Chapter 401

The Cangmo Mountain secret realm.

Translation: Azure Demon Mountain Secret Realm.

Upon entering this secret realm, Yunhe and his companions encountered no obstruction at all.

Translation: Upon entering this secret realm, Yunhe and the others encountered no obstruction whatsoever.

Note: that phrase means "basically didn't encounter any obstruction".

Yet they felt no joy at all, each wearing a very solemn expression.

Translation: Yet the few of them could not muster even a hint of joy; instead, each face was extremely solemn.

This time, the human cultivators and the Yuan tribe have laid out their forces openly; the human cultivators value this operation immensely, sending only mid‑Nascent Soul cultivators aside from Yunhe.

Translation: This time, the human cultivators and the Abyss Clan have laid out their forces openly; the human cultivators attach utmost importance to this operation, dispatching only Mid Nascent Soul cultivators aside from Yunhe.

Note: the idiom meaning forces is translated as "laid out their forces"; the phrase meaning "have made clear" is kept as "have made clear".

Yet the Yuan tribe still chose to withdraw their defenses, letting Yunhe and his companions enter, showing they had deployed considerable strength and were full of confidence in this secret realm.

Translation: Yet the Abyss Clan, facing this situation, still chose to open their defenses and allow Yunhe and the others to enter, showing that the Abyss Clan has also deployed considerable strength and is full of confidence in this secret realm.

Under these circumstances, it would be strange if Yunhe and his four companions looked pleased.

Translation: Under these circumstances, it would be strange if the faces of Yunhe and his five companions looked good.

"Secret realms handed down from antiquity mostly lie in separate spaces," said Fu Shan Daoist, the first to enter the secret realm, as he glanced around in a low voice.

Translation: "Secret realms handed down from ancient times mostly exist in independent spaces." The first to enter the secret realm, Fushan Daoren, looked around and said in a deep voice.

What lay before Yunhe and his companions was a vast expanse stretching as far as the eye could see.

Translation: At this moment, what lay before Yunhe and the others was a vast expanse of land stretching as far as the eye could see.

A light black mist filled the entire space, obstructing vision and even suppressing their spiritual senses considerably.

Translation: The entire space was suffused with a light black mist, which not only obstructed vision but also imposed considerable suppression on divine sense.

Moreover, the sky here was a grayish white, with scarce light rendering the illumination throughout the space dim and dull.

Translation: Moreover, the sky here is a grayish-white hue, and the scarce light makes the illumination within the space rather dim.

Even among the Yuan tribe, a priest's status outranks cultivation level; even if both are early fourth‑rank members, a priest's rank is clearly higher than that of a non‑priest.

Translation: Even within the Abyss Clan, the status of a priest surpasses cultivation base; although both are early Fourth Level Abyss Clan, a priest's rank is clearly higher than that of a non-priest Abyss Clan.

The Yuan female cultivator curled her lips and said, "Humans are merely relying on their development from occupying the Eastern Territory for tens of thousands of years; if such a vast place were given to us Yuan tribe…"

Translation: The Abyss female cultivator pursed her lips, saying, "Humans merely rely on having occupied the Eastern Territory for tens of thousands of years of development; if such a vast place were given to our Abyss Clan..."

Note: The line ends with a comma; the original sentence translates to: "Humans are merely relying on their development from occupying the Eastern Territory for tens of thousands of years; if such a vast place were given to us Yuan tribe."

This time the speaker was a tall, graceful Yuan cultivator; even his wide robes could not conceal the curves unintentionally revealed in his every move.

Translation: The speaker this time is a tall, graceful Abyss female cultivator; even her wide robes cannot conceal the curves unintentionally revealed in her every move.

Note: The original Chinese uses a pronoun, but we must not assume the character's gender because we have no gender guide for this individual. Although the line contains that pronoun, we must keep the reference neutral. The guide only provides gender information for Yunhe. For this unnamed cultivator, the source gives a masculine‑looking pronoun, but we cannot rely on it. According to the rule, we never guess a character's gender. We only use the pronouns from the gender guide for the protagonist and any named characters listed there. For all other characters, if the source gives no clear gender indication, we keep the reference neutral—using the name or 'they'—instead of guessing 'he' or 'she'. Even though the source appears to give a gender cue with that pronoun, the rule tells us not to trust it because Chinese pronouns he, she, and it are homophones and often omitted, so we must treat it as no gender cue.

