Volume 2 Chapter 18

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Volume 2 Chapter 18: Strange Occurrences

"So, could it be that a member of a Barbarian tribe accidentally obtained the ‘Nine Demon Bead’ and then used it to transform their own people, causing trouble in the Southern Wasteland?" Lv Ziqing speculated after hearing Xu Qingfan’s introduction to the Barbarian tribe.

"Based on what we know so far, that seems to be the case," Bao Wei slowly nodded and said.

"Should we hurry back to report this to our sect now?" Lv Ziqing asked.

Hearing Lv Ziqing’s suggestion, Bao Wei frowned and thought for a moment before slowly saying, "No, we should infiltrate this Barbarian tribe village to investigate thoroughly. After all, all our conclusions so far are just guesses and cannot be confirmed."

"But this Barbarian village is heavily guarded, and it’s not easy for us to sneak in. Even the skies are watched. If they discover us, I fear it will be very difficult for us to escape unscathed," Xu Qingfan said with a frown. As he spoke, Xu Qingfan pointed to the sky above the Barbarian tribe village, and everyone noticed that there were hundreds of demonized Barbarian tribe members riding mutated birds, constantly circling and keeping watch.

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s concern, Bao Wei smiled faintly and said, "I’ve got a plan for that."

As he spoke, a large, gray, thin, and transparent curtain flew out from Bao Wei’s sleeve. It was several feet wide and long when unfurled. It was unclear what Bao Wei intended to do with it.

Seeing the puzzled looks on Xu Qingfan and the others’ faces, Bao Wei smiled slightly and said, "This is an advanced Earth-level artifact called the ‘Sky Melting Curtain,’ which I unintentionally acquired two hundred years ago. Besides enabling flight, it also has the wonderful abilities of concealing one’s presence and granting invisibility."

"Is this a magical artifact?" everyone exclaimed in surprise.

It’s important to know that all magical artifacts in the world are made by a cultivator gathering precious materials and then using their own Spirit Qi combined with the fire of the heavens to create them. Therefore, no matter the type of artifact, it carries a trace of Spirit Qi, and the strength of the Qi it emits is often a key sign of its power. Yet the artifact before them, the "Sky Melting Curtain," did not exude any Spirit Qi that Xu Qingfan and the others could sense, proving just how mysterious this high-grade Earth artifact was.

Seeing everyone’s astonished expressions, Bao Wei said calmly, "I don’t know who made this artifact or what materials were used, as it doesn’t carry a hint of Spirit Qi. I happened to come by it by chance. However, since it’s designed to conceal one’s presence and aura, it wouldn’t have Spirit Qi. So there’s no need to be surprised."

"With this artifact to shield us, we’re much safer," Xu Qingfan said confidently as he looked at the peculiar object.

After Xu Qingfan spoke, Bao Wei merely smiled slightly without further comment. With a motion of his right hand towards the "Sky Melting Curtain," he commanded, "Rise!" Immediately, the "Sky Melting Curtain" expanded under Bao Wei’s control, enveloping Xu Qingfan, Lv Ziqing, and the others, swiftly carrying all six towards the Barbarian tribe village, moving even faster than Xu Qingfan’s "Three Meters Green Silk."

The "Sky Melting Curtain" was thin and transparent, so although it surrounded Xu Qingfan and the others, they could still clearly see outside. With the help of the "Sky Melting Curtain," Bao Wei, Xu Qingfan, and the group quickly flew towards the Barbarian tribe’s village. Along the way, they encountered many Barbarians riding mutated birds, but these Barbarians remained completely unaware of the six passing nearby, and even those keen-smelling mutated birds beneath them didn’t sense anything unusual.

Soon, the group was flying over the Barbarian tribe’s village. Only by looking directly down from above could one truly appreciate the vastness of this Barbarian village, covering an area comparable to an ordinary city in Middle-earth. The people moving about within were all clad in beast skins, and a rough count showed there were over ten thousand, indicating the strength of this Barbarian tribe. Occasionally, demonic Barbarians and low-level demon beasts roamed among them, but the other Barbarians seemed neither surprised nor concerned, as if it were a common sight.

The entire village was built from an unknown black wood, with each wooden house identical in design. Although the village was imposing, its uniform appearance gave it a somewhat rigid and strangely sinister air.

For some reason, Xu Qingfan felt a sense of familiarity with the village below, yet he couldn’t quite place what was familiar about it.

"It’s too quiet," Lv Ziqing suddenly frowned and said.

