Chapter 258: Withering Flower
After the Scorpion Lion gave his reminder in a serious tone, Zhou Ming did not continue to conceal his trump card.
Under the corrosion of chaotic, polluted, and degenerate auras, Zhou Ming forcibly resisted the Cursed Aura emitted by the Resentful Aggregation through the power of his bloodline.
Immediately afterward, he activated the Venomous Gall within his body and began to cast his strongest exclusive spell.
“Sand Convergence Secret Technique · Poison Art · Withering Flower.”
Against the white radiance blooming from the Holy Light Emblem, a strand of extremely demonic purple poisonous mist slowly flowed out from Zhou Ming’s mouth.
The Life Withering exclusive spell Zhou Ming had once used in the Panlong Mountain Range had undergone a complete rebirth after he reintegrated Petrification Toxin and Hemolytic Toxin, along with other toxins he had researched.
As a rose-like flower gradually condensed into form, whether it was the Scorpion Lion behind Zhou Ming buying time with the Holy Light Emblem, or the Resentful Aggregation driven only by chaotic consciousness, both felt an extreme aura of death descend.
“Roar…”
Facing the spell Zhou Ming had unleashed, the Resentful Aggregation immediately let out a nauseating shriek. An invisible force desperately corroded the sanity of Zhou Ming and the Scorpion Lion, and all kinds of bizarre illusions instantly appeared before their eyes.
“Go.”
Daring not to hesitate in the slightest, Zhou Ming immediately threw out the Withering Flower that floated above his palm, radiating a demonic purple glow.
The moment the Withering Flower left his palm, it seemed to lose vitality and began to wither. Its demonic purple petals scattered in all directions.
“Scorpion Lion, take me and withdraw from here immediately.”
At this moment, Zhou Ming’s face was pale as paper. Whether it was casting the Withering Flower spell or resisting the contamination of the Resentful Aggregation, he had nearly exhausted his spiritual power and bloodline power.
As soon as Zhou Ming finished speaking, the Scorpion Lion saw him revert to his normal form and collapse weakly to the ground. Without another word, he immediately lifted Zhou Ming, mounted A’Yue, and withdrew from the Ninth Floor of the Tower.
There was no need for Zhou Ming to explain further. He had already sensed the danger brought by the blooming purple Withering Flower.
Even with trump cards of his own, he still smelled an extremely dense aura of death.
Bang.
After turning around with Zhou Ming, the Scorpion Lion shut the black metal gate leading into the Ninth Floor without hesitation.
Before he could even ask Zhou Ming about the trump card he had used, an enraged roar burst from behind the gate. A surge of energy slammed into it at once, producing a deafening sound.
Although he could not see the scene behind the gate, the Scorpion Lion could clearly feel that the aura of the Resentful Aggregation was rapidly declining.
“Ten Thousand Serpents, I didn’t expect you to still have such a trump card.”
Seeing Zhou Ming drink a potion and close his eyes to recover his spiritual power, the Scorpion Lion could not help but sigh at the method he had revealed.
After a short while, when Zhou Ming opened his eyes again and the pallor on his face had faded considerably, the area behind the metal gate also fell completely silent once more.
“Are you alright?”
A trace of concern appeared on the Scorpion Lion’s face as he hurriedly asked about Zhou Ming’s current condition.
“Seventy percent.”
Hearing this, the Scorpion Lion froze for a moment before instantly understanding what Zhou Ming meant.
“Fine, seventy percent it is. You really refuse to suffer even the slightest loss.”
Shaking his head helplessly at Zhou Ming’s request, the Scorpion Lion had long grown accustomed to his unwillingness to take a disadvantage.
After the two sensed that no energy aura was emanating from behind the black metal gate, they reopened it.
The mountain-like piles of corpses were gone. What came into view instead was a ground covered in yellow sand.
“Ten Thousand Serpents, this spell of yours should be capable of threatening Transcendent-level existences, right?”
Only after witnessing the aftermath caused by the Withering Flower did the Scorpion Lion truly comprehend the terror of Zhou Ming’s spell.
Whether it was the already decayed corpses or the Resentful Aggregation steeped in chaotic degeneration, everything had turned into yellow sand and scattered across the ground.
“Unless in a completely sealed environment, it can only force a Transcendent existence to retreat and buy time to escape.”
Although the power of the Withering Flower fully matched his expectations, Zhou Ming showed no excessive pride.
Back in the Panlong Mountain Range, he had personally experienced the terror of a Transcendent existence.
With their speed, they could completely withdraw before the Withering Flower arrived and then use long-range attack methods.
Moreover, to unleash the Withering Flower at its maximum power, he had to inject various toxins into the Venomous Gall in advance and spend time slowly fusing and nurturing its terrifying toxicity.
When casting it, he also had to consume a massive amount of spiritual power and bloodline power to truly bring forth the Withering Flower spell.
Although he could still cast it now, its power would be greatly reduced.
After giving a brief explanation, Zhou Ming turned his gaze toward the small mound before him.
Understanding his intention, the Scorpion Lion let surging rage pour out from within him. As the golden spear in his hand thrust forward, the yellow sand on the ground rolled to both sides.
As a straight path appeared, a sacrificial altar about two meters tall was revealed. Dense runes were engraved across its entire surface, and various runes on the ground were connected to the altar as well.
Seeing this, the Scorpion Lion continued to wield his golden spear. His violent rage transformed into golden spear radiance, clearing away the surrounding yellow sand.
“This altar has fused into one with the ground. No wonder it wasn’t taken away.”
Once the sand around it was cleared, both Zhou Ming and the Scorpion Lion could clearly see that the runes engraved on the altar were linked seamlessly with those on the ground, forming a massive sacrificial ritual.
“Let’s go. The very top level should be the Tower’s Master’s laboratory. Perhaps what we want is there.”
The runes on the altar certainly contained precious knowledge, but deciphering them would require a great deal of time. For now, Zhou Ming set the matter aside.
On the Tenth Floor of the Tower, another metal gate stood before the two of them.
However, before Zhou Ming and the Scorpion Lion could probe for danger, a fluctuation of energy began to manifest. The two immediately assumed defensive stances.
The anticipated danger did not appear. The energy fluctuation merely formed a phantom human face upon the metal gate.
Brilliant golden hair. An aged countenance. Eyes brimming with wisdom.
“I did not expect that two little fellows from another world would arrive.”
“Congratulations. You will obtain the knowledge and wealth I have left behind.”
Faced with this sudden development, Zhou Ming and the Scorpion Lion were both bewildered, yet neither lowered their guard.
“You are the one who established this Secret Realm? Judging from your tone, have you already fallen?”
“Yes. My attempt to advance into Legend ultimately failed. What you see now is merely an imprint left behind by a remnant of my will.”
“Your purpose?”
Zhou Ming did not waste words. He directly asked about the other party’s purpose.
For the Tower’s Master to expend effort before death to leave behind an imprint of his remnant will, it was absolutely impossible that it served no purpose.
Since that was the case, there was no need for excessive conversation. If the conditions proposed by the other party were not overly harsh, Zhou Ming would not mind fulfilling them.