Chapter 98 The person who emerged from the abyss back then became a complete madman...
"Have you been to this area before?" Ji Mingran's teacup swayed slightly.
"I've been here before because of missions I took on from my sect," Yu Tianxing said slowly. "Not only here, but I've been to other places as well."
The reason why he was able to move freely in the competition was not explained.
However, Ji Mingran didn't care. Since Yu Tianxing chose not to speak, he must have his reasons, and it was probably related to important internal affairs of the sect that couldn't be easily disclosed to outsiders.
She was more interested in other things. Envy welled up in her clear eyes, and Ji Mingran sighed, "You started spiritual cultivation later than me, but you've been to far more places than I have. This is the first time I've ever left the sect because of the spiritual cultivation competition."
The Dingsheng Sect stipulates that only disciples at the Foundation Establishment level or above are allowed to go out for training. Although the rules of each sect are different, most sects will only allow their disciples to travel outside after they have sufficient ability to protect themselves.
The fact that Yu Tianxing was able to accept a mission from his sect and travel around in such a short time shows that his cultivation is progressing smoothly and his strength has been recognized by the sect.
"However, the fact that you can participate in the Spiritual Cultivation Competition proves that you have the ability." Ji Mingran looked up at him and praised him sincerely.
She chuckled to herself, thinking that Yu Tianxing's cultivation was incredibly fast, and she wasn't bad either.
She'll be going on her travels soon. Ji Mingran's eyes were filled with anticipation: "I want to get the Spirit Stone of the Dingsheng Sect. I heard that this item has reappeared in this prize pool secret realm. If I get it, it will be of great benefit to both me and the sect. I can return the Spirit Ring to you then."
She has already established her foundation and is qualified to undertake missions from her sect to travel outside. Once she obtains the Spirit Stone, her sea of consciousness will be able to withstand the inherited power contained within it.
Yu Tianxing's Spirit Ring can be returned to him, since he looks quite weak and probably needs this item to nourish his primordial soul.
Moreover, with the Spirit Stone, the sect's protective formation will be officially restarted, and her senior brothers will return to their positions.
Everything is settled; she can roam freely in the spiritual realm from now on!
All that's left is to get the Spirit Stone.
Ji Mingran became more and more satisfied with what he thought about it, his eyes revealing a firm determination: "I will get it."
"Didn't we agree that I don't need to return the Spirit Ring? Just wear it properly." Yu Tianxing's gaze fell on the girl's fair neck, and as he spoke, he subconsciously looked down for the Spirit Jade. His eyes touched her clothes as if burned, and he blinked and looked away.
Ji Mingran, oblivious to the commotion, simply nodded and said, "Uh-huh, okay." He blew on the steam rising from his teacup and then asked, "Have you ever heard of Spirit Essence Stones in the Nameless Sect?"
“Spiritual Essence Stone…” Through the misty water vapor, Yu Tianxing’s gaze moved upward, staring at the girl blowing on the teacup, and continued, “If it reappears, it should be the prize of this Spiritual Cultivation Competition.”
"The jackpot?" Ji Mingran was about to take a sip of tea when he heard this, so he stopped and looked up to ask.
Yu Tianxing: "In the secret realm of the prize pool of each Spiritual Cultivation Competition, there is always an ancient treasure as the top prize. It is hidden in the most secret place of the prize pool, serving as a fulcrum to maintain the normal operation of the prize pool secret realm until it is obtained by someone or the secret realm is closed."
"What were the previous jackpots?" Ji Mingran asked, leaning closer out of curiosity as he held his teacup.
"I don't know about the others, but I do know that in one year, the top prize was awarded to the renowned swordsman Zang Sheng." A radiant face with clear, bright eyes suddenly loomed closer and magnified, and Yu Tianxing's speech slowed down considerably, almost as if he were answering word by word.
"Zang Sheng?" Ji Mingran recalled the rumors Zhu Shibai had mentioned and became interested. He leaned forward and got closer. "I think I've heard of it. Was it won by your sect? Since it's the top prize, it must be a powerful weapon. Have you seen it?"
