Chapter 526: Leaving the Southern Wilderness

The Cultivators from the major Sects of the Southern Wilderness were searching for Ancient Teleportation Arrays, hoping to send some of their geniuses away.

However, the Beiming Sword Sect and the Corpse Spirit Hall had also discovered the Sects’ intentions.

“Keep a close eye on all the Sects. We absolutely cannot let them send those geniuses out of the Southern Wilderness.” A savage glint appeared in Beichen Xinghe’s eyes.

“We also need to find a way to send some of our disciples to the Divine Wilderness or the Divine Demon Sea!” Beishan Jianxiong agreed with a nod.

Within the main hall, the Elders of the Beiming Sword Sect were all gathered.

They all nodded, voicing their approval of the plan.

The Clans of the Beiming Sword Sect—the Beiming, Beishan, and Beichen—had all relocated to the region where the Corpse Spirit Hall lay hidden.

Although they hadn’t known of Beiming Huahai’s intentions at first, the Beiming Sword Sect was now committed to this path. They could no longer find a place among the Righteous Dao of the Southern Wilderness. Furthermore, the three Major Clans were beginning to understand the truth: their ancestors had been servants of the Kunpeng Race, stationed in the Southern Wilderness for the sole purpose of rescuing the Kunpeng Ancestor.

Therefore, they chose to cooperate with the Corpse Spirit Hall.

The island they now occupied, a place shrouded in roiling Demonic Qi, was already near the Divine Demon Sea.

The environment here was exceedingly harsh. Storms frequently raged in the surrounding sea, and any ordinary person who rashly entered would be easily annihilated.

While monitoring the movements of the other Sects, they too were searching for hidden Teleportation Arrays.

Thus, the Southern Wilderness was far from peaceful.

Clashes frequently broke out between the various Sects and the Corpse Spirit Hall, and one Ancient Teleportation Array after another was destroyed.

This forced both sides to operate with ever-increasing secrecy.

However, with Teleportation Arrays being destroyed time and again, and with others found to be inoperable, the entire endeavor had long been at a standstill.

Ling Fei had already spent a month in seclusion at Lingyun Sect, recuperating and cultivating.

Seeing how slowly things were progressing, he grew a little worried.

He went to see Sect Leader Yuan.

“There are quite a few Ancient Teleportation Arrays, but many of them can no longer be activated,” Sect Leader Yuan said regretfully in the main hall.

“Are there really no operable Teleportation Arrays left?” Ling Fei asked.

“There is one!” Sect Leader Yuan said. “There’s a Teleportation Array inside some ancient ruins in the North Sea. However, it has some defects and is still under repair.”

“Oh!” Ling Fei’s eyes lit up. ‘An array means there’s still hope of reaching the Divine Wilderness.’

“But there’s a complication,” Sect Leader Yuan said. “The location is rather close to the Corpse Spirit Hall’s waters. If we make a big show of sending people there, we’ll easily alert them and trigger a massive battle. If that happens, I’m afraid it will be impossible to get you all away safely!”

Ling Fei nodded slightly at his words.

It was indeed a serious problem.

If the Corpse Spirit Hall decided to attack at all costs, not only would the Ancient Teleportation Array be destroyed, but some of the geniuses would likely perish in the ensuing battle.

“Is there really no other way?” Shangguan Wan’Er asked with a frown.

“No, there is one other way,” Sect Leader Yuan said.

“What is it?” Shangguan Wan’Er and Ling Fei asked, their eyes full of questions.

“King Ji used a Teleportation Array to leave the Southern Wilderness years ago, but we have no idea of its destination,” Sect Leader Yuan explained. “It might lead to the Divine Wilderness, or it might not. There are too many uncertainties.”

“As long as it gets us out of the Southern Wilderness, it’s a chance worth taking,” Ling Fei said.

“That’s why we want to formulate two plans,” Sect Leader Yuan continued. “One group of geniuses will leave the Southern Wilderness using the Ancient Teleportation Array in the North Sea. Another group will secretly depart using the array King Ji once used. Relatively speaking, King Ji’s array is more covert and therefore safer.”

“Now it’s just a matter of which Teleportation Array you choose,” Sect Leader Yuan said, turning his gaze to Ling Fei.

