Chapter 106: Demon Ghost Domain Trial (Part Six)
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Kou Xuehua, with Nascent Soul cultivation, looked like a charming young woman who still retained her beauty. She looked at Yue Qianchou with some surprise. On Floating Immortal Island, most disciples with such low cultivation had no contact with the cultivation world before practicing and rarely left the island. How could he recognize people from Ten Thousand Demon Palace? Then, remembering he came from a rogue cultivator background, she felt relieved. She nodded: “They are indeed from Ten Thousand Demon Palace. Floating Immortal Island, Great Luo Sect, and Moon Gazing Sect – the top three righteous sects, along with the top three demonic sects Ten Thousand Demon Palace, Blood Demon Palace, and Corpse God Sect – are all here. Most disciples from the six major righteous and demonic sects who have participated in Demon Ghost Domain trials keep silent about this matter, which is why you didn’t know. I participated during both my Foundation Establishment and Core Formation stages, so I know more than you.”
Several people who hadn’t experienced this looked at each other in bewilderment. No one had expected the Demon Ghost Domain trial to have such a secret.
“Tsk tsk! This is Martial Grandaunt Kou’s third time! It looks like after returning, the next chief elder of Ten Thousand Fragrance Garden will definitely be you,” Yue Qianchou said. This wasn’t flattery – such were the rules of Floating Immortal Island. Those who could survive these three ordeals across three cultivation stages were mostly cultivated as successors to their branches. If there were many competitors, as long as their cultivation was sufficient, they would at least become an elder.
If Yue Qianchou knew that his master Guan Weiwu also intended for him to undergo trials three times and succeed as the next chief elder of the Alchemy Pavilion, who knows what he would think.
“Let’s not talk about future matters. Being able to return alive is what’s important,” Kou Xuehua slowly looked toward the bottom of the mountain, her expression distant and lost, not knowing what she was remembering.
“Hehe! Blood Demon Palace’s strength is indeed extraordinary. They’re competing with Azure Light Sect over there, yet still have the mind to participate in Demon Ghost Domain trials here,” Yue Qianchou said, looking at the group of people gathered together in blood-red clothes. Then his gaze fell on a group of righteous sect people wearing earth-yellow clothing, and his eyes suddenly narrowed slightly as he said in a deep voice: “Martial Grandaunt Kou, are those people in yellow clothes disciples of Great Luo Sect?”
Kou Xuehua looked back and nodded: “Exactly.”
“Oh! Great Luo Sect! I’ve long admired their great name!” Yue Qianchou said word by word, a trace of cold light flashing in his narrowed eyes.
Elder Dongfang Changao was the host of this trial for Floating Immortal Island. After meeting with the other five sects, he returned to see his sect’s disciples chattering and forming cliques, hoping to rely on numbers to safely get through this ordeal.
With white hair and beard and a dignified appearance, Dongfang Changao stood with his hands behind his back, his brow slightly furrowed. He gave a cold snort, then pressed a massive aura toward the Floating Immortal Island disciples. Yue Qianchou felt like the blood in his body was about to burst from his seven orifices. Instantly, everyone obediently quieted down, and that aura disappeared without a trace.
Dongfang Changao took out the compass from his storage bag, cast spells to set it up in front of him, swept his gaze over everyone, and said in a deep voice: “Nascent Soul stage trials last three months, Core Formation stage two months, Foundation Establishment stage one month. Those who complete the trial time limit, this old man Dongfang Changao and the other nine elders will await your return. However! Those who don’t reach the specified time limit are not allowed up the mountain – violators will be killed without mercy.”
After speaking, he cast a hand seal toward the compass. The compass surface flashed with a layer of brilliant light. He waved his hand and shouted: “All disciples participating in trials, descend the mountain!”
Everyone dared not hesitate and leaped toward the bottom of the mountain. When Yue Qianchou and the four women passed the compass, he couldn’t help but crane his neck to look. He saw points of light moving on the compass – it was a magical treasure that could know where people were, probably displaying everyone who had input their divine sense.
Footsteps thundered as disciples from other sects also began descending the mountain. No one dared to fly – flying fast was useless here. Flying fast might mean dying fast. The main thing was to pass the time and return safely – that was the true way.
The dark mist was thick as clouds, locked at the mountainside. The upper half of the mountain was still bathed in sunlight, but from where the black mist shrouded downward, it was like a rainy day. Not only was the light much dimmer, but dark mist wandered within, obstructing vision. Occasionally, one or two shrill strange cries could be heard in the distance. The downward mountain terrain also became increasingly rugged. Going up and down was like changing worlds.
