Chapter 428 – An Existence from Hell

“■■■■■■■—”

It was a sound of incomprehensible meaning.

A sound coming from underground, yet seeming to originate from Hell—indescribable and unidentifiable.

The sound resembled roaring.

The sound resembled bellowing.

The sound resembled wailing.

The sound resembled weeping.

“Rumble…”

The tremors that were initially confined to the altar instantly expanded to the entire sacrificial ground, and even to the entire underground ruins and the whole of Longyao City, the moment that indescribable and incomprehensible sound emerged.

“Wh-what is that sound…!?”

“It sounds so uncomfortable…!”

“It seems to be coming from underground?”

“Could it be…”

Many Professionals moving through the ruins of Longyao City couldn’t help but stop in their tracks. Some turned pale, while others clutched their chests, appearing deeply unsettled.

“It’s beginning?”

“It’s beginning!”

“It’s finally beginning!”

In contrast, the Underground Professionals who were wantonly destroying, killing, and wreaking havoc reacted as if witnessing a divine miracle or hearing a revelation. Without exception, they all revealed expressions of ecstatic joy.

Meanwhile, deep within the underground ruins, in the sacrificial ground, those locked in tense confrontation felt the impact even more intensely than those outside.

“Not good!” Old Ling exclaimed, shouting loudly, “It’s about to awaken!”

With these words, Old Ling rushed desperately toward the altar.

“Hmph!”

Li Feng snorted coldly, fearlessly stepping forward to meet him, the ghostly shadow around him growing even more sinister and terrifying.

“Old Ling!”

“Quick, help him!”

“Stop this!”

One by one, the Seven-Star Professionals who had been lying on the ground struggled to their feet. Some consumed alchemical potions, others used alchemical tools—whatever they could to restore some of their condition before immediately preparing to charge forward.

“Your opponent is me!”

However, Li Wu, wielding his battle axe, suddenly emerged from a corner. With one swing of his axe, he sent a Seven-Star Professional flying, then roared at all the Seven-Star Professionals present.

“You’re asking for death!”

“Damn you, Li Wu!”

“Do you really think you alone can stop all of us?”

The Seven-Star Professionals immediately glared furiously at Li Wu who had appeared out of nowhere.

They were all second-tier Seven-Star Professionals—either possessing powerful mutation abilities or mastering decisive forces comparable to the Dawn Star Orbit—far surpassing those of the first tier.

As for Li Wu, he was someone who had barely reached the Seven-Star level with the aid of treasures.

His strength was inferior even to Crow’s after Crow’s advancement to Seven-Star.

After all, Crow was a mutation ability user, and the perception ability he gained after mutation was enough to surpass all first-tier Seven-Star Professionals, touching the edge of the second tier.

Compared to such a Crow, Li Wu—a Seven-Star Professional who relied on treasures for advancement—was destined to be inferior.

Back in Longyao City, when Li Wu was forced to retreat by the combined efforts of the pinnacle members of the Six Great Families, it had already proven that even among Seven-Star Professionals, he existed at the very bottom tier.Otherwise, given the might and dominance of a Seven-Star Professional, even if surrounded, his opponents would at most be a few Six-Star Professionals. Even if they were all old foxes with vast experience, logically speaking, Li Wu, wielding the eleventh-ranked alchemical weapon on the weapon leaderboard—a weapon of mass destruction—should not have been forced to retreat.

To the group of second-tier elites who had entered the Underground Ruins with Old Ling to prevent the Seal from being broken, such a Li Wu, even if not an ant, could still be easily defeated.

Now, he stood alone, attempting to block all of them—this was nothing but overestimating himself and seeking death.

But…

“You think just because my elder brother hid a Sub-Divine Artifact, I have no hidden means of my own?”

Li Wu sneered coldly as he raised the black box in his hand.

“You… what are you trying to do?”

Wang Yi, who had just managed to heal his injuries with alchemical potions, was helped to his feet by others. Watching Li Wu’s actions, he couldn’t help but feel both shocked and furious.

The others felt much the same.

After all, the black box in Li Wu’s hand was rumored to be a weapon of mass destruction comparable to a nuclear bomb—a terrifying object bearing the calamitous name “Pandora’s Box.”

Faced with it, even Old Ling would have to retreat, let alone them.

If Li Wu lost his mind and used this weapon of mass destruction, the entire Longyao City would likely be blown sky-high.

“Do you intend to perish together with us?”

The Seven-Star Professionals among the second-tier elites were both shocked and enraged.

“Perish together?” Li Wu mocked, “Is that even possible?”

Though he wouldn’t mind doing so, he wouldn’t make such a foolish move when the situation was relatively favorable for his side.

However…

“I can show you another way to use this Pandora.”

Li Wu raised the black box, revealing a malicious smile.

“Like this.”

As he spoke, Li Wu struck the Pandora in his left hand with the battle-axe held in his right.

“Boom!”

Pandora’s Box trembled violently, as if stimulated, and suddenly shot out a beam of fire that exploded instantly.

Caught off guard, the Seven-Star Professionals were blown away by the sudden explosion.

