https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-356-The-Audacity-of-a-Lowly-Rogue-/13026646/
Chapter 355: From the Central Plains
Chapter 355: From the Central Plains
In the dim depths of the Earth Abyss, five figures swiftly moved forward, each cloaked in pitch-black hoods.
"This Cold North region is remote, and the changes in the Ice State's Earth Abyss are significant. All three passages leading to the third layer have sealed up. I wonder if this one is still accessible. If not, we'll have to search for another way down," the leader whispered from the shadows, their face hidden.
"It's been a hundred years, and the earth's veins have shifted a lot. Even the passageways are blocked. It's uncertain if that... still exists," replied one of the figures, shaking their head.
"Whether it exists or not, it's crucial, and worth us finding out," the leader whispered.
The others remained silent, following their leader without a word. After swiftly covering several dozen li, a sunken valley appeared ahead, and at its center, a pitch-black cave led to the unknown depths below.
"Excellent," they acknowledged, glancing at each other.
Without hesitation, they entered the cave, one of them narrowing their eyes to scan the surroundings before stepping in. Despite their careful observation, they detected no anomalies and quickly followed the others, disappearing into the darkness.
However, moments after their departure, a figure emerged from the darkness, carrying a massive boulder. They gazed at the passage leading to the third layer of the Earth Abyss, a faint glint flashing in their eyes.
"Who are these people?" Chen Mu wondered, narrowing his eyes at the passage.
Earlier, when he had arrived at the Frosty Mountain Range with Liu Tong and Feng Hongsheng, the elders and grandmasters from various sects and factions had already gathered. None wore black hoods, and they all deliberately concealed their identities, leaving no traces behind.
The only similar group was the Blood Concealment Tower, but their grandmasters excelled in stealth. Even if he could sense faint traces from a distance of several hundred zhang, it would be challenging to pinpoint their exact location, as he was a Heaven and Earth Grandmaster, not yet at the 'Heaven-Man Unity' stage.
This group was not from the Blood Concealment Tower, and their actions were suspicious. They didn't resemble any of the Cold North factions encountered before, and such a large group moving together was unusual.
"Could they be from another state?" Chen Mu wondered.
The Cold North was remote, and the Ice State was located in the far north. Although the Earth Abyss attracted grandmasters and Blood Transformation experts to explore, few from other regions would venture so far into the Cold North.
The distance was vast, and the territory was unfamiliar. Unless a powerful force mobilized, a lone grandmaster might easily meet their end in the Earth Abyss, unnoticed. Mobilizing a large force would be challenging to conceal, especially with the unrest in other states, making it a risky endeavor.
These people seemed to have a clear purpose, heading directly for a passage leading deeper into the Earth Abyss.
After a moment's thought, a faint light flashed in Chen Mu's eyes. With a mental nudge, a dark shadow silently enveloped him, and he quietly followed the group from a distance.
Their strong sense of purpose suggested they might possess valuable intelligence, like an Earth Abyss map, searching for a hidden treasure. This unexpected encounter intrigued Chen Mu, especially if these people had come from another realm, risking so much for a treasure.
Moments later, Chen Mu entered the third layer of the Earth Abyss.
This level was even darker, with a deeper, more chaotic aura. As soon as Chen Mu landed, he sensed a chaotic energy pattern, completely different from the group's earlier trail.
"Their concealment skills are impressive, but..." Chen Mu's eyes flashed, and he raised his right hand, waving it twice.
Ordinary people, even those skilled in perception, would struggle to follow the group in this environment, where the forces of heaven and earth were in disarray. However, Chen Mu had cultivated the Heaven-Earth Domain, making it harder to evade him.
He had followed them closely, and in such a short time, even with the chaotic energy patterns, he could still smooth out the disturbances and detect faint traces.
"I recall a technique called 'Reverse Heaven-Earth' in the Heaven-Earth Path, capable of reversing local changes. I've never seen it, but it would have made this easier," Chen Mu thought, his hands moving swiftly.
He smoothed out the most chaotic energy patterns, uncovering faint traces, and directed his gaze in a specific direction.
Without hesitation, he flashed forward, following the trail.
