Demon Ghost Domain Trial (6)
Kou Xuehua, a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, was a still-attractive young woman. She glanced at Yue Qianchou with some surprise. On Fu Xian Island, most disciples with such low cultivation levels had never been exposed to the Cultivation World before starting their cultivation, and very few had ever left the island. How could she recognize someone from the Myriad Demon Palace? Then, remembering that he was Rogue Cultivator, she understood. She nodded and said, "It's definitely someone from the Myriad Demon Palace. Fu Xian Island, the Daluo Sect, the Wangyue Sect, the top three Righteous Path sects, and the top three demonic sects—the Myriad Demon Palace, the Blood Demon Palace, and the Corpse God Sect —are all here. Disciples from the Six Great Sects who participated in the Demon Ghost Domain Trial mostly keep this matter to themselves, which is why you don't know. I participated when I was in the Foundation Establishment Realm and Core Formation stages, so I know more than you do."
Those who had not experienced this before looked at each other in bewilderment, none of them having expected that the Demon Ghost Domain Trial had such a secret.
"Tsk tsk! This is the third time, Grandmaster Kou! It seems that you will be the next head elder of Myriad Fragrance Garden after we return." Yue Qianchou was not flattering him. This is the rule of Fu Xian Island. Those who can survive these three tribulations at the three cultivation stages are mostly cultivated as successors of the lineage. If there are many competitors, as long as the cultivation level is high enough, even if they are not the best, they will still be able to become an elder.
If Yue Qianchou knew that his master Guan Wei Wu also harbored the idea of letting him undergo three tribulations and succeed him as the next head elder of the Alchemy Pavilion, one wonders what he would think.
"Let's not talk about what will happen later. The important thing is to get back alive." Kou Xuehua slowly looked down the mountain, lost in thought, as if she was thinking about something.
"Hehe! The Blood Demon Palace is indeed formidable. They're busy vying with the Qingguang Sect over there, yet they still have the mind to participate in the Demon Ghost Domain Trials." Yue Qianchou chuckled as he looked at the group of people gathered together in blood-red robes. Then his gaze fell upon a group of righteous people dressed in earthen-yellow clothing, and his eyes suddenly narrowed slightly as he said in a deep voice, "Grandmaster Kou, are those people in yellow robes disciples of the Daluo Sect?"
Kou Xuehua turned around and nodded, saying, "That's right."
"Oh! The Daluo Sect! I've long admired your name!" Yue Qianchou said, each word distinct, a cold glint flashing in his narrowed eyes.
Elder Dongfang Changao was the host of this trial on Fu Xian Island. After meeting with the other five sects, he returned to find his own disciples chattering and forming cliques, hoping to rely on their numbers to safely pass this ordeal.
With his white hair and beard and imposing appearance Dongfang Changao stood with his hands behind his back, his brows slightly furrowed. He let out a cold snort, and then an immense aura pressed down on the disciples of Fu Xian Island. Yue Qianchou felt as if the blood in his body was about to burst from his seven orifices. Instantly, they all obediently fell silent, and that aura vanished without a trace.
Dongfang Changao took out the compass from his Storage Bag, cast a spell to set it up in front of him, glanced at everyone, and said in a deep voice, "Three months for Core Formation stage Nascent Soul Realm stage, two months for the Foundation Establishment Realm. Those who complete the training period will be awaited by me, Dongfang Changao, and the other nine elders. However! Those who fail to complete the training within the specified time shall not be allowed to go up the mountain, otherwise they will be killed without mercy."
After saying that, he cast Method Formula on the compass, and a layer of light flashed on the compass's surface. He waved his hand and shouted, "All disciples participating in the training, descend the mountain!"
Without hesitation, everyone leaped down the mountain. When Yue Qianchou and the four women revealed the compass, he couldn't help but peek at it. He saw that the points of light on the compass were all moving, indicating that it was a magical Law Treasure that could tell where people were. It was estimated that anyone who had their Divine Sense inputted into it would be displayed on it.
Footsteps echoed as disciples from various sects began their descent. No one dared to fly; speed was useless here, and might even mean death. The most important thing was to pass the time and return safely.
Thick, cloud-like fog clung to the mountainside. While the upper half of the mountain was still bathed in sunlight, below the fog's edge, it was as if it were a rainy day. Not only was the light considerably dimmed, but the drifting fog also obstructed visibility, and from afar, eerie cries could be heard intermittently. The descent became increasingly rugged. Going up and down felt like entering a completely different world.
