txolops Chapter 200 The Sea Eye Breaks Through the Abyss, the Secret Realm Begins to Open
Chapter 200 The Sea Eye Breaks Through the Abyss, the Secret Realm Begins to Open
Chapter 200 The Sea Eye Breaks Through the Abyss, the Secret Realm Begins to Open
In the Far Eastern Sea, the long night has just ended.
Torn apart by the raging wind, the seawater surged up to tens of meters high, crashing violently against the black stone pillars standing on the sea surface, creating a series of booming sounds.
The gates of all 108 underwater caves burst open simultaneously, and tens of thousands of Foundation Establishment stage sword cultivators emerged from the waves.
They were dressed in uniform black outfits and carried long swords, like neatly arranged black iron nails, densely packed on the surging waves.
There was no one who spoke first; only the low hum of the wind sweeping across the sword hilt gathered into a massive sword intent that could pierce the clouds.
On the seventy-two remaining peaks, seventy-two peak masters at the late Golden Core stage stood in mid-air.
The sword cultivators' sharp spiritual energy circulated around them, shredding all the falling frost.
Further up, at the edge of thirty-six floating islands linked by thick iron chains, thirty-six island lords at the half-step Nascent Soul stage stood with their hands at their sides, their gazes all fixed on the main peak palace at the highest point.
Such a spectacle has only occurred three times in the ten thousand years since the Guixu Sect was founded.
The first time was in the fight against the ancient black dragon, when the founder established the sect.
The second time was when they faced the invasion of the demonic forces, and the entire sect fought to the death.
This third time, however, was to send off a young junior who was not from our sect as he entered the sect's most sacred forbidden area.
Amidst the rolling clouds and mist, two figures slowly walked along the suspended stone path leading to the main peak.
The person walking half a step ahead was none other than Gu Changsheng, the Holy Son of the Flowing Cloud Sect and now the world-renowned Demon-Slaying Alliance Leader.
He was draped in a large white fox fur cloak, which completely covered his thin and tall body.
The biting winds of the Far East Sea blew across his pale, frail, and handsome face, leaving a sickly blush.
Half a step behind Gu Changsheng, followed a young man with a figure as straight as a spear.
The young man had a cold and stern face, with an innate arrogance between his brows. His dark gold robe, representing the supreme status of the Guixu Sect's young sect leader, fluttered in the wind.
He is Zhou Tianqi, the top genius of Dongzhou and the future successor of the Guixu Sect.
Zhou Tianqi's gaze was always fixed on Gu Yan. Whenever the wind picked up a little, he would naturally step forward and use his powerful true essence, perfected at the Golden Core stage, to shield Gu Yan from the knife-like chill.
In Zhou Tianqi's mind, the white-clad youth before him was a peerless sage who carried the hopes of the entire Eastern Continent for the future.
Decades ago, the two sides were on the verge of a bloody battle.
To quell the conspiracy, he willingly bound his own Qi Sea, enduring humiliation and imprisonment in the dark and damp death cell of the Cangxuan Sect.
Just when he thought he would perish in endless torment and watch helplessly as the righteous sects of Dongzhou slaughtered each other.
It was Gu Changsheng who stepped forward, disregarding the damage to his own Dao foundation, and with supreme righteousness and the power of his Nascent Soul master, pulled him back from the abyss of hell.
Later, he was stationed at the bamboo tower of the Liuyun Sect and witnessed firsthand how this man vomited blood containing golden essence in that secret room in order to resist the demonic calamity.
Gu Changsheng's selfless spirit and compassionate heart had already left an indelible mark on Zhou Tianqi's heart.
The two walked side by side down the suspended stone path and arrived at the spacious obsidian plaza in front of the Hall of the Nine Elders.
The First Elder, Mo Tianwen, along with the other eight Nascent Soul elders, had been waiting there for quite some time.
Upon seeing Gu Yan appear, Mo Tianwen's white hair trembled in the wind.
He strode forward and, in front of the entire sect's 100,000 disciples, bowed to Gu Yan, performing the highest-level sword cultivator salute.