"The sword is entirely black, and it doesn't look particularly remarkable." The girl, her eyes filled with curiosity, was close at hand, and a faint breath mixed with heat brushed against his nose. Yu Tianxing's lips curled up. "Even if many people saw it, they might not be able to recognize it."
"If you have the chance, you must let me see it." Ji Mingran was very interested in all kinds of equipment that could make people stronger.
Yu Tianxing's pupils were as black as ink as he looked at her earnestly and attentively: "If you like it, you can take it."
"No need for that." Ji Mingran held his teacup and leaned back in his chair. "I'll just take a look, that's all."
Yu Tianxing lowered his eyelashes, watching the shadows that had been overlapping on the table separate again, and said softly, "Is that so?"
Ji Mingran patted the cane ornament at his waist: "A famous sword is good, but it must be suitable for use. I often use formations. As for swordsmanship, Qingluo often spars with me. This cane is already very handy for me. In addition, with the spiritual artifacts and talismans they gave me, it is enough."
If that's not enough, she'll ask her sect for more later. She's gotten quite a few spiritual artifacts from the prize pool this time.
After finally taking a sip of tea, Ji Mingran asked, "According to what you just said, the secret realm will close. When will it close?"
“Uncertain.” Yu Tianxing leaned forward without making a sound until the two shadows on the table overlapped again before slowly speaking: “Lingbao is intelligent. If it wants to be acquired, it will persist for several months. If it has no intention, it can end at any time.”
*Clatter.* The teacup struck the table with a crisp sound, and the distance between the two shadows suddenly increased.
Ji Mingran stood up: "Then we'd better hurry! I need to tell them."
The words had barely left his lips when he hurriedly ran outside, oblivious to the helpless sigh of the person behind him: "They probably already knew."
......
Beside the cargo ship's helm, a blazing bonfire dispelled the chill and dampness from the sea at night, and four or five cultivators sat around a mat.
"The Abyss of Demon Sacrifice?" Qin Danniang happened to step off the deck and heard this term, so she couldn't help but exclaim softly.
Shen Qinglu shifted her position to let her sit next to her: "You've heard of it?"
Qin Danniang frowned slightly, and the same worry appeared in her eyes as Zhu Shibai and Shao Qingshang: "I've heard that it's a forbidden area for spiritual cultivation, sealing countless demons and monsters, extremely dangerous, and its location is known only to a few elders of the Dao Sect's Ten Cultivators. But how did we end up in the Demon Sacrifice Abyss?"
Guan Wangzhen took it in stride: "If we were really in the Demon Sacrifice Abyss, how could we be leisurely searching for treasure? We'd probably have been swallowed up by the demons by now."
Shao Qingshang shook his head and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhu did not mean that. He meant that we might be in the sea area that connects to the Demon Sacrifice Abyss. After all, there are not many places in the spiritual cultivation world that can gather all kinds of demons and monsters, and where spiritual energy, demonic energy, and evil energy are soaring."
The expressions on their faces turned grave.
Indeed, they had never heard of such a large number of demonic beasts and ghosts gathering in any other place. In fact, the demonic beasts they had encountered before were almost demonic and extremely strange.
"There's no need for you all to worry too much." Seeing the worried expressions on everyone's faces, Zhu Shibai nodded and comforted them, "We can still handle the demonic beasts we've encountered so far, which means that we haven't even gotten close to the outer perimeter of that place. Moreover, there's a barrier there, so it's not so easy to enter. Just be careful while sailing, stay away from suspicious places, and don't accidentally enter the Demon Sacrifice Abyss Domain."
That's true. Even the monsters lurking on the outskirts of the Demon Sacrifice Abyss would be enough to give them a hard time, let alone allow these few participating disciples to linger until now.
The others relaxed slightly, turning to look at the glowing luminous pearl, thinking that they should be more careful about their surroundings in the future, lest they accidentally fall into the abyss.
"What are you saying, what are you saying!" After returning to his room, Ji Xingyang changed out of his black robe and veiled hat, and a tuft of yellow hair on his head bounced and hopped with him.
Another disciple from the sect who was traveling with him did not come along; he must have gone back to his room to rest.
Then everyone moved aside to make room for Ji Xingyang.
