A major event that shook the Night Mist World [two chapters in one]
The thick night fog, like viscous ink, soaked into the entire world. The cities on the land, like scattered candlelight, dotted the darkness.
Today, between different cities lit by candlelight, strange birds constantly take flight, traveling back and forth to deliver the latest news. All letters are marked with blood-red marks, indicating urgency and seriousness.
The disappearance of Grandmaster Level figure is like a hurricane passing through; the news spreads far and wide, and its impact is immeasurable!
The entire Night Mist World was in an uproar.
In every city, the night was sleepless. People went from disbelief to shock, and the noise and clamor almost tore through the night.
This was like a massive earthquake, shattering all the previous tranquility.
From religious leaders to ordinary peddlers, everyone knew the news and was talking about it.
Soon, after the initial shock, high-ranking members of some major powers were overcome with intense unease.
What level did that missing small group of people stand on? Generally speaking, they all stood at the highest peak!
Among them are newly emerging powerhouses and veteran Ancestor, each more formidable and legendary than the last, all capable of paving the way.
Even such figures have fallen into the Kunling Territory, and may even be completely wiped out. This is not just a simple defeat in battle; its impact is far-reaching and could potentially influence the overall direction of the Night Mist World.
In the Imperial Dynasty and the great religion, many high-ranking officials went from being bewildered at first to being terrified and restless.
It's been so many years since such a major event has occurred. Even the most recent Great Wilderness Expansion didn't start this disastrously.
Most importantly, nobody knows what exactly happened in Kunling.
Now, everyone wants to find out the truth.
However, some people who had already gone in all disappeared.
Subsequently, the Three Great Dynasties of Yu, Gan, and Rui began to organize manpower and send out regular troops to attempt to advance inward.
Following this, various sects, including the Beyond the Mundane and the Esoteric Sect, dispatched their strongest warriors to Kunling to investigate the fate of their respective Ancestor.
Undoubtedly, some schools of Buddhism, Beyond the Mundane Pure Land and Esoteric Sect, are now in a state of panic because their leaders have disappeared, which is causing various problems.
If this situation continues to escalate and becomes serious, some forces may decline or even be "taken down" as a result!
Groups of people, riding on Higher Aberrant Bird, arrived from all directions and entered that place so quiet it was suffocating.
"Breaking news: the 500-strong force from the Great Rui Dynasty has lost contact and disappeared without a trace."
This disappearance has left everyone deeply troubled.
Late at night, there was also new information from the Great Gan Dynasty: the regular army they had sent out had disappeared.
This time, a skilled individual immediately gave chase and discovered their campsite along the way.
All the tents were empty; the people were gone.
There were no signs of a struggle, and all items were undamaged; it was as if those people had vanished into thin air.
For a time, even in the dead of night, the place was no longer quiet, everyone was talking about it.
"Kunling has suddenly become incomprehensible. What exactly happened?"
Hundreds of living people, who looked like they had been marching into the night and were resting there, had mysteriously disappeared.
The following day, as Shallow Night fell, a piece of breaking news caused Xuanran.
Sun Taichu's third disciple, a true master, ventured deep into the Kunling Territory, but ultimately escaped covered in blood and staggering.
But he only managed to utter two words before dying; his Pure Yang Consciousness Spirit Light extinguished.
These were disciples personally taught by the Ancestor, yet they all lost their lives after exploring the place, leaving everyone trembling with fear and filled with awe.
At the last moment, he actually uttered the word "fate".
These are words that would tempt anyone, but once the truth is known, they become terrifying and daunting. The Ancestor has disappeared, and his most trusted disciples have died. Who would dare to venture in so easily?
Subsequently, some interpreted his words as perhaps not referring to "creation" but rather to "disaster."
After all, he was critically injured and on the verge of death at that time, his Consciousness Spirit Light was confused and his speech was slurred. Having suffered such a torment, how could he have the leisure to tell others that there was good fortune inside?
However, many people disagree, believing that he was talking about destiny, and how could such a person make a slip of the tongue?
This means that in the Kunling Territory, risks and opportunities coexist; those Ancestor may not all be dead, and they may very well have discovered something.
