https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-721-Understanding-the-Passage-of-Time/13309043/
Chapter 720: Shihuazhen Realm
Chapter 720: Shihuazhen Realm
Yuan Realm.
The seven-colored splendor filled the heavens and earth, and the entire world was brimming with vibrant life. As far as the eye could see, lush greenery dominated the landscape, giving the impression of a realm that was incredibly safe and abundant in resources.
However, in reality, this was a realm within the Yuan Realm, an extremely perilous and enigmatic place known as the Shihuazhen Realm. It was one of the realms that the Shenjun of Huan Yu were most reluctant to venture into.
True to its name, the Shihuazhen Realm was filled with chaotic Time-Space Force, which was one of the most challenging forces to comprehend in Huan Yu. Achieving the Shenjun realm through the path of Time-Space was a rare feat, with a success rate of one in a hundred.
As a result, there were very few Shenjun who could adapt to the Shihuazhen Realm. Moreover, when crossing the Gate of Marvels into the Yuan Realm, they had no control over which realm they entered, leaving everything to pure chance. Consequently, the number of Shenjun from the Time-Space lineage who ended up in this realm was minuscule, with the majority still being from the Zao Hua and Xu Kong lineages, making it even more unappealing.
Amidst the lush greenery,
About a dozen individuals cautiously advanced.
These individuals were all Shenjun who had reached the Nine Skies Perfected realm, forming a united team.
"Shihuazhen Realm..."
The Nan Hua Lord frowned, feeling rather frustrated.
After departing from the Nan Hua Empty Seat, he had undergone training in the Source Expanse and had now attained the Nine Skies Perfected realm. He had even ventured into the Yuan Realm twice, both times landing in relatively safe realms and successfully establishing a foothold. However, he had consecutively lost both opportunities due to fierce conflicts and attacks from others.
This was his third time entering the Yuan Realm, and also his last chance to do so freely. Little did he expect that he would end up in the Shihuazhen Realm, a realm notorious for its complications.
The realm was considered thorny because there were virtually no permanent settlements or communities to seek refuge.
Furthermore,
It was challenging to form a stable team in this realm.
The reason was simple: the realm was filled with chaotic Time-Space light, and upon contact, it would create a chaotic time-space current, transporting individuals to different time nodes. Only Shenjun who had cultivated the Time-Space path to the Nine Skies Perfected realm could withstand such temporal changes; others were utterly defenseless against them.
The Nan Hua Lord, for instance, had already changed teams seven or eight times in the mere hundred eras he had been there, each time due to the chaotic time-space currents causing his team to disperse, forcing him to search for new teammates in the disordered time-space.
Only a handful of top powers, such as the Time-Space Temple, with their Nine Skies Perfected experts from the Time-Space lineage, could form a stable team. All other forces were constantly scattered.
This situation led to a lack of trust among the temporarily formed teams.
When faced with danger, they would often fall apart immediately.
Moreover,
If unlucky, being caught in the chaotic time-space currents at the moment of encountering a rival force would bring about enormous trouble.
The Nan Hua Shenjun sighed inwardly, knowing that this was an opportunity to train in the Yuan Realm, and he couldn't back down, even though the Shihuazhen Realm was particularly tricky for him. He had to find a way to survive.
The rest of the group was in a similar state of alertness, cautiously observing their surroundings.
Suddenly,
One of them had a slight change in expression and shouted, "Be careful!"
At the same moment as his voice fell, a furious roar echoed from the nearby forest. A giant bear with a body spanning several zhang and covered in silver-gray fur burst out of the forest. It stood upright, raising a sharp claw and tearing towards the group, leaving behind a massive claw mark that spanned the sky.
The time-space currents in the Shihuazhen Realm were incredibly chaotic, but this also led to another peculiar characteristic: the suppressive power of time-space in this realm was not as strong as in other realms. Although Shenjun here still faced some suppression, they retained their immense power to move mountains and fill seas. However, this wasn't necessarily good news, as the abilities of the Shenjun who entered this realm were also attainable by the Yi Shou here.
"Attack!"
The dozen or so Shenjun in the team, upon seeing the giant bear Yi Shou, remained calm and composed. They immediately sensed and assessed the bear's strength and the power of its attacks. After determining that the threat was not too significant and its strength was around the Single Lineage Perfected level, they all launched their attacks, unleashing various techniques from all directions.
