Chapter 191: Why Don't You Go In?
Chapter 191: Why Don't You Go In?
"A powerful demon beast?"
Hearing Ling Xiaobai's words, Chu Ning halted in his tracks and feigned curiosity as he surveyed their surroundings.
At the same time, he began communicating with Ling Xiaobai.
Having been detected, Chu Ning didn't even bother with transmitting his thoughts.
Fortunately, after forming a life contract with Ling Xiaobai, they could communicate without the need for such measures.
As long as he concentrated, he could sense her thoughts.
"What level of demon beast is it?" Chu Ning asked nonchalantly.
At this moment, Ling Xiaobai's emotions stirred.
"It's very strong, at least a Level 5 demon beast or higher. The oppressive aura it exudes makes me very uncomfortable."
Hearing this, Chu Ning's heart skipped a beat.
A demon beast of Level 5 or higher was comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
How could such a powerful creature exist in this land of a thousand lakes and islands?
Even if it did, with the Chen family's highest cultivation level being at the late Qi Refining stage, they wouldn't be able to control it.
"I've sensed it too..."
Just then, Ling Xiaobai spoke up again.
"It's the same demon beast that appeared in Qingxi Sect before."
"Blackfire Vulture Crow!" Chu Ning's heart sank.
The powerful demon beast that had appeared in Qingxi Sect could only be the Yin Demon Sect's Blackfire Vulture Crow.
It was the guardian beast of the Yin Demon Sect, and not just a Level 5, but a Level 6 demon beast comparable to a mid-Golden Core cultivator!
"Yin Demon Sect!"
Chu Ning muttered the three words to himself.
He suddenly remembered something else.
A few years ago, in the Iron Meteorite Forest, he had come across Chen Xinming's corpse.
At the time, Chu Ning had assumed that Chen Xinming had used some kind of secret technique that had drained his essence and blood.
But now, he realized that it was the same as what he had seen with the disciples of the Yin Demon Sect.
It was a side effect of consuming the Blood Killing Pill.
"So the Chen family has connections with the Yin Demon Sect, and Chen Xinming was even a disciple of the Yin Demon Sect.
Back then, when Chen Xinming encountered Song Li, he took the Blood Killing Pill, hoping to turn the tables, but in the end, he was still subdued by Song Li."
With this realization, Chu Ning suddenly understood what had transpired back then.
This undoubtedly made him suspicious of the so-called Thousand Island Trial.
Obviously, this event was also related to the Yin Demon Sect.
Although Chu Ning didn't yet know why the Yin Demon Sect was borrowing the Chen family and the Thousand Island Alliance's name to gather so many Foundation Establishment cultivators, he was certain it wasn't for anything good.
The presence of a Level 6 demon beast made Chu Ning wary.
No matter how resourceful he was, he dared not claim that he could escape from a demon beast comparable to a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Moreover, if the Yin Demon Sect had sent out the Blackfire Vulture Crow, they would surely have Golden Core cultivators present as well.
Without changing his expression, Chu Ning began to look around, his mind racing as he sought a way to extricate himself from this situation.
"Senior Chu, there are designated seats inside the dojo. Many of the other Foundation Establishment cultivators have already arrived.
Senior, please..."
Chen Qingyou, standing beside him, reminded him that he was still standing outside the small dojo.
Without turning to face him, Chu Ning replied casually, "I know. You go ahead. I'll stay out here for a bit and look for other familiar fellow cultivators."
As Chen Qingyou opened his mouth to say something else, Chu Ning quickly walked away and approached another cultivator.
Seeing this, Chen Qingyou glanced at a Foundation Establishment cultivator standing outside the dojo.
The latter shook his head, so Chen Qingyou didn't pursue the matter further and turned to leave.
Having spent most of his time cultivating in Yan Peak, Chu Ning knew very few cultivators.
To his surprise, he happened to encounter one he knew.
Chu Ning approached a cultivator of short stature.
"Greetings, Fellow Gongsun," Chu Ning said.
This person was none other than Gongsun Lang, the master of Beilun Island, whom Chu Ning had defeated during the Thousand Island Trial when he had first arrived in this world.
Back then, Gongsun Lang had been at the peak of Qi Refining, but now, after not seeing him for eight years, he had also successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
Gongsun Lang recognized Chu Ning as well, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.
"So it's Fellow Chu. It has been a long time.
I've heard that Fellow Chu reached the Foundation Establishment stage with astonishing speed, putting me to shame.
After reaching Foundation Establishment, I thought of seeking another match with you, but I knew I wouldn't be your opponent, so I didn't dare seek humiliation."
Hearing this, Chu Ning laughed.
"Hehe, Fellow Gongsun, there's no need for that. Back then, I used some means to conceal my cultivation.
Please forgive me for that."
Although Gongsun Lang had lost to Chu Ning, he knew that Chu Ning had held back, so he remained polite to Chu Ning.
The two men chatted casually, with Chu Ning subtly guiding the conversation.
Gongsun Lang had already been standing at a distance from the small dojo, and as they talked, they slowly moved away, increasing the distance between themselves and the dojo.
Gradually, they not only failed to enter the small dojo, but their distance from it also increased to about twenty feet.
