Half a year passed in the flick of a finger.
Before the gates of the Seven Mysteries Sect, the sect master, Elder Li, Elder Wang, Nangong Wan, and the other senior members stood solemnly. Han Li, Zhang Tie, Chen Qiaoqian, Wu Jiuzhi, and Qi Yunxiao stood before them in matching core disciple robes, their auras steady and their gazes sharp. After the trials of the Illusory Wave Hall and half a year of final preparations, all five had changed considerably. A faint killing aura lingered around them; clearly, they were ready for the journey into the forbidden land.
"The Blood-Colored Forbidden Land is exceptionally perilous, but it also holds immense opportunities." The sect master swept his gaze over the five, his voice solemn. "You go as representatives of the Seven Mysteries Sect. Work together and watch over one another. Yet in the struggle for opportunities, each must rely on their own abilities, and life and death rest with fate. Remember this: returning alive matters more than anything else."
"We will remember your teachings, Sect Master!" the five answered in unison.
Nangong Wan stepped forward and lightly raised her delicate hand. Five streaks of light landed in their hands, revealing translucent, milky-white pills the size of longan fruits, each giving off an unusual fragrance that refreshed the heart and mind.
"These are Soul-Calming Pills. They can stabilize your souls and resist illusions and soul attacks that may exist within the forbidden land. At a critical moment, they may save your lives." Nangong Wan's voice was cool, and her gaze paused briefly on Han Li's face. "Use them judiciously."
"Thank you, Elder Nangong!" The five bowed in gratitude once more. Han Li could tell that these Soul-Calming Pills were of exceptional quality and considerable value. The sect had truly spared no expense this time.
Without another word, the sect master swept his sleeve. A flying boat roughly a hundred feet long appeared out of thin air, hovering above the ground, its entire hull shimmering with a green halo. "This is the Greenwood Boat. It can travel ten thousand miles a day. Elder Li will escort you to Devilfall Valley."
Elder Li nodded and motioned for the five to board. Han Li took one last look at the mountains of the Seven Mysteries Sect, drew a deep breath, and leaped aboard the Flying Boat with Zhang Tie and the others.
The Greenwood Boat became a long green rainbow, tearing through the air and vanishing into the horizon in an instant.
Aboard the flying boat, Elder Li sat cross-legged at the bow, resting with his eyes closed. Han Li and the others each found a place to regulate their breathing. The atmosphere was somewhat somber. After all, whether they would live or die on the road ahead remained unknown. Even Zhang Tie, the steadiest among them, wore a trace of gravity between his brows.
Seven days later, the Greenwood Boat gradually slowed. Looking down through the windows, they saw that the landscape below had changed completely. The mountains had grown jagged and menacing, and a faint blood-colored mist hung in the sky. The spiritual energy in the air was turbulent, carrying an oppressive weight that made their hearts tremble.
"The outskirts of Devilfall Valley lie just ahead," Elder Li said gravely, opening his eyes. "The valley is riddled with restrictions. The flying boat cannot venture farther in. You must disembark here and make your own way to the gathering point at the valley entrance."
The flying boat landed on a desolate ridge. The five jumped down, and Elder Li gave them a long look. "Take care." Then he activated the boat, which turned into a streak of light and sped away.
Han Li looked into the distance. Between two black peaks resembling the fangs of a giant demon, an enormous, distorted spatial rift flickered in and out of sight. Lightning flashed and thunder roared around it, radiating an aura of destruction. That was the entrance to the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land-Devilfall Valley! On a relatively level wasteland before the entrance, figures already thronged together, and streaks of light in every color rose and fell. Cultivators from across the Heavenly South had clearly gathered there.
"Let's go!" Han Li commanded in a low voice. The five used their movement techniques and raced toward the gathering point.