“And what do the other Sect Leaders intend?” Ling Fei asked in return.

“We were hoping you would take the array King Ji used,” Sect Leader Yuan said. “First, it would ensure your safe departure. Second, once you’re out of the Southern Wilderness, we believe that with your talent, you will have every opportunity to rise, provided the stage is large enough.”

Sect Leader Yuan had complete confidence in Ling Fei.

“Mm,” Ling Fei nodded slightly. “I have a subtle feeling that King Ji is still alive, which proves the array he used was indeed safe.” He was also leaning toward this option. After all, a successful departure meant a chance to rise to prominence elsewhere.

Ling Fei was also fully confident in his own talent and foundation.

“Excellent.” Sect Leader Yuan was inwardly delighted. He nodded and said, “Then it’s settled. We will proceed with this plan.”

“I know of another area with an array leading to the Divine Demon Sea. I’m sure the Beiming Sword Sect will find some clues about it eventually. On the day we’re set to leave the Southern Wilderness, we can send people there to divert the Corpse Spirit Hall’s attention. Our real purpose, however, will be to destroy that Teleportation Array!”

Lian Shuang proposed.

“An excellent idea! This way, the Teleportation Array at the North Sea will also have a chance to send a group of people out of the Southern Wilderness,” Sect Leader Yuan exclaimed, overjoyed at the suggestion.

It was a proactive strike, one that would force the Corpse Spirit Hall to divide its attention.

Meanwhile, the Sects of the Southern Wilderness would be spiriting people away using two other Teleportation Arrays.

It was classic misdirection.

Lian Shuang gave the location of the Ancient Teleportation Array to Sect Leader Yuan.

It was the very array she had used to come to the Southern Wilderness in the first place.

Soon, members of the various Sects went to the area and, just as she’d said, found an Ancient Teleportation Array.

The Sects immediately dispatched many people to guard it.

As planned, the Corpse Spirit Hall immediately discovered their movements.

“The Corpse Spirit Hall has discovered the location. We can proceed with the plan,” Sect Leader Yuan and the others conferred.

They then immediately selected a group of geniuses, had them don masks and conceal their auras, and sent them to the area with great secrecy.

In addition, Nascent Soul Realm Powerhouses from every Sect flew in, and a large number of Cultivators gathered at the location.

Finally, Sect Leader Wan and Master Xuan Ji arrived in person.

‘We absolutely cannot let them leave!’ Upon receiving this news, the forces of the Corpse Spirit Hall immediately charged in to attack.

Master Xuan Ji and Sect Leader Wan were both Divine Mansion Realm Cultivators. With them present in person, it was clear they were there to escort people out of the Southern Wilderness. How could the Corpse Spirit Hall simply sit back and watch?

And so, two Divine Mansion Realm Celestial Corpses led a massive army to attack.

A great battle erupted in the area!

…

But at that very moment, in a valley in another region entirely, a different Ancient Teleportation Array was activated.

Light Patterns from the Teleportation Array shot toward the sky. A vast spatial fluctuation spread out, and a Qi Vortex began to churn as if it were a conduit between heaven and earth.

Ling Fei, Shangguan Wan’Er, and Lian Shuang stood beneath the Teleportation Array.

With them were He Tianming and Zhao Fan.

They, too, were preparing to leave the Southern Wilderness.

When Huang Xiaoman and Mu Xue learned Ling Fei was leaving, they were incredibly reluctant to see him go.

But their talent was ultimately not high enough; if they followed Ling Fei, they would only become a burden.

So, after leaving some Elixirs for them, Ling Fei had come here.

The geniuses from the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers, the Great Sun Thunder Sound Temple, and the North Sea Sect would be leaving by the other Teleportation Array.

“The Teleportation Array is active. Master Xuan Ji and Sect Leader Wan are tying up the Corpse Spirit Hall’s forces, so you can all leave with peace of mind.” Gazing at the Ancient Teleportation Array, which was suddenly erupting with an astonishing aura, Sect Leader Yuan sighed emotionally. He turned to Ling Fei, his eyes filled with reluctance.

Ling Fei…

He was the most astonishingly brilliant genius the Southern Wilderness had seen in millennia.

At such a young age, he had helped Emperor Xi suppress the Kunpeng Ancestor, aided Emperor Tang in slaying several Celestial Corpses, and joined forces with the Empress to execute the Demon Emperor.

