Gou can devour and become a saint in the cultivation world.

Chapter 297 First Steps into Black Mountain: Avoiding Trouble

Chapter 297 First Steps into Black Mountain: Avoiding Trouble

Two months later.

Zhongzhou.

A black, chaotic mountain range, 500,000 miles away from the Monster Mountain Range.

This place is barren, with jagged rocks that look like stacks of dried-up corpses.

A black streak of light, wreathed in demonic flames, hurtled towards them without slowing down, and plunged headlong into a massive crevice deep within the mountains.

The crevice was bottomless, and a chilling wind howled.

The beam of light plummeted downwards, while the rock walls on either side receded rapidly.

It remained submerged for a full quarter of an hour.

The view below suddenly opened up.

Several underground rivers converge here, and lava, like giant crimson pythons, churns in the riverbeds, illuminating this vast underground space in a fiery red light.

A wave of heat hit us, mixed with a strong smell of sulfur.

A large number of people had already gathered in the center of the hall.

Dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators were scattered around, some sitting cross-legged in meditation, others conversing in hushed tones. The auras emanating from them varied, clearly indicating that they came from various major forces in the Central Continent.

The demonic flames and light landed heavily, stirring up a cloud of dust.

The figures of Chen Yi, Xuan Yin, and Ning Bu'er were revealed.

Swish.

Dozens of eyes turned towards them simultaneously, filled with scrutiny, vigilance, and even a hint of apprehension.

When the face of the woman in the black dress leading the group was clearly seen, a low gasp rippled through the crowd.

"It's Xuan Yin—"

Someone lowered their voice, as if afraid of disturbing some ferocious beast.

"That crazy woman is here."

"I heard that a few days ago, she beat the Qingyun Ancestor to the point of being half-dead, and the Qingyun Sect is still sealing off its mountain gates."

"Those who come from the Demonic Sect are indeed the real killers."

The whispers were extremely low, but those present were all Nascent Soul cultivators, whose hearing was incredibly sharp.

The light from everyone quickly shifted away from Xuan Yin and fell on the two people behind her.

The man was tall and straight, with a cold and stern face, and a black bracelet on his wrist.

The woman was dressed in white, with a cool and aloof demeanor, but her face was slightly pale and her breathing was somewhat weak.

"Is that man Chen Yi, the True Lord Chen? And is that Fairy Ning next to him?"

"Tsk tsk, a perfect match."

In the corner, two cultivators huddled together, their eyes darting between Chen Yi and Ning Bu'er.

"The news about Chen Yi's tribulation has been circulating for the past two years. I heard that in order to help True Lord Chen withstand the tribulation, even Fairy Ning's natal demonic flame was destroyed by those bald monks from the Vajra Temple."

"Yes, this can be considered true love. It's a pity that his excellent cultivation level hasn't recovered yet."

"Shh—Shut up!"

Suddenly, the expression on the person next to him changed, and he pointed subtly to the other side of the hall.

"Don't talk nonsense. Didn't you see the people from Vajra Temple over there?"

Look in the direction the person is pointing.

Several monks dressed in red robes sat cross-legged on the banks of the lava river, turning prayer beads in their hands and chanting sutras with their eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to everything around them.

But the overwhelming pressure, as heavy as a mountain, kept everyone within hundreds of feet away from approaching.

Chen Yi's gaze narrowed slightly as he swept his eyes over the monks, a barely perceptible glint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

Enemy road is narrow.

The underground caverns are vast and boundless, with crimson magma flowing slowly through the ravines like the pulsating blood of the earth, releasing suffocating heat waves.

Dozens of early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators were scattered throughout the hall, ostensibly meditating while sitting cross-legged, but in reality, undercurrents were surging. In the void, countless divine senses intertwined and collided, like a dense spider web covering the entire hall.

"Have you heard? Those old monsters are also eyeing the Black Mountain Secret Realm this time—"

"Hmph, if I encounter someone alone, I don't care which sect's True Lord they are, I'll just do it."

