r18novel Chapter 49 Anxiety
Chapter 49 Anxiety
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This place is like a garden. Nearby, there are not only patches of exotic flowers and plants that I don’t know the names of, but also seven or eight exquisitely carved jade pavilions scattered around. There are twenty or thirty cultivators standing or sitting here.
Most of these cultivators were dressed in tattered clothes and had pale faces; some were even covered in blood, as if they had all gone through a life-or-death struggle to reach this place.
Even so, these people couldn't hide their excitement, and some cultivators even huddled together, whispering something.
The Yin Ancestor and Wan Tianming, along with a group of Nascent Soul cultivators, were also present, but they were resting with their eyes closed in two separate jade pavilions.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the Golden Elder of the Star Palace sat cross-legged in an open space between the two groups, expressionless and completely silent, like a stone statue.
A hundred feet or so around the garden, there was only billowing black ghostly mist, which completely surrounded this pure land, as if two worlds had been forcibly separated, one side being a paradise on earth and the other a ghostly hell.
"Splash..."
Suddenly, the ghostly mist parted automatically like a curtain, and a male cultivator calmly walked out from within.
The young male cultivator had delicate features and wore a green robe.
What's most surprising is that this person showed no signs of distress whatsoever; his clothes were spotless and his expression was extremely calm, as if he hadn't experienced any fighting at all before arriving here.
This strange situation immediately astonished the nearby cultivators, and their gazes toward this person carried a complex meaning.
Many of the ghostly creatures within this ghostly mist are at the Core Formation stage, and even those at the late Core Formation stage would find it difficult to emerge unscathed.
How could this person pass through so easily? In the end, everyone just thought that Xuan Gu was lucky and didn't encounter any high-level ghosts.
Wen Tianren hid in a corner of a jade pavilion, leaning against a cool jade pillar, his eyes flashing slightly: "It seems that Xuan Gu, this ghost cultivator, really does have some tricks up his sleeve when dealing with these ghosts."
Wen Tianren recognized that this person was the young man in the form of Xuan Gu Shangren.
Xuan Gu's gaze swept across the area, subtly glancing in the direction of Ji Yin, a hint of resentment flashing across his face. But he quickly regained his composure and strode in.
Instead of going into the pavilion to sit with the others, he found a secluded corner and stood there with his hands behind his back, while coldly observing the other cultivators.
Not seeing Han Li, Xuan Gu frowned slightly, but then his expression remained blank.
Meanwhile, Ji Yin, having not yet found any trace of Han Li, also became somewhat anxious.
It wouldn't matter if Han Li died in the ghost mist, but the Blood Jade Spider in his hand was the key to obtaining the Void Heaven Cauldron.
At this moment, Ji Yin regretted not seizing the Blood Jade Spider from Han Li sooner.
Ji Yin would occasionally open its eyes, its sinister gaze sweeping across the ghostly mist like a venomous snake, before reluctantly closing them again.
Although Ji Yin's actions were discreet and went unnoticed by most, Qing Yi Jushi, who was sitting nearby, saw them clearly. He coughed lightly and slowly asked, "Brother Wu, you seem so uneasy. Is there... someone among those who haven't arrived that you're concerned about?"
After saying this, Qingyi stared intently at the Extreme Yin Ancestor, his face showing suspicion.
"He's not someone I miss, just a little fellow I met once, a very interesting junior!" Upon hearing this, Ji Yin immediately regained his composure and said calmly.
"Oh?" Qing Yi's eyes flashed with a strange light, and he said with a forced smile, "An interesting young junior? Then Brother Wu, you must introduce him to me. I have always liked to mentor promising young talents."
"That old fox! He's really suspicious." Ji Yin cursed inwardly, but smiled gently on the surface, "Of course, of course."
Qingyi was also thinking to himself that there must be something fishy about Jiyin, and he planned to follow Jiyin to find out later.