On the same day, another explosive piece of news arrived: Pu Heng, Cao Qianqiu's eldest disciple, had a Pure Yang Consciousness Spirit Light pierce through the clouds and fog, cutting through the darkness and breaking out.
He didn't leave during the great battle; he stayed there. Is he breaking out to deliver a message now?
"It's a pity that his Pure Yang Light burned out as soon as it broke through the edge of Kunling Territory, and it couldn't truly emerge."
It was clear that he had fought his way back, but ultimately failed.
This not only shocked people, but also sent chills down their spines.
Leaving aside the mysteries surrounding the fates of those Ancestor, the fact that Sun Taichu's third disciple and Cao Qianqiu's eldest disciple met such an end demonstrates just how incredibly dangerous that place was.
At this point, people became somewhat uneasy.
The "desolate lands" are a legacy of history. During the Great Opening of the past, these areas were not resolved and were temporarily left unattended.
No one expected that this sudden outbreak in Kunling would be so severe and earth-shattering.
All the high-ranking officials looked solemn and depressed. It's hard not to speculate when something like this happens at such Nodes juncture.
This time, the loss of some Grandmaster Level has significantly reduced the combat power at the top of the pyramid, making it less intimidating to the outside world.
Originally, the people from all sides had discussed and prepared for Great Wilderness Expansion, venturing into the depths of the Night Mist World to open up new horizons and acquire more resources.
But now, the entire plan is about to be disrupted.
If some terrifying creatures were to launch a counterattack from the depths of the Night Mist World, it would certainly cause a great deal of trouble.
The only saving grace is that no Demon God Imperial Court or Evil God Kingdom has been discovered ahead yet. Although there are rumors of similar deities, they should be extremely far away, so there is no need to worry for now.
On the third day, some people ventured deep into the area and emerged alive, bringing back the Auspicious Beast Blood!
This immediately caused a huge sensation.
This was a master from Beyond the Mundane Pure Land. Before even approaching Kunlun City and that plateau, he saw a pool of glowing golden blood on the ground.
Ultimately, he personally refined a portion of it and confirmed that it was undoubtedly the Auspicious Beast Blood.
In an instant, this ignited the passion of some explorers. The possibility of Great Fortune in the realm of life and death made some people want to take a gamble.
Many people are asking the people of the Beyond the Mundane Pure Land Kunling Territory and whether he discovered the truth.
As a result, the people from the Pure Land responded that the expert had not approached the battleground. Sensing something was amiss, he retreated and was ambushed outside, who stole the Auspicious Beast Blood. He is currently recuperating from his injuries.
"Only one point he mentioned was a new discovery: the terrain of Kunling appears to be changing."
Sure enough, as night fell, a continuous rumbling sound filled the Kunling Territory, accompanied by faint flashes of lightning and thunder, creating an incredibly astonishing scene.
Many people are gazing into the distance.
In the dim light, people could see many blurry objects emerging from the night fog.
Kunling has changed!
People saw what appeared to be a giant ancient tree emerging, and further away, a magnificent fairy city flashed by and disappeared, with undulating peaks and figures moving about.
Then, amidst lightning and thunder, they all shattered.
Immediately, the land shook, mountains rose up, the earth sank, large lakes formed, and deserts expanded, with all sorts of terrain appearing.
Moreover, during the upheavals in the Kunling Mountains, in some areas, when the Great Mountain burst forth from the earth, golden blood was shaken into the high sky and then transformed into Golden Haze that scattered back to the ground.
"Wow, there really is the Auspicious Beast Blood! Everyone, have you remembered the direction? This is an incredible stroke of luck! It can extend life, enhance one's talents, and transform one's innate constitution!"
"I also yearn for Nirvana! If I could obtain that kind of blood, I wouldn't necessarily be Immortal Embryo and experience a second spring, but I anticipate I could live another hundred years!"
Anyone who witnessed this scene could not remain calm; they had actually discovered the Auspicious Beast Blood.
This means that those Ancestor once severely injured or even killed the Auspicious Beast, and golden blood remains in many areas of the Kunling Territory.
"That blood is incredibly viscous; each drop could form a large pill on its own. It won't dissipate anytime soon. We need to find a way to extract it!"
Then, an incredibly thick fog covered the entire Kunling Territory, and in the darkness of night, nothing could be seen.