The eight elders behind them, and even the 100,000 sword cultivators on the islands, ruins, and sea below, all made the same movements in unison at this moment.
One hundred thousand right hands simultaneously rested on the hilts of swords at the left side of the waist, the scabbards striking the armor with a deafening clang.
Gu Yan quickly reached out his hands to support Mo Tianwen's arm, his tone filled with a mixture of flattery, fear, and weakness.
"Elder Mo, you flatter me. What virtue or ability do I possess to receive such a great gift from the fellow Daoists of the Guixu Sect?"
"Please rise quickly. If word gets out, wouldn't the world laugh at Changsheng for being so arrogant and ignorant?"
Gu Yan's fingertips were icy cold, and he had to catch his breath after every sentence. His swaying appearance made Mo Tianwen and the others' eyes redden.
"The alliance leader is so righteous, who in this world dares to laugh at him?"
Mo Tianwen stood up with Gu Yan's help, his eyes filled with respect and sighs.
"Thirty years ago, during the Battle of Tianlang Pass, if it weren't for the Alliance Leader sacrificing a hundred years of lifespan and Dao foundation to unleash that Nascent Soul Annihilation Array, I, along with these old bones behind me, and even the 100,000 cultivators on the Eastern Continent defense line, would have long since become food for the demons. No one in the Guixu Sect dares to forget the Alliance Leader's life-saving grace. This bow is well-deserved from the Alliance Leader."
Gu Yan shook his head, a bitter smile appearing on his lips, his gaze sweeping over the vast array of sword cultivators below.
"We are all of one mind in Dongzhou. With the demonic calamity looming, Changsheng has only done his duty. However, my crippled body is truly useless. Not only did I fail to kill that red-robed demon, but I also have to trouble Sect Master Mo to make an exception and open this Guixu Secret Realm to borrow the annihilation source in the sea eye to prolong my life. I am extremely ashamed."
Gu Yan's words were beautifully crafted, perfectly packaging today's exchange of interests, which was full of transactions and oppression, as a blessing and salvation from the Guixu Sect.
These steps brought immense comfort to all the elders and disciples of the Guixu Sect.
Just then, Zhou Tianqi, who was standing next to Gu Yan, stepped forward.
He turned around, faced Mo Tianwen and the other elders, and knelt on both knees.
"Esteemed elders, your disciple Zhou Tianqi has a request to make."
Mo Tianwen was taken aback and looked at the young sect leader who had placed all the sect's hopes on him, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.
"Tianqi, what are you doing? Get up and speak."
Zhou Tianqi stood tall with his back straight and his gaze as firm as a rock.
"Alliance Leader Gu's Dao foundation is damaged, and his spiritual power is unstable. This time, he will enter the Guixu Secret Realm. The Annihilation Sword Qi in the depths of the sea eye is extremely violent. If he goes alone, he will die and his Dao will be destroyed if he is not careful. This disciple requests to go into the secret realm with Alliance Leader as the vanguard, clear the obstacles in front of Alliance Leader and resist the backlash of the formation."
These words immediately made the atmosphere in the square somewhat heavy.
It is true that the Guixu Secret Realm is a forbidden area of the sect, but it is still a place where one has a slim chance of survival.
It was filled with the lingering ferocity of the dragon's might after the founding patriarch slew the ancient black dragon, as well as the purest and most destructive sword intent.
Let alone the Golden Core stage, even a powerful expert like Mo Tianwen in the late Nascent Soul stage would have to be extremely cautious and walk on thin ice if he went in.
As the young sect leader, Zhou Tianqi is the key figure for the future of the Guixu Sect for the next hundred years. How could we allow him to take such a fatal risk?
"Nonsense."
The second elder was a hot-tempered old woman, and she immediately reprimanded her.
"The secret realm is unpredictable. Your Golden Core Perfection cultivation is undoubtedly invincible among the younger generation, but in the face of the ultimate formation left by the founding patriarch, you may not even be able to protect yourself. If something happens to you, who will take over the inheritance of my Guixu Sect?"
Zhou Tianqi refused to budge an inch. He raised his head, his eyes revealing a stubbornness.
