Chapter 472 - 447: All Cannon Fodder

One thing that could be certain was that Shen Yinuo was temporarily safe, so the great weight in Lu Yan’s heart could be momentarily let go.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed since Lu Yan arrived at Skull Fire Mountain.

One day, Elder Miao Yan gathered this batch of people together.

"You have been cultivating the Skull Flame Formula for half a year, and your True Vigor is now almost all mixed with the aura of the skull fire. Now, it is time to assign your next task," said Elder Miao Yan.

As Elder Miao Yan finished speaking, he waved his hand, and streaks of red light flew out, hovering in front of everyone.

Lu Yan looked closely and saw that it was a long needle about one foot in length and as thick as a thumb, entirely crimson and emitting waves of heat.

There was one in front of each person.

"This is the Blood Soul Needle, with complex patterns distributed inside. Your next task is to use the Skull Fire True Strength to penetrate the patterns in the Blood Soul Needle and familiarize yourselves with them," Elder Miao Yan explained.

"All thirty-six of you, if you operate the Blood Soul Needle at the same time, can set up a grand array. Thus, you best take this task seriously. If anyone drags behind, don’t blame me for being heartless," Elder Miao Yan warned.

"Yes," replied the crowd, acknowledging the instructions.

"Go back, and refine the Blood Soul Needle well," instructed Miao Yan with a wave of his hand.

Lu Yan grabbed the Blood Soul Needle and returned to his bedroom. He inspected it carefully, finally confirming that there should be no problems.

Then, his soul power surged along with his True Vigor into the Blood Soul Needle.

Instantly, Lu Yan saw the dense patterns extending forward, intertwining with one another, until they abruptly broke off at the end.

"This must be a type of Combined Strike Array," Lu Yan surmised. His True Vigor rushed into those patterns, and wherever it passed, the patterns lit up.

With Lu Yan’s expertise in the Skull Flame Formula, it merely took half a day to penetrate the patterns of the Blood Soul Needle. As True Vigor circulated, the patterns glowed brightly, and the Blood Soul Needle floated in midair, suffused with dazzling light.

With a wave of his hand, Lu Yan stored the Blood Soul Needle into his Sumi Mustard Seed Bag and continued to ponder over the Rule of Fire.

Time hurriedly passed, another three months gone.

Lu Yan had not found an opportunity to enter the core area of Skull Fire Mountain, nor had he seen Shen Yinuo again.

One day, he received notice that there was a mission the next day; he was to bring the Blood Soul Needle and prepare himself.

The following day, they gathered together.

"Follow me," Elder Miao Yan commanded, as he summoned a battle sword which quickly enlarged, beckoning everyone to hop on.

After everyone stepped on the sword, it slashed through the air with a swoosh, speeding off.

Twelve thousand li south of Skull Fire Mountain, they landed in a deserted mountain range.

They had just landed when, in a flash, two figures appeared.

The two figures, one male and one female.

The male was an elder with white hair, possessing the appearance of a sage, with a gourd hanging at his waist from which faint scents of medicine wafted out.

The female appeared to be in her twenties, with enchanting curves and an exceptionally beautiful face.

"Let me introduce you. These two are Immortal Realm elders from our Skull Fire Mountain. This is Elder Gu Zhu," Miao Yan first introduced the young woman, and then pointed to the white-haired elder, "This is Elder Dan Hua, a Transcendance Tribulation Stage presence and a renowned Soul Elixir Master."

"Greetings to the elders," the crowd hurriedly saluted, especially respectful towards Elder Dan Hua.

A Transcendance Tribulation Stage Soul Elixir Master held a respected status throughout the entire Desolate Land.

Elder Dan Hua and Gu Zhu gave a perfunctory nod, not even deigning to glance at the crowd.

