Zhou Yi's Crisis

At this moment, Zhou Yi was in peril.

After being led out of the mountain forest by the maiden Weiwei, they flew for over an hour, and everyone arrived at a small town outside the mountains.

Several elders came forward and led them into a large courtyard within the town.

"Weiwei, did you encounter any danger on the way?"

"The Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground suddenly had a change, and the nearby cultivators were all alerted. Weiwei, did you discover anything?"

As soon as they entered the main hall, several elders surrounded them, bombarding them with questions.

"I didn't find anything special..."

Weiwei was about to answer, but before she could finish, she was interrupted by an exclamation.

"Huh? These people... Quick, look! Look at these people..."

An elder stared at Zhou Yi and the others with a look of utter horror, his eyeballs bulging so wide that one worried they might pop out.

"Aren't they just some mortals? Although their attire is a bit strange... Oh my!"

Another elder beside him replied dismissively, glancing at Zhou Yi and the others. He had only spoken halfway when another exclamation burst forth.

"These people... these people..."

Several elders were drawn over, and after their eyes fell upon Zhou Yi and the others, they seemed to have seen some peerless treasures, their gazes unable to shift away.

"Their blood essence is like a rainbow, and spiritual light overflows. More importantly, their sea of suffering has been activated. These are all fine jade!"

"Hahahaha! Good! Good! Good!"

"Weiwei, you are about to leave Spirit Void and go to the Holy Land for cultivation. Before you leave, you've brought us so many promising seedlings. Weiwei, you've rendered a great service!"

The elders were overjoyed. Although they were praising Weiwei, their eyes were still fixed on Zhou Yi and the others, filled with admiration.

"Ahem!"

An elder, who appeared to be the oldest, stepped forward. He glanced at everyone and asked gently, "Young ones, where are you from?"

"Elder, hello. We..."

Zhou Yi stepped forward and began to answer the elder's question. "Our hometown is very far from here. We were visiting an ancient mountain, and for some reason, we suddenly appeared here."

"This situation..."

The elder stroked his beard and nodded. "I fear you inadvertently stepped into some formation and were transported here through the void."

As he spoke, a hint of sympathy appeared on the elder's face, and he sighed, shaking his head.

"Everyone, judging by your attire, especially your short hair, it resembles the customs of the Western Desert. I suspect you are from the Western Desert? This place is the Eastern Wasteland, separated from the Western Desert by hundreds of millions of miles. It is likely you will never be able to return in this lifetime."

"Never be able to return? Why is that?"

Zhou Yi looked at the elder and asked in surprise, "Why can't we go back?"

The Eastern Wasteland and the Western Desert are separated by more than hundreds of millions of miles. Even for me, it would take decades to reach it by flying with my escape light. As for you, mortals, you can't reach it in a lifetime! Unless...

The elder stopped speaking at this point, casting a meaningful glance at everyone. "Unless you can cultivate. Once you achieve success in cultivation, this distance will no longer be a problem."

"Cultivate?"

"Can we all cultivate?"

"That's wonderful! That's wonderful!"

"Please, Immortal Master, take pity on us and accept us as disciples."

Everyone understood the elder's meaning and could no longer contain themselves. Flying through the heavens and burrowing through the earth! Immortality! Who wouldn't want such good fortune? They all immediately began to plead and inquire.

"Hahahaha! Good! Good!"

The elder nodded with a look of relief. "Since you are all sincere, I will naturally open the doors wide for you."

"Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you, Immortal Master!"

The crowd was overjoyed and quickly thanked the elder.

"Hehehehe!"

Seeing this scene, several elders laughed heartily.

"Immortal Master, I have something to report to you."

At this moment, Liu Yunzhi suddenly stepped forward and bowed respectfully to the leading elder.

"Liu Yunzhi? What does he want to do?"

Zhou Yi's eyes flickered, and he felt a sense of unease. "Could it be that he..."

"Immortal Master, before we arrived here, we visited an ancient temple. In that ancient temple..."

As he spoke, Liu Yunzhi turned to look at Zhou Yi, a sinister smile on his face.

"Damn it!"

Hearing this, Zhou Yi's expression changed drastically. He had already understood Liu Yunzhi's intentions.

"Damn it, Liu Yunzhi, you scoundrel!"

Zhou Yi's heart was filled with anger and anxiety. He gritted his teeth, wishing he could tear Liu Yunzhi to shreds. Liu Yunzhi's intention was clear: if he couldn't have it, neither could Zhou Yi.

"Heh heh!"

"Liu Yunzhi's move is truly ruthless!"

Seeing this, everyone's minds raced with various thoughts. However, aside from a select few, the majority felt a schadenfreude towards Zhou Yi.

"Who told you to hog all the benefits, kid? Who told you to steal the spotlight? Now you've caused trouble, haven't you? Now you're in a bind? In front of the Immortal Master, you have to hand over any benefits obediently."

"Liu Yunzhi, you..."

Li Xiaoman was one of the few who didn't gloat. Seeing Liu Yunzhi about to make a move against Zhou Yi, she quickly tried to shout a warning, but it was too late.

"Immortal Master, we discovered a treasure in that ancient temple."

Liu Yunzhi stared at Zhou Yi, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. With a smile on his lips, he pointed at Zhou Yi and said, "That treasure is in his hands. The reason we were able to appear here is likely related to that treasure."

Not only did Liu Yunzhi reveal the treasure, but he also exaggerated its functions even further.

This way, the elders who were initially uninterested in the treasure mentioned by a few mortals were drawn in.

"A treasure for traversing the void? Such a treasure exists?"

"What kind of mighty being could refine such a supreme treasure?"

"If such a treasure were presented to the Holy Land, it would surely be exchanged for countless spirit pills and elixirs. Perhaps our cultivation could advance another level."

As they thought of this, the eyes of several elders began to gleam.

"Heh heh. Young man, if you join my Spirit Void sect, you'll be one of us. As long as you hand over the treasure, we certainly won't mistreat you. Perhaps, like Weiwei, you might have the chance to enter the Holy Land for cultivation in the future!"

The leading elder looked at Zhou Yi with a smile, his expression still gentle, but with an unreadable meaning in his eyes.

"That's right! We, the Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven, are one of the six great grotto-heavens in the Yan State, subordinate to a renowned Holy Land in the Eastern Wasteland. You've made a great contribution right after joining the sect; your future is bound to be limitless!"

Another elder nodded at Zhou Yi with a smile, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Young man, a treasure like this for traversing the void is of no use to you, and frankly, not much use even to us. However, in the hands of a Holy Land, it becomes very useful."

"Indeed. Young man, in your possession, this item might even bring you trouble. So... hand it over to the sect! What do you say?"

Several elders stared intently at Zhou Yi.

"Damn it! Where am I supposed to get any treasure?"

Sweat was already beading on Zhou Yi's forehead. He had exchanged everything from the Da Lei Yin Temple, and he didn't even have anything to fob them off with. He couldn't possibly hand over the "Supreme Heavenly Book," could he!

"Hmm? What? You're unwilling?"

Seeing Zhou Yi's silence, the leading elder's expression turned cold, and his gaze became incredibly sharp.

"Young man, you should think carefully!"

Another elder's hand had already reached for the hilt of his sword, his face stern.

"Damn it, what should I do?"

Zhou Yi was starting to panic. "Grandmaster, where on earth did you go? I'm definitely doomed this time!"

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