Chapter 171

The footsteps sounded like they were pounding on everyone's hearts.

The ancient lamps overhead cast a dim glow, swaying even without wind, stretching their shadows to varying lengths, twisting and writhing on the ground like living creatures.

"Is it a human or a ghost? Could it be the legendary ghost soldiers borrowing a passage?"

Yuan Mengzhou's voice tightened, and his face turned somewhat green. He wasn't afraid of Demon Race, but he had never encountered anything like this kind of supernatural thing before.

Jiese pondered for a moment and said, "Since High Antiquity, there has been no trace of ghosts and gods in this world."

Lin Yueheng's back tensed, and for the first time, his hand gripping the sword hilt showed a hint of helplessness. Having lost his Primordial Spirit and Divine Ability, even his Sword Intent was suppressed, and his pure swordsmanship was simply unable to harm ghosts and gods.

He reminded Human Dao, "The Eternal Dragon Gate was supposedly established before the Primordial Era, so it may not follow the rules of the outside world... Brother Yu, where are you going?"

Yu Tunzhou suddenly took a few steps forward, breaking away from the back-to-back situation.

He looked up and stared at the ancient lamp.

The lamp moved with him, drifting along as if it had locked onto him.

Suddenly, a cool breeze swept across the back of his neck, carrying a bone-chilling cold.

Yu Tunzhou didn't turn around, but continued to observe the ancient lamp, noticing that it swayed slightly and the light dimmed a bit.

He gestured for Lin Yueheng and the others not to move.

The footsteps had disappeared without anyone noticing, but the chill in the air grew even stronger.

Whispers, like ghostly voices, reached Yu Tunzhou's ears.

"Brother Yu, the ancient lamp above your head is about to go out!" Nishang exclaimed softly.

Yu Tunzhou maintained communication with Huntian. After sensing that the chill around him was becoming increasingly intense and was seriously affecting the circulation of his Inner Qi, he began to circulate the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art to stimulate his own Qi and Blood. At the same time, a golden halo flowed around his body, with a precious light contained within.

The chill instantly melted away like ice and snow meeting the sun.

The ancient lamp overhead, which had been about to go out, also regained its brightness.

Yu Tunzhou suddenly spoke up, "Blood Qi, the key points here are indeed related to the physical body, Blood Qi can suppress the eeriness of the night."

As soon as he finished speaking, he took the initiative to face the wisps of black mist swirling around him, and the surging Blood Qi within his body suddenly erupted, spreading out in waves of scorching heat.

The moment the black mist touched the Blood Qi, it vanished as if it had evaporated!

A glint of light flashed in Yu Tunzhou's eyes; he had guessed correctly.

The will of Dragon Gate has always emphasized that physical strength is the only reliance.

But after nightfall, danger will lurk again.

If one simply relies on the oasis to escape disaster, then the key to the second challenge is not the physical body, but the Dragon Race.

Now that it has been verified that Qi and Blood can suppress the black mist, Yu Tunzhou guessed that a place like the "oasis" was not a long-term solution, but only a temporary place to transition.

If we rely too much on the "oasis," we might one day encounter a dead end that is even more dangerous than the black fog.

"If I'm not mistaken, the real secret of this level lies not only in the Blood Qi, but also in the 'ghosts' under the cover of night," Yu Tunzhou whispered, guessing.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened.

After dispelling the surrounding black mist, everyone, including Yu Tunzhou, saw a line of bloody footprints about three zhang away!

With their Movement Method and control, they left no trace along the way.

Yuan Mengzhou suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, "So the thing hiding in the darkness has a physical form, then there's nothing to fear. It's just an enemy with a more elusive nature."

Everyone was speechless upon hearing this, but they had to admit that it made a lot of sense.

All demons and monsters, once they have taken form, though still terrifying, are no longer unknown; they are simply powerful demons.

"Amitabha." The Dharma Master Jiese Se walked into the darkness, whispering, "If I don't go to hell, who will? Let this humble monk explore whether what's hidden here is related to the Netherworld Underworld."

He deliberately stepped into the darkness, his physical body surging with the Qi and Blood of a dragon and an elephant, the black mist hissing as if being burned, and then quickly evaporating.

Yu Tunzhou thought to himself, "This timeline probably doesn't match up. The Dragon Gate was built before the Underworld was established."

According to Huntian, the establishment of the Underworld was the work of Goddess Houtu. In this timeline, the Eternal Dragon Gate has been silent for an unknown period of time.

If this place is truly connected to the Netherworld Underworld... then there's a real problem!

"Fellow benefactors," Jiese suddenly spoke, "This black mist seems to be able to be refined with Qi and Blood."

Um?

Everyone turned their gaze to it at the same time.