The five figures in black hoods swiftly moved through the Earth Abyss.
After traveling about a hundred li, the leader finally stopped, gazing into the distance.
His face, hidden beneath the black hood, was pale and youthful, with a smooth, beardless chin. But as he paused, a thick aura rippled around him, and his energy was incredibly dense. The flow of his inner breath was even more powerful than Ji Yuanshan's, revealing him as a top-tier grandmaster!
"Excellent, it's still intact," Yu Shouxuan said, a gleam of excitement in his eyes as he stared ahead.
About a dozen li away,
The desolate land revealed a bizarre terrain, winding and sloping downward, like a reclining dragon—a 'Dragon Seeks Water' formation.
The winding terrain of the Azure Dragon stretched for several miles, and at the end of the valley, instead of barren land, there was an ancient stone wall that extended downward. At its base, a tiny flower platform emerged, resembling a lotus but made entirely of stone, with no signs of human carving, as if it had been naturally formed by the heavens and earth.
Dragon Seeks Water, Earth Surges Lotus!
Upon closer inspection, one could see that at the very center of the 'Lotus' platform, made entirely of green stone, there was a drop of crystal liquid shimmering with seven-colored brilliance and radiant light. It seemed like only a few drops, and despite no special aura leaking out, anyone who laid eyes on it would instantly know that this was no ordinary treasure of the heavens and earth.
"Dragon Seeks Water, Earth Surges Lotus. This kind of earth meridian and terrain is rare, even in the Earth Abyss. It won't be easily destroyed unless demons and monsters wreak havoc, changing the terrain, and then there's a chance for this place to collapse and disperse."
Behind Yu Shou Xuan, another Grandmaster, also clad in a black robe, spoke slowly. His voice was very aged, and beneath the cloak, his face was full of white hair, wrinkles, and his entire body exuded a decaying aura.
Even a Marrow Washing Grandmaster, at the age of one hundred and fifty, could often maintain their peak, or even a youthful appearance. But he seemed unable to maintain a young appearance, and the decaying aura was even more difficult to conceal. He appeared to be nearing the end of his Grandmaster's lifespan.
However, if there was a Grandmaster from the Cold Northern Region here, they would instantly recognize his identity.
Compared to Yu Shou Xuan, who was from outside the Cold North, the 'Ultimate Yin' aura was obviously from the Palace. This aged Grandmaster, nearing the end of his lifespan, was even more renowned in the Cold North—Liu Wanzheng!
One of the top Grandmasters of the Qiuan Sect, he had maintained his position for over a hundred years without interruption. If Liu Tong was the Grandmaster of this generation, and Qin Mengjun the previous one, then the generation before that was Liu Wanzheng. However, due to his advanced age, he had retired twenty years ago, and now, at nearly two hundred years old, he was truly nearing the end of his lifespan, even with his preserved vitality.
"What Elder Liu says is true."
The person beside him smiled and gazed at the Dragon Seeks Water area, sighing, "Heaven-Earth Nourishing Dew... It's said that just one drop can prolong life by ten years. With over a hundred years of accumulation, there should be at least five or six drops."
Liu Wanzheng shook his head slightly and said, "The first drop has the best effect. The second drop's effectiveness is at least halved, and it decreases further with each subsequent drop. However, if given the opportunity, it can still be exchanged for other treasures that preserve essence and blood, prolonging life."
"Enough, let's not waste time. Let's take it quickly to avoid any unexpected troubles."
Yu Shou Xuan spoke softly.
The people behind him all nodded and then turned their attention forward. Among them, one person's eyes flashed with a faint light, as if he had been sensing something all along. At this moment, he gave Yu Shou Xuan a subtle signal.
Yu Shou Xuan immediately understood and pretended to walk forward, gradually approaching the Dragon Seeks Water area. When he was about a hundred zhang away, he suddenly leaped forward, lunging diagonally. He threw out a slender longsword, accompanied by a highly condensed Mystical Yin internal energy, which instantly fell on the barren earth dozens of zhang to his left.
Crack! Crack!!!
In an instant, layers of frost formed and spread for dozens of zhang, freezing a large area of barren land.
