Chapter 176
by fanqienovelChapter 176: Troubled Waters
At the center of Tian Xu.
Dozens of cultivators with powerful auras hovered in the air, their robes snapping in the wind, men and women equally represented. Even the weakest was a peak-level Great Emperor. Only Lin Qianmo and Nangong Zhandao seemed to stand out unnaturally.
Beside the Dao King, Yan Duxing looked tense.
"The spatial coordinates are confirmed. Then let’s act." The Dao King’s expression was impassive, but his vast mana surged violently, instantly coalescing into a beam of sword light. In one motion, he slashed it into the void.
Clang!
The next instant, the void tore open, revealing a thread of divine radiance. Seven-colored divine light flowed, and an ancient aura wafted out. The Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest showed its first glimpse, only the tip of the iceberg.
"Act!"
The various Emperor Venerables spoke in unison, attacking simultaneously.
Boom! Rumble!
Tian Xu seemed torn in half as torrents of divine abilities blasted into the void rift. Space continuously disintegrated, dissolving and melting away, exposing a deeper, hidden corner of the world.
A seven-colored divine light shot into the sky, illuminating the dusky Tian Xu.
Everyone was jolted awake.
"The Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest has emerged!"
At this moment, every Great Emperor and Emperor Venerable realized that this was the unmistakable sign of the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest’s appearance.
Countless people surged towards it in a frenzy.
"Dear friends, might I suggest," Emperor Venerable Zi Zai from the Holy Sect of Transformation cackled menacingly, his killing intent soaring to the heavens, "we dispose of this crowd of eyesores before entering the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest?"
"There’s no need to waste time on them."
The woman in green from the Holy Mother Palace spoke indifferently. "The things within the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest are no ordinary treasures. If they can truly seize them, that would be a testament to their ability."
"That makes sense."
The various Emperor Venerables nodded one after another.
"Brother Dao King, Brother Yama, what are your thoughts?" A dignified, elegant, and graceful beauty from Empress Nuwa Palace turned her gaze towards the Dao King and another man.
That man was clad entirely in black robes, his face hidden deep within the hood. Even Divine Sense could not penetrate it.
This person was none other than the master of the Yama Court in the Shadow Realm, Emperor Venerable Yama.
To single-handedly control the Shadow Realm, Emperor Venerable Yama possessed strength on the same level as the Dao King. No one dared to disregard his opinion.
"Disregard them," Emperor Venerable Yama replied lightly.
The Dao King couldn’t be bothered to speak. He simply gestured for Yan Duxing and walked towards the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest.
With the two most top-tier experts reaching an agreement, Emperor Venerable Zi Zai had no choice but to sheath his killing intent and stand down.
"This aura… feels familiar…"
Sensing the aura emanating from the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest, a stirring arose within Nangong Zhandao’s heart.
He knew it all too well; this was unmistakably the aura of the origin of the Yuan Realm.
Could the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest have some connection to the Yuan Realm?
"Do you have a discovery?" Lin Qianmo looked at Nangong Zhandao, her expression growing serious.
"This place likely shares profound connections with the Yuan Realm." Nangong Zhandao didn’t conceal anything, sharing everything he had sensed with Lin Qianmo.
"Indeed, as the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion foresaw—you who bear the grand fortune of the Yuan Realm will likely be this journey’s greatest victor," Lin Qianmo solemnly remarked.
Nangong Zhandao’s pupils constricted. Had the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion long known of the link between the Yuan Realm and the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest?
Woosh!
The seven-colored divine light coalesced, forming a rainbow bridge in the void that led directly to the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest.
Sacred radiance swirled like mist, enveloping the forest. Even the Dao King’s Divine Sense could only extend a dozen miles before reaching its limit.
"If this truly is the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest, it might connect directly to the Immortal Realm," Emperor Venerable Yama abruptly uttered.
A collective shudder ran through the group at these words.
Connecting to the Immortal Realm…
Their lifelong cultivation, their ceaseless efforts—wasn’t it all to ascend to the higher realm and achieve eternal freedom?
Many present would readily consider sneaking into the Immortal Realm if possible.
Lin Qianmo, too, wavered.
After all these years, had the upper realm changed beyond recognition?
A trace of disdain flickered in the Dao King’s eyes.
Were he to ascend, it would be through achieving the Dao of immortality and transcending righteously. Resorting to subterfuge was the refuge of cowards and failures.