Here the source provides a masculine pronoun, so we use 'he'. The line describes his every move unintentionally revealing curves, which we translate as 'his every move'.

"I say we should just fight them to the death here, kill them all, and then there'll be nothing left to worry about."

Translation: "I say, let's simply settle this here with them once and for all, kill them all, and then there will be nothing left to worry about."

A hoarse voice interrupted their conversation.

Translation: A hoarse voice interrupted their conversation.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that Yuan tribe priests can, to some extent, command and ride the Yuan beasts.

Translation: Of course, this is also related to the Abyss priests' ability to some extent to drive and control Abyss Beasts.

The Yuan priest named Sangwu stopped shaking his black staff, and his dark‑red eyes snapped open.

Translation: The Abyss priest named Sang Wu lowered the shaking staff in his hand, his crimson eyes snapping open.

"The soil here resembles that near the Black Abyss," Yunhe said slowly.

Translation: "The soil here resembles that near the Black Abyss," Yunhe said slowly.

Yunhe crouched, picked up a handful of soil, gently rubbed it between his fingers, then brought it to his nose to smell.

Translation: Yunhe crouched, pinched up a handful of soil, rubbed it gently, then brought it to his nose to sniff.

His words trailed off.

Translation: The words fell.

The speaker appeared extremely short, the shortest among the six Yuan tribe members present, yet his words caused several Yuan tribe members to halt their discussion.

Translation: The speaker this time appeared extremely short, the shortest among the six Abyss present, yet his words caused several Abyss to halt their discussion.

They numbered one more than Yunhe's group; besides the one black‑robed, hooded cultivator who seemed to be carrying something large, the others removed their hoods, revealing pale faces and dark‑red eyes.

Translation: They numbered one more than Yunhe's group; besides the black-robed, hooded Abyss cultivators, all except one who seemed to be carrying something huge lowered their hoods, revealing pallid faces and pairs of crimson eyes.

Fu Shan Daoist raised his hand and pointed into the distance.

Translation: Fushan Daoren raised his hand and pointed into the distance.

All we know is that the Yuan tribe cultivators worship the Yuan beasts, treating them as divine beings; thus, the priests and high priests of the Yuan tribe are important manifestations of this belief.

Translation: All that is known is that Abyss cultivators worship the Abyss Beast, treating it as a divine existence; within the Abyss Clan, priests and grand priests are the important manifestation of this.

"Perhaps it's the remnant of a Yuan beast that once fought fiercely here?"

Translation: 'Perhaps it is the remnant of an Abyss Beast that once fought fiercely here?'

Moreover, within this soil, Yunhe's corpse‑worm gu sensed a faint response; although weak, it shows the soil is definitely connected to the Yuan beasts.

Translation: Moreover, within this soil, Yunhe's Corpse Soul Gu sensed a faint response; although weak, the fact shows that these soils are definitely related to the Abyss Beast.

A burly Yuan cultivator leaning against a massive stone spoke in a deep, muffled voice.

Translation: A burly Abyss cultivator leaning against a massive stone spoke in a deep, muffled voice.

Atop the central mountain of the Cangmo Mountain secret realm.

Translation: Atop the high mountain at the center of the Azure Demon Mountain Secret Realm.

Through the murky black mist under dim light, a towering looming mountain could be faintly seen, only its blurry outline visible from afar.

Translation: Within the hazy black mist, under the dim light, a towering lofty mountain loomed faintly, visible only as a blurred outline from afar.

After the hermit Youlan spoke, he unleashed an escape light and flew toward that mountain.

Translation: After Youlan Jushi uttered a sentence, she unleashed an escape light and flew toward that mountain.

The surrounding bald mountain ridges were gray‑black; at first it seemed a lighting issue, but now it appears otherwise.

Translation: The surrounding bald mountain ridges all showed a grayish-black hue; initially thought to be a lighting issue, now it appears not.

Yunhe nodded; his initial understanding was the same.

