Chapter 1383: The Various Squads

At the back of the great hall, there was a long corridor leading straight down into the earth. The moment Li Yan entered the corridor, he sensed a powerful Divine Sense sweep towards their group from one side of the hall.

But after just a single pass, it immediately vanished without a trace. Apart from Chen Xingshan, whose eyelids twitched slightly when the Divine Sense descended, Li Yan, who was following behind, did not sense any reaction from the others.

‘Another Spirit Transformation cultivator. This great hall appears unguarded, but in truth, a Spirit Transformation cultivator has been monitoring it in secret.’

‘This corridor leading underground should be the way to the super-long-distance grand teleportation formation, which connects to the Pure Yang Hall…’

The corridor extended continuously downwards. The sloping passage could only accommodate three people walking side by side, and faint fluctuations of formation restrictions emanated from the surroundings.

The corridor was not dark; on the contrary, it was brightly lit and filled with light.

It was filled with a vast expanse of bright, goose-yellow light, and rich Spiritual Energy danced about like sprites in a forest.

Walking through it, one would not feel the slightest bit of stuffiness. Instead, there was a light and refreshing feeling, as if traversing through space.

In the corridor, only the sound of everyone’s footsteps echoed continuously. Everyone was silent, as if they would walk on until the end of time.

About a quarter of an hour later, Li Yan and the others felt their vision darken, and they finally walked out of the softly lit corridor. Before them appeared a space of intertwined black and red.

The entire space was about a thousand zhang in size, surrounded by an endless darkness. The only source of light came from a “sacrificial altar” ahead.

To call it a “sacrificial altar” was to say it was an immensely huge, red lotus-shaped lamp with a base. Each of its huge petals, when spread out, was several hundred zhang in size.

The massive lotus lamp radiated a red, jade-like glow, like a vast expanse of translucent red jade, dreamlike and fantastical.

And in the center of the lotus lamp, there was a red jade stone carved into the shape of a lamp wick flame, equally massive. Li Yan estimated it to be over three hundred zhang.

In the entire dark space, this red, jade-like lamp stood erect, so exceptionally conspicuous that it seemed to be the only thing there.

“Greetings, Elder Chen!”

“Paying respects to Elder Chen!”

Just as the group stepped out of the corridor, leaving the light behind them and entering the darkness to look at the huge lotus-red lamp ahead, several voices came from the surrounding darkness.

Immediately after, several figures also emerged from the darkness.

Li Yan hadn’t sensed any cultivators here just now. These suddenly appearing figures reminded him of the scene when he entered the mountain gate.

‘The formations of the Blood Lantern Sect are quite formidable. At the very least, a Nascent Soul-level Divine Sense is completely unable to detect them!’

Ever since entering the Blood Lantern Sect’s territory, Li Yan had been suppressing his Divine Sense and would not use its full power to investigate. If he were discovered, it would only bring him endless trouble.

The three who emerged from the darkness were also Nascent Soul cultivators. This made Li Yan sigh at the depth of the other sect’s foundation. Their guards were either Spirit Transformation or Nascent Soul cultivators. But thinking about the level of Nascent Soul cultivators in the Immortal Spirit Realm, it was understandable.

“Hmph. After I take them up, activate the teleportation immediately!”

Chen Xingshan had been looking at the red lotus lamp in front of him from the beginning. He only casually replied to the three who appeared.

Then, his entire body floated up lightly into the air, and he didn’t even call out to Li Yan and the others.

The three Nascent Soul cultivators who had been following closely behind him also flew up without a word. And the direction the four of them were heading was right into the flame-shaped lamp wick…

Li Yan felt that this teleportation was very, very long, perhaps the longest he had ever experienced, to the point that his physical body felt a stinging pain.

Of course, the cross-realm teleportation from the Forsaken Continent was a different situation, as he had been protected by talismans. Li Yan felt that even that one hadn’t been as long as this teleportation.

His sea of consciousness also felt swollen, as if blood was rushing backwards, and his chest felt a bit stuffy. When he felt all the images in front of him suddenly stop, a slightly dizzy Li Yan gently shook his head.

His face was frighteningly pale, and his entire body was trembling violently, appearing to be in a daze.

The discomfort during the teleportation was real, but Li Yan could still withstand it. However, his current complexion and state were just an act.

With his shrewdness, the moment he felt something wrong during the teleportation, he immediately knew the terror of this super-long-distance teleportation.

Even with the toughness of his physical body and a Divine Sense as powerful as a Spirit Transformation cultivator’s, he still experienced this kind of discomfort.

He didn’t even need to look to know that the other Nascent Soul cultivators must be in an even worse state.

Therefore, as soon as the teleportation ended, Li Yan didn’t even glance at the surroundings and quickly put on a very weak and uncomfortable appearance.

