Curse of the Mysterious Existence

Chu Feng judged that Lu Chuan could only cultivate in the Heavenly Spirit Pool for ten minutes.

But even so, Chu Feng still believed that Lu Chuan could reach Fifth Rank in one go.

That made Lu Chuan wonder—was the Heavenly Spirit Pool really that effective?

Could ten short minutes raise his realm by two ranks?

As if seeing through Lu Chuan's thoughts, Chu Feng smiled. "Do you think ten minutes is nowhere near enough?"

Lu Chuan nodded.

"You're worrying about the sky falling."

Chu Feng smiled. "I can tell you clearly: ten minutes will be enough."

"The mysteries of the Heavenly Spirit Pool are far beyond your imagination."

"Forget you—even True King-level experts above Ninth Rank can gain no small improvement from cultivating inside."

"If it weren't for the lack of a replenishment method, leaving the Heavenly Spirit Pool able to restore its spiritual energy only on its own, it would never have fallen to us to use it."

"Brother Feng, since this Heavenly Spirit Pool is so incredible, how did it end up in Master's hands?" Lu Chuan asked.

"That is a long story."

Reminiscence appeared in Chu Feng's eyes. "Do you know about the previous head of our Combat Department?"

Lu Chuan nodded.

There was no shortage of legends about that man.

The most monstrous genius in the Combat Department's history, a supreme expert who suppressed an entire generation, an unparalleled killing star who slaughtered the Ten Thousand Races until they dared not step outside their doors...

Those were merely some among the countless titles of the previous department head.

At the time, everyone believed that under his leadership, humanity would surely dominate the myriad worlds and become the sole overlord of the Ten Thousand Races beneath the stars.

But unfortunately, for some unknown reason, that being suddenly vanished without a trace.

Some said he had fallen. Others said he had accidentally entered an ancient secret realm.

In any case, regardless of the reason, he had left humanity and left the Combat Department.

It was because of this that the Combat Department began its decline, eventually losing its place among the six great departments altogether.

"Could it be that the Heavenly Spirit Pool was obtained by the previous department head?" Lu Chuan guessed.

"More or less."

Chu Feng smiled. "The Heavenly Spirit Pool was acquired by our grandmaster—Master's father."

"Back then, Grandmaster followed the previous department head into the Heavenly God Race's nest and snatched it from the hands of the Heavenly God Race's leader, leaving it behind as part of our Combat Department's foundation."

"In name, the Heavenly Spirit Pool belonged to Grandmaster. When Grandmaster died, it naturally passed down to Master."

"They broke into the Heavenly God Race's nest?" Lu Chuan sucked in a cold breath!

The Heavenly God Race—the number one race among the Ten Thousand Races beneath the stars!

Every member of the Heavenly God Race was born a Ninth Rank expert. They were truly a race favored by heaven—no, more like heaven force-fed them.

For such a terrifying race, their nest was undoubtedly fraught with peril.

The previous department head had actually charged into their nest and snatched the Heavenly Spirit Pool away right before their leader's eyes. He truly had been insane!

And truly powerful!

If such a being had not died, the Heavenly God Race—and indeed the Ten Thousand Races beneath the stars—would have known neither peace in sleep nor ease in food.

"Enough of that. Go in and cultivate already," Chu Feng urged.

"Yes."

Lu Chuan nodded, then pushed open the manor gates.

The moment he entered, Lu Chuan sensed an incomparably dense wave of spiritual energy, as though a spiritual well existed here, constantly exhaling and inhaling spiritual energy.

Following the direction from which the spiritual energy surged, Lu Chuan arrived before a grand hall.

The hall was surrounded by formations, densely packed together. One glance was enough to make one's heart pound and flesh crawl.

Standing before the hall, Lu Chuan took a deep breath and pressed his identity card against a black screen outside the entrance.

Verification successful!

Welcome, Lu Chuan of the Combat Department, to cultivate in the Heavenly Spirit Pool!