Though hypocritical, the Dao King fancied himself in possession of an invincible Dao heart in matters of cultivation.
All tribulations were but trials along the path.
"Is this the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest?"
Finally reaching the bridge’s end, they sensed the ancient aura thickening while an immense stillness pervaded the world.
Swish!
At that instant, a streak of light suddenly tore through the sky, leaping over the group in a desperate bid to be the first to breach the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest.
"Reckless fool!" roared the gathered Emperor Venerables, incensed that someone dared use them as stepping stones.
Clang!
Emperor Venerable Yama’s black robes billowed as jade-like, boneless hands hidden within his sleeves flicked outward. One palm struck the fleeing streak of light.
Bang!
A scream rang out as a figure crashed onto the rainbow bridge—a mid-stage Emperor Venerable.
Struck by Emperor Venerable Yama’s palm, his Great Dao crumbled irreversibly toward oblivion.
"The Path of Death…"
A hint of horror surfaced in everyone’s eyes.
Emperor Venerable Yama’s Path of Death had reached a consummate level, as an Emperor Venerable of mid-level cultivation couldn’t even withstand a casual blow from him.
This sight chilled everyone to their bones.
The emperors hiding in the back dared not be the first to act anymore.
"Damn it, this is too strong!"
Great Emperor Ziwei grumbled to himself in frustration. He prided himself on strutting through the Great Emperor realm unimpeded, but with his strength, he couldn’t rival an Emperor Venerable of mid-level cultivation.
"Brother Ye, let’s just wait obediently."
Ye Xu nodded.
He wasn’t in a hurry to enter the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest.
It had to be understood that the treasures in the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest weren’t something one could easily seize.
Even if Dao King and the others entered the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest, obtaining the treasures would be extremely difficult.
"Hahaha…"
At that moment, a long laugh resounded through heaven and earth, lingering endlessly.
"The master has arrived!"
Upon hearing the laughter, everyone tensed in alarm.
"Brother Mi Luo, since you’ve arrived, why hide without emerging?" Dao King chuckled lightly and pointed a finger. The void shattered and extended infinitely.
Yet, to the northeast of the group, the spread of the void abruptly slowed, and the space became as solid as an iron wall, utterly unaffected by Dao King’s divine skill.
Yan Duxing’s gaze turned sharp.
He knew full well how formidable Dao King was; the man who could openly contend with Dao King was an extraordinary powerhouse.
"Di Wuyou, we’ve fought for tens of thousands of years without a clear victor, so why raise your blade against me the very moment we meet?"
To the northeast, faint purple light shimmered, revealing a thirty-three-story pagoda.
On the pagoda stood a white-robed Emperor Venerable, sleeves billowing, detached from the world.
"Emperor Venerable Mi Luo!"
Someone cried out in surprise from the shadows.
Clearly, this Emperor Venerable had a mighty reputation.
"This Emperor Venerable is highly capable, on the same level as Dao King, the peak of the lower world," Great Emperor Ziwei thought with longing. "One day, I too will become such an existence."
"With your unparalleled talent, it naturally won’t be a problem." Ye Xu laughed.
Boom!
In that instant, a beam of light shot in from the horizon, its aura overwhelmingly fierce. The glow sliced through the void like a sword beam, cleaving heaven and earth in two.
Countless Great Emperor experts hidden in the shadows were injured by this light, wailing in agony.
"That crazy woman is here."
Dao King frowned, with a flicker of apprehension in his eyes.
Emperor Venerable Yama’s expression also stiffened slightly.
"Damn it, which bastard leaked the news!" Emperor Venerable Zi Zai cursed out loud. Both Emperor Venerable Mi Luo and the crazed woman who arrived were renowned figures in the lower world.
Especially the crazy woman Su Miao Zhen, she was a true female God of Slaughter.
Her murderous intent and strength were so immense that even Dao King, Emperor Venerable Yama, and Emperor Venerable Mi Luo dreaded her.
Ye Xu laughed.
"The waters are getting murkier…"
His eyes scanned the surroundings as if searching for traces of Duobao Daoist.
Duobao Daoist had to be lurking nearby.
He might have even used the chaos from Dao King’s and Emperor Venerable Mi Luo’s clash to slip undetected into the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest.
Ye Xu guessed correctly.
Duobao Daoist had already passed through the rainbow bridge and entered the Seven-Treasure Mystic Forest.