They gazed at the dim, blood-red firmament, their faces serene. For the future of their clan, this was perhaps their fate. As soldiers of the clan, they were merely changing their way of serving, shedding their blood and sacrificing their lives for the clan, offering themselves to Zhu Long, all to carve out a sliver of survival for the clan's next era amidst the present perilous situation.
At this moment, the four individuals seated cross-legged around the altar opened their eyes, ceasing the channeling of divine power. They rose one by one, calmly observing the increasingly crimson altar, focusing on the withered bones at its center. As streams of blood poured in, the runes carved onto the altar seemed to come alive, channeling the blood in unison. With each passing moment, the blood began to change color, from bright red to a deep black, then to a golden glow, before being absorbed by the human skeleton.
Inside the cave-heaven, witnessing this horrific scene, countless beings yearned to break free, but were met with cold blades. Their mournful cries were powerless as they watched their companions, and themselves, step by step into the dark red grand array, only to vanish into nothingness.
Everything that originally existed within the cave-heaven had dissipated. The once vibrant realm was now shrouded in a dark red sky and withered earth. Countless beings walked forward, forward, and then they were gone, all transformed into blood. Through tentacles and the altar, they were meticulously refined, becoming what Zhu Long desired, and were wholly absorbed.
"Alas!"
Within another cave-heaven, Hong Yu Yang and the Chu clan patriarch watched this scene with sorrow. They had never wished to reach such a desperate point, but facing the relentless advance of the Great Han Divine Dynasty, they were utterly helpless. Countless beings perished. Their faces were numb and blank, exceedingly calm, but whenever a clan warrior fell, their pupils couldn't help but tremble, their eyes reddening, revealing their powerlessness.
The furious influx of blood caused the skeletal remains to sprout skin, transitioning from pale white to flushed with blood. The skin rapidly expanded, gradually forming flesh. The appearance was identical to the figure seen before the suspended coffins in the Sea of Blood years ago.
On the altar, streams of blood continued to be ferociously drawn and refined, accompanied by waves of demonic energy cascading from Zhu Long. The blood began to resemble charcoal, yet delicate red threads flowed within, carrying a fearsome, peculiar power. Zhu Long cast a single glance, and all beings within the entire cave-heaven were locked down.
"Still not enough!"
"Not enough?"
One of the beings furrowed his brow. He glanced at the other three and said, "It seems we can only open the cave-heaven, connect to the outside world, and sacrifice the lands of the Central Province!"
"If that is the case, then bring forth the altar, shatter this cave-heaven, connect to the outside world. Let us first communicate with the Chu family's territory, then connect to the entire Central Province, and perform a blood sacrifice," someone proposed.
A moment of silence ensued. An elder being raised his hand, his five fingers sinking directly into the edge of the altar. Drops of blood dripped out. The massive altar actually began to float, and dark red grand arrays from within the cave-heaven converged, supporting the altar.
"Open the cave-heaven, connect to the outside!"
Someone commanded.
Instantly, the other three beings acted in unison. They each plunged a hand into the altar, and with their added strength, the colossal altar, now suspended in the void, became even more stable!
"This cave-heaven is a treasure refined by Lord Zhu, and it is extremely stable. I believe the four of us must exert our full power, otherwise, I fear we cannot shatter this cave-heaven."
"If you ask me, there are not many beings in the Chu family's territory left to sacrifice. Why not directly pierce through space and connect the altar directly to the Great Han Divine Dynasty, or the territories of the four Royal families!" someone said softly. Most of the beings in the Chu family's territory had already been captured within this cave-heaven, leaving only the territories controlled by the four Royal families in the outside world.
"You speak wisely!"
"The Great Han Divine Dynasty is too mysterious and powerful. We shall directly pierce through space and sacrifice upon the Jian family's territory!"
After this voice fell, the four individuals simultaneously acted. All four were mighty titans who had survived the War of the Gods, far more unfathomable than powerful figures like Jiang Zuo Wen Lun. The four of them attacked together, directly shattering a hundred-zhang expanse of space, and jointly hurled the altar into the spatial passage.
Within the void, countless chaotic ethereal energies seemed to sense danger and rapidly retreated and dispersed. Multiple layers of space warped and overlapped.
The void flowed. One individual acted, directly tearing through layers of distorted space. The colossal altar spun rapidly within the void passage like a shuttle, its path unimpeded as all surrounding space shattered.
Crack!
Above the Jian family's territory, a tiny fissure ripped open. This fissure, unless a being at the peak of the Chaos Dao Venerable realm was present, would be imperceptible to ordinary Chaos Dao Venerables. Fearsome tentacles extended into the void, subtly becoming invisible, like a massive, unseen net, silently enveloping the Jian family's land.
"Patriarch, the seven great legions of the Great Han Divine Dynasty have already attacked the Chu family's territory! The border is in crisis!" At this moment, a soldier approached Hong Yu Yang.
"This is bad!"
"We must inform the four Old Ancestors immediately!"
Hong Yu Yang's face changed drastically. The current crisis posed by the Great Han Divine Dynasty was far greater than that of the four Royal families.
Zhu Long's realm recovery was at a critical juncture. If the Great Han Divine Dynasty discovered this, it would be extremely difficult to maintain.
The Great Han Divine Dynasty, which could so easily slaughter four great titans, likely possessed a strength not inferior to these four Old Ancestors who had come from the War of the Gods.
"What!!"
Not long after, Hong Yu Yang and the Chu clan patriarch arrived beside the four Old Ancestors.
"Damn the Great Han Divine Dynasty!"
One of them said.
"If you ask me, this place cannot be guarded, lest the four Royal families discover it. Hong Yu Yang, you two shall conceal yourselves within the void. The four of us will intercept the Great Han Divine Dynasty!"
"Old Ancestor, I want to see just how powerful this Great Han Divine Dynasty is. In just a few decades, it has traversed the path our four clans took an era to complete!"
An Old Ancestor said indignantly.
Hiss!
The four Old Ancestors tore through space and entered the void passage. At this moment, Zhu Long cast its gaze upon the altar once more. The terrifying power had perfectly fused the altar with the firmament, as if it were naturally formed. Fearsome tentacles had already penetrated every corner of the Jian family's territory. Countless beings silently turned into blood mist, all occurring without notice, without screams or cries.
In a mere few dozen breaths, beings from several cities had completely vanished.