Two Sects

The young girl from the Zi Xiao Sect glanced over, a sneer tugging at the corner of her lips. "Xuan Yuan Sect? The one at the bottom?"

A young man in purple robes behind her scoffed. "I heard they produced a number one True Disciple this time, someone who went from Outer Sect to True Disciple in a month. Heh, small places are just small places. They blow up a bit of talent and think they're the best."

Over at the Dustless Temple, a young monk opened his eyes and clasped his hands together. "Amitabha. Sect Master Lu, it has been a long time."

Lu Xuanfeng's expression remained unchanged as he cupped his fists. "Venerable Kong Ming, Fairy Zi Ling."

The Zi Xiao Sect girl—Zi Ling—fiddled with her dagger and said lazily, "Sect Master Lu, your Xuan Yuan Sect is really pulling out all the stops this time, aren't you? But then again..."

Her gaze swept over Qin Yuan and the other four, lingering particularly on Qin Yuan. "Golden Core peak? Your aura is solid. But in a battlefield, cultivation alone isn't enough. Don't end up dying too quickly and making a fool of yourselves."

Her words were blunt and impolite.

Chu Wuyue's white pupils turned cold, and he was about to speak when Lu Xuanfeng raised a hand to stop him.

The Old Man of Gloom said calmly, "All three sects have arrived. You all know the rules: once you enter the battlefield, your life and death are your own. The entrance will open at midnight tonight, and you will enter simultaneously."

He paused, then continued, "The battlefield has three layers. You are only allowed to operate on the first layer. After two months, the exit will open, and only those holding this token may leave."

With a wave of his sleeve, fifteen black tokens flew out, landing in everyone's hands.

The tokens were cool to the touch. The front was engraved with the character "War," and the back bore each sect's emblem.

"Alright, go prepare yourselves," the Old Man of Gloom waved his hand. "Gather at the plaza on the east side of the city at midnight."

The three sects dispersed.

Midnight, the plaza on the east side of the city.

There was no moon in the night sky, only a few dim stars. In the center of the plaza stood a blood-red portal, ten feet high. Mist churned within the portal, and the faint sounds of roars and clashes could be heard.

The fifteen individuals from the three sects gathered before the portal.

The five from the Zi Xiao Sect stood at the front, Zi Ling idly playing with her dagger, her expression relaxed. The five from the Dustless Temple closed their eyes and chanted scriptures, Buddhist light flowing around them. The five from the Xuan Yuan Sect stood at the back, their atmosphere heavy.

The Old Man of Gloom hovered in mid-air, his voice echoing across the plaza. "The entrance will be open for one hour. Enter!"

As the words fell, the five from the Zi Xiao Sect were the first to charge into the portal.

The Dustless Temple followed closely behind.

Qin Yuan looked at Lu Xuanfeng, who said gravely, "Remember, come back alive."

The five nodded and stepped into the portal simultaneously.

The moment he passed through the portal, Qin Yuan felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Bone-chilling coldness surged from all directions, and his vision turned blood-red. His ears were filled with shrill screams, the explosive clang of weapons, and some kind of horrifying chewing sound.

After an unknown amount of time, his feet touched the ground.

Qin Yuan opened his eyes and found himself standing on a desolate plain.

The sky was dark red, with no sun, moon, or stars, only a few blood-colored rifts stretching across the heavens. The ground was scorched and cracked, littered with broken weapons and shattered bones. The air was thick with the stench of blood and decay.

In the distance, a few ruined buildings stood alone, like the remains of some kind of fortress.

Further away, dark figures roamed—those things were bizarre in form, some resembling humans, others beasts, but all exuding a chilling and eerie aura.

Abyssal Demons.

Monsters lingering in the Ancient Battlefield, feeding on the blood, flesh, and souls of living beings.

Qin Yuan looked around and found that Chu Wuyue, Yun Qingyao, Han Bing, and Ye Guying were nowhere to be seen.

"Random teleportation, huh..." He wasn't surprised.

Acting alone would be more convenient.

He took out the token given by the Old Man of Gloom and injected spiritual energy into it. The token emitted a faint light, pointing towards the depths of the plain—that was the direction of the battlefield exit, but the exit had not yet opened.

"I'll find a place to settle down first."

Qin Yuan moved, streaking towards the distant fortress ruins.

The fortress ruins were larger than he had imagined.

