Chapter 397

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Protagonist:

Yu Zhangsheng

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Intense bell tolls rang out in waves, urging people to gather toward the Luo Ya Deep Abyss, and a killing intent spread through the air.

Thus, Yu Zhangsheng and the others dared not delay; ignoring the other sects' teams, they walked toward the long rainbow of the Luo Ya Deep Abyss.

Luo Ya Deep Abyss. The long rainbow spanning both shores emitted dazzling five-colored radiant light, temporarily pressing down the gang winds beneath the abyss and isolating them outside, preventing entry; the light illuminated both shores, and at its two ends, terrifying figures confronted each other across the void, coiling above, scattering boundless might.

Among them, two majestic figures stood especially tall and straight; vast light shot straight into the clouds from their bodies, their expressions indifferent — merely a glance made them impossible to ignore, as if everything in heaven and earth lost its color, leaving only these two, radiant and dazzling.

The aura on them was not like Violet Mansion, but Spirit Severing!

These two — one Yu Zhangsheng had met before, had once sensed his aura, and knew him to be the Blood Xuan True Venerable of the Xuan Yin Gate; the other was clearly Qingzhou's Spirit Severing Daoneng.

The remaining high-level figures of the Three Gates and Six Sects stood one body-length behind the Blood Xuan True Venerable, quietly standing, waiting for everyone to assemble.

Yuan Menghua was naturally among them; under his guidance, Yu Zhangsheng led a group of disciples and quietly walked to stand before him.

Before long, all people of the Three Gates and Six Sects — 266 in total — had gathered, arrayed and ready; fortunately the long rainbow was very wide and did not feel crowded.

On the opposite side of the long rainbow, the Qingzhou side was also a dark mass of people.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

Fierce winds howled, kicking up sand and dust, shredding white clouds, sprinkling the brilliant sunlight bit by bit; on the long rainbow, those two majestic figures moved first, their vast voices crossing a hundred li across both shores, resounding above the deep abyss.

"Great cultivators clash; move and they destroy heaven and earth, harming heavenly harmony. To avoid living beings suffering, heaven weeps blood. Therefore, for the peace of both states' mountains and rivers, the two states have a pact: gather at Luo Ya, do not act personally; all victory and defeat depends on the heaven's chosen."

"Pact forms, heaven and earth stand; the abyss has its own tribulation. Therefore, heaven's chosen assemble, the great array opens, the long rainbow breaks; all heaven's chosen, take your positions!"

Boom!

His voice like thunder, shaking heaven and moving earth, exploded on both shores of the abyss, clearly reaching everyone's ears; its meaning clear, moreover carrying an inexplicable intent that stirred the blood.

As the words fell, from the Wuzhou formation a lean figure suddenly stood in the air, looking at the Wuzhou heaven's chosen with a face full of smiles.

This figure wore a white robe; on the robe stars were engraved one by one, flashing radiant light, adorning his body; youthful face, crane-white hair, eyebrows also white, complexion ruddy, corners of mouth smiling, whole body scholarly and refined — especially like a transcendent master; with a sweep of his wide sleeve, in an instant seven vast star shadows illuminated the void above. Streams of brilliant starlight fell, covering all Wuzhou heaven's chosen.

"Seven stars as guide, starlight as path; for our Wuzhou heaven's chosen to roam free, stellar mighty power bestowed upon them, granting a heart that discerns fortune and misfortune's direction; may the journey be smooth, the Dao without obstruction."

A gentle, vast voice issued from this elder's mouth; starlight swept, transforming into brilliant runes one by one, finally settling on all Wuzhou heaven's chosen.

Yu Zhangsheng was slightly startled, extended his palm, looking at the silvery-white star-like mark on it; his mind slightly immersed, his Dao Heart instantly became peaceful; moreover, there seemed to be other effects.

"This is the Seven Star Gate's current Qixing Laoren; his astrology art has no equal in the two states. With his blessing, at least this trip into the deep abyss we shouldn't need to worry about the problem of not finding direction."

Li Minghan walked to Yu Zhangsheng's side, thought a moment, and said softly.

"Is that so?" Yu Zhangsheng looked thoughtful, gazed at the star mark on his palm, shook his head, and looked deeply at Qixing Laoren's back, asking:

"On the Wuzhou side we have Qixing Laoren blessing us; on the Qingzhou side, is there no similar method?"

"That, perhaps there is?"

Li Minghan's eyes showed a trace of hesitation, speaking somewhat uncertainly.