Translation: Yunhe nodded; his initial understanding was the same.

The five of them now stood on a relatively flat hillock, surrounded by continuous bald ridges.

Translation: The five of them now stand on a relatively flat hillock, surrounded by continuous bald ridges.

"Don't forget our purpose; even if we kill these few human cultivators, at most it will only cause them pain, not truly damage their foundation."

Translation: "Don't forget our purpose; even if we kill these few human cultivators, at most it will only cause the humans pain, not enough to truly damage their foundation."

"Please be careful, everyone."

Translation: "Please be careful, everyone."

They worship the Yuan beasts, yet they also control and enslave them?

Translation: They worship the Abyss Beast, yet they also control and enslave it?

Yunhe and the others immediately followed.

Translation: Yunhe and the others immediately followed suit.

The relationship between the Yuan tribe and the Yuan beasts remains unclear to human cultivators for now.

Translation: The relationship between the Abyss Clan and the Abyss Beast remains unclear to human cultivators for now.

"The core area of this secret realm must be that."

Translation: "The core area of this secret realm ought to be that."

"Daoist Yun, have you found anything?"

Translation: "Fellow Daoist Yun, any discoveries?"

"Sangwu, how is it?" the short Yuan cultivator asked.

Translation: "Sang Wu, how is it?" the short Abyss asked.

The short Yuan cultivator's gaze remained fixed ahead on the Yuan priest who kept shaking his black staff, the bone and dark pieces clacking together with a "ka‑ka" sound, eyes closed.

Translation: The short Abyss's gaze remained fixed ahead, on the Abyss priest clutching a black staff that constantly shook, bone and black pieces clacking with a "ka ka" sound, eyes closed.

"After all, this place was an important Yuan tribe stronghold in ancient times; its soil resembles that around the Black Abyss, so there's nothing particularly strange about it," said the Old Monster Huangsha lightly.

Translation: "After all, this place was an important Abyss encampment in ancient times; the soil here being similar to that around the Black Abyss is nothing strange," Huangsha Lao Guai said lightly.

She held a dagger, manipulating it with great skill, the sharp blade seeming like an extension of her hand.

Translation: This person held a dagger, playing with it adeptly, the sharp blade in her hand seeming as if it were part of her limb.

Seeing his action, the Purple‑clad True Monarch's expression shifted and he asked.

Translation: Seeing his action, the Purple Robe True Lord's expression shifted and he asked.

"The human cultivators should have already entered."

Translation: "The human cultivators should have already entered."

A young Yuan cultivator with arms crossed and a handsome appearance glanced at the female Yuan cultivator and said in a low voice.

Translation: A young Abyss cultivator with hands clasped and a handsome appearance glanced at the Abyss female cultivator and said in a low voice.

This is a rather contradictory display.

Translation: This is a rather contradictory manifestation.

"Don't underestimate the humans."

Translation: "Do not underestimate the humans."

"Open!"

Translation: "Open!"

The Yuan tribe members who entered this secret realm ahead of Yunhe and his group had already arrived here.

Translation: The Abyss who entered this secret realm a step ahead of Yunhe and the others had already arrived here.

A low hum.

Translation: Hum—

With his low shout, an invisible barrier before him darkened, and a gap wide enough for one person slowly opened.

Translation: With his low shout, an invisible barrier before him suddenly darkened, and a gap wide enough for one person slowly opened.

Sangwu exhaled lightly and said calmly, "If we simply destroyed the black formation, we wouldn't need all this trouble."

Translation: Sang Wu exhaled lightly and said softly, "If we simply destroyed the Black Formation, we wouldn't need all this trouble."

The short Yuan cultivator stepped forward first and asked, "How much of the holy ground's black formation do we control?"

Translation: The short Abyss stepped forward first and asked, "How much of the Holy Land's Black Formation do we control?"

"The black formation is severely damaged; it's about forty percent now." Sangwu followed closely, adding somewhat nervously: "The black formation at the core of the holy mountain and this place…"

Translation: "The Black Formation is severely damaged; now it's about forty percent intact," Sang Wu followed closely, adding somewhat nervously, "The Black Formation at the core of the Holy Mountain and this place"

"Open them all; let the humans witness the black formations of our Yuan tribe ancestors."