As Guan Wangzhen shifted his position, he said, "We're talking about the Demon Sacrifice Abyss. Speaking of which, didn't that genius from your Nameless Sect go there two hundred years ago?"
Ji Xingyang stiffened as he sat down: "Really? I didn't know."
"Aren't you a disciple of the Nameless Sect? How could you not know?" Guan Wangzhen narrowed his eyes, looking at Ji Xingyang suspiciously. "Moreover, everyone says that after he came out of there, his personality changed drastically. He went back and slaughtered the entire sect, spilling blood across several states, becoming a completely insane and depraved cultivator. It took all ten powerful cultivators of the Dao Sect to seal him away. Afterward, he was handed over to the Hongqi Sect for safekeeping, and there has been no news of him since. Over the years, no one knows if he is still alive. The Nameless Sect has also disappeared without a trace."
"Even I know these things, how could you, as a disciple of the Nameless Sect, not know them?"
The rest of the people fell silent, and for a moment the only sound on the deck was the occasional crackling of burning firewood.
Everyone harbored doubts about the Nameless Sect, but since they hadn't had direct contact with them before, they kept those doubts to themselves. Now, in this treacherous sea, if this matter wasn't clarified, their concerns wouldn't be completely dispelled, and how could they cooperate seamlessly?
The full moon was obscured by drifting clouds, its light dimmed, plunging the surroundings into darkness. The only source of light for the cargo ship came from the flickering firelight, and the shadows on everyone's faces mingled with the firelight, revealing a variety of expressions.
"Two hundred years later, you, representing the Nameless Sect, have reappeared. But the Nameless Sect was clearly destroyed. How could you suddenly appear?" Guan Wangzhen asked in a deep voice, pressing the question relentlessly.
Everyone present turned their gaze toward Ji Xingyang, the only representative of the Nameless Sect.
Ji Xingyang's face turned deathly pale, his eyes gradually filled with terror, and he shrank back as he looked ahead.
Everyone was startled and looked up.
In the darkness beyond the reach of the firewood, a hideous, slanted-eyed face appeared out of nowhere, silently watching them.
......
"Damn it, the demons are coming!" Fu Daolan cried out as he collapsed to the ground.
Everyone instantly stood up, some drawing their swords, some making hand seals, and some playing their flutes, all adopting defensive stances.
A clear and cheerful voice broke the tense atmosphere, "What's wrong with you all?"
Ji Mingran walked lightly into the firelight, seemingly unaware that the hideous face was following closely behind.
The light, heavy blade hummed.
"Mother!" Ji Xingyang's voice changed in a sudden turn, "Father, your outfit is terrifying."
The others' expressions changed, and they stared intently as the狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) face stepped into the firelight.
The tall man in black robes exuded a calm aura. He was a disciple of the Nameless Sect who had been following Ji Mingran during the trial. However, this time he removed his veil and put on a mask to cover his features.
What I just saw was that mask.
The tense nerves of everyone relaxed, but their hearts were still pounding in their chests.
Why did people from the Unnamed Sect arrive so soon after we mentioned it?
Although the discussion was being held in front of Ji Xingyang, the others inexplicably felt as if they had been caught talking about someone behind their backs, and their eyes darted around nervously.
Only Fu Daolan let out a big sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead: "Oh my, my little brother, it's one thing for you to be cold and silent all the time, but to wear this mask and stand in the dark at night is quite frightening."
The masked man glanced at him, his dark eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.
Shao Qingshang immediately smoothed things over, saying, "It's clearly you who's a coward, and you're blaming others!"
Tan nodded slightly, then his gaze shifted to Ji Mingran.
Ji Mingran mocked Fu Daolan without any politeness, saying, "You really need to toughen up your courage." She turned to the back and said, "I'll sit here, no need to see me off, or would you like to come with me?"
The man wearing the mask shook his head slightly, leaned down, and whispered something in Ji Mingran's ear. Ji Mingran waved his hand and said, "Then you can go back."
Once permission is granted, people immediately leave the area illuminated by the fire and return to their cabins.
So obedient?
The crowd looked at each other, their previous worries seemingly unnecessary.
Ji Mingran squeezed between Shen Qingluo and Qin Danniang, sat down happily, and said, "What are you talking about? Let me join the conversation?"
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