"Aaaaaahhh!!!"

Amidst the chilling screams, Wu Xiujie's skin tore inch by inch until he transformed into a mass of completely deformed flesh.

This horrifying scene completely destroyed everyone's fighting spirit!

The crowd that had initially charged towards the three elders with fierce momentum suddenly scrambled to flee.

Even Chu Xiu didn't hesitate to turn and run!

Damn it, how can we fight against this ghost!

If Chai San's death could barely be explained by an injury, manageable only if unscathed, then what happened to Wu Xiujie?

As a Heavy Bowman by Profession, he had been hiding in the back the entire time!

From the current situation, they all seem to die without any restriction at all!

In such a case, how could Chu Xiu dare to stay?

With the help of the Great Success Mist Step, he instantly surpassed everyone and reached the entrance of the passage.

At this moment, he saw from the corner of his eye that the Great Elder was moving his finger again, aiming at Jiang Xue!

The girl's Constitution was obviously not high and was stuck in the middle of the crowd.

Chu Xiu's running steps halted, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

He suddenly turned around and charged explosively forward, crossing several people in an instant to knock Jiang Xue to the ground!

"Eh?"

The Great Elder exclaimed softly, momentarily losing his target. By the time he moved his finger again, Chu Xiu had already picked Jiang Xue up. With the help of the Great Success Mist Step, his figure was elusive, merging into the fleeing crowd with a flicker, and disappearing at the end of the passage!

The Great Elder frowned slightly but then cracked a wide smile.

Thorns that pierced his face nearly tore it apart, yet his expression grew more joyful.

He pounded the ground heavily: "Hunt! Hunt!"

The other two elders beside him also laughed and shouted: "Hunt! Hunt! Hunt!"

Their voices seemed to have a strange magic power, not particularly loud but clearly audible to everyone, spreading further afield.

Chu Xiu held Jiang Xue, his face extremely grim as he glanced back quickly, hastening his steps.

Just as he rushed out of the narrow passage, he saw a cold light expanding rapidly. Chu Xiu dodged sideways, only to see several plate-armored soldiers with two-handed greatswords surrounding him. Without hesitation, he waved the Yin Wind Banner, immediately releasing several Yin Ghosts that pounced and knocked the soldiers down.

[Task Contribution Points +2]

[Task Contribution Points +2]

[Task Contribution Points +2]

However, more guards began to swarm toward them, the previously quiet castle seemed to come alive.

Through the castle windows, one could see the rapid silhouettes of the guards, all clad in fine plate armor, with numerous spines protruding from the armor, wielding two-handed greatswords like steel hedgehogs.

Chu Xiu did not want to be delayed by them; if those three eerie beings caught up, it would be disastrous. His form moved, the Great Success Mist Step accumulating at his feet, and like a rocket, he shot up, hugging Jiang Xue and jumping onto the ten-meter-high city wall.

Immediately, he was shocked to find fires lighting up in the village below, initially just one or two spots but quickly spreading. Fire points arose in darkness, making the whole village appear as if ablaze.

All the villagers ran out, bearing torches, advancing toward the castle, shouting: "Hunt! Hunt! Hunt!"

This made Chu Xiu's expression further grim.

Suddenly, the sound of breaking air approached, Chu Xiu tilted his body, a crossbow arrow grazing past his hairline, shot at him by guards on the tower!

Shouts and battle cries erupted from behind, as trial takers and guards poured out of the passage, engaging in combat, yet no one wished to fight, each trial taker employing their means, fleeing like scattered ants.

Chu Xiu noticed a Mage Professional with a low Constitution, who, after not even running a few steps, was surrounded by soldiers. He attempted incantations to fight back, but countless crossbow arrows fell, and he turned into a pincushion in mere seconds.

[Current Ritual Progress: 32%]

"Damn it, it's rising again!!!"

"As long as trial takers die, this ritual's progress increases!"

Chu Xiu could no longer hold it together.

"What the hell is going on with this instance? It's bad enough the monsters are too strong to face head-on, but even fleeing is restricted?!"

These guards pose no threat to Chu Xiu, but they are a huge threat to other trial takers!

Once surrounded, escape is pretty much impossible!

Though most villagers are just ordinary people, they win out in sheer numbers! And they are fervent enough! Only a few Awakened ones like Chu Xiu possess Concealing Skills like Qi Concealing Technique, but at this rate, they'll all be discovered sooner or later!

"Isn't this a dead-end conclusion?!"

"Could it be the Abyss specifically spawned this trial to kill me because Demon Cultivators are so hated?"

Chu Xiu's face grew more and more grim, and he shouted, "Run towards the village! Engage them in guerrilla warfare!"