"I’ll explain today’s task briefly. We are here to capture a True Beast Dragon Blood Wolf. You will all hide here, ready with your Blood Soul Needles. In a moment, the two elders will drive the Dragon Blood Wolf this way. As soon as the wolf arrives, you all must fully activate the Blood Soul Needle, set up the array, and trap it," instructed Elder Miao Yan.

"Remember, you must exert full force when operating the Blood Soul Needle. The Dragon Blood Wolf is incredibly precious. If anyone fails to give their all and lets the wolf escape, I will not be lenient," Elder Miao Yan said coldly.

The crowd hastily assented.

"To actually capture a True Beast... It’s said every part of a True Beast is precious, but they are extremely rare," Lu Yan thought to himself.

There were many members of the Beast Clan in the Desolate Land, but not all were True Beasts.

Whether Beast Clan, Immortal Clan, or any other kind, those who cultivate to a high level could all transform into human form.

But True Beasts never did.

True Beasts remained in their beastly form.

The legends said that True Beasts were the ancestors of all Beast Clans, with the most primitive Beast Bloodline flowing in their veins. Their flesh and blood could be used in medicine, refined into great elixirs.

Due to excessive hunting, their numbers had become exceedingly scarce in the world today.

"The time is almost upon us, you all wait here," said Elder Dan Hua as he and Elder Gu Zhu flew off, vanishing into the woods.

Lu Yan and the others sought places to hide and contained their auras.

The mountains were silent, without a sound.

Time ticked away, second by second.

Roar!

Suddenly, a roar came from the distant woods.

It was coming.

From far to near, the roar grew louder, closing in at incredible speed.

"Prepare yourselves. Upon my signal, we will all activate the Blood Soul Needles together," Elder Miao Yan’s voice reached the ears of Lu Yan and the others.

Two breaths later.

Boom!

Elder Miao Yan took the lead, casting a large net that snared a Dragon Blood Wolf approximately ten meters long, its body covered with dragon scales.

The Dragon Blood Wolf thrashed wildly, trying to break through the net.

But the net, an Immortal Treasure, was incredibly tough, and the Dragon Blood Wolf could not break free for the moment.

"Act quickly."

Lu Yan’s ears rang with the voice of Miao Yan.

Lu Yan and the others immediately rushed out from their hiding places, fully activating the Blood Soul Needles.

Thirty-six Blood Soul Needles emitted dazzling light, inducing mutual responses, their aura interweaving.

Roar!

The Dragon Blood Wolf sensed the crisis and let out an enraged roar, as blinding light shrouded its body.

"Not good, it’s going to self-destruct, quickly boost the Blood Soul Needles, use the power of the soul as well."

Miao Yan roared angrily.

Buzzing...

The Blood Soul Needles buzzed more intensely, their light growing brighter. Suddenly, Lu Yan felt a strong pulling force within the Blood Soul Needles, and like a tidal wave, his True Vigor and soul power surged toward them.

"Not good, these Blood Soul Needles are going to devour all my True Vigor and soul..."

Lu Yan’s complexion changed.

"Ah ah, what’s happening?"

"My True Vigor, my soul is being devoured."

"My Qi-blood too, stop it, hurry up and stop."

At this time, the others also began to scream in terror.

Lu Yan saw that those with slightly weaker cultivation levels began to wither, as if their essence, Qi, and spirit were being sucked dry.

They pleaded desperately, but Miao Yan’s eyes were cold and unmoved.

The next moment, those with weaker cultivation were completely devoured by the Blood Soul Needles, reduced to ashes.

The Blood Soul Needles they controlled shone even brighter, flying towards the Dragon Blood Wolf like lightning and piercing into its body.

"No..."

The others were terrified and struggled with all their might, especially the ones at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage, who desperately burst forth with their full strength, but to no avail. Their essence, Qi, and spirit continued to be devoured by the Blood Soul Needles.

Whizzing sounds...

One by one, people turned to dust, devoured by the Blood Soul Needles, as they stabbed into the Dragon Blood Wolf.

Each Blood Soul Needle that penetrated the Dragon Blood Wolf weakened its riotous aura by a fraction.

