With Qin Ruoshuang and Qin Mengyu added, that makes seven people.
With all seven of them attacking together, the seal on the palace gate was finally broken.
“Haha! Many thanks to both Holy Maidens!”
The Confucian scholar-looking youth spoke politely to Qin Ruoshuang and Qin Mengyu.
“Your Highnesses, please go first.”
Qin Mengyu glanced at the youth, then pulled Mu’er along.
“It’s better if you all go first.”
Though she said that, what she and the others were actually thinking was to let Qin Mu and his group go in first to scout the situation. If there were any traps, they wouldn’t be the ones to suffer.
The youth’s expression faltered for a moment, then he smiled.
“If that’s the case, then we’ll respectfully accept your offer.”
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sound of breaking air rang out as the five figures swiftly flew inside.
“Miss Mengyu, aren’t we going in?”
Qin Mu watched as everyone else went in. If they were too late, wouldn’t they miss out on any share of the spoils? His sisters had just helped break the seal.
“Don’t rush, Mu’er. We’ll go in after a little while.”
Qin Mengyu appeared calm and unhurried.
After about a quarter of an hour, Qin Mengyu led her brother into the palace.
Once inside, they realized that while the palace hadn’t looked very large from the outside, it was actually enormous!
They hadn’t walked far when they discovered a figure lying on the ground. Qin Mu walked over and saw who it was.
It was the brawny man who had fought with his sister Ruoshuang earlier. He could no longer be described as brawny now. All his Qi and blood energy were gone, his body withered and shriveled. If not for his unchanged head, he would be unrecognizable.
Seeing the brawny man in this state, Qin Mengyu’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. While countless cultivators had died within cave heavens, this manner of death was unique to the Demon Clan.
Her sense of unease grew stronger. Ever since entering, she’d had a strange feeling.
She tightened her grip on Mu’er’s small hand. Qin Mengyu glanced at her sister Ruoshuang and gave her a slight nod.
Then she said to Mu’er,
“It’s not safe to linger here. We should leave quickly.”
This cave dwelling was truly bizarre. For the sake of caution, it was better to leave first. After all, their lives were most important.
Qin Mu followed his sisters back the way they came. But as they walked and walked, a long time passed, and they still hadn’t exited.
Ghost hitting the wall?
The thought crossed Qin Mu’s mind. On the Heavenly Profound Continent, ghost hitting the wall phenomena had different levels. High-level ones could easily trap even Heavenly Unity Stage cultivators.
“Miss Mengyu, we…”
Qin Mu turned his head to ask for Miss Mengyu’s opinion, but when he looked, the hand he had clearly been holding just moments ago was now empty.
Now, around Qin Mu, the figures of his sisters Ruoshuang and Mengyu had abruptly vanished.
Damn it.
Qin Mu’s heart sank.
It’s really a case of fearing something and then encountering it. Something has really gone wrong.
Just as Qin Mu was panicking, not knowing what to do, the voice of the Divine Dragon sounded in his mind.
“Well now, human kid. I didn’t expect you to encounter a formation of this level. This thing can trap even Soul Formation Realm cultivators without a problem.”
Hearing the Divine Dragon’s voice, Qin Mu felt a sense of relief for the first time. He was moved to tears!
“Divine Dragon Senior, what exactly is going on?”
As Qin Mu walked, he arrived back at the spot where the brawny man’s corpse lay.
“Human kid, I’m curious too. You’re clearly at the Qi Refining Stage, yet you keep encountering situations several major realms above your level.”
Qin Mu: “…”
I’d like to ask the same thing. I’m just a little Qi Refining Stage nobody. But look at all the things I’ve encountered—which one of them is something a Qi Refining Stage cultivator should be facing?
“Human kid, don’t worry. This formation is only meant to trap you. It won’t endanger your safety. Of course, if there are other factors at play, just pretend I didn’t say that.”
“Other factors? What do you mean?”
“Fool! Take a good look at this corpse. It’s clearly been drained of its blood Qi. This method does bear some resemblance to that of the Demon Clan.”
The Demon Clan…
Qin Mu was utterly speechless. Why did he have such a connection with the Demon Clan?!
“I beg the Divine Dragon Senior to show me a way out!”
Qin Mu instantly dropped to his knees, begging the great senior for guidance!
“Human kid, it’s not that I won’t help you. It’s just that your current strength is too weak. If you were at the Foundation Establishment Stage, I could simply activate the Dragon Pattern Power, and getting out would be simple.”
“Alright, stop. Don’t say anymore.”
Qin Mu spoke up. I’m at the Qi Refining Stage. What can I do?
“Don’t be discouraged, human kid. As long as you follow my instructions, you can walk out.”
At this point, Qin Mu had no choice but to listen to the Divine Dragon’s instructions. If he tried to figure it out himself, he’d be like a monk groping in the dark, completely clueless.
***
“Jiejie, is everything prepared?”
A blood-red human figure materialized.
“Reporting to the Venerable One, all preparations are complete.”
“Excellent! This time, we must properly absorb some nourishment!”
“But, by doing this, we are openly provoking the Great Yu Dynasty right at their doorstep. What if they charge in…”
“Don’t worry. This time, the Great Yu Dynasty has only sent three Soul Formation Realm cultivators. This Venerable One is not afraid of them. Unless they send a Heavenly Unity Stage cultivator, but that’s unlikely.”
The blood-red figure approached a young man.
The young man sat in a blood pool, blood threads covering his entire body. Wisps of blood Qi flowed from the pool into his body.
“Jiejie, Jing Kun, the Master has gone to such lengths. You must not disappoint this Venerable One.”
At that moment, the blood pool suddenly emitted a red glow, and dense blood Qi surged out violently.
“This… this! Nascent Soul Realm blood Qi! Jiejie! It seems the harvest this time will be substantial!”
The blood-red figure took out a piece of jade, infused it with True Qi, and a projection appeared before him.
The projection glanced at the blood-red figure and spoke.
“Ninth Venerable, is the mission proceeding smoothly?”
The Ninth Venerable bowed respectfully.
“Reporting to the Master, it is proceeding very smoothly. If nothing unexpected happens, all the blood Qi in this cave heaven will be sufficient for activation.”
The projection nodded.
“Good. My efforts in creating three cave dwellings have not been in vain. This time, there absolutely must be no mishaps.”
“As you command!”
After the communication ended, the projection dissipated. The Ninth Venerable straightened up and let out a breath.
At that moment, a subordinate ran over to offer congratulations.
“Congratulations, Venerable One! Congratulations! If this matter is completed, I’m afraid your promotion to Sixth Venerable is within sight!”
Hearing his subordinate’s flattery, the Ninth Venerable let out a “jiejie” laugh.
“If not for the Master’s guidance back then, I might still be among the Elders. Of course, being an Elder isn’t bad either. It’s just that being a Venerable offers this one a much broader horizon!”
Hearing this, the subordinate showered him with another round of flattery.
Then he said,
“Venerable One, I have followed you for so many years. If not for merit, there is still toil. After this mission is completed, could you…”
As he spoke, the subordinate secretly observed the Ninth Venerable’s expression. Seeing no change, he cautiously probed further.
“Venerable One, you see this Law Enforcement position of mine… could it be promoted just a little bit higher? I… I really want to rise in rank!”
The Ninth Venerable looked at his subordinate and patted his shoulder.
“You see, you’re being impatient again.”