Almost simultaneously, the frozen earth cracked, and the ice shattered into pieces, causing the ground to collapse. A furious roar emerged from underground.
"Wuu..."
As the ground shattered, a massive black snake, about twenty zhang long, burst out of the broken earth. Its terrifying aura was overwhelming, revealing two sharp fangs. It lunged towards the nearby Yu Shou Xuan, ready to bite.
The snake's body twisted and writhed, its demonic energy surging. Its black scales were tightly packed, and its forehead had two protruding bumps, resembling the beginnings of a transformation into a dragon.
Eighth Rank Demon King - Viper Snake!
Calling it a demon snake might not be appropriate anymore, as its formidable demonic energy seemed even more ferocious than that of a typical Eighth Rank Demon King. The bumps on its forehead hinted at an impending transformation, nearing the 'Dragon Transformation' stage!
Once the Viper Snake transforms into a dragon, it will ascend to the Ninth Rank, becoming a Sky Demon. And this Viper Snake was clearly not far from that metamorphosis!
"Hmm."
Facing the Viper Snake's attack, Yu Shou Xuan was fearless. After a faint cold snort, he formed three circles with his hands and then struck out with a palm print, emitting a powerful Mystical Yin true force that caused the surrounding temperature to drop sharply, and the air froze into patches of icy mist.
The Viper Snake's bite collided with Yu Shou Xuan's Supreme Yin Palm, exploding with a loud bang. Yu Shou Xuan staggered back two steps, and the snake's body also swayed.
"You dare to be so bold before me, you untransformed beast..."
Yu Shou Xuan coldly laughed twice, took a step forward, and drew his Supreme Yin Sword. With three swift slashes, he unleashed three concentrated black sword energies, each forming a strand of Supreme Yin Sword Silk.
Hiss!!!
The Viper Snake hissed angrily, opening its massive mouth to spew out a surge of black energy that collided with the sword silk. Although it was quickly torn apart, the process also continuously eroded the sword silk until it was weakened by the time it reached the snake's scales, leaving no mark upon impact.
"Begin!"
As Yu Shou Xuan entangled the Viper Snake, his sharp voice echoed.
Four people nearby sprang into action. Three of them surrounded the snake, attacking it with various moves, while the fourth, Liu Wanzheng, remained in his original position, watching impassively as Yu Shou Xuan and the others besieged the Viper Snake.
Hiss!!
The Viper Snake, surrounded by four Grandmasters, let out an angry hiss, its surging Demon Energy bursting forth continuously, but to no avail.
Although among the four Grandmasters, only Yu Shouxuan was at the pinnacle level, the other three were slightly less powerful. However, Yu Shouxuan could withstand the Viper Snake's attacks head-on, and the Taiyin True Energy he wielded had a natural restraining effect. With the other three assisting, the Viper Snake, despite its fierce struggles, could not create any significant chaos. Within moments, several wounds had appeared on its body.
However, this Viper Snake was ultimately an Eighth Stage Ancient Demon, just one step away from the Ninth Rank. Its strength was formidable. After a brief struggle with Yu Shouxuan and the others, it realized it was at a disadvantage and that continuing the fight would be futile. It could no longer reclaim the treasure it had guarded for so long. Its enormous snake eyes glared at the group with hatred.
Then, it let out a long hiss, lashing its tail fiercely to force one of the four back. With a twist of its body, it darted through the gap and fled into the distance, abandoning the battle.
"Beast, don't run!"
Yu Shouxuan let out a sharp cry, raising his sword and hurling it through the air to try to block the Viper Snake's escape.
However, the Viper Snake did not even turn back. It lashed its tail in mid-air, striking the Spirit Sword. With a loud crack, a few drops of Demon Blood splattered, and the Viper Snake's body had already escaped a hundred paces away, vanishing quickly.
"..."
Yu Shouxuan's expression showed a hint of regret.
He had successfully blocked the Viper Snake from approaching the Dragon Seeks Water site, but he couldn't seal its escape route. After all, this was an Eighth Stage Ancient Demon. If it didn't fight to the death, it was indeed difficult to capture.