"If I can't even protect the safety of my benefactor, what's the point of cultivating the sword? The sword of the Guixu Sect will never bend, even if it breaks. Alliance Leader Gu shed his blood for Dongzhou. Today, I will give my life in this secret realm to ensure Alliance Leader's safety. If the elders do not agree, I will kneel here forever and will never live alone."
What an unyielding sword prodigy!
What a loyal and righteous young master of Guixu!
Gu Yan looked at the stubborn figure kneeling on the ground, and a hint of playful admiration flashed in the depths of his gaze hidden in the ripped fox fur.
What a fine and sharp blade!
Zhou Tianqi's pride and loyalty were both firmly trapped by his carefully woven lies.
This future overlord of Dongzhou, destined to dominate the world, is now willing to become the most solid stepping stone under his feet, wanting to repay a demon who has manipulated him with his life.
Gu Yan knew that the play couldn't fall flat, and he had to make a statement befitting his status as the Holy Son of Liuyun.
He started coughing violently, coughing so hard he could barely breathe, and his back bent over.
He reached out and grabbed Zhou Tianqi's shoulder, his voice hoarse and trembling with excitement.
"Brother Zhou, you absolutely mustn't do this."
Gu Yan gripped Zhou Tianqi's arm tightly, her eyes filled with anxiety.
"You are the future of the Guixu Sect and the hope of the righteous path in Dongzhou, while I, Gu Changsheng, am just a dying man. Going to this secret realm is merely doing my best and leaving the rest to fate. If you risk your life for me, what does it matter if I don't enter this secret realm? Get up quickly."
Zhou Tianqi grasped Gu Yan's cold hand in return, and seeing the blush on Gu Yan's cheeks from worrying about him, he was deeply moved.
"Alliance Leader, please do not refuse."
Zhou Tianqi's tone was firm and resolute.
"You are the bright moon in the sky, and Tianqi is just a firefly on the ground. Protecting you is not only my personal way of repaying your kindness, but also the responsibility that the young sect leader of Guixu Sect should bear."
Looking at the deep brotherly affection that seemed to transcend life and death, Mo Tianwen was momentarily at a loss for words.
He didn't want the sect's most outstanding talent to die, yet he was deeply moved by the noble character of the two men.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, a deep, aged sigh drifted down from the highest peak in the heavens.
The sigh was not loud, but it easily pierced through the howling sea wind and reached everyone's ears.
"Let him go."
As the sound faded, the space in front of the square rippled like water.
Wearing a simple, pure black Taoist robe and with a full head of gray hair, Mo Wuhen, the sect leader of Guixu Sect, appeared out of thin air in everyone's sight.
"metropolitan."
Mo Tianwen and the nine elders immediately bowed respectfully.
Mo Wuhen ignored the mundane etiquette around him. His gray eyes, devoid of whites, gave Zhou Tianqi, who was kneeling on the ground, a deep look before shifting his complex gaze to Gu Yan's pale and gentle face.
Only Mo Wuhen, a powerful figure in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, knew what terrifying and evil soul lay hidden beneath the seemingly frail, white-robed youth who spoke of benevolence and morality.
In this game of chess, Zhou Tianqi was as pitiful as a lamb that had been stripped of its wool but was still counting money for the butcher.
But Mo Wuhen could not say it, nor dared he say it.
The master behind Gu Yan was like a mountain, and Gu Yan's strange realm that could switch between reality and paper effigy made him even more hesitant to act rashly.
So Mo Wuhen compromised.
The waters of this world are indeed too deep. Before we figure out Gu Yan's true schemes, sacrificing a young sect leader to find out the situation might be the safest way to pledge allegiance to him.
I can only hope that this devil will spare the life of this foolish child, considering how hard Tianqi has served him all this time.
"A fledgling eagle that has not experienced life and death will never be able to soar through the sky. Since Tianqi has this heart for the Dao, as an elder of the sect, we should help him fulfill his destiny."
Mo Wuhen's voice carried a detached indifference, as he waved his wide sleeves.