Immediately, he willed ten Yin Ghosts to charge out, helping nearby Trial Takers to escape.

However, just as he released the Yin Ghosts, he saw the elders, bodies already grown to three meters tall, emerge from the prison channel and quickly lock their gaze onto Chu Xiu, sending a chill down his spine.

Even more shocking, after a long thorn pierced into their skulls, the aura of the three elders skyrocketed rapidly, under the watch of the Nether Demon Eyes, their levels had all become Warrior Tier Elite! The strongest Great Elder was even a Level 4 Elite!

Without even thinking, Chu Xiu dashed towards the village.

At the very least, get away from those three terrifying elders first!

Under the high-speed run, the cold night wind slashed like knives against his face, his ears filled with the villagers' frenzied shouts of slaughter, waving the Yin Wind Banner, continually cutting down guards and villagers, moving even faster, until he infiltrated near an unmanned pasture, where it was slightly quieter.

Chu Xiu lowered his head, looking at Jiang Xue in his arms, directly asking, "Do you have any artifact to leave the instance?"

There are all sorts of artifacts in the Abyss, naturally, including items that can terminate a trial and ensure a safe retreat.

However, these types of artifacts are extremely valuable, only affordable for descendants of top forces, although Chu Xiu has not completely given up on clearing, but this trial far exceeded the expected difficulty, making him have to start considering retreat.

He risked rescuing Jiang Xue, also betting that this lass had such an artifact on her.

At this moment, Jiang Xue seemed still not recovered from the recent fright, cluelessly nodded, "I have one."

Then dumbly added, "But I only have one."

Chu Xiu: "..."

Seeing her clear yet foolish eyes, he felt a bit embarrassed to act.

However, Jiang Xue then a sudden shiver, reacted, hurriedly added, "Don't you think about robbing me! If you forcibly rob, even if you kill me, that artifact will be destroyed!"

Chu Xiu curled his lips, of course he knew that, otherwise he wouldn't have been speaking nicely until now.

Awakened, upon death, usually drops their artifacts, Chu Xiu always felt, this is the Abyss encouraging them to kill each other.

But Chu Xiu couldn't help but sigh, artifacts in the Abyss are bizarre and varied.

For instance, there's a type of locking artifact, whose sole function is to send locked items back into the Abyss upon an Awakened's death.

This is specifically to prevent other Awakened from killing for treasure.

So generally, high tier Awakened, after revealing equipment above legend quality, will loudly declare those items have been locked, so as not to become Tang Monk's Flesh in the eyes of other Awakened.

Otherwise, this world would become a complete Dark Forest, trust would collapse entirely.

Mortal Tier locking artifacts aren't expensive, especially compared to retreat artifacts, even Chu Xiu discovered while browsing the Awakened's website before, many sellers will simply attach a locking artifact as a gift when selling retreat artifacts.

So Jiang Xue truly might have locked this item, though it's possible she is deceiving Chu Xiu.

Chu Xiu doesn't want to take risks.

While he was pondering, another panel popped up.

[Current Ritual Progress: 45%]

It rose again!

No need to guess, another Trial Taker has been caught and killed.

Chu Xiu's expression tightened, gazing afar, saw flames heavy, countless villagers holding torches searching everywhere, saw some villagers mounting horses, pursuing fleeing Trial Takers, a Trial Taker in desperation turned to slash one from horseback, yet that person seemingly oblivious, instead clung tightly to the Trial Taker's leg.

This delay let countless villagers arrive, rushed forward in succession, after the Trial Taker roared and killed more than ten villagers, shot dead by arriving guards with crossbow arrows.

[Current Ritual Progress: 58%]

Simultaneously, the three elders soared into the air, they hovered above, bodies igniting larger flames, each swing of their arms summoned a rain of fire from the sky.

Not only possessing a wide-range attack skill that spells instant death on contact, also damnably able to fly!

Precisely three Warrior Tier Elites!

This is no mere wounded Warrior Tier Elite Chu Xiu previously killed in the Corpse Demon World, but one with a complete skill chain, perfect condition! Their strength differs vastly.

But seeing the three elders surveying from height, continuously raining flames, these flames burned indiscriminately, some fell upon villagers, turning them into wailing fiery figures, yet the large-scale damage also ensnared many Trial Takers.

[Current Ritual Progress: 72%]

As Trial Takers were hunted down one by one, ritual progress rose unstoppably fast! In a blink surpassed seventy percent!

"At this rate, ten minutes more, and the ritual progress will be full!"

Chu Xiu's eyes flashed a vague expression.

He turned to Jiang Xue and said, "We can't sit idle anymore."

"I've already come up with a plan to turn the tide."

"But I need your help."

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