Jiese Se said with a determined expression, "Although it was subtle, I did indeed feel a slight improvement in my Qi and Blood just now. This is incredible. I have been refining my Form Refinement Perfection technique for many years, and I should have reached the point where I could not progress any further."

Everyone immediately became interested and their previous vigilance vanished.

After trying it out, everyone looked pleasantly surprised.

"Great! It really works!"

"The previous level was about water-devouring beasts; the key to this level is refining the black mist?"

Yu Tunzhou also made further attempts, actively probing into the large swath of lingering black mist.

As the familiar chill seeped into my bones, it was transformed into warmth by the refinement of my Qi and Blood, like drinking a mouthful of strong liquor in the dead of winter, spreading outward from the depths of my internal organs.

He clearly felt that his Qi and Blood had become purer and his muscles and bones had become stronger.

Although the difference is negligible, it is indeed a gain.

This further confirms his conjecture!

Yuan Mengzhou looked around at the black mist and chuckled, "This isn't dangerous anymore; it's all resources for cultivation."

Everyone smiled.

"It is indeed quite beneficial. This black mist may seem sinister, but after being refined, it is extremely gentle, far surpassing most body-tempering spirit medicine in the world."

The Dharma Master Jiese reiterated his affirmation.

He was a direct descendant of Shaolin and had come into contact with many body-tempering elixirs, so his knowledge in this area far surpassed that of others.

Yu Tunzhou suddenly said, "The danger that Liu Zhizhou is referring to may not be this black fog; the real danger may not have arrived yet."

Everyone's expression tightened, realizing the implication in Yu Tunzhou's words.

Yu Tunzhou cautioned, "Please be careful when you try this; it's not yet clear whether there are any side effects."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Subsequently, Yu Tunzhou notified the two little dragon girls who had hidden in the oasis, instructing them to refine the black mist together to nourish their bodies.

The group dispersed outwards from the oasis gate, with Yu Tunzhou following the footprints and stepping into the black mist.

With the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art operating at full power, his acupoints opened wide, like 365 miniature furnaces, devouring, refining, and transforming the surging black mist into nourishment for his own Qi and Blood.

The mist surged, as if enraged or drawn in, rushing in from all directions and engulfing him.

The sight of this spectacle startled the people nearby, who were all wondering what kind of Cultivation Method Yu Tunzhou was practicing.

Yu Tunzhou stands in the mist, welcoming all who come, advancing the progress of the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art.

The Eight-Nine Mysterious Art can absorb and release the Power of the Eight Extremes of Heaven and Earth, and this black mist, though not belonging to the Eight Tribulations, can still be refined.

He could even sense that the threshold of the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art Second Level was gradually loosening.

During this process, the ancient lamp above his head shone even brighter.

The night was as dark as ink, and the black fog rolled in like a tide.

Ao Zhen looked at the figure being swallowed by the black mist not far away, feeling very worried.

She was born in the West Sea Dragon Palace. Not long ago, she witnessed several of her brothers die in a surprise attack by overseas forces. She thought that this trip to the Dragon Gate would be fraught with danger, but she did not expect to meet Brother Huang.

Although Brother Huang has a somewhat eccentric personality, he acts with great integrity, unlike those who harbor ulterior motives.

But sometimes... Brother Huang is a bit too frank.

She had clearly found a safe haven, but Brother Huang insisted on seeing what dangers lurked in the night, stating bluntly that hiding wasn't his style.

Suddenly, golden light burst forth from the black mist ahead, like a great sun being conceived!

The surrounding black mist was dissipating at an alarming rate.

I don't know how much time passed.

Huang Tian emerged from the black mist, his upper body bare. His muscles were like cast bronze and iron, and golden light faintly emanated from the nine major acupoints, like nine suns sealed within his flesh.

He looked up into the distance, his brows furrowing slightly.

A subtle feeling of being watched by something arose in my heart.

"A cowardly coward." He scoffed.

The black mist in this world is somewhat strange; its properties are similar to Blood Qi, so it can be refined.

However, there was something inexplicable contained within this black mist. He vaguely sensed that once it accumulated to a certain extent, it might attract something.

Huang Tian looked at Ao Zhen and said calmly:

"This black mist shouldn't be as terrifying and dangerous as you've heard. You can refine it with your Qi and Blood to nourish your body. Why don't you give it a try?"

Everyone is progressing; if you choose to hide in the oasis, you're standing still and destined to be a loser.

In a secret world.

The secret place is not large, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with a lake lying quietly in the center, the water of which is crystal clear.

Ji Zhaoxuan and the others sat by the lake, a place completely different from the scorching, cracked wasteland outside.

Your Highness.

Xiao Yanzhi walked out from outside the small world.

"How's the contact going?" Ji Zhaoxuan asked coldly.

"We've already made contact." Xiao Yanzhi paused, then hesitated, "Are you sure you want to deal with Yu Tunzhou in the second level?"