"Alliance Leader Gu, my unworthy disciple is stubborn and has entered the secret realm. I hope you can give him some guidance. If you encounter the remnants of the Ancestral Master's power, the two of you can look after each other and perhaps find a different way to survive."
To others, this might sound like a senior showing concern for a junior, but Gu Yan understood the hidden probing within it.
Mo Wuhen was implying to him that there was great danger in the secret realm, and even if Gu Yan was a being of both god and demon, he might still capsize if he was not careful. Secondly, he was asking him not to kill Zhou Tianqi.
Gu Yan released his hand from Zhou Tianqi's, straightened the collar of his fox fur coat, and bowed respectfully to Mo Wuhen.
"I will always remember your teachings, senior. Brother Zhou is kind and generous. I will stand with you through thick and thin and never fail the trust placed in me by the Guixu Sect."
Gu Yan emphasized the four words "sharing life and death".
Mo Wuhen's eye muscles twitched slightly, then he composed himself and formed an ancient and complex hand seal in front of his chest.
"All disciples, listen to my command: guard your true essence and do not look directly into the sea eye."
Mo Wuhen roared, unleashing his terrifying mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation.
In an instant, the sky and the earth changed color.
The thick, heavy clouds were parted by an unseen, invisible giant hand, revealing the dark void hidden above the clouds.
A jet-black iron token flew out from Mo Wuhen's sleeve. The token spun rapidly in mid-air, shooting out a blinding black light that shot straight into the giant, wildly spinning seawater funnel below.
"Boom!"
A deep, muffled roar, as if from the ancient wilderness, rolled in from the depths of the sea.
The seawater, tens of thousands of feet deep, began to boil violently.
Immediately afterwards, a shocking scene that could shatter the minds of low-level cultivators slowly unfolded.
The enormous ocean whirlpool, with a diameter of a hundred miles, defied the laws of nature and stopped rotating under the illumination of the dark light.
Then, hundreds of millions of tons of black seawater, as if split in two by an invisible giant axe that split the heavens and the earth, were pushed high and rose into the air on both sides.
Two towering black walls of water, thousands of feet high, rose from the center of the sea, their surfaces crackling with violent lightning and the enormous skeletons of sea monsters.
The water receded to both sides, revealing the deep sea abyss that had been little known to the Guixu Sect for ten thousand years.
It was a straight seabed road hundreds of feet wide.
The seabed is covered with a thick layer of grayish-white ashes, the traces left by marine creatures crushed by the deathly aura of the sea eye over countless years.
At the end of the ashes, a magnificent ancient altar, cast from pure dark red ironstone, lies quietly in the depths of darkness.
In the center of the altar, a massive spatial rift, a thousand feet long and shaped like a vertical eye, was slowly writhing.
From within the crack, endless, desolate mist overflowed.
Occasionally, a high-pitched, ancient dragon roar filled with endless resentment, carrying with it an incomparably sharp sword aura, would pierce through the crack, causing the lightning on the water walls on both sides to shatter inch by inch.
The mere wisp of aura emitted was enough to turn the faces of the many Golden Core stage peak masters standing at the edge of the square pale, causing them to groan and stagger back several steps.
"The Eye of the Sea of Return to Nothingness, sealed for ten thousand years, is broken today."
Mo Wuhen's body hovered in mid-air, his hands maintaining the mudra of the Sea-Purifying Technique, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Forcibly opening a secret realm of this level would be an extremely costly endeavor, even for a Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Time is of the essence; the passage can only be maintained for half an hour. Alliance Leader Gu, Tian Qi, if we don't enter now, when will we?"
Mo Wuhen urged him sternly.
"Your disciple obeys."
Zhou Tianqi suddenly stood up from the ground, his blood boiling.
Without any hesitation, he joined his right fingers like a sword, and the cyan longsword at his waist emitted a clear dragon's roar as it was drawn from its sheath, transforming into a sharp sword light that landed at his feet.
"Alliance Leader, please come with me."
Zhou Tianqi turned his head, extended his left hand towards Gu Yan, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.
