txolops Chapter 154 The Center of Dongzhou, on the Edge of the Great Wilderness
Chapter 154 The Center of Dongzhou, on the Edge of the Great Wilderness
Meteorite Abyss is located in the very center of Dongzhou.
Legend has it that in ancient times, a star fell and pierced the earth's veins, leaving behind this enormous abyss that stretches for tens of thousands of miles.
The abyss is shrouded in a hazy mist year-round; when one probes into it with divine sense, it is like a mud ox sinking into the sea, unable to stir up even the slightest ripple.
Dark red malevolent energy rose from the bottom of the abyss, intertwining with the fierce winds in the sky, transforming into a layer of perpetual gray mist that obscured the sun, moon, and stars.
This is Meteor Abyss, the most famous forbidden area in Dongzhou, and the battlefield of this grand competition.
"Waaah—"
The mournful sound of horns tore through the clouds.
The giant flying ship of the Flowing Cloud Sect, which was three hundred feet long, broke through the thick fog and slowly hovered on a towering cliff on the west side of the Meteorite Abyss, carrying a heavy spiritual pressure.
Gu Yan stood in the corner of the deck, idly waving a folding fan in his hand, his gaze passing through the thin defensive light screen in front of him and looking down at the bustling wasteland.
Although he had been a local tyrant in Changning County for ten years and had seen a bit of the world, the scene before him still made him squint slightly.
The vast wilderness, stretching for hundreds of miles, was now adorned with banners that blotted out the sun and radiant light that soared into the sky.
Thousands of various flying magical artifacts, like a swarm of bees returning to their nest, densely occupied every corner of the sky.
There were enormous bone boats, entirely black and exuding a putrid stench; there were alluring flower boats shaped like lotus flowers, spewing pink poisonous mist as their petals opened and closed; and there were countless sword lights, beast chariots, and flying shuttles, weaving together in mid-air to form a giant, colorful net.
Hundreds of sects, families, and even the rarely seen alliance of independent cultivators from Dongzhou have gathered here today.
"What a grand display."
Gu Yan sighed softly, craning his neck to look around.
Standing not far from him, Nangong Yue frowned in disgust upon hearing this, and took two steps to the side, not wanting to be tainted by Gu Yan's shabby air.
"Junior Brother Gu, shut your mouth."
Su Hongxiu, holding her long sword, glanced at him with a half-smile: "Don't embarrass the Flowing Cloud Sect. Look over there, that's the Beast Taming Chariot from the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain. It's pulled by three Crimson Flame Tigers at the early Golden Core stage. If any one of them were released, it could chew you up to nothing but bones."
Gu Yan looked in the direction she was pointing.
Due north, a rugged and wild bronze chariot rumbled through the void.
Standing on the chariot were a group of muscular men clad in animal skins, each accompanied by a ferocious beast whose stench could be smelled from afar.
"That's natural, that's natural."
Gu Yan shrank back, looking timid and cowardly, and laughed, "Junior brother, with my meager skills, how dare I compare with these powerful figures? When we enter the secret realm, I'll have to rely on the help of my senior sisters."
Shen Youwei stood at the bow of the boat, dressed in white, ignoring the commotion behind her.
Her gaze remained calm and serene, but when she saw the towering crimson light in the due east, her fingers tightened around her sword.
"We've arrived at the Blood River Sect."
As Shen Youwei's cool voice rang out, the clamor above Meteor Abyss abruptly fell silent for a moment.
In the eastern sky, the once azure sky looked as if it had been splashed with a basin of thick dog blood.
A blood-red river, thousands of feet wide, defied all logic, suspended in mid-air, surging forth in a mighty torrent.
In the river of blood, countless pale skulls floated, each with emerald green will-o'-the-wisps flickering in its eye sockets, emitting mournful howls.
At the very front of that river of blood stood a throne made of piled bones.
A man dressed in a blood-red robe and wearing a hideous mask leaned lazily against the throne.
He didn't release any pressure; he simply sat there, and the surrounding space was distorted by some terrifying killing intent, so much so that even light couldn't escape.
Gu Yan looked at the figure sitting on the bone throne, a strange smile that was extremely difficult to detect flashing deep in his eyes.
That was his clone, the Blood Swordsman, the newly crowned killing god of the Blood River Sect, who was now unparalleled in popularity.
"Such a heavy aura of malevolence."
Nangong Yue's expression was solemn as she whispered, "That's the Blood Swordsman who's recently risen to prominence in the Blood River Sect? I've heard he's also at the early Golden Core stage, but he's already killed more than two dozen cultivators of the same level. Once we enter the Meteor Abyss, we absolutely cannot confront him head-on."
Gu Yan, who was listening nearby, was secretly delighted, but put on a terrified expression and nodded repeatedly in agreement: "That's terrifying, that's terrifying. This person looks like a ruthless killer. We must avoid him if we encounter him."
Just then, as if sensing something, the Blood Swordsman on the Bone Throne slightly turned his head, and his cold eyes under the mask landed precisely on the Flowing Cloud Sect's flying boat across thousands of feet of void.
