Chapter 445 - 329: Complex and Intertwined (2)

Chapter 445: Chapter 329: Complex and Intertwined (2)

"Why isn’t Blood Refiner’s name here? Or Ming Feng and Ming Yun... With Blood Refiner’s strength, it’s impossible for him not to be in the top ten."

’He’s not just missing from the top ten—his name isn’t on the entire list. Did he have some kind of accident? Was he killed, completely fallen? Who would have the strength to do that?’

Zhu Zhengping narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering on the list for a long time. Finally, he suppressed the doubt in his heart and let out a deep breath.

As Zhu Zhengping, the man who dared to open the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm, he naturally had a certain magnanimity. Blood Refiner’s fall was a surprise, but it didn’t enrage him.

After glancing at the members of the various sects, he suddenly shook his head and chuckled softly, though he was sneering inwardly.

’If it weren’t for Blood Refiner’s fall and Yan Ta’s death, the top ten of this Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm should have included two more of my Profound Yin Sect’s geniuses.’

’Still, the current situation is close enough. As long as there are no more accidents...’

Zhu Zhengping fell into contemplation. The current situation deviated somewhat from his initial expectations, but it wasn’t unacceptable.

It was clear from everyone’s reactions that their reverence for the Profound Yin Sect had only deepened.

’It’s just... this person in tenth place, Yu Changsheng... To have this kind of strength, it seems the matter with Yan Ta really is related to him after all...’

Regarding Yan Ta’s fall, although Tong Yuanzheng had said it was highly probable that Yu Changsheng was responsible, Zhu Zhengping still harbored doubts and wasn’t entirely convinced.

The main reason was that, in Zhu Zhengping’s opinion, it was still somewhat unrealistic for someone with Yu Changsheng’s strength to have killed Yan Ta.

But now, with Yu Changsheng’s entry into the top ten of the Celestial Slaughter List, this doubt was dispelled. He mentally confirmed that Yan Ta’s fall was indeed Yu Changsheng’s doing.

’So be it. His skills were inferior. Without clear evidence, I can’t really say anything. But, my disciple, someone will naturally avenge you.’

’If this Yu Changsheng can actually walk out of the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm in the end, then that will be a testament to his own ability.’

Zhu Zhengping closed his eyes, murmuring to himself. Though he was furious, he suppressed it well. When he opened his eyes again, they were perfectly calm.

The Profound Yin Sect, as the most powerful sect on the Martial Continent, was also extremely proud. Its training methods were borderline cruel, and as a result, the geniuses who emerged from it were, without exception, the absolute best.

He was angry about Yan Ta’s fall, but without clear evidence, using his position to crush someone would be nothing more than shameless bullying. Besides, he had other plans for Yu Changsheng.

After all, from the moment he had decided to let Yama participate in the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm, he had, in a sense, never expected Yu Changsheng to walk out of the Secret Realm in one piece...

...

Following the list’s publication, the members of the Three Gates and Six Sects quickly located their disciples’ names. Only the people from the Spirit Dragon Sect had ugly looks on their faces. With grim expressions, they glanced from afar toward the Wanxiang Sect’s delegation, muttering something under their breaths.

At the same time, the Teleportation Array flared with light. In the area where the Wanxiang Sect was gathered, Zhao Xiaodong’s figure materialized, followed immediately by a group of other Wanxiang Sect disciples.

"What’s this? You’re all out so early."

Lu Ruikai was taken aback. He was surprised, but though he was a bit stunned, he wasn’t particularly alarmed.

"Mm..." Zhao Xiaodong couldn’t hide the shame on his face as he lowered his head slightly.

"With your Cultivation, shouldn’t you have lasted until the end? Why are you out now? Did something happen?"

Ruan Hao, who was watching from the side, frowned slightly and spoke in a cold voice.

"To answer the Old Ancestor’s question..."

Hearing this, Zhao Xiaodong raised his head, his expression a mixture of a wry smile and shame. He began to speak in a low voice, recounting everything from beginning to end—the Spirit Dragon Sect’s siege and Yu Changsheng’s subsequent rescue—holding nothing back.

As Zhao Xiaodong spoke, Lu Ruikai’s brow began to furrow, growing deeper and deeper, and the anger on his face became difficult to suppress.