He circulated his true energy to its limit, forming a spherical protective shield of qi about ten feet in diameter around his body.
Gu Yan looked at Zhou Tianqi with a grateful smile that was as warm as a spring breeze.
"Thank you for your trouble, Brother Zhou."
Gu Yan took two unsteady steps forward and stepped into Zhou Tianqi's protective aura.
The two rode the sword light, following the seabed road escorted by 100,000 elite sword cultivators, and sped towards the writhing spatial rift deep in the seabed.
The wind howled in my ears.
As they descended deeper into the ocean, the surrounding light grew dimmer and the temperature dropped to the point where water would freeze instantly.
The towering sea walls on both sides, thousands of feet high, exuded a terrifying pressure from the water currents, as if they were about to collapse at any moment, crushing the two cultivators, who were like ants, into mincemeat.
Zhou Tianqi stood at the forefront, his face extremely solemn, veins bulging on his forehead. With each breath, he was frantically consuming the golden core power in his dantian to maintain the protective shield around Gu Yan from being pierced by the dissipating Annihilation Sword Qi.
Hidden behind the protective barrier, the sickly holy son, who appeared to outsiders to be struggling even to stand, had a terrifying dark red sea of blood quietly surging in his eyes.
Gu Yan smiled as he sensed the desolate mist surrounding him, which was powerful enough to devour the life force of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
What others see as a deadly poison is, for his divine and demonic foundation, a great tonic like rain after a long drought.
With each breath, his pores greedily absorbed the deathly energy seeping through the protective barrier, sending it into his dantian to strengthen the dark red divine demonic nascent soul.
This is the source of pure power, the end of all rules and morality.
Once he absorbs the essence of annihilation from the secret realm, he will have an absolute trump card to overturn the table in this game of chess in the Eastern Continent.
Gu Yan glanced at Zhou Tianqi's shoulders, which were trembling due to excessive consumption of spiritual energy.
What a wonderful person.
Gu Yan sighed softly to himself.
Those arrogant and righteous geniuses, thinking they are practicing righteousness, do not know that every drop of blood they shed only makes the demonic flames burn even more fiercely.
Soon, the sword light reached the edge of the seabed.
The massive, dark red iron altar stood before us, and the vertical eye-shaped spatial rift emitted an irresistible, immense suction force.
"Leader, be careful, we're about to go in."
Zhou Tianqi roared, bit his tongue, and sprayed a drop of blood essence onto his protective aura, forcibly increasing the thickness of his defense. Then, carrying Gu Yan, he plunged headlong into the hazy, desolate rift.
Light and shadow intertwined, and then suddenly the world spun around.
The raging waves and gales of the real world vanished without a trace the moment they crossed the crack.
After a moment of weightlessness, Gu Yan found himself standing firmly on the ground.
The world before my eyes has no sun, moon, or stars.
The earth was a scorched, frozen wasteland, devoid of plants and life.
Gray dust floated in the air.
These dust particles are not soil, but rather the remnants and bone dust of magical artifacts that have crumbled and decomposed under the law of annihilation over countless millennia.
And at the very edge of sight.
The skeleton of an ancient behemoth, as large as a mountain range, lay across the gray earth.
Those were the remains of a black dragon.
Even after ten thousand years of death, its stark white bones still exude a terrifying dragon's might that sends shivers down one's spine.
At the dragon's head, which is the absolute center of this secret realm, thousands upon thousands of longswords of various shapes are densely packed together.
Some swords were completely corroded, while others still gleamed with a cold light.
Millions of swords formed a colossal sword palace, relentlessly suppressing the remnant soul of this ancient, dark dragon.
"puff."
A muffled thud broke the silence.
Zhou Tianqi, who had just landed on the ground, had just removed the protective aura he had forcibly activated when he stumbled and fell to his knees on the black frozen earth, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The blood had barely touched the ground when it was immediately absorbed by the gray earth and dissipated as a wisp of green smoke.
The annihilation sword intent here was too domineering. Even though he was prepared, the spatial tide when he passed through the passage still injured his golden core.
