sjar Chapter 1382 - 715: Never Seen Before
Chapter 1382 - 715: Never Seen Before
On the fifth morning, just as daybreak approached, a wave of ancient and time-worn aura suddenly swept over the entire village.
All martial artists who were either practicing or resting were startled awake and emerged from their dwellings.
Gu Sheng opened his eyes.
"It’s finally starting."
As he and his companion Ye Jianjia stepped out of their room, they felt a familiar spiritual power sweep across them.
Gu Sheng followed the sensation and looked in its direction, only to see Shen Qingyun in the open space not far away, looking at him with a faint smile. Beside Shen Qingyun stood a middle-aged man, bearing the visage of Situ Qingfeng, but Gu Sheng could see at a glance it was a disguise.
Seeing Gu Sheng looking his way, Shen Qingyun raised his hand to his throat and made a cutting gesture, a cruel smile appearing on his lips.
At the same time, a voice resonated in Gu Sheng’s ear.
"Gu Sheng, your last chance. Between the two of you, whoever brings me the other’s head will be spared. Remember, it’s your only chance at survival."
Gu Sheng’s expression remained unchanged, he gently patted Ye Jianjia’s shoulder.
"Let’s go, the secret realm has opened."
The moment the blood-red portal formed outside the village, the whole world seemed to tremble.
The teleportation gate, entirely crimson and towering over thirty feet, shimmered with strange blood patterns on its surface, exuding suffocating pressure and spiritual energy so dense it was almost liquid.
"Is this the entrance to the secret realm?"
Standing beside Gu Sheng, Ye Jianjia unconsciously clenched her slender fingers around her sleeve.
Gu Sheng calmly looked over the portal, ignoring the provocation in Shen Qingyun’s gaze nearby.
"Let’s go."
He spoke softly, taking the lead step towards the portal.
"Gu Sheng!"
Shen Qingyun’s voice came from behind, filled with unrestrained murderous intent.
"Do you think taking that burden into the secret realm will let you survive?"
Gu Sheng didn’t stop his pace, nor did he even turn his head.
Ye Jianjia, however, couldn’t help but turn back and glare at Shen Qingyun, receiving a disdainful snort in return.
As the two stepped into the portal, Gu Sheng only felt a surge of blinding blood light, his body feeling as if it was being cut by numerous tiny blades.
The sensation lasted only for a moment, the next instant, his feet were already on solid ground.
The blood light dissipated, revealing a vast wasteland before him. Red soil sparsely populated by luminous, strange plants, with a faintly sweet and fishy aroma permeating the air.
"Jianjia?"
Gu Sheng glanced around, realizing Ye Jianjia was nowhere to be found.
He frowned slightly.
"Random transmission laws..."
He closed his eyes to assess his inner condition, indeed discovering a peculiar restriction suppressing his True Qi and spiritual power to the peak of the Spirit Martial Realm. This matched the information Situ Qingfeng previously provided.
"Spiritual power’s detection range compressed to a hundred feet..."
Gu Sheng opened his eyes, a smile appearing on his lips. This kind of suppression might trouble others, but to an old monster like him, who had explored countless secret realms in previous lives, it was nothing.
"Spiritual Embryo, search for Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures nearby."
Gu Sheng called in his heart.
The Innate Spirit Embryo within his Dantian trembled slightly, responding a moment later.
"Master, there’s a strong treasure aura seven or eight miles north, at least top-grade Xuan Rank."
Gu Sheng nodded and proceeded north without hesitation.
The wasteland was silent, with only the occasional "crack" sound from his feet crushing the luminous plants.
As he walked, Gu Sheng tried to run the Nine Dragon Heaven and Earth Technique, surprised to find that although the total amount of True Qi was suppressed, its operating speed within the secret realm was nearly 30% faster than outside!
"Interesting..."
A gleam flashed in his eyes.
"The spiritual energy structure of this secret realm is peculiar, perhaps it can assist me in breaking through to the Xuanwu Realm."
Simultaneously, blood-red lights began to flash in various parts of the secret realm, as martial artists were randomly transmitted to different locations.
Most people panicked, checking themselves upon landing, only to find that their cultivation was suppressed, causing even more chaos.
"Why is my cultivation dropped to the Spirit Martial Realm?!"
"Damn it, there’s something strange about this secret realm!"
"Don’t panic, let’s gather first!"
Amidst the noise, only Shen Qingyun was slightly stunned upon landing, quickly calming down.
Feeling the True Qi within him being suppressed to the peak of the Spirit Martial Realm, a cold smile appeared on his lips.
"Suppressed cultivation? Hmph, the battle consciousness and understanding of martial techniques from the Heavenly Martial Realm cannot be confined by mere restrictions."
Looking around, he found himself in a valley. Not far away, a dozen or so martial artists were gathering in small groups, some looked terrified, others had eyes shifting, clearly plotting something.
"Look, isn’t that Shen Qingyun?"
A tall, lean martial artist whispered to his companion.
"I heard he’s a Heavenly Martial Realm master outside, now suppressed to Spirit Martial Realm, maybe..."
"Do you want to die?"
The companion hurriedly interrupted him.
"Even a skinny camel is bigger than a horse; even if suppressed, he could crush us with one finger!"
Shen Qingyun’s ears twitched slightly, catching all these conversations.
A cold gleam flashed in his eyes, and his figure suddenly disappeared from sight.
"Ah!"
A scream rang out as the tall martial artist’s head flew high, blood spraying several feet away.
"You..."
His companion only had time to utter a syllable before Shen Qingyun’s palm pierced his chest.
"Anyone else care to try?"
Shen Qingyun shook off the blood on his hand, his icy gaze scanning the area.
The third martial artist involved in the discussion turned and fled, but an invisible Qi Force sliced him in half at the waist, his upper body crawling several meters on the ground before dying.
The valley fell silent in an instant, all martial artists pale-faced watching this scene.