World-saving Plan: The Only Savior

Chapter 1628 - 423: Rebel Crisis

Within the city, Li Qiang traveled on his sword for several miles, arriving above the City Lord Mansion located in the center of the city.

Here, the Blood Evil Energy was at its strongest. Even without using the Heavenly Eye, he could feel the terrifying aura emanating from this place from afar.

"Such strong demonic energy, this is..."

Li Qiang observed the appearance of the City Lord Mansion below. Apart from the intense Blood Evil Energy swirling around, there was also a lingering, suffocating presence of formidable demonic energy.

This demonic energy, mixed with the Blood Evil Energy, constantly floated inside the City Lord Mansion, seemingly forming some sort of formation.

"Even the residual demonic energy has such immense power; there must have been a Great Demon here, likely with strength surpassing the Nascent Soul Stage!"

Li Qiang was shocked in his heart, realizing that this group of rebels not only colluded with the Demon Race but also harbored such powerful beings among them.

Carefully studying the formation below from the air, he speculated that the tragic deaths of the citizens might have resulted from this grand formation, using them as sacrificial materials, extracting their essence blood until they died, which explained their painful demise.

"Using such a vile formation to refine living humans in the city, such demons must not be spared!"

Li Qiang was filled with anger.

"Wait, why does this formation have a gap?"

During his observation, he suddenly noticed an incongruity at the center of the formation, which seemed out of place due to a missing piece.

Intending to investigate further, Li Qiang controlled his sword to descend.

The central area of the formation was an open space, with a sacrificial altar erected upon it. The altar was entirely crafted from black stone, with a small protrusion at its very center.

Li Qiang approached the protrusion, realizing that it was larger than he envisioned from the sky.

It was a square platform, about as tall as a person, with an area as large as a whole room in an ordinary household.

The top of the platform bore signs of slight fractures, which piqued Li Qiang’s curiosity. He reached out and touched it, and unexpectedly, the entire platform, weighing dozens of tons, turned to dust before him.

"Is this... the aura left after a Thunder Strike? How could it have been struck by lightning?"

He noticed the distinct marks here but was incredulous. If it was truly lightning, then what kind of lightning could cause such an effect?

"Could it be... a Heavenly Tribulation?"

Li Qiang was startled, thinking that only a Heavenly Tribulation could have struck this entire platform into such a state.

Then, he discovered more intriguing things nearby.

"Are these bloodstains and bone fragments?"

Bloodstains are not unusual, given the widespread collection of essence blood from the entire city’s residents. But the appearance of bone fragments seemed untimely.

"Could it be the monster not only gathered essence but also Human bones? Impossible, the corpses are lying in the city; these bone fragments must come from elsewhere."

Li Qiang pondered for a while, but couldn’t find an answer.

There wasn’t enough information to analyze; he needed to search the next city.

However, given the monster’s methods, the next city would likely present a similarly tragic scene, which he dared not imagine how he would feel upon witnessing it.

Still, through this investigation, Li Qiang had gathered some clues.

Typically, for a monster to set up such a large formation, refining so many humans couldn’t just be for play, it must have a purpose.

Thinking it over, the purpose must be one of two possibilities.

This creature must be either absorbing a large amount of Human essence blood to enhance its power or using the essence to forge Magic Treasures.

Li Qiang felt the first option was more likely. After all, many in the Demon Race use this method to enhance their power, something he had witnessed many times in his travels, and wasn’t surprised by.

Such monsters generally increase their strength rapidly, even faster than cultivators like him.

However, doing this has a drawback; during Heavenly Tribulations, they face fiercer attacks, requiring even greater strength to withstand.

"Greater strength... could it be..."

Li Qiang’s expression subtly shifted as he thought about this.

"Previously, the monster slaughtered millions on the battlefield, absorbing vast amounts of essence blood. It shouldn’t require further enhancement for now... It must have refinements in another area for this city’s humans..."

"Meaning, is it really utilizing the evil energy and blood for refining Magic Treasures!?"

Li Qiang suddenly felt he had grasped the crucial point, seeing the chances for the second option sharply rise.

Along with the discovery of bone fragments on-site, he was almost certain the monster was creating some wicked Magic Treasure, likely to augment its own strength.

"No, I must hurry to the next location; if the monster has already surpassed its current realm, that’s fine, but if it’s preparing for a breakthrough, it must use these Magic Treasures to withstand Heavenly Tribulations!"

Thinking of those Demon Race members willing to use any means for Tribulation overcome, Li Qiang shivered.

Due to the heavy sins committed by these Demon Race entities, they face very intense Heavenly Tribulations. Therefore, they prepare numerous Magic Treasures, each possibly requiring the sacrificial refinement of an entire city of humans for completion.