Chapter 263: Shadow of Evil

Chapter 263: Shadow of Evil

Chu Ning found himself back at the place where he had once fought and killed countless Demon Spirit Sect cultivators, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

He never expected that his all-out battle back then would actually create an opportunity for himself.

Soon, his eyes shifted slightly as he surveyed the many cultivators standing before him.

This place was now filled with numerous Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators, and for the first time, Chu Ning gained a preliminary understanding of the strength of the Cloudsoaring Alliance.

"There are ten Nascent Soul cultivators here alone. However, with my current cultivation, I can't discern the strength of these people, nor can I tell what stage of the Nascent Soul realm they are in."

Chu Ning mused to himself, his eyes falling on the tall, robed elder standing at the very front.

"This person must be the only late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator in the Alliance, the Alliance Master of the Cloudsoaring Alliance, and the Grand Elder of the Returning Origin Sect, Qin Changkong."

Just then, Chu Ning sensed something and turned his gaze towards Ao Langtian of the Great Roaming Sect in the distance.

Upon seeing Chu Ning, Ao Langtian was first taken aback, but the next moment, his arrogant face showed a mix of astonishment, anger, and venomous emotions.

Then, a cold smile and a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.

Even under Chu Ning's watchful gaze, he made no attempt to hide it.

Chu Ning's heart couldn't help but chill.

"It seems like Ao Langtian also intends to enter the Spirit Realm. I must be extra cautious."

However, unlike before when he was at the late Foundation Establishment stage and could only flee upon sensing Ao Langtian's approach, Chu Ning now felt more confident in his ability to protect himself, even if he didn't plan on confronting the other head-on.

With that, Chu Ning stopped paying attention to Ao Langtian and began to survey the other Golden Core cultivators who, like him, were about to enter the Spirit Realm.

There were indeed several familiar faces among them.

In addition to the few Golden Core cultivators from the Great Roaming Sect whom Chu Ning had met before, there was also the palace-dressed female cultivator with the surname Jia, whom he had traded with at the small trading event held by Sky Sound Pavilion.

Beside her stood a young and beautiful woman in a light purple dress, who had cultivated to the early Golden Core stage.

Judging by her appearance, she looked to be in her twenties, but it was unclear if she, like Chu Ning, had cultivated to the Golden Core stage early on or if she had consumed some kind of elixir to maintain her youthful appearance.

However, as Chu Ning observed her lively eyes, he couldn't help but feel that she might indeed be quite young.

Perhaps noticing Chu Ning's gaze, the young woman returned his look with a curious glance of her own.

After sizing him up, she, too, showed a hint of curiosity.

Then, the female cultivator with the surname Jia turned her head away.

Chu Ning smiled at the two of them in greeting.

The Jia-surname female cultivator returned his smile and then began conversing with the young woman.

They were using a voice transmission technique, so Chu Ning couldn't quite make out what they were saying.

However, he could guess that the Jia-surname female cultivator was introducing him to her companion.

Chu Ning's gaze shifted again, and he spotted another cultivator from the Wanli Sect, whom he had also met at Sky Sound Pavilion and had traded a bottle of spirit dan with.

The two of them nodded slightly at each other in acknowledgment.

As for the rest of the cultivators, Chu Ning was not very familiar with them.

However, since they were currently standing in groups according to their sects, Chu Ning could roughly tell which sect they belonged to.

At the same time, Yuan Zhuo transmitted his voice to Chu Ning, introducing the cultivators from the various sects to give him a better understanding of the situation.

Just as Yuan Zhuo finished his introductions, Qin Changkong's voice suddenly rang out.

"Fellow daoists, the spatial node is about to form, and we will soon be able to open the spatial passageway into the Spirit Realm.

Those of us entering the Spirit Realm this time are the rising stars of the Cloudsoaring Alliance and represent the core strength of our alliance.

I know that some of you may have grudges against each other, but once we enter the Spirit Realm, I hope that we can work together and support each other."

As he spoke, Qin Changkong raised his head, his eyes sweeping across the sixty Golden Core cultivators who were about to enter with an electric gaze.

"Let me be blunt. If you have any enmity between you, settle it outside.

If I, Qin Changkong, find out that anyone has been killing their own allies or colluding with cultivators from other alliances to harm our alliance's cultivators,

you will never leave this place!"

