Chapter 72: The Perilous Ritual

With a determined look in his eyes, Chen Jiuzhang stepped towards the pulsating Heart of the Realm. Luna's incantations still echoed in his ears, and he took a deep breath, preparing to channel his life force into the unstable orb. The air around him crackled with energy, a prelude to the momentous task ahead.​Su Nian, Zhang Chengying, Shen Qingluan, and Wu Laogou formed a protective circle around Chen Jiuzhang and the Heart. Their faces were set with resolve, ready to face whatever Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔 might throw at them. The old man, consumed by his lust for power, let out a feral roar and charged forward once again.​"Over my dead body will you perform that ritual!" he bellowed, his staff unleashing a torrent of dark energy. Zhang Chengying intercepted the attack with his broken peachwood sword, the impact sending shockwaves through the chamber. The sword, already on the verge of shattering, groaned under the strain, but Zhang held his ground.​"Not today, you old fool!" he shouted back, his voice filled with anger and determination. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, the two locked in a deadly dance of light and darkness.​Su Nian's chains whipped through the air, aiming to ensnare Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔. But he was too quick, dodging the attacks with ease. "You'll all pay for this betrayal!" he snarled, turning his attention to Su Nian. A blast of dark energy sent her flying backward, but she quickly recovered, her eyes blazing with fury.​Shen Qingluan, her face pale from exhaustion, focused her remaining energy on strengthening the shield around Chen Jiuzhang. The golden barrier wavered but held firm, protecting him from the worst of the attacks. "Jiuzhang, hurry! We can't hold him off for much longer!" she cried out.​Wu Laogou, meanwhile, was rummaging through his pockets, looking for any talisman or artifact that could turn the tide of the battle. His hands were shaking, but his eyes were sharp. "Come on, come on," he muttered under his breath. "There has to be something here."​As the battle raged on, Chen Jiuzhang closed his eyes and began to chant the ancient incantations. The crystal - key in his hand glowed brightly, its energy merging with the power of the Heart of the Realm. He could feel his life force ebbing away, but he pushed through the pain, focusing on the task at hand.​Suddenly, a powerful surge of energy erupted from the Heart of the Realm. The orb began to spin wildly, and a bright, multi - colored light filled the chamber. Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔,momentarily distracted by the display, faltered in his attack.​Zhang Chengying saw his chance and launched a powerful strike with his sword. The blade, imbued with electricity, pierced through the old man's defenses, drawing a cry of pain. But it was not enough to stop him. With a final burst of strength, he unleashed a massive blast of dark energy, shattering Zhang's sword and sending him crashing to the ground.​Su Nian, seeing Zhang in danger, rushed to his side. She used her chains to shield him from the worst of the attack, but the force of it was overwhelming. Shen Qingluan, her shield finally collapsing, was also thrown to the ground.​Wu Laogou, finding a powerful talisman at last, threw it at Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔. The talisman exploded on impact, creating a cloud of smoke that temporarily blinded the old man. Taking advantage of the distraction, Chen Jiuzhang redoubled his efforts, pouring more of his life force into the Heart of the Realm.​The chamber was filled with a deafening roar as the light from the Heart of the Realm clashed with the darkness of Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔's attack. The outcome of the battle hung in the balance, and the fate of the Gui Xu Secret Realm trembled on the edge of a knife.