"Be careful not to let the Ji family hear you."

These divine sense transmissions were extremely secretive, but Chen Yi, with his advanced divine sense and perceptive abilities, was still able to catch some fragments of words.

He heard all sorts of dark schemes and greedy plots.

After listening to most of the information, Chen Yi withdrew his divine sense.

Countless gazes converged upon them as if sensing their presence.

Chen Yi remained calm as his gaze swept across the crowd, locking onto the location of Ji Wuchen, Qiu Li, and Yuan Lingling.

With a slight movement, he gracefully arrived with Ning Bu'er.

Before his toes even touched the ground, he reached out to support Ning Bu'er, who appeared to be weak and unwell. He looked around, clasped his hands in a salute to those around him, and said in a low but clear voice to every cultivator present: "Chen Yi of Qingfeng Ridge greets fellow Daoists."

The noise subsided slightly.

Chen Yi spoke sincerely and said loudly, "This time, I have no need for any rare and precious materials, magical treasures, or opportunities in the Black Mountain Secret Realm. My purpose in entering is solely to help Fairy Ning find something to heal her Nascent Soul injuries."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the several cultivators with gloomy auras, and continued, "If we encounter each other in the secret realm, please let me know if any fellow cultivator has already occupied a place of opportunity. I, Chen, will take a detour and will not interfere."

A slight commotion arose in the crowd.

"Of course," Chen Yi changed the subject, offering a bargaining chip, "If any of you here have any clues about the Nine Yin lineage's inheritance and are willing to share them with me, I will certainly do you a great favor!"

When they arrived, Chen Yi instructed Ning Bu'er to feign illness. This time, they were to keep a low profile and try not to cause trouble for the Demonic Sect, otherwise the Xuan Yin True Lord guarding outside would be under immense pressure.

After a brief silence, a Nascent Soul cultivator in a green robe spoke first, a smile spreading across his face: "I see. True Lord Chen is a man of great loyalty and righteousness, a true role model for us all. If I encounter any clues in the secret realm, I will certainly share them for free!"

Chen Yi looked at the person and nodded slightly in greeting.

Although there were many voices of agreement around him, most people had shifty eyes and a sneer on their lips.

In the world of cultivation, the strong prey on the weak. The Black Mountain Secret Realm only opens once every few decades. Once you enter this treasure mountain, who would leave empty-handed?

Such beautiful words about abandoning the great path for a beautiful woman might fool a three-year-old child, but to think they could fool these cunning old foxes who have lived for hundreds of years is simply too naive.

Moreover, one cannot always trust the words of those who follow the demonic path. Who knows if you might suddenly turn on Ning Bu'er after curing his illness?

Just then, a fierce and scorching aura suddenly erupted from the Vajra Temple's camp in the distance.

A square-faced monk suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing like lightning. He stared intently at Chen Yi, let out a cold snort, and the surrounding gravel tumbled down in a flurry.

"They actively colluded with the Demonic Sect, working together in concert!"

The monk was tall and imposing, like an angry Vajra in a temple. His voice was loud and clear, echoing endlessly in the underground cave: "True Lord Chen, you are fortunate to have advanced to the Nascent Soul stage under your master's guidance. You should be very happy."

However, you did not cherish this opportunity and instead joined the Demonic Sect, calling yourself Qingfeng Ridge.

"So, you intend to make an enemy of the entire righteous path of Zhongzhou?!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Chen Yi squinted, his gaze piercing through the waves of heat and landing on the monk.

He wasn't angry; he simply said, "So, you're Xuan Gang's disciple."

"Excellent!" The monk puffed out his chest, a faint Buddhist light emanating from his body. "This humble monk is Yuanzhen. Chen Zhenjun had better hope he doesn't encounter this humble monk inside, otherwise... hmph!"

Electric sparks flew in Yuanzhen's eyes, his threat undisguised.

