Chapter 544

Black Evil Cave assessment—

Located deep in the "Eagle Wind Ridge" in the outskirts of the Netherworld Mountains, it is a dangerous place naturally formed, containing intense yin-evil qi and earth magnetic interference.

The assessment has three levels: the first level, crossing the "Yin-Evil Fog Area," resisting yin-evil erosion and illusions.

The second level, passing through the "Earth Magnetic Turbulence Belt," arriving at the designated location under the attack of chaotic earth magnetism and yin wind.

The third level, killing or subduing a "Black Prison Beast," this Black Prison Beast is equivalent to an exotic beast at the innate peak.

Those who pass all three levels and perform excellently can enter the inner sect.

The use of external objects such as pills is not prohibited in the assessment, but killing fellow disciples is strictly prohibited, at least not allowed on the surface.

The Nine Nether Sect inner sect is divided into seven lineages, each with slightly different focuses, but the core is all yin-cold attribute techniques.

The competition among inner disciples is fierce, and resource acquisition and status improvement mostly depend on completing sect missions, secret realm trials, or big competition rankings.

As for the Nether Abyss Guard...

This is an elite force directly under the Nine Nether Sect Master and the Supreme Elder Council, small in number, guarding the sect’s core forbidden area "Nether Abyss Secret Realm" entrance and surrounding areas year-round.

The selection is extremely strict, requiring inner disciple identity, cultivation at least at the Earth Altar Realm "Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown," and having extremely high requirements for loyalty to the sect, technique compatibility, and mental will.

Those selected have generous treatment, can regularly enter the outskirts of the "Nether Abyss Secret Realm" for cultivation, come into contact with higher-level inheritance, and have a chance to be favored by the Sect Master or elders and taken as personal disciples.

And the Nether Abyss Secret Realm.

Located in the most core forbidden area of the Nine Nether Sect, it is rumored to be connected to the underground netherworld, with yin-evil qi and some kind of ancient rule condensed, which has supreme use for practicing Nine Nether techniques.

The secret realm is divided into inner and outer layers, the outer layer is relatively safe, available for core disciples and Nether Abyss Guards to cultivate.

The inner layer is full of dangers, said to seal ancient fierce things or hide the sect’s biggest secrets, and cannot be entered without a Myriad Phenomena ancestor or a special token.

There is very little known about the specific situation inside the secret realm, only sporadic rumors.

Such as the "Nether River" flowing in the depths of the secret realm, the "Soul Well" gushing pure soul power, and the ruins of the ancient "Netherworld Palace," etc.

Recent movements of the Nine Nether Sect.

The sect seems to have signs of strengthening the guard of the "Nether Abyss Secret Realm," the number of patrolling Nether Abyss Guards has increased, and the verification of personnel entering and leaving the secret realm is more strict.

The reason is unknown, there are rumors that there is some kind of abnormality in the depths of the secret realm, and there are also rumors that it is to guard against foreign enemies spying.

A large amount of information poured in and was quickly digested by Chen Mu.

He found some fragments of the selection process for the "Nether Abyss Guard," although incomplete, he roughly knew the registration, preliminary screening, practical assessment, and other links.

He also confirmed that the entrance to the "Nether Abyss Secret Realm" was in the deepest part of the Nine Nether Sect’s mountain gate, guarded by heavy restrictions and large arrays, and jointly guarded by "Nether Abyss Guards" and several Earth Altar Realm peak or even Heavenly Palace Realm elders.

"It seems that wanting to mix into the 'Nether Abyss Guard' through normal selection is almost impossible in the short term. Cultivation, identity, and loyalty are all difficult obstacles."

Chen Mu secretly thought, "And, the strengthening of the secret realm guard recently, perhaps it is related to the 'Sword Soul'? Or, is it just a coincidence?"

Continuing to search deep into Lu Lu Zhangyao’s memory, especially about his master Li Cairang, and more information about their lineage.

