Entering the Black Mist Wasteland

Inside the room.

Wei Qing, who was sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of golden light streaking through them.

An invisible spiritual force pierced through the wall like a sharp blade. Under this power, the hard bricks and stones were like thin paper, easily penetrated.

"If I unleashed this suddenly, any martial artist below Fifth Rank would be cut down in one blow!"

As Wei Qing spoke, his eyes flashed red again.

Instantly, the surrounding environment changed.

A familiar blood moon hung in the sky.

A cross stood on the cliff by the sea of blood.

Wei Qing's consciousness avatar raised his hand.

The sea of blood beneath his feet churned violently, and a ten-meter-high wave of blood surged like a leviathan.

It crashed against the cliff with a bloody aura.

Then, Wei Qing seemed to transform into a creator.

Under his consciousness's control, the scenes within the space switched like a revolving lantern.

A deep blue ocean.

A desert with sandstorms filling the sky.

A forest where myriad beasts roared.

A battlefield where combat raged...

Any scene Wei Qing could think of, even imagine, could be conjured within the space.

Knock, knock, knock...

Suddenly, a knock on the door sounded, and Wei Qing withdrew from the space.

"Enter."

The door creaked open from the outside.

Zhang Zhidong entered the room, cupping his fists. "My Lord, we just received intelligence that the anomalies in the Black Mist Wasteland are dissipating. The disciples of the sects within Qingcheng have all departed for the Black Mist Wasteland."

Wei Qing got up from the bed. "Then let's depart as well."

Zhang Zhidong took his orders and went to arrange personnel.

Black Mist Wasteland.

Since the news of the rare treasure spread, many people had gathered here.

Some chose to stay in Qingcheng.

Others waited on the spot.

A quarter of an hour ago, the Black Mist Wasteland, which had been shrouded in dense fog for years, suddenly revealed a ten-meter-wide road that stretched into the depths of the wasteland, disappearing from sight.

As the black mist grew thinner.

The disciples gathered at the entrance had already exceeded a hundred.

At this moment, over a hundred sect disciples had already gathered around.

Among this group, three figures were particularly conspicuous.

The most eye-catching was the sword-carrying man standing at the edge of the crowd. He wore a black tight-fitting outfit, and the three-foot-long black greatsword was slung diagonally across his back. The dark red patterns wrapped around the scabbard looked like dried bloodstains. No one within a three-zhang radius dared to approach him.

"That's Blood Saber Qin Shuang," someone in the crowd whispered.

"I heard he single-handedly exterminated the Six Ghosts of Golden Sun last year. There must be at least eighty, if not a hundred, souls slain by that blood saber."

In stark contrast to the lone swordsman was the young man in opulent robes, surrounded by five or six people like a star being held by the moon. The young man was in his early twenties, with a face so beautiful it was almost effeminate, and a faint, arrogant smile playing on his lips.

"Young Master of the Blazing Sun Sect, Liu Yulong," an older martial artist warned the disciples beside him, "Never provoke him, or you won't even know how you died."

Liu Yulong seemed to enjoy the awe-filled gazes of those around him. He waved the jade-bone fan in his hand and said to an old man behind him, "Elder Chen, after the mist clears, you will be the first to charge in. The sudden dissipation of the mist in the Black Mist Wasteland must mean an extraordinary item is about to appear."

"Yes, Young Master."

The last person was a mysterious woman, protected by four female guards in the center. The four maids all wore plain white gauze dresses and held different weapons, their positions forming a formation that tightly guarded the purple-clad young woman in the middle.

The young woman was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with skin as smooth as congealed fat. Her black hair was loosely tied up with a single purple ribbon.

She was playing with a crystal-clear crystal ball in her hand, within which clouds and mist seemed to swirl.

"Is that... someone from the Mystic Maiden Palace?" someone guessed uncertainly.

"Hush!" their companion quickly stopped them, lowering their voice to warn, "Don't speak carelessly... Don't you know how much people from the Mystic Maiden Palace dislike being pointed at?"

The purple-clad young woman seemed to have heard the discussion. She slightly turned her head, her dark eyes sweeping across the crowd. Those who met her gaze involuntarily held their breath, as if suppressed by some invisible force.

"Senior Brother, are these three the top-ranked prodigies from our Jizhou Prefecture on the Heavenly Pride Rankings?" Dongfang Rongrong asked, blinking as she looked at the three.

"Mhm." Song Yuanming nodded, "Qin Shuang, ranked eighth, Liu Yulong, ranked eleventh, and Nangong Ruyan, ranked fourteenth."

As for Tantai Yue, ranked fourth, she wasn't a local of Jizhou Prefecture. It was rumored she came from the Imperial City and was the child of a significant figure in the Heavenly Realm Division.

Upon seeing these three arrive, Song Yuanming's desire to compete for the exotic treasure instantly waned.

The Blazing Sun Sect and the Mystic Maiden Palace were both first-rate powers within Jizhou Prefecture.

Qin Shuang's master was rumored to be a powerful rogue cultivator at the Fourth Rank.

Regardless of strength or influence.

The gap between him and these three was not just a little bit.

Even if he were to luckily obtain the exotic treasure, he might not be able to keep it.

Qin Yang and Zhao Gao of the Blood Robe Sect, standing at the very back of the crowd, saw the arrival of the three. Not only did they show no fear, but they exchanged a mysterious smile.

Just as everyone was discussing, the mist in the passage completely dissipated.

The next moment.

A black shadow, before anyone could react, stepped onto the great path first, charging into the Black Mist Wasteland.

"How audacious."

Liu Yulong was instantly enraged upon seeing this.

He had just publicly declared that Chen Li would go in first, and immediately, someone stood up to slap his face in front of everyone.

"Elder Chen, find that person and kill him!"

"Yes, Young Sect Master."

Chen Li accepted the order and transformed into an afterimage, pursuing them.

After Qin Shuang and the other two, along with their guards, stepped onto the great path, the disciples of the other Sects followed closely behind them into the Black Mist Wasteland.

When Wei Qing, leading Tantai Yue, Jun Wushang, and Zhang Xue, arrived, there was no one left at the entrance.

Wei Qing scanned the area. Besides the thick fog and a road leading into the depths of the Black House Wasteland, he found nothing unusual. "It seems they've all gone in."

"Qingzi, we're already a step behind. Let's hurry inside, or that exotic treasure will be taken by someone else."

Jun Wushang insisted on coming after hearing about the exotic treasure.

Of course, the curious Zhang Xue couldn't be left behind.

Only Tantai Yue seemed to notice Wei Qing's abnormality but didn't point it out.

Wei Qing's expression was solemn, and he whispered, "No matter what happens later, remember to follow me."

"Okay."

"No problem."

"Qingzi, whatever you say goes, let's go."

"Alright."

Wei Qing gave a brief reply and was the first to step onto the great path, heading into the Black House Wasteland, with the other three following closely behind.

Not long after Wei Qing and the others entered.

An anomaly occurred.

The mist that had already dispersed actually began to gather again, silently weaving an invisible net like a ghost, sealing the entrance without a sound.

Then, the mist seemed to gain a life of its own, chasing after them bit by bit, swallowing their retreat route inch by inch.