Chapter 671: To Be Opened Personally by Miss Jing Ci

Chapter 671: Chapter 539: To Be Opened Personally by Miss Jing Ci

But there was something Gui Junmeng couldn’t quite figure out—

‘If this Yuzhu was so generous, why did it set up such a bloody and cruel trial on the surface, demanding the lives of hundreds of thousands of Cultivators as a sacrifice just to open the true Secret Realm?’

“We need to be more careful on the path ahead.”

As the two continued deeper, Xiao Mo keenly sensed the Spiritual Power ahead growing denser. The aura emanating from that domineering bloodline was so potent that even he felt a faint sense of alarm.

“Mm,” Gui Junmeng acknowledged. In truth, she didn’t need Xiao Mo’s reminder; she had already raised her guard.

Xiao Mo clutched a Talisman in his hand, while Gui Junmeng held her Duster tightly. The two of them slowly walked out of the deep, narrow stone passage.

In an instant, the view opened up before them.

Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng stood atop the cliff wall, looking down from their high vantage point. Before them was not a cellar or a stone chamber, but a vast, magnificent city.

This city was far grander in scale than the market town Xiao Mo had seen earlier. It was like the Imperial City of a Dynasty, its presence majestic and imposing.

And in the very center of the city stood a palace.

The palace appeared to be built from ordinary mountain stone, but if it truly dated back to the era of the Ancient Divine Spirits, then every single stone here was anything but ordinary.

At the same time, more and more Cultivators began to arrive.

When they saw the magnificent city, they were all stunned speechless, unable to utter a word for a long time.

But soon, Xiao Mo felt a sharp killing intent.

He raised his head and looked in the direction of that killing intent.

On the cliff wall, about half a mile away, Chen Jue, Jin’an, and the others were watching him coldly.

Especially Chen Jue. The killing intent in his eyes was completely unconcealed, radiating from him without restraint.

“Do you have a grudge against them?” Gui Junmeng had naturally noticed the exchange of looks between Xiao Mo and that group. She asked, puzzled, “Aren’t they your companions?”

“They are, but they’re the kind of companions who are hoping I die.” Xiao Mo shook his head, his tone frank. “You don’t need to get involved in my affairs, miss. I don’t want you to get dragged into trouble and get hurt.”

Gui Junmeng gazed at Xiao Mo’s profile, a flicker in her eyes. “But you and I have a marriage contract.”

“I’m saying this for your own good.” Xiao Mo gave a helpless smile, took a step forward, and leaped down into the city.

“Fellow Daoists, let’s go too!” In the distance, Jin’an muttered to his companions, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smirk. “It’s about time. The feng shui here is pretty good. Let’s make this Xiao Mo’s burial ground. It would be a fitting end for him.”

Several thousand Cultivators poured into the city one after another.

At first, everyone exercised restraint. After all, which of the Middle Three Realms Cultivators who had made it this far wasn’t a mentally resilient and formidable individual?

However, it wasn’t long before their reason was overwhelmed by greed when they saw the Heavenly and Earthly Treasures scattered throughout the city. The slaughter began.

In an instant, the entire city was filled with the ceaseless sounds of clashing blades and the thunderous collapse of buildings.

Arrays and Divine Abilities from various sects and factions flew chaotically through the air. Many Demon Race Cultivators even revealed their massive true forms, fighting to the death in a desperate frenzy as flesh and blood splattered everywhere.

However, some of the smarter Cultivators didn’t even glance at the treasures in the city, flying straight for the towering palace instead.

That was where the greatest opportunities were hidden.

Naturally, Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng flew over as well.

Upon entering the palace, Xiao Mo’s gaze fell upon rows of statues of winged women.

They all had the bodies of women, dressed in magnificent Palace Attire and adorned with all sorts of Magical Treasures, looking as if they could come to life at any moment.

Passing through the front hall, they arrived in a rear courtyard where all the flowers and plants were actually Spirit Medicines of Second Grade or higher.

Xiao Mo even saw many precious half-immortal medicines, swaying gently in the breeze and releasing a refreshing, faint fragrance.

