Ieuan paused, then drew a jet-black token from his pouch. Twisted demonic markings crawled across its surface, exhaling a chill that pricked the skin.
“This is the Demon Summoning Token I found among the late emperor’s relics. It is said to be able to communicate with the demonic soul sealed within… That, combined with Malevolent Path Hall’s Soul Corrosive Array and the blood essence of three hundred Earthly Immortal Realm cultivators, we might just be able to rip a seam in that ancient seal.”
Greed flashed across Stebarin’s crimson pupils as they locked on the ominous token. After a long, tense breath, nodded. “Very well. I will trust you just this once. Let’s meet at Netherworld Abyss tomorrow. If the plan fails, don’t blame me for being heartless!”
With that, Stebarin dissolved into a torrent of black mist and seeped through the stone wall, leaving only silence in his wake.
Ieuan watched the darkness vanish, a knife-edged smile carving his lips.
“When the demonic soul rises, its first feast will be you, Stebarin!” whispered.
Soon, a new day arrived.
***
Netherworld Abyss was Celestia’s most secretive forbidden ground, gaped beneath a sky of ashen clouds. Icy air wafted from the bottomless dark, and suspended at its heart hovered a colossal golden dome engraved with ancient runes. That, of course, was the seal that pinned the demonic soul to the void.
Beyond the shimmering barrier, Ieuan and Stebarin had etched a vast formation into the frost-bitten rock, its lines humming with grim intent.
Three hundred black-robed cultivators sat cross-legged at the array’s core, faces waxen and empty, their wills long broken by Ieuan’s secret technique. They were now nothing more than his death warriors.
Stebarin stood at the center, fingers weaving seals while guttural Incantations spilled from his throat. Blood boiled from the captives, spun into scarlet strands, and sank into the core. The Soul Corrosive Array woke, unleashing tides of onyx fog toward the golden seal.
High above, Ieuan lunged over the seal, Demon Summoning Token clenched in both hands.
With a savage cry, slammed the obsidian token against the glowing dome, daring the abyss to answer his call.
Black demonic markings on the Demon Summoning Token slammed against the array of golden runes. The contact sizzled like acid on ice, and a hairline fissure snaked across the shimmering shield.
Exhilaration flared in Ieuan’s eyes.
“It works!” exclaimed before flooding the token with even more spiritual energy until its surrounding mist thickened into tar-black coils.
“Push harder, Mr. Chapman!” Stebarin barked, eyes gleaming with bloodlust. “Give me one proper breach and the demonic souls will storm out on their own-this seal will never hold once it tastes real darkness.”
However, just as the rupture threatened to widen, the ancient runes adorning the barrier burst alive with golden light. Luminous veins raced across the dome and stitched the fracture shut before the next heartbeat.
In addition, a golden shockwave quickly roared outward. Ieuan and Stebarin were hurled back several paces, coughing blood, while the radiant blast stripped most of the ebony haze from the Soul Corrosive Array.
“Impossible!” Ieuan clutched his chest, fresh blood smearing his lips. “The token can clearly converse with the demonic souls. Why has the seal grown stronger instead?”
“I told you, this seal holds ancient celestial power,” Stebarin growled. “The Soul Corrosive Array can nibble at it, but not devour it outright. We’ve already depleted the blood essence of three hundred cultivators. If we were to try breaking it again, we’d need at least one thousand Earthly Immortal Realm Level Eight cultivators. Can you provide me with that?”
Ieuan said nothing. The glow of the token dimmed as his resolve wavered. Although commanded the Guardian Army in Celestia City, most forces had to stay on garrison duty. Pulling a thousand Earthly Immortal Realm Level Eight cultivators from their posts would most definitely spark mutiny and tremors throughout the city.
Does this mean we really need the Ritual Manual?
Ieuan gritted his teeth, a flicker of hesitation rising in his heart, but thinking of the temptation of controlling level six, forcibly suppressed it.
“I know the reach of your Malevolent Path Hall, Mr. Hemato. Could you dispatch more men? Once we break the seal, we can share the power of the demonic soul equally!” Hearing this, Stebarin’s laugh was cold iron on stone.
“Split it equally? You sure are ambitious, Mr. Chapman. The truth is, you can forget about breaking the seal if you don’t have the Ritual Manual. Besides, Malevolent Path Hall’s elites aren’t on level six. Our lord will never agree to sacrificing a thousand cultivators just to feed your ambition.”