At Lv Ziqing’s words, the others also realized that despite the mountain fortress being so large and populated, it was eerily silent. Everyone walked silently without speaking a single word. Even the low-grade demon beasts were unusually quiet.

"It seems like they are all heading towards the open space in the center of the fortress," Xu Xiurong observed carefully for a while and then said softly.

Upon hearing Xu Xiurong’s words, everyone looked and saw that indeed, each Barbarian was silently heading towards a wide open space in the Barbarian tribe’s fortress. The thick crowd of people converged like silent black streams towards the center of the fortress.

Seeing the strange scene ahead, Bao Wei hesitated no longer. He used the "Sky Melting Curtain" to lead them towards that open space, quickly arriving above it. Under Bao Wei’s control, the "Sky Melting Curtain" landed quietly in a secluded corner, but Bao Wei did not retract the curtain, leaving it as a shield around them to avoid being discovered.

After landing, everyone began to carefully observe the open space before them. The area was vast, taking up about a third of the entire fortress, yet it was empty except for a tall altar in the middle. A figure stood on the altar, praying silently in front of a wooden totem pole. Unlike the other Barbarians who wore animal skins, this person wore a large black robe with a golden headband. Purple-blue flame patterns covered his face, making it impossible to see his true features.

Strangely, beside him stood a young girl of about ten, also wearing a black robe. She silently watched the person praying, her expression surprisingly cold for her age.

Oddly enough, Xu Qingfan felt a strange sense of familiarity, even though he was sure he didn’t know the person on the altar.

Each time a person from the Barbarian tribe reached the open space, they silently knelt and bowed, praying silently just like the person on the altar. As more people arrived, the area filled with bodies silently bowed in prayer, yet there was no sound.

"That’s the ‘Magic Pearl!’" Bao Wei exclaimed in surprise, but oddly there was a hint of relief in his voice.

Looking in the direction Bao Wei pointed, Xu Qingfan and the others discovered a black pearl placed on the wooden totem pole, reflecting a strange purple-blue light under the surrounding torches, captivating their hearts.

"He actually put the ‘Magic Pearl’ there?" Lv Ziqing said in astonishment.

"I think he hasn’t fully mastered the ‘Magic Pearl’ yet. According to ancient legends, whether it was the king of a small country who accidentally found the ‘Magic Pearl’ seven thousand years ago or the ‘Demon Lord’ three thousand years ago, once they truly mastered the ‘Magic Pearl’, it would merge into their bodies, forming a third eye on their foreheads. At that time, they not only possessed the powers of the late stage of the Golden Core Stage, but the third magic eye transformed by the pearl could also devour minds, making them extremely formidable. Judging by his current transformation, he might be close to completely mastering the ‘Magic Pearl’." Bao Wei said with a frown, a thoughtful expression in his eyes, as if making a difficult decision.

Seeing Bao Wei’s furrowed brows and deep thought, Lv Ziqing guessed what Bao Wei was contemplating, so he carefully asked, "Martial uncle, should we seize the ‘Magic Pearl’ and seal it away before he completely masters it, otherwise, it will be hard to defeat him once he does."

Just as Bao Wei was about to say something, the man on the sacrificial platform suddenly stood up slowly, turning to look at the countless Barbarian people kneeling before him.

Then, a grand voice resounded throughout the clearing, yet the man strangely did not open his mouth.

"My people, ten years ago, the great Demon God bestowed the miraculous magic eye upon us. Since then, with the power of the magic eye, we have gained immense strength, and all those tribes who have been our foes for generations and those outsiders who drove us into the depths of the Southern Wasteland have been destroyed by our overwhelming power. Now, our great Jiuli tribe no longer cries from hunger, nor fears the attacks of wild beasts."

As the mighty voice resounded, the Barbarian people bowed to the ground lifted their heads to look at the person on the sacrificial platform. Though eerily silent, their eyes were filled with zeal.

"But now, there are outsiders who want to take away the magic eye bestowed upon us by the Demon God and drive us back to the dreadful depths of the Southern Wasteland. Can we allow that?"

Listening to his enticing words, the Barbarian people below gave silent roars, their eyes growing increasingly fervent.

"Outsiders, even now you haven’t shown yourselves? Hiding, ambushing, these are actions only humble creatures like hamsters would do."

Suddenly, the person on the altar turned and looked in the direction of Xu Qingfan and his companions.

Could it be that with the mysterious "Sky Melting Curtain," this person has discovered our whereabouts? Upon hearing his words, Xu Qingfan and the others were greatly startled.