It was a stone structure spanning a hundred zhang in area. The walls were three feet thick. Although dilapidated, the main structure was still relatively intact. The interior was empty, with only some broken tables and chairs and rusted weapons.

If you find this book to your liking, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

Qin Yuan inspected the area, confirmed there were no dangers, and then sat down in a corner.

This could serve as a temporary supply point.

Just as he was about to close his eyes and meditate, he suddenly heard fighting outside.

His Spiritual Sense probed outwards, extending five li.

He saw a purple figure on the plain engaged in a fierce battle with three Abyssal Demons.

It was the young girl from the Zi Xiao Sect—Zi Ling.

At this moment, she had lost all her previous ease and grace. Her dagger transformed into streaks of purple light, attacking the three Abyssal Demons frantically, but with little effect.

The three Abyssal Demons were varied in form.

One was twenty feet tall, covered in bone spurs, with huge bone blades for hands. One crawled on the ground, resembling a spider, its eight legs sharp as knives. The last one was the most bizarre, with no fixed form, like a writhing mass of black shadow, constantly shifting into various grotesque faces.

All three Abyssal Demons possessed the strength of peak Golden Core cultivators. Their coordination was seamless, trapping Zi Ling firmly in the center.

Zi Ling's dagger struck the Bone Spur Abyssal Demon, only to spark. The Spider-like Abyssal Demon attacked from the side, its eight legs slicing like spinning blades, forcing her to retreat repeatedly. Meanwhile, the Shadow Abyssal Demon continuously unleashed soul-piercing shrieks, disrupting her focus.

"Damn it!" Zi Ling's face was pale. A bone-deep gash on her left shoulder, from which blood stained her purple robes, was revealed.

Gritting her teeth, she formed a hand seal, and her dagger erupted with blinding purple light: "Zi Xiao Lightning Technique!"

A bolt of purple lightning descended from the heavens, striking the Bone Spur Abyssal Demon.

The Bone Spur Abyssal Demon roared, crossing its bone blades to block.

"BOOM--!!!"

The lightning exploded, pushing the Bone Spur Abyssal Demon back three steps. Its chest was scorched black, but it did not fall.

The Spider-like Abyssal Demon seized the opportunity, lunging forward. Its eight legs, like eight sharp blades, sealed off all of Zi Ling's escape routes.

The Shadow Abyssal Demon's shrieks grew more piercing. Zi Ling felt a sharp pain in her soul, her movements slowing by half a beat.

Just as the eight blade-like legs were about to slice her to shreds--

A figure abruptly appeared in the center of the battlefield.

Gray robes, bare hands.

Qin Yuan.

Zi Ling's pupils constricted. The eight sharp, blade-like legs were already at her face!

At that moment--

"Bang!"

A muffled thud. The first Spider-like Abyssal Demon to attack was sent flying backward at even greater speed. Half of its body caved in bizarrely, spewing dark green ichor into the air.

Qin Yuan retracted his fist. Without even looking at the twitching demonic creature, his figure had already appeared to the side of the Bone Spur Abyssal Demon.

He brought his fingers together like a blade and slashed diagonally from top to bottom.

The movement was as simple as chopping wood.

"Ch-la--"

The Bone Spur Abyssal Demon's tough carapace, comparable to fine steel, was sliced open as if by a hot knife through butter. It roared, attempting to counterattack, but its bone blade, halfway through its swing, fell limply. The red light in its eyes rapidly dimmed.

The last Shadow Abyssal Demon let out a sharp, piercing shriek. Countless grotesque faces lunged from the shadow, aiming directly for Qin Yuan's soul!

Qin Yuan's brow flashed slightly, and an invisible ripple spread outwards.

The ghostly faces melted like ice and snow under the sun, dissolving with screams. The Shadow Abyssal Demon twisted violently, attempting to flee. Qin Yuan raised his hand and cupped it in the air--

"Pfft!"

The shadow exploded, dissipating into black smoke.

From his appearance to the demise of the three demons, it took no more than three breaths.

Zi Ling stood frozen, clutching her dagger. Blood still seeped from the wound on her shoulder, but her face had lost all color.

She watched the gray-robed youth turn to look at her, his eyes no longer holding any trace of disdain, only disbelief and shock.

Qin Yuan's gaze swept over the wound on her shoulder. "Can you still walk?"

Zi Ling opened her mouth, her throat too dry to make a sound.