You and the Seal

Before anyone could celebrate for even a few seconds, the sliver of hope that had just risen in their hearts shattered like a bubble.

The ice barrier that Ryan had exerted all his power to manifest completely disintegrated in just a few seconds, turning into countless tiny shards that fluttered down into the deep, bottomless void below, vanishing without a trace.

Seeing this, El, the Sword Saint, grew incredibly anxious. He whipped his head around toward Ryan and asked urgently.

“Ryan, you old geezer, what are you doing? Can't you even buy us some time? We're all counting on you right now!”

El knew all too well that against a situation like this, Saint Rank experts like them who cultivated battle qi were completely helpless.

“You think I don't want to? I’ve already gone all out!”

Faced with El’s questioning, Ryan’s expression was more solemn than ever as he unleashed his magic toward the depths once again.

This time, he even resorted to double incantation regardless of the cost. However, the effect remained minimal; before that unknown power, it only managed to stall for a single extra moment.

In the blink of an eye, the silver giant hand, under You’s control, surged out of the underground void.

“El, Ryan, Liu Ye, protect the others!”

With You’s shout, the three Saint Rank experts immediately understood his intention. They quickly adjusted their stances, each unleashing their strongest defensive skills to shield Starlight and the others behind them.

Meanwhile, You stomped hard beneath him. The silver giant hand supporting them transformed in mid-air into a massive silver web, covering the exit of the void with lightning speed.

Although You had deployed the barrier with incredible speed and precision, it was difficult to achieve perfection in such haste. The tiny gaps in the barrier, though minute, were enough for danger to seep through.

Streaks of pitch-black power shot out from those gaps like arrows, accompanied by ear-piercing whistles as they lunged straight for the group. The terrifying aura contained within this power sent a shiver down the spines of even the Saint Rank experts.

The defensive barrier built by the several powerhouses proved as fragile as paper before this appalling black torrent, collapsing in an instant.

The billowing black energy, like a dark tide that swallowed everything, surged mercilessly into the bodies of the Saint Rank experts who had stepped forward.

Although this energy was slightly inferior in quality compared to the pure Night God's power from before, its destructive force was still not to be underestimated.

For the experts who were already riddled with injuries, the impact of this power made their condition even worse, and they instantly felt unprecedented pressure and pain.

Their faces turned pale in an instant, fine beads of sweat broke out on their foreheads, and their bodies trembled slightly. Yet even so, they gritted their teeth and stood firmly in front of Starlight and the others, showing no sign of retreating.

Amidst this chaos, only You, standing at the very front, remained in a relatively intact state.

The silver radiance surrounding him easily neutralized the black light trying to invade. However, You was currently focusing all his attention on sealing the void below and could not afford to be distracted to help them.

“This energy... isn't it the same as what we saw under the sea? I remember Lian saying back then that it was the Night God's power! Then what was that silver light we just endured down there?”

Xia Duo, who was under the protection of the Saint Rank experts, noticed something unusual during her observation. She realized that the black energy erupting from below was almost identical to what they had seen in the undersea space.

Following Xia Duo’s reminder, Starlight acted quickly. He lightly waved his arm, brilliant mana surging from his fingertips to precisely capture and bind a wisp of the escaping black light, which he then began to examine closely.

He stared at the black light imprisoned in his palm, his brow furrowed as unprecedented doubt and unease welled up in his heart.

If both of these powers originated from the Night God, why was the difference between them so vast?

The silver radiance shown by Lian and You was pure and holy, whereas this black energy was like a demon from the abyss, filled with the aura of destruction and death.

For a moment, countless thoughts surged like a tide. Starlight couldn't help but think of the giant sword Po Kong had obtained in the undersea space; it had been covered in a layer of this black power, suggesting a deep connection between them.

Innumerable questions shrouded Starlight’s mind like a fog, leaving him feeling more lost and confused than ever, yet there was no one who could answer his doubts at this moment.

By now, You’s movements were nearing their end. As the seal deepened, the black power leaking from the ground noticeably weakened, and that once-rampaging terrifying aura was gradually suppressed.

Even the surrounding air seemed to have freshened considerably, allowing everyone to breathe a small sigh of relief.

But You’s aged face held no hint of relaxation. He knew well that the stability of the seal directly concerned the safety of the entire Night Elf race. Therefore, he continued to pour in all his strength and will, ensuring every detail was perfect.

Just as everyone thought everything was about to be settled and the final piece of the seal was about to be closed by You, a sudden turn of events shattered the peace.

A deafening, fury-filled roar suddenly erupted from the depths of the void, as if some terrifying existence underground was currently putting everything into breaking free from its shackles to return to the world.

That horrific sound exploded beneath everyone’s feet like thunder, and the resulting sound wave was stronger than anyone could have imagined. This force seemed capable of penetrating everything, instantly and completely shattering the silver giant hand beneath them.

Under the impact of the sound wave, everyone felt unprecedented pressure, as if an invisible giant boulder had slammed into their chests.

Blood began to leak from the corners of everyone's mouths. This force was too powerful; even Saint Rank experts found it difficult to withstand.

More seriously, the barrier that had been incredibly close to closing also developed cracks under this single roar. These cracks spread rapidly like a spiderweb.

The energy within the barrier began to fluctuate violently again, appearing as though it could collapse at any moment.

As the caster, You suffered an even more unprecedented blow. The silver light on his body grew dim, his aged face became as pale as paper, and his white beard, stained red with blood, looked particularly jarring.

A wound of this magnitude was almost unimaginable for a powerhouse like him. One had to know that in the past thousand years, he had never experienced such a pathetic moment.

But You still gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the injuries and pain within his body as he prepared for a final struggle.

You slowly closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, as if trying to draw all the surrounding air into his body and merge with it.

In this moment, everything in the world seemed to freeze, and all sounds and movements became blurred and distant.

When he opened his eyes again, an unprecedentedly dazzling light burst from his silver pupils. Like brilliant starlight enveloping the earth, it actually managed to suppress the riot below.

You’s eyes seemed to become two vortices at this moment, frantically attracting the surrounding energy and aura to gather continuously. Meanwhile, the silver light on his body returned to its peak, flowing around him like a physical substance to form an indestructible shield.

This power was so strong that even the previous terrifying roar and sound wave impact could no longer affect him in the slightest.

Under this unprecedentedly dazzling light, the originally crumbling barrier seemed to gain new life. The silver light intertwined with the cracks on the barrier, and with every flicker of the light, the cracks faded by a degree until they finally vanished completely.

Not only that, but as the barrier repaired itself, it also absorbed the powerful energy within You, becoming even more solid and stable than before. It was now emitting a faint silver glow, completely isolating the void from the outside world.

This sealing technique almost reached the pinnacle of You’s long life. At this moment, it was as if he had merged with the laws of the world and the universe, reaching an unprecedented realm.