Ji Zhaoxuan sneered, "This place prohibits the Primordial Spirit and restricts Divine Ability. He can't use the Unity of Heaven and Celestial Person and man here either. If not now, are you waiting until he's in perfect condition?"

Xiao Yanzhi sighed, "But we too have had our Divine Ability powers sealed. Mingyu and I are both Ancient Method cultivators, and our physical bodies are inferior to those of contemporary martial artists."

Ji Zhaoxuan said calmly, "Without Divine Ability and Primordial Spirit, all his methods are lost, and he is just a commoner. No matter how strong he is, his strength is limited; two fists can't fight four hands. As long as the Demon Race isn't stupid, they won't let go of the opportunity to eliminate Yu Tunzhou ahead of time."

Xiao Yanzhi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Your Highness, how many edicts do you still have?"

Ji Zhaoxuan looked at him coldly. "This is none of your business."

"Your Highness misunderstands," Xiao Yanzhi said calmly. "What I wanted to ask was whether it was permissible to execute Yu Tunzhou directly with an imperial edict?"

Ji Zhaoxuan coldly replied, "Absolutely impossible."

Xiao Yanzhi sighed and said, "I was being presumptuous. Your Highness, please allow me to take my leave first. I need to locate the Yu Tunzhou."

The Xiao Household's ancestor was once a star official under the Great Emperor Ziwei, who inherited the "Treasured Register of the Purple Tenuity Star Enclosure" and was able to observe celestial phenomena and control the changes in destiny.

"Go," Ji Zhaoxuan said calmly.

Xiao Yanzhi rose to take his leave.

Ji Zhaoxuan watched him leave, his eyes growing colder. How could he not sense Xiao Yanzhi's repeated probing?

"Traitors... they're all a bunch of traitors!"

Ji Zhaoxuan snorted coldly in his heart and withdrew his gaze.

The primary enemy at present is still the Yu Tunzhou.

This brat dared to openly clamor in public for the Great Yan to change its crown prince; the conflict between them had reached an irreconcilable point.

If Yu Tunzhou were to escape the second trial unscathed, how could Ji Zhaoxuan possibly have the face to vie for the final leadership?

Therefore, Yu Tunzhou must perish at this stage!

The rules and trials within the Dragon Gate were beyond his expectations, yet they suited his current desires perfectly.

They had all witnessed the outcome of the first trial and knew that Yu Tunzhou, without the power of his Primordial Spirit, was like a roc that had lost its wings.

"Yu Tunzhou..."

Ji Zhaoxuan suppressed his emotions, his tone calm and undisturbed, and slowly closed his eyes.

In the darkness of night.

The Yu Tunzhou, swallowing black mist all the way to the source of the footprints, where the footprints vanished into thin air.

He looked up and saw that although his eyesight had improved and he had night vision, the world around him was clearly different, making his field of vision far inferior to that of the outside world.

He gazed silently into the darkness, as if something lurked within, coldly meeting his gaze.

Since it was the first night, Yu Tunzhou did not rush into anything and planned to first break through to the second level of the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art.

One night of cultivation is equivalent to a month in the outside world, and the barrier of the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art Second Level is already teetering on the brink of collapse.

It is unknown whether this will trigger a lightning tribulation.

If so, he was prepared to venture into the depths of darkness.

In this way, even if a crisis becomes unbearable, one can still escape by triggering a lightning tribulation.

He turned back, and the others didn't go far either.

Yuan Mengzhou spoke first, his brows furrowed. "I always feel like something is watching me in the darkness. The more I refine the black mist, the stronger this feeling of being stared at becomes."

These words immediately drew agreement from others.

"It seems that refining this black mist has side effects we are unaware of." The Dharma Master Jiese said solemnly, "Benefactor Yu, have you discovered anything?"

Yu Tunzhou solemnly replied, "Not for now. If all goes well, I should be able to make a breakthrough in my cultivation Cultivation Method tomorrow night. At that time, I will venture deep into the darkness to try and find out more."

"As for tonight, let's all go to the oasis to rest."

The group nodded; after walking all day under the sun, they were indeed not in very good condition.

Afterwards, everyone entered the oasis to adjust their condition.

And just after they left.

From the surrounding darkness, rustling sounds gradually emerged, along with low growls resembling those of Dragon Race, which lingered nearby for a long time before finally departing.

When the next morning arrived, the group left the oasis and continued their journey.

Soon, they saw several skeletons of Demon Race, their true forms revealed, on the road!

"These are... the remains of a winged tiger?"

Yu Tunzhou stood before a pile of white bones, his expression solemn, recalling the winged tiger that had escaped his grasp the day before.

The group examined several Demon Race skeletons and found obvious bite marks.

