I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield

Chapter 796 - 554: Dan Tower Crisis (Part 2)

Where the chains passed, the air was torn apart, carrying the might to suppress everything.

Black energy surged around the man in black, his hands forming sinister hand seals, and a shield made of black insects instantly took shape, forcibly blocking the impact of the white light chains. With a loud "boom," a wave of energy swept across the terrace, shattering the tiles and sending debris flying.

While the fierce battle raged at the top of the Dan Tower, a massive uproar stirred outside.

Outside the Dan Tower, a vast marketplace for elixirs had long since developed around the tower, stretching for miles and bustling with activity.

The streets were lined with stalls, showcasing a dazzling array of spiritual herbs, elixirs, and alchemy tools. The sound of hawking, haggling, and footsteps intermingled, with crowds bustling through.

All major guilds, the Alchemy Association, and the Mercenary Association had set up bases here. Dan Masters, merchants, mercenaries, and numerous ordinary people were present, purchasing low-tier elixirs, presenting a scene of prosperity.

Suddenly, part of the crowd on the street simultaneously halted their actions, their expressions instantly turning vacant. Then, they slowly turned their heads, gazing uniformly in the direction of the Dan Tower, with eerie and rigid sneers on their faces, their eyes hollow yet filled with a chilling murderous intent.

"Are you still buying this Transforming Herb or not? We can negotiate the price!"

The elder behind the stall looked at the customer in front of him. The person had been bargaining just a moment ago, but now suddenly wore a sinister smile, causing the elder to frown and lightly pat him.

"Buy, of course, I’ll buy." The man slowly turned back, his sinister smile growing stronger, his voice hoarse like sandpaper, "But, I’ll buy it with your life!"

Boom—

Before he finished speaking, a terrifying sinister force suddenly erupted from the man’s body. Thick black mist instantly enveloped him, and the wave of Spiritual Energy became violently corrupt. He suddenly extended his hand, his five fingers like claws, resting atop the elder’s head. The elder didn’t even have time to scream before his head shattered like a crumbling sand tower, instantly turning into a rain of grayish-brown dust, scattering across the ground, leaving only a headless corpse slowly falling.

This scene played out simultaneously in various corners of the marketplace.

The merchants who were bargaining, the Dan Masters selecting elixirs, and the peddlers hawking wares suddenly transformed into Evil God Followers, surrounded by black energy, mercilessly attacking those around them.

The previously lively and bustling marketplace instantly fell into extreme chaos and panic.

"Help! Help!"

"It’s the power of the Evil God! They’re Evil God Followers!"

"Run! Get out of here!"

The Evil God was a fear ingrained in the citizens of the Empire.

The four Great Evil Gods stood above the strongest beings in the cosmos, the most ancient and terrifying existence in that plane.

Even though they were confined in Subspace, unable to step into the Main Universe directly, their followers spread across the human, Beastman, and Spirit Race territories, inciting repeated bloodbaths.

Cities were slaughtered, races eradicated, planets turned into hell, countless families shattered, countless lives destroyed.

The Three Great Empires exhausted their military power and resources trying to eliminate the Xieshen Association but failed to eradicate it. Instead, these followers became more covert, constantly creating atrocities that grew fiercer over time.

Witnessing the rampage of the Evil God’s power firsthand, everyone was engulfed in ultimate terror. They scattered in a desperate rush, with cries for help, screams, and running intermingled. The street was in disarray, stalls overturned, elixirs spilled everywhere, trampled under the panicked crowd. The scent of blood and the sinister black mist gradually enveloped the entire marketplace.

However, the Evil God Followers did not pursue the fleeing citizens. After creating chaos, they leapt into the air, the black mist around them forming wings, speeding towards the Dan Tower. Evidently, their target from the beginning had been the Dan Tower.

At this moment, a cold command suddenly echoed:

"Kill all these remnants of the Evil God!"

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—

Numerous dark figures rose into the air like phantoms. They were clad in dark uniforms, embroidered with silver Judgment insignias on the hems, and wielding specially crafted Spiritual Energy weapons at their waists, emanating a chilling aura and iron-blooded dominance.

"It’s the Judgement Court! The Judgement Court has arrived!"

"We’re saved! It’s the people from the Judgement Court!"

Seeing that familiar dark figure below, the fleeing crowd stopped in their tracks, filled with excitement.