Chen Yi's expression remained unchanged, and he did not engage in further verbal sparring with this person. The leader of the Vajra Temple was a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, but not Xuan Gang. Chen Yi did not want to cause trouble for Xuan Yin outside, otherwise, if he really angered the public, it might become an obstacle to helping Bu Er recover his supernatural powers.

After scanning the area and confirming that there were no other noticeable enemies, Chen Yi led Ning Bu'er to land behind Ji Wuchen's squad.

"Brother Chen, how have you been?" Ji Wuchen said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting.

Qiu Li also came over to inquire about Ning Bu'er's injuries, her concern evident in her words. Having witnessed the great battle that day, she naturally knew how serious Ning Bu'er's injuries were.

Yun Tianzhenjun, standing to the side, looked at Chen Yi and Ning Bu'er standing side by side with a complicated expression.

His gaze swept over the two of them a few times, finally settling into a long sigh: "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Chen. But—I wonder how Fairy Qingyue is doing now?"

The aloof and proud Yue Qingqiu in Yun Tianzhenjun's heart rejected Chen Yi's pursuit back then, but in the blink of an eye, Chen Yi's side was replaced by this Ning Fairy of the Demonic Sect.

He had heard a little about the situation of the Moon Fairy, who was now all alone.

Although he felt sorry for Yue Qingqiu, he couldn't bring himself to say anything to blame Chen Yi, and could only sigh.

Chen Yi lowered his eyelids slightly, concealing the fleeting emotion in his eyes, and sighed softly: "Brother Yun Tian, ​​some things on the path of cultivation come unexpectedly, and there's nothing we can do about it."

"Sigh—that's true." True Monarch Yuntian shook his head and said no more.

This time, Qingyun Cave Heaven was led by True Monarch Yu Chen, and Lin Yunsheng did not appear. Chen Yi was slightly disappointed, but treating Ning Bu'er was the top priority at the moment, and everything else had to wait.

As for Yuan Lingling, who was known as the "ethereal fairy," she simply nodded slightly to Chen Yi and then looked away, showing no interest in such matters of love and romance.

In her mind, Chen Yi was just a passerby who had once made Ji Wuchen pay a high price to ask her to give him three pointers.

At this moment, her mind was filled with the scene from the ancient battlefield of the Black Mountain Secret Realm more than ten years ago—facing that Silver Horn Prodigy from the Black Peak Realm, he defeated her proud spatial talent and fourth-level body refinement in one move.

The humiliation and pressure of being crushed by cultivators of the same level still lingers like a leech, making it impossible for her to let go.

A month later.

The once crimson, churning lava began to recede, replaced by thick black mist rising from the cracks in the ground.

This black mist was no ordinary smoke; it carried a chilling, exotic volcanic aura that made it hiss and crackle upon contact.

Several cultivators with slightly weaker cultivation levels had a slight change in expression and hurriedly raised their protective spiritual light. This black mist could directly erode their magic power and soul, making it difficult for non-Nascent Soul cultivators to stand firm in it.

"The secret realm has opened, let's go!"

A low shout came.

A powerful cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage from the Central Plains took the lead, his body surging with light, piercing through the black mist like a sharp sword, and rushing down into a bottomless lava crevice.

Several streaks of light followed closely behind, instantly disappearing into the darkness.

"Let's go too," Ji Wuchen said in a low voice.

This was his second time entering the Black Mountain Secret Realm.

Back then, he was only at the peak of Core Formation, yet he managed to escape unscathed. Now that he is at the Nascent Soul stage, he naturally has even more confidence.

Chen Yi observed Ji Wuchen's route and timing without showing any emotion. Seeing that the other party had chosen a gap where the black mist was relatively thin, he no longer hesitated, grabbed Ning Bu'er, and transformed into a stream of light to follow closely behind.

This is an important reference for Chen Yi. Following the experienced can at least help him avoid the most deadly trap at the entrance.

As we walked through the long, dark tunnel, the temperature around us rose instead of falling.

The group descended rapidly, following the lava-like aura permeating the black mist.

Gradually, the air was filled with the earthy smell mixed with the heat.