As he finished his words, the late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator released his powerful aura, causing Chu Ning and the others to involuntarily change their expressions.

However, Chu Ning was well aware that while Qin Changkong's words carried a certain degree of deterrence, their effect would only go so far.

They were not enough to truly constrain everyone.

For example, take Ao Langtian. If he were to come across Chu Ning alone, he would hardly be moved by such warnings.

After Qin Changkong finished speaking, he fell silent, and the rest of the cultivators naturally said nothing more.

About an incense stick's worth of time passed before Qin Changkong suddenly spoke again.

"The node has formed. Fellow daoists, let us work together to open the passageway."

As he spoke, the ten-plus Nascent Soul cultivators present all took action.

In an instant, a stable spatial passageway was opened.

The Golden Core cultivators who were about to enter proceeded one by one, following the order that had been decided earlier.

The three cultivators from the Nineflower Sect were positioned in the middle of the group.

As Chu Ning stepped into the spatial passageway, he received a mental message from Tang Xuan.

"Be wary of the people from the Great Roaming Sect."

Chu Ning nodded almost imperceptibly.

Then, he entered the spatial passageway.

This was not Chu Ning's first time entering a small world through a spatial passageway.

As he stepped out of the passageway, he immediately felt a powerful spatial force acting on his body.

This force was far stronger than that of a typical teleportation formation.

"It seems the rumors about the high level of this Spirit Realm are not exaggerated. A teleportation of this magnitude would be unbearable for anyone below the Golden Core stage."

As this thought flashed through his mind, Chu Ning instinctively released his Undying Golden Body and the Earth Spirit Armor Technique the moment the teleportation force ended.

After all, he had no idea where he would be teleported or what he would encounter.

"There are actually cultivators who entered earlier!"

Chu Ning's heart skipped a beat, and he was just about to dodge.

But before he could even use his Shen Feng Dun technique, he felt several streaks of golden light flashing towards him.

Then, they heavily struck the layer of spirit rock armor formed by his Earth Spirit Armor Technique.

Chu Ning immediately circulated his spiritual power, and the rock armor, condensed from earth spirit qi, quickly started rotating outside his body.

Through this rotation, the several streaks of golden light that hit it were completely dissipated.

However, at the same time, the rock armor he had condensed also scattered, revealing the Undying Golden Body shield underneath.

Chu Ning didn't wait for the other party's follow-up attack. He activated his Jin Shen Technique and, in a flash, appeared ten zhang away.

"Eh? A mere early Golden Core cultivator, yet you managed to dissolve my sure-kill strike?"

Having suddenly lost his target, the ambusher exclaimed in surprise.

At this moment, Chu Ning finally saw his opponent clearly.

He was a middle-aged gray-robed cultivator with triangular eyes, and his whole body exuded a sinister aura like that of a venomous snake.

"Someone from the Demon Path Alliance! They actually got here ahead of us and even set up an ambush. My luck is really not that good."

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Chu Ning waved his hand, and the Twin Fire Rings, enveloped in blazing flames, shot towards his opponent.

At the same time, he opened his mouth, and a green glow shot out. It flashed in the air and, in the blink of an eye, appeared less than five zhang in front of the gray-robed cultivator.

Since his opponent had ambushed him first and was also a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator from the Demon Path, Chu Ning naturally had no reason to hold back.

"What a fast flying sword!"

The gray-robed, triangular-eyed elder's face showed surprise.

He was evidently astonished by the sharpness of Chu Ning's attack.

However, this person's movements were also very quick. As he flew away, he raised a rod-shaped magic treasure in his hand.

As golden light flickered on the magic treasure, the gray-robed, triangular-eyed elder drove it to smash towards the Twin Fire Rings and the Wood Spirit Sword that were shooting towards him.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound mixed with red and golden light scattered in all directions.

The Twin Fire Rings were knocked back directly by this strike.

A cold smile flashed across the triangular-eyed elder's face.

It was as if he was saying, "So what if you have more magic treasures?"

Immediately after, he pointed at the air, and the rod-shaped magic treasure flew towards Chu Ning's Wood Spirit Sword once again.

Just as the two were about to collide, the Wood Spirit Sword suddenly curved in the air.

