Chapter 109: The Chaotic Secret Realm
In the heart of the sacred mountain, thick vines coil around an ancient altar, bearing the marks of time.
The old priest stopped, his wrinkled fingers pointing to a slowly rotating vortex of void in the center of the altar. His tone was solemn: "This is the entrance to the Holy Mountain's primordial realm. Inside, there is a world of its own, created by our lord in the past, where all things coexist... and the Soul-Devouring Cult steals the power of the primordial source by corrupting the core!"
A rich aura of life and pure chaotic energy emanated from the vortex, causing even the surrounding air to tremble slightly. They exchanged glances and quickly made a decision.
“Disciple, Shen Yunzhou, Xie Chen, Ji Qianqiu,” Master Qingxuan stepped forward, “the four of you go in and investigate, be extremely careful. We’ll provide backup outside, in case of a counterattack.” He then crossed his arms and snorted, “You brats, protect my disciple! If a single hair is lost, I’ll never forgive you!” Ji Kuangshi, standing beside him, also patted Ji Qianqiu heavily: “Be smart, you brat!”
Without further hesitation, the four stepped into the vortex one after another. Light and shadow swirled before their eyes, and when they regained their senses, they found themselves in an indescribable and strange world.
Emerald islands float in the air, and waterfalls cascade down like silver ribbons into the lake below, creating a dazzling rainbow amidst the misty spray.
In the crystal-clear forest, a luminous elixir flowed, and on the boundless plains, giant flowers bloomed in vibrant colors. The spiritual energy was so dense it was almost tangible; the vegetation was lush, exotic flowers bloomed everywhere, and the air was filled with a refreshing and invigorating scent.
"Wow!" Ji Qianqiu's mouth dropped open, and he rubbed his eyes hard. "This place... is amazing! It's a million times more beautiful than our Western Wilderness!"
Xie Chen gently waved his jade fan, a smile playing on his lips as he surveyed his surroundings: "It truly possesses the aura of immortals, brimming with vitality. However, the more it resembles this, the more cautious we must be. Guardian restrictions and wondrous laws often lie hidden beneath this tranquility."
Shen Yunzhou remained silent, his hand still resting on the hilt of his sword, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, vigilantly scanning every corner.
Fang Li took a deep breath, the rich life force invigorating her, even her Chaos Dao Foundation seemed to come alive: "System, the spiritual energy here...it feels so good!"
System: [“Host! Inhale! Inhale deeply! This is the old immortal’s hometown! Pure, natural, and pollution-free!”]
The four didn't linger. Following a wisp of spiritual energy, they passed through the crystal forest and arrived at an ancient complex covered in vines and glowing moss. Although somewhat dilapidated, the skeletons remained, exuding a desolate and ancient charm.
At the entrance, a huge, incomplete "war" character exudes a faint, chilling aura, as if still telling the story of past glories.
"Is this the place?" Ji Qianqiu looked at the character with curiosity.
Xie Chen pointed forward with his jade fan: "Guide your spiritual power here, be careful."
Shen Yunzhou nodded slightly and took the first step.
But just as they approached the gate, a snow-white figure emerged step by step from the deepest shadow of the building, accompanied by a low growl!
Its entire body was snow-white, and its fur was as lustrous and translucent as the finest silk. It resembled a Qilin in appearance, but it was topped with a pair of crystal-clear, ice-sculpted dragon horns. Its four hooves trod on icy blue flames, burning silently.
It was almost half a person's height, with eyes as sharp as knives, and exuded a powerful spiritual pressure, carrying a noble and inviolable majesty from its bloodline!
"Watch out!" Shen Yunzhou's pupils contracted, and he shouted in a low voice, almost instinctively stepping aside to block Fang Li.
The spirit beast clearly regarded them as intruders, let out a low growl, and stomped its front hooves hard on the ground!
Crack—The ground instantly froze into a thick layer of frost, exuding a chilling aura! Several sharp icicles materialized out of thin air, shooting straight towards Shen Yunzhou at the front and Fang Li behind him with a whooshing sound!
Shen Yunzhou reacted extremely quickly, drawing his "Frost Chant" sword with a snap, drawing a condensed, icy arc of light!
"Clang! Clang! Clang!" The sword energy precisely shattered the ice shards, sending ice fragments flying everywhere!
Fang Li also moved almost simultaneously, her chaotic spiritual power spontaneously circulating, the Bieheqin suspended in front of her, her five fingers quickly brushing across the strings!
A buzzing sound wave rippled out, weakening most of the remaining impact and chill of the ice shards.
