Chapter 240: Purification Stronghold No. 13

When Li Luo opened his eyes again, what greeted his vision was a grey, dim world. Strange black mist flowed across the sky, like thick black water, giving off an extremely oppressive feeling.

Looking into the distance, visibility was extremely low. The far-off world was likewise filled with a faint black mist. The mist churned, as if some indistinct whispering rose from within it, sounding directly in the depths of the mind, instantly making one feel irritated and restless.

But just then, the "Green Wood Heart-Protecting Talisman" hanging on his chest suddenly released waves of cool, refreshing energy that flowed into his body, gradually suppressing that feeling of irritation.

Hoo.

Li Luo quickly came to his senses. He looked around and saw beams of light flickering one after another, and then figures appeared out of thin air.

Only now did he realize that they seemed to be inside a stronghold. Stone towers of varying heights rose from the ground within it. Their location happened to be the center of the stronghold, where there stood the tallest stone tower overlooking the entire place. From the top of this tower, a faint light barrier radiated outward, covering the entire stronghold.

The eerie black mist in the distance would be swiftly purified the moment it neared the light barrier, vanishing into nothing.

Clearly, this stronghold must be the "purification stronghold" Jiang Jiang Qinge had mentioned earlier.

And this place of theirs was Purification Stronghold No. 13 — their shelter within the Dark Cave for the time to come.

"How do you feel?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge's voice came from beside him. Li Luo turned his head and saw her walking over with Senior Qiu Bai, Tian Tian, Bai Bai Mengmeng, and Student Xin Fu.

"Very uncomfortable," Li Luo said honestly.

This kind of place always gave him an eerie, oppressive feeling. Within those churning black mist, it was as if some twisted thing existed that could corrode the human heart.

And this was while they were still inside the "purification stronghold." One could imagine that once they stepped outside, that feeling would surely grow far more intense.

"After all, this is your first time entering the Dark Cave, and your strength does still have some gaps. Once you've gotten used to it, it should get better," Jiang Jiang Qinge said comfortingly.

Senior Qiu Bai and Tian Tian nodded as well, and did not laugh at him, because for many years at the Saintly Mystic Star Academy, this was probably the first time first-star academy students had been sent directly into the Dark Cave.

If they themselves had entered the Dark Cave back when they were in the first-star academy, their performance would likely have been even more unsightly.

Li Luo took a deep breath and glanced at the chaotic crowd around him. A rough count suggested several hundred people — quite a lot.

"What do we do now? Start the purification mission right away?" Li Luo asked.

"No rush. The purification mission can't be completed in just a few days. Let's first find a place to rest as a temporary residence, then make some plans for the missions ahead."

Jiang Jiang Qinge pointed at the tall tower behind them and said, "This tower is the core hub of the purification stronghold. Its essence is crafted from a branch of the Phase Force Tree, which is why we were able to use it to teleport in. However, this kind of teleportation can only be activated once per day. From now on, the academy will send in some supplies every day."

"Looks like this purification mission is going to be a long fight," Li Luo sighed.

"There's no need to be so pessimistic. Actually, the Dark Cave isn't entirely without benefits. Practicing within the Dark Cave is not only faster, but the probability of breaking through bottlenecks is also greater," Jiang Jiang Qinge said.

Li Luo, Student Xin Fu, and Bai Bai Mengmeng — the three little newbies — instantly stared in astonishment: "It can have this kind of effect?"

"It's said to be because of changes in the rules of heaven and earth... The Dark Cave is essentially the intersection of our world and the Dark World — a place where the two worlds connect. So certain rules, certain restraints, are weakened here by quite a lot."

Jiang Jiang Qinge paused thoughtfully and said, "Do you remember the 'Wang Hou Battlefield'? Actually, that place has a similar effect, even stronger than the Dark Cave. And the powerful Wang Hou who enter it have a higher probability of breaking through bottlenecks than they would in our world. So it's not uncommon for some powerful experts whose strength has stagnated for a long time to ultimately choose to enter the Wang Hou Battlefield voluntarily, just for that chance of breakthrough."

"Moreover, the Dark Cave is oppressive and eerie, but it's also a tempering of the heart and nature. So in a certain sense, the Dark Cave can be considered an excellent cultivation ground."

"I think, if it weren't for the 'Black Tide,' many people with firm hearts would probably stay here long-term to cultivate."

As Jiang Jiang Qinge spoke, a look of eagerness flickered in her golden eyes. Clearly, she was probably exactly the kind of person she had described.

"Captain, I'd suggest dropping that word 'many.' Not everyone has your kind of bold spirit," Senior Qiu Bai said with a helpless smile.

"As soon as the purification mission is done, I'll be the first to leave the Dark Cave. I don't want to stay here a single moment longer," Tian Tian said, spreading her hands. This place was too oppressive, and those aberrations were terrifying too. She had absolutely no desire to have too much contact with them.

Jiang Jiang Qinge laughed upon hearing this and didn't mind, since everyone had their own choices.

While the group was talking, another team emerged from one side. The one leading them was none other than Duze Duze Honglian.

At her side was Ye Ye Qiuding's "Landscape Cauldron Squad."

The two sides met head-on. With people coming and going around them, there was indeed a hint of a narrow encounter between rivals.

Duze Duze Honglian was tall and slender, with fiery red lips, looking exceptionally alluring — no less striking than Ye Ye Chengying, one of the Seven Star Pillars they had seen before.

At this moment, Duze Duze Honglian stood with her arms crossed over her chest, a provocative look on her gorgeous face: "Jiang Jiang Qinge, for this purification mission, I'm afraid you won't be able to hold onto first place."

Yet on Jiang Jiang Qinge's exquisitely beautiful face, luminous as jade, there was not a ripple. Her gaze swept past Ye Ye Qiuding, who was following Duze Duze Honglian, and she said nothing, simply walking straight ahead and brushing past them.

Duze Duze Honglian had long since seen Jiang Jiang Qinge's cold, proud manner many times, but every single time, it made her grind her teeth in fury.

Of course, the key point was that the other party had every bit of capital to back up that pride...

But for this Dark Cave purification mission, their side had the advantage in strength, and there was a real chance of surpassing Jiang Jiang Qinge. Although the occasional surpassing didn't mean she could truly overtake the latter, at the very least, it would be good to wear down some of Jiang Jiang Qinge's arrogance.

Li Luo, following Jiang Jiang Qinge, also brushed past Duze Duze Honglian's group. As he passed Ye Ye Qiuding, the latter tilted his head slightly, and a faint voice came through.

"Li Luo, I will use the final result to let Senior Jiang know that her choice this time was a mistake."

Li Luo was stunned for a moment, then earnestly encouraged him: "Keep it up. It's just that she said from now on, for every Dark Cave purification mission, I have to go with her. I find that quite a headache too. If your efforts can ease my troubles even a little, I'll be grateful to you."

With that, he walked off.

Ye Ye Qiuding, however, stood rooted to the spot as if struck by lightning, as though he had suffered a crushing attack from a higher dimension. His teammates beside him looked at him with a touch of sympathy.

In that instant, Ye Ye Qiuding nearly had the impulse to perish together with Li Luo.

This bastard truly didn't act like a human being!