I Contracted All Ancient Divine Artifacts

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Life Deprivation

Just as they entered the [Black Tent].

They felt countless invisible threads brushing lightly against their bodies.

Immediately, the spiritual power within them began to uncontrollably flow outward along these invisible ”threads.”

The process was slow, yet irreversible.

As long as you are inside the Black Tent, you will be perpetually drained of ”life” until death!

This is one of the abilities of the Black Tent—Life Deprivation.

”We only have half an hour.”

”Within half an hour, we must destroy the [Black Tent] from the inside, or else we will all become the [nourishment] for the Wanderer to grow.”

Han Zhan said gravely.

”Are you talking about that black sphere?” Bai Shuang suddenly pointed to a black sphere in the air not far ahead and asked.

”Just shatter it and we’re done? Doesn’t seem too difficult.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the ground beneath everyone’s feet suddenly seemed to come alive, twisting violently!

The flat ground instantly became rough and uneven, the violent jolting leaving Han Zhan and the others with no place to stand.

The open space around their bodies also turned into towering, heavy walls in the next second.

Han Zhan made a quick decision, transforming Xia Youwei into the Fu Xi Zither form and holding it in his hands.

On the other side, Bai Shuang, who was about to be swallowed by the activated street after losing her footing, was caught by Yi Fan.

”Watch out!”

Han Zhan only had time to utter these words when an incredibly heavy and solid giant wall suddenly appeared between him, Yi Fan, and Bai Shuang!

Zheng!

Without hesitation, Han Zhan strummed the zither strings to attack.

The invincible Zither Sound Air Blade slammed into the massive wall, causing many stones to fall.

However, after the stones fell, the wall behind remained, extending upwards with no break.

This is the second ability of the Wanderer’s Black Tent, Life Bestowal.

Life can be deprived but also bestowed.

The things endowed with life aren’t limited to people but can include weapons, tools, and even the ground!

The vast ground has been bestowed life by the Wanderer, turning into a gigantic Living Maze.

Once someone enters the Black Tent, it will trap them in the maze, slowly siphoning away their life spiritual power, ultimately exhausting them to death!

Besides Han Zhan and his team, many City Guardian Squads from Deep Blue City have also been trapped in this Living Maze.

Holding the Fu Xi Zither, Han Zhan frowned slightly after realizing the situation.

”This Wanderer is even more cunning than expected.”

”The power of the Zither Sound Air Blade can shatter the wall, but it can’t pierce through.”

”Once the attack stops, the Living Maze will use walls from elsewhere to repair this wall, making it persistently troublesome because of its life activation trait.”

”To break through this maze, there are only two solutions: The first one is to completely deplete the activated materials it can use to repair the walls. The second is to use a powerful attack that temporarily prevents the wall from recovering, creating a restoration vacuum.”

Han Zhan shook his head, musing to himself.

Neither of these methods is suitable for me.

”Let’s keep moving for now. Since it’s a maze, there must be an exit.”

After some thought, Han Zhan decided to conserve his energy. He had just entered the Black Tent, and it’s too early to fight desperately with thirty minutes on the clock.

He approached one of the walls and started moving quickly.

The first law of mazes: as long as you stick to one wall, you’ll find your way out.

Han Zhan didn’t slow down, even gradually opening up the realm of his brain, moving faster.

A rustling sound, like the whispers of a demon, suddenly echoed in his ear.

Han Zhan reacted swiftly, turning his head to narrowly avoid a silver-white bug.

The bug missed its mark and instantly burrowed into the activated wall, disappearing once again.

Seeing that bug for the first time left Han Zhan stunned.

Due to its speed, he doubted if he saw it correctly.

Otherwise, if it truly was that thing, it would indeed be problematic!

Suppressing his shock, Han Zhan knew he couldn’t delay. Hastening his pace, he dashed toward the exit.

...

Elsewhere, the first squad of Deep Blue City.

”Let’s go. Looks like no more ’cannon fodder’ is coming in.”

”Hmm.”

”Let’s finish this quickly; I can continue enjoying my holiday.”

Their conversation brimmed with confidence, stemming from absolute strength.

As the first squad of Deep Blue City, each member was either a Tier Three Spirit Contract Master or Tier Three Contracted Spirit. With a team of six, at the very least, they could retreat safely and unscathed.

Upon entering the Black Tent, they encountered the same situation as Han Zhan.

The team was instantly separated, falling into the activated maze.

During this moment, Zhang Xiaobei was with another team member. As they were walking, Zhang Xiaobei felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck.

He gasped softly, using his hand to cover his neck.

Hearing Zhang Xiaobei’s voice, the team member in front instinctively turned around and asked, ”Xiaobei, what’s wrong with you...”

Before he could finish his sentence,

His neck was gripped tightly by Zhang Xiaobei.

In his dying moments, he seemed to vaguely see a silver-white bug emerging from Zhang Xiaobei’s forehead and slowly burrowing into his own eyes!

In the Living Maze, over by Yi Fan and Bai Shuang.

With Yi Fan’s support, Bai Shuang barely stood firm.

”Being picked off one by one, this Wanderer is quite intriguing.” Yi Fan mused, looking up at the empty sky, as if speaking to someone unseen.

”Can’t you feel those invisible threads?” Bai Shuang asked.

”I can feel them, but they’ll get nothing from me,” Yi Fan answered truthfully.

It was one of his rare serious responses, and Bai Shuang nodded.

”I really envy you, having such a talent. Even in this environment, you don’t have to worry about your life.”

”Envy? An endless life that can’t end in death—isn’t that a kind of punishment too?”

After saying this, Yi Fan chuckled and simply lay down, giving up completely.

”Since there’s no way out, why bother struggling? Just lie down and wait for rescue. Those four words are something I’m more familiar with than anyone.”

Bai Shuang was infuriated by him, ”Who says there’s no way out?”

She placed her hand on the activated wall before her and softly spoke, ”Awaken, you’re just lifeless earth.”

[Lie] Talent activated!

The power of a lie multiplies when rooted in reality.

The giant wall before them was earth unnaturally endowed with life, making what Bai Shuang said the truth!

Guided by Bai Shuang’s power of lies,

There was a thunderous crash.

The wall before them collapsed!