“Haha!” Li Wu laughed wildly, shouting arrogantly, “Let me tell you, you fools!”

“This Pandora’s Box has long been modified by me!”

“Though I relied on treasures to advance to the Seven-Star level and my combat power may not match yours, what I truly excel at isn’t fighting—it’s modifying alchemical items!”

“Pandora’s Box is one of my modified creations. After the modifications, it can intermittently release a portion of the immense power contained within!”

Instead of a one-time explosion, it could now unleash multiple small-scale bombardments.

Li Wu had transformed Pandora, a weapon of mass destruction, into an alchemical item that could assist in combat. As long as the internal power wasn’t exhausted, he could continuously trigger massive explosions like this.

“The power released from Pandora isn’t an ordinary explosion—it’s a transcendent flame that can burn even mana and Spirit Power to ashes!”

“Even you self-proclaimed elite Seven-Star Professionals would suffer severe injuries if burned by it!”

“This is the new generation of alchemical bomb—Pandora Modified!”

Li Wu’s ferocious face was bathed in the flames.”Come and taste its power!”

With that, Li Wu struck Pandora’s Box in his hand once more, unleashing extraordinary flames.

“Boom!”

“Ahhhhhhhhhh…!”

Explosions and screams instantly swept through the entire Sacrificial Ground.

“Watch out!”

Old Ling, who had rushed toward the Altar to re-engage with Li Feng, saw this scene and shouted with a changed expression.

“The one who should watch out is you!”

Li Feng’s voice rang in Old Ling’s ear.

The next second, several Ghost Shadows surged forward, blasting the distracted Old Ling away. His body flew backward like a cannonball, crashing into the high wall of the Sacrificial Ground and causing the wall to tremble violently.

The battle situation unexpectedly tilted in the enemy’s favor.

Even Su Ming couldn’t overturn this situation for now.

Because he was also being held back.

By a particularly troublesome individual.

“Boom!”

Amid the roaring sound, an incredibly terrifying torrent of power split the earth, plowing a deep trench through the specially crafted, nearly indestructible floor of the Sacrificial Ground, landing right where Su Ming stood and swallowing his figure.

Su Ming’s figure shot out from within, retreating to a safe distance in the blink of an eye.

But almost simultaneously, a petite figure closed in.

“Bang!”

With a cracking sound, a crimson greatsword heavy as blood slammed heavily into the ground, creating a large crater. Blood energy surged wildly, rubble flew through the air, and the atmosphere wailed in distress.

Such a heavy slash, especially one delivered by a Divine Artifact—even with his overpowered defensive skill [Silver Arm: Gluttony]—Su Ming didn’t dare to face it head-on while unarmed.

At the very least, Su Ming didn’t want to test whether his [Silver Arm: Gluttony] could block an attack from a Divine Artifact.

Thus, after his Spirit Sense captured his opponent’s movement, Su Ming once again flashed away, transforming into an afterimage as he rapidly retreated, leaving the Great Sin Blade’s attack range and dodging the strike.

Only then did the attacker’s appearance become clear.

“Finally, it’s our turn to play, big brother.”

Li Qingqing revealed an innocent and adorable smile to Su Ming.

The demonic aura around her had grown so dense it transcended human boundaries, making her no different from a Phantom Demon.

Li Qingqing seemed to have gained liberation, no longer restrained by anyone, as if she could no longer hold back. Her eyes were filled with delight and madness as she looked at Su Ming.

“Come play with me quickly! Big brother!While shouting, Li Qingqing wantonly released her frenzied demonic nature.

“Just like last time, I’ll use the Great Sin Blade, and you’ll use the Demon Emperor Sword. We’ll both use Divine Artifacts and clash again!”

“Last time, Qingqing lost. Qingqing wasn’t convinced!”

“Let’s do it again! Let’s do it again!”

“This time, Qingqing will definitely win!”

Without giving Su Ming any time or opportunity to respond, Li Qingqing fiercely swung the Great Sin Blade in her hand once more. The crimson blade erupted with bloody light as demonic energy surged wildly, transforming into a violent torrent of sword energy that ruthlessly blasted toward Su Ming.

Su Ming’s figure was swallowed once again, and this time, there was no sign of him emerging.

“Su Ming!”

Old Ling, who had just pulled his body out from the high wall, happened to witness this scene, his pupils contracting sharply.

Unfortunately, he was worrying about the wrong person.Li Feng had already closed in, darting to his front and unleashing several Ghost Shadows that pounced and snapped.

Old Ling had no time to spare, gripping the Heaven-Supporting Staff as he fiercely battled Li Feng.

“Huh?”

Li Qingqing was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at Su Ming, who had been swallowed by her own attack, at a loss.

Clearly, she hadn’t expected Su Ming to be so “fragile.”

Of course, she also wouldn’t have imagined that all of this was merely a diversion.

“Buzz!”

Accompanied by a resonant hum in the air, a cluster of starlight suddenly gathered behind Li Qingqing, taking human form.

“Tap!”

A hand abruptly pressed down on Li Qingqing’s shoulder, startling her greatly.

(End of Chapter)