Since that day, many people have come to try their luck, and two more people have obtained the Auspicious Beast Blood, causing a huge uproar.
Everyone knew that there was a problem and danger in the Kunling Territory, but all parties still couldn't sit still and sent out teams to investigate.
"The Auspicious Beast Blood! Even the Ancestor of all paths yearn to refine the Heart Blood of Auspicious Beast to prolong their lives. To us, it is an invaluable treasure."
Wealth is a powerful motivator, let alone such a material, and expeditions came one after another.
Previously, people were still alarmed, fearful, and speculating about the whereabouts of the various Ancestor. But now, many people are somewhat obsessed and more concerned about the fortune within, and can no longer care about anything else.
"Perhaps, all the Ancestor have already entered the final Creation Grounds, leaving us only scraps."
"I hope so. What I fear most is that all the Ancestor are dead, and their great battle has shattered a corner of Hell, releasing things that should not have appeared in the world."
While some are going crazy, others are worried, fearing that something bad might happen, because the changes in Kunling have exceeded everyone's expectations.
Currently, things there are unpredictable; each day is different.
"What talk of Hell and the Netherworld? Kunling was a legendary place, associated with Godlike beings and Near-Immortal creatures. If anything were released there, it should be sacred, right?"
"What are you thinking? Do you really think bringing along a god or immortal makes things dazzling? It might be even colder than the Yin Soil."
Recently, various discussions and analyses have emerged one after another, with the Imperial Dynasty and the great religion wanting to get involved, hoping to enter the Kunling Territory and seize its destiny.
Ancient Texts record that Kunling leads to the Jade Capital, Near-Immortal Godlike appear and disappear, and immortals roam freely... Could it be that the Jade Capital has appeared there?
The Night Mist World, particularly around Kunling.
Some Old Senior are deeply worried, believing that major events that will influence the future have already occurred, but they are unable to grasp the underlying dynamics.
They want to dispel the fog and see the truth, but why is that?
Some of the renowned figures frowned deeply. Could the great battle a few days ago have been caused by the Auspicious Beast colluding with forces deep within the Night Mist World, leading to this dramatic turn of events? Otherwise, how could things have come to this?
Otherwise, those Ancestor should have been able to sweep everything away when they joined forces.
"It has nothing to do with external forces. This time, it's just Kunling that's in trouble. It seems to be reorganizing and may be returning to its legendary state," a powerful figure said with certainty.
Several days later, the Kunling Territory stabilized, and no more earthquakes occurred. The landform had indeed undergone tremendous changes and was completely different from the past.
Even people who live in this area wouldn't recognize him if they saw him again.
Of course, people can only see the external area and cannot look into the distance because the night fog here is so thick that it cannot be dispersed, and the sky and earth are as black as ink, far more so than in the past.
"Brother, when can we go in and take a look?" Little Wu asked.
He and Qin Ming lived in Qionghua City, a Giant City of the Great Yu Dynasty near the Kunling Territory, making it quite convenient to travel to their destination.
Qin Ming said, "Let's take another look. So many powerful forces are helpless, so we shouldn't be in a hurry. Safety first. We'd rather forgo the Auspicious Beast Blood than act rashly."
Moon Queen, Kunling remained unchanged, and people from all sides arrived one after another. During this time, they explored the area, and some brought out the Auspicious Beast Blood, while others obtained Extraordinary Art and mysterious inheritances.
Of course, many people also died inside.
"Kunling has become a completely unfamiliar place, not at all like the place we remember!"
"The buildings inside are a mix of dilapidated and magnificent; you might encounter living creatures or monstrous monsters—it's extremely dangerous!"
Those who escaped were still terrified, their faces pale. Of those who went in, ninety percent died at the hands of those strange creatures.
"Most importantly, we really can't beat those creatures; they're just too strong!"
"A master on the Immortal Path fought a monster to the death and finally won, obtaining a book made of animal hide that contained a powerful technique."
Upon discovering this situation, some people immediately sought help from renowned masters, hoping that an expert could intervene, sweep away the monster horde, and obtain Extraordinary Art and special scriptures.
However, this battle was extremely fierce.
