Before long, the group of Divine Worshippers, led by the Dark Sacrificer, arrived at the narrow alleyway.
This pathway led to a vast area adorned with black flowers—the location of the entrance to the Shrine of Worship.
"I still don't understand how that thief managed to open the treasury doors. Some of us have worshipped the Divine Sovereign for two or three centuries, yet never encountered such a situation," one of the worshippers remarked, seeking an explanation from the Dark Sacrificer.
However, the Dark Sacrificer suddenly stopped in his tracks, frowning as he stared into the shadowy corridor.
"What's the matter, my lord?" one worshipper inquired, noticing the unusual behavior.
The Dark Sacrificer didn't respond, continuing to scrutinize the passageway.
The other worshippers, now on high alert, also stared into the corridor, aware that the Dark Sacrificer's caution indicated a potential threat.
After a while, the Dark Sacrificer shook his head slightly. "I sense the faint presence of a living being in the passage, but the aura is weak—it should be just a mortal who accidentally wandered in."
Everyone relaxed slightly.
The Dark Sacrificer flowed into the corridor, with the worshippers following close behind. Soon, they arrived in the expansive area.
"The aura of a living being is stronger here, but there's no residual spirit energy. It must indeed be a mortal who stumbled upon this place," the Dark Sacrificer concluded, his tension easing.
Rising into the air, his body began to release droplets of dark liquid that floated toward the black flowers.
The flowers' buds opened, revealing rows of sharp fangs.
"No matter the case, the Divine Idol must be moved from here. Without it, we cannot communicate with the Divine Sovereign!" the Dark Sacrificer declared.
As the dark droplets seeped into the flowers and the passageway to the Shrine appeared, a sudden streak of spiritual light manifested in the sky.
The light twisted and coiled, forming an intricate rune.
The rune shimmered with profound radiance, and two towering figures clad in exquisite armor emerged in the nearby clearing, leading a contingent of roughly five hundred soldiers.
The soldiers, emanating strong spiritual energy, each wielded long spears.
Standing firm, their formation exuded a formidable aura, as if they themselves were an immense rune crafted from soldiers of the Grand Sigil Army.
The dark liquid recoiled from the flowers and returned to the Dark Sacrificer, merging back into his body.
His pure black form expanded and hovered in the air, gazing down at the soldiers of the Grand Sigil Army.
Behind him, the Divine Worshippers unleashed their spiritual energy, filling the area with the intense presence of Spirit Embryos and Spirit Wheels.
"By order of King Fusheng, all followers of the Infernal Sovereign, surrender and accept execution!"
One of the two leaders, clad in silver armor, stepped forward. Spear in hand, he pointed at the Dark Sacrificer and his acolytes.
The other leader, a stern-faced man, remained still, his eyes fixed on the enemy—none other than King Fusheng's personal guard, Jin Qiu.
The Dark Sacrificer's expression darkened.
"Was it that wretched Qin Ji who revealed our location to you?"
The spear-wielding commander stayed silent, gripping his weapon tightly as spiritual energy surged from his Spirit Embryo.
Seeing the disregard, the Dark Sacrificer sneered. "I know you—you're Qi Fuce, a general of the Grand Sigil Army. Renowned for your mastery of spirit energy, you built a seventy-two-zhang Spirit Embryo upon ascending, and now it spans over eight hundred zhang. Remarkable!"
Then, pointing at the royal guard, he continued, "And you—you're not too bad either. Jin Qiu, the royal guard of King Fusheng himself!"
General Qi's stern face betrayed a flicker of annoyance. "A failure on our part indeed—we didn't anticipate monsters like you hiding in the Shouyang Palace. Since you seem so familiar with us, I assume you've been studying us for some time. What are your intentions?"
The Dark Sacrificer chuckled sinisterly, his body emanating streams of dark liquid that spread across the area, forming a massive web.
From a distance, it appeared as though a giant spider had ensnared the Grand Sigil Army, the soldiers now its prey.
"I sense no Spirit Palace energy. Did King Fusheng not come himself?"
The Dark Sacrificer's body emitted waves of spiritual energy so intense that the sheer force shattered nearby structures into dust.
"No King Fusheng? With just you lot, do you think you can stop us?"
As his black eyes oozed an inky liquid, the Divine Worshippers behind him unleashed their own power. Twenty-odd acolytes, half of them Spirit Wheel cultivators, the others masters of five or more Spirit Imprints, exuded an aura capable of toppling nations.
It was clear why the Shrine of Worship specialized in eradicating entire kingdoms.
Yet, despite the overwhelming power arrayed against them, the five hundred Grand Sigil soldiers showed no fear. Their gazes remained resolute as they stood firm, awaiting orders.
"Dark Sacrificer, King Fusheng has been watching you for some time. Today, he sends us to execute judgment!" Jin Qiu declared.
The Dark Sacrificer laughed maniacally. "Did King Fusheng underestimate the Shrine of Worship or overestimate the Grand Sigil Army? With just five hundred mid-tier cultivators, even without me here, the worshippers could slaughter them with ease!
"And with me here—"
Behind him, a dark void materialized, revealing two towering, pitch-black palaces.
One rose like a spire, reaching toward the heavens, its interior teeming with swirling spirit energy.
The other, square and foreboding, radiated an aura of pure malevolence.
This was a cultivator who had built two Spirit Palaces!
"Do you understand the power of the Spirit Palace Realm?"
The Dark Sacrificer's expression turned crazed, his eyes bulging and face contorted.
"In the entire Grand Sigil Nation, no one but King Fusheng himself could stand against me!"
"Dark Sacrificer, King Fusheng sends a message for you!" Jin Qiu interrupted, raising his hand to reveal a jade slip.
The slip seemed ordinary, carved from palace jade with no visible spiritual energy.
The Dark Sacrificer roared with laughter. "After I slaughter you all and turn you into corpse oil, I'll see what message your King Fusheng has left!"
With a wave of his hand, one of his Spirit Palaces emerged from the void, its massive presence blotting out the sky.
The earth trembled, splitting apart beneath its weight. The sheer energy released caused every cultivator's spirit energy to surge uncontrollably.
The world seemed on the verge of collapse.
In this critical moment, Jin Qiu remained composed and tossed the jade slip into the air.