To be precise, it fell on Gu Yan.
The Blood Swordsman raised his pale finger and slowly made a throat-slitting gesture in Gu Yan's direction.
The disciples on the Flowing Cloud Sect's flying boat were immediately in an uproar.
"Is he provoking us?"
"Too arrogant! They're completely disregarding our Flowing Cloud Sect!"
"No...no, he's looking at Gu Changsheng!"
Everyone realized what was happening, and a barrage of gloating or pity turned to Gu Yan.
Gu Yan's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he pointed at himself, trembling, "Why is this demon targeting me?"
Seeing this, Su Hongxiu snorted coldly, drew her longsword half an inch from its sheath, and stood in front of Gu Yan, shouting loudly, "You demonic fiend, stop your arrogance! If you want to harm anyone from my Flowing Cloud Sect, ask my sword first!"
Although she looked down on Gu Yan, the Flowing Cloud Sect was known for its fierce protection of its own in the face of external enemies.
The Blood Swordsman in the distance let out a piercing sneer, ignoring Su Hongxiu, and instead rode the Blood River to occupy a high ground in the east, remaining silent.
This seemingly tense scene was actually a well-directed and acted show by Gu Yan himself.
Only by making the Blood Swordsman show his determination to kill him can he be legitimately hunted down in the Meteor Abyss, then disappear and thus break away from the main force to act alone.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Just as various forces were stirring up trouble, three thunderous drumbeats resounded from the top of the sky.
All the noise and killing intent paled in comparison to the sound of the drums.
An immense pressure, surpassing all living beings, surged forth like a celestial river overflowing, enveloping an area of hundreds of miles.
"That is..."
Gu Yan looked up and his pupils contracted.
In the southern sky, nine snow-white dragons, each over a hundred feet long, pulled a white jade chariot that resembled a palace, shattering the void as they arrived.
The carriage was surrounded by celestial music and auspicious clouds.
Hundreds of cultivators dressed in purple and gold Taoist robes stood guard on their swords, each exuding an unfathomable aura.
At the very top of the carriage hung a large purple-gold banner with two ancient seal characters: Cangxuan.
The Cangxuan Sect, the number one overlord of Dongzhou, with a Nascent Soul cultivator in charge, has arrived.
"Welcome, Envoy of Cangxuan Sect!"
Below, countless cultivators from various sects, whether righteous or demonic, bowed their heads and shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
This is the majesty that comes from overwhelming strength.
The white jade chariot slowly came to a stop directly above Meteor Abyss, looking down upon all living beings.
An old, dignified figure stepped out of the carriage.
The old man, with white hair and beard, wore a Taoist robe embroidered with star patterns. Without using any magical artifacts, he simply rode the wind and walked step by step to the top of everyone's heads.
With each step he took, a golden lotus flower would bloom beneath his feet, supporting his body.
The newcomer was a powerful expert in the late Nascent Soul stage!
"That's Zhou Chongyue, the Grand Elder of Law Enforcement of the Cangxuan Sect!"
Shen Youwei said in a low voice, her eyes full of awe: "It is said that he lived for eight hundred years and his mastery of the Star Dao is unparalleled. A hundred years ago, he once suppressed the beast tide in the East Sea all by himself."
Zhou Chongyue stood in the void, his cloudy old eyes flashing with a sharp light as he scanned the entire scene.
Wherever his gaze fell, whether it was the unruly demonic cultivators or the rugged and wild Lord of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, they all subconsciously restrained their aura.
"Gentlemen."
Zhou Chongyue spoke, and his voice echoed in everyone's ears, penetrating their very souls.
"Sixty years is a cycle, and the winds of change are blowing in the East."
"Today, we have gathered in the Meteorite Abyss, seeking that one chance to attain enlightenment."
With a wave of his sleeve, Zhou Chongyue unleashed countless golden streaks of light that rained down upon the flying boats of the various sects below.
Gu Yan reached out and caught a streak of light that flew towards him. When he opened his palm, he saw a small, warm-looking blue jade pendant, about the size of his palm.
The jade plaque is engraved with the words "Meteorite" on the front, while the back is blank.
"This is the Meteorite Decree."
Zhou Chongyue's voice continued, carrying a chilling aura.
"In this grand competition, all those below the Nascent Soul stage are welcome to enter."
There is only one rule: survival.
"Within the Meteor Abyss, countless ancient battlefield ruins lie, where opportunities and dangers coexist. You shall enter and, by any means necessary, search for the star fragments scattered throughout the secret realm."
"One fragment of a star is worth ten points. Slay the cultivator holding the Meteorite Token and seize the token to gain all their points!"
These words caused an uproar in the room.
Kill cultivators to gain points?
This has far exceeded the scope of a normal competition; it is clearly a breeding ground for mutual slaughter!
Although there have been casualties in previous competitions, malicious killings have been explicitly prohibited.
This time, however, the Cangxuan Sect actually tore off this fig leaf and laid bare the naked law of the jungle.
