Chapter 633

Chapter 633: The Great Mortal Calamity

“Little Hu Lu, don’t be afraid. I will protect you.”

Mai Feng’s voice came out in short, labored breaths as he limped forward, carrying Shan Shan on his back. The cloaked man led the way, and they had now reached the edge of the vast desert.

An endless expanse of sand lay before them—once inside, there was no return.

The children muffled their sobs, afraid to make a sound. Earlier, the cloaked man had slain the kidnappers before their eyes, but rather than feeling relief, their fear only deepened.

Shan Shan lay slumped against Mai Feng’s back. His face was damp, a sickly warmth clinging to his skin, accompanied by the pungent scent of blood. He raised a trembling hand to touch his cheek—Mai Feng’s wounds had bled through his clothes, staining Shan Shan’s face with his blood.

Mai Feng’s lips were dry and cracked from thirst, and his stomach had long since been reduced to pitiful groans. Yet, he reached into his robe and pulled out half a steamed bun, offering it to Shan Shan.

“Little Hu Lu, eat this. Once you’ve eaten, your illness will go away.” Mai Feng swallowed hard, his parched lips making the sound even more pronounced.

Shan Shan took the bun, biting into it. Yet, no matter how he chewed, it held no sweetness—only an unshakable bitterness.

As they stepped into the desert, Shan Shan hesitated.

Should he reveal his identity now?

He was no ordinary child. He was clever—too clever to act without certainty. If he exposed himself, he would be forced to return to his past role, standing opposite Lu Chao Chao.

And the truth was—he could not defeat her.

If he returned to his original faction, Lu Chao Chao would undoubtedly strike him down without hesitation.

Sometimes, he even feared that everything happening now was merely a test orchestrated by Lu Chao Chao. The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Was she watching from the shadows, assessing his every move?

He had been tormented by her for so long that he was beginning to develop paranoia!

By now, the children were so exhausted that their legs trembled, barely able to take another step.

Fortunately, they soon reached the heart of the desert.

The sky had begun to pale with the approach of dawn. The cloaked man halted, hands weaving through a rapid sequence of seals. The wind howled as the sands churned, rising into a violent storm.

A dark, gaping passage opened at the center of the desert, plunging deep into the earth.

A powerful force swept the children inside.

“Ahhh!” Their terrified screams were soon swallowed by the abyss. The sands settled once more, burying all traces of what had occurred, as if nothing had ever happened.

The underground was pitch-black and eerily silent, save for the dim flickering of lanterns casting ominous shadows on the walls.

The children huddled together, supporting one another as they moved forward.

During the descent, Mai Feng had shielded Shan Shan with his own body. Now, he leaned against the wall with one hand, holding onto Shan Shan with the other.

Shan Shan could hear his labored breathing beside him.

“Stay in the corner,” the cloaked man ordered without so much as a backward glance, showing no concern for them at all.

Shan Shan peeked ahead stealthily.

The stone platform in the distance was the same sacrificial altar where he had once been infused with power.

The altar was carved with intricate patterns, though the once-fresh blood had long since dried. A thick, dark crust of coagulated blood clung to its surface—a harrowing sight.

“Three pairs of virgin boys and girls, all born under the alignment of Yin. Tonight is the peak of Yin energy. At midnight, we shall offer them in sacrifice, using their blood to activate the formation, unleashing havoc upon the mortal realm! Hahaha!”

“Only through calamity can our master grow stronger!”

“Three successful rituals, and the grand formation shall be complete. Today marks the final one. Once it is finished, disasters shall befall the world, and countless souls will suffer.”

“Sword Sovereign Sunshine still roams the mortal realm. If she senses this, our master will have no place to hide.”

“Then we must hasten our master’s ascension.”

“The formations of the Celestial Realm are truly powerful. This one came from the Library Pavilion of the gods. If not for Sword Sovereign Han Chuan, we would still be waiting years for our master to mature.”

Another voice scoffed, “Han Chuan? You think he has good intentions? He was the one who cast our master into reincarnation!” The speaker seethed with anger.

Back then, Sword Sovereign Sunshine had severely wounded Seven Sins before sacrificing herself. The gods had then imprisoned Seven Sins.

The man beside him waved a dismissive hand. “Whatever his motives, what do we have to fear? Sunshine is nothing more than a mortal girl now. Even if she revives, she will never be the same. Once our master returns, no one can stand against him!”

“Han Chuan’s schemes are meaningless. He failed to suppress our master then, and he will fail again!”

“Our only task is to strengthen our master before Sword Sovereign Sunshine discovers him.”

Shan Shan slumped in the corner, barely conscious.

Mai Feng, forcing himself to stay awake, reached out and pressed a trembling hand against Shan Shan’s forehead. “He barely drank the medicine… What do we do now?!” Seeing Shan Shan’s cracked lips, he pleaded desperately.

“Please, kind sirs, give Little Hu Lu some hot water!”

“He is only a child, suffering from fever—he will die without help!” Mai Feng was so terrified that his voice quivered.

The figures on the platform sneered before breaking into raucous laughter. “How ridiculous! Begging us for hot water?”

“Little brat, you won’t survive past tonight anyway. What difference does water make?”

Laughter filled the chamber, and the children’s faces turned deathly pale.

They had no hope of survival.

Suddenly, wails of despair erupted. The noise irritated the cloaked man, who snapped, “Cry again, and I will sacrifice you right now!”

The room fell deathly silent.

Only the faintest sniffles escaped.

Mai Feng had no choice but to act. Seeing Shan Shan slipping into feverish murmurs, he gritted his teeth and bit down on his own finger.

A drop of crimson blood welled up. He pressed it against Shan Shan’s lips.

Pain contorted Mai Feng’s small face, his teeth clenched in agony.

Shan Shan was drenched in sweat, as if he had been pulled from water. Yet, his mind cleared for the first time in what felt like eternity. He had no idea how long he had been asleep, only that his fever had subsided.

He smacked his lips together. A metallic sweetness lingered on his tongue—an odd taste.

Unaware that traces of blood still stained his lips.

“I don’t know if you’re lucky or cursed,” a girl’s hoarse voice broke through the silence, her eyes filled with numb despair.

“You had Mai Feng’s blood to sustain you through your fever. But now that you’ve recovered, they’ll drain you dry.”

Shan Shan’s heart clenched.

Mai Feng’s injured finger had turned white, and he had collapsed in exhaustion.

Before Shan Shan could react, a voice rang from the platform above. “Midnight approaches. Bring forth the blood sacrifices.”

They were dragged to the altar.

Mai Feng, barely conscious, instinctively grabbed Shan Shan’s hand. The two of them stood side by side.

“The hour has come! Spill their blood to awaken the formation!”

“The grand calamity shall begin, and our master will feast upon the suffering of the mortal world! Hahaha!”

The children fell to their knees, weeping and begging, “Please, spare us! Have mercy!”

“Father, save me!” cries filled the chamber, and Shan Shan clenched his fists.

His eyes wavered in deep conflict.