"How dare you! Do you younglings who've eaten the hearts of bears and the gall of leopards truly think I cannot kill you?" roared a voice from the Shura Blood Devouring Map, as two blood-colored figures shot out from the Fog Ball, the Blood-colored Skull and the red-clothed woman.

The Blood-colored Skull spat out eight round orbs, which floated in midair and quickly interwove into a flickering formation of blood light.

An illusion of a winding Blood River appeared, emanating a putrid, fishy smell that was nauseating, hovering in front of Dugu Feng, Thunderbolt Ancestor, and Golden Dawn Fairy.

The blood-colored illusions of Dugu Feng, Thunderbolt Ancestor, and Golden Dawn Fairy emerged from within the Blood River, looking more realistic than before, and their Magic Treasures also manifested in blood red.

Dugu Feng's illusion formed a spell, and twenty-one blood-colored Flying Needles shot out, transforming into a sky full of blood-colored needle shadows, colliding with the incoming Black Needles. Instantly, large and small spheres of light burst forth, resulting in a stalemate.

A blood-colored Thunder Sword also met Dugu Feng's black treasure sword, and they collided with a thunderous roar, evenly matched.

It was the same for Thunderbolt Ancestor and Golden Dawn Fairy; they were blocked by their own illusions, caught in a deadlock, making no progress.

They all felt chilled, having previously fought the Blood-colored Skull several times but always holding back. Now, even going all out, the outcome was still a draw. The Blood River Illusion seemed to grow stronger with opposition, never to be broken.

"Hehe, my Blood River Illusion Array, inherited from ancient times, is impervious to your level of cultivation and exquisite Magic Treasures," the Blood-colored Skull chuckled coldly.

On the other side, the red-clothed woman also employed her Blood Sea Divine Ability, fiercely colliding with Wan Qi Hong's Golden Sword Formation, causing it to tremble violently.

Wan Qi Hong looked solemn, his fingers fluttering rapidly, sending spell after spell into the sword formation. Although the Golden Sword Formation was temporarily stabilized, the descending Sword Qi was considerably scattered, absorbed entirely by the Blood Sea.

The Shura Blood Devouring Map Artifact Spirit finally managed to take a deep breath as the Blood Mist behind the map roiled, contracting inward and disappearing in the blink of an eye.

The next moment, raised black patterns appeared at the center of the Blood Devouring Map, spreading quickly like the meridians of a living creature, soon extending over the entire map.

Bang bang bang...

A strange oscillating force spread out, causing the nearby nature's spiritual energy to boil and form a huge Spiritual Energy Vortex.

The Shura Blood Devouring Map expanded a hundredfold in the storm, becoming unusually pliable, as the Spiritual Energy Vortex pulled toward the center of the Golden Sword Formation's nine Flying Swords.

Wan Qi Hong's expression changed, and he hurriedly activated the sword formation to intercept. Numerous golden Sword Qi, dense as a rapid storm, shot down, with strands of golden flames appearing on the Sword Qi, striking the Shura Blood Devouring Map.

However, all Sword Qi vanished without a trace as soon as it touched the map, having no effect whatsoever.

The next moment, an invisible suction force from the Spiritual Energy Vortex suddenly enveloped the nine Flying Swords within the sword formation.

Just then, a void fluctuation occurred, and a black-clothed figure materialized out of nowhere, the Black Desert Alliance's black-clothed monk, raising his hand.

A Black Key was released from his hand, precisely piercing the Shura Blood Devouring Map's central area.

A cry of agony echoed from within the Shura Blood Devouring Map as the black patterns vanished completely, and the strange oscillating force also receded, dispelling the Spiritual Energy Vortex.

The map quickly shrank, returning to its previous form, transforming back into a blood-colored screen with significantly diminished spirit light, falling from midair.

Astonished, the Blood-colored Skull and the red-clothed woman hurriedly shot toward the Shura Blood Devouring Map.

However, the black-clothed monk shot backward, dodging out of the Golden Sword Formation within a few flashes, taking the Black Key with him as it flew out from the blood-colored screen and into his hand.

All this happened in the blink of an eye, even causing the four Nascent Soul cultivators present to hesitate.

Wan Qi Hong was especially surprised as he glanced at the black-clothed monk; he had not cleared the way for this man, yet he effortlessly left the Golden Sword Formation!

However, given the urgency of the situation, this was not the time to dwell on the identity of the black-clothed monk.

Wan Qi Hong quickly handled the Golden Sword Formation, with dense golden Sword Qi raining down from the sky, striking the Blood River Formation's illusions of Dugu Feng, Thunderbolt Ancestor, and Golden Dawn Fairy.

Distracted, the Blood-colored Skull failed to manifest an illusion of Wan Qi Hong in the Blood River Formation. The three Blood Shadows immediately counteracted but were helpless against the sudden onslaught of the sword formation.

The three Blood Shadows were pierced by countless Sword Qi, their blood light dispersing profusely, rendering them immobile.

Overjoyed, Golden Dawn Fairy ran her finger over the scroll-like Magic Treasure.

Three golden pages fluttered down, each inscribed with a complex talisman that resembled a blooming Golden Lotus.

Level 4 Spirit Talisman, the Golden Lotus Sealing Spirit Talisman.

Three pages of glowing golden light transformed into three golden talismans, which flashed and instantly attached themselves to the Blood Shadow.

A golden lotus appeared above Blood Shadow's head, spinning rapidly as it cast dense streams of golden light that trapped the three Blood Shadows in place.

The Blood-colored Skull, flustered and regretful, saw that the red-clothed woman had already protected the Shura Blood Devouring Map and immediately flipped to fly back.

