Chapter 29: Huangyao Secret Realm, Battle Royale
Entering the teleportation gate, Chu Xiu felt a blur before his eyes. His body was suspended, enveloped by an unseen force. After an unknown time, light touched his face, and his feet landed on solid ground. He opened his eyes.
A plaza paved with black diamond stone stretched before him, roughly the size of two soccer fields. A blue light curtain obscured the view beyond. Holy Land disciples emerged one by one from the gate. The gate vanished after the last disciple arrived.
Two thousand disciples filled the plaza, a cacophony of noise erupting as they chattered and laughed. They seemed remarkably relaxed, more like tourists than trial participants, hoping to pick up a few heavenly treasures along the way.
As the gate disappeared, the light curtain faded, revealing the scenery outside. Beyond the plaza lay a primeval forest of towering ancient trees, each too large for dozens of people to encircle. Beasts roared, and giant birds with meter-wide wingspans soared overhead. In the distance, majestic mountain peaks stretched for thousands of miles, resembling slumbering dragons and crouching tigers.
The world felt wild, untamed, and teeming with life.
“Woah, just how big is this Huāngyāo Secret Realm?”
“My master said it’s about ten million li in diameter. One-twentieth the size of the Southern Domain.”
“Holy shit, that’s massive.”
“A big area means plenty of opportunities. Anyone want to team up? Let’s explore together…”
Chu Xiu, his arms crossed, gazed into the distance, his brow furrowing slightly.
He could feel the killing intent radiating from the disciples near the teleportation plaza.
Heh. Quite a few people seem eager to kill me…
‘I can’t say I’ve given them much reason to, have I?’ He rubbed his temples, a wry smile playing on his lips.
[Hehe… Don’t you have any self-awareness?]
Hundreds of Divine Bridge Realm disciples subtly closed in on Chu Xiu.
‘Time to go.’ He clicked his tongue, abandoning his initial plan to bring Ye Fan along. He summoned the Xuanyin Shuttle, a silver speck that rapidly expanded into a sleek flying ship, over ten meters long and several meters wide.
He leaped aboard, and with a whoosh, the shuttle shot into the sky, a silver streak against the blue backdrop.
“He’s running!”
“He won’t get away! After him!”
Dozens of flying ships rose in pursuit.
Ye Fan watched them go, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. He sighed. “Brother Chu… I don’t want to fight you, but I can’t stop the others. Sorry.”
Chu Xiu, his hair whipping in the wind, piloted the shuttle over the vast mountain ranges. He glanced back at his pursuers with a predatory smile on his lips.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve had a good chase…’
A massive black eagle, its cultivation at the Sea of Qi realm, swooped down, talons extended, its eyes fixed on Chu Xiu’s head.
Unfazed, Chu Xiu extended two fingers and flicked, a beam of sword light erupting, obliterating the eagle in a burst of blood and feathers.
“Holy shit! What grade is that flying ship? It’s ridiculously fast!”
“No Mystic-grade is that fast…”
“Damn… it has to be Earth-grade.”
“How the hell are we supposed to catch him?!”
“Don’t worry. Senior Brother Jian Lingyun gave me a Qi Tracking Compass before we left. I’ve locked onto his aura. He can’t escape.”
…
Seven days later.
Deep within the Huāngyāo Secret Realm, explosions echoed through a verdant valley, shaking the mountains and sending rocks tumbling down the slopes.
Chu Xiu was locked in battle with a colossal serpent, dozens of meters long and covered in thick black scales. The beast possessed a trace of Quasi-Demon Emperor bloodline, granting it cunning and resilience beyond its realm.
The serpent, its cultivation at the peak of the Divine Bridge realm, had been battling Chu Xiu for fifteen minutes, its body covered in wounds. Blood stained the nearby cold pool.
Chu Xiu, utilizing the Xing Character Secret, moved with an almost ethereal grace, effortlessly dodging the serpent’s fangs and powerful tail.
Seizing an opening, he gripped the hilt of his Tyrant Dragon Sword, golden blood energy coursing through his veins, and slammed it down upon the serpent’s head.
Boom!
Crack!
The serpent’s skull shattered. It hissed, its massive body convulsing before collapsing, lifeless.
Chu Xiu sheathed his sword and approached the cold pool. He plucked a fragrant Earth-grade Unyielding Cold Lotus.
[Exchange for breakthrough points?]
“Exchange.”
[Exchange successful. 70,000 breakthrough points obtained.]
“Finally… five hundred thousand.” Chu Xiu exhaled, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. He sat cross-legged on the serpent’s massive corpse.
[Please select a target for breakthrough: Sword Intent – Heavenly Slaughter Sword Intent, Dao Scripture, Sword Technique – Wan Shi Jie Xiu, Secret Technique – Xing Character Secret, Secret Technique – Pill Scripture (Middle Volume).]
“Xing Character Secret.”
[The Xing Character Secret is high-grade; breakthrough difficulty is extremely high. Thirty years per cycle. Cost: 500,000 breakthrough points.]
[Proceed?]
“Yes.”
[You enter seclusion for thirty years to comprehend the Nine Secrets’ Xing Character Secret. Your master’s physique enhances your aptitude, deepening your comprehension. You gain initial insight into the technique’s profound mysteries.]
Thirty years of insight flooded his mind, the sheer volume momentarily overwhelming. He winced at the impact. But his understanding of the Xing Character Secret had deepened significantly. He could wield it with far greater finesse and control.
He stood, activating the technique, shrinking the distance before him. He reappeared five thousand meters away, then instantly returned. Before, his range had been limited to a thousand meters. Now, five thousand. Faster, smoother, and more effortless. ‘Worth it,’ he thought, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
[Thirty years have passed. 500,000 breakthrough points consumed. Warning: The next breakthrough will be significantly more difficult.]
“Xing Character Secret… breakthrough complete.”
“It’s time to go… to that place.”
He glanced westward and vanished, the Xing Character Secret carrying him swiftly towards his destination.
…
One hundred thousand li away, Chen Mofan frowned, looking at his four companions.
‘Seven days… we’ve gained nothing but sore feet, chasing that Chu Xiu bastard…’
“Damn it… where is he going?”
…
A towering, barren black mountain, shrouded in a thick gray mist, loomed before them. A sinister aura emanated from its jagged peaks. Ghostly wails echoed through the fog, and shadowy figures flickered in the gloom.
Chu Xiu gazed at the mountain, a sense of foreboding washing over him.
‘Dangerous…’
Unfazed, he etched concealment runes onto his body, his movements precise and fluid, until he was practically invisible.
He stepped onto a cold, smooth black rock, its surface like ice.
He ascended, his figure disappearing into the mist.
A day later, he descended, his clothes torn, his body radiating a dark, unsettling Yin energy. He was injured.
[Host, your fate sucks. The Infant Soul Demon Fruit isn’t ripe yet. Hilarious.]
Chu Xiu swallowed a Fifth-grade Healing Pill and sat down cross-legged, closing his eyes to heal.
[Hehe… Not worried, Host? You cleared the mountain of Yin Demons and zombies, just for the fruit to be unripe. Tragic!]
The System’s mocking laughter grated on his nerves.
A sly smile touched Chu Xiu’s lips, a glint of crimson light flashing in his eyes.
“Not ripe? You think I’m out of options?”
[What?!]
[You’re not going to… You’re ruthless! As expected of Old Devil Chu!]