After the force of the teleportation dissipated, Chen Xingshan also felt a sense of dizziness and swelling in his head. His physical body also had a slight stinging pain, but after circulating his magical power for a moment, these symptoms immediately disappeared.

To be honest, if it wasn’t absolutely necessary, he himself would be unwilling to use this kind of super-long-distance teleportation.

Looking around at the nine people behind him, each one of them was still in a daze. Their complexions were of two kinds: one was as pale as paper, and the other was a waxy, weak yellow.

The three Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators from the Blood Lantern Sect were all sitting cross-legged on the ground, their magical power flashing continuously. They tried to stand up several times, but were unable to do so.

Jia Fugui, with his fat body, was lying on the ground, drooling all over his face, getting it on his eyebrows and eyes.

The fat on his belly was trembling in a strange way as he panted heavily. Paired with the “ecstatic” moans he was making, it was quite a sight.

Chen Xingshan’s face darkened. He really wanted to go up and kick him off the teleportation platform.

The last Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, the youth who looked to be only fifteen or sixteen, his face was even paler, but he actually managed to slowly stand up straight amidst his swaying, with a green light flashing wildly all over his body!

This made Chen Xingshan look at him a few more times, feeling somewhat satisfied.

As for the remaining few, Chen Xingshan didn’t even want to look at them. They were either retching on the side or, with their dazed eyes, looked as if they were about to faint.

Previously, he had not followed the usual rules of casting a spell to protect these people, but had allowed the force of the teleportation to press down on each person. He just wanted to see each person’s true strength.

Apart from the three disciples from his own sect, the youth’s performance also brought an unexpected joy to his heart.

As for Jia Fugui, who was also a Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, Chen Xingshan felt that at a critical moment, he could be used as a meat shield and might be able to play a small role. So he flicked his sleeve, and streaks of spiritual power flew towards the crowd…

After everyone got off the teleportation platform, apart from Li Yan, the rest could only smile wryly in their hearts. This Great Spirit Transformation cultivator, Chen, had deliberately made them look foolish this time.

After regaining his senses and being glanced at by Chen Xingshan, Jia Fugui immediately stopped his moaning, his face full of grievance. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t participated in a competitive battle before, but when had a teleportation ever been so embarrassing!

…

Half a month later, in a stretch of empty space, a “Purple-Gold Flood Dragon Python” that radiated a purple-gold light was flying at extreme speed through the void.

This “Purple-Gold Flood Dragon Python” was several hundred zhang long. Wherever it passed, winds and clouds gathered. Often, with a single swing of its tail, it would cover a distance of several hundred li.

As it flew, the land below receded rapidly, becoming a blur that was impossible to see clearly.

And on the back of the “Purple-Gold Flood Dragon Python” were forty-one people. They were either standing or sitting, and could be vaguely seen to be divided into four teams.

There were forty people here, all the cultivators participating in the competition for the “Great Nothingness Fruit” this time. Their cultivation levels were all at the Nascent Soul Realm or higher.

There was also a Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Pure Yang Hall acting as an overseer. The four teams were the Blood Lantern Sect, the Seven Tigers Alliance, the Spirit Subduing Manor, and the Heavenly Mountain Garden.

At this moment, on the head of the “Purple-Gold Flood Dragon Python,” five people were standing side by side. All five were Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators, and one of them was Chen Xingshan.

The Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Pure Yang Hall was a Daoist who looked to be in his forties. He had a three-stranded long beard under his chin, a jade hairpin inserted horizontally in his topknot, and was dressed in a green Daoist robe, giving him an air of an immortal.

The other three were a burly man built like a mountain, a skinny, crane-haired old woman, and a fair-skinned, curvaceous woman with a black veil covering her face.

“The rules for this competition are the same as in previous years. Each of you will rely on your own abilities to obtain the fruit. I only hope that none of the four ‘Great Nothingness Fruits’ will be damaged. Otherwise, it would be a great pity!”

The middle-aged Daoist’s name was Chongyangzi. Seeing the increasingly desolate scenery ahead, he knew they were almost there. He had to repeat what he had said half a month ago.

As the overseer from the Pure Yang Hall, besides monitoring the four teams to see if anyone cheated, he also had to confirm who ended up with each of the four “Great Nothingness Fruits.”

This was to provide a basis for the higher-ups to evaluate the strength and development of the subordinate sects.

“This isn’t the first time this has happened. If you lose, just hand over the ‘Great Nothingness Fruit’ obediently. As long as you don’t do something desperate like destroying the fruit, then you’re a true hero!” Chen Xingshan said flatly.

“Brother Chen speaks with such conviction. I hope you can do as you say when the time comes, and not waste the ‘Great Nothingness Fruit’.”

