?Chapter Thirteen: A Great Many Powerful Experts Arrive
Killing intent suddenly surged skyward around the outer reaches of the Demon Realm, causing an enormous commotion. Most of the people in Xiguan Town saw it, as did those on the Demon Realm's second layer.
However, a barrier separated the outer reaches of the Demon Realm from its second layer. It prevented people on the second layer from entering the outer reaches, while also keeping the powerful Magic Beasts on the second layer from entering.
"Killing intent has appeared. This is an ill omen!" someone exclaimed with a drastic change in expression.
"There's such dense killing intent in the outer reaches of the Demon Realm. Could that legend really be true?"
Many people had the same thought. The appearance of the killing intent seemed to herald the emergence of the Ancient Battlefield.
Countless powerful experts had died on the Ancient Battlefield, so there were bound to be many treasures there. At the thought, many people grew eager.
"The Ancient Battlefield has appeared again. Perhaps fragments of an immortal artifact will turn up. Let's all go take a look."
At the words "immortal artifact fragments," everyone present felt their hearts pound.
An immortal artifact! A weapon of boundless power. There was only one in the entire Vast Sky Great World, called the Tai Chi Seal, and it was in the hands of the Primordial Sect, the foremost of the nine great orthodox sects.
Legend had it that an immortal artifact could turn heaven and earth upside down and overturn seas and rivers. Even the Primordial Sect rarely used theirs, keeping it only to suppress the sect's fortune.
Even fragments of an immortal artifact were beyond comparison with ordinary spiritual artifacts. In the Vast Sky Great World, spiritual artifacts were already exceedingly precious.
Faced with fragments of an immortal artifact, it was hard to imagine anyone not being tempted.
At once, everyone surged toward the place where entry tokens were sold, eager to buy tokens that would let them enter the outer reaches of the Demon Realm.
It wasn't just this area. Almost all of Xiguan Town sprang into action.
The man in charge of selling tokens hadn't wanted to sell them to these people, because they were powerful, usually cultivators who roamed the Demon Realm's second and third layers.
But he couldn't withstand the threats of so many people. With no other choice, he sold them the tokens for the Demon Realm's outer reaches.
At least several thousand powerful experts in Xiguan Town bought tokens and entered the Demon Realm's outer reaches, one after another, heading toward the place where the killing intent had erupted.
They used all kinds of secret techniques. Some even used treasures that increased their speed, such as Divine Speed Talismans, all hoping to reach the place as quickly as possible.
Of course, some were more cautious and didn't rashly charge in.
If it really was the Ancient Battlefield, it certainly wouldn't be easy to venture into.
Bi Fan had no idea how far he had gone. He only knew that every additional step forced him to stop and absorb the killing intent and spiritual energy. Each time took about twenty minutes, and the time kept increasing.
The killing intent and spiritual energy grew more and more violent. Bi Fan was caught in the midst of it, suffering terribly.
If the Two-Colored Strange Lotus hadn't taken control of his body, Bi Fan would have fled long ago.
Having killing intent enter his body was no pleasant experience. Even with the Two-Colored Strange Lotus protecting him, Bi Fan was in agony.
He couldn't help absorb the killing intent and spiritual energy. With nothing else to do, he could only look inward from time to time and watch the Two-Colored Strange Lotus change.
After absorbing so much killing intent and spiritual energy, the Two-Colored Strange Lotus's petals grew larger and more vivid.
The lotus seedpod in the flower's heart also grew steadily, and it was almost formed.
The seedpod was black and white, half one color and half the other, shaped like a Taiji Diagram.
There were eighteen cavities on the seedpod, half black and half white. There were no lotus seeds inside yet.
The seedpod was still tiny, far too small compared with the flower. But it was continuing to grow. That should be a good thing, right?
Truthfully, Bi Fan couldn't say. He could only take things one step at a time.
The Two-Colored Strange Lotus had somehow been hidden inside his body. He didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. So far, nothing bad had happened, which comforted him somewhat.
As the seedpod took shape, the Two-Colored Strange Lotus absorbed killing intent and spiritual energy much faster.
Bi Fan felt it most clearly. He could sense the killing intent and spiritual energy forming an ever-larger whirlpool, surging into his body.
Could this really be the Ancient Battlefield? Otherwise, how could there be such dense killing intent and spiritual energy? Although Bi Fan couldn't control his body, his thoughts were still his own.
He couldn't help feeling a little expectant. He wondered where the killing intent and spiritual energy originated—and whether there were many treasures there.
At the same time, he kept an eye on what was behind him. If anyone followed, he would know at once.
What Bi Fan found strange was that, among so many humans and Magic Beasts, not a single one had followed him.
Those outside were even more anxious than he was. Almost three hours had passed since Bi Fan entered, and there was still no sign of him.
Was he dead or alive?
Everyone was watching anxiously—even the Magic Beasts.
They were hoping Bi Fan was dead. They wouldn't be willing to let him take all the spoils for himself.
"What should we do? He's been in there so long. He's probably already grabbed all the treasures," one person said anxiously.
"That can't be. The center of the killing intent is still quite far from here. He couldn't have reached it so quickly. The deeper you go, the stronger the killing intent gets. Perhaps it's already entered his body and killed him."
"Exactly, exactly. He's been in there so long. He must be dead."