Translation: "Open them all; let the humans witness the Black Formation of our Abyss ancestors."

"Understood, Lingya." Sangwu nodded.

Translation: "Understood, Lingya," Sang Wu nodded.

Afterward, the six Yuan tribe members entered the black formation one after another.

Translation: Thereafter, the six Abyss entered the Black Formation one after another.

After everything entered, the opened gap quickly closed; simultaneously the dark color dissipated, and it returned to transparent.

"Sangqing, stay here." Lingya said lightly, "Hinder them for as long as you can."

Upon hearing that, the burly Abyssal stopped his steps and spoke in a deep, hollow voice:

Understood.

While the Abyssal priest Sangwu, under Lingya's gaze, somewhat unwillingly took off a black shard from his own black staff and handed it to Sangqing.

Possessing this beast shard can activate part of this black formation's functions.

Sangqing took the black beast shard and nodded.

After giving those orders, the short Lingya then led a few people deeper in.

Formation?

After Lingya and the others entered the formation, an unknown amount of time passed before Yunhe and his four companions reached the highest peak within the secret realm.

However, upon arriving here, they were blocked by an invisible formation.

Within the formation, one could see a vast expanse of peculiar buildings.

The unevenly sized buildings were mostly piled from black stone, and their distribution was irregular, scattered haphazardly here and there.

This place is obviously one of the Abyssals' ancient dwellings from antiquity.

Someone has already been here.

Old Monster Huangsha waved his hand, and a layer of extremely fine fine sand drifted down; after the sand covered the area, some finer traces became visible.

From the footprints, there are at least four people, though some might have been careful not to leave any," said Old Monster Huangsha.

It seems we need to speed up," said Daoist Fushan.

Immediately after.

He formed a seal with one hand, and a flying ruler-type magical treasure was immediately sacrificed; without the slightest hesitation, after Daoist Fushan poured his mana into it, the flying ruler swiftly enlarged and smashed hard against the formation barrier.

Boom!!

A dull sound burst forth suddenly, even the mountain beneath their feet seemed to tremble.

And the originally transparent formation also showed a dim black halo, with ripples spreading outward, yet there was no sign of damage.

Daoist Fushan furrowed his brows.

Who knows how long this secret realm has existed, yet its formation is still this sturdy?

Hum——

Suddenly.

An extremely fierce sword qi swept past from behind him, likewise slashing at the formation.

The commotion it caused was even greater than that brought by Daoist Fushan, yet the formation only trembled slightly before returning to its original state.

Seeing this, the purple-robed true lord also furrowed his brows.

The next second.

Before anyone could speak, the ripples on the formation suddenly intensified, and a mass of black light surged out, sweeping toward Yunhe and the others.

Seeing this, Yunhe and the others all grimaced, forming seals and employing various means to resist.

After a moment.

The earthen shield Yunhe had condensed before him with mana gradually dissipated; the power of the black light counterattack from the formation diminished by seven or eight tenths, and Yunhe waved his sleeve to dispel the remaining black aura, saying softly:

"Someone is maintaining the formation."

That much is not hard to discern.

However,

The formation here is already strong; if an Abyssal is also maintaining it from within, how can they get in?

They are not without formation-breaking treasures.

But such treasures are rare; only Daoist Fushan carries one, yet if they use it now against the Abyssal obstruction, what will they do later when they encounter more?

Daoist Youlan, Daoist Yunhe, I'm afraid it's up to you two.

Seeing that a swift fierce attack couldn't break it, Daoist Fushan sighed and said:

In this expedition, not only is Yunhe a Fourth Level formation master, but also the Youlan hermit of Sijun City is likewise a renowned Fourth Level formation master.

Upon entering the secret realm, without a formation master's aid, many things would become extremely difficult.

Hearing that, the Youlan hermit did not decline, took out a formation plate and a set of formation flags, and began to set up a formation.

Looking at her, it seemed she was preparing to use a formation to break the formation.

This is often the common method used by formation masters when they lack a formation-breaking treasure.

Upon seeing the Youlan hermit's actions, Yunhe likewise ceased his attempt to break the formation with a formation.