The mountain-like man was an elder of the “Seven Tigers Alliance.” He usually didn’t get along with the “Blood Lantern Sect.” After hearing the other party’s words, a purple light immediately flashed in his eyes.

Hearing this, Chen Xingshan just gave the other party a flat look and did not reply.

The old woman and the veiled woman did not speak, but their eyes were also one sinister, one cold. In the end, this matter would still be decided by a “fight.”

As for the things they had obtained, even if they couldn’t win, it was almost impossible for them to just throw them away.

Li Yan sat cross-legged on the back of the “Purple-Gold Flood Dragon Python.” Around him were the other eight people from the “Blood Lantern Sect.”

Although the relationship between them was not harmonious, after seeing the other three teams, the nine of them seemed more “united,” and there was a sense of coldness, and even hostility, between them and the other three teams.

Many people here knew each other and had fought life-and-death battles before. Now that they met again, they had already begun to secretly plan how to kill the other party.

‘The strongest here is the team from the Heavenly Mountain Garden. They are all Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, and half of them are female cultivators. The veiled woman leading them might even be at the Late-stage Spirit Transformation Realm…’ Li Yan thought to himself while meditating with his eyes closed. He was also secretly observing the other three teams, and those people were also sizing up the “Blood Lantern Sect” team.

They didn’t provoke each other, nor did they speak.

For the past half a month, the atmosphere here had been this oppressive. Fortunately, the “Purple-Gold Flood Dragon Python” was huge, and the four teams were deliberately separated by a certain distance.

The Daoist and the veiled woman’s cultivation levels were very strong, and Li Yan did not dare to probe them carefully. He felt that the cultivation of these two should be beyond the Mid-stage Spirit Transformation Realm.

Although the nine Nascent Soul cultivators from the “Blood Lantern Sect” still didn’t communicate much, their attitude towards each other had obviously become closer than before they saw the other three teams.

In any case, they all came from the same place. This was the so-called human heart and sense of distance.

But once they started fighting later, Li Yan felt that at most, they wouldn’t fight each other. As for expecting them to help each other, that would obviously be difficult to achieve.

Although the “Purple-Gold Flood Dragon Python” was flying too fast to see the scenery below clearly, in Li Yan’s Divine Sense, he had already discovered that their group had entered a desert region.

The vegetation below was becoming sparser, and the vast yellow sandy areas were becoming wider, looking more and more desolate.

“We should be arriving soon!”

At this moment, Donglin Tingyue’s voice sounded in Li Yan’s mind.

“Fairy Tingyue, do you know the location of the entrance?”

Li Yan had already spoken with her before and knew that this was also Donglin Tingyue’s first time participating in the competition for the “Great Nothingness Fruit.” Donglin Tingyue had also told Li Yan some of the things she had heard about the secret realm.

“Do you see that lake? That should be the entrance. But it’s said that the secret realm is very large, and there are still many unknown areas that haven’t been explored.”

“The entrance at the lake is a specially opened passage to the ‘Great Nothingness Tree’ area. But after entering, it still takes about ten days to reach it.”

“Then, it’s several months of sneaking around and fighting each other!”

Donglin Tingyue was sitting not far from Li Yan. At this moment, she raised her beautiful head and looked in a certain direction. The expression under her silver mask was unreadable, but a divine light appeared in her beautiful eyes.

Although she had come here as if she had been semi-forced, now that she was really here, everyone’s thoughts would also change as they moved forward.

A third-rate sect wanted to obtain a “Great Nothingness Fruit,” and cultivators from a fourth-rate sect naturally wanted to obtain the equally precious supreme-grade Spirit Stones. Of course, there were also cultivators who came here just to play the peacemaker.

Li Yan followed her gaze and swept his Divine Sense over. Sure enough, he found an emerald green lake in a patch of desert several thousand li away.

The lake was only three or four li in size. Such a lake was a rare sight in the desert.

However, Li Yan did not detect any special spiritual energy fluctuations at the lake. There were only some fish in the lake, swimming leisurely or swiftly.

A distance of several thousand li was almost reached in an instant.

Just as Donglin Tingyue had guessed, the “Purple-Gold Flood Dragon Python” indeed stopped after flying over the emerald green lake with a swing of its tail.

The five Spirit Transformation cultivators in front of them all turned around at this time. Seeing this, Li Yan and the others immediately stood up one by one.

“Alright, we are about to enter the secret realm area leading to the ‘Great Nothingness Tree.’ There are a few requirements that everyone must abide by.”

“Otherwise, if any problems arise, you will be responsible for your own life and death! And… I will disqualify your entire squad from the competition!”

Chongyangzi’s face was solemn. When he reached the end of his sentence, he drew out his words and emphasized them.

Although no pressure was released, as he spoke, his gaze swept over the crowd, making everyone feel as if a sharp sword was piercing straight into their hearts.