After waiting for several more hours, when even Master Xuangu showed signs of impatience, suspecting that something had really happened to Han Li.
On one side of the ghostly mist, the fog began to churn, and then a large swath of the ghostly mist suddenly parted to the sides, from which Han Li emerged.
"Why did it take Han Li so long to come out? Could he have run into the Yin Spirit Beast King?" Wen Tianren noticed that Han Li's robes were somewhat torn, indicating that he had obviously been through a battle inside. The fact that it took so long meant that the enemy he encountered was no ordinary ghost. He guessed in this way.
Wen Tianren did not ask Han Li.
Upon seeing Han Li appear, both Xuan Gu and Ji Yin were delighted, with a glint of light appearing in Ji Yin's eyes.
Han Li walked to a flowering tree and leaned against it to regulate his breathing, looking tired but calm.
Xuan Gu's voice transmitted through his ear: "Boy, you're moving way too slowly. Could it be that you've encountered the Yin Spirit Beast King?"
Han Li opened his eyes and replied to Xuan Gu, "No, it wasn't. I was just bothered by some troublesome little Yin spirits, which took quite a bit of effort."
In fact, after being teleported by the teleportation array, Han Li did encounter a Yin Spirit Beast King inside. If it weren't for the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder, he really wouldn't have been able to defeat it, which delayed him for quite a while.
Xuan Gu didn't believe Han Li's words at all, but he didn't investigate further, as it didn't affect his plans.
"Hurry up and recover. After we teleport to the second level, don't move. I'll take you to catch the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng. Once you get it, don't forget your promise to help me obtain the item I desire and help me deal with that traitor Ji Yin."
"I understand. Senior, just don't forget what you promised me." Seeing Xuan Gu's eagerness, Han Li guessed that this person was up to something again.
After waiting another day, in the center of the area surrounded by several jade pavilions, a blinding white light flashed on a bare stone slab, attracting the attention of all the cultivators.
Having experienced this before, these cultivators didn't show any surprise.
Sure enough, after the white light, a teleportation array appeared on the flat ground, exactly the same in shape and size as the previous one.
Immediately afterwards, Elder Jin Kui and his companion slowly rose and walked over unhurriedly. After a brief examination, the black-robed cultivator addressed the crowd:
"This teleportation array is the only path to the next level, 'The Path of Ice and Fire.' Before entering the second level, you may have some time in the area you are teleported to collect some spiritual herbs and fruits as a reward for passing the first level."
If you find the next level too dangerous, you can choose not to enter the Ice and Fire Path and simply return here to wait. Stay here for a month, and a teleportation array will then take you away.
Jin Kui swept his gaze across the crowd and added unhurriedly, "I remind you all that whether you want to attempt the second trial or are content with this, you only have one full day to gather the medicinal herbs. Do not take chances. If you remain inside greedily after this time, you will be trapped forever."
As far as I know, in the thousands of years since, no cultivator imprisoned inside has ever been seen again when the Void Heaven Palace reopens. Alright, everyone, please make yourselves at home.”
After saying this, without paying attention to the reactions of the cultivators present, Jin Kui and another law enforcement elder stepped onto the teleportation array and disappeared.
This time, the other cultivators did not hesitate and rushed forward. After all, time was limited, and having more time to search for spiritual items naturally increased the chances of a successful harvest.
They had considered the ancient treasures and even rarer items in the inner hall, but they knew that they had only managed to pass the first test by luck, and the upcoming "Ice and Fire Path" would likely be even more dangerous. Moreover, they would have to compete with those Nascent Soul stage monsters for them in the end, making their chances extremely slim.
After receiving a casual glance from Xuan Gu Shangren, Han Li also mingled among the others and hurriedly teleported over.
However, just as he was about to be teleported away, he sensed the extremely yin gaze once again, coiling around him like a venomous snake.
He dared not look back, but quickened his pace and disappeared into the light curtain in an instant.
Wen Tianren then entered the teleportation array.