Chapter 5867
Liu Wenyuan dared not ask further and hurriedly replied, “Yes! I will go and inform them immediately.”
Elder Poison Heart gazed at the flickering candlelight in the secret chamber, a cruel smile curving his lips.
“Kai… I’d like to see how many breaths you can withstand under the Netherworld Three Killing Formation. After you die, your soul will become nourishment for me… Hehehe…”
A chilling laugh echoed in the secret chamber, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
When Kai and the Crimson Cloud Demon Lord stood once again outside the east gate of Sand Rock City, both were fully prepared.
Kai had changed into a light blue outfit that allowed for easy movement, with several storage bags and small array plates hanging from his waist.
On the surface, his aura remained that of a first-grade Celestial Immortal, but chaotic immortal power flowed slowly within his body, ready to unleash a thunderous strike at any moment.
The Crimson Cloud Demon Lord wore a dark red robe with demonic patterns, his demonic energy concealed, but his eyes were sharp as an eagle’s. He carried several bottles of secret medicine to stimulate life potential, his trump card for the worst-case scenario.
The little fire qilin was stored in Kai’s storage ring; otherwise, it would attract too much attention.
“Let’s go,” Kai said, looking eastward towards Black Wind Valley.
The two took to the air, transforming into two streaks of light, flying towards Black Wind Valley, three hundred miles away.
The space of the eleventh heaven was more stable, and the resistance during flight was greater.
Kai estimated that his maximum speed was about 40% lower than in the tenth heaven.
This meant that if they encountered a powerful enemy, escape would be much more difficult.
About half an hour later, a black canyon appeared ahead.
Steep black rock walls lined both sides of the canyon, and strange black gales constantly blew through it, whipping up sand and stones, making visibility extremely low.
This was the origin of the name “Black Wind Valley.”
Following the instructions in the jade slip, the two landed at the valley entrance.
At this time, more than twenty people had already gathered at the entrance, all with cultivation levels between the fourth and sixth ranks of the Heavenly Immortal Realm.
Liu Wenyuan was indeed among them. Upon seeing Kai and his companion, he immediately greeted them with a smile.
“You two fellow Daoists are indeed punctual,”
Liu Wenyuan introduced warmly. “This is Fellow Daoist Kuangdao, a peak sixth-grade Heavenly Immortal, the leader of our operation. And this is…”
He introduced all the main figures present.
Kai observed these people discreetly. Most of them appeared to be experienced rogue cultivators or members of small factions, their eyes wary, maintaining a distance from one another.
Kuangdao was indeed imposing, carrying a ghost-headed saber the size of a door panel on his back. His gaze towards Kai carried a hint of scrutiny and disdain.
Clearly, Kai’s apparent first-grade Heavenly Immortal cultivation level didn’t earn him much respect.
“Everyone’s here, let’s set off,”
Kuangdao said gruffly, taking the lead into the valley.
The others followed closely behind.
Upon entering Black Wind Valley, the eerie black gale immediately assaulted their senses.
The wind carried fine sand and pebbles, which rustled against their protective aura.
Even more troublesome was that the gale seemed to have an effect on eroding divine sense; Kai discovered that the range of his divine sense’s detection had been compressed to less than a hundred feet.
“Everyone be careful, the gale in Black Wind Valley interferes with divine sense. Stay close and don’t fall behind,”
Liu Wenyuan reminded, walking in the middle of the group, appearing quite cautious. The group ventured deeper into the canyon. The terrain was complex, with numerous branching paths, but Kuangdao seemed intimately familiar with the route, leading them through the labyrinthine canyon, occasionally stopping to observe unusual markings on the rock walls.
Kai’s vigilance intensified.
Black Wind Valley was perfect for ambushes; if someone had set a trap here, they would be trapped like turtles in a jar.
After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a hidden cave entrance appeared ahead, half-hidden by several massive black rocks.
“This is it,”
Kuangdao pointed to the entrance. “According to intelligence, the entrance to this cave is protected by a restriction; we’ll need to break it together. Everyone, prepare yourselves.”
The group unleashed their magical treasures, gathering their immortal power.
Kuangdao gave a low shout, and his Ghost Head Blade erupted with a dazzling crimson light, slashing towards the cave entrance first!
“Boom!”
The rocks at the entrance shattered, revealing a shimmering, transparent barrier.
The other cultivators also attacked, their various strikes landing on the barrier, creating ripples.
Kai didn’t use his full strength, only symbolically unleashing a few sword strikes.
He noticed that Liu Wenyuan had also made a move, but he was holding back as well.
About a quarter of an hour later, the barrier shattered with a “pop” under the combined attack of the group, revealing a dark cave entrance.
“Go!” Kuangdao charged in first.
The others followed in single file.
The cave was more spacious than expected, with winding passages leading downwards. The rock walls on either side were adorned with blurry ancient murals depicting flames, lava, and strange creatures.
A scorching heat filled the air, a stark contrast to the chill of Black Wind Valley.
“The owner of this cave might be an ancient cultivator who practiced fire-based techniques,” someone speculated.
Kai, however, felt a strange unease.
The flame and lava patterns on the murals reminded him of the “Flame Domain” and “Lava Abyss” Liu Wenyuan had mentioned.
This was too much of a coincidence.
After continuing downwards for about a quarter of an hour, the space suddenly opened up, revealing a huge underground cavern.
In the center of the cave stood a crimson stone platform, three zhang high. On the platform rested an exquisite jade box, its surface shimmering with iridescent light and radiating an alluring spiritual energy. Scattered
around the platform were several skeletons and fragments of broken magical artifacts, all appearing to be ancient.
“Treasure!” someone’s eyes lit up, and they were about to rush forward.
“Wait!” Kuang Dao shouted, “Be careful, there’s a restriction!”
But his warning came too late.
The first two to rush out had just stepped within ten zhang of the platform when countless eerie crimson patterns suddenly lit up on the ground!
“Boom!”
A crimson light barrier, over twenty zhang in diameter, shot into the sky, completely engulfing the two.
From within the light barrier came piercing screams; the two bodies melted and vaporized at a visible speed, their souls unable to escape, utterly annihilated!