In the center of a lotus pond, a single white lotus, surrounded by numerous leaves and flowers, had even reached the Immortal Grade!

“Hurry… go…”

Just then, a woman’s voice once again echoed in the lake of Xiao Mo’s heart. It was rushed and faint, as if drifting from an extremely distant place.

But the voice vanished in an instant, like an auditory hallucination, making it impossible to tell if it was real.

Continuing forward, Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng came to a vast, empty grand hall.

In the very center of the hall stood the silent statue of a woman.

The craftsmanship of this statue was exquisite and lifelike, countless times more detailed than any of the other statues in the Secret Realm.

The face carved on the statue was breathtaking, in no way inferior to the living, breathing Gui Junmeng beside Xiao Mo.

But despite its extreme beauty, the statue seemed to lack even a trace of humanity.

Its indifferent gaze was like that of a lofty Divine Spirit looking down upon all creation.

In its eyes, all living beings were nothing more than ants.

Xiao Mo felt that the statue didn’t seem to be carved, but rather like a living woman who had been petrified.

On the statue’s base, dense and intricate Array patterns spread out. The lines were mystical and profound, and Xiao Mo couldn’t make heads or tails of them.

Xiao Mo looked up again. Above the statue hung a massive skeleton.

The skeleton’s wings were spread wide, spanning over a thousand feet in length.

Xiao Mo guessed that this must be the remains of the Yuzhu.

In the center of the Yuzhu’s ribcage hung a soul-stirring Demon Pill.

Within the Demon Pill, black flames seemed to be burning fiercely.

“This Demon Pill belongs to me!”

A hoarse and domineering voice suddenly boomed from behind Xiao Mo.

Immediately after, Xiao Mo saw a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator transform into a streak of light, rushing toward the Yuzhu Demon Pill as fast as lightning.

However, just as the old Nascent Soul cultivator was a mere ten feet away from the Demon Pill, hundreds of sharp sword-shadows rained down from above like a torrential downpour!

The old man had no choice but to halt his advance, hastily summoning a tortoise shell.

The shell instantly transformed into the illusion of a Black Tortoise, shielding him securely and barely blocking the overwhelming sword rain.

More and more Cultivators flooded into the grand hall.

The moment they saw the Demon Pill—one from a being at least at the Ascension Realm or higher—their eyes burned with feverish heat, greed and desire written plainly on their faces.

In an instant, the entire hall descended into a chaotic free-for-all among the Nascent Soul Realm experts. Techniques flew everywhere, and the booming sounds were deafening.

Fortunately, the palace was extremely sturdy. Even Techniques unleashed with the full power of a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator couldn’t leave the slightest mark on its walls and floor.

But in the next moment, Xiao Mo’s and Gui Junmeng’s focus sharpened, and they dodged to the side almost simultaneously.

A bolt of black lightning struck the spot where they had just been standing.

Xiao Mo slowly turned to face Chen Jue and the others, his expression as calm as still water, without a single ripple of emotion.

“Elder Xiao.” Jin’an’s lips curled slightly, his tone laced with mockery and coldness. “By order of the Grand Elder, we’ve come especially to see you off.”

…

「Tushan, Moon Spring Peak.」

Qingyu of the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox clan walked gracefully to the outside of a courtyard and called out softly, “Is Sister Jing Ci at home?”

Hearing the voice, Yue Shi quickly came out from the courtyard and curtsied to Qingyu. “Greetings, Miss Qingyu. Our lady is currently cultivating on Moon God Mountain. May I ask why Miss Qingyu is looking for her?”

“All Things Hall received a letter addressed to Sister Tushan. Since she isn’t home, I’ll have to trouble Sister Yue Shi to pass it along for me.” Qingyu took a letter from her robes and handed it over with a smile.

“Thank you for troubling yourself to deliver this personally, Miss Qingyu.” Yue Shi carefully wiped her hands on her skirt before respectfully accepting the envelope with both hands.

She looked down and saw a line of familiar, neat, semi-cursive script on the envelope—

“From Xiao Mo of Quicksand City.”

“For the personal attention of Miss Jing Ci.”