Chu Ning was about to continue widening the gap when a voice rang out.
"Fellow cultivators, please enter the small dojo and take your seats.
Our discussion before the Thousand Island Trial is about to begin."
It was Chen Jiasheng, the head of the Chen family, standing up in the formation and addressing the crowd.
Hearing this, Gongsun Lang smiled and said to Chu Ning, "Fellow Chu, let's go."
Chu Ning smiled and shook his head. "Please go ahead, Fellow Gongsun. I'll follow shortly."
Gongsun Lang gave Chu Ning a curious look but didn't ask further questions. He bowed and made his way toward the small dojo.
"A Golden Core cultivator?" he wondered aloud.
At that moment, he could clearly sense that the spiritual sense was coming from behind the small dojo. Given the distance, it was apparent that the source exceeded the range of a late Qi Refining cultivator, leaving only one possibility—a Golden Core cultivator.
Chu Ning quickened his pace.
"Fellow Daoist Chu!"
Just then, two figures appeared before him, one being Chen Jia Rong, who had been greeting guests earlier, and the other an unfamiliar middle-aged Confucian scholar.
"Our discussion is about to begin, why are you still heading out, Fellow Daoist Chu?" Chen Jia Rong asked with a smile.
Chu Ning shook his head gently and replied, "I've never been too involved in the affairs of the Thousand Island Alliance, and I support whatever decisions the Alliance makes. As for this discussion, I'd rather not participate."
Chen Jia Rong maintained his smile and said, "Fellow Daoist Chu, that's not quite right. Today's discussion concerns every cultivator in the Thousand Lakes and Islands. What harm is there in you listening in?"
Chu Ning didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned his gaze to the middle-aged cultivator beside Chen Jia Rong. "I don't believe I know this fellow Daoist. Which island are you from?"
The middle-aged Confucian gave Chu Ning a nonchalant glance. "I've just arrived in the Thousand Lakes and Islands and haven't settled on an island yet."
"I see," Chu Ning nodded slightly, then suddenly asked, "Then why aren't you entering the dojo?"
Neither of them expected Chu Ning to ask such a question, and they fell silent for a moment. After a pause, the middle-aged Confucian replied, "I've only just arrived in the Thousand Lakes and Islands, so it's only natural that I don't have the qualifications to participate in such an important matter."
"Oh..." Chu Ning's response was odd, leaving both men guessing at his true intentions.
As Chu Ning was held up by the two men, the rest of the group entered the dojo. Chen Chengzong also heard a hoarse voice in his ear.
"How's it going? Is everyone here?"
Chen Chengzong's face showed a hint of difficulty as he looked at Chu Ning, who was still conversing outside the dojo. He transmitted his voice as well: "There's one more cultivator loitering outside the dojo. The junior and the senior's outstanding disciple have gone to persuade him."
"Never mind, with so many Foundation Establishment cultivators here, one less won't make a difference. Once the formation is activated, we'll deal with that person." The hoarse voice replied.
Upon hearing this, Chen Chengzong stood up with a smile and addressed the crowd, "Fellow Daoists, gathering all of you here today is truly a grand occasion for the Thousand Lakes and Islands. To ensure a smooth discussion without interruptions, let's activate the formation here."
Chen Chengzong's words captured the attention of the crowd, and over a hundred Qi Refining cultivators turned to look at him. Obviously, everyone was curious about the Thousand Island Alliance's intentions.
However, no one voiced any objections. Activating a formation for isolation was a standard procedure.
Chen Chengzong waved his hand, and suddenly, twenty or so cultivators appeared around the small dojo. They each held a formation flag and, after performing a set of hand seals, pricked their fingers to drip blood onto the flags.
Instantly, blood-red light pillars rose from the four corners of the dojo, and a faint blood-red light shrouded the entire area.
This strange scene naturally drew the attention of everyone present.
Cai Wenquan, who had been sitting on the high platform, stood up abruptly, his face filled with shock. "Blood Sha Yin Demon Formation!"
"Chen Chengzong, what are you up to?" Cai Wenquan demanded.
"Haha, you've got a good eye, Cai Family Head, to recognize this formation so easily." Chen Chengzong laughed loudly, and somehow, both he and Chen Jia Sheng had managed to stay outside the formation.
Hearing Chen Chengzong's confirmation, Cai Wenquan's expression darkened further.
White Heng, Huo Zhen Shan, and the others also sensed that something was amiss and stood up.
"Uncle Wen, what's going on?" White Heng asked, but before Cai Wenquan could answer, a voice rang out above them.
"Excellent! Well done!"
Everyone looked up, and their faces paled as they saw a giant bird-like demon beast appearing above the formation.
The demon beast was pitch-black, without a hint of other colors, resembling a gigantic crow. Its eyes shone with a blood-red light, filled with greed and murderous intent as it gazed down at the cultivators below.
On its broad back stood a small, thin old man dressed in black robes. His aura was formidable, and it was he who had spoken.
The appearance of the man and the beast brought an overwhelming sense of pressure to the crowd.
"A Golden Core cultivator!"
"A Level 6 demon beast!"
Shouts of surprise and fear rang out.
(End of Chapter)
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