Probably no one hoped Bi Fan was still alive. They couldn't venture deeper themselves, and they couldn't stand anyone being stronger than them.
They were all young geniuses from various sects and schools, haughty and unwilling to yield to anyone. None of them wanted to be inferior to another.
If anyone got the better of them, they would kill that person at any cost.
As everyone waited anxiously, several powerful experts suddenly appeared. Their auras were astonishingly strong; they were at least at the Mortal Transformation Realm.
As soon as those few landed, more powerful experts arrived one after another.
The Magic Beasts trembled with fear and fled in all directions. They wouldn't dare stay there any longer.
But the human experts were clearly focused on the killing intent. They didn't even glance at the Magic Beasts, letting them go.
"Who can tell me what's going on with the killing intent?" asked a handsome, imposing man.
He was a powerful expert at the Mortal Transformation Realm. Under his sweeping gaze, the humans who had arrived earlier lowered their heads timidly.
A human stepped forward, trembling with fear. "Sir, the killing intent is extremely powerful. We don't dare go deeper. Anyone who does will suffer Qi Deviation and die. But... but..."
"But what? Hurry up and speak."
"Sir, there seems to be one person who isn't afraid of the killing intent corroding him. He went in three hours ago, and there's still been no sign of him."
"What?" the handsome man cried out.
"Sir, it's true. Everyone can vouch for it."
"One person really has been in there for a long time. We don't know what happened to him. We don't know if he's alive or dead."
"That person ignored the killing intent and moved very quickly."
Many people began talking all at once.
In only a moment, several hundred powerful experts had gathered outside the region of killing intent, and more were still rushing over.
"Let's go in and take a look."
At last, some of the powerful experts who had arrived later couldn't hold back and decided to investigate.
One powerful expert leaped in, landing ten meters inside the region of killing intent. Then he strode forward without the slightest effect from the killing intent.
Upon reaching the Spiritual Wisdom Realm, a person underwent a transformation. Their soul, essence, and spirit all improved qualitatively, and even their intelligence increased considerably.
The Spiritual Wisdom Realm was a huge threshold in the Mortal Embryo Realm. Many people couldn't cross it.
Once someone crossed the Spiritual Wisdom Realm and entered the Metamorphosis Realm, breaking through became relatively easy.
Breaking through to the Mortal Transformation Realm was another major threshold. Inner breath would transform into spiritual energy, and the soul, essence, and spirit would all improve greatly. The transformation was even more complete and intense than the one at the Spiritual Wisdom Realm.
Therefore, powerful experts at the Mortal Transformation Realm could resist the killing intent far better than anyone below the Spiritual Wisdom Realm.
With one person leading the way, others who thought their strength was up to the task entered the region of killing intent as well. They moved quickly, afraid of falling behind.
Among the powerful experts who later entered the Demon Realm's outer reaches, very few were below the Spiritual Wisdom Realm. Those below it knew their limits well. Seeing so many powerful experts go in, they gave up on entering.
Twenty meters... thirty meters... fifty meters...
The first few powerful experts to enter had already gone fifty meters deep. They had slowed down, clearly resisting the increasingly powerful killing intent.
But so far, no one had suffered Qi Deviation.
In no time, nearly all the thousands of powerful experts had reached the edge of the region of killing intent. Those arriving later saw so many people had already gone in and charged straight inside without even finding out what was happening.
They were already a step behind. They couldn't afford to fall behind at every turn.
"These powerful experts are amazing! They aren't afraid of the killing intent at all. I wonder when we'll be able to cultivate to that level."
"It's too soon to say they're not afraid of the killing intent. The deeper you go, the stronger it gets. Let's keep watching. I'm sure we'll see a good show before long." The speaker looked completely confident.
Not long after he finished speaking, as if to prove him right, a scream suddenly rang out.
A powerful expert at the Spiritual Wisdom Realm was clutching his head and rolling on the ground, writhing in agony.
"Bad news! He's suffering Qi Deviation!" Almost everyone stopped in their tracks.
The man had several companions who wanted to rescue him, but he had already gone mad and even started attacking those around him indiscriminately.
After thrashing about for a while, blood poured from his seven orifices, and he collapsed dead.
"Everyone, be careful. The killing intent is growing stronger. If you're not strong enough, turn back on your own!" a powerful expert at the Mortal Transformation Realm called out in warning.
Many people below the Mortal Transformation Realm retreated. No one wanted to suffer Qi Deviation and die. The experts at the Mortal Transformation Realm were bold because of their superior skill, and not one chose to turn back.
Of course, some people below the Mortal Transformation Realm had a few trump cards and planned to keep going.
The legend of the Ancient Battlefield was too tempting. Ordinary people couldn't resist it.
After one person suffered Qi Deviation, everyone slowed down and became extremely cautious.
Some people felt they couldn't withstand the killing intent and hurried back out. They felt terrible, but at least they hadn't suffered Qi Deviation and died.
"Ah!..." Another person went berserk.
Convinced his strength was formidable and armed with life-saving methods, he gritted his teeth and persisted.
The killing intent's corrosion was invisible and formless. Before he could even use his trump card, he suffered Qi Deviation.
The scream reached the ears of those inside the region of killing intent, chilling them to the bone and raising goosebumps all over their bodies. More people retreated.
Soon, fewer than three hundred people remained who were willing to keep going. They were all extremely cautious, and one after another turned back.
Before you continue