At the same time, its speed suddenly increased.

Like a meteor chasing the moon, the green glow flashed and disappeared.

It actually bypassed the elder's rod-shaped magic treasure and headed straight for him.

This Demon Path cultivator was also greatly startled by this turn of events, and his body flew away in a flash.

But the Five Elements Spirit Sword was inherently excellent for attacks.

Moreover, after being infused with Black Mysterious Gold, its power in all aspects had greatly increased.

Even though Chu Ning didn't use the Fire Spirit Sword, which had the most offensive power, the Wood Spirit Sword was still not something the triangular-eyed elder could easily dodge.

The green glow chased straight on, and in an instant, it appeared beside the elder.

Seeing this, the triangular-eyed elder's body was enveloped in a layer of green mist.

A strange, green mist-like defensive shield formed around him, looking extremely eerie.

"This isn't ordinary mist. There's a snake inside it!"

Chu Ning had exceptional eyesight, and at this moment, he could roughly make out what it was. His eyes narrowed slightly.

However, he didn't hesitate at all, and the Wood Spirit Sword chopped down heavily.

"Hehe!"

Seeing Chu Ning's flying sword chopping down, the triangular-eyed elder didn't panic but instead laughed.

As he drove his magic treasure, the green mist that had enveloped his body suddenly concentrated in one place.

It completely wrapped around Chu Ning's Wood Spirit Sword.

Seeing his opponent laughing, Chu Ning muttered to himself, "Could this green mist have some special ability?"

But the connection with his magic treasure was completely normal.

Chu Ning didn't sense anything amiss.

With that, Chu Ning's flying sword resolutely chopped towards the snake head, which was as thick as an arm, within the green mist! This venomous snake, which was evidently of a high rank, had no resistance at all against Chu Ning's strike and was directly chopped into two pieces.

The triangular-eyed elder was shocked by this turn of events.

Just as he saw the flying sword about to continue chopping towards his body, he quickly drove the rod-shaped magic treasure to strike Chu Ning's Wood Spirit Sword.

As he deflected the Wood Spirit Sword slightly, the elder's figure flashed continuously, dodging the attack.

Even so, he was still frightened enough to break out in a cold sweat.

Seeing the Wood Spirit Sword flying back into Chu Ning's hand, the triangular-eyed elder finally spoke, his tone filled with disbelief.

"What kind of flying sword is that? How did it remain untouched by my Jadeite Venomous Snake's mist?"

"Jadeite Venomous Snake." Chu Ning also muttered to himself.

"Its mist specifically taints magic treasures. Could it be the Jadeite Venomous Snake?"

After saying this, Chu Ning carefully sensed his Wood Spirit Sword.

Then, he heaved a sigh of relief.

There were no signs of taint on the sword, and its spiritual essence was also unaffected.

"Is it because of the Black Mysterious Gold's unique properties? Or is it the effect of the Five Elements Chaotic Primordial Technique?"

As this thought flashed through his mind, Chu Ning's hands didn't pause, and his fingers formed a technique.

Instantly, the flying sword shot out once again.

This time, the flying sword suddenly flashed with dazzling green light, even obscuring Chu Ning's figure.

It made it hard for the triangular-eyed elder to see clearly.

When the elder realized it, all the green light had dissipated, and the flying sword was once again less than three zhang away from him.

Having learned his lesson from before, the triangular-eyed elder naturally didn't dare to let Chu Ning's Wood Spirit Sword approach him.

He then formed an incantation with his left hand and pointed at the triangular-eyed elder.

"Not good!" The triangular-eyed elder suddenly realized something was amiss and quickly flew upwards, darting to the side.

But he was too slow! A streak of yellow light suddenly drilled out from the ground and pierced through the elder's body the moment he lifted his feet off the ground. In the next instant, it shot out from his head.

This streak of yellow light had pierced right through the triangular-eyed elder!

"How could this be!" Fear flashed in the triangular-eyed elder's eyes as he felt his life force rapidly fading. Then, his eyes turned ruthless.

"If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me!"

The elder retracted his rod-shaped magic treasure back into his body and rushed towards Chu Ning at high speed.

His speed far exceeded Chu Ning's imagination.

As he flew through the air, the elder's body began to swell rapidly.