After a round of inspection, a mechanical voice sounded from the hall's main entrance.

Then, with a thunderous boom, the doors opened.

Stepping through them, Lu Chuan saw a vast pool filled with churning golden liquid.

Spiritual energy so dense it was nearly tangible constantly poured forth with the rolling golden liquid, forming clumps of white mist.

"Such dense spiritual energy. Just taking one breath makes me feel my cultivation advancing. If I cultivate within the pool..."

A trace of determination flashed through Lu Chuan's eyes, and he immediately leaped into the pool.

At once, an indescribable pressure descended upon Lu Chuan's heart.

It felt as though his soul would be torn to pieces the very next moment.

It was not just his soul. Lu Chuan's physical body was also enduring an utterly terrifying pressure.

Upon closer inspection, his flesh was actually crumbling apart bit by bit.

The collapse was not fast, but he could hold on for no more than ten-odd minutes.

"I need to cultivate quickly!"

Ignoring the pain, Lu Chuan hurriedly activated the Sky Swallowing Art.

At once, the pain eased somewhat. At the same time, streams of spiritual energy poured into Lu Chuan's body, swallowed by the Sky Swallowing Art and transformed into martial cultivation.

One minute later, cold sweat streamed down Lu Chuan's face from the pain...

Three minutes later, Lu Chuan's entire body trembled from the pain...

Five minutes later, Lu Chuan's consciousness had already grown hazy from the pain. Only his belief in becoming stronger kept him going.

"I will endure!"

"I refuse to believe others can endure it while I can't!"

"I am no worse than anyone!"

After a roar, Lu Chuan clenched his fists tightly, forcibly suppressing the pain as he madly devoured the spiritual energy within the Heavenly Spirit Pool.

Ten minutes later.

By now, he had reached the limit Chu Feng had mentioned.

And Lu Chuan intended to stop here.

After all, no matter how precious a treasure was, it could not compare to his life.

Moreover, his body was covered in wounds. He had been dyed red with blood from head to toe, without a single patch of intact flesh remaining.

If he continued, it would not be long before that pressure crushed him into powder.

"It's time to leave."

Just as Lu Chuan was about to depart, a line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Curse of the Mysterious Existence detected. Simplify?

Lu Chuan: ???

Could the pressure enveloping him actually be a curse?

And this curse could be simplified by the Simplification System?

Whatever. He would give it a try.

"Simplify."

At Lu Chuan's command, the last dozen or so Simplification Points he had instantly vanished.

Another line of text appeared before Lu Chuan's eyes.

Simplification successful!

Curse of the Mysterious Existence—Trial of the Mysterious Existence!

Trial of the Mysterious Existence: A method used by a mysterious existence in ancient times to select disciples. It inflicts heart-searing pain, but will not endanger one's life.

Duration: fifteen minutes.

At once, an even fiercer wave of pain struck him, hurting Lu Chuan so badly that he wished he were dead.

But Lu Chuan did not leave. Instead, he bared his teeth in a savage grin. "It's just pain. As long as it doesn't endanger my life, I can endure it!"

"What a pity. If I'd known this mysterious pressure could be simplified, I would have saved more Simplification Points."

After grumbling, Lu Chuan continued cultivating with all his focus.

Meanwhile, outside the manor.

Glancing at his watch, Chu Feng muttered, "By my calculations, Lu Chuan should be coming out by now."

"Why is there no sign of him?"

"Could it be that the pain made Lu Chuan pass out?"

Chu Feng frowned. That was not a good possibility. If Lu Chuan had passed out outside, it would have been one thing, but if he had passed out inside...

"Fortunately, when a martial artist reaches their limit, the Heavenly Spirit Pool will sound an alarm."

"I'll keep a close watch. Rescuing Lu Chuan won't be a problem."

With that thought, Chu Feng flashed forward and appeared outside the grand hall, his eyes fixed unblinkingly upon it.

The spiritual energy within his body churned without end.