"Internal strife among the overseas Demon Race?" Ao Xiyu guessed.

"Possibly," Lin Yueheng said slowly. "Overseas martial artists are not a monolithic group. And since there are many fortuitous opportunity in this world, conflicts are inevitable if they act separately, but..."

Lin Yueheng observed the traces around him, his brows furrowed, and he said nothing more.

Yu Tunzhou picked up the conversation and slowly said:

"They gnawed so cleanly. In just one night, all that's left are bones. The Demon Race isn't Demon Beast. Although they are still bloodthirsty and brutal, they wouldn't go so far as to swallow even their own fur."

"Furthermore, there are very few signs of combat around here; it's as if there was no resistance at all."

Liu Zhizhou's pupils contracted sharply, and he whispered, "You suspect they encountered real danger in the darkness?"

The crowd remained silent.

There are no weaklings among those who can enter the Dragon Gate.

The Demon Race race is known for its physical prowess, yet there were no signs of battle nearby, suggesting that this was either a sneak attack or that the difference in strength between the two sides was extremely vast.

"Let's go," Yu Tunzhou said. "There might be more corpses ahead. If the Demon Race go first, they'll clear the way for us."

The group continued forward, but this time they didn't find any other skeletons. Instead, they discovered a secret portal that needed to be irrigated with blood.

There were no unexpected fortuitous opportunity or adventures in the oasis last night, but opening the door didn't require watering it with blood.

So, looking at this gate that needed to be watered with blood, the group couldn't help but begin to look forward to it.

The fortuitous opportunity in this world should not be limited to the black fog of last night.

Looking at the bloodstains on the ground, Yu Tunzhou blinked and said, "It seems someone has gone ahead. Then let's not rush in and just wait at the door."

Everyone agreed.

"That's how it should be."

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

The crowd gathered around the gate, waiting patiently like hunters.

I don't know how much time passed.

A figure staggered out from inside the door.

His clothes were tattered, he was covered in blood, his left arm hung limply at his side as if it were broken, but in his right hand he tightly gripped a bead the size of a fist, inside which flowed a ghostly blue light, as if sealing away a vast ocean.

He had just stepped out the door when he stumbled, threw his head back, and burst into laughter—a hoarse yet utterly exhilarating laugh.

"Niu Tuntian, in the end, the fortuitous opportunity still fell into my hands, Ao Qinyun's!"

Just as he was overjoyed and brimming with pride, he belatedly realized that something seemed amiss in the atmosphere around him.

His laughter stopped abruptly, and he looked around abruptly, only to find that he had been surrounded by a group of people without even realizing it!

The leading man in the blue robe grinned, revealing his teeth, as if the smile had transferred to him.

"I saw you were laughing so happily just now, so I didn't want to bother you."

"Now, let's rob them!"

Ao Qinyun looked as if someone had grabbed him by the throat, his face ashen as if he had swallowed a rat whole.

"You are... Yu Tunzhou?" he asked through gritted teeth.

This name had already become famous among the overseas Demon Race after the first level.

He tightened his grip on the beads. "What do you want?"

Yu Tunzhou asked in surprise, "Is our intention to rob us really that unclear?"

After he finished speaking, the crowd gathered around him from all sides.

Yuan Mengzhou grinned maliciously and rubbed his hands together, eager to fight.

Lin Yueheng forward, sword held horizontally; the sword was not yet drawn, but its sharpness was already there.

The Dharma Master Jiese clasped his hands together, looked at the Dragon Race benefactor with compassion in his eyes, and prepared to unleash his Great Strength Vajra Palm technique.

"Are you Human Race so unruly?" Ao Qinyun's voice was hoarse, filled with resentment. "I risked my life for this!"

"Rules?" Ao Xiyu said fiercely, "When you ganged up to ambush us yesterday, did you follow any rules?"

Ao Qinyun looked around and knew that there was no good ending to this day.

He gritted his teeth and suddenly threw the bead into the distance.

Taking advantage of the instant he threw the bead, he retreated rapidly and ran wildly in the opposite direction.

Yu Tunzhou did not chase after the pearl.

He took a step forward, striking first despite being behind, and landed a punch on Ao Qinyun's back, quickly subduing Ao Qinyun with the help of Lin Yueheng and the others.

Not far away, Nishang had already caught the bead and walked over with a smile.

"This is... Dragon Essence?"

Upon seeing the transparent dragon shadow swimming inside the pearl, Ao Xiyu's pupils contracted sharply, filled with barely suppressed joy.

"There's actually Dragon Essence here!"

Ao Qinyun, who was pinned to the ground, suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with resentment and venom. He suddenly grinned maliciously:

"Not only the Dragon Essence, but also the remains of the Ancestral Dragon and the Primordial Phoenix behind this door. Do you dare to go in?!"