Former Interstellar Mercenary In Urban Cultivation World
Chapter 1054: Barrier of Desperation

Chapter 1054: Barrier of Desperation

The three Pixiu immediately looked at her gratefully. Zhar’khaen said, "After throwing in so many divine artifacts, if everything goes well, it should hold for a day."

"Good. I’ll get started now. You all leave, and don’t bother me unless it’s urgent," Amalia said firmly, ushering them out.

Kenny Lin was the last to leave. He glanced at the three beasts. "So, you all..."

"I need to watch the altar and monitor the barrier’s condition," Zhar’khaen said quickly, hurrying away.

"Wait for me! I’m coming too!" Vryss’laar called out, already chasing after him before finishing his sentence.

Kenny Lin turned to the remaining Gor’kan, his expression playful. "Come on, let’s go set up the palace’s formations."

Suppressing his unease, Gor’kan followed, unable to shake the feeling that things were slipping out of control.

Fifteen minutes later, Gor’kan finally understood why Zhar’khaen and Vryss’laar had returned earlier looking utterly defeated. Now, he shared their sentiment.

Once the treasury doors closed, Amalia sat on the ground alone, using her divine sense to scan the contents of the half-book on artifact forging into her mind. After going over it several times, she gained a clearer understanding of the refining process for divine artifacts.

The method for refining divine artifacts wasn’t too different from what was used in the Mystic Void Continent. The main difference lay in the so-called "Blessing of the Heavens."

However, ever since the disappearance of the Immortal Realm, this "Blessing of the Heavens" had ceased to exist, which led to the advent of pseudo-divine artifacts.

With the Immortal Realm still gone, refining a genuine divine artifact was nearly impossible without obtaining the requisite materials. The book hinted at such a material—stones from beyond the heavens—but it seemed even the Grandmaster Artificer of Immortal Realm had never seen one.

Now, Amalia truly understood the rarity of divine artifacts. Using them as tools to self-destruction was really a waste. Each use permanently depleted their already limited supply.

She laid out all the materials before her, separating the phoenix feather from the rest. She began refining the other materials first. Oddly enough, while her material refinement speed was typically quick, even after half an hour of burning them with her Solarian Flames, there was barely any visible progress.

"Could it be because my flame isn’t powerful enough and these materials originate from the Immortal Realm?"

She tried refining materials from the Mystic Void Continent, and after half an hour, she saw results.

"If even the Solarian Flames doesn’t work, then..." Amalia’s gaze fell on the phoenix feather.

She hadn’t wanted to use it, but now it seemed she had no choice.

Before attempting to refine the phoenix feather, Amalia pulled out a communication jade slip to inform Kenny Lin of the situation. If she couldn’t repair the Soltice Ring, they’d have to resort to Gor’kan’s backup plan.

She warned him.

"If it works, that’s great. If not, I don’t want to see you getting hurt. If the Young Master finds out, he’ll be heartbroken."

"Did you hear me? Don’t attempt anything reckless, or I’ll haunt you even in death," Kenny Lin’s voice hissed ominously.

"I understand. I’ll be careful," Amalia replied calmly.

Gor’kan watched the exchange with a startled expression but kept silent. This human cultivator was unlike any he’d met before; her words often left him perplexed.

Why would trying something lead to Kenny Lin haunting her in death? The logic completely escaped him.

"You handle this yourself. I’ll guard outside the treasury," Kenny Lin said abruptly, leaving without seeking his approval.

Gor’kan had no objections. As long as the outside devils and demonic beasts hadn’t breached the barrier, the forbidden area remained safe. Besides, with Kenny Lin gone, he could finally breathe easier. He wouldn’t have to endure his convoluted reasoning any longer. Now he understood why Zhar’khaen and Vryss’laar had fled so quickly earlier.

Outside the forbidden area, a massive surge of blood energy rose into the sky. Two hundred more devils had sacrificed themselves, their blood energy and resentment merging into the body of the Shub-Niggurath.

The Shub-Niggurath, initially only half a meter wide, had now swollen to a width of more than 33 meters.

It continued to absorb the energy of the barrier, which flowed steadily toward it.

Finally, the barrier began to visibly weaken, the spatial tremors growing increasingly pronounced.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the barrier, including the demonic beasts several thousand meters away.

After a long moment, the barrier failed to produce another surge of restorative energy.

A collective sigh of relief swept through the crowd.

"At last, the Pixiu inside have run out of tricks!"

It had been five and a half days—five and a half agonizing days. Each time the barrier was nearly drained by the Shub-Niggurath, it would inexplicably surge with a massive wave of energy, restoring itself to peak condition. This cycle had repeated countless times, to the point that no one could keep track.

They had gone from frustration to fury, and then to a point where no amount of anger could describe their feelings.

Now, finally, they saw a glimmer of hope.

Just then, the faltering barrier emitted a low hum, and the trembling spatial lines suddenly smoothed out, restoring a calm stillness.

The devils and demonic beasts stared at it, dumbfounded.

"..."

"Damn it! Those cursed Pixiu—where are they getting so many spirit stones?"

Azrakar, who had been growing increasingly impatient, finally snapped, his furious roar echoing through the air.

"Quiet! Do you want to draw the human cultivators here?" Nehun said, glaring at him in irritation.

"This area is surrounded by a formation; the sound won’t escape. But still, it’s better not to vent recklessly. After five and a half days, those Pixiu should be at the end of their rope," Menruch said, his gaze deep as he stared at the barrier. "What concerns me more now is something else."

Hulivu face also looked grim. "Are you worried that they’ve used their treasures on the barrier?"

"Exactly. There’s high possibility that they’ve used the treasures to maintain the barrier. The previous fluctuations in the barrier were different from this time," Menruch admitted.

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