"What audacity! Are those people from the Spirit Dragon Sect trying to rebel? Secretly colluding with remnants of the Dark Stream... Do they all think they can just act with impunity on the Martial Continent?!"

Lu Ruikai was furious, but he transmitted these words via Divine Sense, maintaining his composure. He merely narrowed his eyes as he stared toward the Spirit Dragon Sect’s area, a dark glint flashing within them.

Ruan Hao appeared much calmer, his expression composed, but his words were laced with cold sneers. "What a Spirit Dragon Sect. They tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to bait it. They’ll have plenty to cry about soon. Never mind them targeting our Wanxiang Sect disciples."

"They colluded with Dark Stream remnants and even got entangled with the Qingzhou Military. Their hands are filthy. The Spirit Dragon Sect has truly found the path to its own destruction!"

Ruan Hao’s eyes narrowed. After casually glancing at the people from the Spirit Dragon Sect, he looked at Zhao Xiaodong’s bowed head and transmitted via Divine Sense:

"Keep this matter to yourself for now. Don’t mention it to anyone, lest you alert the Spirit Dragon Sect."

"Yes," Zhao Xiaodong answered respectfully in his mind. He understood that for a matter like this, his only job was to deliver the message. The specific details were not for him to know.

Zhao Xiaodong was sensible enough to only say what he knew. Though countless speculations surged in his mind, he didn’t ask any further questions.

"What do we do now?"

Lu Ruikai’s expression darkened as he asked Ruan Hao in a grave voice.

Ruan Hao waved his hand. An almost imperceptible dark light flickered in his eyes as he replied via Divine Sense:

"I fear things will change after this Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm ends. The Dark Stream, the Profound Yin Sect, the Spirit Dragon Sect, Qingzhou Province... it’s all becoming more and more convoluted."

"We cannot act rashly. We need a long-term plan. I will secretly discuss this with the higher-ups of the other sects. For now, it’s best not to alert the Spirit Dragon Sect."

"You should make preparations in the coming days as well. For everything else, we’ll just have to wait and see how things develop."

After giving his instructions, Ruan Hao rose and left, his expression as calm and indifferent as ever, as if nothing had happened at all.

Lu Ruikai nodded slightly. After waving a hand to see Zhao Xiaodong and the others settled, he gazed at the horizon, a thoughtful expression on his face.

’I hope everything goes smoothly. No more accidents. The Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm... Changsheng... just come back safely.’

...

Outside, storms were gathering, but Yu Changsheng, still inside the Secret Realm, was naturally unaware. He just stared at the list that had suddenly appeared. After a moment’s frown, understanding gradually dawned on him.

’The Profound Yin Sect... what a brilliant move. Deliberately publishing these Evil Qi Points serves two purposes. On one hand, it showcases the strength of their own disciples; on the other, it incites competition among the other sects.’

’It goads everyone into fighting over the Evil Qi Points... I wonder just how many disciples those few from the Profound Yin Sect plundered the Evil Qi from to reach such an astonishing number...’

Yu Changsheng was lost in thought for a moment, then shook his head. Having figured things out, he didn’t dwell on it any longer. He took a deep breath, his brow furrowing slightly as he gazed at the enormous, surging, blood-colored pit in the earth before him.

The immense, blood-colored pit was hundreds of yards in diameter and appeared bottomless. It shimmered with a bloody light, slowly coalescing into a rotating, crimson vortex. Like the gaping maw of an Abyss, it seemed to swallow one’s very soul, emitting an astonishing amount of Blood Evil Qi.

This Blood Evil Qi was so dense it seemed to warp the very air. Anyone with a weak will would have their mind devoured in an instant, making it impossible to linger for long.

’So this is the passage to the third level of the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm...’

After taking a deep breath to acclimate to the environment, Yu Changsheng no longer hesitated. He turned and plunged into the blood-colored vortex.

An irresistible wave of vertigo assaulted Yu Changsheng’s mind. After a moment of the world spinning around him, his vision cleared. He felt solid ground beneath his feet, and the world before his eyes had transformed into a completely different scene.

The sky was the same dark crimson as before, but hanging in it were no longer two blood-red suns. The two had become three.

The three blood-red suns took up nearly half the sky, each one casting a strange, bloody light that illuminated the world below, making everything appear exceptionally sinister.

Beneath his feet stretched a blood-red plain, vast and unending. The surging Blood Evil Qi in the air was so dense it was nearly visible to the naked eye.