"He's going to self-destruct his magic treasure and Golden Core!" Chu Ning's expression changed slightly as he witnessed this.

He immediately activated the Shen Feng Dun technique and swiftly retreated.

At the same time, he unleashed his Undying Golden Body and the Earth Spirit Armor Technique once more.

Just as Chu Ning finished these actions, the triangular-eyed elder's body suddenly shrunk, and the rod-shaped magic treasure that had been retracted into his body was now speeding towards Chu Ning even faster, wrapped in a round Golden Core.

"Boom!"

A loud explosion rang out, and a powerful impact knocked Chu Ning back more than thirty feet.

The triangular-eyed elder's body, filled with madness, was also completely obliterated by the shockwave.

After a few breaths, Chu Ning, clad in a blue-green robe, slowly stood up not far away.

He shook his head as he looked at the direction of the battle.

"These people from the Demon Path Alliance are truly insane. I thought I had killed him with the Earth Spirit Sword.

I never expected that right before his death, he would still self-destruct his magic treasure and Golden Core.

If I hadn't reacted quickly and had strong defenses, I would've been dragged down with him."

Chu Ning flew back to the scene, which was now devoid of any traces of the battle.

He cursed the opponent once more and then quickly flew away.

The elder's self-destruction of his life-bound magic treasure and Golden Core had created a huge disturbance, and Chu Ning worried that it would attract other cultivators.

After flying away for nearly ten miles, Chu Ning landed on a small stone mountain.

He used his flying sword to quickly create a small stone chamber and entered it.

Only now did he have time to think about his current situation.

"It seems likely that both the Demon Path Alliance and the Heaven-Extreme Alliance entered earlier. It looks like the two alliances' Nascent Soul stage cultivators are more powerful than Qin Changkong."

Chu Ning secretly mused to himself, feeling a bit unlucky that he had encountered an ambush from the Demon Path Alliance as soon as he entered this place.

After his musings, Chu Ning took out a magic mirror, but his eyebrows furrowed.

Before entering this Spirit Realm, he, Yuan Zhuo, and Luo Jie had each carried a magic mirror similar to the ones they used in Wolong Valley.

However, the mirror showed nothing now. Not only were the locations of the other two not displayed, but Chu Ning's own position was also not shown on the mirror.

"Can't positioning-type artifacts be used in this Spirit Realm?"

Chu Ning had a suspicion.

His original plan to meet up with the other two was now unfeasible.

From now on, they could only rely on sensing the concentration of spiritual energy to determine the location of the Spirit Seed and gather at its center.

With that in mind, Chu Ning put away the mirror.

He released his spiritual sense to carefully scan the area and confirm that no one was nearby to observe him.

Then, he activated the Illusionary Transformation Art and used his Yin Wood Spirit Body talent to hide his aura, completely altering his appearance and aura.

He also put on another layer of clothing over his blue robe.

Only then did he leave the small stone mountain.

"Little White, I sense that the spiritual energy is denser in the southwest direction. What about you?"

Chu Ning stood on the small stone mountain and sensed his surroundings. He then transmitted his voice to Ling Xiao Bai and asked.

"Yes," Ling Xiao Bai replied.

Without hesitation, Chu Ning flew towards the southwest.

At the same time, a black-robed figure appeared at the location where Chu Ning and the triangular-eyed elder had just fought.

The black-robed figure paused for a moment before speaking softly, "There was indeed a battle here, and judging from the residual aura, it seems a Golden Core self-destructed.

Could it be that a late-stage Golden Core cultivator appeared? Otherwise, why would a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator be forced to self-destruct his Golden Core?"

Although the place was empty, the black-robed figure didn't seem to be talking to himself, but rather, he appeared to be speaking to someone else, which was strange.

As his words fell, an extremely harsh and ear-piercing voice suddenly sounded.

"A Golden Core self-destructed. What a waste. If I had come earlier, I could have eaten a Golden Core."

This voice sounded like metal rubbing against each other in the throat, extremely bizarre.

But the black-robed figure acted as if this were normal and spoke softly again, "Rest assured, there are so many Golden Core cultivators here. If you truly have such great ability, how many Golden Cores do you want?"

"Hehe!"

That harsh, greedy voice laughed.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end