The three Blood Shadows were transformed from most of the mighty power of the Blood River Illusion Array, and could not be abandoned.

"Our fight isn't over yet, and you already want to change opponents?" Dugu Feng quickly moved, blocking in front of the Blood-colored Skull, and swung down a black treasure sword with a force like Mount Tai bearing down.

The attacks from Thunderbolt Ancestor and Golden Dawn Fairy also followed, severely targeting the Blood-colored Skull, trying to take the opportunity to crush it completely.

The Blood-colored Skull, not having the leisure to rescue the three Blood Shadows, activated the Blood River Formation. Its winding, turbulent flow protected itself.

"Let's continue as well!" Wan Qi Hong gave a slight cold smile and waved his sleeve.

The nine Flying Swords' surfaces burst with golden brilliance, and the whole Sword Array buzzed into action, enveloping the Shura Blood Devouring Map and the red-clothed woman with countless Sword Qi.

The Shura Blood Devouring Map suffered heavy damage, and the auras of the Blood-colored Skull and the red-clothed woman weakened noticeably as the scope of the Blood River Formation and Blood-colored Sea of Flames reduced significantly, barely withstanding the assault from the four.

"Artifact Spirit senior, by now, you should give up! This Shura Palace is no different from a prison for you. Why not leave with this junior? Chang Chun Temple will certainly offer you esteemed treatment and provide all the resources you need for your Cultivation!" Wan Qi Hong's earnest persuading continued without a delay in his attack.

The Blood-colored Sea of Flames kept shrinking, and the fierce and unparalleled Sword Qi soon neared the Shura Blood Devouring Map.

The red-clothed woman made a valiant effort to activate the sea of blood, yet it was all in vain.

Within this woman, an invisible soul shadow stood in the void, and it was indeed Yuan Ming.

The location of the Shura Blood Devouring Map had already exceeded the range of his Divine Sense. In order to check the situation there, he simply ignited the Black Incense for possession on the body of the red-clothed woman.

"Wan Qi Hong's strength is indeed formidable, it seems the Shura Blood Devouring Map cannot escape their control, what a pity," Yuan Ming secretly said.

"Artifact Spirit senior, this won't do. We've been trapped inside the Shura Palace for thousands of years and the Blood Origin Power inside the Blood Map has long been depleted. Although we previously seized the Essence Blood of two external Cultivators, it's still far from enough for usage. What should we do next?" The red-clothed woman anxiously communicated with the Artifact Spirit.

Yuan Ming, having possessed this woman, could hear their conversation.

The Blood-colored Skull felt deep resentment in its heart; both it and the red-clothed woman were top-level Blood Corpses within the Shura Blood Devouring Map, and their combat power was closely related to the Blood Origin Power inside.

The current Shura Blood Devouring Map was just an empty shell, and they were like Cultivators depleted of Mana, unable to exert their actual strength. Otherwise, by their power alone, how could Wan Qi Hong, Dugu Feng, and a few Nascent Soul Early and Mid-stage Cultivators possibly match them?

"How should I know! I originally hid a good portion of Blood Origin Power inside the Blood Devouring Map without telling Shura Master, that old thing, intended for escaping once the Shura Palace opened. But you, taking advantage of my slumber, stealthily absorbed it for Cultivation, using up all the Blood Origin Power, and you still have the face to ask me!" The Artifact Spirit furiously berated the red-clothed woman.

The red-clothed woman, knowing she was at fault, did not retaliate.

"And you, Blood Shadow, Shura Master assigned you to guard Yin Capital City, how could you return in such a sorry state? Not only did you lose a Blood River Pearl, but the Thousand Illusion Treasure Mirror, the Blood Bone Mask, and the Thunder God Hammer from Yin Capital City were not brought back either. You've really regressed as you lived longer, wasting the times I chose to keep both of you!" The Artifact Spirit turned its rebuke towards the Blood-colored Skull.

The Blood-colored Skull hung its head silently, not uttering a word.

After venting its anger for a while, the Artifact Spirit finally stopped.

"Senior, forgive me, but this can't be blamed on me. All these years, you only cared about your own slumber. Those Core Formation stage Blood Corpses are stupid and clueless, I didn't even have one to talk to, so I had to resort to Cultivating to pass the time," the red-clothed woman said sheepishly, trying to defend herself.

"Humph, you always have excuses," the Artifact Spirit huffed.

"I didn't have a chance to ask before, Blood Shadow, how have you fared these years? At least you were comfortable, assigned by Shura Master to guard Yin Capital City, where there are many demons to chat and kill time with. By the way, how's the Blood Willow in Yin Capital City? Has it already died at the hands of these outsiders? Also, who took away your Blood River Pearl?" The words of the red-clothed woman changed, and she incessantly inquired about the Blood-colored Skull's circumstances.

"Nonsense, Shura Master severed half of my life connection with the Shura Blood Devouring Map! Not only did my strength not improve over a thousand years, but I also had to strain to maintain the Forbidden array in Yin Capital City. What comfort do you think there was? You think everyone is as talkative as you!" The Blood-colored Skull, greatly dissatisfied, growled back.

"We are all Blood Corpses from within the Shura Blood Devouring Map, no matter how much we cultivate, there won't be much progress. Why bother getting frustrated over this? If you ask me, we should find a way to leave this damned place as soon as possible," the red-clothed woman, uncaring of the current crisis, continued to ramble on, seemingly wanting to voice out all the frustrations she had kept bottled up for thousands of years.

"Enough, both of you shut up. I've just awakened, and if those people outside don't kill me, your bickering will!" the Artifact Spirit yelled angrily.

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