Chapter 693

Chapter 693: Each with Their Own Thoughts

Zhuge Yi was a senior and a kind-hearted person; however, the kinder someone is, the harsher they can be when it comes to killing.

On the peak, many demon cultivators and wicked path practitioners restrained their aura, appearing as meek as kittens. They shrank their necks, afraid to leave, their hearts racing as they wondered if taking a misstep would lead to being crushed by the massive hand of water.

“Once again, those who stay must join the Path of Martyrdom Alliance and take on the task of clearing out demonic creatures, with no room for slackness.” The booming voice echoed from the small island, carrying supreme authority.

Some righteous sect cultivators deeply bowed and withdrew, clearly rejecting this ideology. They believed that cultivators should seize every opportunity to survive.

Demon cultivators thought more practically; they took advantage of benefits and fled from dangers, looking down on Zhuge Yi: “Hmph, how can such an old man act like an inexperienced youth, talking about the Path of Martyrdom? It’s unbelievable that he dares to say such things; after living for so many years, why is he still alive? This is the world of young cultivators now.”

Li Hui thought more deeply, understanding that beginnings are hard. The Path of Martyrdom Alliance represented a trend, but without experiencing several large battles, they couldn’t rise. Many cultivators, after encountering the Blue Demon, even developed thoughts of siding with it; the future path was still long!

In fact, many insightful individuals realized the future was grim. The best approach was to unite all possible forces to fight against the invasion of the Demonic Essence World. However, human hearts are complex; with a hundred people come a hundred thoughts, especially among cultivators, where thoughts are even more varied.

In this operation, most individuals were focused on their own interests. Going to the earth’s core was not easy; unprecedented Great Powers must utilize astonishing methods to pierce through the Earth’s garments, Inferno, Earth’s veins, crust, mantle, and membrane to reach the core. Many ancient Great Powers had sealed normal paths and incorporated formations to guard the Jade Heart of the Earth Court, making this route a hundred times harder than breaking through the Azure Sky layer.

Difficulty was a good thing; it meant gain. Right now, the entire Wutu Continent had turned into a barren land of vitality, with rare opportunities left by predecessors.

In the Daxia Empire, if a village boy had good fortune, he could stumble into a cave even by accidentally falling off a cliff. But what about now? Even if they encountered a cave, it would be empty, devoid of jade tablets or artifacts—nothing worth dreaming about would remain.

They were truly at a loss; these cultivators came running upon receiving news. Even with backing from their sects, they still had to venture out to scrape for food, and the hardships could be easily imagined.

From the small island came a voice: “I have collected some pills, treasures, spirit treasures, and talismans in recent years as rewards for this trip to the underground to gather the Jade Heart of the Earth Court.”

As soon as this was spoken, those who had considered leaving stopped in their tracks, thinking: “It’s good to have a big tree to provide shade! Since so many cultivators are staying, if danger arises, we can band together, right? Alone, one is ultimately isolated; having this Great Power lead us is better than wandering aimlessly.”

Li Hui secretly shook his head. This senior was too focused on momentum. The Path of Martyrdom Alliance was initially comprised of an odd mix of people, which was not a good omen for the future.

Yuan Ciheng and Luo Meini nodded repeatedly. They had returned specifically to help their homeland resist the invasion of the Demonic Essence World, feeling that what the elder was doing aligned perfectly with their own thoughts, making them very happy.

It must be said that at the establishment of the Path of Martyrdom Alliance, many loyal and righteous individuals were present. Zhuge Yi had asked those well-versed in Innate Techniques to recruit talent, considering luck and various aspects; it was not merely a desperate attempt to gather any random people. There were layers of calculations involved; anyone who underestimated the Void Riding Cultivators was courting death!

Li Hui kept a low profile. Currently, he sought neither fame nor to overstep his bounds. He would observe attentively, discerning the true nature of each cultivator, ensuring he was not deceived, especially…

Suddenly, Li Hui noticed a few figures; both enemies and friends were present, but overall, there were more enemies. Moreover, Du Miaochan specifically mentioned that Xun Zuoyuan had sent a clone, ready to strike unexpectedly if necessary.

Zhuge Yi’s booming voice echoed: “I will use my treasure to pierce through the Earth’s Inferno. You all should flow like light toward the earth’s core while being careful of the formations and restrictions left by predecessors along the way. I passed this road two thousand years ago, but it was closed after I touched upon the Xu Crocodile’s lair. Today, with so many of us cultivators, capturing the Xu Crocodile’s lair is certainly no problem; go and search for the Jade Heart of the Earth Court! Afterwards, what you bring back can be exchanged for various treasures with me.”

“Understood!” Many cultivators clasped their fists, observing a gleam of light shooting down from the small island, initially slender but rapidly expanding.

Everyone looked down the mountain to see rubble flying, and brilliant silver light spinning like venomous dragons, quickly drilling into the depths below.

In merely two incense sticks’ time, the silver light vanished, leaving behind a massive pitch-black pit three hundred zhang wide. Even from the mountaintop, it looked eerie, and distant roars echoed from underground, as shadowy figures occasionally fluttered up—those were souls trapped underground for many years.

The appearance of these souls indicated that many people had died underground long ago, and they were mostly high-level cultivators; otherwise, the souls would not be so condensed.

The underground had never been a good place. Most of the cultivators present had relied on various means to enter the Azure Sky layer before. Of course, few could soar to the Nine Heavens, but as for delving into the earth’s core, none, including Li Hui, had done so.

Even without anyone having ventured into the earth’s core, various rumors depicted its appearance quite well, suggesting that every step would encounter dangers. Some geologic caverns contained several Yuan Meetings within, birthing many rare and peculiar things; what was brought back might not be useful, but it was enough to fill hours of drink.

“Junior Brother, let’s go ahead; don’t lag behind too much!”

Yuan Ciheng laughed heartily, knowing that Li Hui was now vastly superior to him as a Hongfa Stage cultivator, and with Luo Meini by his side, their combined swords were certainly not ordinary, brimming with confidence.

“Hehe, I’m in no hurry at all!” Li Hui smiled like a fox demon. He truly was not anxious; besides wanting to carefully observe the cultivators joining the Path of Martyrdom Alliance, he wanted to scrutinize the situation in the pit.

Perhaps the second wave of attacks from the future would arrive at any moment; he had to be extra vigilant. He was not worried about these individuals eliminating his younger self before the calamity, for that kind of consumption was beyond what the Wutu Continent could endure.

“Swish, swish, swish…” The sound of breaking air grew intense as many cultivators leaped into the sky, diving directly into the deep pit.

Some cultivators took great care; before entering the pit, they released their spirit treasures, adhered talismans all over themselves, and popped precious pills into their mouths.

More people, after preparing, jumped in like dumplings tossed into a pot. Yuan Ciheng and Luo Meini were exceptionally fierce, unaware of how deep they had plunged. Li Hui suddenly turned to the small island as a voice echoed in his ear: “Leader of the Heavenly Talisman Sect, you have drained the vitality of the Wutu Continent. This action, in the long run, seems profitable; however, not everyone may accept it, and some might covet the vitality you have stored. Be very cautious during this trip to the earth’s core.”

“Thank you for the warning!” Li Hui clasped his fists in salute, and his form vanished.