But at the very moment the sword energy was unleashed and the music of the zither resounded.
The previously murderous spirit beast suddenly froze! Its eyes instantly hardened!
It stared intently at Shen Yunzhou, its nose twitching violently, as if desperately trying to capture that familiar, soul-shaking aura within the sword energy! Then it abruptly turned its head to look at Fang Li, its gaze locking onto the ancient zither, clearly sensing the chaotic aura!
The sharpness and hostility in his eyes melted away instantly, replaced by immense shock, ecstasy, and disbelief!
A long howl, a mixture of sobbing and excitement, escaped from its throat: "Woo... Awooo—!!!" The sound waves rolled, shaking the surrounding moss so much that it rustled and fell!
Before the howl had even faded, it had transformed into a streak of snow-white light, devoid of any hostility, only filled with immense excitement and a long-lost sense of grievance. It pounced on Shen Yunzhou! Its large head rubbed against his chest repeatedly, whimpering softly like a lost child returning home. The icy blue flames surrounding it softened, gently licking his clothes, as if cautiously confirming something.
Then it suddenly turned to Fang Li! This time, the movement was incredibly gentle. Its massive body carefully lowered, almost touching the ground, its wet, cool nose gently rubbing against the back of Fang Li's hand, a satisfied "purring" coming from its throat, its large tail wagging wildly, kicking up a cloud of dust. Its clear eyes were filled with affection, attachment, and the ecstatic joy of something lost and found!
Fang Li was taken aback by the sudden intimacy, her hand itching: "System! What's wrong with this big dog? It was just threatening to fight and kill me, but now... why is it so clingy? It's rubbing against me so ticklishly! Is it trying to steal your job?!"
System: [“Holy crap! (Voice cracks) Host! This is a scam! It's definitely a scam! Wait… it seems to recognize you and Ice Block?! That look… that intimacy… it's definitely a familiar beast!”]
On the other side, Shen Yunzhou's body stiffened slightly. He subconsciously looked at Fang Li and saw her helpless yet amused expression as she was being rubbed. His heart stirred inexplicably, as if something had gently touched it.
Xie Chen waved his jade fan, a glint of light in his eyes, and a playful smile curved his lips: "Interesting. This spirit beast is incredibly intelligent. Its attitude towards senior brother and junior sister is completely different. It seems that the two of you have quite a connection with this secret realm."
Ji Qianqiu's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he pointed at the snow-white behemoth: "My goodness! This dog changes its expression faster than flipping through a book! Shen Bingkuai, you...you put a curse on it?"
After the spirit beast had finished its affectionate interaction, it seemed to remember its business. It gently tugged at Shen Yunzhou's clothes, then nuzzled Fang Li's arm with its large head, emitting a low, urging growl, eager for them to follow. It then turned and walked towards the mansion with the character "War" engraved on it.
At the entrance of the mansion, a layer of energy light curtain flowing with complex runes blocked the way, exuding a strong protective aura.
The spirit beast let out a low roar, and the pair of crystalline dragon horns on its forehead suddenly lit up, revealing equally profound runes. The runes detached from the dragon horns and slowly merged into the light barrier. The light barrier rippled like water, cracking open a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.
The spirit beast gently nudged Shen Yunzhou with its head, its eyes filled with expectation and encouragement, signaling him to go inside.
Shen Yunzhou turned around, his gaze sweeping over Fang Li and the spirit beast guarding the side. His voice was low: "I'll go in and take a look. You... be careful." His words were simple, yet they contained a hint of barely perceptible concern.
Without further hesitation, he stepped into the gap in the light curtain. The spirit beast immediately lay quietly back down at Fang Li's feet, its large head resting obediently on her feet, its eyes half-closed in contentment, but its ears were perked up, turning alertly to detect any movement around it.
The mansion was empty and silent. Passing through the front hall, one came to a magnificent yet somewhat dilapidated palace. In the center of the palace, only the phantom image of an ancient, broken sword floated.
The sword was covered in cracks, as if it might shatter at any moment, yet it still exuded an indomitable fighting spirit!
Shen Yunzhou slowly approached. When he was less than three steps from the illusory image of the broken sword, a sudden change occurred!
The illusory image of the broken sword suddenly burst forth with dazzling spiritual light! A desolate torrent of will surged into his sea of consciousness without any hindrance! This torrent had no specific memory images, only a strong emotional imprint!
