Chapter 497

Chapter 497: Golden Luan Great Thousand

In the small stone city, nearly a thousand individuals gathered, half of whom were exceptionally talented cultivators emitting terrifying energies from around them.

Today, Li Hui felt that he had truly broadened his horizons, emotions bubbling within him as he thought, “Indeed, the world is vast, and cultivators are the greatest. There is no strongest, only stronger! Otherwise, how could it be called a boundless journey of cultivation? There truly is no end; my limited skills here are at risk of becoming mediocre. The Fortune Ascending Talisman feels the overwhelming pressure; it seems like all the luck in the world converges here. Each of them is favored by heaven and earth, each can be called a child of fortune!”

At this moment, all he felt was awe.

It was like a frog trapped at the bottom of a well, able to see only the small patch of sky above! But then, a sudden storm washed away the well, sending the frog soaring up, instantly revealing a vast expanse far beyond its original perception.

“Alright, even if I am a frog at the bottom of the well, I must seize this opportunity to rise rapidly.” Li Hui clenched his fists, his heart of Dao needing to endure trials to combat demonic intent; he must not allow it to transform into a demonic heart.

The next day, someone suddenly shouted, “Look!”

At some point, an ancient wooden door appeared in the center of the stone city.

It stood about three zhang tall, with the red lacquer mostly worn away, revealing the wood grain beneath. The copper rings on the door were worn and frail, as if they were telling tales of time.

“Don’t be alarmed; this is the entrance to the Golden Luan Cave.” Many cultivators had obtained secret texts from their sects and understood the specifics of the Golden Luan Great Thousand Cave, so they were not in a rush to enter, waiting for the second wooden door to appear.

That night, Li Hui eagerly sought advice from the Three Gods and Kuang Daoxun, which allowed him to learn that the Golden Luan Great Thousand Cave was indeed the greatest opportunity on the Wutu Continent. The Surveillance Pavilion, which published the Opportunities Record, only had one quota available, and suitable disciples were not always chosen for participation. This grand event was organized by three hundred twenty-three sects united together.

In simpler terms, they secured the venue; without that quota, finding the stone city would mean nothing when it comes to entering those wooden doors.

Li Hui realized that he had overestimated his demonic self, thinking, “Calculating this in such a short time is no easy feat. He foresees the Jin Tian Sect’s views on me, figuring I could replace Zhang Daoheng’s slot to awkwardly insert myself here. In the original trajectory of history, I definitely wouldn’t be in this Golden Luan Cave entry at all. However, now is the present, and whoever is strong rewrites history. I must be wary of those from the Nine-Mystic Continent who may seek to eliminate me, and also be cautious of cultivating the heart of Dao into demons—that’s the real trouble, a tremendous trouble!”

Before long, another wooden door appeared in the stone city, five hundred steps from the central wooden door.

In the next two hours, three hundred sixty-five wooden doors materialized in the city as if they had always been there, merely hidden behind the broken stone houses.

At that moment, Kuang Daoxun raised his voice, “Each sect should choose one wooden door to enter. The Golden Luan Cave is vast and boundless; as of today, it remains unexplored. I believe everyone has secret maps at hand, with unique rare treasures they wish to gather. However, as the host, the Jin Tian Sect must lay out the rules clearly: once inside the cave, it is up to your abilities. If you go deeper into another’s exploration zone and cannot return promptly, the Jin Tian Sect is not obligated to support you. Starting now, you have two and a half months; after this time, we won’t wait.”

Last night, Li Hui conversed with several true disciples of the Jin Tian Sect. Some were indifferent, some warm, and others held hostility, but he gained some understanding of the treasure hunting foundations here.

This Golden Luan Cave held countless treasures, but dangers abounded as many rare flowers and odd herbs were guarded by unique beasts, and numerous ancient ruins were protected by formidable formations. All the cultivators who came to participate in this grand event were formidable, as ordinary treasures did not attract their interest, making them willing to risk everything to dive into dangerous territories.

Two and a half months is neither long nor short! Among cultivators, there has never been a lack of conflict, and at that time, nine and a half out of ten cultivators would likely cross boundaries, even waiting for this chance to eliminate enemies.

Once inside the cave, portals would bind themselves; it would be challenging for others to find them, and you would likely struggle to locate someone else’s portal, making timely returns impossible and leaving one stranded in the cave.

The issue arises here; many cultivators would be more than willing to stay in such a cave for hundreds of years. However, once it closes, outsiders would quickly age into dust.

How to weigh that is up to oneself; Kuang Daoxun merely had the duty of a reminder. Since he laid out the rules clearly, each sect could not use this as an excuse to cause trouble.

Although the Jin Tian Sect was authoritative on the Wutu Continent, it still paled in comparison to the prestigious families of other continents, especially as Practitioners of Yimu and Gui Shui tended to be unreasonable and their sects acted brutishly. This warning was particularly directed at them.

Jian Wujie pointed at Li Hui and stated, “I will take this boy’s life.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he and the female cultivator beside him stepped through a wooden door into the cave.

Kuang Daoxun transmitted a message to Li Hui, “Junior Brother, Zhang Daoheng’s calamity power is always affecting us, even impacting the Lord and the three elders. It’s not that we don’t want to remember you or envision your return to the sect, but the more we remember, the stronger his calamity power becomes when he breaks the seal. This is using us against you—quite a despicable trick. And the leader of the Hongmo Sect, upon realizing that Zhang Daoheng has fallen into the seal and is building strength, thinks of you daily; be very careful!”

“Alright, forget about Junior Brother Li; let’s go!” After explaining, Kuang Daoxun left decisively. From this moment on, the Jin Tian Sect would no longer remember Li Hui, which was actually a form of protection.

“Now I understand!” Li Hui realized that previously forgetting was a calamity, while now remembering would also be a calamity—these guys didn’t want to help the evil!

“Whoosh, whoosh…” Most cultivators took action with their fellow sect members, while only a few cultivators ventured alone. Although they claimed that three hundred twenty-three sects united to explore the Golden Luan Cave, in reality, many cultivators failed to break through the sandstorms outside the stone city, so fewer than three hundred sects were present.

Here, three hundred sixty-five wooden doors stood, ample for everyone to use.

Li Hui received a secret map from Kuang Daoxun last night and understood that all portal locations had already been explored. The map served to remind everyone not to waste time in certain areas—that was all.

The ball of threads sneered, “Let’s go; some guys marked me, but thought I wouldn’t notice. Hmph, I am a demon!”

“Not a problem.” Li Hui casually selected a wooden door and stepped inside.

As soon as the words of the ball of threads faded, the light and shadow flickered before him, as if countless stars had appeared, and his body instantly elongated as he flew straight into a sea of light.

Once his feet steadied, he was greeted by the sounds of birds chirping, insects buzzing, and the roars of beasts, a vibrant and lively atmosphere. Crowds of Luan birds soared above, with sunlight filtering through the gaps between the leaves onto his face.

Amidst towering ancient trees, he could see immense mountains in the distance, cascading down nine waterfalls; such grand mountains and mighty waters—it truly felt like a paradise on earth…