ryethenovel Chapter 26 A Shocking Decision
Chapter 26 A Shocking Decision
The instrument emitted a low hum, and the energy flow within the cave suddenly became stagnant. Li Shancheng felt as if the power within his body was being squeezed by an invisible hand, making it difficult to mobilize. The ice needle spell failed, and the water vapor that had just condensed instantly dissipated.
"This is a device specifically designed to deal with cultivators," Liu Wei recognized it. "It's the latest research achievement of Hanshan Technology, capable of suppressing energy flow in localized areas."
The enemy seized the opportunity to intensify their attack. Zhao Feng abandoned Bishop Qin and rushed straight for Li Shancheng: "General Lin specifically instructed that we be captured alive by the Wen Shu bloodline. You are key 'material'."
The woman with the long whip also flanked him from the other side. Li Shancheng was caught in a pincer attack, his energy suppressed, and his situation was critical.
At that moment, Jiang Han made a surprising decision.
He abandoned maintaining the water curtain barrier, concentrating all his remaining power, and pressed his hands against the edge of the boiling pool. The water churned violently, and a column of water shot into the sky, transforming into countless droplets in mid-air. Each droplet contained the core energy of the Kan position array eye.
"In the name of the guardian of the Kan position, awaken the dormant power of the Xuanwu!" Jiang Han's voice echoed throughout the cave. "Protect my heritage, annihilate the invaders!"
Instead of attacking the enemy, the water droplets all flew towards Li Shancheng, merging into his body. A vast and ancient power surged in, instantly breaking through the energy suppression field. Li Shancheng felt himself connected to the entire Kan position array eye—no, not just Kan position, but also Wen Shu, and the other remaining array eyes...
"Seven Stars Resonance... So that's how it is..." he murmured to himself.
Zhao Feng and the woman with the long whip were already upon them. Li Shancheng didn't dodge, but instead spread his arms wide. Behind him, a huge phantom appeared—the Xuanwu, a tortoise and snake combined. The phantom let out a silent roar, and the shockwave sent the two flying, crashing heavily against the wall.
"Impossible!" Zhao Feng coughed up blood as he got up. "How can someone of the Wen Shu bloodline mobilize the power of the Kan position?"
"The seven stars are one, and their array eyes are connected." Jiang Han explained weakly, collapsing to the ground. "When a crisis comes, the guardian can temporarily borrow the power of the other array eyes... This is the last trump card."
But the cost was enormous. As the power shifted, the Kan position pool completely dried up, and deep cracks appeared at the bottom. The core of the array—a deep blue crystal—rose from the bottom of the pool, its surface covered with cracks, and its light extremely dim.
"The Kan position array eye... is destroyed." Jiang Han closed his eyes, tears sliding down his cheeks.
Taking advantage of the enemy's shock, Bishop Qin activated the ground-based vessel: "Everyone, get on board! Quickly!"
Li Shancheng picked up Jiang Han, while Xu Qingqing and Liu Wei brought up the rear. The four of them quickly boarded the ship. Bishop Qin poured all his energy into the Earth-Traveling Ship, causing it to rapidly sink and merge with the ground.
Zhao Feng's angry roar and the pursuing energy beams came from behind, but it was too late. They retreated at full speed along the ley lines, leaving the Kanwei Cave and the enemy far behind.
On the way back, no one spoke. Jiang Han fell into a coma, his breathing weak. He held the Kanwei Crystal tightly in his arms, as if holding a dying child.
Li Shancheng looked at his hands; the feeling of that power still lingered. Powerful, ancient, but... filled with sorrow. He could sense the final lament of the Kan position array's core, a will that had existed for three thousand years, protecting countless generations of life, mourning its utter demise.
"Did I...do something wrong?" he asked softly. "If I hadn't used that power..."
"If you don't use it, we'll all die there," Editor-in-Chief Qin said hoarsely. "Jiang Han's choice is correct. If one array core is destroyed, there are still six others. But if all the guardians die, then it's truly over."
"But the key point of the formation..."
"The array's core can be rebuilt, but it will take time and certain conditions," Bishop Qin said. "The most important thing now is to preserve our existing strength. Jiang Han is still alive, and the crystal core of the Kan position is still intact, so there is still hope."
When the boat returned to Qingyun Lane, it was nearly dusk. They settled Jiang Han in the best guest room, and Bishop Qin did everything he could to treat his injuries. But internal injuries are easy to heal, but emotional wounds are hard to heal—the destruction of the array's core, which he had guarded for decades, before his very eyes was a blow that medicine could not cure.
Li Shancheng stood in the courtyard, gazing at the darkening sky. The spiritual mark on his palm warmed slightly, as if comforting him. The leaves of the purple dragonwood rustled softly without wind, conveying complex messages: worry, sadness, but also a hint of... expectation?
"What does it expect?" Li Shancheng asked softly.
Zilongmu didn't answer directly, but an image suddenly appeared in his mind: seven stars arranged in a specific pattern in the night sky, their starlight converging into a beam that illuminated the earth. In the starlight, seven figures stood, each holding a glowing object in their hands.
Then the scene changed: the stars dimmed, seven figures fell, and the objects in their hands scattered in all directions. But one of them—the shape of a book—did not completely lose its light, but instead transformed into countless points of light, merging into the earth, awaiting the moment of reunion.
"The relics of Wen Shu..." Li Shancheng understood. "The Book of Light itself is a relic of Wen Shu? Or rather... the relics of Wen Shu are the Book of Light?"
This discovery shocked him. If the Wen Shu relics had always been in the secret vault, passed down through generations of guardians, then what about the other relics? Were they also hidden in some form within other array eyes?
The crystal in the Kan position... could it be a relic from the Kan position?
He rushed to the guest room. Jiang Han had already woken up, but his eyes were empty. He was holding the crystal covered with cracks, as if it were the whole world.
"Elder Jiang," Li Shancheng asked cautiously, "this crystal... is it merely the core of the array, or... the relic of the Kan position itself?"
Jiang Han slowly turned her head, looked at him, and after a long while spoke: "You felt it?"
"The Book of Light is ingrained in my blood. When I used the power of the Kan position just now, I sensed a certain similarity," Li Shancheng said. "That's not ordinary energy; it's... a conscious entity."
"The Seven Star Relics are not inanimate objects." Jiang Han's voice was soft, as if afraid of disturbing something. "They are the crystallization of ancient wisdom, possessing their own will. The Kan-position relic, the 'Black Tortoise Seal,' has been dormant in the crystal until today... In order to protect the inheritance, it chose to fully awaken, exhausting all its power."
He looked at the crystal in his arms: "Now it's asleep again, and I don't know when it will wake up again. Maybe never."
"But as long as the core remains, there is hope." Li Shancheng repeated Editor-in-Chief Qin's words, "Just as the Book of Light chose to merge into my bloodline, the Xuanwu Seal will also find a path to rebirth."
Jiang Han smiled wryly: "Young people are always full of hope. But I hope you remember today's lesson: strength comes at a price, and protection requires sacrifice. On the night of the full moon, what you will face may be even more cruel than today."