Chapter 287: Blood Crystal Reversing Array
After that string of arguments, Mo Yan and the other three became even more hesitant.
Seeing his plan to crush her spirit about to fail, Tian Fu hurriedly said, "Don’t listen to her nonsense. Since I’ve promised you, I can definitely get you out of here."
"Once we’re out and we find your original bodies, I will help you erase their consciousness. Then you can smoothly take their place."
Mo Yan and the other three put on expressions of disbelief and hesitation. Tian Fu gritted his teeth. "Fine, I’ll tell you. My true identity is actually the ancestor of the Tian Family."
"I have revived by borrowing the body of this ’Tian Fu’ with the goal of unifying the realm and dominating the world. And you four are no mere mortals, either. You are the Divine Hall Spirits of four of the Five Great Divine Palaces."
"If you ally with me, I promise we can rule this world together!"
’So be it. Previously, only the successive Family Heads of the Tian Family knew of this identity, and every one of them contributed greatly to my grand ambition.’
’All except the current Master Tian. He acted respectful on the surface, but when I was severely injured, my consciousness in chaos and my memories lost, he used the position of Young Master to trick me into going to the Beastman World.’
’While I was away, Master Tian pushed his own son into power, seizing control of the Tian Family and trying to render me a powerless figurehead.’
’But it doesn’t matter. I have absolute power. No matter how much those ants squirm, they can never escape the palm of my hand!’
Yu An had heard of "Divine Hall Spirits" before; Lan Yin and Lan Ying had mentioned them. According to them, the status of a Divine Hall Spirit was higher than their own position as Guardians.
She just never imagined that the four of them were the actual Divine Hall Spirits.
’Since Tian Fu knows all this, the current "Divine Hall Spirits" must have something to do with him.’
Thinking of Mo Yan and the other two who had returned to the temple, Yu An couldn’t help but worry.
"So that’s how it is," Feng Xuan said, a look of sudden realization on his face. "You have an ulterior motive for helping us."
Tian Fu didn’t deny it. "Yes, I do have something to gain, but this is beneficial for you as well."
"Indeed," Lan Yin said thoughtfully. "Dominating the world... that does sound rather nice."
Seeing that the other three were also tempted, Tian Fu was overjoyed. "Do it! Kill Yu An, and I’ll get you out of this place immediately!"
"But we’re afraid we can’t beat her," Mo Yan said with hesitation. "Why don’t you fight with us?"
"And another thing—you could clearly do this yourself. Why make us do it?"
Tian Fu dodged the question with a vague answer. He despised Yu An to the bone and wanted nothing more than to see her killed by the very Beast Husbands she cherished more than her own life.
Unfortunately, he could only make Mo Yan’s group appear here. Otherwise, having a son kill his mother would have been far more devastating than a husband killing his wife!
Yu An could more or less guess at Tian Fu’s sadistic tendencies. Seeing him and the four Beast Husbands gradually tightening their circle around her, she waved her hand, and vines shot out. But every vine was thin and short; her superpower was clearly almost exhausted.
"You’re actually going to attack me," Yu An said, clutching her chest with a look of utter heartbreak. "If you do this, what did all the beautiful moments we shared mean?"
"You’re asking the wrong men," Tian Fu sneered. "They aren’t the same Beastmen from outside the Illusion Realm."
’Trying to use the past to reawaken their love for you?’
’Dream on!’
Yu An bit her lower lip, trying to stall for time. "It’s one thing for the three of you, but Han Li was turned into a Blood Crystal."
"I’ve asked around. No one knows how to restore a Blood Crystal, and Tian Fu certainly doesn’t either."
She then directed her taunt at Han Li. "Even if Tian Fu keeps his promise and helps you take over your original body, what’s the point of becoming a Blood Crystal that can’t even move?"
As she spoke, she took out Han Li’s Blood Crystal and gave it a little shake.
Han Li was thrilled. ’Here’s my cue!’
