https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-85-Another-Top-Tier-Fortune-7-7-/12586363/
Chapter 86: The Wretched Ones Always Have You
Chapter 86: The Wretched Ones Always Have You
Yet Another Top-Tier Fortune Stick?
Lei Jun was initially delighted.
The fortune stick mentioned a Fourth-Rank opportunity, which seemed less impressive than the Third-Rank Xirang Banner from the previous top-tier draw. Nevertheless, it was still quite substantial.
Moreover, this Fourth-Rank opportunity might have room for further expansion.
However, in contrast to the extremely auspicious top-tier fortune stick, there was also a highly ominous bottom-tier one this time around, warranting extra caution.
Another noteworthy aspect was the mention of the "Blood Sea" and the "Eight Wastelands Blood River Array" in the fortune stick's prediction.
Lei Jun had heard of the Eight Wastelands Blood River Array but had never seen it himself. Rumor had it that it was an upgraded version of the Blood River Array and required at least three days' worth of cultivation from a Blood River Sect cultivator to set up.
As for the Blood Sea, its details were unknown.
It seemed that this trip to the underground palace would entail facing not just an ordinary Blood River Array but also something far more formidable.
After traveling south for over a hundred miles, Lei Jun and his companions arrived at a hilly area.
In the hills, a cave had already been exposed, from which a thick, putrid stench emanated, along with flickering, glowing blood light.
This place had been discovered by a young disciple of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, and the underground cave system was said to be intricate and labyrinthine.
Deep within this maze lay a hidden Blood River Array, brimming with bloody murderous aura.
The young disciple couldn't handle it alone, so he rushed to contact his sect, and Lei Jun and the others had come to reinforce them upon hearing the news.
Seeing their fellow sect members, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The group converged and immediately ventured further into the cave.
The sound of rushing water grew closer and louder, like a mighty river raging in the distance.
The pungent and nauseating stench of blood became increasingly oppressive.
Moreover, the dense murderous aura that accompanied it was enough to disturb one's mental state.
Ordinary mortals wouldn't just be unable to get close; they would lose their sanity and become bloodthirsty maniacs if exposed to this murderous aura.
Lei Jun and his companions' cultivation bases were still able to withstand it for now.
However, having received proper training, they took precautionary measures, and everyone applied a Qingxin Talisman to protect themselves.
They soon discovered an ordinary Blood River Array, but unlike before, they couldn't suppress and dismantle it.
The underground blood river here had already formed a formidable presence, and the filthy blood had transformed into a long river, flowing through the underground network, with its source and destination unknown.
Understanding the situation, Lei Jun's heart sank.
One of their companions suggested splitting into two groups to block the blood river from both directions, hoping to control it and make it easier to clear the Blood River Array afterward.
"Be careful, no matter which direction you go," Lei Jun cautioned. "This blood river has already formed a formidable presence, and there may be unknown dangers."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Lei Jun chose to follow the blood river downstream.
Although he had two fellow sect brothers accompanying him, as they ventured deeper into the underground palace, the terrain became increasingly complex, with numerous branching paths.
They agreed upon some markers and set a time to meet before parting ways.
The underground palace was interconnected, and there was more than one entrance.
Apart from those who had entered with him earlier, Lei Jun also encountered other fellow sect members and even members of the Fang Clan in the underground maze.
These people had likely discovered other Blood River Arrays or blood rivers elsewhere and ended up here during their exploration.
Lei Jun concealed himself and decided to act alone for the time being.
He patiently searched, sometimes backtracking, and soon discovered a disciple of the Blood River Sect.
Instead of confronting the disciple directly, Lei Jun continued to hide his presence and followed the disciple.
This led him straight to his destination.
In the underground cavern, Lei Jun beheld an immense blood sea that seemed to stretch to the horizon, its surface rippling like a vast, malevolent tide.
Countless bubbles burst on the surface, releasing foul vapors that hung over the blood sea like a sinister mist.
Above the Blood Sea, several figures were busy coming and going; they were all true disciples of the Blood River Sect.