Perhaps, he can find more secret channels or loopholes from Li Cairang?

However, just when Chen Mu’s "Soul Searching Technique" touched some blurred fragments in the depths of Lu Lu Zhangyao’s memory that were sealed by his own subconscious or involved the sect’s core taboos—

A sudden change occurred!

In the depths of Lu Lu Zhangyao’s soul, a point of extremely obscure, yet emitting a cold, ancient, and soul-freezing ice-blue mark suddenly lit up!

This mark seemed to be connected to the core mental method of the "Nine Nether Cold Jade Technique," usually hidden, and only triggered passively when encountering soul intrusion exceeding its bearing limit or touching certain restrictions.

"Soul restriction?!" Chen Mu’s eyes tightened.

This Nine Nether Sect’s protection of core techniques is indeed tight.

Even for an outer disciple, a defense restriction was buried in the soul.

The ice-blue mark flashed, and a cold, dead, soul-attacking power followed the connection established by the "Soul Searching Technique" and counter-attacked Chen Mu’s sea of consciousness.

At the same time, the mark seemed to be trying to send some kind of alarm fluctuation outward.

If it were an ordinary Earth Altar Realm martial artist who sees the divine and is not bad, caught off guard, even if not seriously injured by this soul counter-attack, they would immediately trigger the alarm and attract Nine Nether Sect experts.

But Chen Mu is not an ordinary Earth Altar martial artist who sees the divine and is not bad.

He is in the Heavenly Palace Realm and has condensed the "Four Seasons Martial Domain"!

Facing the counter-attacking cold soul power, the "Four Seasons Martial Crystal" between virtual and real in Chen Mu’s sea of consciousness shook slightly.

A mysterious power containing the artistic conception of the cycle of the four seasons and endless life and death spread out, easily resolving and dissolving that cold and dead power.

At the same time, Chen Mu’s thoughts turned, and with a spiritual sense far exceeding the reaction speed of the ice-blue mark, he forcibly strangled and pinched out this alarm fluctuation that was about to be emitted in the bud!

Afterwards, he even simulated a false feedback information of "Lu Lu Zhangyao, due to forcibly taking the 'Rotten Heart Pill' to stimulate potential excessively, leading to qi deviation, soul damage, and memory confusion," covering and replacing the real record at the moment the ice-blue mark was triggered.

After doing all this, Chen Mu decisively terminated the "Soul Searching Technique."

Putong~!

Lu Lu Zhangyao closed his eyes tightly, his face pale as paper, his body softened, and he collapsed to the ground, his aura weak, his soul fluctuations chaotic, and he fell into a deep coma.

On the surface, it really looked like he had gone into qi deviation during cultivation.

Chen Mu quickly checked himself, confirming that the counter-attack and alarm of the soul restriction had been perfectly handled, leaving no tracking traces or spiritual sense trauma.

He also quickly cleaned up the subtle auras and traces he might have left in the room.

"The valuable information in Lu Lu Zhangyao’s memory has basically been obtained. His master Li Cairang is also just an ordinary deacon, with limited knowledge, and the risk is greater."

Chen Mu pondered, "It is not feasible to go deep through this line of Lu Lu Zhangyao or Li Cairang, and it is easy to expose."

Looking at the unconscious Lu Lu Zhangyao, he pondered slightly, but did not take his life.

Killing this person might temporarily eliminate future troubles, but an outer disciple dying inexplicably on the eve of the assessment might instead cause unnecessary investigation.

It is better to let him "go into qi deviation," so that it can explain Lu Lu Zhangyao’s soul abnormality and avoid immediate death investigation.

As for whether Lu Lu Zhangyao can wake up, and whether he still remembers anything after waking up, it no longer matters. The backhand and false memories Chen Mu left in his soul are enough to deal with it.

"It seems that I have to find another way."

His figure flickered, and Chen Mu disappeared from the side room, as if he had never appeared...