The closer they came, the more keenly they felt the soaring killing auras and fluctuations of spiritual power converging there. The wasteland was divided into dozens of clearly separated areas. Sect cultivators gathered beneath fluttering banners, their ranks tightly disciplined; clan disciples clustered together in splendid clothing, bearing themselves with imposing dignity. Vast numbers of Rogue Cultivators gathered in groups of three or five or kept to themselves, their eyes wary and fierce.
Han Li swept his gaze across them, inwardly chilled. There had to be several thousand cultivators gathered here! Most were at foundation establishment, though a considerable number were at qi refining great perfection. He could even faintly sense several terrifying auras far beyond foundation establishment concealed in the shadows. They were likely the old core formation monsters serving as guardians for the various sects.
"Look, those are the people from Heavenly Tower Fort! What powerful auras!"
"The Spirit Controlling Sect is here too! Those spirit beasts look extraordinary!"
"The saber cultivators from Blade-Transforming Dock have such intense killing auras!"
"And the Covering Moon Sect... tsk, tsk, every one of them is a beauty!"
Zhang Tie, Wu Jiuzhi, and the others murmured among themselves, their expressions tense. The Seven Mysteries Sect was merely a second-rate power in the Heavenly South and hardly stood out here.
Han Li paid more attention to the powerful Rogue Cultivators and a few small groups with strange auras. He soon spotted several targets worth noting: an aloof young man carrying a massive sword on his back, his gaze sharp as a blade and his aura fierce, who was probably Dugu Jian, the "Sword Demon" renowned among Rogue Cultivators; a sinister cultivator shrouded in black robes, accompanied by several stiff-moving Refined Corpses, who was most likely from the Corpse Yin Sect; and a graceful young gentleman holding a folding fan and wearing a warm smile, from whom Han Li nevertheless sensed an exceedingly well-concealed trace of danger.
"The Black Fiend Cult... they came after all." Han Li's eyes grew slightly cold as he spotted several cultivators wearing clothes emblazoned with Skull Demon Head designs. Their leader was a pale middle-aged man with venomous eyes, whose aura was unmistakably at late-stage foundation establishment! Seemingly sensing something, the man swept his icy gaze across the area occupied by the Seven Mysteries Sect. It lingered on Han Li for a moment, and a cruel smile curled his lips.
Han Li remained expressionless, but secretly pushed his Essence-Concealing Technique to its limit, suppressing his aura to early-stage foundation establishment so that he would attract little attention.
Just then, a fragrant breeze drifted over, drawing many sidelong glances. A group of pretty female cultivators in colorful robes approached with graceful steps. Leading them was a young woman with bright eyes, pearly teeth, and an ethereal air. An exceptionally majestic little snow-white fox perched on her shoulder. She was none other than Han Yunzhi, the gifted young woman from Spirit Beast Mountain. Her arrival caused quite a stir.
Almost simultaneously, a commotion rose from the other side. A burly man with rugged features and corded muscles strode forward, the crowd parting wherever he went. He was Feng Yue, the "Tyrant Saber," famed among Rogue Cultivators for his body-refining techniques! His imperious gaze swept over everyone before settling on Dugu Jian, brimming with fighting spirit.
The finest had gathered, dragons and tigers converging! Above the entire wasteland hung a complex atmosphere woven from tension, anticipation, greed, and bloodlust. Everyone understood that once the forbidden land opened, the peace before them would instantly give way to bloody slaughter.
Han Li quietly found a secluded corner and sat cross-legged, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing and bring himself to peak condition. He could sense more than one gaze secretly probing him-some curious, some assessing, and others filled with undisguised murderous intent.
Martial Aunt Nangong's warning, the Shadow Killer Sect's kill order, the grudge with the Black Fiend Cult... Han Li sneered inwardly. Come, all of you. This Devilfall Valley will be your burial ground!
His fingertips unconsciously stroked his Storage Bag, which held all the trump cards he had prepared. The cool touch of the Shadow Blade reached him, settling his mind still further.
The storm was about to arrive.
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