At some point, Chen Yi's perception of the energy of heaven and earth underwent a tremendous change.

The rules have changed.

Even before it was unearthed, Chen Yi had already determined that this place was no longer the Great Green Cultivation Realm.

The view ahead suddenly opened up.

Chen Yi followed several streaks of light as he burst out from the underground crevice and hovered in mid-air.

Looking around, the world was a deep crimson.

They were at the foot of a massive volcano, the air thick with the pungent smell of sulfur and the raging power of fire.

In the sky, huge shadows hundreds of feet wide occasionally swept by. These were terrifying exotic beasts, each exuding a pressure no weaker than a peak third-tier demon beast in the Great Green Immortal Cultivation World.

"Brother Chen, this is the Black Mountain Secret Realm."

Ji Wuchen stopped his escape light and pointed to the vast land in the distance, "This place has native cultivators and powerful demonic beasts. Of course, there are also many opportunities that can transform a person. You must be careful."

On the way, Chen Yi had already informed Ji Wuchen and the others that he would act alone after entering the secret realm.

After all, his goal for this trip was too clear. The source of the Nine Yin Demon Flame was mostly in extremely dangerous places, which was different from Ji Wuchen and the others' goal. He couldn't drag everyone along with him.

"No problem. Brother Ji, let's split up for now. We'll send a message if there's an emergency," Chen Yi said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Okay. Be careful on the road."

After a brief farewell, Chen Yi led Ning Bu'er around, transforming into a streak of light and flying straight towards the ancient battlefield.

Just then, he felt a slight warmth on his wrist, and the Ninth Princess's cool, clear voice transmitted through his mind:

[This secret realm contains some fourth-tier opportunities. There's a Dragon Blood Grass about three thousand miles to the left. Would you like to collect it? I can help you locate it.]

"I'm not going for now."

Chen Yi refused without hesitation, saying, "I'm only here for the Unparalleled Demon Flame. I'll try to minimize other entanglements and avoid creating unnecessary complications."

He doesn't lack ordinary resources; what he lacks is the time to transform those resources into strength.

They flew all the way, covering more than 20,000 miles in the blink of an eye.

Chen Yi spread out his powerful divine sense and sensed a violent fluctuation of magical power in front of him from afar.

Thousands of miles away, beside a boiling pool of flames, a Nascent Soul True Monarch was unleashing a magical weapon to bombard the protective formation around the pool.

As the formation shook, a wisp of spiritual energy shot into the sky from the pool, its red light dazzling, revealing itself to be an extremely rich, mid-grade fourth-tier flame spirit.

【nice one.】

These three words flashed through Chen Yi's mind, but his eyes remained clear and lucid, without the slightest hint of greed.

The True Monarch who was breaking the formation also sensed Chen Yi's approach. His expression changed drastically, and he stopped abruptly, retreating to the side, disregarding the treasure that was about to be obtained.

He gripped a crimson flying sword tightly in his hand, watching Chen Yi's direction warily, his spiritual energy surging around him, ready to fight to the death at any moment.

In a place like this, encountering fellow cultivators of the same level and killing them to steal their treasures is perfectly normal.

However, the streak of light did not slow down; instead, a calm voice transmitted through it said, "Fellow Daoist, please continue. I am merely passing by."

Before he finished speaking, Chen Yi's escape light drew an arc in the air, deliberately detouring a thousand miles away, passing far past the edge of that pool of flames without stopping at all.

The True Lord stood frozen in place until Chen Yi's aura completely disappeared into the horizon before he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He looked in the direction Chen Yi had left, his grip on the sword loosening slightly, his eyes filled with incredulous astonishment: "Could this person truly only care about a beautiful woman and not seize any other opportunities?"

However, a quarter of an hour after Chen Yi left, just as the Nascent Soul was desperately trying to break the formation, suddenly, a golden lotus light descended, and a person dressed in a blue scholar's robe, surrounded by the glow of golden crystal marrow, and with a female cultivator in a black dress by his side, launched a sneak attack on the Nascent Soul with lightning speed!

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