"They don't need it," just then Yuan Menghua suddenly turned her head, glanced at Li Minghan, and calmly explained in a low voice to the two:

"They don't need great cultivators' blessing, yet possess the Qingzhou royal family's imperial fortune blessing; the more noble their status, the purer their bloodline, the higher the imperial fortune blessing they obtain, the more terrifying."

"Imperial fortune blessing?"

Yu Zhangsheng's expression froze; he gazed far toward the other end of the chant, eyes slightly condensing; under his divine soul perception, he indeed saw a faint dragon-shaped imperial dao qi, transforming into a five-clawed golden dragon, baring fangs and claws, ferocious, enveloping the Qingzhou side, scattering boundless divine might, shaking hearts and souls.

"Correct," Yuan Menghua nodded, tone pausing, turned to look at Yu Zhangsheng, expression turning serious, said solemnly:

"So Changsheng you must pay attention; absolutely do not merely limit yourself to the surface cultivation base of Qingzhou cultivators. This deep abyss trip, Qingzhou has dispatched quite a few royal family members, and they naturally contain imperial qi in their bloodlines; using imperial fortune will be even more effortless for them."

"And imperial fortune's wondrous uses are boundless, quite strange; especially that Qingzhou Crown Prince — I suspect if he goes all out, plus imperial fortune's blessing, his combat power may have already reached Violet Mansion; if encountered, be cautious again and again!"

Yuan Menghua rarely spoke so seriously, her tone full of gravity; she patted Yu Zhangsheng's shoulder.

Yu Zhangsheng was silent, inwardly surprised yet not entirely unexpected; thus meeting Yuan Menghua's gaze, he slightly nodded.

"Disciple will be extra careful; many thanks for Ancestor's concern."

Yuan Menghua shook her head: "As long as you know your limits. After entering the deep abyss, be careful in everything; don't fight over every little thing; I'll say it again: your safety comes first."

"Good."

Yu Zhangsheng nodded, indicating understanding; this matter, Yuan Menghua had emphasized many times already.

"Mm."

Yuan Menghua nodded, one hand patting Yu Zhangsheng's palm, index finger lightly drawing a stroke across it; her eyes revealed concern, a deep meaning flashing in their depths; one hand patted Yu Zhangsheng's back, smiling: "All peace."

Yu Zhangsheng was stunned, eyes blinking slightly, silently lowering his head and cupping fists, eyes downcast, glancing at the star shadow on his own palm that had been wiped away and faded; he said nothing more.

"Looks like Ancestor is very cautious, even doesn't trust Qixing Laoren's blessing... but this is good too, saves me the trouble of removing it after entering."

Yu Zhangsheng murmured in his heart, gently exhaling a breath.

Yuan Menghua's admonition, he might still keep in mind; although he didn't feel Qixing Laoren's action had any abnormality, maintaining vigilance was proper. Just then, Qixing Laoren scanned the Wuzhou heaven's chosen around, expression always smiling, pausing on everyone's face once, softly saying:

"Seven Star Blessing, our Wuzhou heaven's chosen will surely shine with stars, unstoppable wherever they go. Prepare; formation rises, abyss suppresses; gentlemen, please proceed!"

Qixing Laoren's words just fell, the two Spirit Severing True Venerables' huge figures turned to look at each other, next moment simultaneously struck out, pressing down fiercely toward the deep abyss below.

Boom boom! The long rainbow suddenly erupted with dazzling light; this light did not reach the sky, but fell to the ground, sweeping fiercely toward the deep abyss interior; in an instant thunder roared, the deep abyss interior instantly bright as day, gang winds also stopped.

Where the light passed, it dispersed clouds and mist, cleared the gloom, and made the terrifying pressure densely covering the deep abyss interior suddenly loosen in this moment, also transforming into winding, coiling rainbow-like paths briefly connecting below.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!"

Figures soared one after another, stepping onto these rainbow paths, steps swift, entering deep into the abyss; and Yu Zhangsheng did not hesitate either; after Yuan Menghua nodded, he beckoned with a wave, saying in a deep voice:

"Wanxiang Sect disciples, follow me."

Finished speaking, he was the first to step onto one of the rainbows, following it downward into the deep abyss without cease.

As for Qingzhou's side, it was largely the same, though the two banks were separated by a hundred li, so in a short time, neither side would meet; but as they descended into the Abyss, an encounter was inevitable.

The twenty-six of them slowly stepped down along one of the rainbow paths; as they went deeper, the light dimmed somewhat, and after traveling nearly a thousand li into the Abyss, the dazzling rainbow path gradually faded and stopped spreading.

"Such rich spiritual energy—my perception was correct..."