Gu Yan held the Meteorite Token in his hand, his fingertips gently touching the cool jade, a playful smile curving his lips.
"That's interesting."
If it were a martial arts competition, he would have to hold his hands and feet back, for fear of revealing the secrets of his Divine Demon Golden Core.
But in this chaotic and disorderly secret realm, the dead don't speak.
"This...is too cruel!"
Gu Yan feigned fear perfectly and turned to Shen Youwei: "Senior sister, can we not participate? I want to go back to Changning County to farm."
"This...is too cruel!"
Gu Yan feigned fear perfectly and turned to Shen Youwei: "Senior sister, can we not participate? I want to go back to Changning County to farm."
Shen Youwei frowned, ignoring Gu Yan's nonsense, and stared intently at Zhou Chongyue above.
She knew that since such cruel rules were set, the corresponding rewards would definitely drive people crazy.
really.
Zhou Chongyue seemed satisfied with everyone's reaction. He stroked his beard and spoke again.
"The event will last for one month. After one month, the exit of the secret realm will open. Those ranked in the top 100 will be able to enter the Cangxuan Sect's Spirit Cleansing Pool to refine their innate qualities."
"The top ten will be awarded one Nascent Soul Pill and one top-grade spiritual treasure."
"boom!"
If the previous rules were frightening, then the current rewards have caused the crowd to erupt in excitement.
Infant Condensation Pill!
That is the key pill for cultivators at the Golden Core stage to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, and it has always been a priceless treasure!
A single Nascent Soul Pill is enough to turn father and son against each other, and master and disciple into enemies.
Countless old monsters who had been stuck in the late stage of the Golden Core realm for many years were now breathing heavily, their eyes flashing with greedy red light.
However, the main event is yet to come.
Zhou Chongyue paused for a moment, then dropped the final bombshell.
"As for the player with the most points..."
He raised his hand, and a fist-sized ball of light, radiating a seven-colored halo, appeared in his palm.
Within that ball of light, a small, exquisite pagoda could be vaguely seen floating and sinking, its body exuding an ancient and weathered Daoist charm, as if containing the ultimate truth of the beginning of heaven and earth.
"This is an ancient treasure, a core fragment of the Taixu Demon Suppression Tower."
"Whoever obtains this fragment can comprehend the laws of space and even have a chance to find the lost Taixu Demon-Suppressing Tower, which has been lost for ten thousand years!"
The entire audience fell silent; the sound of rapid breathing drowned out the whooshing of the airship.
Even the usually arrogant and aloof Blood Swordsman suddenly sat up straight, his eyes behind his mask fixed on the halo of light.
Spatial Laws!
That is a supreme law that even Nascent Soul stage experts find difficult to reach.
If one could obtain this trace of the law, even a Nascent Soul cultivator would be invincible among those of the same level.
Gu Yan's heart skipped a beat.
The Demon-Suppressing Tower of the Void?
The golden core of the divine demon within his body trembled violently the instant the ball of light appeared.
The divine light on the left side wanted to get close to it, while the demonic energy on the right side wanted to devour it.
"This thing will be very useful to me."
Gu Yan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the restlessness within him, and his eyes slowly became clear and firm.
Originally, he just wanted to come and get some resources and get rid of Zhao Wuji's troubles.
But now, Gu Yan is determined to have this number one treasure!
"Alright, there's no point in saying more."
Zhou Chongyue put away the ball of light, formed hand seals, and pointed sharply at the Meteor Abyss below.
"Secret Realm, open!"
The gray mist that had enveloped the abyss seemed to be parted by a pair of invisible hands.
A colossal gate of light, thousands of feet tall, slowly condensed and took shape in the void.
Inside the portal was a bizarre and fantastical world, brimming with primitiveness and wildness.
"Charge!"
Someone shouted.
Countless cultivators, who could no longer contain themselves, surged forward like a swarm of locusts, riding their escape lights, and rushed madly toward the gate of light.
The chariots of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain roared, the blood waves of the Blood River Sect surged, and the sword formation of the Azure Profound Sect was imposing.
On the flying boat of the Flowing Cloud Sect, Nangong Yue drew her long sword, unleashing a burst of purple-gold spiritual power, and turned to give Gu Yan a cold look.
"Stay close. Once you're inside, if you fall behind, no one will come back for you."
After saying that, she took the lead and rushed out with Su Hongxiu and Shen Youwei.
Gu Yan stood still, straightened his robes which had been ruffled by the wind, and put on his honest smile again.
He slowly pulled out a low-level flying sword he had bought from a street stall, wobbled as he stepped onto it, and blended into the crowd of rogue cultivators, like an inconspicuous wave merging into the surging torrent.
"Fellow Daoists, please slow down, slow down! Safety first!"
He shouted and yelled in the crowd, drawing disdainful glances from those around him.
However, no one noticed that when he lowered his head, his left eye showed compassion, while his right eye held a sinister grin.
Now that the hunting grounds have opened, it remains to be seen who the hunters and who the prey are.