If they encountered a terrifying Yi Shou with higher-level Primordial Force, comparable to the Three Lineages Perfected, they would immediately scatter like birds and beasts. If the Yi Shou was on the level of the Double Lineages Perfected, they would fight while retreating, trying to shake it off. However, for a Single Lineage Perfected Yi Shou, they had the confidence to eliminate it with their combined strength.
In the Shihuazhen Realm, the death of Yi Shou (mythical beasts) would result in the drop of a special Shazhen Core, which, when refined, could greatly enhance one's understanding of the Era Pathway in a short time. Although most of the people were from the Zao Hua and Xu Kong lineages, they had already reached a state of single lineage perfection. To further enhance their strength, they could either strive for the position of a Shenjun or comprehend other Great Paths. Therefore, the Shazhen Core was a resource that everyone could benefit from.
In fact, the Shihuazhen Realm was indeed one of the most suitable realms for comprehending the Era Pathway. However, the chaotic time-space currents were extremely troublesome and challenging, sometimes even trapping one in a repetitive cycle of reincarnation, making it difficult to escape.
"Roar!"
The silver-backed bear Yi Shou roared repeatedly, continuously unleashing its Tear Heaven Claw. But the Shenjun present were all Nine Skies Perfected experts, each having undergone countless tempering and standing out among their peers. Compared to these Yi Shou, who were born with infinite power, the difference in the might of their techniques might not be significant, but the level of profundity in their techniques was vastly different.
Just as in the mortal world, the same force concentrated on a single point and striking a surface would have completely different effects.
Any single Shenjun was unafraid of this giant bear Yi Shou. Naturally, when they joined forces, it was even less of a concern. Upon sensing the unfavorable situation, the giant bear instinctively tried to escape, but with the combined siege of the group, it had no chance to flee.
Finally, after a fierce onslaught, the giant bear was left with countless wounds, emitting a mournful howl. Its heavy body fell helplessly, slamming into the ground and creating a huge impact.
Seeing this, the numerous Shenjun stopped their attacks. They watched as the giant bear's life force rapidly dissipated, its body gradually turning into ashes, leaving behind a crystal-clear Shazhen Core.
At this moment, as soon as the Shazhen Core appeared, the previous tacit cooperation among the group vanished. Over ten Shenjun immediately became wary of each other, forming a tense standoff.
In a normal realm, the harvest from a hunting team would naturally be divided equally among the members, and the distribution rules would be decided beforehand, usually avoiding conflicts. However, the Shihuazhen Realm was different. Teams here often experienced constant dispersion and regrouping, and among the more than ten people present, several had only joined recently.
Perhaps in the next moment, the group might encounter the chaotic time-space currents again, causing them to separate once more.
Since the Shazhen Core could not be divided, everyone naturally wanted it for themselves. After all, no matter how many pleasantries were exchanged, having the actual benefit in one's own hands was the most reassuring.
"Everyone, according to our previous agreement, it's my turn to take this Shazhen Core," said the Mitianshengjun in a deep voice.
Although the situation inside the Shihuazhen Realm was extremely chaotic, there was still a hint of order. In hunting teams like theirs, there was no doubt that the last person to join would be the last in line to receive a share of the harvest.
"According to the previous agreement, this Shazhen Core should be collected by the Jiuyeshengjun. But the Jiuyeshengjun was recently caught in the chaotic time-space currents and separated from the team, so the distribution order should be adjusted," said one of the Shenjun who had joined later.
"No, even if we adjust the order, it should still be distributed according to the order of arrival. Mitianshengjun was the first," another Shenjun refuted. He was one of the earlier members of the team, right after Mitianshengjun, and strongly supported Mitianshengjun's claim to the Shazhen Core. This meant that the next one would be his according to the rules, so he was very supportive of Mitianshengjun.
However, the Shenjun who ranked lower obviously did not agree. They each voiced their objections, and the atmosphere gradually became tense.
Nan Huashengjun, seeing this situation, also felt a headache. In his heart, he naturally supported the newly arrived Shenjun who ranked lower. After all, he was also new, and according to the rule of distribution by order, by the time it was his turn, the team might have already fallen apart.
In the vast universe, conflicts of interest were inevitable. The special rules of the Shihuazhen Realm greatly amplified these conflicts, making the resource struggles here far more intense than in realms like Wuxiang City.
But just as the group was facing off against each other, divided into different camps, a sudden change occurred.
The ground beneath them, which had been torn apart for tens of thousands of miles, suddenly shook violently. A dazzling beam of seven-colored splendor shot out from underground, enveloping everyone in an instant.