"So it turns out, all of us were just cannon fodder."

Lu Yan’s face was grim.

He finally realized why Skull Fire Mountain recruited them so easily, without even asking about their origins or backgrounds.

Because it didn’t matter, they were recruited just to be sacrificial pawns, used to activate the Blood Soul Needles and capture the Dragon Blood Wolf.

"Thinking of devouring me? Not so easy."

Lu Yan’s Primordial Spirit shone as the phantom image of a big tree emerged and rushed fiercely towards the Blood Soul Needles.

Buzz!

The Blood Soul Needles trembled violently, and the devouring force against Lu Yan plummeted.

Meanwhile, the others continued to be devoured by the Blood Soul Needles, turning into ash.

"Ah, you Skull Fire Mountain, may you die a horrible death."

Several Transcendance Tribulation Stage experts cursed, before they too were devoured by the Blood Soul Needles.

Puff puff puff...

All the Blood Soul Needles had plunged into the Dragon Blood Wolf’s body.

Out of the thirty-six Blood Soul Needles, only Lu Yan’s remained.

"Kid, what are you doing? Why haven’t you stopped yet?"

Miao Yan noticed the situation on Lu Yan’s side and was instantly enraged, striking a palm towards Lu Yan.

Lu Yan activated the Starry Sky Step and quickly retreated, dodging Miao Yan’s palm.

"Get lost."

Lu Yan shouted, unleashing all his soul power, as a giant phantom surged once again into the Blood Soul Needle.

The Blood Soul Needle trembled mightily, buzzed, and flew out from Lu Yan, embedding itself in a rock.

Roar!

The Dragon Blood Wolf howled, its body’s energy surged, and a piercing light burst forth from the Dragon Blood Wolf.

The thirty-five Blood Soul Needles embedded in its body trembled violently.

"Damn it..."

Miao Yan, no longer concerned with dealing with Lu Yan, activated a large net, attempting to suppress the Dragon Blood Wolf.

But it was useless; the aura of the Dragon Blood Wolf grew more terrifying, and its body swelled as if it were a balloon about to burst.

"With one Blood Soul Needle missing, the Blood Soul Formation is incomplete and can’t seal off the Dragon Blood Wolf’s self-destruction, that damned brat..."

Miao Yan’s face twisted fiercely.

But just then, a figure descended—it was Elder Danhua.

Elder Danhua reached out from mid-air, seizing the Blood Soul Needle that belonged to Lu Yan, and his hand sent several blood-red elixirs into the Blood Soul Needle before forcefully thrusting it into the Dragon Blood Wolf.

Instantly, the thirty-six Blood Soul Needles shone brightly as one and formed a whole, with fine strands connecting them, firmly locking the Dragon Blood Wolf in place.

The Dragon Blood Wolf’s swollen body rapidly deflated to normal size and was tightly wrapped by the large net.

Sigh...

Dan Hua, Miao Yan, and Gu Zhu let out a sigh of relief.

"This Dragon Blood Wolf is extremely stubborn; it self-destructs when cornered, otherwise, we wouldn’t need to go through so much trouble to craft the Blood Soul Formation to seal it," Miao Yan said with a smile.

"Fortunately, with a close call, we were successful. With this Dragon Blood Wolf, we can refine the Dragon Flame Elixir, and I won’t forget what I promised you," Elder Danhua said with a smile as he stroked his beard.

"Many thanks, senior brother. This time, it was almost all for naught because of that kid," Miao Yan said, glaring at Lu Yan with a hint of murderous intent.

"Boy, I told you to stop earlier, did you not hear me? Because of you, we nearly let our years of effort go down the drain. I have warned you before, those who don’t fully contribute will not be spared by me lightly. Kid, you’re dead," Miao Yan said coldly, as Immortal Power surged, he stepped forward, nearing Lu Yan and slammed his palm down towards Lu Yan’s crown.