Gu Yan immediately stepped forward and gently placed his hand on Zhou Tianqi's shoulder.
In that instant, a gentle demonic energy disguised as righteousness flowed through Gu Yan's palm into Zhou Tianqi's meridians, protecting his faltering heart meridian.
"Brother Zhou, how are you feeling?"
Gu Yan's voice conveyed concern and self-reproach perfectly.
"I shouldn't have let you follow me. Now you've needlessly damaged my foundation. I'm truly ashamed."
Zhou Tianqi raised the back of his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, feeling the warm current flowing into his body. He turned his head and looked at Gu Yan with a face full of emotion.
"It's not the alliance leader's fault, it's Tianqi who dragged us down."
Zhou Tianqi leaned on his cyan longsword, used the leverage to stand up, and looked resolutely at the majestic Sword Clan and Dragon Bone in the distance.
"Rest assured, Alliance Leader. Although I am weak, I am still capable of fighting. As long as I am here, I will not allow those remnant souls and evil spirits to harm you. We will go there to find the source of annihilation and repair your foundation."
His once brilliant azure sword aura could now barely protect the area three feet around him.
"Alliance Leader, the aura of annihilation here feels like fragments of some kind of law, attempting to strip us of our senses."
Zhou Tianqi's voice was tense. He turned to look at Gu Yan and found that Gu Yan's face was still pale, but his steps were much more steady than he had imagined.
"I'm fine."
Gu Yan covered his mouth with a handkerchief and let out a suppressed cough, but when he looked at the huge black dragon skeleton in the distance, a look of surprise flashed across his eyes.
As the two drew closer, the ancient pressure spanning tens of thousands of years became increasingly violent.
The millions of longswords inserted into the dragon's head began to tremble violently, and the humming sound of metal clashing together struck the souls of the two people directly in the silent void.
Just when they were still a hundred feet away from the black dragon's skeleton.
Gu Yan casually used the Flowing Cloud Myriad Transformations Sword Technique to eliminate a nearby remnant soul.
A sudden change occurred.
Two eerie green flames suddenly ignited in the previously lifeless eye sockets of the dragon bone.
A divine consciousness carrying endless resentment and destructive desires transformed into a mournful dragon roar, directly rampaging through Gu Yan's sea of consciousness.
"Disciples of the Ruins—you have suppressed me for ten thousand years, yet today you dare to bring living beings into this deadly realm!"
Zhou Tianqi felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow. He let out a muffled groan and was forced back three steps by the dragon's might, blood seeping from his ears.
He abruptly drew his sword to his chest, his eyes filled with horror: "This dragon soul hasn't been completely annihilated yet! Alliance Leader, be careful, I'll cover your retreat!"
After the two balls of eerie green dragon fire swept past Zhou Tianqi, they fixed firmly on Gu Yan.
The entire space of the secret realm distorted violently at that moment.
The dragon's roar, which was originally filled with murderous intent, suddenly became quite strange, carrying a sense of confusion and terror that transcended eras.
"No—this isn't the death energy of the Void—"
That aged and hoarse voice roared wildly in Gu Yan's mind.
"That sword intent—I remember you!"
The massive head of the black dragon skeleton trembled, and countless suppressing swords snapped in two.
The two demonic flames stared intently at Gu Yan, uttering a name only Gu Yan recognized when he was a celestial soldier in the illusion of the Three Lives Tea: "Divine Soldier—Liu Yun?!"
"You're not dead? Why are you in this lowly lower realm vessel?!"
Hearing the indistinct roar, Zhou Tianqi, who was walking ahead, turned around with a blank expression: "Alliance Leader, what nonsense is this beast spouting?"
Gu Yan, who was standing still, lowered his eyes.
That head of black hair danced wildly in the raging, desolate winds.
He slowly raised his head and looked at the trembling dragon skeleton. His slender fingers gently stroked the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Three-Life Tea, Heavenly Soldiers of the Divine Court Flowing Clouds.
These things, which should have belonged to the illusion, were revealed in a single sentence by the remnant soul of a black dragon that had been trapped in the Eastern Continent for ten thousand years.