The Blood River Sect experts had their whereabouts discovered by the elders of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, and the ensuing battle attracted the attention of the higher-ups of the Heavenly Master's Mansion.
However, underground, a vast blood sea was secretly taking form.
There was more than one Blood River flowing into the Blood Sea.
In the intricate underground palace, multiple blood rivers meandered and converged, flowing together with the momentum of a hundred rivers merging into the sea, all pouring into the Blood Sea. This caused the sanguine and baleful aura within the Blood Sea to become increasingly dense and oppressive.
The Blood River Sect disciples did not expect this Blood Sea to remain hidden for long; they only hoped to reap the "harvest" in time.
However, their expectations were dashed.
Although Lei Jun hid his presence and temporarily refrained from taking action, he saw from a distance that at the other river mouths flowing into the sea, lights were gradually appearing.
There were spirit talismans of the Heavenly Master's Mansion disciples, as well as the literary and cultural treasure lights of the Confucian Fang Clan disciples.
Numerous blood rivers converged here.
Those who were searching for and destroying other Blood River arrays had discovered something amiss and, following another blood river, had traced their way here.
There weren't many Blood River Sect disciples guarding this place.
But each one was ferocious.
Blood River Sect cultivators were already fierce and bloodthirsty when fighting with others, and their methods were ruthless.
At this moment, standing above the Blood Sea and nourished by its baleful aura, they could display even stronger prowess.
Hence, these few Blood River Sect disciples fought ferociously without retreating, engaging in a brutal battle with the intruders.
But their luck was just too bad.
Among the group of Heavenly Master's Mansion disciples who had arrived here, there happened to be an elder who had drawn the third-tier fortune stick, leading the team.
That Heavenly Master's Mansion elder took the initiative, and despite the stubborn resistance of the Blood River Sect disciples, they were steadily forced back.
From a distance, Lei Jun watched as he recognized the elder's appearance, feeling a peculiar emotion.
...He could be considered an acquaintance.
Strictly speaking, Lei Jun had not directly interacted with him.
Back when Lei Jun was still in the Daoist Academy, the incident where he obtained the essence of the Purple Gold Lingzhi by choosing fortune over calamity was caused by an Elder Du who accidentally blew up his own altar during a ritual.
Later, after Lei Jun became an official disciple of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, he had encountered Elder Du a few times on various occasions, but they had never interacted directly.
Who would have thought that he would encounter Elder Du again here and now.
With Elder Du leading the way, the group from the Heavenly Master's Mansion quickly rushed into the Blood Sea.
As a few of them were struck down, the remaining Blood River Sect disciples did not show fear but instead, grinned maliciously.
They shouted in unison and then, together, jumped into the Blood Sea.
The already gloomy and oppressive Blood Sea immediately stirred up even more massive waves.
Under the surface of the filthy blood, layers of crimson radiance shone upward.
Then, as the blood waves surged, the entire Blood Sea began to roar and rage.
This move by the Blood River Sect disciples was a desperate gamble.
Although they were not sacrificing themselves, by jumping into the Blood Sea and triggering a tsunami, they were also putting themselves in danger.
However, by doing so, they could deal a severe blow to Elder Du and the others from the Heavenly Master's Mansion while seizing the opportunity to escape, giving themselves a glimmer of hope for survival.
As the Blood Sea erupted, the multiple blood rivers that had originally flowed into it now reversed their flow and surged backward.
Those who had charged into the Blood Sea, including Elder Du, were hit head-on.
Fortunately, Elder Du held the front line, and although the situation was perilous, they were not in a desperate situation.
As long as they didn't fall into the "Eight Desolates Blood Pit" described by the lowest-tier fortune stick, they would be fine.
Lei Jun watched with a slight sense of speechlessness as Elder Du struggled at the very front, shielding the Heavenly Master's Mansion disciples and Fang Clan youngsters behind him from the first wave of the Blood Sea's onslaught.
..."Elder Du, it's hard on you again."
(End of Chapter)
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