Yu Zhangsheng took a deep breath, stepped off the rainbow onto solid ground, glanced back at the group to confirm no one had fallen behind, then looked around, his eyes brightening.

Around them floated a thin layer of mist—not ordinary mist, but Spirit Mist; just a casual breath left them feeling refreshed in body and mind, and their cultivation bases seemed to increase slightly.

This discovery stirred everyone from Wanxiang Sect, their eyes shining with strange light, filled with wonder.

"Such high spiritual energy density! Cultivating here will surely yield twice the result with half the effort!"

"In such an environment, many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures must grow—this is an opportunity for us!"

Upon this thought, the group's emotions rose slightly, no longer overly tense or depressed.

"Be careful. Slowly explore here first, then slowly go deeper."

Seeing everyone's expressions, Yu Zhangsheng thought for a moment, walked to the front, and reminded them in a low voice.

Luo Ya Shen Yuan was unfathomably deep, yet its expanse was a hundred li wide, and beneath it there was a slope—not a sheer drop; in most places, it spread downward at a certain angle.

Walking on the ground, there was hardly any sense of tilt, but the altitude was indeed descending.

"Wuu wuu wuu wuu..."

A breeze blew, stirring the Spirit Mist and playing a mournful sound, carrying an indescribable charm—like weeping and pleading, as if an old man weathered by vicissitudes were leaning in to tell something.

Beneath the Abyss, it was not quiet; the Spirit Mist was hazy, and apart from the occasional wind, beast roars echoed intermittently. Though light could no longer enter, the surrounding rock walls emitted a pale blue light, illuminating the area; thus, though gloomy yellow, it was not dim.

As Yu Zhangsheng's group advanced cautiously, Yu Zhangsheng remained vigilant at all times, his Divine Sense extending outward as they continued downward.

As for how to tell they were descending, this could be sensed from the density of the surrounding spiritual energy—the lower they went, the higher the density.

"Over thousands of years, who knows what anomaly occurred in this Luo Ya Shen Yuan? Now, in a sense, it counts as a Secret Realm. And judging by this spiritual energy density, there should be a Spirit Vein beneath the Abyss—and not just one..."

"Moreover, the Abyss's special terrain caused the spiritual energy born of this Spirit Vein to keep piling up within the Abyss, refusing to dissipate; after thousands of years of accumulation, it formed this scale."

"One can imagine: the lower one goes, the closer to the Abyss Bottom, the higher the spiritual energy..."

Yu Zhangsheng pondered, his nose twitching slightly as he sensed the increasingly dense spiritual energy and bloody killing intent around him, his brow twitching.

Under such terrifying spiritual energy density, Yu Zhangsheng felt his Spirit-Light Dao Body begin to take effect, resonating; waves of indescribable comfort surged through his whole body, to the point that he couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

The Heavenly Dao Golden Core became even more active; under the influence of Heavenly Dao Qi, the blood-killing energy spreading through the Void circled around the Heavenly Dao Golden Core bit by bit, and his cultivation base received a boost, rising gradually. Though not yet Golden Core Late Stage, it was no longer far off.

This boost was only temporary, but for Yu Zhangsheng's cultivation, it did serve a certain advancing purpose.

"This Luo Ya Shen Yuan is indeed a Fudi for me!"

Yu Zhangsheng felt somewhat excited inside, casually sweeping his gaze around, ignoring some low-level Spirit Beasts, and continued walking downward without stopping.

As they went deeper, the surrounding light grew dimmer, the spiritual energy around them more abundant, and on the surrounding cliff walls, faintly visible, a Sword Intent was branded upon them, echoing long in the Void.

The group kept walking without stopping, though not too fast; suddenly, Yu Zhangsheng's expression changed, and the foot he had raised was gently set back down.

Beneath his feet was a forest of human-shaped white bone skeletons, eroded by ages, long stripped of flesh and blood, leaving only bones, half of which had been worn away; only the upper body was relatively intact, and even the skull was only half left.

"White Bones..."

Yu Zhangsheng murmured in a low voice, his expression unchanged, he slightly raised his head and looked ahead.

"Wuu wuu wuu wuu..."

As the breeze blew, lifting the blue silk on Yu Zhangsheng's forehead, it also blew away part of the hazy Spirit Mist around them, revealing the full appearance of the earth.

Yet faintly looking ahead, amidst a region of swirling spiritual energy, this large expanse of ground was covered with white bone skeletons, scattered haphazardly, some buried deep in the soil with only a section exposed, others fully exposed, but most were remains, incomplete under the erosion of ages; so numerous and dense, probably nearly a thousand. (Chapter End)