Some people like Kou Xuehua who had Demon Ghost Domain experience all drew their weapons, influencing the newcomers who also all drew their weapons. For a moment, the atmosphere became frighteningly tense.
‘Damn! So gloomy and eerie – truly worthy of the name Demon Ghost Domain.’ Yue Qianchou held his sword in hand, looking around for Yan Shu and the others, hoping not to be ambushed by that bastard. But he heard Kou Xuehua say softly: “Don’t stop here. Quickly head down the mountain.”
Yue Qianchou was startled and also said softly: “Martial Grandaunt, this mountain bottom looks a bit terrifying! Why don’t we just hide here, pass enough time, and then go back conveniently? We can also take fewer risks. What do you think?”
Although Xiao Wanqing, Murong Xian, and Mei Yinhong didn’t speak, they all nodded in deep agreement with Yue Qianchou’s words. Not only was the mountain bottom dark, it was indeed somewhat terrifying. Looking back, you could tell – people from various sects with the same thoughts were probably numerous, all stopping and not moving, with great intentions of staying here long-term.
Kou Xuehua said somewhat angrily: “Hurry and leave. The demons and ghosts here most crave blood and flesh. Over the years, they’ve figured out the pattern of the six major sects’ trials every five years. Moreover, this mountainside has no hiding places and is crowded with people. When accidents happen, it’ll be hard to run even if you want to.”
Yue Qianchou and the other three women looked at each other, then saw that some people from other sects were already heading down the mountain without stopping. Looking at their ages, they were all relatively older people – probably also people with trial experience.
Seeing the four still in a daze, Kou Xuehua stamped her foot: “If you won’t go, I’ll go first.” She turned and headed down the mountain. Honestly, if not for Fei Denan’s repeated instructions, with her cultivation, it would be safer to leave Yue Qianchou behind. Protecting someone with such low cultivation was actually a burden.
“Don’t! Martial Grandaunt, wait for us,” Yue Qianchou called softly. The four had already believed her and hurried to follow Kou Xuehua.
They hadn’t walked long – though they had gone quite far – but unfortunately seemed to have left a bit too late. Suddenly, “whoosh whoosh” sounds like birds flying appeared around them, along with “squeak squeak” sounds like mice. Then the sounds became more and more numerous and dense, audible everywhere. Yue Qianchou looked at the sparse, lonely, scattered trees with strange growth patterns around them, not knowing where those sounds came from.
“They’re ‘Blood-thirsty Demon Bats.’ Everyone stay silent, form mutual support, and quickly head down the mountain,” Kou Xuehua commanded. The four people frantically followed her orders and quickly moved. The four women surrounded Yue Qianchou, who had the weakest cultivation, in the middle as they rapidly descended.
In the distance above, it first turned black, then overwhelming red dots covered the sky, flying over the five people’s heads toward the mountainside. Yue Qianchou looked up and saw that the red dots were actually bat eyes – a large group of black bats as big as washbasins, with fierce faces “squeaking” chaotically, making people’s hands and feet go numb and feel creepy!
‘Good thing we ran fast. This time those guys on the mountain who wanted to take shortcuts are in trouble!’ Yue Qianchou shook his head and sighed. It seemed his earlier thoughts had been the same as theirs, but he had forgotten.
Sure enough, screams came from everywhere on the mountainside: “Bats… they’re bats… such big bats… ah…” Someone was already crying out in agony. Yue Qianchou turned to look and saw sword light flashing everywhere in the distance. People on the mountainside had already begun fighting the bats. The bats’ shrill cries mixed with occasional human screams made it somewhat unbearable to listen. Some people actually tried to escape by flying on swords, but as soon as they took flight, they were wrapped up by bats, let out a scream, and fell from the sky.
Seeing this, Yue Qianchou cursed in his heart: ‘What idiots! With so many people protecting each other, maybe nothing would happen to you, but trying to run makes you die faster.’ The people on the mountainside probably also learned from those who tried to escape and began fighting calmly. Gradually, no more screams could be heard.
“Clang…” Yue Qianchou was startled by a crisp sound beside him. Making noise at this time – wasn’t that asking for death? Looking back, he saw that damn girl Mei Yinhong had been occasionally observing the battle situation on the mountainside and accidentally hit the rock beside her with her sword.
The five people looked up at the sky in unison. Originally, if they had waited just a little longer, all the bats should have gone to the mountainside. Now there were about several hundred bats left in the sky, flapping their wings and hovering without leaving! With fierce faces and bright red eyes, they stared menacingly at the five people.
‘Damn! What the hell is this unlucky girl doing! Sigh!’ Yue Qianchou let out a painful groan…