After the renowned figure appeared, an old monster emerged from the thick black fog. Its senses seemed extremely sharp; it caught a whiff of the scent and came specifically to hunt him down.
The legendary figure fought to the very end, only to be killed by the old monster.
Moreover, people noticed that the old monster had changed somewhat from its dull state; its eyes had begun to brighten.
That day, the old monster killed three elders of a certain sect and gradually gained sentience, as if he had been resurrected from a walking corpse.
"The Kunling Territory is full of ghosts!"
The news spread quickly.
"Within the thick black fog, those figures are all vengeful ghosts, wandering spirits searching for scapegoats. After killing the living, they seem to have recovered and will Present World!"
This is explosive news!
All religions were shocked, causing Xuanran.
The Three Great Dynasties were extremely worried, as if this claim were true, they would be the first to be affected.
If countless vengeful ghosts were to emerge from the Kunling Territory and enter the Three Great Dynasties seeking scapegoats, the consequences would be catastrophic and unimaginable.
"This news is rather chilling. All those Ancestor have disappeared; could they have been replaced as well?"
"Stop talking! I feel like the sky is about to fall in the Night Mist World!"
Even some of the Old Senior were deeply shocked, because Kunling was related to mythology, and if it was a substitute for the dead, the level of the creature that escaped was simply unimaginable.
The only saving grace was that no monsters ventured out of the fog-shrouded Kunling Territory.
"Unless he has been resurrected and is no longer a walking corpse, we wouldn't be able to tell if he escaped."
The current situation is very serious. No one knows whether the evil spirits in the Ancient Kunling Land will cause trouble in the region. All parties are trying to come up with countermeasures.
As people continued to experiment, they gradually accumulated a lot of experience.
When a team ventures into the thick fog, the one with the highest level of spiritual power will generally attract ghosts and monsters of similar strength.
"Therefore, when choosing teammates, it's best to choose people of the same level. Never team up with people of a higher level, or you'll suffer a miserable death, completely powerless to fight back!"
"You have no idea where these vengeful ghosts come from; they're impossible to guard against!"
Aside from the experience of death, there is a real fortuitous opportunity that the survivors will gain something.
"For some reason, some vengeful spirits carry a legacy; you can obtain it by slaying them!"
After waiting quietly in Qionghua City for many days, Qin Ming and Little Wu heard many rumors and learned enough, they finally couldn't resist going in.
Because they had heard that some Core Disciple of various sects, and even those of Immortal Seed or God Seed, had begun to venture out and discover the patterns. They found that it was less dangerous not to team up with Old Senior members, and that they could occasionally reap great rewards.
Even so, the two of them lay low for several more days, and only after they heard that no Core Disciple had died suddenly, nor that anything had happened to the Immortal Seed, did they set off.
They teamed up as a pair, avoiding joining any unknown teams, because they trusted each other the most.
The two entered the outer area of Kunling and were somewhat lost in thought. What they saw before them was indeed completely different from what they had seen before. Thick fog covered the area, and even in the Shallow Night, it was an endless darkness.
If an ordinary person went in, it would be no different from being blind.
Qin Ming said, "The land we're about to set foot in might not be Kunling, but rather the legendary Mythic Land!"
Little Wu nodded heavily and said, "The Mythic Land of the dead, all those creatures of yesteryear have become vengeful ghosts!"
"You two dare to go in alone? We usually form a team of many people, lure a monster of the same level, and then surround and kill it. What you're doing is too risky," a kind person reminded them.
Qin Ming replied, "Thank you. We'll just wander around the edge for a bit, and if things get out of hand, we'll back out immediately."
A moment later, they ventured deeper and found themselves in a desolate Gobi desert, barren and utterly barren, with nothing but sand and gravel as far as the eye could see except for the Black Mist.
"Don't go over there! That's a forbidden zone that just appeared yesterday. There's no way out once you go in, and the evil spirits there are terrifying beyond measure!" someone shouted from behind.
However, a thick black fog surged, cutting off their voices.
"Hmm." Qin Ming vaguely heard a shout, but when he turned around, he only saw a thick fog.
He focused his mind, and a surge of heat welled up in his eyes. In an instant, he saw someone waving at them from the depths of the fog, but he couldn't hear a sound.