"Not good!"
"Time-Space Current!"
Including Nan Huashengjun, everyone's faces changed dramatically.
The Shenjun closest to the Shazhen Core reacted first, each unleashing their power and rushing towards the Shazhen Core. Several forces collided, leading to a direct confrontation.
In the distance, several figures, including Nan Hua Shenjun, retreated simultaneously, attempting to escape the enveloping light of the Chronicle.
However, the time-space current that erupted from underground this time covered an incredibly vast area, leaving little time for resistance or struggle. Even Nan Hua Shenjun, who had chosen to retreat first, was swept up in it.
In the blink of an eye, Nan Hua Shenjun sensed a significant change in the nearby scenery and found himself in an entirely unfamiliar environment. His over a dozen Shenjun companions had all disappeared without a trace.
Nan Hua Shenjun's lips twitched slightly, and he sighed.
He had returned to the very beginning.
Shaking his head, he quickly gathered his wits and suppressed his aura, carefully observing the surroundings. After a cautious exploration, he began to move slowly in a direction that seemed safer.
This situation was not new to him; it was one of the biggest troubles in the Shihuazhen Realm, almost entirely uncontrollable. Only by comprehending the Era Pathway to the Nine Skies Perfected could one have a slight resistance, but even then, it was only temporary. It was not enough to freely navigate the time-space current.
Only a Sovereign could roam freely and effortlessly in this chaotic realm.
Nan Hua Shenjun regrouped and cautiously explored the unfamiliar environment. After an unknown period, his gaze suddenly shifted, and he raised his head, looking in a specific direction.
In that direction, he sensed two thick auras approaching. One of them was more chaotic and difficult to discern, likely belonging to a powerful Yi Shou. The other aura belonged to a Shenjun, and it felt familiar.
After a brief contemplation, Nan Hua Shenjun decided to approach and release his aura.
Although he couldn't instantly identify the other party, the sense of familiarity suggested that he knew them. Meeting a familiar Shenjun in the chaotic Shihuazhen Realm was often a welcome occurrence.
As Nan Hua Shenjun approached and released his aura, the distant figure engaged in a struggle with a Yi Shou, or attempting to shake off a pursuing Yi Shou, immediately noticed his presence and headed towards him.
In just a brief encounter, both Nan Hua Shenjun and the unfamiliar Shenjun recognized each other.
"Oh?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Nan Hua Shenjun's eyes. The visitor was indeed a Shenjun he knew, but not someone he had encountered in the Shihuazhen Realm. They were acquainted from the outside Huan Yu.
This figure was the master of the Bei Yu Empty Seat, adjacent to the Nan Hua Empty Seat—Bei Yu Shenjun!
Compared to the Tian Ji Lord, there was much less conflict between Bei Yu Lord and Nan Hua Shenjun, and they even shared a slight friendship.
"Nan Hua, it's been a long time!"
"Bei Yu, I never expected to encounter you here. It's truly a stroke of fate!"
Nan Hua Shenjun now saw a figure in the distant horizon, fleeing towards them, with a giant red bird Yi Shou in pursuit. The pressure emitted by the giant red bird was formidable, even thicker than that of the silver-backed bear they had encountered earlier. Its strength was evidently greater, comparable to that of a double-path perfected being!
Encountering such a powerful Yi Shou, Bei Yu Lord, alone, naturally had no intention of engaging in battle. He was currently in a desperate escape, and even a team of over a dozen Shenjun would not choose to hunt such a high-level Yi Shou.
After all, the hunting difficulty was incredibly high, and success was often unattainable.
"I'm ashamed. My carelessness has entangled me with a significant problem."
Bei Yu Lord gazed at Nan Hua Shenjun from afar. Meeting a familiar figure from the outside Huan Yu was indeed a pleasant surprise, but the current situation was not the time for reminiscing. Even if they joined forces, they couldn't resolve the issue of the giant red bird behind them.
"No problem. Let's work together to shake it off."
Nan Hua Lord took the initiative and approached Bei Yu Lord. Although Bei Yu Lord had brought a significant problem, encountering a familiar acquaintance in the chaotic Shihuazhen Realm was undoubtedly a good thing. At least it was better than meeting several completely unfamiliar Shenjun, and the other party was more trustworthy.
Furthermore, a Yi Shou comparable to a double-path perfected being was merely a little troublesome, not life-threatening.
(End of Chapter)
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