The energy fluctuations rippling from that distant sky were terrifying.
Hong Yu's eyes narrowed, a starlike glint flickering in his pupils, as if they held two bright moons.
Gazing toward the southeast, he muttered to himself, "Sister Qin once said this Celestial Essence Secret Realm is divided into three regions. The first is the safest; as long as you don't run into any Guiyuan Sect experts, there's almost no danger."
"The second region is an area where Desolate Beasts roam, and it's not lacking in so Tier Three Wild Beasts comparable to Primordial Core Realm experts. This second region is a vast forest stretching three thousand kiloters across, and it would take an ordinary Celestial Soul Realm expert several months to cross it."
"At Qin Mutian and Zheng Tian's speed, they should have just entered the Desolate Beast Forest belt. I just don't know which one of them caused this commotion..."
Hong Yu took a deep breath, his feelings complicated.
Whether it was Zheng Tian's group or Qin Mutian's, he had no desire for further contact with either of them.
Although he had comprehended the Earth Pulse recently, and his True Martial Intent Shocking Technique had also reached the Middle Achievent Realm, further boosting his strength...
But...
Hong Yu was still keenly aware that if he were to face Zheng Tian with his current strength, it would likely be a fight to the death.
Besides, the Guiyuan Sect's team had three mysterious individuals that made him extrely wary.
As for Qin Mutian, the selfishness and ingratitude of the dignified Crown Prince of the Qin Kingdom disgusted Hong Yu, and he wanted even less to do with him.
'Forget it. I'll take a different path to the Championship Platform by myself! Better to avoid running into them again on the way.'
Hong Yu sighed softly and turned to head in the opposite direction of the commotion.
With his strength, he could escape even if he encountered a Tier Two Peak Level Desolate Beast. As long as he didn't run into a Tier Three Wild Beast comparable to a Primordial Core Realm expert, crossing the Desolate Beast forest wouldn't be too difficult.
Just as he had run a few hundred ters, a sharp burst of energy suddenly shot toward him from ahead.
The space rippled and trembled as a massive, transparent beast's head materialized out of thin air. It hovered twenty to thirty ters above the ground, its lantern-like eyes sweeping over Hong Yu.
Imdiately, the beast's head opened its cavernous maw and lunged forward to bite him.
"Dammit..."
It all happened so fast that before Hong Yu could even react, he was swallowed by the beast's head.
His body involuntarily floated up. It felt like he had fallen into an ocean, the only difference being that he could still breathe.
'What the hell is this thing?'
Hong Yu was secretly alard and glanced down.
He discovered that the beast's head was carrying him away at high speed. The ground, forest, and other scenery below receded rapidly behind them.
In the blink of an eye, the beast's head finally ca to a stop.
When it reappeared, it was already hundreds of kiloters away.
"ROAR!"
The beast's head suddenly opened its mouth and let out a fierce roar. Hong Yu felt a massive pulling force wrap around his body, like an invisible giant hand gripping him tightly and flinging him out.
"SWOOSH!"
The mont his body left the beast's mouth, he regained control of his movents. He twisted around in mid-air and landed steadily on the ground.
The instant he landed, he darted to the side.
Then he raised his guard and looked around.
But one look left Hong Yu stunned. "You... how are you all here?"
He was in a flat, open area.
The entire place was a charred black scene, as if scorched by fire. Trees, burned clean down to their roots, lay collapsed on the ground, emitting wisps of black smoke.
What stunned Hong Yu were the people on that charred plain.
Zheng Tian, Qin Mutian...
They were none other than the experts sent by the Guiyuan Sect and the Qin Royal Family to contend for the Celestial Essence Secret Realm.
These guys were actually gathered together again.
Only...
Their current situation was as baffling and shocking as his own. Behind them, another massive beast head floated in the air.
"Hong Yu?"
The experts from both the Guiyuan Sect and the Royal Family were also taken aback.
Hong Yu frowned. "Everyone's here. It seems soone wants to gather all of us who are in the Celestial Essence Secret Realm."
"Hahaha, is everyone here now?"
Suddenly, a deafening, low shout bood from overhead.
The voice carried an extrely tyrannical montum, a subtle pressure that made one feel an uncontrollable urge to kneel.
In the void, the three beast heads transford into streams of Flowing Light, converging overhead to form an ancient face.
The face was a full seventeen or eighteen ters tall. It looked down on Hong Yu and the others, its seemingly calm gaze holding an energy fluctuation as chilling as two volcanoes.
"What on earth did you do to bring out this monster?" Faced with the ancient face's stare, a chill rose in Hong Yu's heart as he looked at Zheng Tian and the others.
The faces of the Guiyuan Sect experts were also extrely grim, but they didn't answer Hong Yu.
Zheng Tian looked up at the face suspended in mid-air, gritted his teeth, and said angrily, "Who the fuck knows what happened? I was just trying to kill that bastard Qin Mutian. How was I supposed to know it would lure out this old monster?"
Hong Yu looked at Qin Mutian.
The dignified Crown Prince of the Qin Kingdom was currently standing there like a wooden puppet.
His clothes were tattered and torn, his body covered in dark bruises from fists, or perhaps claw marks and scrapes from falls. His face was swollen, and he looked utterly disheveled and pathetic.
Seeing everyone's eyes converge on him, Qin Mutian grew furious. His face flushed red as he roared at Hong Yu, "What the hell are you looking at? If it weren't for you, would I be targeted by Zheng Tian like this? Fuck, you bastard, you're a jinx! A goddamn bastard..."
