System: Infinite Evolution into Qilin Bloodline

Chapter 599

"Still alive..."

Wu Tianzhen's voice trembled:

"They...are still alive?"

"The body is alive, but the consciousness is being devoured and replaced."

Zhang Qilin examined several "cocoons," his expression grave:

"The degree of transformation varies; in the most profound cases, consciousness has almost completely dissipated."

"Can it be saved?"

Xie Xiaohua looked at Zhang Hao.

Zhang Hao remained silent for a moment, then placed the Five Elements Spirit Crystal close to a "cocoon".

The crystal's light seeped into the "cocoon," and the moment it came into contact with the dark red patterns, it emitted a "sizzling" burning sound.

The humanoid figure inside the cocoon struggled violently, emitting a silent scream.

"No."

Zhang Hao took back the crystal and shook his head:

“The ‘seed’ has grown together with their nerves and flesh.”

Forcibly separating them will kill the host.

"Then...?"

"There is a way."

Zhang Qilin suddenly said.

He walked to the edge of the altar and gazed at the broken statue of the goddess:

“The ‘seed’ needs an altar as a ‘transfer’ and ‘amplifier’.”

Destroy the altar, severing its connection to the earth's ley lines, and these 'cocoons' will cease their transformation.

"and then?"

The fat man asked:

What about the people inside?

"After the transformation ends, the 'seed' will enter dormancy."

We can gradually find a way to purify it.

Zhang Qilin looked at Zhang Hao:

"But destroying the altar will immediately alert the ancient gods."

There might be danger.

Zhang Hao did not hesitate:

"Do it."

Zhang Qilin nodded, and the black gold ancient sword was inserted into a crack in the base of the altar.

Zhang Hao then pressed the Five Elements Spirit Crystal onto the surface of the altar and began to reverse the energy flow—no longer purification, but "disintegration".

The crystal shone brightly, and its multicolored light swirled around the altar like chains.

The black boulder on the altar began to tremble, and dense, glowing runes appeared on its surface, fiercely resisting the power of the five elements.

The entire grotto began to shake, and rubble fell from the dome.

The "cocoon" surrounding the altar seemed to sense the crisis, and at the same time, it began to pulsate violently, with a surge of dark red light.

The humanoid figures inside the cocoons convulsed violently, and some cocoons even began to crack, revealing the semi-alienated human bodies inside—their skin cracked, revealing the writhing black substance beneath, their eyes rolled back, and they emitted inhuman hoarse sounds.

"They're about to 'emerge from their cocoons' ahead of schedule!"

Jie Xiaohua shouted:

"Fatty, protect Tianzhen and Xiuxiu!"

"Sasa, Yudie, follow me and hold them off!"

The first few "containers" to emerge from their cocoons stood up unsteadily, their movements stiff yet swift, rushing straight at Zhang Hao and Zhang Qilin who were casting spells.

With her short knife fluttering like a butterfly, Xie Xiaohua precisely severed the tendon of one of the "containers," causing it to fall to the ground.

Ding Yudie's dagger slashed across the neck of another "container"—but instead of bleeding, black viscous fluid gushed out. The "container" seemed oblivious and continued forward.

"Attack the joints! Disrupt mobility!"

Yi Sa calmly directed the operation, using a specially made rope to loop around the arm of one of the "containers," pulling it down with a forceful tug.

Huo Xiuxiu then used the sprayer she carried to spray out icy mist, slowing down the "container's" movements.

Fatty stood guard in front of Wu Tianzhen and Huo Xiuxiu, wielding his entrenching tool with great skill, and swatted away an oncoming "container," sending it crashing into the rock wall.

"Brother Zhang Hao!"

hurry up!

"I can't hold on any longer!"

"The fat man roared."

At the altar, sweat beaded on Zhang Hao's forehead.

The altar resisted more strongly than expected; the black boulder seemed to have a life of its own, constantly repairing the cracks eroded by the power of the five elements.

Zhang Qilin's black gold ancient sword had completely sunk into its base, the blade trembling and emitting a dragon-like roar.