Such accomplishments were on par with those of the Ancient Emperors in their youth.

It could be said that Ling Fei’s potential was no less than that of the Marsh King. If allowed to mature, he might one day stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ancient Emperors of legend.

Yet now he was leaving the Southern Wilderness, about to embark on a perilous journey into the unknown.

“You must take care of yourself out there,” said Grand Alchemist Yuan Chun and Master Yuan Lang from the side, their faces etched with sorrow.

‘So, it’s finally time to leave.’ The elders spoke, their voices thick with reluctance. Hearing them, Ling Fei also felt a pang of sorrow.

The Southern Wilderness…

He had lived here for over a decade, and it had become his home. Now, facing his departure, he couldn’t help but feel the sorrow of farewell welling up inside.

“Please, rest assured. I will be careful and cautious out in the world. I’m counting on all of you to protect the Southern Wilderness,” Ling Fei said, a glint in his eyes.

“We will protect the Southern Wilderness. You go and make your way in the world without worry!” Yuan Huaitian took a deep breath. “I hope we will have the chance to meet again!”

“We will!” Ling Fei said with a determined look.

“Good!” Yuan Huaitian nodded. He then extended a hand in a gesture. “Go!” It was as if he were sending a general off to war.

“Farewell!” Ling Fei cupped his fists, turned, and exchanged a look with Shangguan Wan’Er and Lian Shuang before flying toward the Array Platform.

“Farewell, Southern Wilderness!” He Tianming and Zhao Fan also bid farewell to the elders. After one last look at the land around them, they too flew onto the Array Platform.

As they landed on the Array Platform, they were seized by the Array Power emanating from the Void and drawn into the spatial Qi Vortex.

A vast wave of Array Power washed over them, binding the five together and pulling them into the vortex. In an instant, they vanished from sight.

“I hope you all return safely.” Watching the five figures disappear, Yuan Huaitian’s eyes narrowed. He took a deep breath and murmured in a low voice.

“Who knows when we’ll see them again?” Grand Alchemist Yuan Chun said from the side, his face full of sorrow.

Ling Fei’s departure left him feeling empty.

It felt as if without this astonishingly brilliant genius, the Southern Wilderness had lost some of its vitality and grandeur.

But he understood in his heart that a true dragon must eventually soar through the nine heavens and explore the world.

“Let’s go! We need to support Master Xuan Ji and the others!” After the Array’s Light Patterns receded, a sharp glint flashed in Yuan Huaitian’s eyes as he set off for battle.

Ling Fei may have left, but the battle for the Southern Wilderness was far from over!

“Farewell, Southern Wilderness!” Elsewhere, Yuan Kong, Yuan Tan, Wan Jianshan, Wan Jianlan, and other top geniuses also departed the Southern Wilderness via a Teleportation Array.

They too were filled with reluctance to leave.

But they knew that the Southern Wilderness desperately needed them to become powerhouses, or the entire region would fall into darkness.

As the geniuses of their generation, it was their undeniable duty to venture into the outside world.

Moreover, after witnessing the powerful abilities of both Kun Hai and Xu Zitao, they yearned to see the world outside for themselves and test their mettle.

Meanwhile, the forces of the Corpse Spirit Hall were still locked in a fierce battle with Master Xuan Ji and the others in a completely different area.

…

Inside the Teleportation Array, Ling Fei, Shangguan Wan’Er, and Lian Shuang were enveloped by the Array Power. The raging spatial turbulence was so violent it felt as if it would tear their very bodies apart.

Although most Teleportation Arrays are two-way—meaning the activation on one end triggers the array on the other to construct a spatial channel—the process is not without risk.

The turbulence in the Void can easily affect the stability of these spatial channels.

Because of this, the farther the distance of the teleportation, the greater the danger.

At that moment, Light Patterns flickered across Ling Fei’s body as Dragon Scales materialized to protect him.

Shangguan Wan’Er and Lian Shuang were also wearing Soft Armor to protect themselves.

Even so, under the onslaught of the rampaging Space Power, they felt as if their bodies were about to be torn to pieces.

“I hope we make it to the Divine Wilderness safely,” Shangguan Wan’Er murmured.