"..."
Hong Yu frowned. Looking at the hysterical Qin Mutian, he couldn't help but sigh. 'This is the Crown Prince of the Qin Kingdom? With his temperant, if the Qin Kingdom falls into his hands, who knows how badly he'll run it into the ground.'
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but shake his head.
This, however, provoked Qin Mutian even further. With his neck flushed red, he barked like a mad dog, "What, you don't dare to speak now? Aren't you good at tricking people? Good at making things up? Didn't you even trick my third sister until her head was spinning? Why aren't you talking? Feeling guilty?"
"Mad dog."
Hong Yu frowned and decided to ignore him. He turned to Zheng Tian instead. "Zheng Tian, you're the Chief Disciple of the Guiyuan Sect. You should know more than we do. What exactly is this?"
Zheng Tian raised an eyebrow, his gaze toward Hong Yu sowhat complicated.
Growing up, he had never once suffered a loss in the Martial Dao at the hands of his peers.
The only exception was when he had previously moved against Hong Yu.
Even now, whenever he thought about that battle, Zheng Tian could still feel his face burn with sha.
Sweeping a cold glance over Hong Yu, Zheng Tian said indifferently, "This Celestial Essence Secret Realm existed even before the Qin Kingdom and the Guiyuan Sect were founded. But I've never heard of such an entity existing here. I don't know what it is either."
"Oh!"
Hong Yu nodded and asked in his mind, 'Little One, do you know what this is?'
'Huh? Oh... just a Martial Arts True Soul left behind by so Primordial Spirit Realm expert who's been dead for who knows how many years. What's there to be so surprised about!' Little One said lazily.
The corner of Hong Yu's eye twitched. '...'
'Primordial Spirit Realm, and... *just*?!'
'In its eyes, a Primordial Spirit Realm expert is probably nothing more than a loser!'
As Hong Yu thought this, he rubbed his nose. 'What is a Martial Arts True Soul?'
'When ordinary people die, they might have regrets and leave behind so undying obsessions. Why would a Martial Artist be any different?'
Little One crossed its legs. 'And once you reach the Primordial Spirit Realm, the Soul rges with the Primordial Spirit, becoming incredibly formidable. If a Martial Artist has regrets or unfulfilled wishes before death, this obsession, carrying the host's regrets and desires, will influence the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. Over ti, a Martial Arts True Soul is born!'
'Then why is it that the Guiyuan Sect and the Qin Kingdom have entered so many tis before without issue, but the mont we co in, it appears?' Hong Yu asked, confused.
Little One spread its hands and, while taking a puff of a cigarette, said, 'When a Martial Arts True Soul is first born, it's very weak. It also needs to accumulate power over ti to mature and grow stronger. I'd say this Martial Arts True Soul has been gestating for a thousand years. Judging by its appearance, it must have had a great deal of resentnt before it died!'
Little One yawned and said lazily, 'But don't you worry. Since it didn't attack you directly, there's obviously another reason. Also, a little reminder: don't you ever rashly agree to do anything for a Martial Arts True Soul. If you can't deliver, you'll end up in a miserable state! Of course, if you *can* pull it off, you might get so nice rewards!'
Hong Yu nodded.
Just then, an expert from the Royal Family, under Qin Mutian's instruction, steeled himself and took a step forward.
He cupped his hands toward the Martial Arts True Soul and called out, "Senior, this junior is Shi Kun, Deputy Commander of the Qin Royal Family's Royal Guard. I wonder if there is anything this junior can help you with? Please speak freely, Senior. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse!"
"You... truly wish to help ?"
The ancient face said faintly.
Hong Yu's expression tightened, and he quickly tried to stop him. "Commander Shi, you absolutely must not agree."
Shi Kun faltered, becoming hesitant.
Seeing this, Qin Mutian's face turned livid. He growled, "Shi Kun, I am the Crown Prince of the Qin Kingdom. Whose orders are you following?"
Shi Kun shuddered. A trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes as he nodded at the Martial Arts True Soul. "This junior is willing to do his utmost!"
"Very good. I want you to dig out your own bones for to use in refining a Demon Bone Spirit Plate!"
The ancient face ford by the Martial Arts True Soul said in a deep voice.
His voice had a weathered quality, giving one the feeling it had been polished by infinite ages.
Shi Kun's face changed drastically. He exclaid, "What? You want to dig out my own bones?"
"What? You just said you would help , and now you can't do it?"
"That's not it, Senior. It's just that if I dig out my own bones, won't this junior die?" Shi Kun argued.
But the Martial Arts True Soul wouldn't listen. A sinister coldness flickered in its eyes. "Unwilling to help , yet you make empty promises. Your actions have made very angry!"
"No, Senior, listen to —AHH..."
Shi Kun didn't get to finish his sentence.
The Martial Arts True Soul had already glanced over. A mantis-shaped creature made of Elental Power flashed and charged in front of Shi Kun.
A fountain of blood sprayed out, turning into a thick bloody mist. As the Elental Power mantis departed, a blood-drenched skeleton was already hanging from its sharp blade.
Shi Kun, a dignified Early-stage Celestial Soul Realm expert, had now been reduced to a pile of bloody mush, collapsed in a pool of filth.
Everyone sucked in a cold breath, feeling a chilling wind pass by from behind them.
Just then, the giant face ford by the Martial Arts True Soul turned its head to look at Hong Yu and the others...
"And you, are you willing to help ?"
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