"Brother, help me buy three more breaths!"

Zhang Hao snorted softly.

Zhang Qilin freed his left hand, bit his fingertip, and drew a blood talisman on the hilt of his knife.

Blood seeped into the blade, causing the ancient black gold sword to gleam brightly, its blade energy soaring like a rainbow, forcefully tearing a foot open in the crack!

It's now!

Zhang Hao pressed all the Five Elements Spirit Crystals into the crack, then formed hand seals to activate the Qilin bloodline within his body.

"The Five Elements revolve, Heaven and Earth return to their origin—Break!"

boom--! ! !

The altar exploded.

The black boulder shattered into pieces, and the runic light instantly went out.

The shattered goddess statue was reduced to dust. An invisible shockwave spread from the altar, sweeping across the entire grotto.

All the "cocoons" stopped pulsating at the same time, and the dark red light dimmed.

The attacking "containers" froze like puppets with broken strings, then collapsed to the ground, no longer moving.

The shaking stops.

The dust slowly settled.

Zhang Hao knelt on one knee, panting. Mobilizing the five elements and his bloodline power at once had placed an immense strain on him.

Zhang Qilin helped him up, and the black gold ancient sword was sheathed.

"it's over?"

Wu Tianzhen peeked out from behind the fat man.

"temporary."

Zhang Hao looked at the lifeless "cocoons" and "containers":

"The altar is destroyed, and the connection to the earth's veins has been severed."

These 'seeds' will remain dormant, but... they are still inside them.

Jie Xiaohua checked the pulse of a "container":

"He is still alive, but his vital signs are very weak, like a person in a vegetative state."

"Bring back."

Zhang Hao stood up:

"Find a way to save them."

and……"

He looked at the ruins of the altar.

Beneath the rubble, a thin black sheet, neither gold nor jade, was revealed, with fine patterns engraved on it.

Zhang Hao picked up the thin slice.

The moment I touched it, shattered images flooded my mind:

—In the boundless desert, seven beacon towers are arranged like the Big Dipper.

Beneath each beacon tower, there was a similar altar.

—In the starry sky, seven ominous stars shone, each corresponding to a beacon tower.

—A deep voice repeated:

"When the seven stars align, an ominous sign appears."

"The seven altars were destroyed, and the true body was revived."

The scene stopped abruptly.

Zhang Hao gripped the thin slice tightly, his face grim.

"We might... have gotten the order wrong."

He handed the thin slice to Zhang Qilin. After looking at it, Zhang Qilin remained silent for a long time.

"The Seven Star Altar is both a shackle and a seal."

He said slowly:

"The consciousness of the ancient god was dispersed and parasitized in the artifacts associated with the seven altars."

Destroying one seed will accelerate the awakening of the other six seeds.

However, if all seven locations exist, it creates a fragile balance, with each location restraining the others.

"So that's why the man said 'it's calling'?"

Wu Tianzhen realized:

"It's not a call to destruction, but rather... an inducement to disrupt the balance?"

Zhang Hao nodded:

"We've been tricked."

The ancient god's consciousness wants us to help it 'unseal' itself.

"Now what?"

The fat man panicked:

"We've already smashed one!"

"Six other locations were found."

Zhang Hao's eyes were firm:

"Before they all awaken, find them, and then... not destroy them, 'fortify' them."

"Use the power of the Five Elements to reseal it?"

Yi Sa asked.

"Correct."

Zhang Hao looked at the slightly trembling bronze wind chime in his hand:

"And it has to be fast."

The altar on Helan Mountain has been destroyed, and the balance has been broken.

The 'seeds' in the other six locations are likely already 'hatching' at an accelerated pace.

He tucked the black sheet into his pocket. On the corner of the back of the sheet was engraved a tiny symbol.

It is a "two".

"The second beacon tower..."

Zhang Hao looked westward:

"In Dunhuang."

The bronze wind chimes under the eaves move automatically even without wind.

This time, the ringtone was long and urgent, like a countdown to certain death.

Unseen, ominous ripples began to spread across the surface of West Lake.