The main reason was that Liu Wanzheng had not participated in the battle. Otherwise, with Liu Wanzheng's strength, blocking the Viper Snake's escape route might have been possible, and they could have captured it. An Eighth Stage Viper Snake was a valuable catch, its body worth a fortune.
However, since Liu Wanzheng did not join in, Yu Shouxuan could not say anything.
Everyone knew Liu Wanzheng's situation. Although he could still fight and, as a Marrow Washing Grandmaster, maintain peak combat strength, he was nearing the end of his lifespan. Not fighting was better; once he started, he might not be able to conserve his essence and qi, potentially leading to his death within days. It was understandable that he did not want to fight.
Seeing Yu Shouxuan and the others drive away the Viper Snake, Liu Wanzheng nodded slightly at Yu Shouxuan, and the two walked together to the Dragon Seeks Water site. As Yu Shouxuan gently raised his hand, the droplets of the Earth Surges Lotus, as delicate as crystal, began to rise into the air, swirling. With the last drop rising, the green jade lotus quickly dimmed and lost its luster.
Crack! Crack!
The green jade lotus platform began to show signs of cracking, and the petals fell and collapsed, indicating that the 'Earth Surges Lotus' had reached its limit. Only the Dragon Seeks Water above remained intact.
At this moment,
there were seven droplets of Heavenly Earth Nourishing Dew floating in the air.
"Seven droplets."
Yu Shouxuan's face lit up with joy.
This was two more than expected. Originally, they had hoped to get five droplets, which would have made the risk of this expedition worthwhile. With seven droplets, after Liu Wanzheng took one, there would still be six left. If he handed them all to Prince Liang, he might receive one in return.
These treasures that could restore essence and qi and extend one's lifespan were rare and hard to come by, valuable even among many Blood Replacement Realm beings. For Yu Shouxuan, they were even more essential.
"It seems Prince Liang will be very satisfied this time."
Liu Wanzheng, looking at the seven droplets of Heavenly Earth Nourishing Dew floating in the air, nodded slightly.
As Yu Shouxuan carefully took out a Thousand-Year Jade Vessel and began to collect the droplets, Chen Mu, standing in the shadows several hundred paces away, narrowed his eyes and watched the scene.
His gaze swept over the Heavenly Earth Nourishing Dew and the four people, including Yu Shouxuan, finally settling on Liu Wanzheng.
"…Liu Wanzheng?"
Chen Mu had never met Liu Wanzheng, but as one of the elder Grandmasters of the Qiuan Sect, he was familiar with Liu Wanzheng's appearance and information. The most notable feature was the 'decaying' aura emanating from Liu Wanzheng.
This was the first time Chen Mu had encountered a Grandmaster truly nearing the end of their lifespan. Although he had seen others like Yu Jiuhu before, Yu Jiuhu was not a Grandmaster. After reaching the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm, even nearing the end of their lifespan, their realm and strength would not decline. The decline would only come with the end of their life.
However,
even so,
Chen Mu was still unsure of the other's identity. He had never met this old Grandmaster, and Yu Shouxuan and the others were also unfamiliar, especially Yu Shouxuan, a top Grandmaster whose reputation in the Cold Northern Region would not be unknown.
Combined with the Taiyin True Energy and the soft, internal qi, it was almost immediately clear that he was a practitioner of the Supreme Yin.
Such a person could only come from the Great Xuan Court!
If the decaying old Grandmaster was indeed the old Grandmaster of the Qiuan Sect, one of the six great families in the Jade Province, then he had not accompanied Liu Tong and the others into the Earth Abyss, but had quietly mixed with Yu Shouxuan and the people from the Central Court.
Chen Mu's mind raced with thoughts, but he quickly calmed himself. Although he could not be certain, it was not crucial. Since he had stumbled upon this, he would investigate thoroughly.
With this thought,
Chen Mu stopped concealing his inner qi and let a faint aura seep out.
"Who?!"
Despite the distance of several hundred paces, this aura was immediately detected by Yu Shouxuan and the other Grandmasters. One of them immediately turned to Chen Mu's direction and shouted coldly.
(End of Chapter)
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