Chapter 385 - 175: Golden Core 2

’Whether he did it or not, it’s better to kill the wrong person than to let him go.’

Every day that brat lives is a humiliation to the Seventh Peak.

Now, this was good. He wouldn’t have to get his own hands dirty.

However...

He pondered for a moment before taking out a Communication Jade Talisman.

...

「True Martial Sect, Celestial Punishment Peak.」

When Bai Yeli received Yao Guannan’s message, he was regulating his breathing with his eyes closed.

Sandalwood incense curled through the hall. He sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, his aura as calm and deep as an abyss.

He opened his eyes, and after reading the message, a cold sneer appeared on his face.

Gu Changkong had been his most prized disciple. A Core Formation Late Stage cultivator with a promising future, yet he had died an obscure death inside the Demon Suppression Array.

"However, Lie Mountain has already sent a message to the Cyan Cloud Sect, asking Jun Linyuan to help find him. We should still make our plans early."

Yao Guannan’s voice came from the light screen.

Bai Yeli’s brow furrowed.

"Jun Linyuan? He’ll actually intervene?"

"The Cyan Cloud Sect replied with four words: ’The time is ripe.’"

Yao Guannan’s voice carried a hint of amusement.

"What does ’the time is ripe’ even mean? It just depends on Jun Linyuan’s mood. A prodigy like him only has his eyes on higher Realms. Why would he waste time on some irrelevant person?"

Bai Yeli nodded.

"That makes sense, but..."

He paused. "Just in case, you and I still need to keep an eye on things. If Liang Cheng actually makes it out alive, then..."

He made a gesture, drawing a finger lightly across his neck.

Yao Guannan understood and smiled.

"Of course."

...

「Outside the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.」

A figure in white robes stood in the air.

Jun Linyuan.

His features were cold and stern, with sharp brows and eyes like stars. His aura was as deep and unfathomable as an abyss or the sea.

His robes fluttered in the wind, but he remained perfectly still, like a statue.

At this moment, he was staring at the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

The colossal pagoda, a hundred zhang tall, was pitch-black and inscribed with countless ancient Runes.

Right now, those Runes were flashing wildly, and the entire pagoda was trembling slightly!

"Hmm?"

Jun Linyuan’s brow furrowed.

The Demon-Suppressing Pagoda suppressed the remnants of Ancient Fierce Beasts, and it was usually perfectly calm.

Those Fierce Beasts had been sealed for countless years and had long since accepted their fate. Why would they suddenly riot?

Without hesitation, Jun Linyuan raised a hand and pressed his palm against the outer wall of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

BOOM!!!

A terrifying surge of True Essence flooded into the pagoda’s body!

The Runes on the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda instantly lit up as bright as day.

The Runes lit up layer by layer up the pagoda’s body, like rings of light rushing toward the apex!

Jun Linyuan’s True Essence was like a bursting dam, madly pouring into the pagoda.

Wherever the light of the Runes passed, the rampaging auras of the Fierce Beasts within the pagoda collapsed on contact!

But before Jun Linyuan could unleash his full power, the entire Demon-Suppressing Pagoda trembled violently!

The commotion inside the pagoda was instantly quelled.

It was as if the riot just now had been nothing but an illusion.

Jun Linyuan withdrew his hand, his brow furrowed even more tightly.

’Strange.’

He felt that something was not quite right.

Those Fierce Beasts had been suppressed for countless years. They should have long since exhausted their energy. How could they suddenly riot?

Unless something had stimulated them.

However, he had faith in his own strength. With him here, the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda would not fall into chaos.

As for the Sect’s message asking him to help find a missing disciple from the Penglai Sect...

’What was his name again? Liang Cheng?’

He was said to be exceptionally talented, having condensed three Martial Dao True Intents.

The corner of Jun Linyuan’s mouth curved into a barely perceptible smile.

’Three Martial Dao True Intents?’

’That’s somewhat interesting.’

But with the Demon Suppression Array currently in turmoil, how could he have the time to bother with such trivial matters?

Besides, a dead prodigy is no prodigy at all.

He closed his eyes and sat cross-legged in the void.

His Divine Sense surged out like a tide, enveloping the entire Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

As long as there was no chaos here, any problems at the other Array Hubs were minor issues.

...

「Ancient Wilderness Battlefield.」

Inside the grand hall.

Liang Cheng sat down cross-legged, gasping for breath.

Blood was still seeping from the wounds covering his body. His clothes were soaked through with blood, clinging to his skin, sticky and cold.

His face was as pale as paper and his lips were colorless, signs of excessive blood loss.

Three of his ribs were broken, his left shoulder blade was cracked, the muscles in his right arm were torn, and his internal organs had all suffered varying degrees of shock and injury.

A typical Core Formation Martial Artist would have long since given up and died under the attack of a Tier Nine Spirit Monster.

But Liang Cheng could still sit up.

He looked down at his chest.

There was a wound so deep the bone was visible, running diagonally from his right shoulder to his left ribs. The flesh was torn open, faintly revealing the ribs within.

He grimaced, trying to smile, but it pulled at the wound, making him suck in a sharp breath of cold air from the pain.

’It really hurts.’

’But at least I’m still alive.’

As long as he was alive, there was hope.

He took the Human-faced Spider’s Demon Core from his robes.

It was the size of a fist, black as ink, and faintly glowed with a bloody light.

Holding it in his hand, he could feel the surging, tempestuous energy within, like a raging sea ready to erupt at any moment.

That was the entire life’s worth of Cultivation from a Human-faced Spider Fierce Beast that had been on the verge of transforming into a Tier Nine.

He had originally planned to save this Demon Core and use it to take first place in the trial after getting out of the Demon Suppression Array.

After all, the reward for the champion of the Three Sects and Six Gates’ grand competition would be anything but poor.

But now, in this life-or-death crisis, he couldn’t afford to worry about that anymore.

Strength was the only true guarantee.

Liang Cheng took a deep breath, which pulled at his internal injuries, causing a sharp pang of pain.

He clenched his teeth, grasped the Demon Core with both hands, and closed his eyes.

Crossing the Sea True Intent, activate fully!

BOOM!

An immense suction force erupted from his palms!

The energy from the Demon Core, like a flood from an open sluice gate, surged madly into his body!

The energy was bone-chillingly cold and incredibly violent. Wherever it passed, his Meridians ached faintly, as if they were about to be torn apart!

In an instant, Liang Cheng’s entire body trembled violently!

The energy of the Human-faced Spider Demon Core was nothing like that of an ordinary Elixir.

It was the entire life’s worth of Cultivation of a Tier Nine Fierce Beast, containing a hint of its transformative aura—it was incomparably tyrannical!

That energy was like a runaway horse, rampaging wildly through his Meridians.