It was an unforgettable, deep-seated obsession with protecting a vague figure, a willingness to sacrifice everything! And... a profound emotion of endless grief and unwavering devotion! This emotion struck him like a giant hammer, relentlessly pounding into his heart!
At the same time, an ancient sword technique imprint, brimming with profound meaning, was clearly etched into the depths of his consciousness. A stream of pure sword energy, like warm spring water, surged into his meridians, nourishing his sword heart. The cultivation bottleneck that had stagnated for so long emitted a faint cracking sound at this moment!
When Shen Yunzhou stepped out of the mansion again, his aura was noticeably more refined and restrained, as if he had undergone tempering. However, there was an indescribable heaviness in the depths of his eyes, and... a trace of tenderness stemming from the emotional imprint he carried, a tenderness that even he himself was not fully aware of.
He subconsciously looked up, his gaze immediately searching for that figure.
Fang Li was half-squatting, gently stroking the spirit beast's smooth fur, which made the beast purr contentedly. Sensing Shen Yunzhou's gaze, she looked up and smiled, a warm and gentle smile: "Senior Brother Shen, are you alright? What's inside?"
Shen Yunzhou's gaze fell on her concerned smile, and the protective feeling that had stirred within him due to the inheritance seemed to find some kind of support, becoming even clearer. His voice was deep, with a hint of barely perceptible gentleness: "...Yes. It's nothing."
Upon seeing Shen Yunzhou emerge, the spirit beast immediately stood up joyfully, affectionately nuzzling Shen Yunzhou's leg, then turning to nuzzle Fang Li's hand, before standing firmly between the two, adopting the posture of a guardian.
Led by the spirit beast, the team continued to venture deeper into the secret realm.
As I passed through an ancient forest woven from countless intertwined vines, the vines emitted a shimmering green light and undulated slowly as if they were alive.
Ji Qianqiu suddenly stopped, his brows furrowed. He felt his blood and qi surging inexplicably, a call and sense of closeness from the depths of his bloodline welling up within him. Unconsciously, he reached out and gently touched the nearest vine. A gentle spiritual energy flowed into his body through his fingertips, causing him to shudder, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.
"Qianqiu, what's wrong?" Xie Chen noticed his unusual behavior.
"No...it's nothing." Ji Qianqiu shook his head, suppressing the strange feeling in his heart. "Let's go."
As they passed another dilapidated observatory suspended in mid-air, composed of countless fragments of dim stars, Xie Chen unconsciously twirled the jade fan in his palm. The fan ribs traced an arcane path, actually stirring several dormant star fragments nearby, causing them to glow faintly and outline a fragmented, blurry star trail! A flicker of surprise flashed in Xie Chen's eyes for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure, and the jade fan returned to its calm state, as if nothing had just happened.
Finally, the four arrived at the depths of the secret realm. Before them lay a vast valley shrouded in a strange, seven-colored mist. The sight in the center of the valley took their breath away!
A menacing altar, constructed entirely of black, stood there! Above the altar, suspended a dark red crystal the size of a millstone, tightly bound by countless writhing, blood-red chains! The crystal emitted a chilling, ominous red light, frantically drawing away the pure life energy and chaotic aura surging from all directions of the valley! The light and mist throughout the entire valley were distorted and corrupted because of it!
Xie Chen's expression was more solemn than ever before, and he snapped his jade fan shut: "The Soul Devouring Sect's 'Spirit Devouring Array' is at its core! They are devouring the secret realm's origin! We must stop them!"
Fang Li felt the chaotic foundation within her body resonate violently, as if it were roaring in anger. She clenched her fists: "It must be destroyed!"
Just as everyone held their breath and prepared to take action.
Ji Qianqiu's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the scene at the edge of the valley! There, a colossal ancient tree, its trunk a vibrant green, was rooted in a jagged crack in the magic crystal! A gentle, life-giving light flowed around the tree, starkly contrasting with the surrounding filth. Ji Qianqiu felt his heart pound uncontrollably, as if the ancient tree was silently calling to him!
At the same time, Xie Chen suddenly looked up at the valley's dome! There, a strange star map composed of distorted starlight was slowly rotating, emitting unsettling fluctuations, as if suppressing something. The jade fan in his hand trembled slightly once again.
"roar--!!!"
Before anyone could think further, the dark red crystal on the altar shone with intense blood-red light! The light mist that filled the valley surged and condensed violently! In the blink of an eye, several ferocious beasts, composed entirely of tainted energy, roared and materialized. Their eyes burned with bloodlust, and they charged towards the four people at the entrance of the valley with overwhelming malevolence!
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