Chapter 91: Capture the Witch (2/2)

He’d suffered defeat twice at Lu Yun’s hands. The first time, he suffered the abject humiliation of a thorough beating. The second time, he was scared into not even showing his face. The incidents burned a fiery hole of hatred in his stomach that he couldn’t release.

At least sacrificing Lu Yun’s beloved little maid would bring a twisted sense of satisfaction to his heart.

The Dusk River agitated like boiling water. The rippling flames on the altar enveloped Wanfeng and the ninety-nine children, slowly setting them on fire. Black glyphs flickered in the flames, absorbing their lives and transferring it to the structure beneath them.

As Lu Yuanhou read out the oration, countless figureheads in the province knelt on the ground and bowed down in worship before the altar. Terrifyingly enormous power created a vortex that spanned five kilometers in all directions.

“Here it comes!” Feng Li and Lu Yuanhou perked up with great excitement. A supply of tremendous power rose from the altar and entered their bodies. This was a gift, the feedback from the Dusk River Sacrament.

So this is what the ritual brings to its worshippers. Once I absorb this power, I’ll be able to ascend to the refined spirit realm, refining my spirit with inner fire!

Lu Yuanhou was ecstatic. Considering his cultivation speed, it would’ve taken another three years to refine his spirit. The power the ritual granted him, however, would push him to the next realm with no side effects. In fact, his cultivation would be more stable than if he’d made the breakthrough himself.

I must host all coming Dusk River Sacraments as well!

Lu Yuanhou and Feng Li exchanged a knowing glance. The rush left them hooked; the next occurrence wouldn’t be allowed to slip from their grasp.

……

Rush!

A tall wave rose from the wildly agitating river and admitted the entrance of a graceful figure. The power that had wrapped around Feng Li and Lu Yuanhou like a cozy blanket retreated like the tides, and the blazing flames on the altar were slowly extinguished.

The Dusk River Sacrament had been forcefully halted!

“What monster dares disturb the ritual?!” demanded Lu Yuanhou, stopping the oration with a dark expression.

“The ritual I passed down to protect Dusk Province used plants and dogs of hay as offerings. Why dost thou sacrifice lives today?” A reprimand sounded from the river as a young woman with blue hair, blue eyes, and clad in a blue silk dress rose from the water. She stood barefoot on top of the waters, her mere presence calming the violent river around her. She coolly scanned the crowd by the riverbank.

“You are… the Dusk River God!!” Li Youcai shrieked, staring at the girl with fear and disbelief. This was what the river god had looked like when she’d first manifested a thousand years ago!

What was the dead river god doing here?

“Nonsense!” growled a maddened Lu Yuanhou. “The river god is dead! This is an evil spirit born from the river! Men, arrest that witch!”

In that split second, he’d been so close to ascending to the refined spirit realm. Now that the power had vanished without a trace, the breakthrough had slipped through his fingers and become a distant goal once again.

What did the Dusk River Sacrament, or the lives in the province matter to him? All he wanted was the cultivation benefits the ritual would bring him!

“That’s right! It’s high treason to interrupt the ritual! Take that witch!” Feng Li finally recovered from his shock. Whether this river god was real or not, she had to die. The world of immortals didn’t need living gods anymore, and even less a god that people worshipped!