Some people, like Kou Xuehua, who had experience in the Demon Ghost Domain, drew their weapons, influencing the novices, who also drew their weapons. The atmosphere became frighteningly tense.
Damn it! This place is Yin Qi, truly lives up to its name Demon Ghost Domain. Yue Qianchou, sword in hand, was looking around Yan Shu for Yan Shu and the others, hoping that bastard wouldn't ambush them. But then he heard Kou Xuehua whisper, "Don't stop here, hurry down the mountain."
Yue Qianchou was taken aback, and also said softly, "Grandmaster, this place down the mountain is a bit scary! Why don't we just hide here? It'll be easier to go back when we've had enough time, and we can avoid some risks. What do you think?"
Although Xiao Wanqing, Murong Xian, and Mei Yinhong didn't speak, they all nodded in deep agreement with Yue Qianchou's words. The area below the mountain was not only dark but also somewhat terrifying. Looking back, they would know that there were probably quite a few people from various sects who shared the same thoughts, all stopping in their tracks, clearly intending to stay there permanently.
Kou Xuehua said angrily, "Let's go quickly. The demons and monsters here are most fond of blood. Over the years, they have figured out the pattern of the trials that the Six Great Sects hold every five years. Moreover, there is nowhere to hide on this mountainside. It's crowded with people, and if an accident happens, it will be difficult to escape."
Yue Qianchou and the other three women exchanged glances. Then they saw that people from other sects were already rushing down the mountain without stopping. Judging from their age, they were all relatively old and probably had some trial experience.
Seeing the four still in a daze, Kou Xuehua stamped her foot and said, "If you're not leaving, I'm leaving first." She turned and walked down the mountain. To be honest, if Fei Denan hadn't repeatedly warned her, with her cultivation level, she would be safer to shake off Yue Qianchou. Protecting someone with such low cultivation would only be a burden.
"No! Grandmaster, wait for us!" Yue Qianchou called out softly. The four of them believed him and quickly followed Kou Xuehua.
They hadn't walked far, and although they had gone quite a distance, it seemed they were still a bit late. Suddenly, they heard "whoosh" sounds, like birds flying, and "squeak" sounds, like mice. Then the sounds became more and more numerous and dense, and could be heard everywhere. Yue Qianchou looked around at the scattered, lonely, and strangely shaped trees, wondering where the sounds were coming from.
"It's the 'Bloodthirsty Demonic Bat'! Everyone be quiet, form a protective triangle, and hurry down the mountain!" At Kou Xuehua's command, the four women hurriedly obeyed, moving quickly. The four women surrounded Yue Qianchou, the weakest among them, and hurried down the mountain.
In the distance, the sky first darkened, then a swarm of red dots covered the sky, flying over the heads of the five people and rushing towards the mountainside. Yue Qianchou looked up and saw that the red dots were actually the eyes of bats. A large group of black bats, as big as washbasins, were squeaking and making a grotesque sound, which made people's hands and feet go numb and feel creepy!
Luckily, we ran fast. Those opportunistic guys on the mountain are in big trouble this time! Yue Qianchou shook his head and sighed. It seemed he had the same thought as them, but he had forgotten it.
Sure enough, screams echoed from the mountainside, "Bats... bats... huge bats... ah..." Some people were already screaming in agony. Yue Qianchou turned his head to look. In the distance, Sword-Ray light flashed everywhere. The people on the mountainside were already fighting the bats. The bats' shrill cries mixed with the occasional screams of someone were almost unbearable to listen to. Some people even tried to escape on their swords, but as soon as they took flight, they were wrapped up in a ball by the bats, screamed in agony, and fell from the sky.
Yue Qianchou cursed inwardly, "What idiots! With so many people protecting you, you might not be able to do anything. Trying to run will only get you killed faster." The people halfway up the mountain probably learned from those who tried to escape and began to fight back calmly. Gradually, the screams of agony disappeared.
"Clang..." Yue Qianchou was startled by the crisp sound coming from beside him. Wouldn't making a sound at this time be a death sentence? He turned around and saw that Mei Yinhong, that brat, had been glancing at the battle situation halfway up the mountain, and had accidentally bumped her sword against the rock next to her.
The five of them looked up at the sky in unison. If they had waited a little longer, all the bats should have reached the mountainside. Now, only a few hundred bats remained in the air, flapping their wings and hovering there, their bright red eyes glaring menacingly at the five of them.
"Damn it! What's wrong with this unlucky girl?!" Yue Qianchou groaned in pain...
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