"Is there a problem with this area?" He frowned.
"Huh?!" Just then, he was startled, his neck went cold, and the Black Mist inexplicably turned into ropes, hanging him up.
"That ghost has really come! It wants me to die in its place and become a hanged ghost?!" Little Wu was also shocked and angry, because he too was lifted off the ground and hung in mid-air.
This is strange. There was nowhere to gain leverage in the void, yet black ropes formed abruptly, locking their necks and suspending them.
Naturally, neither of them would surrender without a fight, and both launched a full-scale counterattack.
In an instant, Qin Ming's body burst forth with dazzling Heavenly Light. He shuddered violently, Heavenly Light Force as a blade, severed the black rope, causing him to fall from mid-air.
However, from all directions, dozens of black ropes extended from that unknown void, locking onto every part of his body.
This is meant to give him a hard time right from the start.
Golden Haze surged around Qin Ming's body, and his hands, like knives, shattered several black ropes with each strike, eventually causing them to explode.
Little Wu also dealt with the black rope beside him. The two exchanged a glance. This place was truly strange. Ordinary people and cultivators would be swiftly killed by vengeful ghosts if they entered.
Not far away, a figure walked towards the two of them. It was a young man wearing tattered armor and holding a long sword.
"Let me!"
Little Wu rushed forward, launching a series of attacks. His fists clashed with the long sword, producing a clanging sound and sparks flying. After several exchanges, he blasted the man to pieces.
Qin Ming frowned. He knew all too well how extraordinary Little Wu was. He was the only "seed" in the Fourth Forbidden Land, equivalent to Immortal Seed or God Seed, yet he couldn't kill this person instantly.
"A Sword Manual?" Little Wu picked up a piece of animal hide from the ground and looked at it again and again.
He then handed it to Qin Ming, asking him to examine it.
"Not bad, this sword technique is quite impressive." Qin Ming had studied swordsmanship quite a bit, so he memorized the technique and casually practiced a few strokes.
The two continued on and finally saw other scenery. In the thick fog, a dilapidated palace stood on the Gobi Desert. There was no one there, and it was very quiet.
"Withered Hall?" Qin Ming was surprised to see the two characters on the palace plaque. They exuded a sense of vicissitude and ancient charm, and their meaning was self-evident.
Before the dilapidated palace stood an old tree with sparse yellow leaves, which were now falling in the wind, the leaves instantly slashing towards Qin Ming like sharp blades.
A burst of Heavenly Light emanated from his body, blocking the withered leaves. However, instead of shattering them, it emitted a series of clanging sounds, as if he were clashing with the Heavenly Saber.
Qin Ming was shocked. Few people could fight him with fallen leaves like this. This place was really strange. His Heavenly Light Force was so domineering, yet it didn't crush the withered leaves immediately.
Boom!
Finally, the yellow leaves burst open and shattered into powder.
However, they formed a withered hand in mid-air and reached for Qin Ming's neck.
At the same time, the entire old tree revived, opened its eyes, rose from the ground, stretched its branches, and attacked Qin Ming.
Each branch eventually transformed into a withered hand, resembling a ghostly claw.
Qin Ming was surprised; it was just an old tree, yet it was so troublesome.
In order to finish the battle quickly, he did not hesitate to use a trump card. He activated the Dragon Snake Scripture, and then dragon roared. Two beams of light, one black and one white, shot up. The Dragon-Snake transformed into scissors and snapped the trunk of the old tree in two.
Qin Ming urged it on three times before the old tree finally fell and was completely cut down.
Then the old tree exploded, leaving a sign on the ground with the word "Dry" written on it.
"With this token, you may enter the hall to listen to the True Scripture." A voice echoed from the dilapidated Ancient Hall.
Qin Ming looked into the palace and was immediately struck by a chill. There was a cluster of prayer mats with countless figures, as if they were from different times and spaces.
He gritted his teeth, went inside, and sat down on a futon.
On the highest platform at the top of the Ancient Hall was a nearly rotting body, with old skin clinging to its face, disheveled hair, and clothes on the verge of decay. It turned out to be a vengeful ghost about to preach its True Scripture here.
Little Wu and the others waited outside, on high alert, ready to provide support at any time.