CHAPTER 217: CHAPTER 213: THE BURIAL GROUND, HOLY CITY RUINS

Ancient Council faction.

In the deep night sky, countless stars scattered their shattered starlight upon this Boundary Land.

This was the junction between the world of Beast Taming and the Dark World.

A White Tower, towering three hundred meters and entirely made of white jade, resembled a majestic tree. It projected views from dozens of different realms, providing a space for a group of human experts to converse.

Compared to the power of the Blood Race and Werewolves, the Ancient Council had a tenuous, yet cooperative, relationship with humans, collaborating in various fields.

During every Divine War, some human experts were invited to observe. Likewise, human Beast Taming contests also invited forces from the Dark World to watch.

Beneath the White Tower, grand buildings still had many empty seats, occupied by representatives from various forces attending this event.

"This Divine War consists of nine games, with the chosen pawns totaling over three hundred, and hundreds of thousands of followers," a man said, squinting. A radiant sun halo shimmered behind him, and his cultivation was at the peak of Dawn Star.

The Divine War also involved a secret: pawns were not necessarily individuals recognized by gods and demons. They were merely thrown into the game to serve as products of blood sacrifices, all intended to produce stronger geniuses. Certain special locations also required a tribute in the form of blood sacrifice.

"Indeed lively! This scale is no less impressive than our championship cup league," remarked a middle-aged uncle, who was drinking. He smacked his lips, took out a peanut, and handed it to a small squirrel on his shoulder.

The two of them had been the earliest to arrive at this Boundary Land.

Other experts, including leaders of various factions, were arriving one after another to observe this grand event together.

Of course, as senior teachers of the Starfire Sequence, their combat strength not inferior to that of the Evil God’s Favored, they had personally come because several promising young ones they favored had also joined this game. The Ancient Council’s favor was a great opportunity for these young people. And for "Spark" level students, advancing to the higher "Starfire" level through this was a shortcut.

Slay the Alien Race!

...

The Secret Realm Gate slowly dissipated.

Lias stood still, her swan-like, slender neck held high. Faint kiss marks still lingered on her delicate collarbones, and her fair, rosy face flushed. However, she couldn’t afford to dwell on her embarrassment or anger, utterly shocked as she was by the scene before her.

A thick white fog surged like a tide, enveloping an unfamiliar ruin. This fog resembled countless tiny insects clustered together, weaving a pervasive mist that seemed to blanket the heavens and earth, instilling an unspeakable terror in the army!

Screams, footsteps, and all other noises were swallowed by the white fog, as if any sound, any slight disturbance, was being devoured by this seemingly sentient mist.

"Chu Yi, what is this?"

With visibility reduced to mere dozens of meters, Lias anxiously grasped the large hand of the handsome young man beside her. Disregarding her queenly dignity, she pressed close to him.

The Blood Race army she had brought was like ants on a hot pan, losing their sanity in the fog.

Some tore off their armor and ran about naked; others mimicked frogs with strange croaks, hopping erratically; still others stared with vacant eyes, their lips muttering unknown incantations...

They had entered the Secret Realm Gate early and arrived at the game’s designated location. Clearly, after spending some time here, their behavior had become bizarre.

"Don’t worry, I’m here," Chu Yi said reassuringly.

He naturally took her soft, snow-white hand. He glanced at the fog, his intense dark eyes flashing with an ancient Twilight Light.

The viscous white fog clung like cobwebs to the Blood Race members. Those without noble titles succumbed in moments. Even the titled nobles fared little better; their faces were etched with fear as they lost their bearings in the fog.

As for Count Magister and his contingent, they had wisely gathered around Chu Yi.

Very well. Chu Yi was satisfied. Although the Divine War’s content differed from what he had anticipated, he would not hesitate to accept the souls of these cannon fodder.

In any case, the army’s true purpose was merely to scout ahead and ascertain the rules of this King’s Game.

"Your Majesty, does the Progenitor have a way to deal with this white fog?" Count Magister said anxiously. "Our army cannot hold on for much longer."

Count Milan, also concerned for his troops, glanced at Chu Yi before adding, "Your Majesty, if there’s truly no other way, we can only find a defensible position first and then try to understand the rules here."

"I understand."

Lias nodded. She recalled the card bestowed by the Progenitor, which had transformed back into a card and returned to her body when the Secret Realm Gate dissipated.

Then, as she infused it with Blood Energy, the card flew out. It bore a special emblem: a half-filled goblet of wine and a coiling serpent.

Simultaneously, a thought resonated in her mind: "Lias, this card contains details about the game."

The voice of her teacher startled Lias for a moment, then a trace of joy appeared on her face.

"Chu Yi, the card has information on it," she informed the young man directly. He, along with the other Blood Race members, stared at the card. His eyes flickered with twilight sparks as he attempted to discern the card’s secrets.

However, only the chosen participants could view the card’s contents.

Chu Yi, relying on his Clock Eye, could only perceive a fragment of the content. The unique, ancient script resembled writhing threads of blood, and he couldn’t recognize a single character.

"Your Majesty, what does it say exactly?" Count Milan asked impatiently.

"’Burial... Ruins... Great Nether River...’" Lias read out.

She clutched Chu Yi’s hand tightly as she read the card’s contents under everyone’s expectant gaze. Her exquisite, flawless face suddenly stiffened. Realizing something terrifying, she instinctively glanced down towards her feet, but her view was obstructed by her own ample bosom.

WHOOSH...

As she uttered these words, the white fog grew even denser. A gust of wind from an unknown direction swept past, carrying a nauseating mixture of scents: blood, decay, and a cloying, sweet odor that rolled in like a wave.

The next moment, as the wind gusted, numerous Blood Race members froze, standing motionless as if their souls had been snatched away, their eyes vacant.

"There’s something wrong!" Count Magister exclaimed. The constant pursuit by the Duke had made him jumpy and easily startled. "This wind carries the scent of blood from afar! There are corpses—a large number of them!"

He hurriedly shielded Denis and reported to the Queen. Of course, the true decision-maker was the handsome young man beside her.

"What’s wrong? That’s impossible!" Count Milan was skeptical. Due to the extremely low visibility in the fog, he couldn’t see any anomalies among the Blood Race members; even his own subordinates were standing perfectly still, showing no unusual movements.

"It’s coming out," Chu Yi said, a new awareness dawning on him as he looked towards a particular direction.

The dense white fog permeated the surroundings, making everything appear as if veiled in a layer of gloom. Looking out, one could vaguely see dim, shadowy figures flickering, creating an eerie and terrifying atmosphere.

His words immediately made everyone uneasy. What’s coming out? Don’t scare us!

BOOM!

The next second, the endless mist roiled violently, and an insectoid limb, skeletal in appearance, extended out from it.