
The fang-toothed one shakes his head: “No idea. The higher-ups ordered us here, and we can’t just ignore it, can we?”
“Ugh~ When I was hauled in, I was wondering if I was entirely doomed. I never imagined I could survive like this. The folks from Great Xia didn’t bother explaining clearly. If they had been straightforward, I wouldn’t have fought so desperately back then—I’d saved half my soul for nothing!”
The horned demon pouts in frustration.
Although he’s dead, he isn’t entirely deceased; he thinks this arrangement isn’t half bad.
In reality, it’s rather comfortable at least. He doesn’t have to worry about being hunted down by those so-called righteous folks anymore.
“You really are new here. To still be smiling at a time like this is impressive,”
mumbles a relatively regular soul body ahead of them, glancing back with a wry smile plastered on his face.
Furrowing their brows, both of them retort, “What do you mean by that?”
The speaker doesn’t provide a straight answer but appears entranced, staring at the front of the line.
“You’ll figure it out soon enough.”
Right then, a soul body glowing crimson floats into view just ahead.
“Brothers! Have you had enough of this endless torment from the formation? Are you truly able to tolerate this constant loss of soul power?!”
The blood-red soul body immediately raises the stakes with a fiery question.
Those who’ve just arrived, like the horned individual, don’t get it just yet.
However, the demon cultivators who’ve been around for a few years have had it up to here.
Even though they’ve managed to survive in a rather unconventional way, the constant soul power drain feels like a hellish torment.
Every single one of them is awaiting the sweet release of complete death.
They’ve considered rebelling, but with the formation backing them up and the likes of Shouming keeping them in check, they can’t shake things up at all.
“Enough! Enough!”
“Enough! Enough!”
The thunderous voices erupt suddenly, startling the horned demon.
“I think this isn’t so bad,”
Changjiao mutters quietly, too afraid to voice his thoughts loudly.
After all, getting socked isn’t his idea of fun.
“Alright! Now it’s time for you to take revenge! With Lord Blood Demon leading us today, we can finally escape this hellhole! Warriors, charge forward!”
The blood-red figure’s voice carries an almost magical ringing.
The moment he finishes, the crowd rushes forward, looking absolutely bonkers.
Their target? An Evil Spirit Array used for soul sacrifices.
“Charge!!”
“Charge!!”
The first batch of souls quickly darts into the formation.
Yet, they only create a slight ripple before vanishing entirely.
Again and again, batches of souls fade into the formation.
As Changjiao observes this, he’s left utterly dumbstruck.
Because he realizes those souls rushing in disappear completely in an instant.
In other words, they’re downright dead.
Upon this realization, he understands: This isn’t a charge; it’s a one-way ticket to death!
He’s only just arrived here—there’s no way he’s going to willingly walk into his own demise!
Especially not for something he doesn’t even understand?
Not worth it.
And plenty of other souls in the lineup share his sentiment.
They begin to swim against the current.
But before they can even take a few steps, their bodies are ensnared by blood-red shackles.
The blood-red figure up above sneers disdainfully, “Newcomers are such a hassle when they haven’t learned the ropes yet!”
With a flick of his wrist, the despairing Changjiao is thrust into the Evil Spirit Array to be sacrificed.
As the number of sacrificed souls continues to rise, a soul at the formation’s center gradually begins to regain strength, becoming ever more powerful.
He is one of the leaders of this underground demon domain.
The Fourth Leader, the Blood Demon!
“Hehehe~~ Qin Zhengji! Can you finally endure no longer? Hahaha!!! That day has finally arrived!”
The Blood Demon gazes at the gathering crimson soul power above him, his eyes filled with bloodlust.
This time, as the leader of the demon domain, he intends to flip this place upside down!
Rolling over to become the master!
……..
And like him, there are four others throughout this underground demon domain.
They are the four leaders who govern the underground demon realm.
They have been biding their time for countless years for this day to come.
The four Evil Spirit Arrays have also been prepared for ages, just waiting for the day when Qin Zhengji fully transforms into a demon or purges his demonic energy.
They’ve been suppressed for far too long.