’I get it, I get it! An’an’s goal is to find out how to restore the Blood Crystal!’
As if persuaded by Yu An, Han Li spun around to shield her. "She’s right. You guys get all the benefits, so what’s in it for me?"
"Mo Yan, we’ve always been good buddies. Are you going to help me or not?"
’Good buddies?’
The corner of Mo Yan’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t object. He just went with the flow and switched his allegiance.
"Fine," he said. "Watching my brother suffer like this... it’s a bitter pill for me to swallow!"
Yu An wanted to laugh. ’How had I never noticed Mo Yan had such a talent for acting?’
With two strong allies now on her side, Yu An was instantly composed. "The truth is, Tian Fu is a treacherous and cunning man. Who’s to say he won’t turn all of you into Blood Crystals after you leave the Illusion Realm?"
"Utter nonsense!"
Before Tian Fu could react, he had lost two of his allies. He said in a deep voice, "Others may not know how to change a Blood Crystal back into a person, but I do."
"Kill Yu An, bring me the Blood Crystal, and I will restore you."
"Let me think..."
Han Li mumbled to himself, and then, before anyone could react, he abruptly struck Yu An with a palm attack.
Yu An saw Han Li make a subtle "dodge" gesture with the hand behind his back, so she went along with it and was thrown backward.
"Ah!"
She let out a pained cry and spat out a mouthful of blood. The Blood Crystal slipped from her hand and clattered to the ground.
"Sorry," Han Li said coldly as he picked up the crystal. "Yu An, I may be madly in love with you, but my own life is what matters most."
Yu An coughed violently, struggling back to her feet. She pointed a trembling finger at Han Li. "You... you really hit me. Han Li, I hate you! As of today, all ties between us are sever—"
Han Li’s heart skipped a beat. ’Acting is one thing, but she can’t say something like that for real!’
He quickly cut Yu An off and turned to Tian Fu. "I’ve got the Blood Crystal. Now, you restore the original body first, and then I’ll do what you asked."
Tian Fu knew they wouldn’t obey him without a little incentive. Besides, seeing Yu An in such a miserable state brought a surge of delight to his heart.
’Fine. The Reversal Array is extremely difficult to draw anyway. To this day, I’m the only one who can do it, so I’m not afraid of the secret being leaked.’
So, he agreed at once.
The materials for the Array weren’t important, so long as it was drawn. Tian Fu made do with what was available, finding a branch and beginning to draw on the ground.
It was manageable at first, but soon Han Li’s head began to spin just from watching Tian Fu draw. And Tian Fu wasn’t even a fifth of the way done.
While continuing to cough up blood, Yu An watched him openly. ’In a certain sense,’ she thought, ’Tian Fu really is a genius.’
’He just applied his brilliance to all the wrong things.’
As she watched, she mentally recorded the process, planning to study it in detail later.
After what felt like an eternity, Tian Fu finally finished. Large beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and he was so exhausted that both his hands were trembling.
His willingness to draw the Array right in front of Yu An wasn’t arrogance. It was a testament to just how difficult the task was. Every pattern had to be perfect, and the entire thing had to be drawn in one continuous stroke.
The slightest pause or break in the stroke would render the entire Array useless.
"It’s done. Place the Blood Crystal on it."
Just as Tian Fu finished drawing, Yu An finished her recording. The Blood Crystal was placed in the eye of the Array, which slowly began to emit a faint, golden light.
Yu An’s heart pounded with excitement. She stared at the Blood Crystal without blinking, terrified something might go wrong.
Han Li felt the same. As for the other three, they appeared to be focused on the Blood Crystal, but they were actually keeping a wary eye on Tian Fu.
’What if Tian Fu decided Yu An was critically injured and changed his mind, attacking her himself?’
But Tian Fu’s energy was so depleted that he failed to notice. His attention was completely fixed on the Array, worried that it might fail.
’After all, it had been many, many years since he had last drawn one.’