The Judgement Court was the nightmare of spiritual criminals, the backbone in the fight against the Xieshen Association, Blood Demon Cult, and other dark organizations. It was also the undisputed guardian in the hearts of the Empire’s citizens.

Their appearance instantly put everyone much more at ease.

As soon as the Judgement Court members appeared, they engaged with the charging Evil God Followers.

Dark figures intertwined with black sinister mist, the sound of exploding Spiritual and Evil Energies constantly echoed. The silver Judgment Blades sliced through the black mist, shattering the bodies of Evil God Followers. Yet, the followers were not easily defeated, invoking Evil Energy to counterattack with endlessly bizarre methods of assault.

"Their target is the Dan Tower."

Lin Wu, the deputy leader of the Third Team of Heaven’s Punishment, looked at the Evil God Followers before him, his eyes filled with icy coldness.

Three days ago, the Judgement Court had laid a trap around Stuart and Lucius Thorn. Of course, the Dan Tower, where Stuart was located, was a key area of focus.

However, to avoid alerting the serpent, the Judgement Court hid their presence deeply, not even notifying the Dan Tower.

They had anticipated that this group of Evil God Followers would make their move today. Of course, they couldn’t be sure of the specific target; it might be the Dan Masters at the Seventh Grade ceremony, or it might be the Dan Tower.

Nonetheless, in their view, the Dan Tower was the most likely possibility.

One must know, among those attending the ceremony, apart from the elite and executives of the Dan Tower, there were numerous dignitaries. Among those dignitaries are not only the elders and direct lineage of the Nine Great Holy Blood Clans but also many big figures from the Military Department, Senate, and others. Not a single one of these figures was weak.

Even if the Xieshen Association were audacious, they would not foolishly choose to tackle such tough opponents.

Therefore, the Dan Tower was highly likely to be the target of the Xieshen Association.

One must understand that this Dan Tower was the headquarters of the Alchemy Association, a sacred place in the hearts of countless Alchemists.

Here, the formulas developed over generations at the Dan Tower could be found. Essentially, over ninety percent of the high-tier elixirs within the Empire could be found here. Additionally, the treasury also contained the most top-tier Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures for refining Ninth Grade elixirs. Moreover, the Dan Masters within the Dan Tower were an extremely valuable asset.

Lin Wu was grateful they had caught a glimpse of the Xieshen Association’s fox’s tail ahead of time and laid a net.

If the Evil God’s minions succeeded, the sacred ground of Alchemists would fall, a loss not only to the alchemy community but an unbearable pain for the Empire.

Simultaneously, the Judgement Court would be criticized and scorned by all levels within the Empire for failing to anticipate the Evil God Followers and for inadequate action.

By that time, a significant purge would be unavoidable.

"Kill!!"

The Judgement Court and the Evil God Followers engaged in fierce slaughter. Simultaneously, a semi-transparent celestial barrier quickly rose, enveloping the Judgement Court and all exposed Evil God Followers, while the populace was transferred away by a stable force.

Heavenly Barrier

This was a secret technique developed by the Judgement Court to capture high-tier criminals. It could isolate space and limit the aftermath of battles, preventing harm to the innocent.

Once the Heavenly Barrier was erected, those inside either had to break the barrier or fight until one side was obliterated.

Outside the barrier

"Heavenly Barrier."

A vendor looked at the barrier rising not far off, and a glint of coldness appeared in his eyes. Immediately, black energy enveloped him like a cannonball leaving the chamber, shooting skyward toward the Dan Tower.

He wasn’t the only one making a move.

Cunning Evil God Followers were always deceitful, habitually keeping a backup plan.

After seeing the first wave of followers being trapped, they promptly revealed themselves.

However, the Judgement Court, having battled the Xieshen Association for years, naturally understood the habits of their old nemesis.

Another substantial wave of Judges, hidden for so long, revealed themselves, battling alongside the Evil God’s dogs.

The once-bustling marketplace immediately turned into a wasteland.

Meanwhile, at the peak of Cangwu Mountain, numerous alchemist sects received the distress call from the Dan Tower.

"What, the Dan Tower is under attack from the Xieshen Association!!!"

Upon hearing the news, all the Dan Masters’ faces changed dramatically, even the expressions of the assembled dignitaries became grim.

The Xieshen Association dared to show themselves on the Royal Star.