The two have never cooperated before; if the formation he sets up conflicts with the Youlan hermit's formation, it would be more loss than gain.

So he merely flashed forward to before the formation, avoiding the area where the Youlan hermit was setting up, and gently placed his hand on the Abyssal formation barrier.

A faint light appeared in his eyes.

In his sight, strange patterns soon appeared on the formation.

Whether it is the Abyssal's formation or a human cultivator's formation, they ultimately converge; aside from forcibly breaking it, the best approach is to find the formation's key node, which is often its weak point.

Meanwhile,

The Youlan hermit quickly finished setting up a formation and then began to counter-attack with formation against formation; waves of booming sounds rose and fell, and the patterns on the formation in Yunhe's sight became distinct.

At this moment, the Abyssal cultivator Sangqing inside the formation took in all of Yunhe and the others' actions, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"How could this black formation be so easily broken?"

He held the black beast shard, which shimmered with rippling light, resonating with the black formation here.

With his low shout, he poured his mana into the black beast shard.

Hum——

The entire formation instantly became active again.

And just then, this formation was no longer merely absorbing attacks to use as a basis for counterattacks.

One could see strands of thick black mist rising from the black formation.

And these black mists quickly condensed, forming various ferocious abyssal beasts.

"Not good!"

Upon sensing the change in the formation, Youlan Hermit's expression shifted.

Bang!!

At that moment, Fushan Daoist, holding a flying ruler, split the black mist abyssal beast that had appeared beside her, and said, "Daoist Youlan, I'll take care of these abyssal beasts."

"Good."

Youlan Hermit nodded in reply.

However, although the abyssal beast formed from the black mist was instantly shattered by Fushan Daoist, the mist did not dissipate; instead, it merged with black mist elsewhere and condensed into a new abyssal beast.

Meanwhile, Ziyi True Lord also appeared beside Yunhe, calling out, "Daoist Yunhe."

He casually swung his sword, shattering a black mist abyssal beast.

"Thank you."

Yunhe, his gaze fixed on the formation without looking away, voiced his thanks.

Next, he transmitted via divine sense:

"Daoist Youlan, the Abyssal tribe cultivator maintaining the formation inside is not skilled in formations; their move actually gives us an opportunity."

Upon hearing this, Youlan Hermit startled.

Immediately, as a formation master, she understood Yunhe's meaning.

"Then I will create an opportunity for you, Daoist." She likewise transmitted via divine sense.

"Good."

Afterwards, Yunhe separately said to Ziyi True Lord and Huangsha Old Monster:

"Daoist Ziyi, the place I will point to shortly is the weak point of this formation."

"Daoist Huangsha, when the formation is broken, I will first open a gap; then the Abyssal tribe cultivator inside will be your trouble, Daoist."

Upon hearing this.

Ziyi True Lord nodded without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Huangsha Old Monster's eyes flickered, he quickly showed a hearty smile, and nodded, saying, "Leave it to me."

Seeing that everyone was fairly cooperative, Yunhe nodded and gave Youlan Hermit a glance.

Seeing this, Youlan Hermit's expression turned stern, and she shouted delicately:

"Rise!"

Boom!!

The formation she controlled at this moment became turbulent, the ripples on the black formation and the black mist rising from it growing even denser.

As the black formation's fluctuations intensified, Yunhe finally locked onto its weak point within its complex rhythm.

Yunhe's eyes suddenly flashed with sharp light.

"Daoist Ziyi!"

Only saw Ziyi True Lord's pretty face turn solemn, he twisted his wrist, his long sword glinting with cold light, and without hesitation swung a sword toward the direction Yunhe pointed.

This strike was fiercer than the sword he had previously swung.

Crack!!

As the sword qi fell, fine patterns appeared on the black formation.

Formation broken!

At the same time, Yunhe cast the Floating Cloud Eight Trigrams Disk, launching a formula that landed on the black formation.

A gap opened.

Huangsha Old Monster without hesitation launched himself forth, rolling up the spreading sand, and flew into the formation.

————

PS: I'm a bit sorry these past days, because after returning from my hometown, I moved too many things and am exhausted.

(End of chapter)